Big Beautiful Bill Part VIII

Sorry I took a day off. I needed to write next weeks article and I have a bunch of finals to grade. While all that takes priority, I am actually getting closer to the end and Medicare is still one of the most talked about aspects of this bill, I can’t just stop now. I … Continue reading Big Beautiful Bill Part VIII →

Big Beautiful Bill Part VII

Those last few sections were no fun, but now we get back into the drama. This section explains the messy divorce between President Trump and his ex-BFF Elon Musk. This is taking on and eliminating much of the green new deal and taking away tax credits for green energy and solar. It also goes into … Continue reading Big Beautiful Bill Part VII →

Constitution 101: Congressional Rules Clause

From Southwest Ledger In July of 2022 U.S. Rep. John B. Larson (D-Conn.) wrote an op-ed in which he called the Senate “the most debilitating threat” to our nation. He was writing about Rule 22 in the Senate which requires 60 votes to take up a House bill. Larson claimed that the Constitution did not … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Rules Clause →

Big Beautiful Bill Part III

I had one of those nights last night where I just could not sleep. I thought, you know what might help, reading laws. It was actually boring enough to do the job. Section 60001 to 60026 are about the environment and public works. This part is very simple, they found a place to cut. All … Continue reading Big Beautiful Bill Part III →

Big Beautiful Bill, Part II

After spending the morning at the Ansel Adams exhibit in the morning, I decided I had had too much fun and so spent a couple more hours looking over the Bill. One thing to remember, please, is that I am a historian and most of this is beyond my sphere of knowledge. Please take that … Continue reading Big Beautiful Bill, Part II →

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July everyone. I assume you all have spent the day like me, dividing your time between watching 1776 and reading Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. I did not intend to spend the holiday reading this, but I have not been able to find a source I felt I could trust. Mostly what I … Continue reading Happy 4th of July →

Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth

From Southwest Ledger Last week after learning about America’s bombing of Iran, two debates emerged: Did we do the right thing? And did President Trump have the legal authority to attack Iran without congressional authority or input? The first question is difficult to answer, and we probably will not know until everything has played out. … Continue reading Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth →

Army’s 250th Anniversary Celebration Overshadowed by ‘No Kings’ Protests

From Southwest Ledger I was disappointed June 14 as I saw several social media posts celebrating the low turnout at the military parade honoring of the 250th anniversary of the United States Army in Washington, D.C. Closer to home, Lawton/Fort Sill canceled their anniversary celebrations to ensure public safety following protests nationwide. I understand that … Continue reading Army’s 250th Anniversary Celebration Overshadowed by ‘No Kings’ Protests →

Constitution 101: Congressional Authority and the Quorum Clause

From Southwest Ledger In many ways, Article I, Section V of our Constitution is a continuation of Section IV in that it established the rules and powers of Congress. The first part gives Congress some judicial power while, at the same time, it eliminates one of the biggest tricks parties used to block legislation. Article … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Authority and the Quorum Clause →

Constitution 101: Election and Assembly Clauses

From Southwest Ledger As we have seen over the past few months, there has been a lot of debate as to who is eligible to vote and where the power belongs. However, in federal elections, it is up to the states to make these rules. While most people are familiar with the first three sections … Continue reading Constitution 101: Election and Assembly Clauses →