Judge Vinson’s bittersweet ObamaCare ruling

 

By Monte Kuligowski

Ruling that the ObamaCare insurance mandate is unconstitutional is like saying that water is wet. Of course it’s an unconstitutional abuse of federal power. If the feds can force people to buy health insurance, there is virtually no limit to the reach of federal meddling into the affairs of life.

In a sense, it’s fortunate that the unmitigated arrogance of Obama, Reid, and Pelosi — as witnessed in the health care “reform” debacle — is pushing even postmodern constitutional jurisprudence to its very limits.

Voter anger fuels support for “Repeal Amendment”

Rapidly growing support for the “Repeal Amendment” –  a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow a vote by two-thirds of the states to repeal an act of Congress —  symbolizes the intense level of anger Americans have with Washington, according to observers.

In September, Virginia stood alone as the only state where leaders in the state legislature had shown an interest in passing the amendment, but that number has now grown to nine states.

Conviction of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs voided

USA Today

The Utah Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned the rape-as-an-accomplice conviction of Warren Jeffs, the prophet and leader of a polygamist sect based on the Arizona-Utah border.

In a unanimous decision, justices found that jurors in the case were given improper legal instructions by Washington County, Utah, Judge James Shumate before reaching their 2007 verdict that Jeffs contributed to the 2001 sexual assault of teenage victim Elissa Wall, then 14, by directing her to marry an adult cousin.

Utah governor signs bills to seize federal land

Los Angeles Times

Salt Lake City – Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert has signed two bills authorizing the state to use eminent domain to seize some of the federal government’s most valuable land.

Supporters hope the bills, which the Republican governor signed Saturday, will trigger a flood of similar legislation throughout the West and, eventually, a Supreme Court battle that they hope to win — against long odds.

More than 60% of Utah is owned by the U.S. government, and policymakers complain that federal ownership hinders their ability to generate tax revenue and adequately fund public schools. Governments use eminent domain to take private property for public use.

Initially, the state would target three areas, including the Kaiparowits plateau in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which is home to large coal reserves. Eminent domain would also be used on parcels where Interior Secretary Ken Salazar scrapped 77 oil and gas leases last year.

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