Even as the rise of the Internet has driven communications and economic growth to heights previously unimagined, some lawmakers are using that very explosion as pretext to expand the federal government’s power and reach in ways that threaten the delicate balance of powers inherent in our federalist system. A key example is a new piece of legislation called the “Restoration of America’s Wire Act,” or RAWA. Introduced in the House as H.R. 707 by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, the bill purports simply to update the half-century-old Wire Act, originally signed by President John F. Kennedy to combat the influence of…

NJ.com – Those who want to stop themselves from being allowed to gamble in New Jersey would be able to without admit a gambling problem under legislation advanced by a Senate panel today. New Jersey keeps lists of people who have self-excluded themselves from gaming activity, either at Atlantic City casinos and online or just online. But in order to get on the lists, an applicant has to acknowledge he or she is a “problem gambler.” For some, that’s a step too far, according to those who deal with gambling addicts. “This is an option for people who are thinking…