JBS Action Alert: Support H.R.220 - Common Sense About Identity Theft and REAL ID

House bill H.R.220, short-titled the “Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2007,” was introduced on January 4, 2007 by (2008 presidential candidate) Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). See: [cosponsors], [bill text], [CRS summary]. The bill purportedly would:

• reduce identity theft by prohibiting the use of a Social Security number for any purpose other than for specified Social Security and tax purposes;
• prohibit the federal government from establishing a national ID or uniform identifier system; and
• prevent federal agencies from using federal grants, contracts, or funding (the carrot and stick strategy) to compel or blackmail states into accepting uniform ID standards that would create a de facto national ID system.

Read: Rep. Ron Paul’s speech introducing H.R.220

The federalizing of state driver’s licenses through title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 has met strong opposition from state governments and activists. Several congressional bills have been introduced that relate to the national ID controversy:

• H.R.1117 and S.717 would merely negotiate about national ID standards and implement who-knows-what, with huge new federal grants. REAL ID was foisted on America and should be ended, not amended.
• H.R.5405 would transform the Social Security card into a de facto national ID card. The Social Security number is already abused as a uniform identifier, but H.R.5405 would facilitate expanding such use and have privacy and security risks similar to that of a federalized RFID drivers license.
• H.R.220 would repeal the federal law that established a driver’s license/national ID card and clamp down on both governmental and private sector abuse of Social Security numbers. We favor this bill.

Rep. Paul introduced similar legislation with the same bill number in the 109th Congress*, the 107th Congress*, and the 106th Congress*. (*Check who the cosponsors were.) Those bills died in the committee stage, never to receive an up or down vote by the House. Help bring the latest version of H.R.220 out of committee and to the House floor for a vote. Ask your congressman to cosponsor H.R.220 if he or she has not already done so. [cosponsors] The likelihood that a bill will be voted on increases in proportion to the number of cosponsors a bill has. It is a bonus if your representative is the chairmann, the ranking member, or even just a regular member of any of the following committees to which H.R.220 was referred:

• House Ways and Means Committee (41 members)
• House Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security (13 members)
• House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (41 members)

The establishing of a national ID card has far-reaching ramifications, with the draconian potential that someday every citizen might be required to use a trackable national ID card in order maintain a livelihood or function in society. Furthermore, the REAL ID rebellion among the states over federal requirements to make state driver’s licenses serve as a national ID card demands the fullest possible debate by Congress on the entire range of legislative options, including the plan of H.R.220. This bill should not be swept under the rug by a committee.

TAKE ACTION!

Related Links:

• Ron Paul: The Real ID is a National ID (2005) YouTube video
• Sophia Cope, Center for Democracy & Technology, on “The Impact of Implementation: A Review of the REAL ID Act and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative,” 4/29/08 pdf (a chilling update reiterating why a national ID system is a Pandora’s Box that should not be opened!)

Used with the permission of The John Birch Society

Stiff Right Alerts is a project of the Center for Moral Liberalism and Stiff Right Jab

Liberty Counsel Alert: Evangelical Manifesto Erroneously Lists Prominent Evangelical Leaders as Signatories

Liberty Counsel

Following the release of the so-called “Evangelical Manifesto” during a press conference at the National Press Club, Dr. Ergun Caner, President of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School, was shocked to learn that his name was listed as one of the “Charter Signatories.”

Dr. Caner has publicly repudiated the document’s anti-activism position. The Seminary is part of Liberty University, the largest and fastest growing evangelical university in the world, with more than 37,000 students. Liberty University was founded by the late Dr. Jerry Falwell in 1971.

“There is only one problem,” Dr. Caner stated, “I never signed it.” Dr. Caner explained in a statement posted on the Liberty University web site. You can read his entire statement here.

The Evangelical Manifesto web site also erroneously lists Dr. Jerry Falwell as a signatory. Jerry Falwell, Jr., the Chancellor of Liberty University, responded to the error: “As the founder of the Moral Majority, dad would not endorse a document that appears to undercut political activism. My dad was a man of courage who paved the way for a generation of socially conservative activists. He never backed away from his resolve to please God. He was a tireless defender of the sanctity of human life and family values.”

While some might shy away from the public square, most evangelicals do not. Life and marriage are nonnegotiable. While our discourse must be civil and our compassion must be genuine, our resolve must never waiver.

Read our News Release on this issue for more details.

Original Intent: The Courts, the Constitution, and Religion

Anyone interested in religious freedom should read this fascinating book by historian David Barton. This book is filled with hundreds of the Founders’ quotes revealing their beliefs on the role of religion in public affairs, the proper role of the courts, the intended limited scope of federal powers, states’ rights, and numerous other issues.

This fascinating 540-page paperback is available in our online store or by calling 800-671-1776. A donation of $15.00 includes shipping and handling.

Used with permission.

Stiff Right Alerts is a project of the Center for Moral Liberalism, and Stiff Right Jab.

ACLJ: Enormous threat to your freedom looms!

American Center for Law and Justice

You and I face a colossal challenge today - an enormous threat to freedom.

The Supreme Court of the United States has agreed with our request that they rule in a First Amendment case of great significance …

… and I will argue the case personally, my 12th such argument before the high court.

We need your immediate online help, and the generous support of every member of the ACLJ, as we mount this monumental effort at the Supreme Court.

Yes, we have won Ten Commandments cases before - but this latest attack is like a new strain of virus:

Our opponents want any public institution with the Ten Commandments on display to be forced to also display an opposing view.

You can look around your own hometown and imagine what this would mean….

* Next to that patriotic monument in the city park, you’d need an anti-American monument.
* Where a VFW monument now stands, a message belittling our veterans would have to go up - or open a can of paint and conceal anything that could be construed as pro-veteran.
* And next to the Statue of Liberty … a Statue of Tyranny?

Whatever your government may stand for, it must also present the opposing view … that’s the implication of this unprecedented and truly dangerous Supreme Court case.

It has the potential to re-landscape America - wreaking havoc on government bodies from your local town hall all the way up to the Congress of the United States.

This is one of the biggest First Amendment cases to come before the Supreme Court of the United States in the last 15 or 20 years.

Help the ACLJ prepare adequately, argue effectively, and WIN this crucial case with your immediate support.

The ACLJ team and I will be investing thousands of hours, at a breakneck pace.

Ten lawyers, 25 law clerks - extensive multi-faceted research, writing and rewriting, layers of essential staff support - this will require a massive effort.

The first of several briefs is due in only weeks … complex preparations for oral arguments will take hundreds of hours on my part alone …

The whole scenario, if you could somehow see it all at once, is staggering.

Your prayer support will be crucial - and we also need your immediate, generous tax-deductible online contribution to help us mount this huge effort and still carry on all of our other crucial cases across the country and beyond.

Please take your stand, once again today, for what is right. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you.

Jay Sukulow, American Center for Law and Justice

Used with permission

Stiff Right Alerts is a project of the Center for Moral Liberalism and Stiff Right Jab

ACU Alert: Urge Your Representative to Vote “NO” on the Farm Bill

American Conservative Union

In 2002, when Congress passed the last farm bill, wheat was at $2.84 a bushel. The price of wheat has risen 256% since then to $10.10. What is Congress’ response in the Farm Bill of 2008? Increase subsidies for wheat! Other commodities like rice, corn, and soybeans that have seen similar price increases will see their subsidies increase or stay at the same level as 2002. At a time of rising grocery bills and runaway government spending, H.R. 2419, dubbed the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007, will increase spending by $20 billion over 10 years, continue to give subsidies to multi-millionaire farmers, and include special interest earmarks for powerful committee chairmen.

GO HERE TO CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND URGE THEM TO VOTE “NO” ON THE FARM BILL

WELFARE FOR MILLIONAIRES

Supporters of the Farm Bill claim they have “reformed” the subsidy program. But this bill will still allow married couples who farm and have adjusted gross income of $1.5 million to get taxpayer subsidies. Individuals who do not even farm but own the land and have incomes of $500,000 will also qualify.

H.R. 2419 also fails to reform the sugar program and actually increases government intervention to drive up sugar prices and, of course, the price of goods with sugar ingredients. To make this program even worse than it is, any excess supply of sugar, which could be available for food production, would be owned by the government and auctioned to ethanol facilities at a huge loss.

TELL YOUR LOCAL MEMBER OF CONGRESS YOU ARE FED UP WITH OUR ANTI-CONSUMER FARM POLICY AND TO VOTE “NO” ON THE FARM BILL!

A BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE

The failure to fix our nation’s outdated and bloated farm policy is bipartisan. Although the Bush administration has threatened to veto this bill, leading Republicans as well as Democrats have vowed to work hard to override the expected veto. Only if they hear from their constituents will it be possible to stop this special interest steamroller.

Not only is this bill terrible policy, it is once again being used as a slush fund for special interests through earmarks. One of the worst examples is a secret provision inserted by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT). It will allow the scandal-tarnished environmental group, the Nature Conservancy, to get $250 million in taxpayer money to purchase a track of land from the Plum Cree Timber Company in Montana. As is often the case with secret earmarks, this provision has nothing to do with farm policy but a way for some politicians to help some friends with your money.

YOU CAN TAKE ACTION NOW! GO HERE AND LET CONGRESS KNOW YOU ARE WATCHING. TELL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO VOTE”NO” ON THE FARM BILL!

For all you do to advance conservative free-market principles, we at the American Conservative Union are most appreciative.
Sincerely

Larry Hart
Director of Government Relations
American Conservative Union

NewsMax: Barr Launches Libertarian White House Bid

NewsMax.com. Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr [GA] launched a Libertarian Party presidential bid Monday, saying voters are hungry for an alternative to the status quo who would dramatically cut the federal government.

His candidacy throws a wild card into the White House race that many believe could peel away votes from Republican Sen. John McCain …

Barr, who has hired Ross Perot’s former campaign manager, acknowledged that some Republicans have tried to discourage him from running. But he said he’s getting in the race to win, not to play spoiler or to make a point.

“I’ve heard from Americans from all walks of life … they want a choice,” he said at a news conference in Washington. “They believe that America has more and better to offer than what the current political situation is serving up to us.” …

If he wins the White House, he said he would immediately freeze discretionary spending in Washington. He also would begin withdrawing troops from Iraq and consider slashing spending at federal agencies such as the departments of education and commerce _ as well as at overseas military bases.

The former U.S. attorney also said he would strictly enforce immigration laws.

“This notion that government owes something to people just because they’re here does not resonate with me,” he said. “This is not a charity.”

continue …

Stiff Right Jab responds: Go Bob Go!

Media Advisory: Ron Paul Brings Campaign to Kentucky, May 16-17

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2008

Who: Republican congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul

What: 1. Ron Paul Freedom Rally at the Bowling Green High School Basketball Arena
1801 Rockingham Lane, Bowling Green, KY 42104 Friday, May 16th, 2:00 PM CT

2. Ron Paul “The Revolution: A Manifesto” Book Signing
Borders, 4600 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40207
Saturday, May 17th, 11:00 AM ET

3. Ron Paul Freedom Rally
Louisville Palace, 625 S. Fourth St, Louisville, KY 40202
Saturday, May 17th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET

Note: Public and media are invited to all events.

Used with permission.

Stiff Right Alerts is a project of the Center for Moral Liberalism and Stiff Right Jab

Ron Paul’s Texas Straight Talk: Big Government Responsible for Housing Bubble

The House passed two bills attempting to rehabilitate the housing and mortgage market this week. There doesn’t seem to be any shortage of criticism and blame for the bad decisions, and rightly so. Lenders and banks do share much of the blame for the overheated market. Lending standards were relaxed, or even abandoned altogether, creating an exaggerated pool of homebuyers that led to ballooning home prices that many, especially real estate investors, expected to continue forever. Now that the bubble has burst, the losses are staggering.

However, many in Washington fail to realize it was government intervention that brought on the current economic malaise in the first place. The Federal Reserve’s artificially low interest rates created the loose, easy credit that ignited a voracious appetite in the banks for borrowers. People made these lending and buying decisions based on market conditions that were wildly manipulated by government. But part of sound financial management should be recognizing untenable or falsified economic conditions and adjusting risk accordingly. Many banks failed to do that and are now looking to taxpayers to pick up the pieces. This is wrong-headed and unfair, but Congress is attempting to do it anyway.

These housing bills address the crisis in exactly the wrong way, by seeking to hide the problem with more disastrous government bail-outs and interventions. One measure, HR 5830 the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Housing Stabilization and Homeowner Retention Act would allow the FHA to guarantee as much as $300 billion worth of refinanced home loans for those facing threat of foreclosure. HR 5818 the Neighborhood Stabilization Act, would provide $15 billion in loans and grants to localities to purchase and renovate foreclosed homes with the object of then selling or renting out those homes. Thankfully, President Bush has vowed to veto both of these bills. It is neither morally right nor fiscally wise to socialize private losses in this way.

The solution is for government to stop micromanaging the economy and let the market adjust, as painful as that will be for some. We should not force taxpayers, including renters and more frugal homeowners, to switch places with the speculators and take on those same risks that bankrupted them. It is a terrible idea to spread the financial crisis any wider or deeper than it already is, and to prolong the agony years into the future. Socializing the losses now will only create more unintended consequences that will give new excuses for further government interventions in the future. This is how government grows - by claiming to correct the mistakes it earlier created, all the while constantly shaking down the taxpayer. The market needs a chance to correct itself, and Congress needs to avoid making the situation worse by pretending to ride to the rescue.

Used with permission.

Stiff Right Alerts is a project of the Center for Moral Liberalism and Stiff Right Jab

Religious Freedom Coalition: Obama and the Jews, Bush vs. Ransom, Ten Commandments on the Hill, and Weeding Out the Unborn

Greetings!

Obama speaks at Israel 60th anniversary event / Cheney, Obama and Lieberman credit President Harry Truman on Israel / Teamsters boss at Israel event / Goodbye Hillery? / Bush still punishing those who pay ransom for loved ones / Weeding out the unborn / Military Decency Act / Ten Commandments on the Hill

THE PRESIDENT

OBAMA AND THE JEWS- On May 8th I attended a Washington, DC celebration for the 60 anniversary of the founding of modern Israel. The announced speakers were Vice President Cheney and Senator Lieberman (I-CT). I was a little surprised when early in the program Senator Barack Obama appeared on stage to credit President Truman for his recognition of Israel’s independence. During his remarks he said that American would always be a friend and defender of Israel. What I found odd about this was the anti-Semitic nature of the church Senator Obama was a member of for two decades. At the end of his remarks he came off stage and waded into the crowd. When he got to me he shock my hand and thanked me for my support. It was obviously a case of mistaken identity.BUSH ADMINISTRATION STILL PUNISHES THOSE WHO PAY RANSOM - Several weeks ago I reported that Iraqi Christian families have been refused admission to the United States because they “aided terrorists” by paying ransom to get their kidnapped loved ones back. These families have actually been added to terrorist lists by our government. Despite my repeated calls and e-mails to the White House and State Department there has been no explanation for this rather bizarre rule. Click here for story by Ken Timmerman.

GOODBYE HILLARY? - Virtually all the pundits now declare that the Democrats have their nominee and it is time for Hillery Clinton to step aside for Barack Obama. One voice calling for her to withdraw is that of Senator Ted Kennedy. Yet, when he ran for president in 1980 he refused to step aside even though he was 500 delegate votes behind Gov. Jimmy Carter. He carried his campaign to the floor of the convention. Senator Obama says he will have the delegates needed by May 20th to tell Hillery bye bye.

THE CONGRESS

TEN COMMANDMENTS ON THE HILL - On May 8th I participated in a press conference on the steps of the Supreme Court supporting Ten Commandment resolutions with Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director, Christian Defense Coalition and Rev. Rob Schenck, president, of Faith and Action. Those present showed support for Ten Commandments resolutions filed by Senator Brownback (R-KS) in the Senate and Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) in the House. Both resolutions stating that the Ten Commandments are the “cornerstone” of Western law are being blocked by the Democrat leadership of the House and Senate. (At left Murray speaks at press conference.)WEEDING OUT THE UNBORN - U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) authored the an adverse prognosis opt for abortion because they are not given other choices.

Senator Brownback said. “The effect of this sort of ‘weeding out’ is creating new eugenics, a form of systematic, disability-based discrimination. Once you go down the path of valuing some lives more than others, of saying that people with disabilities don’t have the same dignity and right to live as others, there are very few means that don’t justify the so-called ‘worthy end’ of a disability-free society.”

MILITARY HONOR AND DECENCY - The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 stated, in part, that “The Secretary of Defense may not permit the sale or rental of sexually explicit material on property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense.” However, broad definitions in the statute have created a loophole which allows publications such as Playboy, Penthouse, and similar material to be sold at military exchange stores. Congressman Paul Broun (R-GA) has introduced the Military Honor and Decency Act, (HR- 5821) to close the loophole and stop all sales of pornographic material on military bases.

RELIGION AND SOCIETY

NO ISLAMIC TERRORISM? - Official US documents are being circulated advising federal agencies not to use the terms “Islamic” or “Muslim” in the same sentence as al Qaeda or the words terror or terrorist. The NCTC (National Counter Terrorism Center) says to “avoid calling anything Muslim.” Not even the word “jihad” is to be used. The NCTC claims that using these terms causes Muslims to believe we are against them. I bet there is no ban on using the word “Christian” in the same sentence with the word “terrorist.” I have sent a quarry to the NCTC to find out if the words “goofy” and “bureaucrat” in the same sentence is also forbidden. See UPI storyNEW APRIL CHAIRMAN’S REPORTS AVAILABLE - The April, 2008 Chairman’s Report from William J. Murray is now available online in PDF version. The Chairman’s Report contains some material not seen in these updates. Click here to view.

INTERNATIONAL

MODERN ISRAEL TURNS 60 - I would rather not admit it, but the modern nation of Israel is two years younger than me. I was two years old when David Ben Gurion delivered Israel’s declaration of independence. Just 11 minutes later President Harry Truman, despite his own State Department being against him, gave US recognition of the new nation thus assuring its legitimacy. Events were held all over the world in celebration. At the Washington, DC event both liberals and conservatives attended. One of those in attendance was Teamsters Union president Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., who has done a pretty good job of stemming corruption and cleaning up the union’s image. I talked to Mr. Hoffa for sometime and learned of his future plans for a lengthy visit to the Holy Land with his family. Support for Israel is wide spread in our nation and crosses all types of political boundaries. It is unfortunate that most of America’s big corporations refuse to do business in Israel because they view Muslim nations as more profitable for them.

SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION

CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE - There are literally tens of thousands of Christian theme items available at our affiliate store including jewelry from the Holy Land. It is a great place to shop for gifts. The store is located at www.rfcstore.com. Please help us with our various projects on Capitol Hill and in the Holy Land by shopping at our affiliate Christian Superstore . Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at www.rfcnet.org.

William J. Murray, Chairman Religious Freedom Coalition, PO Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013 - (202) 742.8990 This publication is a service of the Religious Freedom Coalition (RFC). Links to political and other sites are for informational purposes and do not constitute endorsement. No statement is intended to assist or defeat any candidate running for public office. Religious Freedom Coalition * Copyright - 2007

Soelberg: Mother’s Do Matter

Dear Friend of the Family,

United Families International spends much of our time and resources defending the family and protecting motherhood around the world. We understand and value the importance of families and the role of the mother in the family.

As a mother of 13 children, I know how crucial the role of mothers are to a healthy society. Mothers matter because it is in the home that the virtues of integrity, love of liberty, honesty, compassion and confidence are facilitated in the early and constant care of a mother’s love.

Mothers matter because it is upon these virtues that strong civilizations flourish.

Mothers matter because their work in the home where healthy children are nurtured moves our communities and our nation and our world forward.

Mothers do matter!

Studies and statistics reflect it. But, honest, loving people know in their hearts and their minds what experts have proven over and over again.

“We should no longer allow a mother to be defined as “just a mom.” It is on her back that great nations are built. To play down mothering as small-is to crack the very foundation on which greatness stands. The world can only value mothering to the extent that women everywhere stand and declare that it must be so. As we affirm other mothers and as we teach our sons, husbands and friends to hold them in the highest regard, we honor both the mothers whose shoulders we have stood on…and the daughters, who will one day, stand tall on ours.”
—Oprah Winfrey (”The best of Oprah’s, What I know for Sure”)

Thank you Mothers! Every child knows you matter and that you are making a difference…

Happy Mothers’ Day,

Carol Soelberg,
President United Families International

Eagle Forum: Collegians DC Leadership Summit, July 10, 11, 2008

Eagle Forum

Collegians Summit 2008: Are You Ready to Change the World?

* Having troubles with liberals on your campus?
* Interested in a fun-filled two days of political speakers and exciting outings in DC?
* Want to meet like-minded conservative student leaders from across the US?
* Could you use training to improve your public speaking skills?
* Want to hear how other students are combating the liberal bias on their campuses?
* Want your picture taken with one of your favorite conservative icons?

College students answering yes to these questions should visit www.efcollegians.org to register for the 15th annual Eagle Forum Collegians Summit in Washington, D.C. on July 10-11.

Don’t forget to forward this message to interested students. We also have a full page flyer(PDF) available for distribution.

Used with permission

Stiff Right Alerts is a project of Stiff Right Jab and the Center for Moral Liberalism

President, Steve Farrell