On June 17, 2015, United States Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Dean Heller (R-NV), introduced a new piece of legislation, entitled Protecting Individuals From Mass Aerial Surveillance Act of 2015. Specifically, the Act would prohibit Federal entities from using Mobile Aerial-View Devices (“MAVD”), which includes manned and unmanned systems, “to surveil property, persons or their effects, or gather evidence or other information pertaining to known or suspected criminal conduct, or conduct that is in violation of a statute or regulation.” Importantly, the Act contains a number of exceptions – a Federal entity may use a MAVD:

 On June 24, the Senate approved the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, granting President Obama trade promotion authority, or TPA. The passage of this “fast-track” authority enables the President to leverage greater support during the upcoming negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by guaranteeing that the trade agreement to be finalized by the 12-nation pact will be sent to Congress for approval without permitting lawmakers to amend the treaty.

There has been much debate recently about state income tax rates and/or states having no income tax at all. Recently on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough said he knows a lot of people who do what they can to avoid spending 180 plus days in his current state of Connecticut in order to avoid paying income tax there (Connecticut is currently considering hiking its state income tax rate). The reality is that while spending 183 days in a no income tax state like Florida can help establish residency there, meeting this threshold does not completely resolve the residency question or eliminate the legal requirement to file tax returns and/or pay income tax in other states. Indeed many states with income taxes are cracking down on “snowbirds” who attempt to claim residency in places like Florida and Nevada (no income tax states), but who also maintain homes in income tax states like Missouri, Ohio, and Michigan.

Husch Blackwell is the only firm in the nation to offer tailored anti-human trafficking government compliance programs. Husch Blackwell’s Human Trafficking Compliance Services is uniquely qualified to develop corporate policies, handle required certifications, provide training, and conduct audits for companies to aid them in complying with the new government regulations. For more information, watch the…

While Iran has taken center stage in current foreign policy discussions, Congress and the Administration are keenly aware that Cuba is on deck. Following President Obama’s historic meeting with Cuban President Raúl Castro and his announcement of intent to remove Cuba from the list of states that sponsor terrorism, members of Congress have responded by introducing bills both supporting and opposing the President’s policies, including:

Husch Blackwell was proud to support Emerson’s commitment to Rebuilding Together St. Louis. An affiliate of a national volunteer organization, Rebuilding Together St. Louis revitalizes neighborhoods by rehabilitating the houses of low-income homeowners so that they may continue to live independently in comfort and safety.

In support of our community, a team of 15 Husch Blackwell attorneys and their families volunteered on Saturday, May 2, 2015 to help rebuild a home in the St. Louis area. Attorneys from the firm’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation and Real Estate, Development & Construction industry groups were represented. Hundreds of volunteers were active that same day and worked on rebuilding 45 different houses throughout metropolitan St. Louis.