Legislative note: the abolition of the death penalty for drug offenses in The Gambia

The Gambia, the smallest mainland country in Africa, is increasingly a transit point for illicit drug traffic between Latin America and Europe. As part of President Yayeh Jammeh’s attempts to crack down on this drug trade, in October 2010 the Gambian legislature passed a mandatory sentence of death for drug trafficking for persons possessing more than 250 grams of cocaine or heroin. The law was not constitutionally operable, however, because of Article 18(2) of the Gambian constitution, which forbids the death penalty for crimes other than aggravated or premeditated murder. Consequently, the death penalty for drug trafficking was abolished in April 2011.     

Tax increment financing as a municipal revenue: helping the legislature get it right

Tax increment financing raises revenue for public infrastructure in a redevelopment district by capturing increased property tax revenue stimulated by the redevelopment. TIF has left a long trail of intergovernmental controversy. Cities in Washington State, which approved TIF in 1982, have yet to complete a project. After two failed constitutional amendment campaigns, a test case was initiated to validate TIF before the state supreme court. The cities lost. This article examines the technique, this case, and lessons for making tax increment financing available as a revenue source in Washington.