Debt Ceiling, Explained

This week the national media has given us partisan views and doomsday scenarios, all related to the debt ceiling debate in Congress and the possible implications of not raising the U.S. debt limit by August 2 or soon thereafter. Enough to stand my virtual fur on end, or put me to sleep altogether.

Yet the debt ceiling is a concept law students may need to understand for upcoming courses, research papers, or career endeavors. So what would I recommend for objective or less partisan and serious overviews of this subject? Some good sources are the Government Accounting Office (GAO) Report to Congress on the challenges of debt limit delays (February 2011), the January 2010 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, "The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases," and "Debt Limit Analysis," a user friendly document with color charts and graphs issued earlier this week by the Bipartisan Policy Center, predicting what could happen, and when, if the debt limit isn't raised.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Congrats to Bar Takers

To everyone who took the bar exam (or even multiple bar exams) this week--congratulations!

We know that you won't receive the exam results for months, but just making it through the months of study and the arduous days of the exam should feel like an accomplishment.

Now take a few days to relax.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

100 not always good

Yes, it is hot out there. Be glad you don't have a permanent fur coat. Here are some links to help you stay cool.

Surviving a Heat Wave

12 Smoothies to Beat the Heat

And just remember, not too long ago, we were surviving this .

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

A Constitutional Right To Sell Cigarettes?

Americans enjoy many rights under the U.S. Constitution. Is selling cigarettes one of them? Find out what a U.S. District Court thinks, here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Supreme Court 2010-2011 Term Highlights

The Cornell Legal Information Institute recently published a collection of facts and arguments from selected cases in the 2010-2011 term. The selected cases cover significant doctrinal and public policy perspectives from the Court. Some of the issues covered are the First Amendment, state sovereignty, bankruptcy, patent law, credit regulation, labor law and more. Read the full term highlights here.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Update: Distracted Driving Law Toughened in NY

In case you missed it, Governor Cuomo signed into law on July 12, effective immediately, legislation permitting law enforcement officials to stop drivers simply for using mobile devices for activities such as texting while they are driving, whether or not they are committing another offense, such as speeding. The new law, Chapter 109, makes sending or receiving a text while driving, or using a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving, a "primary" traffic offense in New York. The law calls for violators to face fines up to $150 and incur two penalty points on their licenses, but the Governor also announced that he will also "increase the penalty for using a cellular phone without a hands-free device or a handheld device while driving from two to three points through changes in state regulations". For a current comparison of cell phone and texting laws in the various states, check out this chart created by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Clarence Thomas Bobblehead Now Available

In our never-ending quest to keep you informed about U.S. Supreme Court bobblehead figures, we now alert you to the latest such creation, a Clarence Thomas bobblehead. See it and read all about it here.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Keeping Track of Financial Reform

Both BNA and CCH have excellent free websites to help you keep track of financial reform.

The CCH Financial Reform News Center

and the BNA Financial Reform Center

Of course, there is also content on this topic in the BNA and CCH subscription databases (provided to the Hofstra Law community by this library).

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well Being, 2011

America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2011 is a compendium of indicators depicting both the promises and the challenges confronting our Nation's young people. This year's report continues to present key indicators in seven domains: family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health. This year the report presents a special report on adoption.

This is a useful resource for those engaged in family law research.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Online Resources: Pharmaceutical Law & Industry Report (BNA)

If you are looking for a source that will provide access to coverage of regulatory and litigation developments in pharmaceutical and biotech industries, try the Pharmaceutical Law & Industry Report. This reporter follows major actions at the federal and state level including drug pricing, FDA oversight and other relevant topics as well as links to full-text documents of Federal Register notices, court decisions, and more.

To access Pharmaceutical Law & Industry Report (BNA):

• Go to the Library's home page, click "Online Resources"
• Click the "Health Law / Medicine" link
• Scroll down to "Pharmaceutical Law & Industry Report (BNA)"

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat