Contra Costa Times, July 12, by John Simermanhttp://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9863875?source=emailMost pay-as-you-drive consumers will drive less and save, meaning less revenue…. “Insurance companies have some limited incentive to adopt pay-as-you drive insurance—if they want to be a niche company and specialize in serving low mileage drivers,” Edlin said. “However, they don’t have nearly the incentive that they should have.”
Maria Blanco Supports Rights of Undocumented Students
Univision, July 7, by Luis Mejidhttp://www.univision.com/portal.jhtmlMaría Blanco criticized efforts underway in various states to prohibit undocumented students from attending public higher education institutions. She called the policy “short sighted” because the vast majority of these high school graduates become citizens, and she said it’s better for the economy and for their integration if they get a college degree.
Jesse Choper Believes Marriage Initiative is a Constitutional Amendment, Not a Revision
The Desert Sun, July 5, by Nicole C. Brambila
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807050307
“I think it would be an uphill battle to show it as something that undermines the whole constitution,” said Jesse Choper…. “It’s one right that (would be) taken away from one group of people. We shouldn’t be able to amend the constitution this way, but that’s what it provides for.”
John Yoo Criticizes Supreme Court’s Guantanamo Ruling
The New York Times, July 4, by William Glaberson
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/washington/04gitmo.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1215561648-rE/5KhbxUkOh2WYH9KxoHQ
John Yoo, one of the architects of the administration’s original detention policy … said federal courts usually waited for a trial to play out before evaluating its fairness. But, he said, after the “overreaching” by the Supreme Court decision, “any form of judicial micromanagement is possible.”
Eric Talley Comments on SEC Plan to Reduce Credit Agencies’ Clout
Financial Times, July 3, by Neil Roland
http://www.financialweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080703/REG/395782074/1036&template=printart
Apart from the SEC’s proposal, there has been little movement by government agencies to ease the reliance on ratings, said Messrs. Talley and Hunt…. “Everyone seems in a bit of a quandary about what to put in place of the ratings,” Mr. Talley said.
Paul Schwartz Notes Significance of US-EU Private Data Access Accord
Daily Tech, July 1, by Tom Corelis
http://www.dailytech.com/Accord+Could+Give+US+Government+Access+to+Private+Data+on+EU+Citizens/article12236.htm
“The reason it’s a big deal is that it is going to lower the whole transaction cost for the U.S. government to get information from Europe,” said Paul M. Schwartz. “Most of the negotiations will already be completed. They will just be able to say, ‘Look, we provide adequate protection, so you’re required to turn it over.'”
Elisabeth Semel Lauds Report Critical of State’s Death Penalty System
-San Francisco Daily Journal, July 1, by Dhyana Levey
www.dailyjournal.com [registration required]
“It comes down to dollars and cents,” said Elisabeth Semel. “California has to decide how it wants its money spent.” Semel said the report was correct in calling the system “dysfunctional” and called the system a “drain on scarce resources.”
-KTVU News, July 1, by David Stevenson
http://www.ktvu.com/video/16755103/index.html
“It is going to require a sober and realistic assessment by the people of the state of California—that is to really look at the death penalty system not through the lens of emotionality and passion.”
Ty Alper Suggests Ohio Lethal Injection Ruling Will Have National Impact
Orlando Sentinel, June 29, by Sarah Lundy
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-schwab2908jun29,0,3460938.story
“This may have reverberations in other states,” said Ty Alper, associate director of the death penalty clinic at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.
Stephen Sugarman Says Gun Makers Should Take Responsibility for Deaths
Los Angeles Times, June 29, by Jeffrey Fagan and Stephen D. Sugarman
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-op-sugarman29-2008jun29,0,1307373.story
“We propose a new way to prod gun makers to reduce gun deaths, one that would be unlikely to put them out of business or to prevent law-abiding citizens from obtaining guns.”
Paul Schwartz Explains Impact of US-EU Privacy Agreement
The New York Times, June 28, by Charlie Savage
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/28/washington/28privacy.html?scp=2&sq=Charlie+Savage+&st=nyt
“The reason it’s a big deal is that it is going to lower the whole transaction cost for the U.S. government to get information from Europe.… Most of the negotiations will already be completed. They will just be able to say, ‘Look, we provide adequate protection, so you’re required to turn it over.'”