Action Item: Call Sen. Merkley today

From Jean Nelson: OUR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NECESSARY! This Wednesday morning Dec 9, Sen. Jeff Merkley will vote on the nomination of Chai Feldblum, a highly controversial figure, to serve as a Commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). ∴ According to Feldblum, a person’s religious beliefs (what she calls “belief liberty”) can be trumped by “sexual liberty.” When the constitutionally guaranteed right to the free exercise of religion and “sexual liberty” conflict, Feldblum has stated: “I’m having a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win.” ∴ Feldblum ignores the fact that our Founding Fathers came to America to practice religious freedom, not just “believe” it. The First Amendment in the Constitution was created to guarantee and protect this right to practice religious belief. ∴ Urge Sen. Jeff Merkley to vote NO on the Feldblum nomination.

U.S. Capitol Office: (202) 224-3753
State/District Office: (503) 326-3386
Send a pre-composed email through Traditional Values Coalition

Through her writings and speeches, Feldblum has expressed support for polyamory – sexual and non-sexual relationships among multiple partners – both male and female. She wants the government to treat these “relationships” the same as one man/one woman marriage.

In addition to contacting Sen. Jeff Merkley, please ask at least 10 friends to contact their Senators.

Time is of the essence. Call Sen. Jeff Merkley NOW. ∴ We suggest that you tell Sen. Merkley you oppose Chai Feldblum’s nomination to the EEOC because of the threat she poses to your First Amendment right to the free exercise or practice of religion and her radical views on marriage.

Additional Resources:
CBN Interviews Andrea Lafferty on Bizarre EEOC Nominee Chai Feldblum
President Obama's Nominee to EEOC May Cause Stir
Chai Feldblum Is Long-Time Supporter Of Polyamory – Multiple Sex Partners
Obama's radical choice causes commotion
EEOC Nominee Chai Feldblum Hides Bizarre Views
EEOC Nominee Ghostwrites New Liberty Into the Constitution Violates the Free Exercise of Religion
Yet Another Radical Obama Nominee Read More......

Action Item: Oppose Clean Water Restoration Act (S 787)

OREGONIANS IN ACTION: The United States Senate is considering adoption of S 787, also known as the Clean Water Restoration Act, an innocent sounding name for a bill that would have significant impacts on all private property owners across the United States.

If approved, S 787 would amend the Clean Water Act by extending the authority of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency, the two federal agencies charged with enforcing the Act.

Currently, the CWA regulates point source pollution discharges into "waters of the United States." The United States Supreme Court has interpreted the phrase "waters of the United States" to exclude isolated waters, such as ponds, intermittent streams, and wetlands which do not have a "significant nexus" to a navigable waterway. These bodies of water are not regulated by the CWA.

S 787 would change the CWA to significantly broaden the scope of the bill. If S 787 passes, it is hard to conceive of any kind of surface water source that would not be considered a "water of the United States." This could potentially mean that all land use activities near any type of surface water would require a federal permit. It could also be far less draconian than that. But the possibility of the federal control which S 787 could create makes it a very dangerous bill, and one that every property owner, as well as every state and local government that wants to retain control over land use matters in their jurisdiction, should oppose.

This is not the kind of legislation that will help Oregon property owners or Oregon's economy. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this Thursday, despite the fact that the Committee has not held one hearing on the bill. Senator Jeff Merkley is on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Please call Senator Merkley's office and tell them that you oppose S 787 and that the federal government has no business regulating land use. That is an area for state, and preferably local, control. Demand that Senator Merkley call for hearings on S 787, and that he work closely with industry and property owners to understand that impacts that S 787 could have on small businesses and property owners.

Senator Merkley's number is (202) 224-3753.

Dave Hunnicutt
President
Oregonians In Action

Hat tip: Linda Weimee Read More......

Economists take issue on stimulus plan

"There is no disagreement that we need action by our government, a recovery plan that will help to jumpstart the economy."
— PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA, JANUARY 9 , 2009

With all due respect Mr. President, that is not true.

Notwithstanding reports that all economists are now Keynesians and that we all support a big increase in the burden of government, we do not believe that more government spending is a way to improve economic performance. More government spending by Hoover and Roosevelt did not pull the United States economy out of the Great Depression in the 1930s. More government spending did not solve Japan's "lost decade" in the 1990s. As such, it is a triumph of hope over experience to believe that more government spending will help the U.S. today. To improve the economy, policy makers should focus on reforms that remove impediments to work, saving, investment and production. Lower tax rates and a reduction in the burden of government are the best ways of using fiscal policy to boost growth.

See this impressive list of signers
Source: Cato Institute

Read More......