Civil Rights News: Oppressive Immigration Laws; Education Reform; New Poverty Measure

Oppression is Not a State’s Right
Andrew Rosenthal, New York Times
A review of Alabama’s immigration laws raises concerns that the laws are a new form of racism, conflicting with Constitutional rights.

Race to More Ineffective Ed Spending
Annie Hsiao, National Review Online
The Senate HELP Committee discussed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act on Tuesday. The bill has received much criticism for providing an inadequate plan for education reform.

Poverty ensnares 49.1M Americans as new census measure counts medical, other expenses
Associated Press, Washington Post
A new experimental census formula takes into account rising medical costs and other expenses, and is predicted to lead to debates about Social Security, Medicare, and programs aimed at helping the poor. The formula reveals new data on the age, race, and geographic demographics of people living in poverty.

Compiled by Colleen Cowgill, a Fall 2011 intern