Free Republic

The United States government would be prohibited from asking job applicants about their criminal history at the start of the hiring process under a bill that could become law this week, in a move that would lower a barrier for ex-offenders seeking work. The legislation is tucked into a defense bill that cleared a procedural hurdle by a vote of 76-6 in the Senate on Monday, setting up a vote on final passage. President Donald Trump is expected to sign it into law as soon as the end of the week. Known as the Fair Chance Act, the measure is...

Arizonans who vote in future elections could win $1 million thanks to a proposed ballot initiative — the Arizona Voter Reward Act. But while one lucky winner could be paid for voting, countless Arizona residents with felony convictions have to pay in order to vote. In Arizona, first-time felony offenders who have completed their sentences must pay all the fines, fees and other costs associated with a conviction before regaining the right to vote. This requirement is essentially a modern-day poll tax, barring from the polls those individuals who do not have the ability to pay their legal financial obligations....