One of the great triumphs of the federal welfare reform legislation passed in the mid-1990s was an insistence…
CFIF on Twitter CFIF on YouTube
To Get More Federal Money, States Claiming Volunteer Organizations are a Form of Welfare Spending

One of the great triumphs of the federal welfare reform legislation passed in the mid-1990s was an insistence that states lay down tough work requirements for welfare recipients as a condition of receiving federal assistance. Though the fact is little publicized, however, another provision of the law allows states to substitute increased welfare spending for the work requirements and still receive money from Washington. That, of course, is an invitation to mischief, as reported by CNSnews, quoting Congressman Geoff Davis

"Many States have scoured their budgets to find other current program spending--such as for Pre-K, child care, and after school programs--they could report as TANF [welfare] spending," Davis said at a hearing on Thursday. "Others began counting third-party spending--such…[more]

May 22, 2012 • 01:24 pm

Liberty Update

CFIFs latest news, commentary and alerts delivered to your inbox.
Jester's CourtroomLegal tales stranger than stranger than fiction: Ridiculous and sometimes funny lawsuits plaguing our courts.
Home Jester's Courtroom Full Court Press Against LeBron James by Washington D.C. Lawyer
Full Court Press Against LeBron James by Washington D.C. Lawyer Print
Tuesday, July 27 2010

A Washington, D.C. lawyer has filed suit in federal court challenging the results of a paternity test that he claims should have proven him to be the father of basketball superstar LeBron James.
 
In a complaint filed last month, Leicester Bryce Stovell claims that the results of the test were falsified by James and his mother, Gloria, and that the Jameses committed fraud and misrepresentation in an effort to conceal the identity of James’ father.  Stovell further alleges that his character was defamed by James’ comment, “I want to be a better father than mine was.”
 
In the complaint, Stovell claims he met Gloria at a Washington, D.C. bar and that they had sex once.  Gloria was 15 at the time; Stovell was 29. Stovell further contends that months later she told him she was pregnant with a boy she planned to name LeBron.
 
Stovell, a former lawyer for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission who now has his own practice, filed the complaint pro se.  He is seeking millions in damages.
 
According to news reports, Stovell said, “I think it’s possible to persuade a group of reasonable people that my position is completely appropriate under the circumstances.” He said he expects to request a new paternity test as part of discovery.
 
—Source:  Legal Times

Question of the Week   
Which one of the following men did the Chicago Tribune describe as: “a bullheaded man whose high place … was won by his ability to waste more money in quicker time on more absurd undertakings?”
More Questions
Quote of the Day   
 
"This week Catholic bishops are heading to federal courts across the country to defend religious liberty. On Monday they filed 12 lawsuits on behalf of a diverse group of 43 Catholic entities that are challenging the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) sterilization, abortifacient and birth-control insurance mandate. ...  The main goal of the mandate is not, as HHS claimed, to protect…[more]
 
 
—Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard Law School Professor
— Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard Law School Professor
 
Liberty Poll   

Should the Obama administration authorize the use of aerial drones by local police agencies?