Opinion: Burr-Feinstein antiencryption bill a firing offense

The Burr-Feinstein anti-encryption bill isn't just bad, it's evidence of a dangerous incompetence in congressional leadership that is undermining America’s security. In fact, the draft bill, leaked two weeks ago and now officially released, is compelling evidence that Senate leadership should strip – or at least not reappoint – Senators Burr and Feinstein of their positions on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
Read more at the Christian Science Monitor Read More......

Democrats attempt to set legal framework to sue the gun industry out of existence

Well, most of the Democratic 2016 field supports this, as do anti-gun activists, so it's no surprise that some members of Congress are trying to gut the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in 2005 (via the Hill):  Gun manufacturers could be sued by victims of gun violence under new legislation from Democrats.Read more at Hotair.com Read More......

Fri., Sept. 18: Important U.S. House debates

From Rep. Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader...
On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. First and last votes expected: 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

One Minute Speeches H.R. 3134 - Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 (Closed Rule, One Hour of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. Diane Black / Energy and Commerce / Committee)
H.R. 3504 - Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (Closed Rule, One Hour of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks / Judiciary Committee)

Printable PDF Read More......

FDA to Crack Down on Home-based Soap Makers

People who are trying to do good for their families and the planet by living a simple life based on traditional skills are facing yet another assault. Artisanal soap makers say new regulations, proposed by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), will put them out of business.
The view of Sen. Feinstein and her corporate backers (listed below) is that the Personal Care Products Safety Act (Senate Bill S.1014) will make the world a safer place by scrutinizing “everything from shampoo and hair dye to deodorant and lotion.” She says the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act should be more progressive like laws in Europe rather than antiquated US regulations in effect since the 1930s.
If the industries that back this law are really so concerned about safety, why don’t they voluntarily make healthy products, like the small time producers already do?


Read more at Health Impact News Read More......

Pending Patent Legislation Stifles The Next Steve Jobs

By Rep. Dana Rhorabacher (R-CA)
Steve Jobs started Apple in his garage in Silicon Valley. Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in an apartment garage outside Seattle. Stanford students Sergey Brin and Larry Page got Google off the ground in a garage they rented south of San Francisco. ✧ But a Senate bill supported by these companies and a handful of other deep-pocketed multinational corporations threatens to close the garage doors of small inventors forever. If enacted, it will stifle American innovation and destroy untold numbers of future jobs. ✧ I am speaking of S.1720, the so-called "Patent Transparency and Improvements Act of 2013." Its backers claim it will reduce frivolous patent lawsuits. In reality, it was designed to rid big high-tech companies of what they fear the most: little guys with great ideas. Read More at Investor's Business Daily

Check THOMAS to search for bills, find sponsors and cosponsors, etc. Read More......

Berkeley and the Tea Party – Together?

SUSTAINABLE FREEDOM LAB
Can the American left and right unite in 2014? Can they find a common cause without whipping up a cat 5 hurricane? That may be happening. ✧ Berkeley California is a liberal community with a strong and vocal conservative contingent. But California’s Plan Bay Area may be the flash point that welds the two seemingly disparate groups. ✧ In 2008 the California legislature approved SB375, which mandates the states’ 18 metropolitan regions develop Sustainable Community Strategies and reduce greenhouse gases. ✧ In compliance with SB375, Plan Bay Area combines 9 counties in the San Francisco area to form one of the nation’s most aggressive sustainable communities planning regions. Berkeley is in the Plan Bay Area region. ✧ While Plan Bay Area’s goals of increased sustainability and reduced greenhouse gases sound noble, the plan contains serious drawbacks that are catapulting fury across the local political spectrum. Read more at Sustainable Freedom Lab.org... Read More......

Fa La La La Law to Protect Our Troops

(Hat tip: Jane Newton) - Long before "Duck Dynasty," other camouflaged Americans were being persecuted for their beliefs: U.S. service members. Now, thanks to Congress, our brave men and women will finally have the legislative armor they need. It took until almost midnight, but when the Senate passed the Defense Authorization bill, it was worth the wait. After a year-long struggle against the forces of political correctness, leaders stood together in defense of our troops' right to speak and act openly on their faith.

With overwhelming bipartisan support (84-15), the Senate approved the legislation with Sen. Mike Lee's (R-Utah) military conscience language -- handing FRC and its supporters one of the biggest victories yet in the battle for religious liberty. Under the bill (which still awaits the President's signature), Congress moves the current law from protecting religious beliefs to also protecting the expressions of those beliefs. For service members who've become increasingly afraid to even share their faith, this language is a game-changer. It frees our troops from the fear of retaliation, which so many have experienced under this administration.

Read more at Family Research Center… Read More......

Gun Controllers: Wide of the Mark: Advocates were fooling themselves from the beginning.

The gun bill is dead, but for the shouting. That will come now, thick and fast. “Shame on you, political cowards!” its crestfallen supporters will say, and then they will lash out at the NRA, the Republican party, and, very probably, the Senate itself. This will no doubt be cathartic. But those who indulge such temptations will have drawn the wrong conclusion. With a toxic combination of wishful thinking and mistaken reading of polls, the advocates of stricter control had managed to convince themselves that America was changing in their favor. As recently as last week, Eleanor Clift prophesied on The McLaughlin Group that “the culture of guns is beginning to go through a transformation in this country.” Clift, who appears to be stuck in a bubble, had not yet caught up to reality.

After the abomination at Newtown, Alaska senator Mark Begich, a Democrat, warned of a “sea change.” This conceit was picked up by the media and propagated without criticism or thought and, within a few days, it became conventional wisdom.

Read more at National Review Read More......

Michigan: Union Workers Assault Crowder at Anti "Right-to-Work" Protest

12-11-12 - Steven Crowder asks union workers protesting the Michigan Legislature's vote to make Michigan a Right-to-Work state why they oppose "Right-to-Work"? Crowder also tried to stop protestors from tearing down Americans for Prosperity's tent, which had held 60-70 people. Video contains VIOLENCE.

Stephen Crowder is a stand up comedian, a FoxNews Contributor and social/political commentator.

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Republican not happy with Oregon's GOP Legislators

OREGON CATALYST by In the news, Thursday, March 8. 2012 - Why is the GOP supporting an SEIU idea? by Anonymous
I am a management service employee in State Government. I am also as Republican as they come. Working in such a Democrat-dominated government is more than frustrating.  ✧ HB 2020 was bad enough. Then HB 4131.  So many Republicans agreeing with an idea that originated in the research offices of SEIU. I just want to know where this thinking comes from. I can’t believe that SEIU has anything in mind except the collection of more dues from the employees they have removed from the supervisory ranks.  ✧ Where do you think those dues are going to go?  To Republican candidates? Really? I get the bloated government problem. I see it everyday. But this method will only put money in the coffers of the SEIU, embolden them and their Democratic buddies, and worst of all it will make a hash of the management service. Nice job GOP. Read More......

Senator Prozanski (D-Eugene) aims to gut Oregon Public Meeting Laws

Lawmakers Respond To Largest Public Meeting Law Scandal In Oregon History By Trying To Gut Oregon’s Public Meeting Laws. Read more at Oregon Catalyst...
SB 1526 (pdf) Read More......

Oregon: The Bipartisan Education Package

From Rep. Shawn Lindsay (R-HD 30) via email (Hat tip: D'Ann Mathews) - Reforming Education in Oregon - Managing the K-12 education system is one of the most important jobs we have as legislators. It’s a role I take very seriously. As a father of three young girls, I work closely with our public school system to prepare my daughters to be tomorrow's leaders. The bipartisan votes taken yesterday in the House of Representatives are a signal that the legislature, for the first time in decades, is serious about education reform. Together, these reforms help promote choice, accountability, and innovation in our educational system.

The list below includes some of the education bills voted on yesterday that take these necessary steps forward:

• HB 3681: Allows students to enroll in the school district of their choice, so long as the receiving district grants permission.
• HB 2301:  Raises the current enrollment caps on statewide virtual charter schools and replacing them with a limit of no more than three percent of students from any single district.
• HB 3645: Allows a charter school applicant to seek sponsorship from the Board of Education, a local community college, or a public university that chooses to participate, if the applicant was initially rejected by a school district.

The package also gives us the opportunity to direct more funding to education using existing resources. Elements include:

• $25 million to the State School Fund (from the Education Stability Fund).
• $14 million to the State School Fund from savings due to Education Service District (ESD) reform.
• $8.66 million to help rural school districts address unintended cuts from school consolidation.
• $5 million to establish the School District Collaboration Grant Program that providesincentives for teachers to improve student achievement through innovative means.
• $2.9 million to fund statewide Agriculture Extension programs.

Additional bills in the package include:

• SB 248: Allows districts to offer full day kindergarten and provides Average Daily Membership (ADM) funding if they choose to do so.
• SB 250: Allows school districts in four Education Service Districts (ESDs) (Baker, WESD, Multnomah and NWESD) to opt out and receive 90 percent of the funding allotted to the ESD for the share of the children serviced by the ESD.
• SB 253: Establishes new goals on higher education, specifically that at least 40 percent of adult Oregonians have earned a bachelor’s degree, 40 percent have earned an associate’s degree, and that the remaining 20 percent or less of all adult Oregonians have earned a high school diploma by 2025.
• SB 552: Makes the Governor the state's chief school official and allows the Governor to appoint a Deputy Superintendent.
• SB 909A: Establishes the Oregon Education Investment Board that will oversee the process of recommending strategic outcome-based budgets for public education. Subject to ratification by the Legislature in 2012, the board will oversee all of public education in Oregon from preschool to higher education. The Board will appoint a Chief Education Officer to assist in carrying out the functions of the Board. Authority for the Board sunsets on March 15, 2016.
• HB 3362: Allows districts to join together to form Career and Technical Education charter schools.
• HB 3417: Aligns the budget and accounting system of a school district with their sponsored charter schools.
• HB 3474: Creates a uniform set of performance evaluation measures for teachers.

As a candidate, I campaigned on education reform. I am proud that we forged ahead to break the status quo, and we will continue to do so.

If you have further questions regarding these or other education-related bills, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Shawn Lindsay
Representative, Oregon State House District 30 Read More......

CPI: A “Training Wage” Can Get Teens Their First Job – And Jumpstart Their Earning Potential

CASCADE POLICY INSTITUTE by Christina Martin

"Have you ever tried to hire an average teenager? A few years ago, when I needed some furniture moved, my mother reached out to some fundraising teenagers on my behalf, offering the wage that I had set. The three boys eagerly accepted the offer, showed up for work and proceeded to demonstrate why it can be so difficult for many teenagers to land and maintain employment. They not only lacked experience..." Read more at CPI

Article relates to: House Bill 3279 (PDF) Read More......

Oregonian: Who wants to kill the Independent Party?

OREGONLIVE.COM, 4/16/2011 by Jeff Mapes (Hat tip: D'Ann Matthews) - Oregon Capitol mystery: Who wants to kill the Independent Party? Representative Andy Olson (R-Dist. 15) vows to find out. Read More......

SB 255 will weaken Oregon's Charter Schools

Oregon Conservatives/fb, 3/16/2011 posted by Jeff Reynolds - Statement from Rob Kremer - Don't be deceived by OR SB 255, which will WEAKEN CHARTER SCHOOLS IN OREGON.

Don't be deceived by the Education Lobby's "less controversial" charter school bill! ∴ SB255, a bill that makes some changes to the charter school law, passed out of committee yesterday. ∴ This bill is the product of interim meetings held by all the usual education lobby groups, who want to change the charter school law in ways that further empower school districts and further tie the hands of charter schools. ∴ On the House side, Rep. Wingard sponsored HB2287, which went down on Monday 32-28. THAT bill was the one that would empower charter schools and parents and children. ∴ The two bills are basically opposites, but the media is calling the Senate bill the "less controversial charter bill." Sure. Less controversial, because it does what the OEA, OSBA, COSA and ODE want it to do - make life harder for charters. ∴ Don't criticize the Republicans who voted for the bill in committee, because they were not lobbied on the bill. That was my fault - I was tied up and did not know the bill was being heard. I should have told them the truth about the bill. ∴ But if you have a chance, let everyone in your circle of influence know that SB255 is a bill that hurts charter schools. We need to kill this bill on the House side.

Thanks!
Rob Kremer

Read More......

Wisconsin's budget repair bill passes -- profound drama continues

Richard Fernandez at The Belmont Club refers to the Wisconsin 'budget repair bill' as The Shaking of the Foundations

"...referring “to the Wisconsin Senate’s 18-1 vote earlier in the evening in favor of legislation, supported by Gov. Scott Walker, that would strip politicians of the power to reward government employee unions for their political support.”

And likely to spread from state to state... Read More......

NYT: Obama Returns to End-of-Life Plan That Caused Stir

WASHINGTON, 12/25/2010 — When a proposal to encourage end-of-life planning touched off a political storm over “death panels,” Democrats dropped it from legislation to overhaul the health care system. But the Obama administration will achieve the same goal by regulation, starting Jan. 1. Read more at the New York Times... Read More......

Republicans Offered Better Solution to Hold Wall Street Accountable

PRESS RELEASE - Washington (Jul 15) House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Democrats’ job-killing Wall Street bailout bill: “The American people want reform, not more bailouts from Washington Democrats for their Wall Street allies. The Democrats’ bill makes bailouts permanent, enshrines ‘too big to fail’ into law, and fails to reform the government mortgage companies that sparked the meltdown by giving high-risk loans to people who couldn’t afford it, and it needs to be fixed. House Republicans offered a better solution to stop the Democrats’ permanent bailouts, reform Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, and protect taxpayers and help small businesses create jobs. Our plan holds Wall Street accountable; the Democrats’ plan lets them off the hook. It’s time to start listening to the American people and work together on common-sense solutions to end the bailouts, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and make Wall Street responsible for its actions.”

NOTE: Republicans offered comprehensive financial regulatory reform legislation – the Consumer Protection and Regulatory Enhancement Act (H.R. 3310) – designed to (1) stop the Democrats’ permanent bailouts for their Wall Street allies; (2) protect taxpayers and create jobs; (3) address Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac reform, the root causes of the housing meltdown & financial crisis; and (4) rein in the out of control Federal Reserve & end “too big to fail.”

HR3310 was introduced in the House on 7/23/2009. --bc Read More......

WH to Congress: Energy-only bill would be ‘unfortunate’

THE HILL/E2 Wire, 4/6/2010 by Ben Geman - White House climate czar Carol Browner said Tuesday that the Obama administration is urging Senate lawmakers not to proceed with an “energy only” bill that shelves limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Read more at The Hill's energy & environment blog... Read More......

Keep Medicare in Congress's hands (Bipartisan Op-Ed)

POLITICO, 3/19/2010 by Bill Frist and John Breaux - [Excerpt] While the new entity, an “Independent Payment Advisory Board,” addresses a growing problem, its structure in the current legislation raises serious constitutional and process questions that Congress must confront. ∴ The board, intended to help control Medicare costs — which, all agree, are rising at a concerning rate — would possess nearly total power over the federal health care program for the elderly and disabled.

[...] Ultimately, however, we would be better off looking to established congressional oversight rather than implementing heavy-handed regulation to make significant — and potentially unconstitutional — changes to a program essential to the successful delivery of health care to America’s seniors.

Bill Frist is a former Republican senator from Tennessee who served as majority leader. John Breaux is a former Democratic senator from Louisiana and served as co-chairman of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare. Read more at Politico... Read More......