Are Dry Stream Beds Navigable Waters of the United States?
According to federal regulations, they are. But Congress is now subjecting that rule to scrutiny.
Law & Government
No, Chief Justice John Roberts Is Not a 'Secret Liberal'
The chief justice is a legal conservative who sometimes practices judicial deference.
Will This Awful Bill Allowing Warrantless Domestic Snooping Get Shoved Into an End-of-Year Spending Plan?
Congress might quietly expand the feds' surveillance powers without any actual debate.
Maybe Not Libertarian, But There Are Some Things to Like in This Tax Reform
The House and Senate still refuse to consider cutting government spending.
Harvey Weinstein Sued for Sex Trafficking by British Actress Kadian Noble
Weinstein Company staff aided in the trafficking by arranging auditions for young female actors "using the code FOH"-for "Friend of Harvey"-the suit states.
CalPERS Is Shocked—Just Shocked—To Find Cities Reeling Under Growing Pension Debt
California's pension fund looks to shift blame and avoid responsibility.
Trump Tacitly Endorses Roy Moore, Noting His Denials 12 Times
The president says he may campaign for the Republican Senate candidate, notwithstanding credible allegations of sexual assault.
Tax Reform Would Make Getting Trashed Cheaper
The Senate's tax proposal would cut federal excise taxes on beer, wine, and spirits.
How Congress Keeps Its Sexual Harassment Hush Money Secret
Documents from a $27,000 harassment settlement from Rep. John Conyers' office show how Congress keeps its tax-funded settlements secret.
The Good, the Bad, and the Unspeakably Ugly: A Reason Surveillance Reform Bill Primer
Congress must make a choice before the end of the year on the level of protections Americans get from unwarranted snooping.
Tax Reform Fight Shows Why Subsidies Never Die
The House wanted to scale back an expensive wind energy subsidy, but the Senate prefers to preserve the status quo.
Is Donald Trump, of All Presidents, Devolving Power Back to the Legislative Branch?
Contrary to his reputation (and Twitter feed), the president has been selectively trimming executive power.
Sex, Jobs, and Smoking: What's Legal for Teens in Your State?
A state-by-state look at America's paternalistic patchwork of laws
The Cops Were Chasing a Shoplifter. They Ended Up Destroying an Innocent Man's Home.
The outcome of this case may bring clarity to the property rights of Americans living in the shadow of police militarization.
Current Farm Bill Waste Targeted as Congress Moves Toward Next Farm Bill
Two new efforts in Washington seek to rein in the subsidies.
Thomas Massie on Tax Reform: "It's highly likely that we pass whatever the Senate comes up with"
Libertarian Republican congressman admits that an already-worrisome debt will increase, and that the Senate may well disregard the House's framework, but "just because my colleagues don't believe that we have to cut spending doesn't mean I can't vote to cut taxes"
House Republicans Just Passed a Major Tax Reform Bill
The process of passing tax reform will only become more difficult from here.
Thomas Massie on Tax Reform, Shikha Dalmia on Deporting Americans
Listen to SiriusXM Insight (channel 121) from 9-12 AM ET as Matt Welch interviews Massie, Dalmia, Kevin Williamson, Bethany Mandel, and LSD enthusiast Daniel Miller
The Senate Intelligence Committee Really Wants to Secretly Snoop on Americans
Every attempt to restrain and reform unwarranted domestic surveillance batted away.
Tax Reform and the Deficit: 1.7 Quadrillion Pennies, and Growing by the Minute
Senate version shies away from mortgage-interest cap, which will likely make fiscal hawks even more anxious.
Why the Senate Tax Reform Bill Is a Big Deal for Gig Economy Workers
The newly released bill would clarify Uber drivers' and Airbnb hosts' status as independent contractors but would require tax withholding.
A Professor Whose Renewable Energy Claims Are Challenged Sues For Libel
Is there no more room for scientific skepticism and debate?
Showdown Looming over Reform of Federal Surveillance Laws
House leadership rejects stronger protections shielding Americans from unwarranted snooping.
Senators Push To Defund Jeff Sessions' Civil Asset Forfeiture Expansion
The House passed amendments this fall blocking Jeff Sessions' asset forfeiture directive. Now senators want to make it stick.
Law Enforcement Groups Oppose Senate Sentencing Reform Bill, Again
Hardline prosecutors continue to beat the drum against any reduction in mandatory minimums.
Simpler Tax Simplification
A tax law so simple everyone understands it, and that will keep as much money as possible out of government's hands, is the best formula for a growing economy.
Americans Keep Setting New Records for Renouncing Citizenship, and Tax Reform Threatens to Make it Worse
The House bill fails to put an end to global income taxation and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, though the Treasury Dept. may provide some regulatory relief on the latter
Neither Major Party Gubernatorial Candidate Has a Serious Plan to Fix New Jersey's Pension Crisis
The state has a $135 billion pension debt, but Phil Murphy and Kim Guadagno would rather spend the campaign's final days fighting the culture war.
Senate Fiscal Hawks Could Strangle Tax Reform in its Crib
James Lankford's "I am a no" makes at least three GOP senators who worry that the debt/deficit math doesn't add up
The NFL Wants to Block Tax Reform Because It Would End a Common Stadium Subsidy
Cities have issued more than $13 billion in untaxed bonds for stadium projects since 2000, and the NFL wants to keep the cronyism flowing.
Republicans' Tax Plan Crashes Jerry Brown's Electric Car Fantasies
The new tax reform bill eliminates a huge tax credit for electric vehicle purchases.
Sen. Feinstein's Threat to 'Do Something' to Social Media Companies Is a Bigger Danger to Democracy Than Russia
Do not ignore the self-interest of elected officials in controlling online political messaging.
Five Important Details from the GOP Tax Plan
Fewer income tax brackets, a bigger standard deduction, a lower corporate rate, and a new cap on mortgage deductions. But what about the deficit?
The GOP Tax Bill Doesn't Repeal Obamacare's Individual Mandate
But a future version might.
Did Trump's Ex-Im Bank Nominee Flip-Flop or Is He Being a 'Trojan Horse'?
Rep. Scott Garrett seeks to head the agency he previous sought to end.
The Trump Tax Plan Is Government as Usual
Despite big promises, it fails in its primary mission: paying for the actual cost of government
UPDATE: Congressional Republicans (and Maybe Donald Trump Too) Could Be Coming For Your 401(k)
Tax reform will change how Americans save for retirement, but lowering a tax deduction for 401(k) savings would be a fiscal and political misstep.
It's Past Time for a New Vote on the War on Terror
The Trump administration pushes back on the idea of a new AUMF; Congress should push harder.
Getting Veterans Back to Work
Occupational licensing laws are keeping returning servicemen and their families out of their chosen fields.
Libertarian Republican Sen. Jeff Flake Will Not Run for Re-Election (UPDATED)
"There may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party."
Sens. Rand Paul and Ron Wyden Unveil Long-Awaited, Privacy-Protecting Surveillance Reform Bill
The Fourth Amendment matters to some legislators.
California's Six-Figure Pension Club Has 62,000 Members
And seven retirees in Los Angeles pulled down more than $1 million each in retirement benefits last year.
Federal Court Ponders Constitutionality of Prostitution Ban
A right to engage in prostitution seems like "a natural extension of Supreme Court precedent," says judge.
The Real Insult to the Troops Is Rudderless Military Adventurism
Honor the dead by taking service members out of harm's way.
Congressional Republicans Aim to Loosen Rules Restricting Export-Import Bank Cronyism
Legislation would return the crony-capitalist agency to former glory.
The NRA's Dangerous Alternative to a Bump Stock Ban
The ATF has no legal authority to restrict the controversial firearm accessory.
