{"articles":[{"id":28868,"title":"The DC: Antitrust probe of big tech, and... 👨‍❤️‍👨 Should there be a minimum age for marriage?","html_content":"

by Causes | 6.5.19

Welcome to Wednesday, June 5, movers and shakers...

Big Probe Into Big Tech

The House Judiciary Committee has announced it’s launching a bipartisan, massive antitrust investigation into major tech companies, including Google, Amazon, and Facebook.

\"A small number of dominant, unregulated platforms have extraordinary power over commerce, communication, and information online,\" the Judiciary Committee wrote in a news release that didn't specify any companies. \"Based on investigative reporting and oversight by international policymakers and enforcers, there are concerns that these platforms have the incentive and ability to harm the competitive process.\"

But Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the ranking member of the antitrust subcommittee, warned against jumping to conclusions:

“As the world becomes more dependent on a digital marketplace, we must discuss how the regulatory framework is built to ensure fairness and competition. I believe these hearings can be informative, but it is important for us to avoid any predetermined conclusions.\"

Should Congress conduct an antitrust probe of big tech?

On the Radar

I Now Pronounce You Man and Wife and Old Enough to Drive

Louisiana has decided against setting a minimum age to marry after Conservative lawmakers in the state pushed to set the age at 15 with certain conditions. Democratic lawmakers, and some Republicans, had wanted to set the minimum age at 17.

“We want children to be born into wedlock if possible,” said Rep. Nancy Landry (R-Lafayette). “We’re discouraging that with this. If they’re both 16 or 15 and having a baby why wouldn’t we want them to get married?”

But Republican state Rep. Stephanie Hilferty of New Orleans supported the measure, arguing “this is to make sure we don’t have people covering up acts of rape as a marriage. This is a child protection issue.”

Do you support a federal minimum marriage age?

Under the Radar

That Kitten's Got Claws

New York’s state Assembly and Senate are set to vote on a bill that would ban the declawing of cats.

If passed and signed into law, New York would become the first state to ban the practice, which is already illegal in much of Europe and in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver.

People who declaw a feline would face fines of up to $1,000. Vets would still be allowed to perform the procedure for medical reasons, including infection or injury.

Animal welfare advocates, cat owners, and veterinarians argue the practice is inhumane as it involves amputating a cat’s toes back to the first knuckle.

The New York State Veterinary Medical Society opposes the bill, saying the procedure may be necessary for the pet owner’s health or as a last resort for cats who won’t stop scratching furniture.

“Medical decisions should be left to the sound discretion of fully trained, licensed and state supervised professionals,” the society said in a memo.

Should there be a ban on declawing cats?

Your Gov at a Glance 👀

The White House: President Trump in UK & Ireland

At 10:45am BST, the president and first lady will attend an event at Southsea Common to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day with D-Day veterans, the queen, and other dignitaries in Portsmouth, England.
At 1:35pm BST, the president and first lady will participate in a meet and greet luncheon with U.S. servicemembers.
5:15pm BST, the president will participate in an expanded bilateral meeting with the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland in Shannon, Ireland.
At 6:35pm BST, the president and first lady will arrive in Doonbeg, Ireland.

The House of Representatives: In

\nVoting on a bill to fund a two-year study on ocean acidification.
\nVoting on three other bills.

The Senate: In

\nVoting on the confirmation of nominees to be an assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs and the commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
\nTaking a procedural vote and potential confirmation vote on the nomination of an assistant secretary of the interior.
\nTaking procedural votes on the nominations of a district court judge and two federal claims court judges.

What You're Saying

Here's how you're answering Should the Senate Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage?

(Follow Cherie65's comment here.)

(Follow Amanda's comment here.)

But wait, there's more!

And, in the End…

Happy Global Running Day from previous presidents:

You celebrate that, I'll be here enjoying National Veggie Burger Day,

—Josh Herman

Talk to us via email at contact [at] countable.us. And don’t forget to keep in touch @Countable.

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