Articles

The Hill : Seattle pays the price for CHAZ

March 20, 2023 | By SAM SPIEGELMAN

Seattle just learned a valuable civics lesson: No matter how important the cause, government cannot deprive owners of the right to access their property without first paying for it. And if it does, it shouldn’t cover up evidence by deleting thousands of text messages. The city found this out the hard way when it paid … ...

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A Massachusetts alpaca farmer fights government theft

March 20, 2023 | By BRITTANY HUNTER

It’s not often you come across a person who leaves behind a well-respected corporate job in engineering to become an alpaca farmer in rural Massachusetts. But there is nothing typical about Alan DiPietro. It isn’t just his impressive beard or his love for alpacas that makes Alan unique. What sets Alan apart from the rest … ...

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Telegram & Gazette : Mass. property tax foreclosure laws harmful, inequitable

March 19, 2023 | By CHRISTINA MARTIN

Last year, Deborah Foss was forced to live in her car during the coldest months of the year after New Bedford officials placed a tax lien on her home and sold it to a private company called Tallage for $9,626 — the total amount she owed, including interest. The tax lien gave the investor authority under … ...

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Arkansas Governor signs bill protecting the right to equality before the law

March 15, 2023 | By BRITTANY HUNTER

The Arkansas legislature just passed a law that will help ensure public service workers are not prevented from serving on the Social Work Licensing Board because of their race. This comes as a huge relief to Pacific Legal Foundation client Stephen Haile, whose race has barred him from helping his community. Stephen and his wife … ...

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Orange County Register : Ending home equity theft in California, once and for all

March 15, 2023 | By CHRISTINA MARTIN

When the government seizes private property for a public use, the Constitution requires that the original owner must be compensated for the loss. But in California, the law provides a loophole for officials to take that same property for a public use without any compensation if the owner falls too far behind on property taxes. … ...

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The Salt Lake Tribune : Utah must drop ban on boys in high school drill team

March 15, 2023 | By CALEB TROTTER

The state championships for Utah high school drill team concluded in early February. If you watched the competitions, you probably noticed there were no boys participating. That’s by design, but it’s also unconstitutional. Jayden Herman-Lopez graduated in 2021 from Granger High School in West Valley City. One of Jayden’s cherished ...

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It’s a limited government, after all

March 14, 2023 | By JAMES BURLING

Not every problem has a solution, but that doesn’t seem to stop the government from attempting to supply one—even if the solution will make things worse. And even if the government doesn’t have the authority to solve a particular problem. Recognizing the history of governments around the world to solve problems by controlling people&# ...

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Congress holds hearing on unconstitutional agency—and PLF lawyer testifies

March 09, 2023 | By JOE LUPPINO-ESPOSITO

When Congress asked Pacific Legal Foundation for advice on how to reform one of our recent government adversaries, we were more than happy to oblige. The House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy held a hearing Thursday on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a uniquely unconst ...

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The Hill : New executive order will expand race preferences throughout the federal government

March 06, 2023 | By ALISON SOMIN

Individuals should be treated as individuals and not on the basis of their membership in racial groups, especially by our government. Unfortunately, a new executive order encourages federal agencies to focus on racial group identity rather than the character and qualifications of employees and contractors. It will result in racial quotas in hiring, ...