SaddleBrooke Republican Club

Many Faiths Unite in Opposition to Obama Attack on Religious Liberty

David S. Addington — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:46:01 +0000

The Obama Administration’s mandate under the Obamacare statute that many religious employers provide health care coverage for contraception, abortifacients, and human sterilization tramples upon their constitutionally guaranteed free exercise of religion. Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced the Administration policy. Many faiths have united in opposition to the Obama Administration attack on religious liberty. On January 20, 2012, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said that “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is … More

Time for a Georgia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement

Ariel Cohen — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:00:23 +0000

President Obama and President of the Republicof Georgia Mikheil Saakashvilirecently announced that the two countries should start free-trade negotiations. Let’s hope both presidents are serious. Presidents Obama and Saakashvili should instruct the appropriate government agencies to expedite preparation of the agreement. The most recentU.S.trade agreements, with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, each took more than five years to get from inception to implementation. This deal could get done in a fraction of that time. Both countries are already relatively open to international trade and investment, and the volume of trade … More

CBO Once Again Proves Tax Hikes Unnecessary to Lower Deficit

Curtis Dubay — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:30:42 +0000

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its long-term outlook for the federal budget this week. According to the CBO’s “Alternative Fiscal Scenario,” tax receipts will match their historical average in 2017, when revenue will be 18 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Receipts will continue growing after that. CBO’s alternative scenario assumes the following: The Bush tax cuts remain in place for all taxpayers (even families making more than $250,000 a year); Congress raises the income threshold for the Alternative Minimum Tax so it doesn’t hit millions of middle-income taxpayers … More

A Half-Million-Dollar, Taxpayer-Funded Thermometer?

Mike Brownfield — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:15:43 +0000

Wonder if it’s too hot to go outside at your workplace? Don’t bother checking the thermometer or stepping outside—the federal government has the answer for you. And it’s only costing taxpayers $643,997.60. Josh Peterson of the Daily Caller reports that the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is due to release a smartphone app that uses temperature and humidity data to warn workers if it is too hot outside. According to OSHA’s website, the “Heat Safety Tool”—available for Android, Blackberry and iPhone—“allows workers and supervisors to calculate … More

Obama Will Need More Than Hope If Israel Attacks Iran

Morgan Roach — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:59:13 +0000

As Israel weighs an attack against Iran in an effort to destroy its nuclear weapons program, Washington is still mulling a coherent response. While affirming that all options are on the table, the Obama Administration has repeatedly stated that diplomacy built around a global coalition is the “preferred solution” to ending Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. But this isn’t saying much. President Obama has given no indication of how the United States would respond if Israel were to take a preventative strike against Iran or how the U.S. is preparing … More

Cardless National ID and the E-Verify Rebellion

Jim Harper — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:40:24 +0000

By Jim Harper

New Hampshire was the state where the “REAL ID rebellion” got its start. There, in 2006, Rep. Neal Kurk (R-Weare) took to the floor of the New Hampshire House to talk about his principled opposition to the federal national ID law. In stirring words, Kurk urged his colleagues to overturn a committee recommendation that no [...]

Cardless National ID and the E-Verify Rebellion is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Follow Reagan’s Footsteps; Renew Our Commitment to Economic Freedom

Anthony B. Kim — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:30:41 +0000

In his two terms in office, President Ronald Reagan gave America a powerful transfusion of his own optimism and hope. He rekindled a sense of the possible, rescuing America from defeatism and restoring our confidence and pride in this great nation. That transformation of America was possible chiefly because of Reagan’s unshakable faith in the power of ideas. Reflecting his strong conviction in freedom, Reagan pointed out in his address to students at Moscow State University in May 1988: Freedom is the right to question and change the established way … More

Wanted: Smart Cybersecurity Solutions

David Inserra — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:00:23 +0000

Think back 20 years ago. What were you doing? Whatever answer you came up with, it probably had nothing to do with the Internet, which was just coming of age. As James Carafano points out in his article in the Washington Examiner today, the discovery a valuable new world brings with it the need to protect that world. Nearly everything in our lives today is connected to the Internet. You possibly woke up to your iPhone buzzing from an e-mail from your boss and then turned on the lights that … More

E.J. Dionne on Campaign Finance as Class Warfare

Roger Pilon — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:38:09 +0000

By Roger Pilon

E.J. Dionne was in high dudgeon at the Washington Post this morning over Citizens United, the Supreme Court’s January 2010 campaign finance decision that ever since has driven the Left into fits of apoplexy. Taking his cue from Obama’s infamous State-of-the-Union condemnation of the Court shortly after the decision came down, plus the class warfare [...]

E.J. Dionne on Campaign Finance as Class Warfare is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog

Ten Inspiring Quotes from President Ronald Reagan

Ryan McNulty — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:30:52 +0000

As we celebrate the 101st birthday of President Ronald Reagan, we remember the profound impact he had on government policy, but more importantly on the spirit of the American people. Whether it was through humor, sincerity, or passion, President Reagan had that rare ability to inspire individuals to strive for their greatest potential and positively impact the country. Here are 10 of his most memorable quotations: Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong. Don’t be afraid to see what you see. … More