Help stop the attack by Congress on religious freedom Focus Action Petition – Hate Crimes and ENDA
About the Petition:
Nancy Pelosi's Democrat-controlled Congress has continued an all-out assault on our freedoms of speech, thought and religion with two bills being pushed as a reward to homosexual activists.
These two bills, the Hate Crimes Act and ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) are both designed to ultimately silence any moral opposition to homosexual behavior – thus threatening our Christian beliefs.
The Hate Crimes bill – which Sen. Ted Kennedy (D – Mass.) has unsuccessfully attempted to foist on our country for years – would be the first step toward ultimately gagging our pastors and other ministry leaders who are faithfully preaching the Scripture about God's plan for human sexuality. The bill is supposedly designed to increase penalties for violent crimes committed against members of specially
protected groups, such as homosexuals – but if it passes, our pastors and others who dare to share biblical truth about homosexuality may soon find themselves facing legal prosecution, just like Pastor Ake Green of Sweden, who was sentenced to prison for preaching against homosexual behavior.
ENDA is even more threatening to our Christian beliefs because it could require faith-based nonprofit organizations such as Focus Action to hire homosexuals or others who are hostile to our deeply held religious beliefs. What is at stake with these two pieces of legislation is nothing less than our freedom to hold and share beliefs that do not embrace and condone homosexuality and the homosexual agenda. For more information about the Hate Crimes bill, click here.
The Hate Crimes bill is moving in Congress now and must be stopped and we expect ENDA won't be far behind.
We know you'll also want to share this important petition with your friends and family, so you'll receive an e-mail you can forward to them as soon as you sign. We will continue to keep you updated about these bills and what else you can do to express your outrage about these threats to our beliefs – our members of Congress need to hear from all of us! Thank you for taking the time to make your voice heard in defense of our most precious liberties.
http://www.focuspetitions.com/125/petition.asp?CID=125&RID=21278847
6/26/09
6/25/09
6/23/09
Nancy Pelosi Schedules Household Energy Tax Vote this Week!
House Voting on Energy Tax!
Nancy Pelosi Schedules Household Energy Tax Vote this Week!
Take Action!
June 23, 2009
Late last night, during yet another closed-door meeting in the House of Representatives, the liberal Majority maneuvered to bring the highly unpopular 946-page energy-rationing bill, better known as the Waxman-Markey cap-and-tax bill, to the House floor for a vote by the end of this week!
Sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, H.R. 2454 imposes a system of "cap-and-tax" in order to combat so-called "global warming." This massive, across-the-board household energy tax is being disguised by congressional liberals and is being sold under the slogan "cap-and-trade," which simply means giving the government power to put a cap on the amount of carbon emissions (CO2) produced by the production of electricity, gasoline, and heating oil, and forcing businesses to actively lobby Congress for higher cap levels and to buy permits for the emissions they are allowed.
Rather than calling it "cap-and-trade," it should be called "cap-and-tax"-as it caps Americans' standard of living and taxes our use of products whose manufacture emits CO2.
If passed and signed into law, H.R. 2454 will further cripple our economy and drain your pockets in the following ways:
It will raise your household electricity rates by 90 percent, gasoline by 74 percent, and residential natural gas prices by 55 percent by 2035, after adjusting for inflation.
It imposes an annual burden of $144.8 billion per year on U.S. households, and it will reduce household earnings by a projected $37.8 billion.
It will further cut U.S. employment levels by 965,000 jobs by reducing economic output by $136 billion per year-this translates to a $1,145 increase in energy costs per American household.
It will force low-income households to disproportionately bear the across-the-board energy cost increase, as a larger percentage of the poor's income goes toward energy costs, as opposed to wealthier households.
It sets the stage to effectively kill the coal industry as it will be taxed so heavily, it will not be able to sustain itself.
If enacted, H.R. 2454 would be the biggest government takeover of the economy since the Second World War, which is the last time energy, food, and other basic commodities were rationed. Waxman-Markey amounts to a $2 trillion tax increase on middle-class Americans. Not only would this be the biggest tax increase in the history of the world, but it is yet another example of President Barack Obama violating his campaign promise not to raise taxes on the middle class. This cap-and-tax bill is simply an underhanded way of facilitating a colossal transfer of wealth from consumers to big businesses.
Household energy taxation with the ultimate goal of energy-rationing is dangerous, not only for your pocketbook, but also for the well-being of your family and your standard of living.
H.R. 2454 is a hidden tax and it must be defeated this week in the House!Take Action:
The Democrat Majority has announced that amendments to this bill can be made no later than 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 25th. We expect a floor vote to occur soon after that, so please begin calling your Representatives and tell them to vote NO on cap-and-tax!
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
http://capwiz.com/eagleforum/issues/alert/?alertid=13612686&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
Nancy Pelosi Schedules Household Energy Tax Vote this Week!
Take Action!
June 23, 2009
Late last night, during yet another closed-door meeting in the House of Representatives, the liberal Majority maneuvered to bring the highly unpopular 946-page energy-rationing bill, better known as the Waxman-Markey cap-and-tax bill, to the House floor for a vote by the end of this week!
Sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, H.R. 2454 imposes a system of "cap-and-tax" in order to combat so-called "global warming." This massive, across-the-board household energy tax is being disguised by congressional liberals and is being sold under the slogan "cap-and-trade," which simply means giving the government power to put a cap on the amount of carbon emissions (CO2) produced by the production of electricity, gasoline, and heating oil, and forcing businesses to actively lobby Congress for higher cap levels and to buy permits for the emissions they are allowed.
Rather than calling it "cap-and-trade," it should be called "cap-and-tax"-as it caps Americans' standard of living and taxes our use of products whose manufacture emits CO2.
If passed and signed into law, H.R. 2454 will further cripple our economy and drain your pockets in the following ways:
It will raise your household electricity rates by 90 percent, gasoline by 74 percent, and residential natural gas prices by 55 percent by 2035, after adjusting for inflation.
It imposes an annual burden of $144.8 billion per year on U.S. households, and it will reduce household earnings by a projected $37.8 billion.
It will further cut U.S. employment levels by 965,000 jobs by reducing economic output by $136 billion per year-this translates to a $1,145 increase in energy costs per American household.
It will force low-income households to disproportionately bear the across-the-board energy cost increase, as a larger percentage of the poor's income goes toward energy costs, as opposed to wealthier households.
It sets the stage to effectively kill the coal industry as it will be taxed so heavily, it will not be able to sustain itself.
If enacted, H.R. 2454 would be the biggest government takeover of the economy since the Second World War, which is the last time energy, food, and other basic commodities were rationed. Waxman-Markey amounts to a $2 trillion tax increase on middle-class Americans. Not only would this be the biggest tax increase in the history of the world, but it is yet another example of President Barack Obama violating his campaign promise not to raise taxes on the middle class. This cap-and-tax bill is simply an underhanded way of facilitating a colossal transfer of wealth from consumers to big businesses.
Household energy taxation with the ultimate goal of energy-rationing is dangerous, not only for your pocketbook, but also for the well-being of your family and your standard of living.
H.R. 2454 is a hidden tax and it must be defeated this week in the House!Take Action:
The Democrat Majority has announced that amendments to this bill can be made no later than 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 25th. We expect a floor vote to occur soon after that, so please begin calling your Representatives and tell them to vote NO on cap-and-tax!
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
http://capwiz.com/eagleforum/issues/alert/?alertid=13612686&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]
6/22/09
6/15/09
DON'T LET FREEDOM OF SPEECH SLIP AWAY!
Add your name to the group of 1165 people who have already signed using the Internet!
We face an imperative issue. The Broadcaster Freedom Act must pass Congress in order to protect the free speech of Christian and conservative broadcasters. We must speak out now to permanently prohibit the Federal Communications Commission and President Obama from reinstating the so-called “Fairness Doctrine,” legislation that would force broadcasters to strike an “even balance” on the issues at their own expense. Exercise your rights as a concerned citizen and call on Congress to vote on this vitally important legislation, the Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009 (H.R. 226; S. 34). Please read the form below carefully and declare your membership with the ACLJ by adding your name to our Petition of Protest.
A Petition in ProtestAgainst the So-Called “Fairness” Doctrine
To All Members of the United States SenateTo All Members of the United States House of Representatives
The so-called “Fairness” Doctrine is extremely dangerous. It would have a chilling effect on the free speech of conservative and religious media outlets. It contradicts the constitutional principle of free speech and our First Amendment rights. I urge you to use your full influence to keep this legislation from being considered and to stand in full support of Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009 (H.R. 226; S. 34). The “Fairness” Doctrine is unconstitutional. It deserves no reference in American landscape, apart from its place in failed history. Please uphold and preserve constitutional free speech for all. GO TO:
http://www.aclj.org/Petition/Default.aspx?sc=3451&ac=1
Add your name to the group of 1165 people who have already signed using the Internet!
We face an imperative issue. The Broadcaster Freedom Act must pass Congress in order to protect the free speech of Christian and conservative broadcasters. We must speak out now to permanently prohibit the Federal Communications Commission and President Obama from reinstating the so-called “Fairness Doctrine,” legislation that would force broadcasters to strike an “even balance” on the issues at their own expense. Exercise your rights as a concerned citizen and call on Congress to vote on this vitally important legislation, the Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009 (H.R. 226; S. 34). Please read the form below carefully and declare your membership with the ACLJ by adding your name to our Petition of Protest.
A Petition in ProtestAgainst the So-Called “Fairness” Doctrine
To All Members of the United States SenateTo All Members of the United States House of Representatives
The so-called “Fairness” Doctrine is extremely dangerous. It would have a chilling effect on the free speech of conservative and religious media outlets. It contradicts the constitutional principle of free speech and our First Amendment rights. I urge you to use your full influence to keep this legislation from being considered and to stand in full support of Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009 (H.R. 226; S. 34). The “Fairness” Doctrine is unconstitutional. It deserves no reference in American landscape, apart from its place in failed history. Please uphold and preserve constitutional free speech for all. GO TO:
http://www.aclj.org/Petition/Default.aspx?sc=3451&ac=1
6/2/09
Stop the Abortion Bailout
President Obama's 2010 Budget recommendations signal the Abortion Bailout is in full swing! Here is the 2010 edition of the Abortion Bailout Package:
Taxpayer funding for abortions in the District of Columbia
$317 million in taxpayer funding for “Title X” Health Clinics (aka your local Planned Parenthood affiliate)
$50 million for the UNFPA, an international aid organization connected to coercive abortion as part of China’s coercive one-child policy In December 2008, Abortion groups submitted a 50 page proposal to the Obama-Biden Administration. To date President Obama has fulfilled 11 of the 15 policies requested for the first 100 days. With more of the Abortion Bailout to come, we can surely expect to see some of the other demands to come in the months ahead:
Include Abortion coverage in any taxpayer-subsidized national health care program
Expand taxpayer-funded abortions on military bases
Expand taxpayer-funded abortions through the Peace Corps program
GO TO:
http://www.sba-list.org/c.ddJBKJNsFqG/b.5154927/k.FBFF/Stop_the_Abortion_Bailout_Action_Center/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=ddJBKJNsFqG&b=5154927&aid=12290
Expand taxpayer-funded abortions for federal prisoners
We must act now! Send a letter to your Senators today demanding that they keep your tax dollars out of the pockets of abortion providers.
President Obama's 2010 Budget recommendations signal the Abortion Bailout is in full swing! Here is the 2010 edition of the Abortion Bailout Package:
Taxpayer funding for abortions in the District of Columbia
$317 million in taxpayer funding for “Title X” Health Clinics (aka your local Planned Parenthood affiliate)
$50 million for the UNFPA, an international aid organization connected to coercive abortion as part of China’s coercive one-child policy In December 2008, Abortion groups submitted a 50 page proposal to the Obama-Biden Administration. To date President Obama has fulfilled 11 of the 15 policies requested for the first 100 days. With more of the Abortion Bailout to come, we can surely expect to see some of the other demands to come in the months ahead:
Include Abortion coverage in any taxpayer-subsidized national health care program
Expand taxpayer-funded abortions on military bases
Expand taxpayer-funded abortions through the Peace Corps program
GO TO:
http://www.sba-list.org/c.ddJBKJNsFqG/b.5154927/k.FBFF/Stop_the_Abortion_Bailout_Action_Center/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=ddJBKJNsFqG&b=5154927&aid=12290
Expand taxpayer-funded abortions for federal prisoners
We must act now! Send a letter to your Senators today demanding that they keep your tax dollars out of the pockets of abortion providers.
5/29/09
Guess who Census banned as 'partners'
Guess who Census banned as 'partners'Agency seeks out ACORN, but 'blacklists' other groups
Posted: May 28, 200911:50 pm EasternBy Bob Unruh© 2009 WorldNetDaily
The U.S. Census Bureau, reflecting what apparently is becoming a political position that involves more than one federal agency, has listed "hate groups," "law enforcement" "and "anti-immigrant groups" among those that would be refused permission to become a partner with the 2010 Census.
The news comes in a series of documents obtained by Judicial Watch under the Freedom of Information Act about the census operations.
WND previously reported when the Department of Homeland Security released an "extremism" report that warned local law enforcement officers nationwide to watch out for "potential terrorists" including those who:
Oppose abortion
Oppose same-sex marriage
Oppose restrictions on firearms
Oppose lax immigration laws
Oppose the policies of President Obama regarding immigration, citizenship, and the expansion of social programs
Oppose continuation of free trade agreements
Are suspect of foreign regimes
Fear Communist regimes
Oppose a "one world" government
Bemoan the decline of U.S. stature in the world
Are upset with loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs to China and India, and more
At the time, a lawyer pursuing a lawsuit against Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano over the "extremist" report said he was not reassured by her later promise to "reword" the document.
"She says, 'Well, we're going to reword the document – and we're going to make it more precise,'" Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center, told WND. "That's scary because we know they are still going to maintain some kind of targeting for various people that she's never apologized to or never retracted [her accusations]."
At issue is the agency's "Rightwing Extremism" report called "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate
Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment." WND has posted the report online. http://wnd.com/images/dhs-rightwing-extremism.pdf
The report linked returning veterans with the possibility of terrorism and when it was released, created such a furor for Napolitano she has given several explanations for it, including that she would have reworded the report and that it was issued by a rogue employee.
Thompson said no apology had been offered to most of the members of the various groups on which the government was painting a bull's-eye.
Now come the documents from the Census Bureau, which said it wants to work with groups that "partnered" with the census in 2000, various other "national organizations" and other groups that "served one of the 'hard to count' clusters."
The Census Bureau identified those groups as "the economically disadvantaged," "the unattached mobile singles" and "high density areas with ethnic enclaves."
The list of banned groups was found in an e-mail from Barbara A. Harris, the chief of the agency's program for partnering with outside groups, to other staff members. She said the "criteria for NOT partnering with a group" included a failure to have worked with the organization in 2000, to be a national organization or other factors
Her note then said "hate groups" were not eligible, nor were "law enforcement, anti-immigrant groups, (or) any groups that might make people fearful of participating in the census."
"This is the Napolitano memo Part 2," Judicial Watch chief Tom Fitton told WND.
The documents indicate, "there may be an ideological agenda at work, in a discriminatory effort to keep conservatives away," he suggested. "What's a real slander is to suggest that the Fraternal Order of Police may be the equivalent of a hate group."
The census, he said, should be politically neutral, counting numbers, not political opinions.
"One can be opposed to illegal immigration and you should be able to partner with the government," he said. "It screams out violations of the First Amendment."
Census Bureau spokesman Stephen Buckner told WND the list of excluded groups was assembled by Harris, who heads the federal agency's partnership program.
He admitted the list probably "unfairly" lists law enforcement officers along with anti-immigrant groups. But he said the choice of groups with which to work is important, because there are population groups who, for example, don't trust law enforcement, or don't trust members of "anti-immigrant" groups.
"We don't want to partner with an organization that is blatantly trying to exclude one group (illegal immigrants) for one reason or another," he said.
Bucker told WND the goal is to count every living person in the United States at the time of the census, and "negative reactions" from members of the groups to be counted should be factored.
However, he declined several opportunities to answer WND questions about the Census Bureau's partnership with groups such as ACORN, whose members repeatedly have been accused of illegal election activities, and whether there are population groups in the U.S. who would react negatively toward activities by that "partner."
"All we've asked ACORN to do is simply share the word," he said.
But according to Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, among the 126 pages of documentation obtained from the government is confirmation of the high level of influence that ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has in the 2010 Census.
Judicial Watch said the documents describe 18 different areas of responsibility that ACORN asked to be given.
The Obama administration has downplayed ACORN's involvement, saying the organization with which Obama worked earlier in his political career, would be allowed to "recruit" census workers.
But the documents show that ACORN also is an "executive level" partner with the ability to "organize and/or serve as a member on a Complete Count Committee."
The census documents regarding ACORN also show the organization also signed up to "encourage employees and constituents to complete and mail their questionnaire; identify job candidates and/or distribute and display recruiting materials; appoint a liaison to work with the Census Bureau; provide space for Be Counted sites and/or Questionnaire Assistance Centers, sponsor community events to promote participation in the 2010 Census."
The documents also show the Census Bureau wants ACORN to teach other organizations about the process, Judicial Watch said.
"Given its history of illegal activity and fraud, ACORN should be nowhere near the 2010 Census," said Fitton. "And shame on the Obama Commerce Department for continuing to demonize conservatives by lumping together law enforcement and anti-immigration groups with 'hate groups.' This discriminatory policy raises First Amendment concerns. Indeed, these documents provide further evidence that the Obama administration is politicizing the 2010 Census."
U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, meanwhile, has called for congressional hearings into ACORN's finances that apparently includes a procedure called a "forensic
audit."
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=99452
Posted: May 28, 200911:50 pm EasternBy Bob Unruh© 2009 WorldNetDaily
The U.S. Census Bureau, reflecting what apparently is becoming a political position that involves more than one federal agency, has listed "hate groups," "law enforcement" "and "anti-immigrant groups" among those that would be refused permission to become a partner with the 2010 Census.
The news comes in a series of documents obtained by Judicial Watch under the Freedom of Information Act about the census operations.
WND previously reported when the Department of Homeland Security released an "extremism" report that warned local law enforcement officers nationwide to watch out for "potential terrorists" including those who:
Oppose abortion
Oppose same-sex marriage
Oppose restrictions on firearms
Oppose lax immigration laws
Oppose the policies of President Obama regarding immigration, citizenship, and the expansion of social programs
Oppose continuation of free trade agreements
Are suspect of foreign regimes
Fear Communist regimes
Oppose a "one world" government
Bemoan the decline of U.S. stature in the world
Are upset with loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs to China and India, and more
At the time, a lawyer pursuing a lawsuit against Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano over the "extremist" report said he was not reassured by her later promise to "reword" the document.
"She says, 'Well, we're going to reword the document – and we're going to make it more precise,'" Richard Thompson, president of the Thomas More Law Center, told WND. "That's scary because we know they are still going to maintain some kind of targeting for various people that she's never apologized to or never retracted [her accusations]."
At issue is the agency's "Rightwing Extremism" report called "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate
Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment." WND has posted the report online. http://wnd.com/images/dhs-rightwing-extremism.pdf
The report linked returning veterans with the possibility of terrorism and when it was released, created such a furor for Napolitano she has given several explanations for it, including that she would have reworded the report and that it was issued by a rogue employee.
Thompson said no apology had been offered to most of the members of the various groups on which the government was painting a bull's-eye.
Now come the documents from the Census Bureau, which said it wants to work with groups that "partnered" with the census in 2000, various other "national organizations" and other groups that "served one of the 'hard to count' clusters."
The Census Bureau identified those groups as "the economically disadvantaged," "the unattached mobile singles" and "high density areas with ethnic enclaves."
The list of banned groups was found in an e-mail from Barbara A. Harris, the chief of the agency's program for partnering with outside groups, to other staff members. She said the "criteria for NOT partnering with a group" included a failure to have worked with the organization in 2000, to be a national organization or other factors
Her note then said "hate groups" were not eligible, nor were "law enforcement, anti-immigrant groups, (or) any groups that might make people fearful of participating in the census."
"This is the Napolitano memo Part 2," Judicial Watch chief Tom Fitton told WND.
The documents indicate, "there may be an ideological agenda at work, in a discriminatory effort to keep conservatives away," he suggested. "What's a real slander is to suggest that the Fraternal Order of Police may be the equivalent of a hate group."
The census, he said, should be politically neutral, counting numbers, not political opinions.
"One can be opposed to illegal immigration and you should be able to partner with the government," he said. "It screams out violations of the First Amendment."
Census Bureau spokesman Stephen Buckner told WND the list of excluded groups was assembled by Harris, who heads the federal agency's partnership program.
He admitted the list probably "unfairly" lists law enforcement officers along with anti-immigrant groups. But he said the choice of groups with which to work is important, because there are population groups who, for example, don't trust law enforcement, or don't trust members of "anti-immigrant" groups.
"We don't want to partner with an organization that is blatantly trying to exclude one group (illegal immigrants) for one reason or another," he said.
Bucker told WND the goal is to count every living person in the United States at the time of the census, and "negative reactions" from members of the groups to be counted should be factored.
However, he declined several opportunities to answer WND questions about the Census Bureau's partnership with groups such as ACORN, whose members repeatedly have been accused of illegal election activities, and whether there are population groups in the U.S. who would react negatively toward activities by that "partner."
"All we've asked ACORN to do is simply share the word," he said.
But according to Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, among the 126 pages of documentation obtained from the government is confirmation of the high level of influence that ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, has in the 2010 Census.
Judicial Watch said the documents describe 18 different areas of responsibility that ACORN asked to be given.
The Obama administration has downplayed ACORN's involvement, saying the organization with which Obama worked earlier in his political career, would be allowed to "recruit" census workers.
But the documents show that ACORN also is an "executive level" partner with the ability to "organize and/or serve as a member on a Complete Count Committee."
The census documents regarding ACORN also show the organization also signed up to "encourage employees and constituents to complete and mail their questionnaire; identify job candidates and/or distribute and display recruiting materials; appoint a liaison to work with the Census Bureau; provide space for Be Counted sites and/or Questionnaire Assistance Centers, sponsor community events to promote participation in the 2010 Census."
The documents also show the Census Bureau wants ACORN to teach other organizations about the process, Judicial Watch said.
"Given its history of illegal activity and fraud, ACORN should be nowhere near the 2010 Census," said Fitton. "And shame on the Obama Commerce Department for continuing to demonize conservatives by lumping together law enforcement and anti-immigration groups with 'hate groups.' This discriminatory policy raises First Amendment concerns. Indeed, these documents provide further evidence that the Obama administration is politicizing the 2010 Census."
U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, meanwhile, has called for congressional hearings into ACORN's finances that apparently includes a procedure called a "forensic
audit."
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=99452
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