From Southwest Ledger When the American colonies first clashed with Britain over taxation, much of their frustration focused on Charles Townshend and later Frederick North. Both men served simultaneously as members of Parliament and as Chancellor of the Exchequer. In American terms, this would be like someone serving as a senator while also acting as … Continue reading Constitution 101: The Ineligibility and Incompatibility Clauses
Tag: Trump
The cost of misusing history in our political debates
From the Southwest Ledger I had an interesting experience in class last week; one I hope won’t get me in too much trouble. As the semester is winding down, one of my classes was giving presentations on their research projects. Two students happened to present on Nazis. Both did an excellent job; their work was … Continue reading The cost of misusing history in our political debates
Constitution 101: Congressional Pay Clause
From Southwest Ledger We have come to the juicy part of our Constitution where members of Congress get paid. Congressional salaries have come under great scrutiny since our nation was founded. Lately, with the administration’s appointments and confirmation hearings, some may say, “Congress spends too much time investigating the people when someone should be investigating … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Pay Clause
National Guard troops policing capital not unprecedented, history shows
From the Southwest Ledger On Aug. 11, President Trump ordered around 800 National Guard troops to assume control of policing our nation’s capital — something that was done frequently in the 1960s but had not been done since the Nixon administration. According to CBS News, crime has fallen since the takeover, including violent crime down … Continue reading National Guard troops policing capital not unprecedented, history shows
Constitution 101: Journal and Adjournment Clauses
Article I, Section 5, Clauses 3 and 4 of our Constitution proves there are some areas of the government where everyone actually can agree — well almost. Clause 3 states, “Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment … Continue reading Constitution 101: Journal and Adjournment Clauses
Seen and unseen tax changes in Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill
From Southwest Ledger President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill has proven to be one of the most contentious bills in recent memory. At the heart of the debate is who the OBBB benefits. While the left claims the bill is simply a tax break for the rich, the right claims our middle class will benefit … Continue reading Seen and unseen tax changes in Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill
Why are we snapping over SNAP?
Last week our nation seemed to split across a metaphorical fault line over the “Big Beautiful Bill.” One side called the measure a masterpiece while the other condemned it as the downfall of our society. Yet, amid all this fighting, our nation experienced a real tragedy. While politics is always important, last week the political … Continue reading Why are we snapping over SNAP?
Big Beautiful Bill Part XI
It is finally finished. I hope this was worth it. Section 86001 has just one part and sets aside $40 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities to use between 2025 and 2028 to buy statues honoring American heroes. This funding supports projects described in three executive orders that focus on creating and rebuilding … Continue reading Big Beautiful Bill Part XI
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
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
