STATE LAWS

THE NEWS OUT OF IOWA THIS LAST WEEK WAS THE MOST SHOCKING WHEN THE IOWA SUPREME COURT BASICALLY MADE GAY MARRIAGE LEGAL. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE CONSERVATIVE FARMERS OF IOWA WOULD OPEN THIS SUBJECT IN AMERICA'S HEARTLAND. THEN AGAIN IF YOU STUDY THE HISTORY OF IOWA YOU'LL FIND THEY HAVE ALWAYS LED THE WAY IN CIVIL RIGHTS.

One, Iowa has a long history of civil rights leadership. In 1839, the Iowa Supreme Court rejected slavery in a decision that found that a slave named Ralph became free when he stepped on Iowa soil, 26 years before the end of the Civil War decided the issue.

In 1868, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that racially segregated "separate but equal" schools had no place in Iowa, 85 years before the U.S. Supreme Court reached the same decision.

In 1873, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled against racial discrimination in public accommodations, 91 years before the U.S. Supreme Court reached the same decision.

In 1869, Iowa became the first state in the union to admit women to the practice of law.

THEN THERE IS CALIFORNIA, WHERE FRIENDS OF OURS HERE IN THE RV PARK FILED THEIR CALIFORNIA STATE INCOME TAX AND WERE DUE A $700. REFUND. INSTEAD OF A REFUND CHECK THEY RECEIVED AN "IOU" FROM THE STATE.

HERE IN NEVADA WE HAVE TWO BILLS OF INTEREST. FIRST A FEW YEARS AGO NEVADA PASSED A CLEAN INDOOR AIR BILL. THAT WOULD BE THE NO SMOKING LAWS, NOW THE CASINOS DIDN'T WANT NO SMOKING LAWS BECAUSE IT HURTS BUSINESS, SO THE NEVADA LAW STATES THAT THERE IS NO SMOKING WHERE THERE IS FOOD OR CHILDREN. THAT LEAVES SMOKING ON THE CASINO FLOORS. HOWEVER MANY SMALL BARS AND RESTAURANTS WENT BROKE, AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS WERE LOST. CLEARLY AN ADVANTAGE FOR THE BIG CASINOS ON THE BUSINESS PLAYING FIELD. THE ISSUE IS BEING REVISITED AND THE SIN OF SMOKING IS HOPEFULLY TO BE RETURNED TO NEVADA.

ANOTHER BILL HAS TO DO WITH PROSTITUTION. PROSTITUTION IS LEGAL HERE IN NEVADA AND THE NEW PROPOSED LAW WOULD TAX THE INDUSTRY AT $5 A POP. YUP, A "PUSSY TAX", CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? DON'T THINK THIS ONE WILL GET OFF THE GROUND, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT . IT WOULD BE LIKE A TAX STAMP ON MARIJUANA, JUST ANOTHER WAY OF FINING PEOPLE WHEN THEY GET CAUGHT WITH THE STUFF. A STREET HOOKER COULD BE PROSECUTED FOR BACK TAXES OWED?

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE AMERICA? I'LL BE WATCHING WHEN WISCONSIN FINALLY ATTACKS THE SMOKERS AND LOSES IT'S TAVERNS ON EVERY CORNER AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS...........