Although the investigations into what caused the Deepwater Horizon accident are still ongoing, and the presidential commission on the oil spill has only begun its work, Congress has been busy with legislative initiatives that could significantly alter the landscape of energy production in America. Unfortunately these early measures (principally H.R. 3534 and S. 3663) may cause more problems than they solve, especially for Texas.
Ban Foreign Funding in Ballot Propositions
Despite federal laws prohibiting foreign funding of candidate elections, foreign individuals and entities are still able to fund campaigns related to state and local ballot initiatives in multiple jurisdictions, creating a loophole that hostile foreign actors can exploit to influence American elections. Key points: Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to candidate campaigns or...