Immigration Enforcement to Hold Up?

Utah's immigration enforcement law will stand a test according to Utah Attorney General's Office.

HB497 was passed by the 2011 Utah Legislature and signed into law in March 2011. The law requires police to verify the immigration status of people arrested for felonies and class A misdemeanors as well as those booked into jail on class B and class C misdemeanors.

A class action lawsuit was filed in May 2011 by the ACLU and National Immigration Law Center on behalf of several individuals and organizations, claiming the law is unconstitutional and will invite racial profiling. In November, the Department of Justice intervened in the lawsuit, claiming Utah's law is unconstitutional because it attempts to establish a state immigration policy.

Attorneys representing the state of Utah, however, argue that HB497 reflects the state's attempt to "undertake its supporting role in the fight against illegal immigration, within the parameters set by Congress in those statutes. Contrary to the United States' arguments, HB497 does not conflict with Congress' mandate but is entirely consistent with it."

The Feds have jumped in seeking a preliminary injunction of the law, contend the law would cause unlawful harassment, damage the United States' relationship with immigrant communities and harm its reputation with foreign countries.

Concealed Gun Law Loophole Closed

For a while you could drive into Utah, pay less cash than your home state, and get your concealed firearms permit.

That loophole has closed.

The number of applicants is pretty huge, and the govern,ment didn't really care, they were making money.

Applicants numbered 46,468 through June compared with 66,371 for all of 2010.

Seems folks were trying to squeak thru before the deadline. Many were subsequently rejected after review. The rules now state you have to apply for a permit in your home state prior to applying in Utah.

Worst Position: Unmarried male who wants to be a father

Check out an interesting discussion about unmarried men who want to be father's to their kin: https://julieshapiro.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/harsh-rules-for-unmarried-fathers-in-utah/

Tipsoft for Utah Police

Get on board and report crimes, it's not even easier (if you're familiar with the cellular phone that is).

http://www.tipsubmit.com/

Utah's Health Insurance Idea w/ Small Biz

Foreclosure Problems Under the Radar

With the immigration debate heated and swinging to and fro, another issue has been playing second fiddle.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/51795049-79/law-state-utah-bank.html.csp

The issue of how banks treat foreclosures.

The new law allows homeowners who were illegally foreclosed on to go to court to seek payment of damages, penalties of up to $2,000 and legal fees. The Utah Attorney General’s Office asserts that ReconTrust, the foreclosure arm of Bank of America, fails to comply with state law when it institutes foreclosure proceedings under its own name.

BoA will continue to reap their millions of dollars and maintain their position on foreclosures. They believe ReconTrust is governed by federal banking laws and not state law.

Goodbye (not) Osama

Good riddance.

What an electric story, the most incredible Sunday night in recent memory. Not only was the news incredible, but the sensational story of the 'how' was equally wild.

Although I have to take the media reports of the video game style raid with a grain of salt, I'm quite confident that we got our man. I'm not sorry int he elast and sense this is a massive turning point for American culture. Everything changed that fateful day almost 10 years ago. But now there's a sense of closure.

I wouldn't say victory is going to arrive sooner, but you do get the sense that this blow could be severe to terrorism.

Will it stop? No.

If Pizza Hut can run a franchise so can a terrorist group. And their functionality will continue long after the death of their leader, who in recent times has become more symbolic than active.

What comes next will be interesting. Americans ahve a renewed sense of optimism about their country, and about the prospects of the war on terror. The enemy probably will gear up for some type of response, retaliating in equally brutal fashion as we demonstrated on their #1.

Let's turn the corner. Our Nation is great, and we can use this watershed moment to drive us out of the funk we're stuck in.