Inside the Capitol

The humanitarian crisis on the Mexican border has become a major issue in the public discourse. It has generated a heated political debate that has sometimes obscured the human face of the problem and the actual needs of the unaccompanied minors.

The long-term migration policy questions must be addressed, but for now, the urgent needs of many young people from Central America fleeing to this country must be met. How will we respond?

Read more

Americans are more conscious than ever of their responsibility to be good stewards of the environment. Years of successful public relations campaigns and the work of tireless activists have ensured that protecting Creation is at the forefront of public discourse.

Read more

From June 21 to July 4, the Catholic Church in the United States will again observe the “Fortnight for Freedom,” dedicated to two weeks of prayer and education related to the importance of preserving religious liberty for all Americans.

This year’s theme is “Freedom to Serve” and highlights the most important theme of the Catholic Church’s advocacy for religious liberty in recent years: the desire of people of faith to serve others and promote the common good, and do so consistent with their deeply held beliefs.

Read more

Every day seems to bring some news that comprehensive immigration reform is either “dead for this year,” or “very likely to happen.”

Republican leadership in the House of Representatives continues to indicate that something will be moving forward; but then it backtracks, only to then indicate again the following week that something is in the works.

Read more

Sherry Shannon needed a little extra money to get her car fixed. On Social Security disability, Shannon needed every dollar to pay her rent, utilities, and phone bills — leaving room for little else each month.

When someone suggested she take out a small payday loan to finance her car repairs, she thought, “Why not?” After all, the loan was just to fill a temporary gap of about $140. But at a 260 percent annual percentage rate, paying it off was to become a challenge.

Read more

As America secularizes, a false understanding of freedom is becoming increasingly pervasive in public life. Two current issues being considered by the Legislature — payday lending reforms (HF 2293/SF 2368) and the legalization of a commercial surrogacy business (HF 291/SF 2627) — provide an opportunity to examine the social ramifications of this newfound “freedom.”

Read more

Without any significant consideration, the Minnesota Legislature is poised to create a commercial surrogacy business that would essentially legitimize the buying and selling of children between two contracting parties.

Read more

This session, state legislators are considering raising the minimum wage to $9.50 for large businesses (those businesses with over $500,000 in annual gross revenue), which was a recommendation of the 2010 bi-partisan Legislative Commission to End Poverty.

Currently, the House and Senate are debating whether to index for inflation the proposed minimum wage increase.

Read more