While proponents of property rights were celebrating two unanimous victories at the United States Supreme Court in May, another ruling that month garnered little attention. Yet, it could have an impact as far reaching as Tyler v. Hennepin County and Sackett v. EPA. The Court upheld a California law that prohibits the sale of pork…
Today, the United States Supreme Court announced two unanimous rulings in cases that had been filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF). This follows another successful ruling from the Court in April (Wilkins v. United States). In Sackett v. EPA, the Court significantly narrowed the EPA’s authority under the Clean Water Act. The ruling will…
In April, the Texas House approved a bill titled the “Texas Regulatory Consistency Act.” House Bill 2127 would preempt local regulations in seven “fields,” including occupations, natural resources, and labor. The bill states that “in recent years, several local jurisdictions have sought to establish their own regulations of commerce that are different than the state…
CNN reports that cities across the nation are cracking down on abandoned shopping carts. They are fining retailers and imposing storage fees for carts the municipality collects. Some are also fining individuals who remove carts from store property, but most are putting responsibility for the great shopping cart theft on retailers. City officials argue that…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced an “historic” rule that will allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter (OTC) and restores a smidgeon of freedom for Americans. In a press release announcing the rule, the FDA stated, It is designed to assure the safety and effectiveness of OTC hearing aids, while…
Most American drivers are familiar with the process for filling their own gas tank. However, in New Jersey and Oregon it is illegal to pump your own gas. The reason for these prohibitions is the fact that pumping gas is dangerous. Certainly, pumping one’s own gasoline can be dangerous. But driving a car is far…
In 2019, Mark Shirley left his job managing an auto dealership to pursue his dream of owning a restaurant. After doing research, he concluded that a food truck was the best way to start. Costs would be lower than a brick-and-mortar location and he could slowly build his clientele while working out the kinks every…
In late August 2021, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer COVID vaccine. At this time, the vaccines developed by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have not been approved by the FDA. Despite the delay in approving the Pfizer vaccine, and the lack of approval for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines,…
A good salesman seeks to empower his customer to make a wise purchasing decision. He does this by asking questions to determine the customer’s needs and desires. He can then direct the customer to the products and features that will be most satisfying. Bad salesmen, on the other hand, show no concern for what the…
Like a swarm of lemmings, Seattle keeps moving closer to the edge of the cliff. Since the beginning of the pandemic, city council has enacted a series of destructive ordinances under the guise of protecting tenants. The latest insanity includes: Tenants must be given six months’ notice of rent increases Landlords must pay a tenant…
James R. Taylor, the President of The Heartland Institute, writes that Big Tech is hypocritical for using property rights claims to argue against government intervention in their businesses. Those same companies, he writes, have previously pressured government to intervene in the affairs of other businesses. Certainly, Big Tech is hypocritical in its application of property…
For years, Californians have been fleeing the state’s outrageously high taxes and draconian regulations. Many have settled in Texas, where both taxes and business regulations are generally less onerous. Interestingly, the Texas state capital, Austin, will soon become an unofficial part of California. A report by Zillow finds that, by the end of this year,…