CEI - Supreme Court Immigration Ruling a Modest Victory for Free Market Reforms

Supreme Court Immigration Ruling a Modest Victory for Free Market Reforms

Ruling Restricts State Attempts to Penalize Immigrants Seeking Work But Leaves Limits on Free Association

 WASHINGTON, D.C., June 25, 2012 – The Supreme Court has struck down portions of Arizona’s SB 1070—the controversial immigration law that targets undocumented migrant workers. The court ruled that federal law preempted sections that allowed for arrests without warrants, required immigrants to carry “alien registration documents,” and made it a criminal offense for undocumented workers to work or solicit work.

Even though the Court upheld a section that requires police officers to check immigration status, these significant revisions are still a modest victory for free market immigration reformers, says David Bier, a policy analyst at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI). “The ruling restricts state attempts to create further punishments for peaceful migrants who seek work from American employers,” Bier said. “Unfortunately, the law will continue to limit American citizens’ freedom of association by criminalizing those who ‘employ, harbor, or transport’ unauthorized workers.”

“Ultimately, however,” he continued, “immigration reformers must recognize that the real source America’s broken immigration system is federal laws that make legal entry nearly impossible for migrant workers and the U.S. employers that hire them. Federal and state laws that continue to reinforce this fundamentally anti-free market system hurt America’s economy by limiting productivity, forcing employers to expand overseas, and driving up prices for all Americans. Real reform means less regulations and more freedom.”

ALG's Daily Grind: What happens if the Supreme Court upholds Obamacare's individual mandate?

June 21, 2012

What happens if the Supreme Court upholds Obamacare's individual mandate?

If the individual mandate is upheld, there is no limit on Congress' commerce powers.

Video: Where Does ObamaCare Go If Part Of It Is Struck Down?

ObamaCareWatcher.org's John Vinci explains what will happen to ObamaCare should a part of it be removed. Plus, he explains what could happen to the jobs picture if ObamaCare is dropped completely. Reporter Frank McCaffrey has the story.

Commonsense wisdom from African farmers

FANRPAN chair Sindiso Ngwenya of Zambia: "We call upon the world to assist us, not by treating us as beggars, but by treating us as equals."

Farage: 'America, you are not to blame'

UK Independence Party defends U.S. against European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso who blames the nation for Europe's debt crisis.

ALG's Daily Grind: Should Government Dictate The Results Of Your Google Search?

June 20, 2012

Should Government Dictate The Results Of Your Google Search?

Nextag CEO Jeffrey Katz is on the warpath against Google, suggesting that the company be required to "grant all companies equal access to advertising" while disclosing those instances in which "a search result is a Google product and when advertisers get preferential placement."

Cartoon: Supreme Eulogy

The decision is made, but what will it be?

What happens if the Supreme Court only overturns Obamacare in part?

There is a wide spectrum of possibilities, the foremost of which include: Severing just the individual mandate itself; Severing the individual mandate along with Obamacare's "guaranteed issue" and "community rating" provisions; Severing the individual mandate, guaranteed issue, and community rating provisions-plus the health insurance exchanges and other insurance reforms; or Overturning the entire act.

'Sustainable justice' = redistribution of scarcity

The Civil Society Reflection Group on Global Development Perspectives released a new report to the United Nations Rio+20 Earth Summit on Sustainable Development.

ALG's Daily Grind: What happens if the Supreme Court overturns Obamacare?

June 19, 2012

What happens if the Supreme Court overturns Obamacare?

Obama's eventual support for the individual mandate, then, was reckless.  He is no dummy.  As a former law professor, he knew full well that there would be legal challenges to it. 

Video: Hollywood's Greatest Creation of Our Time: Barack Obama

Hollywood has built many stars and created an endless line of film fantasies. Now it has created a star and a fantasy in a President who has not done much for his country. Check out Americans for Limited Government's way of saying "Hooray for Hollywood."

The new Munro Doctrine

Obama is notorious for making sweeping pronouncements in front of the White House press corps and then walking away without answering questions. So, what's a reporter to do?

No reason the Rosenberg treason should ever be forgot

While the liberal media establishment marks the 40^th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, let's look at another anniversary no less consequential.

CEI Today: Senate vote on Utility MACT, Supreme Court decisions, and Michigan right to work

SENATE VOTE ON UTILITY MACT - WILLIAM YEATMAN

Globalwarming.org: Why Sen. Lamar Alexander Is Wrong about the Utility MACT

The Senate this week has an opportunity to check one of EPA’s worst regulations: the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule, also known as the Utility MACT. On Wednesday, the upper chamber of Congress will vote on S. J. Res. 37, a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval that would effectively block the Utility MACT.

To read more about the merits of S. J. Res. 37, click here and here. Suffice it to say for this post, EPA’s Utility MACT would cost $10 billion annually, making it one of the most expensive regulations ever. It would also ban the construction of new coal-fired power plants. > Read the full analysis on Globalwarming.org

> Interview William Yeatman

Related:

Inhofe Sets a Date for Senate Vote to Block All Pain and No Gain Utility MACT 

 

CEI’s Myron Ebell Discusses the Utility MACT Vote

UNDERMINING RIGHT TO WORK - F. VINCENT VERNUCCIO Spectator.org: Midwest Unions' Desperate Last Stand Last Wednesday, supporters of the so-called "Protect Our Jobs" Constitutional Amendment (POJA) submitted 684,286 petition signatures to the Michigan Department of State -- more than double the amount needed to put the measure on the ballot in November. If passed, the Amendment would enshrine collective bargaining in the Michigan Constitution. POJA would effectively destroy any chance for Michigan to give workers the right to say no to a union and still keep their job -- the main benefit of a right-to-work law. > Read the full commentary on Spectator.org >Interview Vincent Vernuccio > Keep up with all labor union news at Workplacechoice.org

SUPREME COURT DECISIONS - HANS BADER Examiner.com: Divided Supreme Court issues four major rulings, but not on Obamacare The Supreme Court issued four decisions today, but not the widely anticipated ruling in the constitutional challenge to Obamacare.  In its rulings, the Court upheld a rape conviction over objections that the defendant did not have the chance to question the reliability of the DNA evidence that helped convict him; said the federal government must fully reimburse Indian tribes for money they spend on federal programs; refused to block a lawsuit seeking to shut down an Indian casino; and ruled that overtime pay was not required for drug company sales representatives under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.  > Read the full commentary on Examiner.com > Interview Hans Bader

Also featuring... What liberals don't understand about government and our Founding Fathers Air Quality in America – You Can Find It Here! Bullying and Bailouts — UAW’s Strategy for Continued Existence Norfolk, Virginia, While Abusing Eminent Domain To Seize 78-Year-Old Business, Attempts To Silence Free Speech Communication Workers of America Remain a Thorn in Verizon’s Side To Reform Public Pensions, Reform GASB Rules

WARREN T. BROOKES JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP   CEI's Warren T. Brookes Journalism Fellowship is a one-year fellowship that aims to provide journalists the opportunity to improve their knowledge of free markets principles and limited government through interaction with CEI policy experts.   Previous Warren Brookes Fellows have included Washington Examiner columnist Timothy Carney, Reason magazine science correspondent Ron Bailey, columnist Michelle Malkin, and author James Bovard. The fellowship begins in October, 2012. The deadline for application is July 31.  To apply, send resume or CV along with a cover letter outlining a project plan for the fellowship that relates to CEI's issue areas.  Contact: chall@cei.org. Apply today!

CEI is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy group dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government.  For more information about CEI, please visit our website, cei.org, and blogs, Globalwarming.org and OpenMarket.org.  Follow CEI on Twitter! Twitter.com/ceidotorg.