WashingTown

The unintended consequences of out-dated immigration laws

This episode is part two of a WashingTown live event. Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics discusses the Mueller report, trying to accomplish legislative goals in the wake of the report and future hearings, the reasons he feels a constitutional amendment is necessary to balance the federal budget, and how he deals with situations where his personal conscience conflicts with the demands of his constituents. He also talks about how the current political climate has made solving even the most minor problems more difficult, especially because of dysfunction in the Senate.

In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams discusse shis first 100 days in office with Hinckley Institute of Politics director Jason Perry in front of an audience at KSL Broadcast House. Mr. Perry talks about the class that changed the congressman’s career path, his bipartisan roots and how difficult it has been to take the philosophy that made him successful in Utah to a deeply divided federal government.

In this issue of WashingTown, Congressman Ben McAdams talks about being in Utah for a couple of weeks to discuss issues that require cooperation between local governments and federal lawmakers. In this episode, he talks transportation – infrastructure and issues – with Utah Transit Board of Trustees Carton Christensen, board chair; Beth Holbrook, and Kent Millington. They talk about some of the new and innovative projects UTA hopes to undertake and what some of the issues are when trying to help people find the ability to live mobile lives.

Congressman Ben McAdams talks transportation issues with UTA officials

Attorney Mehrsa Baradaran discusses what it’s like to testifying in front of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, a subcommittee on which McAdams serves. Her testimony came during discussions about the Community Reinvestment Act and what possible updates or changes might be necessary, especially if financial institutions don’t have incentives to help with issues that are not profitable for them. The author of books and academic papers on the subject, she talks about why she was asked to testify, and why it’s difficult to deal with the nuances of the issues in a committee hearing.

In this episode, Rep. Ben McAdams discusses the Safe Banking Act (H.R. 1595) with Washington Rep. Denny Heck. With 34 states legalizing marijuana to some degree, including Utah (medicinal), federal lawmakers are now grappling with how to allow those businesses dispensing or selling marijuana to use the federally insured banks or credit unions. Running cash-only businesses has made these dispensaries targets for criminals, and Rep. Heck shares a tragic story in his conversation with Rep. McAdams. The Utah State Treasurer and the Utah legislature have asked Congress to solve the problem and the SAFE Banking Act provides help. Nationally, the financial services industry has been calling for guidance on how to do business with companies that are legal in many states but are not legal at the federal level. Compliance burdens and fear of violating anti-money laundering laws have kept the number of financial institutions willing to do business with marijuana companies to only a few dozen.

In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams (D-UT) talks with Deondra and Gregory Brown, two of the popular piano ensemble and Utah family, The Five Browns, about their hopes to change federal laws regarding the statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases. A survivor of sexual abuse, Deondra said she and her sisters were lucky that Utah laws allowed them to seek prosecution of their abuser (their father), a fact that is important in both a survivor’s recovery and for public safety.   Since then, she and her siblings have become active in seeking changes in the law that allow victims of sexual abuse to seek justice, even if it is decades after the abuse occurred. The conversation offers insight into the uniqueness of the federal legislative process and why citizens should see themselves — and their stories — as an important part of creating and changing policies.   If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual abuse, there is help available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 (HOPE). For more information on the Five Browns, visit their website:  www.the5browns.com (http://www.the5browns.com/)

In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams talks with businessman and member of Utah’s Muslim Community Avais Ahmed, as they discuss why his family chose Utah, what it was like being one of a handful of Muslims growing up in Kaysville, Utah, and how a terrorist attack in New Zealand that targeted Muslims in two different places of worship impact the Muslim community here in Utah. They give advice on how to bridge the divide between different groups, and why the efforts may amount to something as simple as sharing a meal.   To offer us feedback or give us ideas for WashingTown, the podcast that follows former Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams as he transitions to representing Utah’s Fourth Congressional District in Washington, D.C., please email us at www.loudmouthproject.com. (mailto:[email protected])

In this episode, Congressman Ben McAdams talks with businessman and member of Utah's Muslim Community Avais Ahmed, as they discuss why his family chose Utah, what it was like being one of a handful of Muslims growing up in Kaysville, Utah, and how a...