State House proposes to slash slavery penal exception clause
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A resolution was introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives Tuesday, proposing an amendment to the state Constitution that would eliminate an exception to the prohibition of slavery.
Currently, Article I, Section 9 of the Michigan Constitution completely bans slavery in the state of Michigan except as punishment for a crime, which is also known as a penal exception clause. The proposed amendment would remove that exception from the language of the law.
Similar exceptions exist in fifteen states, including Michigan. In the past ten years, a few states, including Alabama, Colorado, and Nebraska, have voted to amend their laws to remove the penal exception clause.
The Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution also has a penal exception clause.
The resolution was referred to the Committee on Government Operations for further review.
If adopted, the amendment would be placed on the ballot in the next general election.
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USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Happy birthday: Trump's parade sparks pushback and peril
Happy birthday: Trump's parade sparks pushback and peril Show Caption Hide Caption Army 250th anniversary parade marches on despite weather worries President Donald Trump's controversial military parade kicked off 30 minutes early to avoid inclement weather. President Donald Trump's military parade was just eight blocks long. And heard round the world. That's true even though the June 14 parade itself turned out to be a damp and relatively low-key affair. Thousands of spectators lined a stretch of Constitution Avenue in an off-and-on drizzle to applaud a slow-moving procession of troops, tanks, drones, a robot dog and a real dog marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. At the end, they joined in a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for the president, who happened to be turning 79 years old. "Every other country celebrates their victories," Trump said at the start of his brief speech, defending his controversial decision to stage the parade. "It's about time America did, too." But the parade may prove to be less consequential than the "No Kings" marches it sparked. In the biggest and broadest protests of his second term, millions of Americans in about 2,000 communities gathered to object to his assertion of unprecedented presidential powers, which critics say violate the Constitution. Photographs of protesters across the country filling plazas and marching across bridges were reminiscent of scenes from historic debates over the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War and more. After an aggressive start by the 47th president that has shaken up the federal government and the nation's global alliances, Saturday may have signaled the start of a new chapter of his tenure. That is, a new chapter of pushback amid a sense of growing peril. Flummoxed in Congress, organizing back home The pushback to Trump has been slow in starting as congressional Democrats, outnumbered in both chambers, continue to struggle to devise the strongest message and most effective tactics to use against the Republican president. There was no repeat of the immediate and massive demonstrations in Washington that marked his first inauguration, in 2017. In contrast, the "No Kings" rallies were deliberately local and light on policy prescriptions beyond support for democracy's guardrails and opposition to Trump's hardline approach to deporting immigrants in the country illegally. The sense of peril was underscored by a flood of violent and alarming news through the day. A manhunt was underway in Minnesota for the suspect in the assassination of a state legislative leader and her husband. Another state legislator and his wife were wounded in a separate attack. A hitlist of Democratic officials and abortion-rights advocates and a sheaf of papers labeled "No Kings" was found in the back seat of the suspected gunman's car. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrats' 2024 vice-presidential nominee, called the persistence of political violence a "precipice moment" for the nation. Meanwhile, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel, and Israel responded with a new wave of attacks on Iran in a spiraling conflict that would risk drawing the United States into a regional war. So much was happening, and so fast, that Saturday's news overshadowed Thursday's political conflagration, when federal law-enforcement agents forced California Sen. Alex Padilla to the ground and handcuffed him after he tried to interrupt a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The bristle of force, in DC and LA The day seemed to bristle with the display of force and the threat of its use. In Washington, dozens of 70-ton Abrams tanks rolled down the tree-lined avenue while 50 military helicopters flew overhead, the biggest public display of U.S. military hardware outside of war in memory. The official route was bookended by the capital's revered sights, beginning at the Lincoln Memorial and ending just past the White House, with the Capitol visible ahead. 'Time and again, America's enemies have learned that you threaten the American people, soldiers are coming for you," Trump said in an eight-minute speech delivered in the twilight between the parade and the fireworks. "Your defeat will be certain, your demise will be final, and your downfall will be total and complete.' The reaction by critics of the parade − mostly on grounds that it seemed more suitable for a dictatorship than a democracy − had been sharpened in recent days by the president's deployment of U.S. Marines as well as Army National Guard troops to Los Angeles in the wake of immigration protests. He acted over the objections of the city's mayor and the state's governor. The protest in Philadelphia was estimated by police at nearly 100,000. In Chicago, protesters marched past Trump Tower. In Atlanta, one sign showed the Statue of Liberty weeping and another displayed a demand familiar from Trump campaign rallies: "Lock Him Up!" In Los Angeles, some marchers carried an oversized Constitution, and others inflated a 20-foot balloon that depicted Trump as a baby in a diaper. In Nanuet, New York, a hamlet in the Lower Hudson Valley, more than 1,000 protesters lined a central intersection known as the "Four Corners." "People think people have given up," said Ciara Sweeney of nearby Pearl River, holding a hand-painted sign showing Trump behind bars. "That's not true." The protests were mostly peaceful, and many had a celebratory air. However, police in Los Angeles and in Atlanta dispersed chemical irritants to control the crowds. In Culpepper, Virginia, police arrested a man who they said accelerated an SUV into a crowd of protesters, hitting at least one person. 'Trump saves America' There was a festive vibe on the National Mall before and during the parade, too. But the mood of the mostly pro-Trump crowd wasn't as energized as the capital's last military parade, in 1991, after the triumphant end of the first Gulf War. When Trump spoke, many in the crowd rallied, but some already left through the security fences and barriers that surrounded the area. The president spoke for eight minutes, less than usual, and he stuck to a script praising the Army's history. Unlike his appearance at Fort Bragg a few days earlier, when he had ridiculed former President Joe Biden by name, Trump didn't veer into his favored political tropes. Some of the president's supporters found it an apt coincidence that Trump's birthday fell on the date of the Army's founding in 1775, as the Revolutionary War was beginning. They cited his support for a muscular military. At the protests, too, there were reminders of the revolution, where the "No Kings" slogan has its roots. In Philadelphia, a protester in colonial dress carried a sign quoting John Adams: "Liberty Once Lost Is Lost Forever." It was in Philadelphia that the Continental Congress voted to create an Army after battles against the British crown in Lexington and Concord. As Ralph Waldo Emerson famously wrote in a poem memorializing those opening conflicts, "Here once the embattled farmers stood / And fired the shot heard round the world." Contributing: Gary Stern, Nancy Cutler
Hamilton Spectator
4 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Justice Department's early moves on voting and elections signal a shift from its traditional role
ATLANTA (AP) — In North Carolina, it was a lawsuit over the state's voter registration records. In Arizona and Wisconsin , it was a letter to state election officials warning of potential administrative violations. And in Colorado, it was a demand for election records going back to 2020. Those actions in recent weeks by the U.S. Department of Justice's voting section may seem focused on the technical machinery of how elections are run but signal deeper changes when combined with the departures of career attorneys and decisions to drop various voting rights cases. They represent a shift away from the division's traditional role of protecting access to the ballot box. Instead, the actions address concerns that have been raised by a host of conservative activists following years of false claims surrounding elections in the U.S. Some voting rights and election experts also note that by targeting certain states — presidential battlegrounds or those controlled by Democrats — the moves could be foreshadowing an expanded role for the department in future elections. David Becker, a former department attorney who worked on voting rights cases and now leads the Center for Election Innovation & Research, said the Justice Department's moves represent a departure from focusing on major violations of federal law. 'This would be like the police department prioritizing jaywalking over murder investigations,' he said. A Justice Department spokesperson responded with 'no comment' to an emailed request for more information about the actions, including whether similar ones had been taken in any other states. Actions come amid major changes at the DOJ Conservatives for years have called for an overhaul at the Justice Department in both personnel and priorities. President Donald Trump also has criticized how elections are run, falsely blaming his 2020 loss on widespread fraud. Earlier this year, he signed an executive order seeking a sweeping overhaul of election operations — an authority the Constitution grants to the states and Congress. After his win last November, Trump installed key allies at the Justice Department, including Attorney General Pam Bondi , who has made similar claims about the 2020 election. Multiple reviews in the presidential battleground states affirmed Democrat Joe Biden's win in 2020 , Trump and his allies lost dozens of lawsuits , and even Trump's attorney general at the time said there was no evidence of widespread fraud. Justin Levitt, a former deputy assistant attorney general in the department's civil rights division, said most of the DOJ's actions appeared reasonable and focused on issues that had already been raised by conservative activists in those states. They also are the type that would be expected from a conservative administration, he said, with the exception of the Colorado request. He called that 'well out of bounds.' 'This administration has prioritized grievance, even perceived grievance when there is no basis in fact,' said Levitt, who also served as a senior policy adviser in the Biden administration. 'And it's dismaying, but not surprising, that the civil rights division would do the same.' Department wants records related to the 2020 election The department's request to Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, asked for all records relating to last year's presidential election. Federal law requires those to be kept for 22 months. In the request, the department stated it had received a complaint alleging that Griswold's office was not in compliance with federal law relating to voter registration. The request also directs Griswold to preserve any records of the 2020 election that might still be in the state's possession. Griswold, in an interview, called the request a 'fishing expedition' and said her office responded by providing state voting files. 'I'm not even sure they know what they are looking for,' Griswold said. 'They can request all the data they want, and it's not going to prove anything.' North Carolina elections have been a particular target for Republicans In North Carolina, where Republican lawmakers recently wrested control of the state election board from the Democratic governor, Justice Department lawyers filed a lawsuit accusing state election officials of failing to ensure that all voter records include identifying information, such as a driver's license. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who oversees the civil rights division , said in a statement announcing the lawsuit that accurate voter rolls are critical to ensuring elections are conducted 'fairly, accurately, and without fraud.' The previous board had acknowledged the issue and updated the state's voter registration form. The new board leadership has vowed to address it. Skeptical of the motives In Wisconsin, which Trump won in 2016 and 2024 but lost in 2020, department lawyers recently sent a letter to the state election commission accusing it of not providing a complaint process for those raising concerns. This comes as Republican state lawmakers are pushing legislation to expand the ability to appeal decisions made by the six-member commission, which is equally divided between Republicans and Democrats. Republican lawmakers have long complained about commission decisions they perceive as benefiting Democrats. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a law firm that frequently defends Republicans on election issues, supports both efforts, said Lucas Vebber, the firm's deputy counsel. 'It's ensuring that Wisconsinites are entitled to have their complaints heard and adjudicated,' he said. 'As something as important as our elections, it's vital to ensure that process is transparent and available to everyone.' Rep. Lee Snodgrass, a Democrat on the Wisconsin Legislature's elections committee, said state law needs some tightening around how election complaints are handled, but she's dubious about the motives of the Trump administration and conservative activists in the state. They are looking for ways 'to cast doubt on election integrity, so if they don't get the results they want they can cry foul,' Snodgrass said. Concerns about future actions In Arizona, DOJ lawyers said the state was not clearly telling voter registration applicants to provide a driver's license if they have one and asked the state to conduct a review to identify any noncitizens. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, responded by saying Arizona requires those registering to vote in state and local elections to provide proof of citizenship and conducts checks using the state's motor vehicle records. In Oregon, Justice Department lawyers weighed in on an ongoing lawsuit filed by the conservative group Judicial Watch. It alleges the state has failed to comply with federal laws on maintaining voter lists and making these records available for public inspection. John Powers, a former Justice Department attorney who now serves as legal director for the Advancement Project, said he was concerned about the moves coupled with the Justice Department's staff departures and its withdrawal from voting rights cases. Powers said he hoped, with midterm elections next year, that the department would not pursue minor technical issues in a way that could undermine public confidence in elections. 'I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about what the future might hold,' he said. ___ Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Justice Department's early moves on voting and elections signal a shift from its traditional role
ATLANTA (AP) — In North Carolina, it was a lawsuit over the state's voter registration records. In Arizona and Wisconsin, it was a letter to state election officials warning of potential administrative violations. And in Colorado, it was a demand for election records going back to 2020. Those actions in recent weeks by the U.S. Department of Justice's voting section may seem focused on the technical machinery of how elections are run but signal deeper changes when combined with the departures of career attorneys and decisions to drop various voting rights cases. They represent a shift away from the division's traditional role of protecting access to the ballot box. Instead, the actions address concerns that have been raised by a host of conservative activists following years of false claims surrounding elections in the U.S. Some voting rights and election experts also note that by targeting certain states — presidential battlegrounds or those controlled by Democrats — the moves could be foreshadowing an expanded role for the department in future elections. David Becker, a former department attorney who worked on voting rights cases and now leads the Center for Election Innovation & Research, said the Justice Department's moves represent a departure from focusing on major violations of federal law. 'This would be like the police department prioritizing jaywalking over murder investigations,' he said. A Justice Department spokesperson responded with 'no comment' to an emailed request for more information about the actions, including whether similar ones had been taken in any other states. Actions come amid major changes at the DOJ Conservatives for years have called for an overhaul at the Justice Department in both personnel and priorities. President Donald Trump also has criticized how elections are run, falsely blaming his 2020 loss on widespread fraud. Earlier this year, he signed an executive order seeking a sweeping overhaul of election operations — an authority the Constitution grants to the states and Congress. After his win last November, Trump installed key allies at the Justice Department, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has made similar claims about the 2020 election. Multiple reviews in the presidential battleground states affirmed Democrat Joe Biden's win in 2020, Trump and his allies lost dozens of lawsuits, and even Trump's attorney general at the time said there was no evidence of widespread fraud. Justin Levitt, a former deputy assistant attorney general in the department's civil rights division, said most of the DOJ's actions appeared reasonable and focused on issues that had already been raised by conservative activists in those states. They also are the type that would be expected from a conservative administration, he said, with the exception of the Colorado request. He called that 'well out of bounds.' 'This administration has prioritized grievance, even perceived grievance when there is no basis in fact," said Levitt, who also served as a senior policy adviser in the Biden administration. "And it's dismaying, but not surprising, that the civil rights division would do the same.' Department wants records related to the 2020 election The department's request to Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, asked for all records relating to last year's presidential election. Federal law requires those to be kept for 22 months. In the request, the department stated it had received a complaint alleging that Griswold's office was not in compliance with federal law relating to voter registration. The request also directs Griswold to preserve any records of the 2020 election that might still be in the state's possession. Griswold, in an interview, called the request a 'fishing expedition' and said her office responded by providing state voting files. 'I'm not even sure they know what they are looking for,' Griswold said. 'They can request all the data they want, and it's not going to prove anything.' North Carolina elections have been a particular target for Republicans In North Carolina, where Republican lawmakers recently wrested control of the state election board from the Democratic governor, Justice Department lawyers filed a lawsuit accusing state election officials of failing to ensure that all voter records include identifying information, such as a driver's license. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who oversees the civil rights division, said in a statement announcing the lawsuit that accurate voter rolls are critical to ensuring elections are conducted 'fairly, accurately, and without fraud.' The previous board had acknowledged the issue and updated the state's voter registration form. The new board leadership has vowed to address it. Skeptical of the motives In Wisconsin, which Trump won in 2016 and 2024 but lost in 2020, department lawyers recently sent a letter to the state election commission accusing it of not providing a complaint process for those raising concerns. This comes as Republican state lawmakers are pushing legislation to expand the ability to appeal decisions made by the six-member commission, which is equally divided between Republicans and Democrats. Republican lawmakers have long complained about commission decisions they perceive as benefiting Democrats. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a law firm that frequently defends Republicans on election issues, supports both efforts, said Lucas Vebber, the firm's deputy counsel. 'It's ensuring that Wisconsinites are entitled to have their complaints heard and adjudicated,' he said. 'As something as important as our elections, it's vital to ensure that process is transparent and available to everyone.' Rep. Lee Snodgrass, a Democrat on the Wisconsin Legislature's elections committee, said state law needs some tightening around how election complaints are handled, but she's dubious about the motives of the Trump administration and conservative activists in the state. They are looking for ways 'to cast doubt on election integrity, so if they don't get the results they want they can cry foul,' Snodgrass said. Concerns about future actions In Arizona, DOJ lawyers said the state was not clearly telling voter registration applicants to provide a driver's license if they have one and asked the state to conduct a review to identify any noncitizens. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, responded by saying Arizona requires those registering to vote in state and local elections to provide proof of citizenship and conducts checks using the state's motor vehicle records. In Oregon, Justice Department lawyers weighed in on an ongoing lawsuit filed by the conservative group Judicial Watch. It alleges the state has failed to comply with federal laws on maintaining voter lists and making these records available for public inspection. John Powers, a former Justice Department attorney who now serves as legal director for the Advancement Project, said he was concerned about the moves coupled with the Justice Department's staff departures and its withdrawal from voting rights cases. Powers said he hoped, with midterm elections next year, that the department would not pursue minor technical issues in a way that could undermine public confidence in elections. 'I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about what the future might hold,' he said. ___ Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin.
