Welcome to Tuesday, September 3rd, earthlings and martians...

Price Gouging: Unethical or Free-Market-At-Work?

As Hurricane Dorian approaches the Florida coast, officials in the Sunshine State, Georgia, and the Carolinas are warning businesses against price gouging.

The above states all have laws against increasing prices during federal emergencies. But should they? If you support a free-market system, why shouldn’t businesses be allowed to charge whatever price consumers are willing to pay?

“Unfortunately, con artists often exploit disasters by taking advantage of storm victims or preying on the sympathies of those who want to help out," said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.

But Reason recently ran a piece headlined “How 'Price Gouging' Can Help Floridians in Hurricane Dorian's Path".

“High prices can bring much-needed supplies into a disaster zone,” Zuri Davis wrote in the right-leaning outlet. “High prices also help prevent a handful of consumers from hoarding the majority of supplies."

And in a Harvard Business Review piece titled "The Problem with Price Gouging Laws," Rafi Mohammed warned that laws against price gouging discourage “businesses from boosting supplies.” If prices are capped, he wrote, “there’s little incentive for businesses to hustle to increase supplies.”

Should businesses be allowed to price gouge?

On the Radar

Bipartisan Senators Move to Establish Human Rights Commission in Honor of John McCain

As the McCain Institute (MCI) launches its new We Hold These Truths action campaign — an initiative dedicated to the promotion of human rights — a bipartisan group of senators is also taking steps to establish a human rights commission.

Just like the McCain Institute’s issue-advocacy effort, the commission is intended to honor the late Senator John McCain (R-AZ), and further his legacy of standing up for human rights around the world.

The John S. McCain III Human Rights Commission, introduced by a group of 17 bipartisan senators, would: serve as a forum for discussion of international human rights issues and the promotion of human rights, raise awareness of human rights violations, and work with the executive branch and non-governmental organizations to promote human rights. 

For more information about the campaign, or to get involved yourself, visit the website at weholdthesethruths.org

State of State ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Bans

Over the past year, several states have enacted so-called “heartbeat bills” to ban abortions from occurring after 6-8 weeks of pregnancy― which is when fetal cardiac activity can be detected.

Several other states have previously enacted heartbeat laws only to have them struck down under legal challenges. Arkansas and North Dakota, for example, saw their heartbeat laws struck down by a federal court in 2013. Iowa’s heartbeat law was struck down by the state supreme court as unconstitutional in 2018.

Advocates hope that courts will uphold the heartbeat laws through decisions that weaken Roe v. Wade ― the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 abortion ruling that protected women’s right to an abortion up to the point of fetal viability (after 21 weeks) ― and in turn reduce the frequency of abortions.

Data from USAFacts shows that the abortion rate per 1,000 women age 15-44 has fallen from 15.9 in 2006 to 11.8 in 2015. A declining abortion rate in recent decades is also reflected in abortion rate data for three of the states that recently enacted heartbeat laws that are under legal challenges ― Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio:

Do you support bans on abortion after a heartbeat is detected?

DHS Blocks Congress From Visiting Detention Facilities 

The Department of Homeland Security has blocked staffers from the House Oversight Committee from touring immigrant detention facilities after previous inspections revealed “serious ongoing problems.”

Committee Chairman Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) sent a letter to DHS Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan last week documenting his concerns.

“[DHS] decided to block Committee staff from conducting visits to 11 detention facilities just days after previous staff inspections revealed potentially serious ongoing problems with the treatment of children and adults in DHS custody―including blocking visits to sites where the Inspector General warned about ‘an immediate risk to the health and safety of DHS agents and officers, and to those detained.'"

Cummings remarks followed those by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the Oversight panel’s ranking member, who sent a letter to Cummings last Monday in which he accused staffers of being “rude” and “dismissive” to officers.

"No detainees expressed to us any serious mistreatment - although some complained the facilities' air conditioning was too cold - and our staff observed no unsafe or unsanitary conditions," Jordans wrote.

Should DHS be allowed to block Congress from migrant detention centers?

Under the Radar

Farmers to Trump: ‘Your EPA Went Too Far’ 

Corn growers in Nebraska are saying they’re “outraged by the Trump administration's lack of support for the American farmer” over its decision to grant ethanol waivers to 31 oil refineries.  

With the waivers, the refineries no longer have to blend corn-based ethanol into their gasoline.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said David Bruntz, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. “All we’re getting is lip service. At one moment, we think President Trump is on our side, and then the refinery waivers come through. It’s truly a slap in the face. Farmers are hurting and it just keeps getting worse.”

President Trump said he’s working on a solution that would satisfy oil executives and farmers:

"The Farmers are going to be so happy when they see what we are doing for Ethanol...It will be a giant package, get ready! At the same time I was able to save the small refineries from certain closing. Great for all!" Trump said.

Do you support ethanol waivers?

Gun Control Delayed Over Dorian

The House Judiciary Committee’s plan to return from recess a week early to hold a markup hearing for several gun control bills has been called off due to Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to prevent the attendance of several members whose districts may be impacted by the storm. 

The hearing, which will now be held when Congress returns from vacation, concerns three bills which so far have struggled to gain the broad bipartisan support which will be necessary for any legislation to reach President Donald Trump’s desk. Here’s a look at each:

• The Disarm Hate Act would make people convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes ineligible for gun ownership.
• The Keep Americans Safe Act would ban high capacity ammunition magazines.
• The Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2019 would provide grants to states to adopt laws providing for Extreme Risk Protection Orders to prevent those deemed a risk to themselves or others from accessing firearms.

Should the committee advance the bills?

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should Unions Be Prohibited From Retaliating Against Whistleblowers & Disclose How They Spend Members’ Dues?