One of the things that has troubled me in the gun control debate is this: is there any data that suggests that strict gun control laws actually produce results? Do gun control laws reduce murders? Do they even reduce gun murders? I decided to do some very rough research. Here’s what I found.
Tag Archive: Congress
President Obama Obscures the Facts on Small Business
In his weekly address today, President Obama laid out what sounded like a very compelling argument for raising taxes. However, he was deliberately misleading about the impact of increasing taxes on small businesses.
New Members of Congress from Illinois
2012 was a wave Democratic year. There were quite a few surprise Democratic winners across the country, including in Illinois. Illinois had the distinction of being a bright spot for the Democrats in 2010, in an otherwise Republican wave year. They held on to the Illinois legislature and the governor’s mansion, and so controlled the redistricting process in Illinois.
The Hard Work of Governing…
In the early morning on Wednesday, all the talk was about bringing the country together. Will President Obama compromise with Republicans? Or will his second term be as contentious as his first? He can learn some lessons from former president Bill Clinton.
Payroll Tax Holiday and Government Shutdown
The payroll tax holiday extension and a bill to avoid a government shutdown are big news around the country, as partisanship appears to be crippling Washington yet again. But, in what is becoming more and more commonplace, there is breaking news from the Associated Press that the two top leaders in the Senate may be nearing a deal.
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The Case Against Term Limits
One common lament of voters this election cycle—especially Republican voters—is that Congressmen are not subject to term limits. Many candidates for president, in fact, have made congressional term limits a part of their campaign promises.
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The American Jobs Act – A Speech by President Barack Obama
President Obama addressed a joint session of Congress tonight, giving a speech about creating jobs in the United States, and introducing his “American Jobs Act,” which he asked Congress to pass immediately. To some, it was a speech that could mark a turning point in his flailing presidency. To others, it was a rehashing of failed policies and ideas.
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The Good and the Bad of “Cut, Cap, and Balance”
Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2560, the “Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011,” by a vote of 239-190. I think there are some good ideas in this legislation, and some bad ideas.
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The Deal with the Debt Limit
In the last few weeks, Americans have been frustrated with the inability of Congress to deal with the debt limit. The House of Representatives, led by the Republicans, cannot come to an agreement with the Senate or the President, both led by Democrats. Many people have begun to pull their hair out, not understanding why the politicians can’t get their act together. The debt limit deal may seem simple on its face, but it’s complicated by both economic and political differences in which both sides have been steeped.
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Illinois’ Redistricting Bloodbath
The redistricting process is well underway around the country, and whether you like it or not, this process affects who will represent you in state legislatures, and in Congress. Most people think that it’s their votes that send a person to Congress, but that’s where they’d be wrong. Individuals’ votes only account for perhaps 40% in the decision of who goes to Congress.
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