5 chapters across the catalog
The "For the People Act" (HR1) is an 800-page bill aimed at federalizing voting rules, campaign finance, and ethics. Provisions include codifying mail-in voting and drop boxes, which critics argue is unconstitutional as states traditionally control elections. The bill also includes strict ethics rules for Congress, leading to skepticism that it will ever pass in its current form.
The "For the People Act of 2019" (H.R. 1) is analyzed for its provisions on lowering the voting age to 16 and creating $25 federal "MyVoice" vouchers for political donations. Other highlights include automatic voter registration for students and restoring voting rights to convicted criminals not currently incarcerated.
IRS Email Scandal, Lois Lerner and Sarbanes-Oxley Standards
The IRS's claim that it lost years of Lois Lerner's emails due to a "computer glitch" is contrasted with the strict data retention requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. While private sector executives face up to 20 years in prison for failing to maintain email archives, the IRS Commissioner John Koskinen suggests that retrieving the subpoenaed documents would take years. The hosts argue that the government is exempting itself from the very transparency laws it imposes on corporations.
MF Global Bankruptcy and John Corzine's Congressional Testimony
Former Goldman Sachs CEO and New Jersey Governor John Corzine testifies before the Senate regarding $1.2 billion in missing customer funds at MF Global. Despite being a co-author of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Corzine claims he does not know where the money went, leading to accusations of criminal intermingling of funds.
Congressman John Sarbanes delivers a speech on the 37th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. He cites violations of religious freedom and the continued occupation of "ghost towns" like Famagusta. Sarbanes calls for the reunification of the island and criticizes Turkey's "zero problems" foreign policy as a failure.
