*ACTION ALERT!* Stop These Train Wrecks! Call Congress Today!

Faster than a locomotive!
Faster than a speeding bullet!
It’s a bird, it’s a train…
No, it’s….

CONGRESS!

Congress is moving through bills and hearings at the speed of light. Focusing on one issue alone is a luxury we simply cannot afford.

Things are moving too fast, bills are too long, too many traditions and even rules are not being followed, and too many diversions are being created to either expect accurate projections can be made or statements relied upon as to when any particular bill will actually come up for a vote.

Following the wisdom of “those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it”, we must learn that we should act as if these issues are imminent.

If you followed events closely leading up to the House of Represenatives’ vote on HR 2454 aka Cap & Trade, you likely noticed:

• The prevailing wisdom of pundits, think tanks, and many on Capitol Hill was “Cap & Trade is in trouble”
• Most people following issues in the Federal government and politics in general were focused on the outrageous actions of ABC News in regards to President Obama’s Health Care Town Hall when the announcement was made that Cap & Trade would be up for a vote on the House floor.
• The House voted on HR 2454 late on a Friday afternoon, the slowest news day of the week.
• The media opted to cover the death of pop star Michael Jackson rather than the passage of the Cap & Trade bill in the House.
• Over 300 pages were added in the middle of the night and no complete copy was available at the time of the vote

There are several issues that require our attention NOW and going forward until they are DEFEATED (or passed).

ACTIONS WE ALL NEED TO TAKE:

• Maintain pressure on US Senate and House representatives (contact them)
• On particular issues, contact your Governor, State legislators, county, and city representatives.
• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
• Forward this message to everyone in your contacts list

Tips to be most effective:

CONTACTING CONGRESS:

1. Call the office for your Senator or House reps. where your representatives are currently, right now that is D.C., but verify it on the phone call
2. Ask to speak directly with your Senator or Congressman
3. Be sure to give your zip code so they know you are a constituent
4. Be polite, but firm
5. The next best method to a phone call is a fax, the least, email

WHY CONTACT YOUR STATE & LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES?

• Several bills currently moving through Congress, if passed, seriously encroach on states’ rights, and in turn will put a lot of pressure on county and city governments.
• It is essential that our state governments assert their sovereign rights
• Although State legislatures are not currently in session this is the period during which legislators have the time to consider issues that need attention, or bills they will sponsor.

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THE ISSUES & BILLS:

S. 909 Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Bill

Purpose: Increases penalties for certain crimes committed against certain people, particularly based on sexual orientation

Position: OPPOSE

Reasons:

• Should not be snuck into a Defense spending bill
• Endangers freedom of speech and religion
• Presents problems with double jeapordy
• Violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by singling out certain groups of citizens to the exclusion of others

Status:

Included as an amendment to a Defense Spending Bill (S. 1390) late last week.

Links:

Text of the original S. 909 bill on THOMAS

Politico.com Story Regarding the Bill Nearing passage

Washington Times: F-22 Votes Stalls in Hate Crime Redux

Text of Defense Appropriations Bill S. 1391 on THOMAS

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Nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court

Position: Senate member should oppose her nomination, vocally.

Reasons:

Sotomayor has made public statements and issued rulings that indicate:

• Lack of respect for the right to bear arms
• Racial and gender bias
• Lack of respect for property rights
• Has indicated “empathy” is a higher priority than following the law

Further:

• Made a statement that appellate court judges make law
• Her testimony last week has troubling contradictions in contrast to her writings and the facts of her life.
• During hear testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, she showed a surprising lack of technical legal knowledge during some questioning, particularly in an interchange with Senator Hatch.
• Has had a high rate of judicial error – 40%+ (her rulings were overturned)
• Supports abortion through her statement that Roe v. Wade is settled law

Principles:

• We should oppose those who are not clearly strict constructionists
• Supporters of the Constitution in the Senate need to start showing themselves
• Members of the Senate need to put the President on notice regarding this and future nominees to the Court

Status:

Conclusion of the hearings process, no clear date available regarding full Senate floor vote

Links:

Gun Owners of America has been closely watching and researching this nominee, providing very good general information (beyond the Second Amendment) on their site.

GOA’s Executive Director Larry Pratt, was a guest on a special episode of the Blog Talk Radio show The Constitutional Liberty Coalition Gets Grizzly on Thursday, July 16 to discuss the Sotomayor nomination.  Larry gave a good deal of detailed information about Sotomayor and why her nomination should be opposed. You can listen by clicking here.

Former Supreme Court Nominee Robert Bork made statements regarding Sotomayor and recent history on the confirmation process on Newsmaxx, Tuesday.

Wall Street Journal article on how little information was gleaned from Sotomayor’s testimony.

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“Health Care Reform” / Socialized Medicine

Several versions exist Was H.R. 676 now, H.R. 3200 (see summary article, linked)

Stated Purpose: To make affordable health care available to all

Position: OPPOSE

Reasons:

Puts government in charge of health care decisions

Will implement rationing, meaning government will ultimately decide who suffers or not, who lives or dies

Will kill private health insurance

Will drive talent and innovation out of the health care industry, leading to a reduced quality of care

Will kill small businesses, particularly if certain versions pass

Anyone who states this will not lead to a single payer only (government!) is outright lying. There is ample evidence that supporters want government to be totally in charge of health care.

Status:

Unclear at this time. There are mixed messages from the White House and Congress. The President seemed to be continuing to push Congress to pass as quickly as possible despite the recent CBO report. Again, since there has been much “ducking and weaving” that has occurred, we must not let up on our opposition.

Links:

Text of H.R. 3200 on THOMAS

Forbes: A Bad Day for Obamacare?

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Report on cost of HR 3200

Forbes: Obamacare: The Cost Cutting Delusion

Wal-Mart supports socialized medicine

White House Less Firm on Date for Health Care Bill

Many Governors Oppose Health Care Bill: Label As Unfunded Mandate

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The PASS Act H.R. 1291

Stated Purpose: To better protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personally identifiable information collected by States when issuing driver’s licenses and identification documents, and for other purposes.

Position: OPPOSE

Reasons:

• This is yet another stealth bill, being “sold” as an improvement to “Real ID”, which has been very controversial
• Passage of this bill means a NATIONAL Identity Card
• Contains Biometric data like facial recognition technology
• Real ID has always been sold as a way to “make us safer”
• Many states have outright refused to comply, that is the reason for this latest maneuver, “to improve privacy”

Status: Currently in committee in the Senate; the next opportunity for revisions is July 29.

Links:

Text of HR 1291

Stop Real ID Coalition has a great deal of detailed information on this issue and provides frequent status reports.

OpEd News Article on HR 1291

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HR 2454 (2998) American Clean Energy and Security Act – Cap & Trade

Stated purpose: Reduce carbon emissions, achieve energy independence

Position: Oppose

Reasons:

Basic premise is entirely flawed, based on faulty / controversial science

Is about control, not “protecting the environment”

Violates the Tenth and Fourth Amendments in many respects through encroachment on states’ rights and required inspections

Will devastate America’s economy through regulations and taxes imposed on businesses, causing increased costs for energy

Will touch most aspects of our daily lives from the cars we drive to the appliances in our homes

Status:

Passed by the House of Representatives on June 26, 2009

Currently in the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works (EPW); Committee Chair Barb Boxer (D-CA) released a statement last week that this bill will not come up for a vote until after Congress’ August Recess

*Despite Sen. Boxer’s statement, it is important to stay on this issue!*

written jointly by Shelli Dawdy and Sandra Crosnoe

@Stubborn_Facts  @scrosnoe