This might make you a little less aggravated about public TV and radio pledge drives (or not):
Assuming they are correct, these dollar comparisons were stunning:
How to Save the News, by William F. Baker, September 23, 2009 (This article appeared in the October 12, 2009 edition of The Nation.)
From the U.S. Justice Department blog:
Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana, October 19th, 2009, posted by Tracy Russo:
“Today Attorney General Eric Holder announced formal guidelines for federal prosecutors in states that have enacted laws authorizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Those guidelines are contained in a memo from Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden which was sent to United States Attorneys this morning….” (read full post)
The Portland Tribune ran an excellent news story on the current status of Oregon payday lending and on Internet payday lending (and lenders):
Internet payday lenders flout new law: Oregon law capping rates ignored by many online lenders, by Steve Law, The Portland Tribune, Oct 15, 2009
Do you want to read the official text of these ballot measures and get a head start on preparing for the January 2010 election?
1) Visit the Elections Division’s searchable database and set your search criteria to 2010 and Qualified for Ballot. You’ll be given a link to the full text of the measures.
Did you know that … “There is created the Task Force on Effective and Cost-Efficient Service Provision …”: House Bill 2920 (HTML or PDF) (Chapter 881, (2009 Laws): Effective date August 4, 2009).
“… The task force shall:
(a) Review opportunities to provide services in the most effective and cost-efficient manner;
(b) Consider the ability of intergovernmental agreements, existing or new service districts and technology to achieve costsavings;
(c) Encourage effective fiscal planning for counties managing the phaseout of federal forest safety net payments; and
(d) Recommend to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly anappropriate level of state fiscal support to counties….” (See also: Representative Nathanson appointment to Task Force)
I’m not sure if you are fully aware just how difficult it is to cut a state’s budget, especially one’s own state’s budget. Do you really want to cut programs that have substantial matching funds the state would lose? Do you want to cut programs that bring in self-supporting fees? Do you want to cut programs that would save us all a lot money in the short, medium or long term (e.g. education?) Do you really want to cut money from programs that protect our health and safety? See what I mean?
For the record:
The “honest services law” is 18 U.S.C. 1346, which is a federal (not state) law that is found in the U.S. Code. It has a complex and fascinating (to some) history and is not simply about “honest services.” Honestly!
“TITLE 18, § 1346:Definition of “scheme or artifice to defraud”
For the purposes of this chapter, the term “scheme or artifice to defraud” includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services.”
Ever wonder about Oregon laws on:
1) Meals and rest breaks
2) Deductions from pay
3) Student interns
4) Domestic workers
5) Apartment managers
6) Employment at will
7) Whistle blowing
8) References
You could start with the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS), admittedly not the most user-friendly of books, but then what statutory compilation is?
Bloomberg Law is set, later this month, to roll out its legal research database to compete, so we hear, with Lexis and Westlaw.
Blog reports on the rollout include Above the Law, Advocate’s Studio, and Legal Research Plus (an early review).
Expect many more posts as the actual rollout date approaches and passes.
I also found a link to this video and many other excellent legal research and lawyer tips from Jim Calloway’s excellent Law Practice Tips blog:
YouLaw: If Pixar Created a Law Firm Video
Animating the law is truly a heroic exercise.
Some very useful research websites are referenced here:
Ten Best Websites for Family Court Attorneys, September 18, 2009, by J. Benjamin Stevens
The list includes ISP List, Meetways, Pipl, and FOIA Letter Generator, to name only a few.
Oregon Legal Research Blog