Krista Chavez
ATR
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Krista:
Norquist: We Have Come “Too Far” to Let This Effort Die
Last week, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist and President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Wade Henderson co-authored an opinion article for National Review, stressing the opportunity with which Congress is presented to pass comprehensive, bipartisan criminal justice reform this year. The 11 bills proposed in this criminal justice reform package… → Read More
Stealing Money from Travelers: How the DEA Can Search, Seize, and Profit Without a Warrant
An investigation spanning the past several months by USA Today found that the Drug Enforcement Administration consistently searches through American travel records to seize millions of dollars using civil asset forfeiture. It claims to be looking for drug traffickers, but the agency rarely uses the information found to actually make arrests. According to the USA Today investigation, DEA agents… → Read More
On Justice Reform “We opened up a new frontier… against overreaching government”
On Thursday, Americans for Tax Reform’s Criminal Justice Policy Analyst Jorge Marin spoke with InsideSources about the growing momentum on the right for criminal justice Reform. When asked why he thought criminal justice reform was gaining traction, Marin stated that “Whether you’re a fiscal conservative, whether you care about public safety, whether you care about civil liberties, there’s… → Read More
“We opened up a new frontier in the fight against an overreaching government,” Says ATR’s Jorge Marin to InsideSources
On Thursday, Americans for Tax Reform’s Criminal Justice Policy Analyst Jorge Marin spoke with InsideSources about the growing momentum on the right for criminal justice Reform. When asked why he thought criminal justice reform was gaining traction, Marin stated that “Whether you’re a fiscal conservative, whether you care about public safety, whether you care about civil liberties, there’s… → Read More
Legalized Debit Card Theft: How Civil Asset Forfeiture Became More Controversial
According to a report released by Oklahoma Watch last Tuesday, The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety purchased “Electronic Recovery and Access to Data” (ERAD) machines to assist law enforcement with seizing funds in asset forfeiture cases. Oklahoma has been struggling with frequent civil asset forfeiture abuses and it seems like state law enforcement are trying to step up the use of… → Read More
ATR Congratulates Ohio for Passing Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
Yesterday, Ohio’s House of Representatives passed H.B. 347 to reform the state’s broken asset forfeiture process. The bill passed 67-24, displaying its overwhelming support from the majority of its citizens. Ohio’s current civil asset forfeiture laws allow law enforcement to seize property from individuals without a criminal charge. → Read More
ATR Endorses the DUE PROCESS Act to Reform Legalized Property Theft
Last week, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) introduced H.R. 5283, the Deterring Undue Enforcement by Protecting Rights of Citizens from Excessive Searches and Seizures (DUE PROCESS) Act, to alter the corrupt federal civil asset forfeitures disrupting American citizens. Americans for Tax Reform is proud to endorse this legislation that restores the rights of innocent citizens from the broken… → Read More
Maryland Stands for Citizens with New Civil Asset Forfeiture Law
Americans for Tax Reform congratulates Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) for passing sweeping provisions to end civil asset forfeiture yesterday. The bill, SB 161, was introduced by Senator Mike Hough (R-Frederick), among others, and marks a major victory for property rights advocates. Maryland’s effort to end asset forfeiture comes as Congress continues to grapple with the issue. Yesterday, Rep.… → Read More
Norquist: “Reforming the Justice System Actually Makes Us Tougher on Crime”
On Wednesday, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist and FreedomWorks President and CEO Adam Brandon released an op-ed in the Washington Examiner discussing the past week’s developments on congressional criminal justice reform. Several notable tough-on-crime organizations endorsed the Senate’s Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (SRCA) this past week: The International Association… → Read More
ATR Urges Congress to Look Out for Americans Rather than Putting Money in Putin’s Pocket
On Wednesday, Americans for Tax Reform declared its opposition to the proposed lift on the ban of RD-180 rocket engines in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. In a letter to Congressman William Thornberry (R-Texas), Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, ATR President Grover Norquist explained: “Currently, America is becoming the world leader on space launches as its private space… → Read More
Congress Working to Make America Safe Again
Last week, ATR President Grover Norquist and policy manager Jorge Marin explored how Congress is advancing conservative principles in America’s justice system. → Read More
ATR Supports Alaskan State Rep. Wilson’s H.B. 317 to Reform Asset Forfeiture Laws
Civil asset forfeiture is a common issue that is self-evidently abusive. For this reason, Americans for Tax Reform is endorsing Alaska’s new asset forfeiture reform bill, H.B. 317, introduced by Rep. Tammie Wilson (R-North Pole). The proposal calls for a conviction before law enforcement can keep any seized assets permanently. To reflect the criminal nature of forfeitures, the standard of proof… → Read More
Taxpayer Dollars Used to Fund ‘Feminist Glaciology’ Research
Through a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation (a taxpayer-funded organization), the University of Oregon conducted a study examining, “The feminist glaciology framework (that) generates robust analysis of gender, power, and epistemologies in dynamic social-ecological systems, thereby leading to more just and equitable science and human-ice interactions.” No wonder why so many… → Read More
Wyoming Steps Towards Supporting Civil Liberties in Asset Forfeiture Reform
In a unanimous vote (60-0) to support the rights of citizens, the Wyoming House of Representatives approved Senate File 46 to reform the state’s civil asset forfeiture laws, followed by a signature from Gov. Matt Mead (R) two days ago. Civil asset forfeiture is a legal process that empowers law enforcement to seize and claim property suspected of being connected to a crime: no conviction… → Read More
Former 9/11 NYC Police Chief: “Something is definitely wrong with our criminal justice system”
Former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik sent a letter to Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) this week regarding his stance on sentencing reform. This comes in response to Sen. Cotton’s opposition to the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (SRACA) introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). Senator Cotton, who has been a staunch ally of the taxpayers, is critical of some of the… → Read More
ATR Commends the Florida Senate on Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform
Florida Senate Bill 1044 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee today with a 5-2 vote today. The proposal would attempt to fix Florida’s lax civil asset forfeiture rules in favor of stricter protections for property rights and due process. State law enforcement receives close to $20 million per year in confiscations through asset forfeiture thanks in part to some of the weakest protections… → Read More
ATR Supports Civil Asset Forfeiture Legislation in Maryland
Last Month, Maryland passed legislation to improve the state’s due process protections against the controversial practice of civil asset forfeiture. Now the state Senate is considering a new proposal to prohibit state law enforcement from Maryland State Senator Michael J. Hough (R). Senator Hough presented S.B. 161 in the Judicial Proceedings committee on Thursday along with Sens. Jamie Raskin… → Read More