News Blog for social, fiscal & national security conservatives who believe in God, family & the USA. Upholding the rights granted by God & guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, traditional family values, "republican" principles / ideals, transparent & limited "smaller" government, free markets, lower taxes, due process of law, liberty & individual freedom. Content approval rests with the ARRA News Service Editor. Opinions are those of the authors. While varied positions are reported, beliefs & principles remain fixed. No revenue is generated for or by this "Blog" - no paid ads - no payments for articles.Fair Use Doctrine is posted & used. Blogger/Editor/Founder: Bill Smith, Ph.D. [aka: OzarkGuru & 2010 AFP National Blogger of the Year] Contact: editor@arranewsservice.com (Pub. Since July, 2006)Home PageFollow @arra
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics
is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. -- Plato
(429-347 BC)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Philadelphia punishes Boy Scouts because of their beliefs
American Family Association: The city of Philadelphia has decided topunish the Boy Scouts of America because it will not allow homosexuals to serve as Scout Leaders. City officials said they will charge the Cradle of Liberty Scouts Council $200,000 a year to use the city-owned headquarters. The Council was paying $1 per year (since 1928). The city owns the land on which the Council's 1928 Beaux Arts building sits.
The city says it is charging the scouts $200,000 a year because the scouts discriminate against homosexuals. But the city finds nothing wrong with their discrimination against the scouts because of the scouts' belief. The action by city officials means that 30 new Cub Scout packs won't be organized, and that 800 needy kids will not be going to the Council's summer camp if the city charges them $200,000.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the scouts, as a private group, have a First Amendment right to bar homosexuals from membership. Philadelphia officials, in an effort to appease the homosexual activists, began searching for a way to punish the scouts. The rent increase was the vehicle to do that. The Cradle of Liberty Council serves about 64,000 scouts in Philadelphia and its suburbs. Take Action: Send an e-mail or write to Philadelphia officials protesting their discrimination against the Boy Scouts. Tags:AFA, American Family Association, Boy Scouts, PhiladelphiaTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
by Mario Diaz, J.D.: Most pro-life people are outraged when they realize that Planned Parenthood, the number one abortion provider in the United States, is a tax exempt organization receiving hundreds of millions of our tax dollars. But everyone, pro-life or not, should be outraged over the criminal allegations Planned Parenthood faces in Overland Park, Kansas. According to the 107-count indictment filed in Johnson County District Court yesterday, Planned Parenthood purposefully performed illegal late term abortions in violation of Kansas State law and unlawfully falsified documents in order to conceal that fact. They are also accused of failing to comply with the required medical reporting guidelines . . .[Read More]Tags:abortion, indictment, Kansas, Planned ParenthoodTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Florida GOP excludes Alan Keyes from Orlando debate
AlanKeyes.com: In what he called "a major abuse of the electoral process," former Reagan administration diplomat and long-time national conservative activist Alan Keyes has been blocked by the Florida GOP from participating in Sunday's Fox News presidential debate in Orlando.The Florida party used a 1% or better showing in polls from three of six polling firms as their criterion for inclusion in the event, even though none of the selected polling firms included Keyes, the latest entry in the presidential race, in any of their statewide surveys to date . . . [Read More] Tags:Alan Keyes, debate, Florida, GOP, RepublicanTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Mom accused of neglect for teaching own kids Describes litany of harassment, intimidation at public district
WorldNetDaily: A Missouri public school is pursuing a complaint against a mother for withdrawing her son and daughter from the school and teaching them at home, after an apparent threat to the daughter's life at the school. The case involves Moberly, Mo., mother Anita Nicoli, who withdrew her daughter and a son from Moberly Middle School recently after what she has described as a two-year campaign of intimidation by other students . . . [Read More] Tags:home school, homeschoolers, MissouriTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Update: Brownback Drops - Will Support GOP Nominee
Update:Brownback did formally announce his withdrawal as a GOP candidate for President. Several news networks reported that he intends to run for Governor of Kansas in 2010. Of special interest was the report by CNSNews that Brownback when asked if he would support a pro-choice candidate such as Rudy Giuliani, he answered, "Yes he would." But he then insisted that "Giuliani will not be the Republican presidential nominee." Original Post Oct 18: Brownback expected to drop out: Reuters: Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, nearly out of cash and lagging badly in opinion polls, is expected to drop out of the 2008 presidential race, party and campaign sources said on Thursday. . . . "It's just time," said a source who spoke to Brownback on Thursday. "He is not going to endorse anyone else right away." [Read More]
AP: Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas conservative who struggled to raise money and gain recognition in the 2008 presidential campaign, will drop out on Friday, people close to him said Thursday. . . . People close to Brownback said it was unlikely he would endorse another candidate on Friday. Tags:Election 2008, Republican, Sam BrownbackTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Rush Limbaugh's revenge: $2 million See:Critical Letter to Limbaugh Fetches $2.1 Million Tags:Harry Reid, Lisa Benson, political cartoon, political humor, Rush LimbaughTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Halter working with his gaming cronies have put forth a proposed amendment for a State Lottery. They plan to entice voters by tying the lottery to funding college scholarships. In September, they had a setback when their proposed amendment was rejected by Attorney General Dustin McDaniel because of "unclear language."
However, that didn't stop Halter and his cronies. On Thursday, Halter submitted a revised version of his ballot proposal for a state lottery to the attorney general's office. Now the ball is back in play. Thursday in a news release, Halter said, "I am delighted that we have taken another step closer towards allowing Arkansans to decide for themselves if our state deserves its own scholarship lottery. Every day, Arkansans cross state lines to play lotteries that benefit others. Given a choice, I believe our state will vote to establish our own scholarship lottery that keeps our money here at home helping Arkansans."
If Attorney General McDaniel approves the new wording, Halter's campaign group will have to collect 78,000 signatures to put the amendment on the 2008 general election ballot. However, I would expect they already have the support in place to collect the signatures from both supporters and unsuspecting voters. Their effort to obtain signatures will be much easier than the work and expense that will be required by family values voters to overcome the impact of the professional advertising that will be used to promote Halter's lottery.
Does it matter who is Lt Governor? Yes it does. We miss the affability and honesty of the former Lt. Governor Win Rockefeller. Now, we are faced with a Lt. Governor who is dead set on Arkansas becoming the next "lottery state." Halter and his cohorts, Bud Jackson, et.al., have named their project "Hope for Arkansas Lottery Campaign." I guess the devil is in the details after all. If the AG approves Halter's amendment, the ARRA is prepared to do battle. We have already put forth "Eight Reason to Oppose a State Lottery." Tags:Arkansas, Bill Halter, gambling, lottery, Lt GovernorTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
A Taliban's Nightmare & Editor's Choice for Miss America 2007
ARRA Editor's Nomination for Miss America 2007 [For those subscribing to the ARRA News Service, you need to click the link and take a look an one of America's Finest!] Tags:humor, military, military defense, Taliban, USAFTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
House Committee Rejects ENDA Amendments To Protect Religious Freedom
The House Committee on Labor and Education on Thursday passed sweeping legislation (H.R. 3685 ) that is nothing more than an aggressive attack on people of faith and faith-based institutions. After rejecting four amendments offered by Republicans, that would have protected the religious freedom of faith-based groups and individuals, EDNA was voted out committee. Democrats opposed every amendment and were joined by 3 liberal Republicans. TAKE ACTION: Contact your U.S. Representative by phone (202-224-3121) orthrough CapWiz and ask them to vote NO on any version of ENDA that may reach the floor.
Background Info: This Congress is incredibly hostile towards Christians and the attitude of all too many Democrats is that religious organizations do not have a right to discriminate against a person based on religious beliefs. H.R. 3685 expected to go to the full House next Thursday (October 25). A gender identity amendment will be offered to ENDA by the pro-homosexual / transgender legislators. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is committed to this.
Three of these amendments were offered by Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) and one by Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI). Republican Ranking Member Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) presented an opening statement, spelling out the problems with the bill and why he opposed the passage of ENDA. In his opening statement, Rep. McKeon said: “What about the ambiguous language that remains in the bill before us? Under the bill, we would legislate a prohibition against employment discrimination based upon a person’s ‘perceived’ sexual orientation. This vague term is not defined anywhere in this bill. It increases employee liability and will needlessly require litigation on the meaning of this term and how it applies to the work place.” - The first amendment proposed by Rep. Souder was to strike the word “perceived” from the legislation because it is not defined and will lead to endless litigation for faith-based groups who may be sued by homosexuals. Amendment failed 30-18.- - The second amendment would have permitted marriage to be a valid employment criteria. Souder pointed out, for example, that Christian group homes often hire married couples to take care of troubled children. ENDA would not recognize marriage as a criteria. Amendment failed 30-18. - The third amendment was designed to protect people of faith from retaliation in the work place if they object to pro-homosexual sensitivity training or are forced to sign “anti-discrimination” policies that protect homosexual behaviors. Amendment failed 29-19. - The fourth amendment offered by Rep. Hoekstra was designed to expand the definition of what constitutes a religious organization so that faith-based groups not associated with a denomination would also be exempted from ENDA. Amendment failed 27-21.
Rep. Hoekstra stated that ENDA is a direct attack on people of faith and religious institutions. “This bill is an aggressive attack on people of faith and faith-based institutions in this country. Not every faith but certain faiths. And, we better think long and hard about the impact that we’re going to have on one of the pillars of what has made America a special place—religious freedom.” Rep. Timothy Walberg (R-MI) pointed out that ENDA “… would cause significant problems to religious bookstores … to the Boy Scouts, religious day care centers, and religious summer camps that have clearly defined missions.” During the debate, several liberals on the committee said that the religious exemption language in ENDA was the same as that of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Liberal Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), for example, stated in the hearing that the religious exemption section in ENDA is actually broader than under Title VII. According to Scott, there is no legal rationale for the broad exemption. However, Rep. Hoekstra corrected this misinformation. He pointed out that only a short section of the religious exemption was included in ENDA – not the broader religious protections provided in Title VII.
Within minutes after the fourth amendment was defeated, the liberal-dominated committee voted 27-21 to sent ENDA to the House floor for a full vote. The floor vote is expected to take place next week. All the Democrats and four liberal Republicans (Castle-DE, Biggert-IL, Platts-PA and Kuhl-NY) voted for the anti-Christian, homosexual / transgender ENDA. H.R. 3685 is a bad bill that can’t be fixed. The defeat of these amendments shows just how radical this Congress has become. They refused to pass any amendment to protect religious groups or religious individuals. In addition, the broad definition of sexual orientation in this bill, includes anyone who has one of the 30 sexual orientations listed by the American Psychiatric Association. 30 Sexual Orientations DSM. Tags:EDNA, amendment rejected, religious freedom, US HouseTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
From Senate sources: Yesterday, Senate Democrats voted with their union backers against Sen. Sessions’ amendment to restore funding cut from the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS). The OLMS cut is the latest in a series of attempts by Democrats to pay back unions for helping them in the 2006 elections.
After publicity frombloggers and reporters, Senators voted down a $1 million earmark by New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton for a museum to commemorate the Woodstock festival.
On The Floor: Resumes consideration of the fiscal 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3043). The Senate voted 90-3 yesterday to provide $5 million for preventing of drug-resistant staph infections. In another vote, the Senaterejected an amendment by Sen. Vitter which would have prohibited federal family planning funding to abortion providers.
In the House: House not in session today (works Mon-Thur). House’s voted yesterday to sustain President Bush’s veto of the Democrats’ SCHIP bill. Now that Democrats have had their two weeks of grandstanding and political ads, Republicans are interested in reaching a reasonable compromise. House Republican members are calling for bipartisan effortto pass a comprehensive bill for children not adults. Also, Republican Senators who voted for the SCHIPs bill, including Sens. Grassley and Hatch, wrote a letter to House and Senate leaders asking for negotiations on SCHIP. Whether Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are also interested in compromise remains to be seen. Note, Dan Riehl has an in-depth examination of the failed attempts by Democrats and liberal bloggers to blame Sen. McConnell for questions about the Democrats’ SCHIP poster children. Tags:OLMS, SCHIP, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Hippie Museum, Unions, Vermont & the Charlie Rangel Money Shuffle
By Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: Today, two articles crossed my desk that addressed Congress, budgets and earmarks. Although addressing different topics, they both had some common themes: 1) giving or removing funds to influence or help friends or to gain a favor; 2) the figure $2 million; and 3) the Democrat leadership.
On one hand, I learned that $2 million was removed from the Labor-HHS Bill that funds Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) – the office that investigates ( or would investigate) union corruption and fraud. However, funding was increased for offices that go after employers for violating labor laws. What -- Is there no more union corruption? Not really, but the Democrats need to pay back the unions for their support in the last election. And to make the unions feel more appreciative, another $1.5 million has been earmarked for the AFL-CIO’s Working for America Institute.
In another article, I note that the House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) is hoping to steer $2 million to a building project at the City College of New York that will house -- not one, not two, but three construction projects that will bear his name. Yes, talk about gaudy, there is the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service, the Rangel Conference Center, and the Charles Rangel Library which will hold all of his not so important papers and will include a “well-furnished office” for Charlie Bro.
And, we all thought there might be a few slick shysters in Congress; now we’re sure. I am not against unions nor am I against using federal money appropriately to help universities or colleges. But removing money needed to investigate union fraud and abuse while funding an AFL-CIO institute is not in the best public interest. If Democrats want to pay back unions for their support, they should use their own money not public money. Oh yes, that might be illegal! So, they use earmarks and public money to pay for favors. And, Charlie Rangel using his influence to get his name on not one but three buildings by using our tax money instead of his own is brazen and sick! What message does that send to the students attending the City College of New York? Become a "pork-mister" and you too can have your name inscribed on buildings.
Since we now have a unionized Rangel headache, consider the earmark by New York's Democrat Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton for $1 million for a “Hippie Museum” on the site of the 1969 Woodstock “music” festival -- to share with future generations about a group of "grass-smoking" “peace loving” ancestors who “tripped out,” ran naked and acted stupid. Maybe we should save money on other future "stupid type" memorials and museums by funding one large national monument to stupidity. Considering the wasteful Congressional earmarks, we may already have such a monument and all we have to do is daily face East and envision the U.S. Capitol and laugh (or cry) every day.
And for “small sized” pork earmarks, there is the $100,000 for an aquarium in Vermont. I guess Congress hopes Vermont will not go through with their threat to secede from the U.S if they give them a government funded fish tank. Why not ask Bass-Pro to visit Vermont instead? In support of Vermont's secessionists, Rob Williams, editor of Vermont Commons, says, "the U.S. has become an empire that is essentially ungovernable -- it's too big, it's too corrupt and it no longer serves the needs of its citizens." Considering the all the earmarks above, point well taken Vermont! But, please show us you are serious and reject the "government funded fish tank." Tags:Charles Schumer, Charlie Rangel, civil unions, Congressional Pork, Democrats, earmarks, Hillary Clinton, pork-barrel spenders, Vermont, Woodstock
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) today joined with House Republicans to put forward a compromise plan to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which expands the program, guarantees needy children are first in line, and strengthens citizenship requirements for beneficiaries.
“After two weeks of delay, we now have the opportunity to start meaningful negotiations on how we can ensure that low income children get the health care they need,” Boozman said. “I am proud to join my colleagues in taking the first step toward an SCHIP solution which has the support of Americans, the Congress, and the President. I believe it is essential to have a solution that will continue to cover those who need it the most and offer some assistance to families that still lack health insurance. It is my hope the House leadership takes our good-faith proposal to heart and ceases its delay at substantive discussions on how to responsibly expand this important program.”
The More Children, More Choices Act of 2007 would expand SCHIP funding by a total of $11.5 billion, more than twice the amount proposed by President Bush. The funding plan calls for $8.5 billion to be used to cover all children enrolled in SCHIP, while spending $3 billion to reach out, find, and enroll other children eligible for, but not receiving, SCHIP benefits. Second, the bill would offer $1,400 per child tax credits to those families between 200%-300% of the federal poverty level to help them purchase the coverage that best meets their needs. Also, the bill would create a Commission to give grants to states with the most innovative solutions to covering their state’s uninsured.
“I have always been in support of an expansion of this program so that we can cover the children falling through the cracks,” Boozman said. “I believe this plan does just that, and does it in a responsible manner.” The legislation also prohibits states from providing coverage to those making more than 200% of the poverty level, unless the state is able to demonstrate that it has enrolled at least 90% of the SCHIP eligible children in the state’s program.
“The fundamental priority of SCHIP is putting needy children first, and I am proud we are putting that guarantee back in this new SCHIP plan after it was removed from the one the President vetoed,” Boozman said. “A majority of Americans have said needy kids should be first in line, and it only makes sense that a children’s health care plan created specifically for needy children should be reauthorized in a manner that guarantees those very children are covered first.”
Another provision of the legislation is the strengthening of citizenship documentation requirements, guaranteeing that illegal immigrants can not receive SCHIP benefits. “My constituents in the 3rd District are adamantly opposed to illegal immigrants being able to acquire a government benefit, as are many Arkansans," Boozman said. “This is an important provision that has always been a requirement of any SCHIP plan that I would support.”
Boozman added that he hopes Congress can begin discussions immediately. “It is important that we begin the process of finding a solution as soon as possible. Members of both parties support SCHIP and all of us wish to see the program reauthorized,” Boozman said. “We now have the opportunity to make this program even better. While upholding our promise to children under 200% of the federal poverty level, we can also offer more patient choice with a tax credit, while at the same time encouraging the testing of new health care solutions for all the uninsured.”Tags:Arkansas, John Boozman, Representative, SCHIP, US House
Child Like Tantrum by Rep. Stark on House Floor Today
The following shows the "Child like Tantrum" of a Democrat who could have had fully funded medical care for children but instead supported an expanded program extended it to adults (Hillary care) and then could not override the President's veto. Background to video: today on the floor of the House of Representatives, during a debate on re-authorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), prominent Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, said: “You don’t have money to fund the war or children. But you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President's amusement.”
Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), Chairman of the House Republican Conference, issued the following statement: “For Pete Stark to say that the President of the United States takes in vain the sacrifices our bravest have made for our country and its children is an outrage. Congressman Stark’s remarks are an affront to the loved ones of every soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine who has fallen from the line in defense of this great nation. If he is unwilling to retract his statement and issue an apology, then Democrat leaders should call on him to do so at once.” Tags:Adam Putnam, Pete Stark, SCHIP, US HouseTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Breaking News: House Fails to Override Veto of Children's Health Bill
The House failed by 16 votes to override President Bush's vveto of the children's health insurance bill (SCHIP). U.S. Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to sustain President Bush’s veto of the reauthorization plan for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which is backed by the House leadership.
“I call on the House leadership to come forward and join with us across the aisle to find a true compromise which benefits America’s needy children and has the support of Congress and President Bush. No one in Washington is against SCHIP, no matter the rhetoric and hyperbole of the previous two weeks. SCHIP eligible children are still receiving the same funding today that they were eligible for on September 30. The question has always been the amount of expansion, how it was paid for, and the whether or not there was a guarantee that needy American children are first in line. The plan which was vetoed did not adequately address those concerns and contained fatal flaws which I could not support. It is my hope that responsible, bipartisan, alternatives can now be crafted – and, more importantly, discussed – so that we can get to the business of taking care of the needy children of our country.”Tags:John Boozman, President George Bush, SCHIP, State Childrens Health Insurance Program, US House, veto
From Senate sources: More egregious earmarks are coming to light in the Senate Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. The latest is an earmark from New York Sens. Schumer and Clinton, which would provide $1 million for a museum to commemorate the Woodstock festival.Robert Novak Reports!
Republicans continue to be concerned with a $2 million cut to the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS), which investigates union corruption and fraud. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) has introduced an amendment to provide more funding for OLMS. The OLMS cut is just the latest in aseries of attempts by Democrats to pay back unions for helping them in the 2006 elections.
Politico reports: as Democrats prepare a $1 trillion “tax war,”Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell joined with Sens. Gordon Smith, Mike Crapo, and Chuck Grassley to call for a fix to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) - view video .
On The Floor: -- Resume consideration of the fiscal 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3043). Senate version of the bill (S. 1710) provides $605.5 billion in funds which is $9.6 billion above the president’s request. -- The Senate Judiciary Comm. will resume confirmation hearings for Judge Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General.
In theHouse:-- A vote is expected on overriding President Bush’s veto of the Democrat expansion of SCHIP. Reports suggest Democrats will not be able to muster the required 2/3 vote. -- House Democrats were forced to pull their flawed FISA reform bill from the floor yesterday after Republicans offered a common-sense motion to recommit to ensure that the U.S. intelligence community can conduct surveillance on al Qaeda. Tags:Attorney General, earmarks, FISA, increased taxes, Michael Mukasey, pork, SCHIP, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Bush Picks State Judge For Federal Post in Arkansas
by Aaron Sadler: President Bush on Tuesday nominated Brian Miller, a Helena lawyer and Arkansas Court of Appeals judge, to a federal judgeship in Little Rock. Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor (both D-AR) endorsed Miller, 40. They pledged to shepherd his nomination through the Senate, which must confirm the appointment. Miller, who is black, would succeed the late George Howard of Pine Bluff as a judge for the state’s Eastern District. . . . Miller was chosen from among six candidates submitted to the White House by Rep. John Boozman (R-AR). Boozman is the only Republican in the Arkansas delegation and is Bush’s main contact on Arkansas appointments. “I feel privileged that the president has chosen to appoint me and I feel privileged that Congressman Boozman sent my name up and our two senators supported me,” Miller said. . . . Though appointed to the state court by a Republican and nominated to the federal bench by a Republican, Miller said he has no party affiliation.“I guess I’m a true independent who has supported both (parties),” he said. . . . [Read More] Tags:Arkansas, Brian Miller, federal judgesTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Huckabee Advocates Creating Palestinian State Outside of Israel
by Shmuel Hakoton, Jewish Russian Telegraph: . . . Gov. Huckabee expressed frustration with Israeli politicians who wanted to give away the Golan Heights and firmly opposed dividing Jerusalem. When asked about a Palestinian state, Gov. Huckabee stated that he supports creating a Palestinian state, but believes that it should be formed outside of Israel. He named Egypt and Saudi Arabia as possible alternatives, noting that the Arabs have far more land than the Israelis and that it would only be fair for other Arab nations to give the Palestinians land for a state, rather than carving it out of the tiny Israeli state. Gov. Huckabee . . . also expressed support for moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and stressed the importance of making America energy independent in ten years for both environmental and national security reasons. “We just can’t continue to be dependent on Saudi oil,” explained Huckabee, “I want to be able to tell the Saudis that we need their oil about as much as we need their sand.” . . . [Read More] Tags:Election 2008, Israel, Mike Huckabee, Palistinian state, presidential candidate, RepublicanTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Fred Thompson on Conservatives acting like Democrats [Video]
Libnot captured on video Neil Cavuto interview of Fred Thompson on Fox News and provided the following comments for the video:
Fred Thompson points to some of his fellow Republicans that are running for President are “acting like democrat” conservatives. Which I have to agree with. Fred points out that Rudy Giuliani has never stated that he is a conservative. As I have pointed out before, Rudy had one good day. Yes, he did a great job on 9/11 and the aftermath. However, there are some real questions about Rudy’s other policies. Namely sanctuary cities, abortion, and gun rights.
As Fred says in this video, “the best way to beat the democrats is to be more like them”. I do not believe that at all. We need to embrace the values that have gotten this country as far as it has. Not outdated, socialist views that bring more government into our lives rather decreasing government. This is a great segment with Fred Thompson as he carefully discusses his views on what it will take to beat the democrats.
Tags:conservative, Fred Thompson, Neil Cavuto, RINO, Rudy Giuliani, videoTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Mitt Romney has a Good Week: New Tax Ad, Receives Bob Jones Univ. Endorsments & General "Spider" Marks joins campaign
[ARRA News does not normally identify endorsements for the primary candidates because they are many and varied. However, on occasion, we identify ones that are out of the ordinary.] Michael M. Phillips at the Wall Street Journalreports that a top officials at Bob Jones University, the Evangelical Christian school with a history of anti-Mormon rhetoric, plans to throw his weight behind Mormon presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Robert R. Taylor, dean of the university’s college of arts and sciences, said he believes the former Massachusetts governor is the only Republican candidate who both stands a chance of winning the White House and will reliably implement the anti-abortion, antigay marriage, pro-gun agenda of Christian conservatives. . . . Taylor acknowledged that endorsing a Mormon for president risked alienating the university’s conservative donors and alumni. But, he said, “we’re not electing a pastor — we’re electing a president.” . . . Bob Jones III, chancellor of the university, also told the Greenville News that he, too, is endorsing Romney. “This is all about beating Hillary [Clinton],” Jones told the newspaper . . . [Read More]
Former governor Mitt Romney announced that retired Major General James "Spider" Marks will join Romney for President as a Senior Adviser for National Security Affairs. General Marks will advise Gov. Romney on issues pertaining to national security, the United States military and foreign policy . . . [Read More]
Yesterday, a new Mitt Romney for President ad made its debut in New Hampshire and is now on the Internet. In 30 seconds, Romney outlines his “conservative blueprint to lower taxes.” Video:
Tags:Bob Jones University, Election 2008, endorsement, Major General James Marks, Mitt Romney, national security, presidential candidate, Republican, taxesTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Former Senator Fred Thompson and Republican presidential candidate has written a commentary on the Internet tax moratorium for Real Clear Politics:
This year, Halloween could be a bit more hair-raising for American consumers, especially if they have an Internet connection. October 31st is the last day Congress can act to extend or make permanent the Internet Tax Moratorium. If Congress chooses to do nothing . . ., the tax moratorium will expire and on Nov. 1st, state and local jurisdictions would be allowed to impose taxes on broadband and Internet access. This would also represent the first major tax increase on consumers in almost eight years.
There are about 15,000 different taxing jurisdictions, so American consumers face the prospect of paying new taxes on everything from email to instant messaging and video downloads to spam or junk e-mail filters. With more than 65 million household broadband connections we're looking at more than $3 billion in new taxes if the Internet Tax Moratorium expires at the end of October. . . .
The Internet and broadband are not limited by geographic borders; they are global networks. Putting taxes on a connection that is so interconnected in the U.S. and elsewhere seemed too unwieldy. The decision to keep the Internet tax free would seem to have been a good one. . . . Congress should make permanent the tax moratorium on the Internet, or, at a minimum, extend it . . . [Read More]
Tags:Election 2008, Fred Thompson, GOP, Internet tax, presidential candidateTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
SCHIP: A Better Way to Expand Children's Health Coverage
The Heritage Foundation - Just the Facts: Expanding SCHIP is NOT the answer. There's a better way to extend health coverage to children. The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) should be reauthorized, but it should remain focused on covering children in lowincome families—those that earn no more than twice the federal poverty level (FPL), or $41,300 for a family of four.
• A health care tax credit for families earning two to three times the FPL (or up to $61,950 for a family of four) will extend and preserve coverage to more children than simply expanding SCHIP to the middle class.
• This approach to expanding children's health coverage will also let those families select the coverage that suits them best, rather than limit their options to a government-sponsored program.
The tax credit approach has several advantages over making SCHIP coverage a new, middle-class entitlement.
• It will help 1.3 million uninsured children get the type of health insurance their parents think is best for them. Families would use the credit to shop for "best available" coverage, purchasing it either through the workplace or on their own.
• It will help another 9.2 million children keep the coverage they already have. Some 77% of the children in families earning two to three times FPL already have private health coverage. Estimates show that a tax credit could help approximately 9.5 million families struggling with rising insurance costs keep the coverage—and the doctors—they already have.
Converting SCHIP into a middle-class entitlement is an inefficient way to expand health coverage. • The bill approved by Congress would make government health care available to families earning three-times the FPL—that's up to $62,000 for a family of four.
• The lure of "free" SCHIP coverage will reduce the number of children with private-sector insurance and increase Americans' dependency on government-chosen coverage.
– Many families will jettison their current family coverage for the government-sponsored health care program.
– The Heritage Foundation projects that about half (45–51%) of the millions of children made newly eligible for SCHIP under the proposal will drop off their private sector coverage and receive government health care.
• The plan to finance SCHIP expansion hurts the very people it is supposed to help.
– Congress proposes paying for it with a $0.61 per pack hike in the tobacco tax. Even with that big increase, Congress will also need to get 22 million non-smokers to develop a packa- day habit to cover costs of the expanded program.
– If Congress can't find enough new smokers by the sixth year of the program, they will have to kick three-quarters of the kids out of the program. State by State ChartAlsoRecommend:The “C” in SCHIP Stands for “Children”! Tags:healthcare, Heritage Foundation, protecting children, SCHIP, US CongressTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
From Senate sources: Today the Senate begins consideration of the bloated Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. The bill is more than $9 billion over the president’s request. The bill is loaded with earmarks for liberal special interests, among them a $500,000 earmark for the National Council of La Raza added by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).
Though the bill is full of spending increases, Democrats did cut funding to the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) which investigates union corruption and fraud. The Heritage Foundation wrote about the work of the OLMS, noting “The OLMS was singled out for budget cuts because its efforts to increase union accountability and fight corruption have rankled union leaders.” Among the other problematic provisions of the Labor-HHS-Education bill is language undoing President Bush’s policy restricting further funding for embryo-destructive stem cell research.
Senate Republicans held a press conference yesterday to call for a permanent ban on Internet access taxes. Video highlights of the press conference can be found below. The current moratorium on such taxesexpires Nov. 1.The House passed a temporary extension of the ban yesterday, but barred amendments that would have allowed a permanent ban. On The Floor: Consideration of the fiscal 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3043). The Senate version of the bill provides $605.5 billion in funds, which is $9.6 billion above the president’s request.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin confirmation hearings on Judge Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General. The hearings could take up to three days.
Yesterday, the Senate passed the fiscal 2008 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill (H.R. 3093). Prior to final passage, a motion by Senator McConnell to return the bill to the Appropriations committee with instructions to pare the bill down by more than $4 billion was rejected 44-50. An amendment by Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) to add $75 million for state and local law enforcement to assist with the enforcement of immigration laws was defeated. Also defeated was an amendment by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) which prohibited certain federal law enforcement funding to sanctuary cities.
In the House:Contact the House Education & Labor Committee who this week will consider the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). If legislation passes, it will mainstream homosexuality and provide homosexual activist a legal tool for punishing employees who do not approve of their lifestyle. ENDA will force businesses to provide special employment rights to those who define themselves based on sexual behaviors and will be used by homosexual activists as a means to punish business owners who have moral and religious standards Employers' liberty to use their own good judgment regarding hiring practices will be a thing of the past. Hearings have been postponed several times in order to placate homosexual, and transgender lobbies. The new bill number is H.R. 3685; the legislation still fails to protect religious organizations or business owners.
Tags:Congressional Pork, earmarks, Employment Non-Discrimination Act, ENDA, fraud, Internet tax, La Raza, Union, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Senator Shawn Womack Announces as Candidate for Circuit Judge
Arkansas State Senator Shawn Womack announced today that he will not return to the State Senate in 2009 BUT will instead be a candidate for Circuit Judge in the 2008 election. Womack will seek the Division 1 position in the 14th Judicial Circuit currently held by retiring Judge Roger Logan. The 14th Judicial Circuit includes Baxter, Boone, Marion and Newton Counties.
In 1988, Womack, a Republican, was elected as a representative from Baxter Co. to the Arkansas House. After two terms in the House, Womack was elected in 2002 to the Arkansas Senate representing Baxter, Boone, and Marion Counties. During his term in the Senate, Womack has held several leadership posts including Senate Chairman of the Joint Budget Committee - the largest committee with jurisdiction over all state spending. Womack has been involved in creating and funding a North-Central Arkansas Area Health Education Center (AHEC). He secured improved funding for higher education, particularly for N. Arkansas College in Harrison and Arkansas State Univ. in Mountain Home; sought and improved funding for cities, counties, rural fire departments and senior centers in his district. He worked to strengthen child support enforcement laws and underage drinking laws. He worked to create a fourth division in the 14th Judcial Circuit and for the transforming of the District Court system to include Baxter and Boone Counties in a new full-time pilot program.
Womack, who is eligible to seek another Senate term, said, "it has been a tremendous honor to represent the people of North-Central Arkansas in the House and the Senate for the past several years. I look forward to building on that experience and continuing to serve the people of this area in a new role." Womack is a graduate of the Univ. of Central Arkansas and the Univ. of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville. He has been in private practice as an attorney-at-law in Mountain Home since 1997 and is a member of the Arkansas Code Revision Commission. The Arkansas District Judges Council recently recognized Womack for his "leadership and commitment to improving Arkansas's Court system." ARRA Comment: Although Judge's races are nonpartisan, Shawn Womack is a conservative traditional family values Republican. Tags:Arkansas, Baxter County, Boone County, Circuit Judge, House, Marion County, Newton County, Senate, Senator, Shawn WomackTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Hillary Opens Arkansas Office While Her Documents Remain Locked Up In Clinton Presidential Library
John Anderson, The Citizens Journal: In case you missed it, Hillary opened a campaign office in Little Rock and Terry McAuliffe, now Clinton's national chairman was on hand and so was the GOP "Pander Bear" to take the Clinton's to task for being so secretive with her White House papers.
Hillary claims to be open about her politics and yet 2 million pages of documents covering her White House years as first lady are locked up at the Clinton Presidential Library. As I have previously posted, Judicial Watch is suing to get access to records, so far to no avail . . . [Read More] Tags:Clinton Library, Hillary Clinton, Little Rock, Arkansas, presidential library recordsTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Editorial, The Wall Street Journal: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, famous for donning a head scarf earlier this year to commune for peace with the Syrians, has now concluded that this is the perfect moment to pass a Congressional resolution condemning Turkey for the Armenian genocide of 1915. Problem is, Turkey in 2007 has it within its power to damage the growing success of the U.S. effort in Iraq. We would like to assume this is not Speaker Pelosi's goal. To be clear: We write that we would like to assume, rather than that we do assume, because we are no longer able to discern whether the Speaker's foreign-policy intrusions are merely misguided or are consciously intended to cause a U.S. policy failure in Iraq. . . . [Read More] Tags:Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the house, Turkey, US HouseTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
From Senate Sources: Sen. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will join Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) and others this morning to call for a permanent ban on Internet access taxes. The current moratorium on such taxes expires Nov. 1. Sen. McConnell previously recorded a video calling for a permanent moratorium. CQ Today has a story about the tax ban, noting that House Democrats have been thwarting passage of a permanent ban, which has the support of a majority of House members. Yet the Democrat leadership has used several procedural moves to prevent a permanent ban from passing in favor of a four-year extension of the current ban.
Democrats continue to view SCHIP as a useful political football. Roll Call reports that they are “eager” to hold repeated votes on the program to score political points and have decided they are uninterested in compromising to actually pass a bill. The House is expected to vote on overriding the president’s veto of the Democrat SCHIP bill on Thursday. A new USA Today/Gallup Poll on SCHIP shows that a majority of Americans agree with President Bush and Republicans that SCHIP funds should go to poorer families. A majority is also concerned that the expanded program Democrats are pushing could lead more families to drop private health insurance in favor of the government program.
On The Floor: The Senate reconvenes. Following morning business, the chamber with then resume consideration of the fiscal 2008 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill (H.R. 3093). Work on the bill is expected to be completed today. Senators Vitter, DeMint, and Sessions introduced an amendment to the CJS appropriations bill last night that would prohibit certain federal law enforcement funding to sanctuary cities. The amendment could be voted on sometime this afternoon. Following completion of the CJS bill, the Senate will move to consideration of the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3043). The Senate version of the bill provides $605.5 billion in funds.
Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin confirmation hearings on Judge Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General. The hearings could take up to three days. Tags:Attorney General, Internet tax, John Sununu, Michael Mukasey, Mitch McConnell, SCHIP, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
GOP Race Heats Up - Candidates Highlight Differences
by Liz Sidoti, AP: Forget the pleasantries. The criticism grows sharper by the day in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. The reason: Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Fred Thompson are bunched at the top and trying to emerge with voting to begin in just a matter of weeks. . . . So, they are taking on one another with increased frequency and heightened ferocity. Thus far, the criticism largely has been limited to rhetoric. Some candidates have poked at their rivals in a handful of radio commercials, but the contrasts have been subtle. None has run negative television ads.
On Monday, Thompson, the former Tennessee senator, became the latest candidate to criticize. Without naming Giuliani, Thompson suggested the ex-mayor of New York, a one-time Democrat who backs abortion rights and gay rights, was a closet Democrat. "Some think the way to beat the Democrats in November is to be more like them. I could not disagree more," Thompson said in a speech he was to deliver to the Conservative Party of New York. "I believe that conservatives beat liberals only when we challenge their outdated positions, not embrace them."[Note Below]
Giuliani, in turn, had a former deputy mayor prod Thompson . . . "Some candidates talk the talk about Republican principles. Others actually have a proven track record of governing according to Republican principles." . . . . McCain . . . looking to continue gaining ground in New Hampshire and curtail Romney's standing there, took issue with Romney's remark that "I do speak for the Republican wing of the Republican Party." McCain recalled Romney's past support for Democratic candidates and moderate politics in Massachusetts, saying, "Being a Republican wasn't much of a priority for him." Thompson got in the act with an aide issuing a statement critical of Romney. Romney and Giuliani squabbled over taxes and spending . . . [Read More] THE RACE IS ON! Note: See also: Thompson Says He's the Real Conservative -Thompson Quote: "Some think the way to beat the Democrats in November is to be more like them. I could not disagree more." . . . "I believe that conservatives beat liberals only when we challenge their outdated positions, not embrace them. This is not a time for philosophical flexibility, it is a time to stand up for what we believe in," . . . "With me, what you see is what you get. I was a proud conservative yesterday, I remain one today, and I will be one tomorrow." Tags:Election 2008, Fred Thompson, GOP, John Mccain, Mitt Romney, presidential candidates, republican candidates, Rudy GiulianiTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Heat on Volunteer Firefighters - U.S. Act Could Shut Down VFDs
by James Sherk, Analyst Labor Policy at The Heritage Foundation: You probably haven't heard Congress is about to shut down many of America's volunteer fire departments. Not intentionally, perhaps. Yet a little-known bill advancing through Congress would do just that. Nearly 26,000 volunteer fire departments protect tens of millions of Americans and their homes from fires. Almost 3 in 4 firefighters in the United States are volunteers, and smaller towns and cities call on them for protection. A town with 3,000 residents simply cannot afford the expense of hiring full-time career firefighters. They rely on volunteers. . . . Who would want to shut them down? The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), that's who. The IAFF represents career firefighters. Volunteers who give their time and efforts to their communities allow many communities to do without full-time career fire departments. This means fewer jobs for career firefighters, and fewer dues-paying members in the union that represents them. So the IAFF does everything in its power to stop "two-hatters" from volunteering. The IAFF constitution prohibits its members from belonging to a volunteer fire department. . . .
Enter the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, which would make it significantly easier for the IAFF to close volunteer fire departments. The bill, which passed the House and is before the Senate, has nothing to do with employer-employee cooperation. This bill requires every state and local government to collectively bargain with their police officers and firefighters, . . . If this bill passes and forces every local government to collectively bargain with its firefighters, the IAFF's membership rolls will swell and the union will have enhanced powers to negotiate away the freedom of its members to volunteer. Many career firefighters who want to serve their community will lose the ability to do so, unless they want to lose their jobs. . . . [Read More] Tags:collective bargaining, fire department, firefighter, IAFF, police officer, unions, US Congress, VFD, volunteerTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Tony Perkins, FRC Washington Update: Later this week the House Education and Labor Committee will mark up the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA). An original hearing was cancelled a few weeks ago over a dispute about whether to include "sexual identity" (transgender and transvestites) or to just include "sexual orientation." This "compromise" of only including "sexual orientation" is one that Congress is pushing and that the lesbian, gay, transgendered, bisexual movement greatly opposes. The result is the same - ENDA will lead to the end of religious liberty. Our Vice President of Government Affairs,TomMcClusky, had an op-ed on WorldNetDaily that highlights some of the problems Christians have faced in locales that have similar legislation on their books. Since his op-ed was published more stories keep coming in. Mike Heath of the Maine Christian Civic League forwarded a story this weekend from Orono, Maine of a 12-year-old boy who is now using the girl's restroom because he is confused over his "sexual identity." The grandfather of another student in the school complained; however, the school administration is supporting the troubled boy - and his actions appear to be protected under a 2005 Maine law that protects transgenderism. ENDA would make such violations of personal privacy a national affair. Tags:Employment Non Discrimination Act, ENDA, Family Research Council, FRC, Tony PerkinsTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Attrition by enforcement is the best course of action
by Mark Krikorian, Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald-Journal: . . . Since it is unlikely there will be any major immigration legislation coming out of Congress until at least 2009, it might appear that the only option is to continue President Bush's "silent amnesty" - in other words, to leave in place his unwillingness to enforce the immigration laws and his assistance to illegal immigrants trying to embed themselves in our society. But it isn't. Instead, we need to pursue a policy of "attrition through enforcement" - a third way between the extremes of mass roundups on the one hand and amnesty on the other. This means steady, across-the-board enforcement of our immigration laws (something we have never even tried before) so that not only would fewer illegal immigrants come here, but more who are already here would give up and deport themselves. The goal would be to get the total illegal population to start shrinking from one year to the next instead of allowing it to simply keep growing. Over time, the size of the problem would decrease, and we would then be able to decide what further steps, if any, are warranted . . . [Read More] Tags:illegal aliens, illegal immigration, immigration enforcement, immigration reformTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
NTI: The Israeli attack last month against an officially unidentified Syrian site targeted a partially completed nuclear reactor, the New York Times reported Saturday (see GSN, Oct. 10). Israeli officials have not acknowledged the air raid’s goal, but one official who demanded anonymity said Tel Aviv intended to “re-establish the credibility of our deterrent power.” Early reports suggested the Sept. 6 attack destroyed a missile or nuclear facility that had been constructed with North Korean assistance, but one U.S. official provided clarification that Syria had begun to build a graphite-moderated reactor at the site. North Korea has used such a reactor to produce plutonium for its nuclear weapons program . . . [Read More] Tags:Israel, North Korea, nuclear, SyriaTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
by Steve Lytte, Sydney Morning Herald: One of the world's foremost meteorologists has called the theory that helped Al Gore share the Nobel Peace Prize "ridiculous" and the product of "people who don't understand how the atmosphere works." Dr. William Gray, a pioneer in the science of seasonal hurricane forecasts, told a packed lecture hall at the Univ. of North Carolina that humans were not responsible for the warming of the earth. . . . "We're brainwashing our children," said Dr Gray, 78, a long-time professor at Colorado State Univ. "They're going to the Gore movie [An Inconvenient Truth] and being fed all this. It's ridiculous . . ."[Read More] Tags:Al Gore, global warming, meteorologist, Willam GrayTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
From Senate sources:Today theSenate returns from recess. May be in session through mid November because there are a lot of things that need to be completed, not least the annual appropriations bills, of which none have reached the president’s desk. The new deadline to pass the spending bills is Nov. 16th, when the Sept. continuing resolution expires. Roll Call storynotes Congress may not adjourn until sometime in December due to workload left to be done. On Thursday, the House is expected to vote on overriding President Bush’s veto of the Democrats bill to expand the SCHIP program. At the moment, it still appears that House Republicans have enough votes to sustain the veto.
Yesterday, The Washington Post has had some candid reporting on Iraq, noting in an editorial yesterday that violence in Iraq has dropped, and today, it has a story reporting that “There is widespread agreement that [al-Qaeda in Iraq] has suffered major blows over the past three months.” National Review Online has an editorial on FISA reform today.
On The Floor: Senate reconvenes at 2 PM today. Following an hour of morning business, the chamber with then resume consideration of the fiscal 2008 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill (H.R. 3093). Following completion of the CJS bill, the Senate is expected to move to consideration of the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3043). The Senate version of the bill provides $605.5 billion in funds. Tags:FISA, Iraq War, SCHIP, CJS appropriations bill, US House, US Senate, Washington D.C.To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
No more "Mom and Dad" In California -This May Be Coming Soon To Your State's Public Schools
by Michael Kressler President,Nevada Republican Assembly:b Well it is official, the state of California has banned the terms "Mom and Dad" as well as "husband and wife" in public schools. SB777 was signed by the "Gubernator" on Saturday. This was done to appease the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans-gender community so they may not be offended. That's correct! Millions of heterosexual parents have lost their Natural Right to have their children refer to them with adornment in order to protect the "ever allusive non-constitution right not to be offended" of the LGBT community. A Right that is not expressed in the US Constitution nor is guaranteed in Nature has overridden a Natural Right of heterosexual parents. This must not stand! Now you must all be asking "how many children have parents that are part of the LGBT community?" Well, the best and most recent research indicates that 3.4% of the Human population are living in an alternative lifestyle. And a majority of those people only stay within that lifestyle for an average of 10 years. Now of these people, how many are raising children? And of them, how many are living in California?
WorldNetDaily exposes this injustice in 'Mom' and 'Dad' banished by California Schwarzenegger signs law outlawing terms perceived as negative to 'gays' The article quotes Karen England, a member of the California Republican Assembly: "We are shocked and appalled that the governor has blatantly attacked traditional family values in California," said Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Institute. "With this decision, Gov. Schwarzenegger has told parents that their values are irrelevant. Many parents will have no choice but to pull their children out of the public schools that have now become sexualized indoctrination centers." . . . "We had hoped that the governor would once again veto this outrageous legislation but he obviously decided to side with the out-of-touch extremists that control the legislature. This law does not reflect the true values of the average Californian," said England. "True leadership means standing up for what is true and right."
The vitriol over the issue rose to new levels in its latest campaign. . . . a board member for the homosexual advocacy group Equality California verbally attacked and threatened CRI for its opposition to the bill earlier. The board member sent an e-mail and video to CRI threatening the group would be buried if it continued efforts opposing the homosexual advocacy. "The shocking hate mail we received shows that those behind this legislation do not promote true tolerance," said England. "Only politically correct speech will be tolerated. Those with religious or traditional moral beliefs will not be allowed to express their opinions in public schools." She also cited an informational document published by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and the Transgender Law Center that already is lobbying for special treatment in the school system. "If you want to use a restroom that matches your gender identity … you should be allowed to do so," it advises. "Whenever students are divided up into boys and girls, you should be allowed to join the group or participate in the program that matches your gender identity as much as possible." Further, the groups advise, "If you change your name to one that better matches your gender identity, a school needs to use that name to refer to you." The advocacy group also warns schools against bringing parents into any such discussion with students. . . . [Read More] Tags:Arnold Schwarzenegger, California, gay agenda, gay rights, Karen England, LGBT, Michael Kressler, Nevada, Republican Assembly, schoolTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Personal Tweets by the editor: Dr. Bill - OzarkGuru - @arra
#Christian Conservative; Retired USAF & Grad Professor. Constitution NRA ProLife schoolchoice fairtax - Editor ARRA NEWS SERVICE. THANKS FOR FOLLOWING!
To Exchange Links - Email: editor@arranewsservice.com!
Comments by contributing authors or other sources do not necessarily reflect the position the editor, other contributing authors, sources, readers, or commenters. No contributors, or editors are paid for articles, images, cartoons, etc. While having reported on and promoting principles & beleifs beliefs of other organizations, this blog/site is soley controlled and supported by the editor. This site/blog does not advertise for money or services nor does it solicit funding for its support.
Fair Use: This site/blog may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of political, human rights, economic, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as provided for in section Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. Per said section, the material on this site/blog is distributed without profit to readers to view for the expressed purpose of viewing the included information for research, educational, or satirical purposes. Any person/entity seeking to use copyrighted material shared on this site/blog for purposes that go beyond "fair use," must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
American Family Association: The city of Philadelphia has decided to punish the Boy Scouts of America because it will not allow homosexuals to serve as Scout Leaders. City officials said they will charge the Cradle of Liberty Scouts Council $200,000 a year to use the city-owned headquarters. The Council was paying $1 per year (since 1928). The city owns the land on which the Council's 1928 Beaux Arts building sits.
