In its final day of the 2015 term, the Supreme Court handed down decisions reinforcing the death penalty, upholding Arizona's congressional redistricting process and limiting the President’s power to limit pollution from power plants. Also, many conservative lawmakers are are stating that the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage is a violation on religious freedom laws. Then, South Carolina gun control activists hope to tackle the region's permissive gun law.
SCOTUS doles out death penalty, EPA & redistricting decisions, vows to take up affirmative action
In its final day of the 2015 term, the Supreme Court handed down decisions reinforcing the death penalty, upholding Arizona (and thereby California’s) congressional redistricting process and limiting the President’s power to limit pollution from power plants.
In addition to those, the court also announced that next term it will re-hear a case about the use of race in college admissions. That case involves a white woman who sued after she was denied admission to UT-Austin. A conservative-leaning federal appeals court in New Orleans has twice sided with the University’s policy, but experts now believe that the Supreme Court’s decision to re-hear the case may portend tighter restrictions on affirmative action in higher education.
Guests:
Jody Armour, Roy P. Crocker Professor of Law at the University of Southern California
Vik Amar, a professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law
Timothy Cama, Energy and Environment Reporter at The Hill
Noah Feldman, a constitutional studies expert at Harvard Law School. His take on today’s EPA decision, “Justices Flex Their Power in EPA Case,” was published this morning in Bloomberg View
Conservatives fight to protect religious freedom laws in wake of same sex marriage decision
Last week same sex marriage became legal in all 50 states.
The 5 to 4 decision made by the Supreme Court Friday states that the right to marry is fundamental and Supreme Court Justice Kennedy wrote that under the 14th Amendment's protections "couples of the same-sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty.”
Now that the decision has been made and millions of America’s same sex couples have the right to marry, many conservative lawmakers are pushing back stating that this decision is a violation on religious freedom laws. Their concern is that faith-based organizations will be restricted on who they can hire and fire based on their religious beliefs.
Is it possible for a balance to be struck between religious freedom and protections against the discrimination of gays?
Guests:
John Eastman, professor of law and founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence at Chapman University.
Doug NeJaime, a Professor of Law at UC Irvine and Visiting Scholar at the Williams Institute at UCLA, a research institution focusing on gender identity law
After Charleston massacre: Gun rights groups fight ‘gun-free zones’
South Carolina gun control activists hope to tackle the region's permissive gun laws in the aftermath of the Charleston massacre, but they face stiff opposition from gun rights groups.
For instance, second amendment activist Paul Valone says the Charleston shooting proves South Carolina ought to allow guns in churches as does his state of North Carolina. Valone’s intent is to reduce “victim disarmament.” As for gun permitting, at present, the Palmetto state does not require a registration of, nor a permit to purchase, handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
A recent bill that saw an overwhelming show of support in South Carolina’s legislature (before dying when the session adjourned for the summer) would have allowed people to carry concealed weapons “for lawful purposes” on their person without a permit, instead of requiring a gun education course and a minimum age of 21.
In North Carolina, HB 562, seeks to repeal requiring permits for handgun purchases and to restrict doctors from discussing firearms with their patients.
Ladd Everitt of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence says the “degenerate gun culture” of the South was a contributing factor to the Charleston massacre and hopes the aftermath will limit the National Rifle Association’s fealty with the South.
Will the latest ostentatious act of gun violence influence state lawmakers? The National Rifle Association says some politicians are either "[capitalizing] on a tragedy for political purposes" or "their urge to 'do something' isn't tempered by a sense of reality." What, if any, laws could have stopped the alleged shooter, Dylann Roof?
Guests:
Paul Valone, President, Grass Roots North Carolina - described as an all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
Ladd Everitt, Director of Communications, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
Iran nuclear deal deadline extended...again. What comes next
United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and Iran have entered their final phase of negotiations in Vienna as the clock ticks down the deadline for a nuclear deal on Tuesday.
Some of the most contentious issues still loom large, such as questions of access and transparency, possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear activity, and sanctions. Many details are still confidential. Despite major obstacles to overcome, senior U.S. official remain optimistic that a deal could still be within reach.
If the talks extend past June 30, modest sanctions relief that has already been temporarily extended twice to Iran by the U.S. and European Union could easily be extended again. But Congress recently passed legislation that would create additional obstacles to final ratification if the agreement is not finalized by July 10.
As the negotiations pass the June 30 deadline, will a final deal come out before the walls close in? What will be the consequences if the negotiations fall through?
Guests:
Josh Lockman, International Law Professor and expert on U.S. Foreign Policy at the USC Gould School of Law
Robert Kaufman, a political scientist and professor of public policy at Pepperdine University specializing in American foreign policy, national security, international relations, and various aspects of American politics
LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis on raising the minimum wage
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors delayed a vote last Tuesday on raising the minimum wage in the unincorporated areas of the County.
The City of Los Angeles recently passed legislation that would gradually bring the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020. The County’s proposal follows the same time frame.
Supervisor Hilda Solis is considered a swing vote on the measure. At the Tuesday meeting, Solis, who is former Secretary of Labor in the Obama administration and a Democrat, called for the postponement. She told KPCC’s Brian Watt that some of her constituents had expressed concerns over the impact of the increase on their small “mom-and-pop” businesses.
A vote on the proposal is now scheduled for July 21.
Guest:
Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor representing the First District, which includes the unincorporated areas of East Los Angeles, South San Gabriel, and Avocado Heights. She is former Secretary of Labor from 2009 to 2013