Davids celebrates passage of same-sex marriage law

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, right, was at the signing of the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act. (Photo from Rep. Davids’ office)

U.S> Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., applauded bipartisan passage of legislation she introduced to enshrine marriage equality in federal law.

The Respect for Marriage Act passed both the U.S. House and Senate with bipartisan support and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Davids joined her colleagues to introduce the Respect for Marriage Act in July following Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion in Dobbs v Jackson, in which he stated that the Supreme Court “should reconsider” previous rulings codifying same-sex marriage protections. The Respect for Marriage Act repeals the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and provides additional legal protections from attempts to undermine marriage equality at the state level.

“After the Dobbs decision, people across Kansas and the entire country felt fear and anxiety as many of our individual freedoms were called into question or outright stripped away,” Rep. Davids said. “That includes marriage equality for same-sex couples, which was explicitly threatened by Justice Thomas. I’m proud to have introduced legislation that will help lessen that fear and provide stability to so many families, and I applaud the bipartisan group of lawmakers who joined me to stand up for our rights.”

The Respect for Marriage Act will:

• Repeal DOMA. The Supreme Court effectively rendered DOMA inactive with its landmark decisions in United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges, but it did not repeal it, meaning the unconstitutional and discriminatory law still officially remains on the books. With passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, DOMA will finally be repealed.

• Enshrine Marriage Equality for Federal Law Purposes. The Respect for Marriage Act requires, for federal law purposes, that an individual be considered married if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed, even if that state is not where the individual lives permanently. This gives same sex and interracial couples additional certainty that they will enjoy their Constitutional right to equal treatment under federal law—regardless of where they live.

• Provide Additional Legal Protections from Individuals Seeking to Undermine Marriage Equality While Acting Under Color of State Law. The bill prohibits any person acting under color of state law from denying full faith and credit to an out-of-state marriage based on the sex, race, ethnicity or national origin of the individuals in the marriage, provides the Attorney General with the authority to pursue enforcement actions, and creates a private right of action for any individual harmed by a violation of this provision.

The Respect for Marriage Act is strongly supported by leading national organizations including: ACLU, Center for American Progress, Equality Federation, Family Equality, Freedom for All Americans, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Center for Transgender Equality, National LGBTQ Task Force, National Women’s Law Center, and PFLAG National.

  • Information from Rep. Davids’ office

Holiday carol sing-along to be Saturday at Alcott Arts

Alcott Arts Center, 180 S. 18th, Kansas City, Kansas, is planning a holiday carol sing-along from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10.

Hot chocolate and refreshments will be shared, according to Chris Parker Green of the Alcott Center.

The music will get people in the holiday spirit, she said.

Everyone attending should dress warmly, since there is no heat in the building, she added.

Some gifts will be available to purchase from local artists and students for cash only.

The Alcott is not ADA accessible and the restrooms will not be available.

For more information, call 913-233-2787.

Kansas court affirms $9.9 million payment to state treasury from 32-state vaping settlement

Coalition of attorneys general accuse Juul of marketing, sales misconduct

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — A district court judge in Kansas affirmed a $9.9 million settlement to the state resolving an investigation of allegations e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs engaged in deceptive marketing and sales practices appealing to youth who couldn’t legally purchase the product.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt said the money would be deposited in the state’s general treasury over the next six to 10 years. There would be no mandatory use of those funds. The payment was part of a $438 million agreement between Juul and 32 states and Puerto Rico.

The consent judgment in Kansas was approved by Shawnee County District Judge Thomas Luedke.

A two-year investigation, launched in wake of skyrocketing increases in youth vaping, found the company deployed advertising aimed at underage users. The company conducted launch parties, gave away free samples and relied on young models in commercials and social media posts, Schmidt said.

Schmidt took the unusual step in 2020 of revealing Kansas had been investigating Juul’s business practices for several months and had joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general involved in a broader inquiry.

“This is the best and most-efficient and effective way to protect the public interest statewide and ensure that any unlawful practices that contributed to the sharp increase in youth vaping are stopped,” Schmidt said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said more than 2.5 million school-age students used e-cigarettes during 2022. Youth consumption of traditional cigarettes has fallen while vaping rates climbed.

Juul sold vaping products in mango, mint and creme brulee flavors appealing to young consumers and modified the product to generate vapor that felt less harsh on the throat. Juul’s packaging implied the product contained a lower concentration of nicotine than it actually did. In addition, the inquiry disclosed Juul relied on age verification techniques the company knew were ineffective.

Under this settlement, Juul must refrain from specific marketing practices targeting youth and comply with sales and distribution restrictions.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is evaluating whether to impose a ban on sale of Juul’s vaping devices and pods.

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
See more at https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/08/kansas-court-affirms-9-9-million-payment-to-state-treasury-from-32-state-vaping-settlement/