Candidate for 64th District of Michigan House of Representatives
During 2016, one out of every 10 Michigan residents whose property was taken by law enforcement using civil asset forfeiture was never charged with a crime.
Legislation requiring law enforcement to obtain a conviction prior to the government taking ownership of assets from citizens is being considered in the Michigan House.
I support this legislation
– On January 4, 2018, Trump administration Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that he is rescinding the current Department of Justice policy which places a low priority on enforcing marijuana prohibition in States with laws that have legalized the growing, possession and use of marijuana. The current policy, now rescinded, led to an explosion in the growth of the medical marijuana sector and legalization for medical purposes here in Michigan. Over half of the States now have legalized medicinal marijuana and eight states allow recreational use.
I strongly oppose this action by the Donald Trump administration. Federal prohibition of marijuana use violates both individual rights and States’ rights.
I believe, as do all Libertarians, that individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and must accept the responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. We also believe that laws should be limited to protecting individuals from the initiation of force and fraud. Therefore we support the repeal of laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as Federal and State laws limiting or prohibiting the use of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes.
The “war on drugs” has been a spectacular failure. Though billions of taxpayers’ dollars have been spent, usage remains almost unchanged. What has changed is that an enormous number of individuals have been imprisoned, ruining their lives and the lives of their families. Marijuana prohibition has resulted in increased crime, official corruption and deaths. Drug cartels and related criminal activity are a direct result of prohibition. I support initiatives in Michigan that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana by adults.
The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that the powers not granted to the Federal government or prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States, or to the people. Nowhere does the Constitution grant the Federal government the power to prohibit the growing, distribution and use of marijuana. Thus, decisions regarding marijuana are clearly reserved to the States and the people. I support Federal legislation that would implement the Constitution by repealing Federal marijuana prohibition laws. I further support the ballot initative to “Abrogate Prohibition” of cannabis by amending the Michigan Constitution.
It's not in a company's best interest to KILL ITS CUSTOMERS.
Posted by Mises Institute on Friday, April 6, 2018
I would propose similar legislation in Michigan: https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-model-for-licensing-reform-1522795235
In Nebraska you need more training to massage a horse than a human. Rub a horse without a license and you risk a criminal charge and up to four years in jail and $35,000 in penalties. Such barriers to entry hurt sore steeds, workers and the economy, so it’s good news that Nebraska lawmakers are considering an occupational licensing reform that could be a national model.
Nebraska is like many states that have built up barriers to work due to lobbying by special interests. For horse massagers, veterinarians are the monopoly culprits. The Cornhusker State requires bureaucratic permission to work in nearly 200 professions, including 63 lower-income occupations that are the labor force entryway for the poor and least skilled.
Enter the proposed Occupational Board Reform Act that says the state should “use the least restrictive regulation to protect consumers.” This means, for example, that the state could use alternatives like periodic inspections to guarantee clean and safe hair salons and barber shops. That would spare cosmetologists and barbers some 16 months of training.
Nebraska lawmakers have reformed outrageous occupational licenses one at a time, but this would allow wholesale reform. Legislative committees would review 20% of existing licensing requirements annually. They’d consider whether a license is really necessary, whether the training requirements are overly burdensome, and whether the certification is abused to exclude competition. The committees would also examine whether it’s less time- and cash-intensive to get the same licenses in neighboring states.
The annual review would occur when Nebraska’s Legislature is not in session. This lessens the potential for lobbying by licensees who benefit because current rules protect their professional turf. Lawmakers would later have the option of bundling the various committee recommendations for an up-or-down vote, further insulating them from political pressure from rent-seeking guilds.
The bill would also help Nebraskans with criminal records find work. The average lower-income license in the state requires nearly four months of training. Licensing boards currently decide if past convictions are disqualifying only after applicants do the training. The new legislation would let Nebraskans with a criminal record request a binding decision before they invest time and money. Recidivism rates are lower in states where former criminals can find gainful employment.
A vote is expected in the next two weeks, and the Nebraska bill enjoys the support of some Democrats, Republicans and libertarians—even the American Civil Liberties Union. The Nebraska model was built in consultation with the Institute for Justice, and lawmakers in Louisiana and New Hampshire have introduced similar bills.
More states should take up the cause. Red tape smothers the one in four Americans who are forced to obtain a license before working. Creating opportunity should be a priority across party lines.
