Outside the Beltway

The Federal Government has filed its response to Virginia’s request for an expedited review of Virginia v. Sebelius, and they’ve got an compelling argument against rushing things.

Was the GOP’s maneuver legit? And what’s next?

The Dalai Lama will give up his political role in the Tibetan government-in-exile and shift that power to an elected representative.

Wisconsin Republicans stripped state employees of collective bargaining rights without the Democratic senators who fled the state to prevent a quorum.

Illinois became the 16th state to abolish capital punishment today. That’s far too few.

An Alabama legislator wants to ban the use of Islamic law in the state’s courts — just in case Muslims take over.

The Supreme Court rules that “offensiveness” does not trump the First Amendment. And they’re right.

The most likely cuts in federal spending are likely to actually increase the deficit over time.

The fight over Federal funding for Planned Parenthood seems to be about much more than whether taxpayer dollars should be going to Planned Parenthood.

Yet again: to the Commerce Clause!

Opposition to marriage equality is no longer the wedge issue it used to be.

President Obama’s decision to decline to defend Section Three of the Defense Of Marriage Act on appeal was a proper and appropriate exercise of his authority as President Of The United States.

A former Democratic state attorney general thinks Wisconsin’s Republican governor may have violated state ethics laws while on a prank phone call.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker did not campaign on the union-busting package he’s proposing now.

Federal laws designed to protect unions add yet another wrinkle to the Wisconsin standoff.

There are a lot of issues on the table, so to speak, in the WI situation. Here I try to entangle them a bit.

A commenter asks, “Why does Wisconsin have a quorum rule if not for situations like this?”

Neither side is covering themselves in glory in the battle over the Badger State budget.

The success of Christian conservatives in blocking efforts to legalize Sunday alcohol sales in Georgia demonstrates why concentrating solely on national politics is a mistake.

We need to remember who actually sets the budget and, further, who is ultimtately responsible for the behavior of politicians.

Haley Barbour is making all the moves toward a 2012 Presidential run, but his stand on immigration issues could pose a problem in the Republican primaries.

Four Senators who just happen to be up for re-election next year are silently looking for alternatives to the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate.

Examining Levin’s examination of the Constitution, jurisprudence, and property rights.

Arizona looks to be the latest state to try to revive the discredited doctrine of nullification.

No, the legislation does not in any way “suggest that some kind of rape that would be okay.”

A 2005 concurring opinion from Antonin Scalia may be the piece of legal reasoning that ultimately saves the Affordable Care Act in the Courts.

A second Federal District Court judge has declared the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak responded to mass unrest by cutting off his people from the outside world. Do we really want an American President to have the same power?