The NYT summarizes a new report in Science that finds a majority of high school biology teachers skimp on their teaching of evolution to avoid controversy and a sizable percentage explicitly teach creationism. One of the study’s authors believes the answer is more and better science education for teachers. “Students are being cheated out of […]
Author Archive | Jonathan H. Adler
Was the Fifth Circuit Wrong in Lopez?
In 1992, Alfonso Lopez, Jr. brought gun to Edison High School in San Antonio, Texas. He had been offered $40 to deliver the gun to a local gang member. Though originally charged under state law, the local charges were dropped when the feds decided to prosecute him for violating the Gun-Free School Zones Act of […]
Common Cause’s Filibuster Flip
In 2005, Common Cause vigorously defended the filibuster when some Republicans proposed invoking the “nuclear option” to end the filibuster of judicial nominees. From a 2005 press release: Common Cause strongly opposes any effort by Senate leaders to outlaw filibusters of judicial nominees to silence a vigorous debate about the qualifications of these nominees, short-circuiting […]
Obama’s View of Business
From the President’s Weekly Address: Supporting businesses with this kind of 21st century infrastructure and cutting-edge innovation is our responsibility. But businesses have a responsibility, too. If we make America the best place to do business, businesses should make their mark in America. They should set up shop here, and hire our workers, and pay […]
Will Contraception Coverage Become Mandatory?
Here comes another health care controversy. The health care reform law requires insurers to require “preventative health services” without charge. Does this mean insurers are required to provide contraception without charge? Some government officials think so, according to this NYT report, and the forthcoming guidance on preventative care may so hold. Some religious groups, such […]
Judge Holds Government in Contempt Over Drilling Moratorium
In an order issued yesterday, federal district court judge Martin Feldman held the Department of Interior in contempt for seeking to reimpose a blanket moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in defiance of the court’s decision to enjoin the initial moratorium. From the order: The plaintiffs civil contempt claim focuses on the […]
The First Part of ObamaCare to Go
Since last year there has been bipartisan support for repealing a provision of the health care reform law that imposes broad 1099 reporting requirements on businesses (see here and here). Yesterday, the Senate voted 81-17 to repeal it.
Upcoming Talks
Just a quick post to note some upcoming talks that may be of interest to VC readers. Tomorrow, Feb. 3, noon -I’ll be speaking on global climate change policy at the Harvard Law School. The event is co-sponsored by the student Federalist Society chapter, the Environmental Law Society, and the Harvard Environmental Law Review. .Details […]
Does Judge Vinson’s Opinion Impose a “Major Limit” on Federal Power?
In an addendum to his post below, Orin writes “the existence of nonzero limits [on federal power] in no way implies the existence of major limits.” Fine. But this does not mean that the limits on federal power that survive Raich are only “symbolic,” nor does it mean that Judge Vinson is wrong. It is […]
Why a Contested Juvenile Court Judge Election Could Matter in 2012
Although votes were cast on November, the race for juvenile court judge in Hamilton County, Ohio, has yet to be resolved. At last count, one candidate led by 23 votes, but a slightly higher number of miscast ballots were counted, and several hundred more remain in dispute. As I noted here and here, the election […]
If You Don’t Understand Science, It’s Best to Shut Up
By Jonathan H. Adler on January 30, 2011 11:17 am in Junk Science and Quackspertise, Politicizing Science
This recent TV performance by Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) is quite embarrassing. The worst part is, I doubt he’s embarrassed by it.
The TSA Blocks Private Screeners
CNN reports that the Transportation Security Administration has decided it will no longer approve applications from airports seeking to replace TSA screeners with private contractors. This is an abrupt reversal from the agency’s alleged “neutral” stance it announced just several weeks ago. TSA chief John Pistole said Friday he has decided not to expand the […]
Is the Individual Mandate Necessary?
The primary policy justification for the individual mandate is that it reduces the costs of preventing insurers from denying coverage for preexisting conditions. It reduces, but does not elminate, these costs because the mandate is too small to provide an adequate incentive for healthy uninsured or under-insured to purchase mandated coverage. This past week Merrill […]
Hamilton County Snafu — The Sixth Circuit Weighs In
This afternoon the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit weighed in on the Hamilton County election snafu that produced potentially conflicting state and federal court decisions. In Hunter v. Hamilton Country Board of Elections the court largely upheld the federal district’s ruling requiring the Board of Elections to investigate whether poll worker error […]
Do Daughters Influence Judges?
David Zaring links to the abstract of an interesting study that suggests judges who have daughters rule differently in cases involving “women’s issues.” Here’s the abstract: Social scientists have long maintained that women judges might behave different than their male colleagues (e.g., Boyd et al. (2010)). This is particularly true when it comes to highly […]