Articles

Caltrans is violating both Proposition 209 and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Its quota program also raises costs and squanders tax money, because bureaucrats award contracts based on race or sex, instead of awarding contracts to the lowest responsible bidder. … ...

Author: Joshua Thompson PLF Principal Attorney Sharon Browne is currently being featured on the Federalist Society's website dicussing the Supreme Court's recent decision in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. 1 v. Holder.  Northwest Austin was expected to be a landmark decision regarding the constitutionality of the Votin ...

Author:  Nicholas M. Gieseler Bad news this morning by way of the Eighth Circuit, as its decision in United States v. Bailey dealt a blow to property rights.  The decision granted the federal government jurisdiction over private property located more than 200 feet away from a navigable waterway.  Under Justice Sca ...

Author: Joshua Thompson The Philadelphia Inquirer published an excellent editorial Sunday.  I stumbled upon the article after it was re-printed in the Sacramento Bee today.  Granted, any editorial that quotes from Federalist 62 is bound to be one of my favorites, but, it's also great to hear The Inquirer ask Suprem ...

Author: Joshua Thompson Harry C. Alford, president and chief executive of the National Black Chamber of Commerce spoke yesterday during the Senate hearing chaired by Barbara Boxer (D-CA) , entitled "Ensuring and Enhancing U.S. Competitiveness while Moving toward a Clean Energy Economy.”  Fireworks ensued. After Mr. Alford spo ...

Author: Timothy Sandefur On July 31, Pacific Legal Foundation will join with the Cascade Policy Institute in Portland, Oregon, to commemorate the life and achievements of Milton Friedman. More information on the event here. The keynote speaker is state Representative Matt Wingard; I’ll also be there, along with PLF client Adam Sweet, who rece ...

PLF attorney Damien M. Schiff will be appearing on Libertarian Counterpoint tonight, 8/6, at 8:00 PM and again next Thursday, 8/13, at 8:00 PM. On the 8/13 show he will be discussing the Delta smelt case.  These shows stream live at www.accesssacramento.org, click on channel 17.  Replays are at noon on 8/7 and 8/14 and … ...

Author:    Damien M. Schiff Last week in Simsbury-Avon Preservation Society v. Metacon Gun Club, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a commonsense decision that the firing of lead bullets over dry land does not violate the Clean Water Act prohibition on the discharge of a pollutant into waters of the United States.  In the case, local ...

Author:    Damien M. Schiff PLF runs a Coastal Land Rights Project, whose principal goal is to fight on behalf of coastal property owners against big and abusive government.  One of the most frequent violators of individuals' property rights in coastal areas is the California Coastal Commission.  PLF has been ...