Duncan Hunter Wins Texas Straw Poll

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) won Texas' first Republican Party Straw Poll on Saturday. Out of 1300 votes:
Duncan Hunter - 534 votes - 41%
Fred Thompson - 266 votes - 20.5% [not at the event / undeclared]
Ron Paul came - 217 votes - 17% [From Texas]
Mike Huckabee - 83 votes - 6% [not at the event]
Rudy Giuliani - 78 votes - 6 % [not at the event]
Mitt Romney - 61 votes - 5% [not at the event]
Total votes for all the following candidtates was less than 5%
Ray McKinney - 28 votes - 2%
John Cox - 10 votes
John McCain - 8 votes [not at the event]
Sam Brownback - 6 votes [not at the event]
Tom Tancredo - 6 votes [not at the event]
Hugh Cort - 3 votes

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Tags: Duncan Hunter, Election 2008, Fred Thompson, presidential candidates, Republican, Texas To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor gives Norman Hsu donation to charity

The Baxter Bulletin: U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor said Friday that his Senate campaign gave to charity $12,000 in contributions linked to a Democratic fundraiser who turned himself in to authorities in a grand theft case. Pryor, D-AR, told The Associated Press that his campaign gave $2,500 in contributions from Norman Hsu, as well as donations from six other people connected to Hsu who gave money through a fundraiser co-hosted by Hsu, to Big Brothers Big Sisters when he learned that Hsu was wanted in California.

Pryor said he contributed the money from Hsu to Big Brothers Big Sisters at a fundraiser for the charity Thursday night. "We just thought it was better to be safe than sorry," Pryor said in an interview. "Just to be safe, we went ahead and did that. We probably went a little too far, but just to make sure that there's no perception problem there." . . . Pryor, who was elected to the Senate in 2002 and is seeking a second term next year, said he met Hsu at an event in New York. "I don't know a lot about him," Pryor said. "Our guys connected somehow or somebody called us and said, 'Hey, I think this guy may have been at one of your events in New York.'" . . . [Read More]

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Tags: Arkansas, campaign funds, fund raiser, Mark Pryor, Norman Hsu

Following Mike Huckabee's Comments to Bloggers

ARRA Editor: We try to present a fair and balanced view of Republican candidates - the good and the not so good. In this effort, we solicit information from all the campaigns.

Today we highlight some of Steven Nielson comments on Friday's Q&A between bloggers and Mike Huckabee Steve is the Editor of Colorado For Huckabee: I got to talk to Mike Huckabee via a blogger conference call this morning as well. What a day for me! Mike was charged and energized about the growing momentum for his campaign in the wake of the Ames poll success, and the subsequent early primary state polls which show his gain at sometimes double digits in the last three weeks since Ames! Mike boasted about the increase in fundraising now that he is pushing into the "top tier"... and noted that since Ames, his website has had 3.2 Million hits... imagine if each hit relates to a dollar donation... or at least one in ten equals a $10 donation... either way you slice it, I am looking forward to Mike's fundraising numbers for the next quarter!

Here is a quick snapshot of the conference call:
1. Question posed by me! I was quick on the trigger this morning! My question asked about Fred Thompson's Sept 6th entrance into the race, and how it may affect Mike's current surge in the polls... as well as what Mike's national strategy is to maintain the surge and keep his numbers heading in the positive direction:
Mike: Fred Thompson is underwhelming (in fundraising, less than half of what they were expecting), and his momentum is going to be hampered because he is no longer "alone in the spotlight". He is going to have to speak up for his stance on the issues, and face the other candidates on a debate stage. Of course his Sept 6th entrance is telling of his troubled campaign, as an entrance into the debate would have aided in a further slip in his polling numbers.As far as the national strategy - The campaign is going to focus on states where "we come out of the chute"... This means early primary states (because if we don't do well in these states, the others mean nothing). Also, the big focus is on fundraising...
Of course, these aren't all exact quotes, but paraphrases...
2. From Kevin Tracy @ ktracy.com - another bizarre question from Kevin! This one related to Sex Slavery around the world and how as president he would deal with it:
Mike: The online world has increased the need for sex slavery, with sex websites and video trades and sales. The main need is to maximize our laws to protect US citizens against such acts.
3. Holly from S.C.: Regarding Chinese goods...
Mike: It is time for the US to draw a clear and decisive line in the sand: We demand higher quality products and better working standards for employees of foreign businesses. If we do not get these, we need to impose some sort of trade sanctions... (stop feeding the beast)... This may mean an economic impact in the US, but it will also be felt in China, and thus the demands will be met.
4. Jon Rogers: Iowa judge strikes down the Defense of Marriage Act, what are your reactions?
Mike: This is proof positive that when you elect liberal legislators, they appoint liberal judges. We get what we elect... so if you want more of this same trend, elect more liberals. I am shocked at the judge's orders and overreaching decision. Iowa may need to consider a state constitutional amendment to address this issue.
5. Tom from Polisticks: How do you propose to enforce Personal Responsibility in Healthcare?
Mike: The current system supports a "live as you wish" lifestyle, where the focus is on dealing with issues caused by poor lifestyles. There are no incentives for healthy living! We need to offer similar incentives, as I did as Gov.of Arkansas, that will change the status quo of health in living... this includes free enrollment in smoking cessation plans, insurance covering weight loss programs, $500 rebates for health assessment screening, etc... I plan on making health tools and incentives the centerpiece of my health plan.
6. Joshuaplace.net: How do you plan on curbing government spending?
Mike: The first thing you need to do is turn the lights on government spending. Every penny needs to be accounted for to the American people. As governor, you are not allowed to just print out more money... so the government needs to follow the same rules... live within our means, don't pass this on to our children.
7. Inow.com: Where do you see economic politics as a role in the party? You have said things that make wall street guys nervous, and your recent endorsement by the IAM Labor union is contrary to the GOP "norm":
Mike: I am supported by true economic conservatives. Attacks are coming from special interest groups with a focus on one part of the economy... narrow views. I support the Fair Tax, which would benefit everyone. It is the most empowering economic idea for the lower income citizens. Our current standard is focused on Greed, Not Capitalism. The greedy corporate entities need to share with those who are making them rich. There is no reason why a CEO makes 2200 times as much as the technician on the floor! . . . [Read More]

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Tags: bloggers, Colorado, Election 2008, Mike Huckabee, presidential candidate, Republican

State Computers Used To Erase Huckabee Criticism

Today's THV: Research by The Associated Press shows that, over the past two years, people at state computers have been editing online encyclopedia entries about presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, Gov. Mike Beebe and a former state auditor and treasurer. In 2005, someone at a state computer edited out references to Huckabee's interest in clemency for castrated rapist Wayne DuMond. The next year, someone linked to the state computer network eliminated a reference to the ex-governor's travels on a state airplane.

State police dictates that Arkansas' government resources are not to be used for political purposes. Ethics officials cautioned Beebe in 2005 after a state computer was used to edit a political speech. In all, AP research found five computer addresses within state government network being used to edit information about politicians. Other state computer users changed pages about rock bands, the city of Batesville and Charles Manson. The state acknowledges the computers are part of its network but won't say which agencies or offices are assigned to the numbers. Twice, it rejected Freedom of Information requests from the AP. [Source]

Democratic Donor, Fugitive for 15 Years, Surrenders in California

by Leslie Wayne & Carolyn Marshall: Norman Hsu, a prominent Democratic donor who had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for candidates, turned himself in to the authorities yesterday in California, where there was a 15-year-old warrant for his arrest in a fraud case. Hsu was promptly handcuffed and jailed, the latest twist in a fast-moving political event in which candidates in the presidential campaign as well as in state and local races, have rushed to return money from Hsu because of his criminal past. After posting $2 million for bail, Mr. Hsu was released and told to appear next Wednesday at a bail-reduction hearing. Hsu appeared before Judge H. James Ellis in San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City, Calif., — the same court that heard the 1991 case against Mr. Hsu. At that time, Hsu pleaded no contest to a felony count of grand theft for defrauding investors of up to $1 million and became a 15 year fugitive after skipping a court hearing where he faced up to three years in prison. James J. Brosnahan, Mr. Hsu’s lawyer, said that “we are moving toward a resolution of this matter,” and that Mr. Hsu and his lawyers had been meeting with the California attorney general’s office to work out a plan of restitution for victims of Mr. Hsu’s actions, some of whom have already been repaid . . . [Read More]

ARRA Editor Comment: Why isn't this thief in jail? What After being on the run for 15 years -- Norman Hsu gets bond after failing to appear. It does not matter that Hsu is working out restitution to the people he defrauded 15 years ago. He should be required to make restitution anyway. The 3 year sentence he plead no contest to was a reduced sentence over what he could have received if he had gone to trial. Hsu should begin serving his three year sentence immediately or at least wear a leg bracelet while out on bail. Doing "good works for Democrat campaigns" while being a wanted fugitive for 15 years, should not merit a subsequent reduction in his sentence. Where and how did he "legally" obtain his current income with which he is making restitution? Is the the IRS checking on Hsu illegally gained income? UC Berkeley and the Wharton School of Business must be real proud of Norman Hsu. He sure learned how to turn stolen money into a "successful career" of funding campaigns. Norman Hsu is boldly displayed as a "silver sponsor" for the 2006 Joseph Wharton Dinner which cost attendees $500 a ticket to attend. Is the Univ of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business going to return funds that they received from Hsu?

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Tags: California, Democrat, fugitive, fund raiser, grand theft, New York, Norman Hsu, UC Berkley To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Virginia Republican Senator John Warner Plans to Retire

Virginia Republican Senator John Warner, who is 80 years old, announced today he will not seek reelection. Warner is leaving what would have been a safe seat for the Republicans if he had chosen to run again. His departure gives Democrats a better chance to protect or even expand their one-seat majority in the Senate. This creates a huge problem for the GOP in Virginia where moderate Democrats who are members of the NRA are tending to get elected to statewide office more often. The nomination battle among Republicans might include former Gov. Jim Gilmore and U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Davis. Within three hours of Warner's announcement, Virginia's two representatives to the RNC had sent letters to Virginia Republicans supporting Gilmore for the office. Another potential is Congressman Eric Cantor who is the Republican Whip.

In 1996, conservative Republicans sought to deny Warner a fourth term. Warner had angered conservatives two years earlier by opposing GOP nominee Oliver North's bid to unseat Democrat Sen. Charles S. Robb. Warner backed an independent who drew enough votes from moderates to ensure Robb's re-election. GOP conservatives then backed former Reagan administration budget director Jim Miller to challenge Warner for renomination. Warner won the primary. Warner improved his relationship with the GOP by supporting the successful campaigns of Gilmore for governor in 1997 and George Allen for Robb's Senate seat in 2000. Senator Warner will probably not be missed by social conservatives.

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Tags: John Warner, Republican, Senator, Virginia, retires To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Justice Department and The Islamic Society

William J. Murray, Chairman Religious Freedom Coalition: The Bush Administration's Justice Department is going to participate in a convention to be held by the Islamic Society of North America. I find this very strange in that this organization is an unindicted co- conspirator in an ongoing terror financing case. The Justice Department says it is participating "...as part of its outreach and education efforts." The Justice Department is actually one of the paying sponsors of the convention.
See also: DoJ: Subsidizing the Enemy: This Labor Day weekend, the Civil Rights Division of the Dept. of Justice will be paying the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) to have a booth at its 44th Annual Convention. Ironically, ISNA, along with NAIT (North American Islamic Trust), an organ of ISNA, were recently named unindicted co-conspirators in DOJ’s criminal case against the Holy Land Foundation (HLF). The Holy Land Foundation is an Islamic "charity" whose assets were frozen by President Bush because it was giving money to Hamas. The trial is taking place in Texas at this very moment. There has been some debate about whether or not it is a wise thing for DOJ to make an appearance at the ISNA convention. . . .

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Tags: DOJ, Islamic Society of North America, Religious Freedom Coalition, terrorism, US Justice Dept, William J. Murray To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Arkansas AG sues company, alleges sale of fake driver's licenses

Arkansas News Bureau: LITTLE ROCK - The state attorney general's office filed a lawsuit Thursday against a Jonesboro company for allegedly offering fake driver's licenses to Hispanics in northeastern Arkansas. McDaniel's office filed suit in Craighead County Circuit Court against Benjamin Sanchez, Oscar Sanchez and Rita Soto, owners and operators of International Automovil Association Inc. The company, according to the lawsuit, illegally offered international driver's licenses or documents, despite having no authority to offer such a document. "Anytime someone is issuing fake ID cards to illegal immigrants the attorney general's office is concerned," McDaniel said in a news release. Foreign drivers may legally drive in the U.S. if they have a valid driver's license from their home country and receive an International Driver's Document, he said. International Automovil Association was selling the licenses for $140 each. Legitimate International Driver's Documents cost less than $20. [Source]

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Tags: Arkansas, Attorney General, Dustin McDaniel, fake ID, illegal aliens, illegal immigrants To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Less Than Half of all Published Scientists Endorse Global Warming Theory

In 2004, history professor Naomi Oreskes performed a survey of research papers on climate change . . . Medical researcher Dr. Klaus-Martin Schulte recently updated this research. Using the same database and search terms as Oreskes, he examined all papers published from 2004 to February 2007. . . . The figures are surprising. Of 528 total papers on climate change, only 38 (7%) gave an explicit endorsement of the consensus. If one considers "implicit" endorsement (accepting the consensus without explicit statement), the figure rises to 45%. However, while only 32 papers (6%) reject the consensus outright, the largest category (48%) are neutral papers, refusing to either accept or reject the hypothesis. This is no "consensus." . . . In fact of all papers published in this period (2004 to February 2007), only a single one makes any reference to climate change leading to catastrophic results. . . . Schulte's survey contradicts the United Nation IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report (2007), which gave a figure of "90% likely" man was having an impact on world temperatures. . . . Despite media claims of "thousands of scientists" involved in the report, the actual text is written by a much smaller number of "lead authors." The introductory "Summary for Policymakers" -- the only portion usually quoted in the media -- is written not by scientists at all, but by politicians, and approved, word-by-word, by political representatives from member nations. . . . [Read More]

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Tags: global warming, UN, scientists, disagree To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Wyoming Republicans move caucus to January 5th

The Right's Field: "Wyoming Republicans just set their primary caucus for January 5, leapfrogging the entire field (well, for now, at least). The RNC has already sought to punish other states who have failed to abide by rules governing primary dates. The Wyoming Republican Party doesn't seem to be that worried about it. 'We're first in the nation,' said Tom Sansonetti, the state party's 2008 county convention coordinator. ' At least for the next couple, three weeks until New Hampshire and Iowa move, which I expect they will.' At this rate, the first primary will be held last week, and John Cox won, so why aren't you on the bandwagon?"

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Tags: Election 2008, primary, Republicans, RNC, Wyoming To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Arkansas Rep. Vic Snyder hears worries on immigration

by Michael R. Wickline, NWA News: Two months after President Bush’s immigration plan collapsed in the U. S. Senate, U. S. Rep. Vic Snyder on Tuesday heard an earful from several people here who said they want more to be done to crack down on illegal aliens. Snyder, a Democrat from Little Rock, said in an interview that he’s heard “a wide spectrum of views” on immigration during his meetings with constituents throughout the district during the past week. . . . On Tuesday morning, Snyder met one-on-one with several dozen people in a hallway at the Saline County courthouse in Benton and later on the side of a meeting room at the Bryant Fire Department. Ken Wallis of North Little Rock, representing a group called Keep Arkansas Legal noted that (see video below) . . . [Read More]




Keep Arkansas Legal Meets with
Rep. Vic Snyder about illegal immigration

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Tags: Arkansas, Democrat, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, Representative, Vic Snyder

Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor Received Norman Hsu Campaign Contributions

Update to Story: Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor gives Norman Hsu donation to charity
by John Anderson, The Citizen's Journal: Looks like Hillary Clinton isn't the only Arkansan (and I use that term loosely) to have taken political contributions from the Paw family and Norman Hsu. The Paw Family as reported by the L.A. Times, living on a meager $50,000 dollar a year income supposedly gave an extraordinarily large amount of money to democratic candidates, to the tune of over $200,000. . . . Records available on Open Secrets show that Democratic Senator Mark Pryor has received contributions from the Paw family and from Norman Hsu as well totaling $7,500. Hillary recently stated that she was going to give the contributions she received from Hsu to charity, . . . Shouldn't Mark do this as well? I called Marks office to ask him about it but it was closed for the day so I left a message. You can find his contact information here. . . . [Read More]

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Tags: Arkansas, campaign funds, fund raiser, Mark Pryor, Norman Hsu

Arkansas Republican Party Appoints New General Counsel

Arkansas Republican Party Press Release: Little Rock -- Chairman Dennis Milligan has appointed Mr. Chris Stewart, of Little Rock, as General Counsel to the Republican Party of Arkansas. Stewart is in private law practice and is a registered lobbyist and partner in the lobbying firm Brent Stevenson Associates. His law practice focuses primarily on business litigation, debt collection and insurance defense litigation.

In 2006, Stewart served as Political Director to the "Asa For Governor" campaign. In 2004, Stewart served as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Marriage Amendment Committee. The Arkansas Marriage Amendment Committee organized and managed the campaign for Amendment 3 that defined marriage between one man and one woman. The campaign gathered a record 201,000 signatures to place the amendment on the ballot. The amendment passed with 74 percent of the vote. Prior to joining the Arkansas Marriage Amendment Committee, Stewart practiced insurance defense litigation.

A native of Brinkley, Arkansas, Stewart earned his Bachelor of Science in Government from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 2000. He received his Juris Doctor from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 2003. Stewart is married to the former Julie Beale of Buffalo, New York, who is a teacher at Baker Elementary in Little Rock.

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Tags: Arkansas Republican Party, Chris Stewart, Dennis Milligan, RPA To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Clinton-Obama Gets Communist Fidel Castro Endorsement

by Anthony Boadle, Reuters: HAVANA (Reuters) - Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro is tipping Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to team up and win the U.S. presidential election. . . . "The word today is that an apparently unbeatable ticket could be Hillary for president and Obama as her running mate," he wrote in an editorial column on U.S. presidents published on Tuesday by Cuba's Communist Party newspaper, Granma. . . . Castro said former President Bill Clinton was "really kind" when he bumped into him and the two men shook hands at a U.N. summit meeting in 2000. . . . He said his favorite U.S. president since 1959 was Jimmy Carter, another Democrat [Source] ARRA Editor's Comment: To quote an old saw: "Birds of a feather, flock together." Enough Said!

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Tags: Barack Obama, communist, Cuba, endorsement, Fidel Castro, Hillary Clinton To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

The People Must Demand The Fair Tax

by Doug Patton: . . . The elites of this country, who buy those million-dollar homes, are not enamored with the Fair Tax. They would be if they took the time to understand its appeal. The Fair Tax would replace all federal income taxes. No more federal withholding. No more Social Security withholding. No more Medicare withholding. No more stealing from the paychecks of American workers before they even see it and then pretending to give them a refund, without interest, at the end of the year. No more saving receipts for tax deductions. No more IRS audits. No more April 15th.

Instead, the Fair Tax would put us in control. All consumer items would be taxed. Business purchases would not. By allowing us to make the determination about what we buy and when we buy it, the ability of our legislators to manipulate our behavior is eliminated. That is why the elites don't like it. They can't control the public's spending habits under such a system. The current federal tax system is broken. It cannot be fixed . . . . Because the poor are forced to spend a disproportionate percentage of their resources to cover the tax on necessities, the Fair Tax hits them the hardest. That issue can be addressed by simply issuing a "prebate" check each month to every household in the country. Unlike disingenuous tax credits, deductions, exemptions and other loopholes in the current income tax code, a prebate check is a clean, honest method of covering the sales tax on food, clothing and shelter - up to the poverty level . . . [Read More]

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Tags: Doug Patton, FairTax Plan, FairTax To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Breaking News - Thompson to Tell Supporters He's In Today

Update: On September 6, 2007, Fred Thompson will be announcing his intention to run for President of the United States with a webcast available to millions at www.imwithfred.com
. The launch of the video will be followed by a five-day campaign tour through Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. [Read More]

According to the Washington Post website today (8/30/07), Fred Dalton Thompson will tell his supporters that he is running for president in a 4 p.m. conference call with 800 to 1,000 elected and party officials from around the country, a source close to the campaign said today. On the call, Thompson will detail his plans for the future, which are expected to include an appearance on Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" on Wednesday night -- even as his rivals debate on Fox -- and could be followed by a formal announcement the next day. The confirmation of Thompson's plans end a months-long flirtation with the public about whether the former senator and Hollywood actor would seek the Republican nomination for the presidency. [Source]

The above announcement comes on the heels of Fred Thompson, hoping to solidify his inner circle by naming strategist Todd Harris to head his communications department. Harris, a former aide to Sen. John McCain and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, will replace Linda Rozett who left the fledgling campaign operation earlier this week, according to a Thompson aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. [Source]

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Tags: Election 2008, Fred Thompson, presidential candidate, Republican To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

The Latest Fad In Public Schools

by Phyllis Schlafly: Every few years a new fad sweeps across the public schools. We've had self-esteem, new math, whole language, New Age, outcome-based education, school-to-work, mental health screening, school-based clinics, global education, diversity, multiculturalism, and early childhood education. The newest public school fad was announced last week on the front page of the New York Times, . . . . Freshmen at Dwight Morrow High School in New Jersey, starting this fall, must declare a major, and they must take at least one course in that subject every trimester for four years. The major will be noted on their diploma. How many kids between the ages of 14 and 18 do you think ever change their minds about what they like and don't like? Let's rephrase my question: do you know any teenagers who don't change their minds frequently?

Most teens have a hard time deciding what to wear, what to eat, and with whom they will go to the prom. Probably most students haven't even selected their lifetime career when they start college. But at Dwight Morrow, those who change their minds are out of luck. If they find they don't like their original choice, they can't change unless they produce a "compelling reason," but even that may not be sufficient. . . . This "choose major" fad seems to have spread nationwide under the radar without prior publicity. Apparently some hundreds of high schools now require students to specialize, but most are not so rigid as to require a major. Mississippi has a pilot program to have ninth graders choose one of seven career paths from construction to technology. Like any new school fad, "choose major" of course requires more taxpayer funding. . . .

Public schools should teach all first-graders to read by the time-tested phonics system, and teach all schoolchildren to know and use the fundamentals of arithmetic by the end of the third grade. This would end the shocking epidemic of illiteracy that now permits students to get into high school and even graduate without being able to read, write or calculate change at the grocery store. Choosing a major won't solve the problem of high school dropouts who can't read, write, add, subtract, multiply, or divide. Public schools will remain a national embarrassment unless and until the fundamentals are taught in elementary classes. [Complete Article]

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Tags: Eagle Forum, education, fads, Phyllis Schlafly To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Marriage in California Could End?

by Randy Hall: In legal briefs submitted to the California Supreme Court regarding same-sex marriage, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown both stated that a future legislature could abolish marriage and remove the rights now enjoyed by a husband and wife, a pro-family group charged on Monday. In Brown's document, filed on Aug. 17, the attorney general stated that "the words 'marry' and 'marriage' have no essential constitutional significance under the California Constitution. Thus, the legislature could change the name of the legal relationship now known as 'marriage' to some other name without any constitutional impediment." Schwarzenegger filed a brief of his own that day, which said "the administration submits that use of the words 'marry' and 'marriage' is not required by the California Constitution. Thus, the name of the legal relationship now known as 'marriage' could be changed." Regarding whether rights for a husband and wife can be eliminated by the California legislature, Schwarzenegger wrote that "except for the ability to choose and declare one's life partner in a reciprocal commitment of mutual support, any of the statutory rights and obligations that are afforded to married couples in California could be abrogated or eliminated by the legislature or the electorate for any rational legislative purpose." . . . [Read More]

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Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California, gay marriage, marriage amendment To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Democrat fundraiser (Norman Hsu) is a fugitive in plain sight

Update: Clinton to Give Away Fundraiser's Cash
ARRA Editor: California authorities have sought Norman Hsu for 15 years. Since 2004, he has carved out a reoutation raising cash for candidates like Hillary Rodham Clinton. And he is still at it. A convicted fugitive allowed to roam free in the U.S. Why? Do the Clinton's still carry enough power to protect a Democrat fundraiser convicted and wanted in California? Why would they want to do so? There are more questions than answers. Considering other recent headline news, is a convicted grant theft felon fleeing for 15 years of less importance? Should fugitive felons be allowed to raise money for any political party or campaign? Here is the background from today's news stories - you decide and comment:

by Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields, Los Angeles Times: For the last 15 years, California authorities have been trying to figure out what happened to a businessman named Norman Hsu, who pleaded no contest to grand theft, agreed to serve up to three years in prison and then seemed to vanish." He is a fugitive," Ronald Smetana, who handled the case for the state attorney general, said in an interview. "Do you know where he is?" . . . Since 2004, Norman Hsu has been carving out a prominent place of honor among Democrat fundraisers. He has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions into party coffers, much of it earmarked for presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. In addition to making his own contributions, Hsu has honed the practice of assembling packets of checks from contributors who bear little resemblance to the usual Democrat deep pockets. A self-described apparel executive with a variety of business interests, Hsu has focused on delivering hefty contributions from citizens who live modest lives and are neophytes in the world of campaign giving.

. . . Lawrence Barcella Jr. - a Washington lawyer . . . confirmed that Hsu was the same man who was involved in the California case. Barcella said his client did not remember pleading to a criminal charge and facing the prospect of jail time. Hsu remembers the episode as part of a settlement with creditors when he also went through bankruptcy, Barcella said. . . . As a Democrat rainmaker, Hsu - who graduated from UC Berkeley and the Wharton School of Business - is credited with donating nearly $500,000 to national and local party candidates and their political committees in the last three years. He earned a place in the Clinton campaign's "HillRaiser" group by pledging to raise more than $100,000 for her presidential bid.Records show that Hsu helped raise an additional $500,000 from other sources for Clinton and other Democrats.

"Norman Hsu is a longtime and generous supporter of the Democrat Party and its candidates, including Sen. Clinton," Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for the campaign, said Tuesday. "During Mr. Hsu's many years of active participation in the political process, there has been no question about his integrity or his commitment to playing by the rules, and we have absolutely no reason to call his contributions into question or to return them." . . . [Read More]

by Ianthe Jeanne Dugan & Brody Mullins, The Wall Street Journal: Norman Hsu is one of the leading political fund-raisers in the country this year. In fact, many fund-raisers say he is one of a small handful of people capable of raising more than $1 million - a major feat considering the maximum donation allowed by an individual for 2008 races is $4,600 per candidate. . . . Several people involved in Democrat presidential fund-raising say Mr. Hsu, an apparel executive, has raised well over $1 million for the New York senator's presidential campaign, making him one of the top 20 Democrat fund-raisers in the country. The Clinton campaign . . . declined to comment for this story.

Mr. Hsu supports other Democrats besides Mrs. Clinton. On June 23, he helped throw a "6th Anniversary of his 60th Birthday fund-raiser" for Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA). A few days later, he joined Blackstone Group Chairman Stephen Schwarzman and lawyer David Boies to host a $1,000-a-plate 40th-birthday bash for Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI). In the email to the Journal, Mr. Hsu listed several Democratic politicians to whom he has given money, and said he has never asked any for favors. They include Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell; New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine; Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA); Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA); and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Representatives for each of the Democrats declined to comment . . . . [Read More]

by Brody Mullins, The Wall Street Journal: The Los Angeles Times reported in today's editions that Norman Hsu agreed in 1991 to accept three years in prison for allegedly swindling $1 million out of investors who had backed his plan to resell latex gloves. Ronald Smetana, who handled the case for the California state attorney general, told the Times that Hsu failed to appear at his sentencing hearing. Bench warrants were issued for his arrest, but he wasn't found . . . Hsu's donations to Clinton and other Democrat candidates track with donations made by a handful of his business associates and the extended members of the Paw family, who live in a tiny house in Daly City, California. In all, the Paw family, Hsu and his associates have donated about $800,000 to Democrats since late 2004. The six members of the Paw family who live in Daly City have contributed a total of $55,000 to Clinton's various political arms in the last three years. That makes the household one of the single biggest sources of campaign cash for Sen. Clinton. William Paw, the 64-year old head of the household, is a mail carrier earning about $49,000 a year, according to a union representative. His wife is a homemaker. The family's top giver, Winkle Paw, 36, lists as his employer several companies owned by Hsu. . . . [Read More] See details on political donations from the Paw family, Norman Hsu and a handful of Mr. Hsu's business associates in New York.

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Tags: California, Democrat, fugitive, fund raiser, grand theft, Hillary Clinton, New York, Norman Hsu, 2007, 2008 election To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Today’s Poor Are Well Off

Featured article a Network Partner - Please stop by Ft. Hard Knox:
by Orlando, Ft Hard Knox: Liberals are quick to whip out the “poor card” to make their case for bigger government programs and spending. The poor card is a guilt-ridden card with the words “we must help the poor.” But facts are stubborn–they get in the way of liberal guilt trips. Consider the Census Bureau’s recent facts on poverty:

• 43% of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
• 80% of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, in 1970, only 36% of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
• Only 6% of poor households are over­crowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.
• The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)
• Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 31% own two or more cars.
  97% of poor households have a color television; more than half own two or more color televisions.
• 78% have a VCR or DVD player; 62% have cable or satellite TV reception.
• 89% own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and more than a third have an automatic dishwasher

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Tags: Census Bureau, liberals, poor, poverty To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Huckabee's Tacky Statement About Thompson’s ChancesIs Huckabee Seeking to be a Political Pundit?

On Fox News Sunday and as reported by the AP, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee says unofficial presidential candidate Fred Thompson, who is expected to jump into the 2008 race next month, will have trouble meeting expectations about his candidacy. Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, lags nationally among his rivals in fund raising and public support. Thompson, an actor and former Tennessee senator, fell short of his recent fund-raising goals and lost a top aide yesterday, but he has polled well in the crowded field. Of Thompson, Huckabee said, “People are expecting him to basically come in and be the fifth head on Mount Rushmore. Whether he can live up to that - I think there’s a real challenge for anybody to live up to that, including if Ronald Reagan were to come back.” . . . [Read More]

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Tags: Fred Thompson, GOP, Mike Huckabee, presidential candidates, Republican, 2008 To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

The 'Blue Dog' Moment - So far, they're spending like other Democrats

Wall Street Journal Editorial: A high-stakes budget showdown is shaping up this fall between President Bush and Congressional Democrats. The debate will also be a moment of truth for the so-called "blue dog" Democrats: the 48 self-described fiscal conservatives in the House Democratic Caucus. The bone of contention is the $22 billion in domestic spending that Democrats passed in their budget resolution above what Mr. Bush requested in his own budget. The Democratic spending plan would increase non-defense expenditures by 6.5% next year--more than double the inflation rate. The White House is threatening vetoes . . .

The blue dog Web site boasts that its mission is to "refocus Congress on balancing the budget and ridding taxpayers of the burden of debt." If a balanced budget is what they want, the best fiscal option would be to enact what is called a "continuing resolution" budget that would fund all programs at last year's level plus 1% or 2%. Along with rising tax revenues, this could cut the budget deficit roughly in half next year, to well under $100 billion. . . . Here's the rub: So far this year the blue dogs have been almost all bark when it comes to fiscal restraint and debt reduction. Thirty of the 48 have voted for every one of the non-defense spending bills their committee chairman have sent them. . . . 28 of the 48 blue dogs voted "no" on each of the 27 amendments that Republicans proposed to cut the costs . . .

Voting records from recent years confirm that the blue dogs are less than consistent spending hawks. The National Taxpayers Union . . . found that the blue dogs had an average fiscal score of 24 out of 100, earning them a grade of D as a group . . . the blue dogs sponsored $145 of new spending for every dollar of budget reductions, for a net spending increase per member of more than $140 billion.

The blue dogs are consistent on one fiscal issue: stopping tax cuts. . . . But those concerns evaporated when all but nine in the blue dog coalition voted to expand the Schip health-care program to include many middle-class families, at a cost of $132.6 billion over the 2008-2017 period. So in the weeks ahead we will see whether the blue dog Democrats work to reduce the $22 billion spending bonus their party leadership is seeking. They were elected on a platform of fiscal responsibility, and we are about to find out if they meant it . . . [Read More]
ARRA Editor's Comment: The Blue Dog Coalition may now be only a ruse. Under a Republican led House. the "blue dogs" they had power and influence. Now that they are led by their own - liberal Democrats, they appear weakened, compromised and unable to deliver on the promises of their coalition. One has to ask - are there any Blue Dogs left? In Arkansas, John Ross and Marion Berry belong to the Blue Dog coalition. Surprising, since Berry has supported legislation that has provided for his personal gain via farm subsidies. Ross has always been able to bring home the "bacon" to his Arkansas district, but. at what cost to all the American taxpayers? It will be interesting to observe whether they vote their alleged "blue dog" principles or if they are now fully co-opted by their liberal Democrat leadership.

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Tags: Blue Dogs, Congressional Pork, Democrats, liberals, pork, pork-barrel spenders To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Fred Thompson May Announce Sept 4th - Campaign Structure Continues Reorganzing

Real Clear Politics: Sources tell numerous outlets that Thompson will announce his campaign September 4th, and that he will participate in his first debate on September 27 at Morgan State University in Baltimore. His first major appearance at a GOP event will be at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference in Michigan around a week earlier.

Politico's Jonathan Martin reports that Linda Rozett, communications director for former Senator Fred Thompson's nascent campaign, has been pushed out by campaign manager Bill Lacy, who is searching for someone with more campaign experience. Rozett follows several other departures, including press secretary Burson Snyder, research director J.T. Mastranadi and would-be campaign manager Tom Collamore. . . . Both Martin and Marc Ambinder see the move as a strong indication of the power Lacy, the new campaign manager, wields over the organization. . . . [Read More]

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Tags: Fred Thompson, GOP, presidential candidate, campaign, Election 2008, Republican To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Huckabee Warns of Obesity Epidemic

by Emily Wagster Pettusr: Republican presidential candidate and self-described "recovering foodaholic" Mike Huckabee told Southern governors Saturday that an obesity epidemic could cause serious problems for the American economy, and even for national security. . . . Dr. William Rowley, who worked 30 years as a vascular surgeon and now works at the Institute for Alternative Futures, said 61% of U.S. active-duty military personnel are overweight. Huckabee said that statistic disturbs him. "You've got a serious situation with a generation of kids coming up so unhealthy they won't be able to pass the military physical," Huckabee said in an interview after the panel discussion. "We keep talking about the war on terror - who's going to fight it if we don't have enough people who are healthy enough to show up and pick up a backpack?" . . . [Read More]

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Tags: Mike Huckabee, Obesity, Obesity Epidemic To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

What is the role of the Border Patrol?

by Bobby Eberle: With all the heated debate on illegal immigration and calls for increased numbers of Border Patrol agents, one would think the Border Patrol would play a vital role in stopping illegals from getting into the country. Right? Not according to one Border Patrol chief who said the role of the Border Patrol is NOT to stop illegal aliens. Question... if they won't do it, who will? As noted in the Washington Times, Carlos X. Carrillo is the Border Patrol chief in Laredo, Texas. This region is one of the toughest, most dangerous along the border. "It is the sister city of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, which is controlled by one of that country's most ruthless drug-smuggling rings." In comments at a town hall meeting, Carrillo said: "I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Border Patrol's job is not to stop illegal immigrants. The Border Patrol's job is not to stop narcotics. ... The Border Patrol's mission is not to stop criminals. The Border Patrol's mission is to stop terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the country. Excuse me, but we've already seen instances of terrorists sneaking across the border along the routes taken by illegal aliens. If we stopped the flow of illegals, wouldn't that help reduce the risk of terrorists getting into the country? . . . [Read More]
See also: Tom Tancredo calls for ouster of sector chief

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Tags: Bobby Eberle, border control, GOPUSA, illegal immigrants, terrorist, Tom Tancredo To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Nouri Maliki returns fire at Democrats Hillary Clinton & Car Levin

BBC News: Iraq's prime minister has hit back at senior US politicians who have called for him to be removed from office. Nouri Maliki singled out senators Hillary Clinton and Carl Levin. He said the Democratic senators were acting as if Iraq was "their property" and that they should "come to their senses" and "respect democracy." . . . Earlier this month, Senators Clinton and Levin both urged Iraqi politicians to choose someone else to lead Iraq's ruling coalition and seek faster national reconciliation. . . ."I share Senator Levin's hope that the Iraqi parliament will replace Prime Minister Maliki with a less divisive and more unifying figure . . . ," Sen Clinton said . . . on 22 August. But the Iraqi prime minister hit back during a news conference in Baghdad, saying: "Leaders like Hillary Clinton and Carl Levin have not experienced in their political lives the kind of differences we have in Iraq. "When they give their judgment they have no knowledge of what reconciliation means." . . . [Read More]

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Tags: BBC, Carl Levin, Hillary Clinton, Iraq, Nouri Maliki To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Confirmed: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Resigns

FoxNews: U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has handed in his resignation, FOX News confirmed Monday. "After months of unfair treatment that has created a harmful distraction at the Justice Department, Judge Gonzales decided to resign his position and I accepted his decision," Bush said, reeling off a long list of policy Gonzales helped form as Bush's senior counsel . . .
Even the president's allies suggested it was time to wipe the slate clean at the Justice Department, whose employee morale and list accomplishments have dwindled in recent months as Gonzales faced deeper and deeper Senate scrutiny. "The attorney general's resignation offers an opportunity for Washington to stop partisan bickering and move forward with the people's business," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. "I'm glad he's stepping down so the department can move forward with its important work," Sen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, . . . Gonzales . . . announced that he had resigned from his position following a tumultuous 2007 marked by intensive Senate inquiries, investigations and examinations into his leadership at the Justice Department. Gonzales' last day in the Bush administration will be Sept. 16. "Yesterday, I met with President Bush and informed him of my decision to conclude my government service as attorney general of the United States effective as of Sept. 17, 2007," . . . [Read More]

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Tags: Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Restoring the Rule of Law - Eliminating Sanctuary Cities

by Senator Norm Coleman, Republican MN: Increasingly it seems Americans in different parts of the country have opened their morning newspaper or turned on the TV and learned about an act of violence carried out by someone who is living in this country illegally. Alarmingly, many of these individuals have had previous contact with local law enforcement officials. Such is the case in Newark, New Jersey, where recently three innocent young people were tragically murdered. In the aftermath of this tragedy, we learned that one of the suspects -- an illegal immigrant -- was previously arrested on multiple occasions and, rather than being deported, was set free only to victimize again.

The situation in Newark didn't happen in a vacuum. It isn't new, nor is it relegated to just this one community. An alarming number of cities and towns throughout this nation have similar sanctuary policies on the books -- including both Minneapolis and St. Paul in my home state of Minnesota. In these cities, local law enforcement officials are barred from so much as inquiring about a suspect's immigration status and passing along their concerns to federal authorities for follow up action. The rationale for this practice is as antiquated as the practice itself. Yes, it is important to maintain good relations between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, but we must not hide behind that as an excuse for letting lawbreakers off the hook. In a post 9/11 world, the evidence has shown the consequences of sanctuary city policies can reach beyond just one community. Take for example Mohammed Atta, leader of the 9/11 hijackers. In 2001, he was stopped and ticketed for driving without a license in Florida. His visa was expired and yet he was simply allowed to continue on his way. . . .

Opening the lines of communication between local and federal law enforcement officials is essential to protecting the security and safety of our citizens. Sanctuary cities like Newark, Minneapolis and others hinder that communication and prevent us from taking action against criminals before they act. In Minnesota, police officers have told me they feel their jobs could be threatened if they asked about immigration status in routine investigations. Simply put, our officers should not be handcuffed in their ability to protect the public. The informational wall created by the sanctuary city loophole defies logic and, in this day and age, is harmful to our national security. We must give this tool back to our local law enforcement. [Read Full Story]

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Cost of Low-Skill Immigrants to the US Taxpayer

by Debbie Pelley: Texas' illegal immigrant population is costing the state's taxpayers more than $4.7 billion per year for education, medical care and incarceration, according to an analysis of the latest Census data by the Federation for American Immigration Reform. According to the group, even if the estimated tax contributions of illegal immigrant workers are subtracted, net outlays still amount to more than $3.7 billion per year, costing the average, native-born Texas household about $725. Taxpayer-funded medical outlays for health care provided to the state's illegal alien population amount to about $520 million a year, according to FAIR. The uncompensated cost of incarcerating illegal aliens in Texas' state and county prisons amounts to about $150 million a year (not including local jail detention costs or related law enforcement and judicial expenditures or the monetary costs of the crimes that led to their incarceration). . . . [Read More]

The ADE in Arkansas has intially reported $163 Million for education and imprisonment. Arkansas lawmakers are discussing the best way to tackle the illegal immigration at the state level. . . . [Read More & Videos ]

The WPAAG reported the following details from a 2007 Heritage Foundation, study titled The Fiscal Cost of Low-Skill Immigrants to the U.S. Taxpayer:

Each year, families and individuals pay taxes to the government and receive back a wide variety of services and benefits. A fiscal deficit occurs when the benefits and services received by one group exceed the taxes paid. When such a deficit occurs, other groups must pay for the services and benefits of the group in deficit. Each year, govern­ment is involved in a large-scale transfer of resources between different social groups.

On average, low-skill immigrant households re­ceived $30,160 per household in immediate govern­ment benefits and services in FY 2004, including direct benefits, means-tested benefits, education, and popula­tion-based services. By contrast, low-skill immigrant households paid only $10,573 in taxes. Thus, low-skill immigrant households received nearly three dollars in benefits and services for each dollar in taxes paid.

The net fiscal deficit of a household equals the cost of immediate benefits and services received minus taxes paid. As Chart 5 shows, if the costs of direct and means-tested benefits, education, and population-based ser­vices were counted, the average low-skill household had a fiscal deficit of $19,588 (expenditures of $30,160 minus $10,573 in taxes).

However, the fiscal burden becomes most severe among elderly households, where the net annual fiscal deficit soars to $32,686 per household per year. This amounts to roughly $15,000 per year for each elderly low-skill immigrant.

It is often argued that low-skill immigrants have a positive impact on U.S. taxpayers because they pay taxes into the Social Security trust fund. Low-skill immigrant households receive many other government benefits as well, receiving ten dollars in total government benefits for each dollar they pay in Social Security taxes.

Current immigrants (both legal and illegal) have very low education levels relative to the non-immigrant U.S. population. At least 50%, and perhaps 60% of illegal immigrant adults lack a high school degree… By contrast, only 9% of non-immigrant adults lack a high school degree. The current immigrant population, thus, contains a disproportionate share of poorly edu­cated individuals. These individuals will tend to have low wages, pay little in taxes, and receive above average levels of government benefits and services.

There is a common misconception that the low edu­cation levels of recent immigrants is part of a permanent historical pattern, and that the U.S. has always admitted immigrants who were poorly educated relative to the native born population. Historically, this was not the case. For example, in 1960, recent immigrants were no more likely than were non-immigrants to lack a high school degree. By 1998, recent immigrants were almost four times more likely to lack a high school degree than were non-immigrants.

As the relative education level of immigrants fell in recent decades, so did their relative wage levels. In 1960, the average immigrant male in the U.S. actually earned more than the average non-immigrant man. As the relative edu­cation levels of subsequent waves of immigrants fell, so did relative wages. By 1998, the average immigrant earned 23% less than the average non-immigrant.

Low wage levels in low-skill immigrant households lead to high levels of poverty:Over 30% of persons living in low-skill immigrant households were poor in 2004 compared to the overall poverty rate of 12.7% in the U.S. population.. . . [Read More]

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Tags: Arkansas, Debbie Pelley, economic cost, illegal aliens, illegal immigrants, low income, prisons, tax burden, taxpayers, Texas, Women's Prayer and Action Group To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Arkansas YRs Question Beebe Endorsement

Your Republicans of Arkansas: Democrat Governor Mike Beebe, along with most of the elected state Democrat delegation, showed their unwavering support for presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) . . . . Beebe was quoted as saying that she has "the right vision for Arkansas . . . and America." This statement is of particular interest since Sen. Clinton is one of the most liberal members of Congress. Let's look at Sen. Clinton's voting record to showcase just how [not so] closely her vision follows that of most Arkansas.

• Sen. Clinton has voted with Liberal Democrats 97.0% of the time in the 110th Congress. By comparison, Mark Pryor has a rate of 86.8%. (Source: Washington Post)
• Voted against the Iraq Supplemental (providing the tools for our troops during the surge). This past weekend, Sen. Clinton told the VFW in Kansas City that the surge was working. Too bad she didn't vote to support it.
• Voted for an Amendment to FY2008 Defense Authorization which states: "To express the sense of the Senate that it is in the national security interest of the United States that Iraq not become a failed state and a safe haven for terrorists." (While also voting against the supplement to support the troops going to Iraq under the troop surge.)
• Voted NO on a bill to make it a criminal offense to harm or kill a fetus during the commission of a violent crime. The measure would set criminal penalties - the same as those that would apply if harm or death happened to the pregnant woman - for those who harm a fetus. . . This bill prohibits the death penalty from being imposed for such an offense. . . . Reference: Unborn Victims of Violence Act; Bill S.1019/HR.1997 ; vote number 2004-63 on Mar 25, 2004

• Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. S. 3 As Amended; Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. Vote to pass a bill banning a medical procedure, which is commonly known as "partial-birth" abortion. Those who performed this procedure would then face fines and up to two years in prison, the women to whom this procedure is performed on are not held criminally liable. This bill would make the exception for cases in which a women's life is in danger . . . (On April 18, 2007, the US Supreme Court upheld this ban) Reference: Bill S.3 ; vote number 2003-51 on Mar 12, 2003
• Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. This bill prohibits taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions. Makes an exception for an abortion necessary to save the life of the minor. Authorizes any parent to sue unless such parent committed an act of incest with the minor. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to one year on a physician who performs an abortion on an out-of-state minor in violation of parental notification requirements in their home state. (In March 2005, Gov. Huckabee signed a law passed by our Democratic-controlled Arkansas General Assembly that requires a parent to be notified at least 48 hours before an abortion is performed on a minor. If the parent does not consent, the procedure cannot take place. Reference: Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act; Bill S.403 ; vote number 2006-216 on Jul 25, 2006)

• Finally, in June, 2007, she voted against a Senate Amendment 1184 that would have denied legal status to immigrants convicted of certain crimes as follows: "Vote to pass an amendment that would prohibit undocumented immigrants convicted of aggravated felonies, domestic violence, stalking, violation of protection orders, crimes against children, or crimes relating to the illegal purchase or sale of firearms, from gaining legal status." You read correctly, Sen. Clinton voted against protecting our families from violent illegal immigrants.

Is this really someone who has Arkansans' best interests at heart?

Is this really someone who has the "right vision" for Arkansas and the nation? Why would a (self-proclaimed) "conservative" Democrat governor endorse someone (a NY based liberal) with these views and values that clearly don't reflect those of Arkansans? Maybe Gov. Beebe is not that "conservative" after all.

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Tags: Arkansas, Democrat, GOP, Hillary Clinton, Mike Beebe, Republican, Young Republicans To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!