Updated: Feb 10, 2022
By Earl Heal
January 31, 2022 | Posted in Local Opinion Columnists |
Early news reports typically create questions. One reported a policeman killed by the mob with a fire extinguisher bottle; that was later corrected as death by natural causes. A video recording displays a man wearing a MAGA cap loudly encouraging the crowd to invade the Capitol. He admitted on camera he was a BLM member{...read more]
By Earl Heal
January 24, 2022 | Posted in Local Opinion Columnists | From the Daily Republic
The Jan. 6, 2021, march on the United States Capitol has been proclaimed by many in Congress as an insurrection and a threat to America’s democracy comparable to Dec. 7, 1941, and the terrorists’ attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. My condolences to the many who honor and grieve the victims and survivors of those earlier events. [...read more]
Updated: Jan 24, 2022
By Earl Heal
January 10, 2022 | Posted in Local Opinion Columnists | From the Daily Republic “The times, places and manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such Regulations. . . .” — U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 4
That section focuses on the power of state legislatures to regulate national elections. It adds Congress’s authority only in a subordinate clause which is what lawyers and judges call a “proviso” – both in the Founding era and in modern times. Provisos traditionally are interpreted narrowly, leaving the state legislatures’ power to be interpreted broadly. If there’s reasonable doubt about whether Congress has authority, the issue is decided against Congress and for the states.[...read more]
Earl Heal is a retired Air Force officer, former airline pilot and former member of the Solano County Republican Central Committee. Contact him at healearlniki@att.net.
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