What We’re Reading: a daily round-up of quick hits, clips, and opinion pieces touching on key issues of democracy, justice, liberty and national security.
Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon, wrote an op-ed on threats to voting rights in the states, calling voting restrictions “a poll tax by another name.” The op-ed cites a Brennan Center letter on Florida’s election law changes.
“Most of this year’s presidential candidates are now backed by one or more dedicated Super PACs.” The New York Times comments on Super PACs blatant disregard to the law of being “independent” from campaigns.
New redistricting maps in California, created by a citizens commission, are leaving both Democrats and Republicans questioning their job security.
How well do New Yorkers know their history? The Albany Times Union runs an op-ed chiding New York schools for not teaching enough history, which cites the Brennan Center’s report, A Report Card on New York’s Civic Literacy.
Arizona’s Attorney General has filed suit challenging the Voting Rights Act.
About $75 billion has been spent on homeland security each year since 9/11. Read here the debate on whether too much money is being poured into the war against terror.