A federal district court judge in Texas has ruled, in a ruling issued July 16, 2021, that the DACA program that was created by the Obama administration is unlawful. Under that program, children who were illegally brought into our country were purportedly given legal status. This is even though the President cannot make laws contradicting laws enacted by the Congress. Obama even acknowledged this before he decided to go ahead with DACA anyway. The State of Texas joined by 8 other states, asked the federal court to declare the program unlawful and to end it. The Court ruled that DACA is in conflict with the law that was enacted by Congress. The case will likely be appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and may well end up in the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the Court said that while the government could continue to take DACA applications and applications for renewals, it cannot grant any new applications pending further rulings by the Circuit Court or Supreme Court.
New Laws
You have probably seen several lists of new laws that we passed in the just concluded session. Here are some that stand out to me, not necessarily in order of importance:
Back the Blue Bill: SF 342
Prohibiting teaching that USA is racist society. Especially aimed at
colleges, K-12 schools and state, county & city governments: HF 802
Amend the Iowa Constitution to say no right to abortion: HJR 5
Amend the Iowa Constitution to protect right to keep and bear arms: SJR 18
Bill to protect free speech in colleges and K-12 schools: HF 744
Bill to prohibit state & local governments from requiring card showing COVID vaccine status or businesses to require customers to show proof of vaccination: HF 889
Income tax cuts & eliminate inheritance tax, (phased in): SF 619
Responsible Budget: Numerous bills
