Substantiated Claims of Election Fraud

New Boston, TX - November 6, 2020 - (The Ponder News) -- The Georgia Secretary of State has announced that there will be a recount, due to the closeness of the race. Over 40,000 military ballots are still not counted.

Michigan County has flipped back to Trump after a software glitch was found and fixed. Apparently over 40 other counties in Michigan were affected the same way, so stay tuned for updates about this. GOP is demanding all votes be checked again after this incident.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel is asking Minnesota State GOP Chairs to rally behind President Trump's allegations of election fraud. Apparently GOP has remained eerily quiet.

Most reports coming from the media about the election are still saying Trump's claims are "baseless" and "unsubstantiated", in spite of evidence of election tampering and software glitches, voting irregularities and denial of access to poll-watchers.

According to the Washington Times, "The Republican National Committee has legal teams on the ground in four battleground states and announced Friday there are numerous incidences of “voting irregularities.”

Mitch McConnel maintains that regardless of who wins, there will be a "peaceful transfer of power".

In Pennsylvania, thousands of provisional ballots will be set aside until officials can determine if they were valid, according to an order by the Commonwealth Court in a lawsuit brought by Republican candidates.

The Ponder believes there is enough "substantiated evidence" based on "solid proof" that the presidential election has been compromised. President Trump deserves to be backed up on his claims.

=====
Allies of Skin: Get 20% Off Sitewide with Code SORRY20
=====

American Thinker: Count and Recount Every 'Vote' Until You Win

First, they tried to bring him down with a sex "scandal" that almost elevated a creepy lawyer to a Democratic presidential contender. Then they cooked up a baseless impeachment. A virus came from China to later derail what could have been a landslide win for him. Then numerous blatant push polls tried to demoralize his supporters. (Just pick one. Less than a week before the election, an ABC News–Washington Post poll gave Biden a 17% lead in Wisconsin. Is there any way to sue these two corrupt companies?)
Read more...

Protecting American Votes and Elections Act of 2019

by:

Washington, D.C. - May 16, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., joined Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and 11 other Senate co-sponsors today to introduce an expanded version of Sen. Wyden's bill to protect American elections from foreign interference by mandating hand-marked paper ballots and setting new cybersecurity standards for all federal elections. The bill provides the strongest protection for American elections of any proposal currently before Congress.

The Protecting American Votes and Elections Act of 2019 is co-sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., is introducing the companion bill in the House of Representatives.

The PAVE Act requires paper ballots and statistically rigorous “risk-limiting” audits for all federal elections – two measuresrecommended by experts in a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2018? report on election security. Read a summary of the bill here.

“The Russian government interfered in American elections in 2016 and if we don't stop them, they and other governments are going to do it again. The administration refuses to do what it takes to protect our democracy, so Congress has to step up. Our bill will give voters the confidence they need that our elections are secure,” Wyden said. “The PAVE Act scraps insecure voting machines that are juicy targets for hackers and replaces them with reliable, secure hand-marked paper ballots. It gives states the funding they need to defend their election systems and puts the Department of Homeland Security in charge of setting strong security standards for every federal election.”

“If the 2016 and 2018 elections taught us anything, it is that our election security systems are woefully inadequate,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “The Trump administration’s response has been lackluster, foreign actors continue to attempt to infiltrate our elections, and now there are serious concerns about Trump’s willingness to accept the results of the 2020 election. Mandatory paper ballots and risk-limiting audits are imperative to maintain the American public’s confidence in our elections.”

“The PAVE Act is a robust and common sense plan to finally safeguard our elections. States have been left in the lurch, exposed to malicious meddling by foreign adversaries and struggling to keep up,” Senator Blumenthal said. “Congress should set meaningful cybersecurity standards and provide resources to help states modernize and secure their voting machines. On election day, Americans must be able to trust that their choice is fairly and accurately counted.”

“The Mueller report made it clear that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, and yet we have seen no plan from the Trump administration on how to combat foreign governments from attacking future elections,” said Senator Markey. “The PAVE Act would codify commonsense practices and help ensure that our country is able to withstand any threats to our democracy. The integrity of American elections must be unquestioned and unimpeachable. Attacks on our elections are not just attacks on a party, but on the entire country.”

“We know our foreign adversaries are trying to hack into our voting systems, so it is downright irresponsible not to use existing, better, more secure alternatives,” said Senator Merkley. “Oregon has been a trail blazer in securing elections by issuing every voter a paper ballot. Congress should follow suit and implement this system nationwide to protect every American’s vote and the integrity of our democracy.”

“Americans deserve safe and secure elections that aren’t threatened by foreign adversaries. In Illinois, a state whose election database Special Counsel Mueller confirmed the Russians broke into, this investment is critical to protect our voting system,”Senator Duckworth said. “Senator Wyden’s PAVE Act, which requires paper ballots and post-election audits, is a common-sense approach to upholding the integrity of each American’s vote and strengthening our election security. In the aftermath of the special counsel’s investigation into the 2016 election, this legislation is more important than ever.”

“Elections are at the heart of our democracy. We must strengthen our election systems to limit their vulnerability to hackers and foreign interference,” said Senator Warren. “This bill takes important steps to maintain the integrity of our democracy by updating aging election infrastructure and mandating the use of paper ballots and post-election audits to protect against cyberattacks.”

“Voting is one of the cornerstones of our democracy, and we must never allow our elections to be vulnerable to interference again,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The PAVE Act would help ensure the validity of election results by requiring a paper receipt for every vote, providing states with the resources they desperately need to upgrade their voting machines, and creating new cybersecurity standards at the voting booth. Congress has a responsibility to secure the integrity of our elections, and I am proud to join with Senator Wyden to introduce this bill that strengthens our country’s election infrastructure.”

“American intelligence officials have made it clear that we face an ongoing threat to our elections from foreign adversaries and hackers. We must take action to protect the integrity of the vote,” said Senator Baldwin. “This legislation to require paper ballots and secure our federal elections is a commonsense solution that will strengthen election security and help protect our democracy from foreign interference.”

“We need to be honest about the fact that a foreign government interfered in the 2016 election—and that if we continue to do nothing to improve our election infrastructure, we’re leaving our country vulnerable to attack once again,” said Senator Harris. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation because paper ballots are the single best way to secure our elections. Foreign governments can’t hack a piece of paper.”

Key Provisions

The new PAVE Act bans internet, WiFi and cellular connections for voting machines, and gives the Department of Homeland Security the authority to set, for the first time, minimum cybersecurity standards for voting machines, voter registration databases, electronic poll books used to 'check in' voters at polling places and election night reporting websites.

The bill also provides state and local governments with $500 million dollars to buy new, secure ballot scanning machines, and $250 million to buy new ballot marking devices to be used by voters with disabilities. It also permits the federal government to reimburse states the cost of conducting post-elections audits, as well as the cost of designing and printing ballots.

These measures, collectively, are necessary to fix the vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure highlighted by Russia in 2016, to secure our elections from foreign hackers and give voters confidence in election results.

Protecting Election Integrity

Washington, D.C. - October 15, 2018 - (The Ponder News) -- Last Tuesday, Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL, 5th), joined by 22 other Congressmen, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging him to devote more resources to protect American election integrity from foreigners who illegally interfere in American elections by illegally voting in them.

Congressman Brooks said, “Every single illegal vote by a foreigner in American elections dilutes and cancels the votes of American citizens and rightful voters! All Americans, whether Democrat or Republican, should agree that foreigners should not be influencing U.S. elections. Unfortunately, too many partisans single out Russian involvement in America’s 2016 election (even though there is no evidence the Russians successfully tricked a single voter into casting a bad vote) while turning a blind eye to the greatest provable foreign influence on American elections: illegal foreigner voting.”

Brooks continued, “Foreigners illegally voting in and influencing American elections threatens our Republic. According to research by the Public Interest Legal Foundation, 3,120 foreigners were registered to vote and/or removed between 2006 and 2018 in just 13 sanctuary jurisdictions (out of thousands of voting jurisdictions in America).”

Brooks continued, “My colleagues and I strongly urge Attorney General Sessions to devote the necessary resources to investigate and prosecute voting fraud by foreigners. After all, we are the United States, not the United Nations.”

Brooks continued, “So-called ‘sanctuary cities’ aggravate illegal foreign influence in American elections. By shielding illegal aliens, sanctuary cities encourage widespread foreigner voting fraud. Making matters worse, sanctuary cities recklessly encourage noncitizen voting by registering them to vote through public assistance agency transactions (a/k/a Motor Voter), registration/petition drives, and registration assistors. The Justice Department should focus investigative resources on these jurisdictions to stop voter fraud.”

Brooks concluded, “One Justice Department prosecutor has already done a fantastic job addressing this important issue. Robert J. Higdon, Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced indictments against 19 foreign nationals for illegally voting in the November 2016 elections. Mr. Higdon’s work is exactly what other Justice Department prosecutors should replicate across the nation— maintaining the Rule of Law demands it, maintaining our Republican requires it.”

Click HERE for a PDF of the letter.

Letter signers are:

Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05)

Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-01)

Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36)

Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11)

Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Congressman Dave Brat (VA-07)

Congressman Paul Cook (CA-08)

Congressman Warren Davidson (OH-08)

Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03)

Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01)

Congressman Louie Gohmert (TX-01)

Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-04)

Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10)

Congressman Walter Jones (NC-03)

Congressman Tom McClintock (CA-04)

Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Congressman Scott Perry (PA-04)

Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21)

Congressman Daniel Webster (FL-11)

Congressman Ted Yoho (FL-03)

Judicial Watch Sues California and Los Angeles Over Dirty Voter Registration Rolls

By Judicial Watch




Washington, D.C. - December 14, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- Judicial Watch announced that it filed a federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County and the State of California over their failure to clean their voter rolls and to produce election-related records as required by the federal National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) (Judicial Watch, Inc.et al. v. Dean C. Logan, et al. (No. 2:17-cv-08948)). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California’s Western Division on behalf of Judicial Watch, Election Integrity Project California, Inc., and Wolfgang Kupka, Rhue Guyant, Jerry Griffin, and Delores M. Mars, who are lawfully registered voters in Los Angeles County.

Judicial Watch argues that the State of California and a number of its counties, including the county of Los Angeles, have registration rates exceeding 100%:

Eleven of California’s 58 counties have registration rates exceeding 100% of the age-eligible citizenry.

Los Angeles County has more voter registrations on its voter rolls than it has citizens who are old enough to register. Specifically, according to data provided to and published by the EAC, Los Angeles County has a registration rate of 112% of its adult citizen population.

The entire State of California has a registration rate of about 101% of its age-eligible citizenry.

Judicial Watch points out that this is due in part to the high numbers of inactive registrations that are still carried on California’s voter rolls:

About 21% of all of California’s voter registrations, or more than one in five, are designated as inactive.

California has the highest rate of inactive registrations of any state in the country…. Los Angeles County has the highest number of inactive registrations of any single county in the country.

Although these inactive registrations should be removed after a statutory waiting period consisting of two general federal elections, California officials are simply refusing to do so.

Judicial Watch explains that, even though a registration is officially designated as “inactive,” it may still be voted on election day and is still on the official voter registration list. The inactive registrations of voters who have moved to a different state “are particularly vulnerable to fraudulent abuse by a third party” because the voter who has moved “is unlikely to monitor the use of or communications concerning an old registration.” Inactive registrations “are also inherently vulnerable to abuse by voters who plan to fraudulently double-vote in two different jurisdictions on the same election day.”

Judicial Watch sent a written request for public records on November 16, 2017, and another on November 29, 2017, seeking information about “the number of inactive registrations on the voter rolls in Los Angeles County,” but was told each time that there were no responsive records.

Last summer, Judicial Watch sent a broader request for voter roll records that Los Angeles County and the State of California are required by the NVRA to keep and to make publicly available. Nothing was produced in response to this request. Judicial Watch points out that it is impossible to believe that there were no responsive records:

Los Angeles County, with over five million active voters and massive list maintenance responsibilities, and the Secretary of State of California [must] have exchanged emails responsive to [Judicial Watch’s] request for “all email or other communications between the Secretary’s Office and all California County voter registration officials concerning . . . [i]nstructions to the counties concerning their general list maintenance practices and obligations” and “[n]otices to the counties concerning any failure to comply with their voter list maintenance obligations.” Such emails should have been produced.

Section 8(a)(4) of the NVRA requires states to implement a program to remove ineligible registrants; and to turn over relevant records and information. Judicial Watch argues:

Los Angeles County is failing to properly conduct the list maintenance required by the NVRA by failing to properly train employees, failing to require and enter registrants’ birthdates, and failing to timely process reports that registrants have died, have committed disqualifying felonies, are mentally incompetent, or have registered twice.

Judicial Watch asks that the court enjoin Los Angeles County and the state of California from further violating the NRVA, and compel them to “develop and implement a general program that makes a reasonable effort to remove from Los Angeles County’s rolls the registrations of ineligible registrants.” Judicial Watch asks to inspect and copy the requested voter roll records.

Judicial Watch sent a notice-of-violation letter in August 2017 to threatening to sue California and certain of its counties over their violations of the NVRA. California was one of 12 states to receive such letters from Judicial Watch.

“California may have the dirtiest election rolls in the country,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “Federal law requires states to take reasonable steps to clean up their voting rolls. Dirty voting rolls can mean dirty elections. This lawsuit aims to ensure that citizens of California can have more confidence that their elections are fair and honest.”

Judicial Watch Senior Attorney and Director of its Election Integrity Project Robert Popper recently provided testimony to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity concerning the NVRA. Popper was formerly Deputy Chief of the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department.

Judicial Watch sent notice-of-violation letters threatening to sue 11 other states having counties in which the number of registered voters exceeds the number of voting-age citizens, as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2011-2015 American Community Survey: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Tennessee. Judicial Watch informed the states that should they fail to take action to correct violations of Section 8 of the NVRA, it would file suit.

Judicial Watch previously filed successful lawsuits under the NVRA against Ohio and Indiana that resulted in those states taking several actions to clean up their voting rolls. Judicial Watch is currently suing Kentucky over its failure to remove ineligible voters as required by the NVRA, and is suing the State of Maryland and Montgomery County over their failure to release voting-related records.

Judicial Watch is being assisted by Charles H. Bell Jr., of Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP; and H. Christopher Coates of Law Office of H. Christopher Coates.


See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Voting

Washington, D.C. - August 29, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Marc Veasey, lead plaintiff in Veasey v. Abbott, released the following statement after U.S. District Judge Nelva Ramos ruled that the Texas voter ID law was enacted with the deliberate intent to discriminate against African American and Hispanic voters:

“Time and time again, our federal courts have ruled that the Texas voter ID law intentionally discriminates against Texas citizens in violation of the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. As the lead plaintiff in Veasey v. Abbott, I am proud that we have so far successfully challenged and blocked these illegal efforts to restrict voting. It is time for Texas Republican leaders to end shameful efforts to hold power through voter suppression.”

Below are more statements and information regarding Voting (keep checking back for updates):


A Court Strikes Down Texas’s Voter ID Law For the Fifth Time

House Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX, 20th):

"Once again, a federal court has found Texas' voter ID law to be discriminatory and in violation of the Voting Rights Act. Republican state leaders' transparent efforts to make it harder and less likely that some Texans will vote are disgraceful."

Another bad day for the President

Steve Bannon who got fired from the Trump Administration 2 days ago decided that instead of going to war for Trump, he would start off attacking Trump.

While President Trump laid out very clearly his plan for our troops in Afghanistan, Steve Bannon claimed that President Trump flip-flopped in his speech.

It sounds to me like Steve Bannon is in revenge mode.

76 Democrats in the House of Representatives have signed on to a resolution to censor president Trump for his Charlottesville remarks, saying that he said there were fine people and both hate groups--when that is not at all what Trump meant to convey. What Trump was saying was that there were fine people at the rally who were not part of either group.

Once again I must state that I believe it's time that members of Congress stop watching CNN and getting their news from them.

Did you watch the Afghanistan speech Donald Trump made on August 21, 2017? If you did not, it is posted below for you to listen to:



Some Democrats could not wait to sink their teeth in him. It wasn't two hours after the speech that House Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH, 9th) posted her statement of what she thought of Trump's speech.

"There can be no blank check for war anywhere. Committing more American troops without a clear path forward will not lead to the resolution of this sixteen-year war.

"Winning battles in ungovernable space does not equal victory. The war in Afghanistan and the instability across that vast, undemocratic region, that includes Pakistan with Iran next door, demands clarity of objective. I did not hear that tonight in the President's address.

"The Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on which I serve must fulfill its Constitutional obligations in matters of war."

Okay, go back and watch the speech, then either write Congresswoman Kaptur, or call her, and tell her to get the peanut butter out of her ears. Everything was pretty clear to me, and Trump made perfect sense.

House Representative Daniel Kildee (D-MA, 5th) also complained that Trump refused to tell everyone exactly what he was going to do, so the enemies of the United States who were watching would know and be able to defeat us. Unlike previous presidents, Mr. Trump is smart enough not to tell the enemy what move he is fixing to make, and the left-leaning Democrats hate him for it. Mr. Kildee said,

“A President’s most solemn duty is to make a decision as to whether to send young Americans into harm’s way. President Trump owes service members—and the American people—clear stated goals, and a strategy to achieve them, before deploying additional service members to Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the President failed to offer a strategy with a clear objective, timeline and defined end goal. Instead, he vowed to share even less information about the number of young Americans he intends to send to Afghanistan and what exactly he aims to achieve after 16 years of war.

“Simply, the President needs to develop and articulate an actual strategy before committing more lives and resources to Afghanistan. Regardless, Afghanistan is now his war and his responsibility.

“In addition, the President's decision to share even less information on this war reaffirms that it is long past time for Congress to exercise its required responsibility under the constitution and debate and pass an updated authorization for the use of military force in Afghanistan and the other conflicts around the world where Americans are engaged in combat.”

Did you read the part that said Kildee wanted to take the Presidential power to control the troops away from him just because he didn't like what the President we elected might do?

Then, House Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA, 2nd) showed his ignorance of the way things worked by stating:

“The War in Afghanistan has been the United States’ longest running war, lasting for 16 years. It has been over a decade since the first Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) was authorized by Congress in 2001. It is Congress' responsibility to debate and authorize of use of military force. As I have called for before, it is time for Congress to have this debate again. It appears the President and his advisors have given a lot of thought to his plan, but that thought should also be debated and shared in Congress. When it comes to putting our troops in harms way and all the ramifications of that entails, it is Congress who must authorize the power. This debate must include both the extent of the use of force and what the exit strategy is.

"I would like to commend President Trump on his recognition of the sacrifices our brave men and women have made, but that is precisely why we need to make sure that we have a clear strategy. The President has laid out a plan, but did not mention an exit strategy and that needs to be debated. President Trump also pointed out that we need to address Pakistan, their involvement and our response in this conflict. I agree, but believe this needs to be a part of the congressional debate. It is time for my colleagues to unify our efforts in order to clear the safest path to return for our brave men and women home, as they deserve a thorough, debated plan with a clear strategy."

House Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA 13th) -- yep, you guessed it, she's Democrat, too -- took to whining on her web site:

“I am deeply troubled by President Trump’s failure to outline a comprehensive strategy to bring an end to our nation’s longest war. After sixteen years at war, one thing is clear: there is no military solution in Afghanistan. Any lasting peace in Afghanistan must be secured through diplomacy. Further military engagement will only put our brave servicemen and women in harm’s way while doing little to enhance our national security.

“This war has already cost our nation too much, in blood and in treasure. We have lost 2,386 brave American service members, and more than 20,000 American soldiers have been wounded. It is past time to end the war and bring all of our troops home.

“In 2001, I opposed authorization for this war because it allowed any President a blank check to wage endless war without Congressional oversight. The Constitution is clear: Congress must provide advise and consent in matters of war and peace. At a minimum, Congress should debate and vote on a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force before we commit to another surge that will keep our troops in Afghanistan for years to come and cost billions more in spending.”

True to form, she also made a call for Congress to act to take the war powers away from the President. It's like giving Donald Trump a car and telling him he can't drive it. Democrats are shameful!

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), and U.S. Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS), introduced the Paperwork Reduction for Farmers Act to create a more efficient process for farmers applying for new H-2A workers or reapplying for the same employees.

Previously, farmers have reported massive financial losses due to H-2A application delays, and excessive paperwork has resulted in backlogs lasting 30 days or longer at both the Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

You can read more about that by clicking HERE.

The co-chairs of the United for Climate and Environmental Justice Task Force, Representatives A. Donald McEachin (VA-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) issued this joint statement opposing President Trump’s Infrastructure Executive Order:

"President Trump's recent executive order suppresses public comment on potentially harmful major projects, and his totally inadequate review process will put our environment even more at risk for the sake of corporate profits. As sea levels rise, and as floods and extreme storms become more common, it will become ever more necessary that we acknowledge and plan for those realities. Removing existing protections and stripping away long-term planning requirements will mean more waste, more accidents, and shorter useful lives for the projects we build. These changes are a deep disservice to the American public, and the president should be ashamed.

"Instead of making bipartisan plans to rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure, Donald Trump has once again put big corporations ahead of our health and safety. What we need instead are fair, inclusive decision-making processes that give all Americans a voice; a prudent, farsighted approach to how we spend scarce public dollars on infrastructure; and a more sustainable economy built on well-paying green jobs.”

If you want the truth about Trump's Executive Order on Infrastructure, click HERE.

Democrat house representative from California Zoe Lofgren (D-CA, 19th) introduced a resolution that urges the Vice President and Cabinet to have the President examined by medical and psychiatric professionals to assist them in determining whether the President is unfit and unable to fulfill his Constitutional duties. This comes after a rally of Cries From the Democrats in the house and in the Senate saying that he is mentally unstable, clinically insane, and needs to be impeached. Personally, I think that if you run on the Democrat ticket and adhere to the Democrat mantra, then that is reason enough to get examined by a psychiatrist. I'm sure the Democrats would like to pick their own psychiatrist when they have him examined, too.

Lofgren stated:

“Many Americans, including many Republicans, have observed the President's increasingly disturbing pattern of actions and public statements that suggest he may be mentally unfit to execute the duties required of him,” said Lofgren. “The President has not released a serious medical evaluation. Just as would be the case if the President were physically unable to execute the office of the President, this resolution urges those entrusted with the responsibility enshrined in the 25th Amendment to employ the services of medical and psychiatric professionals to help in their determination whether the President is mentally capable of carrying out his Constitutional responsibilities.”

She claims that Section 4 of the 25th Amendment of the United States Constitution outlines this, when it does no such thing. Simply put, the 25th Amendment states:

“Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.”

Following a letter sent by U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), along with House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, and Judiciary Subcommittee Chairmen Tom Marino and Darrel Issa, sent to multiple federal agencies, the Department of Justice announced it will end Operation Choke Point.

“After years of fighting against the Obama Administration’s Operation Choke Point initiative, I applaud President Trump’s Department of Justice for ending this ill-advised program,” Luetkemeyer said. “I want to thank Chairmen Hensarling and Goodlatte and Reps. Marino and Issa for their support. While I am pleased the Department of Justice has stood up and made the right decision, it is my hope the federal banking regulators follow suit without delay. I will continue my efforts in the House of Representatives to ensure my bill, the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act, will be signed into law so that future administration’s will not have the opportunity to negatively impact individuals and legal businesses through this unprecedented initiative.”

Operation Choke Point was an Obama Administration initiative led by the Department of Justice and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) that destroyed legitimate businesses to which the Administration was ideologically opposed by intimidating financial institutions into denying banking services to those businesses.

H.R. 2706, the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act would dictate that agencies such as the FDIC and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, among others, could not request or order a financial institution to terminate a banking relationship unless the regulator has material reason. Any account termination requests or orders would be required to be made in writing and rely on information other than reputational risk. In addition, the legislation strikes the word “affecting” in the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), replacing it with “by” or “against.” This is to ensure that the Department of Justice’s once broad interpretation of the law is limited and the original intent of the statute is restored.

This sounds a lot like something that would come out of George Orwell's 1984.

I told a friend about this tonight and he shook his head in disbelief, thinking I had just told him of another conspiracy theory. I assured him that Operation Chokepoint was, indeed real He asked me, "What kind of businesses would it bother?" I said, "Well, try Hobby Lobby..." He thought for a moment and said, "Chic Filet?"

It intrigued him so much, he had to do some research on it via his phone. He was surprised and dismayed when he found that I was telling him the unpopular truth.

I don't know. You figure it out. I'm just proud of Trump for stopping it.

Did you know that the U.S. has 3.5 million more registered voters than live adults? No wonder the Democrats are screaming about Trumps investigation into voter fraud.

Terry McLaughlin: Voter fraud or not, well worth a look

Grass Valley Union

Rhode Island — the smallest state in The Union, and the setting for a beautiful July wedding on Narragansett Bay to which I was invited.

Everyone in Rhode Island seems to know everyone else, particularly within their own small communities. And with a population of just over one million citizens, which has barely increased since 2012, it's no wonder. A fellow guest expressed to me that after living in the same house for over 10 years, he was still considered an "outsider" by some of his neighbors.

The territory of the state of Rhode Island is a mere 1,214 square miles, and it is ranked the second-most densely populated state. As I glanced through some of the local newspapers, it occurred to me that Rhode Island could provide a microcosmic sample of issues that plague or bless our entire nation.

One of those issues often debated by citizens and media alike is that of voter integrity. The Providence Journal recently reported that Rhode Island's Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea conducted an audit of the state's voter registry. Gorbea found at least 150,000 nonresidents registered to vote in the state. Of the 781,770 registered voters in Rhode Island in 2016, the nonresidents identified by the Secretary of State's audit represents an astounding 19 percent of all registered voters.

Read more...

Idaho Democrats won't challenge new request for voter data

Boise:Idaho Statesman

Officials with the Idaho Democratic Party say a recent federal court ruling has limited their legal options to fight a second request from President Donald Trump commission investigating possible voter fraud.

Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Bert Marley said Tuesday that the best recourse is for Idaho citizens to ask Secretary of State Lawerence Denney to deny the request.

Read more...

Wisconsin House Democrats Urge State Officials to Reject Presidential ‘Voter Fraud' Commission's Request for Sensitive Information

Washington, D.C. - July 26, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- In response to an appeal by the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity for sensitive information on Wisconsin voters, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04), Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Congressman Ron Kind (WI-03), wrote a letter to the Wisconsin Elections Commission and Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette urging them to disregard the Commission’s request.

“Let’s call the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity what it really is: A painfully transparent attempt by President Trump to substantiate his unfounded claims about voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election,” said Congresswoman Moore. “With Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach at the helm of this Commission – the architect of several restrictive voter suppression initiatives against communities of color for which he was sued by the A.C.L.U. on four separate occasions – I fear our country will once again see an influx of discriminatory policies reminiscent of the ‘grandfather clauses’ of the Jim Crow era. I simply cannot endorse the release of sensitive voter information to a Commission led by a man whose connections to organizations deemed ‘hate groups’ by the Southern Poverty Law Center reach back over a decade.”

“More than 8 months after the 2016 election, President Trump still cannot comprehend how he lost the popular vote to Secretary Clinton. Despite his place in the White House, he is still clinging to the false claim that there was widespread voter fraud and his sham President Commission on Election Integrity only serves to perpetuate that myth,” said Congressman Pocan. “President Trump’s sham commission will be used as a tool of discrimination and voter suppression, not as a way to strengthen and secure our electoral process. Wisconsin should join states across the country in rejecting President Trump’s demands to turn over data. Our voters deserve it.”

“It is absolutely outrageous that in 2017 we still have politicians who are trying to make it harder for Wisconsinites to vote,” said Congressman Kind. “I urge the Wisconsin Elections Commission, in the strongest terms possible, to refuse requests by the Trump Administration to turn over Wisconsinites’ private information.”

“Never before has the personal voting data of so many—over 200 million Americans—been compiled and stored in one source,” the Members of Congress wrote. “The collection of this information by the Commission creates an undue risk to the privacy rights of Wisconsin voters. While we note that your current position on this matter is to supply the Commission with publically accessible data and to charge a fee for the remaining information, we caution that your decision to even partially cooperate with this inquest exposes the Wisconsin electorate to significant, irreparable harm, especially in light of allegations of extensive efforts by Russia and others to interfere in our democracy. A price should not be placed on the privacy of our constituents.”

USW Opposes Trump Administration's New Voter Fraud Commission

Pittsburgh, PA - July 25, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard released the following statement following the Trump administration's announcement this week regarding its newly formed commission to investigate voter fraud:

"Despite no evidence to support the claims and despite the many issues our government should be focusing its efforts on, the Trump administration has chosen instead to launch a reckless and expensive investigation into what it asserts to be 'widespread voter fraud.'

"This investigation, which will be led by Vice President Pence, found its roots in the November 2016 election when then President-elect Donald Trump went on a Twitter rampage about the popular vote, despite winning the presidency through the electoral college. He claimed he would have won the popular vote too if not for 'the millions of people who voted illegally.'

"But the fact is these 'millions of people who voted illegally' don't exist. It never happened. State and local election officials have not found any evidence to support the claims, and the Trump administration itself hasn't offered anything either except some shady math and questionable studies. All we have are trumped-up allegations that merely distract the media and U.S. citizens from the chaos that has ensued within Trump's own cabinet, but we know better than to fall for them.

"It doesn't take rocket science to figure out that this investigation is all just an effort to eventually legalize voter suppression, which is one of the most pressing civil rights issues of our time. Since 2008, state legislatures across the country have passed measures to make it harder for Americans—particularly black people, the elderly, students and people with disabilities—to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot. Some of these measures include strict voter ID laws, eliminating same-day voter registration, and cutting a full week of early voting.

"These are the things the Trump administration should be investigating in regards to the voting booth. We should be protecting and enhancing everyone's ability to vote, not making it harder and definitely not asking states to hand over private information about their citizens, which is what the president's commission recently asked state election officials to do. Of course, nearly all of them have denied that request to at least some degree.

"This probe into so-called 'widespread voter fraud' is not only a waste of time and money, it is also a violation of civil rights. Strengthening the voting process is something we all want, but this fraud squad does the exact opposite.

"There is dignity in our democracy, and we have to fight to keep it that way. We must urge the Trump administration to call off this investigation and invest its energy in the issues that truly matter to the American people."

Voter Fraud, Water Rights, Human Trafficking, Wetlands, Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement

Voter Fraud

On July 11, Congressman Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly (D-VA, 11th) whined in a letter to Vice President Pence urging him to rescind the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity’s directive for sensitive voter data. Connolly said the directive “is a thinly veiled effort to carry out voter suppression on a national scale. States should not comply.” The Vice President serves as chair of the Commission.

In wake of the Huffington Post's report about hundreds of voters cancelling their registration cards, it seems to me that Democrats are getting worried that no one will be left to vote for them in the next election. The only voters being "suppressed", however, are the dead ones.

Water Rights

HR 23, the Gaining Responsibility on Water Act (GROW) passed overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives on June 13. The GROW Act modernizes water policies throughout the western United States and promotes improved water reliability in California. The bill expands water storage, develops water infrastructure, protects privately held water rights, and creates more abundant and reliable water resources to benefit both our communities and the environment. It also gives federal agencies the tools they need to help safeguard communities from the effects of future droughts.

The GROW Act prohibits past abuses of the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture that required private entities to relinquish their water rights to the federal government as a permit condition to continue operating on federal lands

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a serious problem across the globe, but it also exists in our communities. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in Pennsylvania last year there were over 150 human trafficking cases reported and 575 human trafficking calls. The most common types of trafficking reported in Pennsylvania were sex trafficking and labor trafficking, and this week, the House passed two bills to assist in fighting both types.

The Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act would help train Department of Labor inspectors to identify patterns and circumstances surrounding human trafficking so inspectors can assist law enforcement in recognizing and stopping this labor exploitation.

There is also the Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act, a bill that would allow law enforcement agencies to apply for targeted grant opportunities through the Department of Justice. Law enforcement agencies and officials need a comprehensive approach to combatting human trafficking, but essential programs that are part of this approach are often expensive. The Department of Justice’s grant program can provide assistance in implementing programs that enable officials to better combat sex trafficking demand.

The Empower Educators to Prevent Trafficking Act (H.R. 2268) was included in a package of legislation - The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Protection Act (H.R. 2200) that passed the House on June 12th. This bill would authorize grants to help school districts establish a program if one doesn’t already exist, expand an existing program, and receive continued support for their efforts to train school staff about human trafficking.

Wetlands

On June 13, the bipartisan Wetland Determinations Efficiency and Transparency Act was introduced in the House of Representatives. This legislation aims to enact permanent reforms that make the wetland determination process more efficient, accountable and transparent.

According to Congressman Collin C. Peterson (D-MN, 7th), "This bill is a needed step to help ensure producers in our region don't face a determination backlog when trying to make improvements to their land. Making drainage improvements to land can increase yields, improve water quality and reduce the risk of flooding. This common sense bill will simply make the process more efficient for producers to stay in compliance with conservation rules.”

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is responsible for determining whether land qualifies as a wetland, and therefore, is protected for conservation purposes according to so-called “Swampbuster” rules. If property is determined to be a wetland, certain changes – such as laying drain tile in a field – are not allowed without a landowner losing the ability to participate in federal Farm Bill programs and crop insurance. In recent years, producers have faced a significant backlog in wetland determination.

Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement

There are still ongoing trade discussions towards completing a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed regional free trade agreement (FTA) being negotiated among the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The economy of the State of Texas relies heavily on international trade, exporting $279.7 billion in goods in 2013, with 36.1% or $101.0 billion, sent to Mexico. Texas exports support thousands of jobs for Texas workers and sustain thousands of small and medium sized businesses based in Texas.

Carter Introduces Legislation to Align Federal Acquisition Practices with the Private Sector

Brooks Urges Senate to Stay in Washington and Pass Health Care Legislation
Mo Brooks (R-AL, 5th)
July 10, 2017
“It’s possible that the Senate will do its job, do something on health care, and send it to the House of Representatives, where we would either reject it and move to a conference committee or accept it, but the indications are right now that the Senate is mightily struggling to come up with a plan to properly deal with the health care issue that is in front of us.
Read more...

Buchanan Calls for Swift Action by Congress
Vern Buchanan (R-FL, 16th)
July 10, 2017
As Congress returns to Washington after a week-long recess, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan today called for swift action to confront the heroin crisis, crack down on sanctuary cities and reduce taxes on middle-income American families.
Read more...

Cárdenas Leads CHC Leadership Letter of Concern to Secretaries of State on Voter Fraud Commission
Tony Cardenas (D-CA, 29th)
July 7, 2017
“After many independent studies and analyses, there is still no proof of large or organized voter fraud,” said Rep. Cárdenas. “It’s great for us as Americans to know that our systems are working and our democracy is not at risk due to actions of individual voters. That being said, this Administration is determined to abuse its authority, and double down on these bogus claims, while ignoring the evidence of Russian interference right under their noses. I’m glad to see that our states are upholding American citizens’ right to privacy.”
Read more...

Carter Introduces Legislation to Align Federal Acquisition Practices with the Private Sector
Buddy Carter (R-GA, 1st)
July 7, 2017
"Private sector businesses, as well as state and local governments, are turning to rentals instead of purchases or leases of heavy equipment across the country," said Carter. "This has led to significant cost savings and the federal government should do the same for taxpayers. I am proud to introduce this legislation because it's past time for the federal government to get in line with the cost savings measures of businesses and state governments throughout the nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in this common sense mission to save taxpayer dollars through rentals."
Read more...

ISAKSON, PERDUE: HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASE FURTHER EVIDENCE OBAMACARE FAILING, REPLACEMENT NEEDED
Senator Johnny Isakson - (R - GA)
July 10, 2017
U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and David Perdue, R-Ga., again decried the high costs facing Georgians under Obamacare, citing additional evidence that a replacement is urgently needed to give Americans affordable, accessible health care choices.
Read more...

Nashville Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Internet Threat Targeting Law Enforcement Officers
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
July 10, 2017
According to court documents, in September 2015, Waddey posted a photograph on Instagram which depicted a handgun pointed at a Tennessee State Trooper vehicle. The posting was captioned, “F*** them non attentive hoes” and a comment read, “Gona die lookin at his computer.” Photographs subsequently found on Waddey’s phone also depicted a uniformed police officer bleeding heavily from the head and captioned “only a dead cop is a good cop.” Another photograph depicts a uniformed police officer who appears to have been shot multiple times in the back and laying in the street, while yet another photograph depicts a screen shot of a video showing another uniformed police officer who appears to have been shot and laying on the ground bleeding. This photo is captioned, “ON TAPE: OFFICER SHOT IN THE HEAD D….”
Read more...

Sorensen brings latest Freedom Rock to Holstein
The Daily Reporter
July 10, 2017
Freedom Rocks are brightening up the landscape in several Iowa counties. These painted-boulder salutes to veterans all started with one just off Highway 25 near Menlo. On this specific plot of land was a very large boulder that for years had been used for a graffiti canvas.
Read more...

Pro-Life, Death Penalty, Healthcare Bill, 10 Commandments, Voter Fraud, Super Volcano, Suicide, Gay Adoption

Ohio Right to Life's Dismemberment Abortion Ban clears Ohio Senate
Ohio Right to Life
June 28, 2017
Ohio Right to Life's Dismemberment Abortion Ban (S.B. 145) was overwhelmingly approved by the Ohio Senate, 24-9. The legislation, which is sponsored by Senators Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and Steve Wilson (R-Maineville), is being heralded by Ohio Right to Life as the next step in the national strategy to end abortion. The passage of the bill coincides with the 50th anniversary of Ohio Right to Life's founding. In more recent history, Ohio Right to Life has successfully advocated for the enactment of 18 pro-life laws. Since 2010, abortions have dropped 25 percent in Ohio, falling to a 39-year record-low in 2015.
Read more...

Florida Supreme Court hears death penalty-prosecutor dispute
Associated Press
June 28, 2017
The case involves whether the Republican governor violated the state constitution by taking 24 murder cases out of the hands of Orlando-area State Attorney Aramis Ayala, who has said capital punishment is costly and drags on for years
Read more...

Republican lawmakers pressure GOP leaders to drop tax cuts in healthcare bill
Washington Examiner
June 28, 2017
The lawmakers include Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who says he opposes the cuts in their current form because they come at the expense of low-income individuals, who would be provided less federal money to buy health insurance than under Obamacare.
Read more...

Destruction of Arkansas' Ten Commandments monument places spotlight on separation of church and state
LA Times
June 28, 2017
Authorities in Oklahoma on Wednesday afternoon identified Reed as the man arrested in 2014 for ramming his car into a similar Ten Commandments monument outside the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.
Read more...

Another Democrat Tosses in Prison for Election Fraud
Constitution
June 28, 2016
Spieles admitted to filing the registering the dead folks in August 2016 while making $350-a-week working for a Democratic-affiliated group called Harrisonburg Votes. Apparently he was having problems meeting his quota.
Read more...

Scientists Fear "Supervolcano" Eruption As Earthquake Swarm Near Yellowstone Soars To 800
ZeroHedge
June 28, 2017
More than 800 earthquakes have now been recorded at the Yellowstone Caldera, a long-dormant supervolcano located in Yellowstone National Park, over the last two weeks - an ominous sign that a potentially catastrophic eruption could be brewing. However, despite earthquakes occurring at a frequency unseen during any period in the past five years, the US Geological Survey says the risk level remains in the “green,” unchanged from its normal levels, according to Newsweek.
Read more...

2 California families claim '13 Reasons Why' triggered teens' suicides
Yahoo News
June 28, 2017
Both teenagers died by suicide in April. Their families say Bella and Priscilla both watched “13 Reasons Why,” the controversial Netflix show about suicide, just days before taking their own lives.
Read more...

Justice Gorsuch Wastes No Time Stirring Up Trouble
Bloomberg View
June 27, 2017
It’s customary for new Supreme Court justices to ease into the job. Not so Justice Neil Gorsuch, who has flung himself into his truncated first term like a whirlwind. Now that the dust has settled, it’s clear that Gorsuch wants to establish himself as the new leader of the court’s conservative wing -- fast. No opinion is a better indicator than his dissent from the court’s summary reversal in the Arkansas gay adoption case, Pavan v. Smith.
Read more...

Immigrants, Pipeline, 911, Voter Fraud, Wall, Fishing, Palestine, Import Taxes, March for Life

Kari’s Law of 2017, first introduced by Louie Gohmert (R-TX, 1st) in 2015, and now reintroduced, will ensure that anyone who dials 9-1-1 can reach emergency personnel even if the phone typically requires that user to dial a prefix such as “9” or “7” to get an outside line.

#####

Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) issued the following statement in support of the 44th annual March for Life held in Washington, D.C.:

“It is truly awe inspiring every year to see so many Americans make their way to Washington, D.C. to march in support of the most innocent Americans who have no voice – the unborn.

“I’ve been fighting for the rights of the unborn for years, but we have a unique opportunity now to enact laws to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

“I look forward to working with President Trump to end the federal government’s support for groups that promote abortion practices, and to further protect the unborn.

“The work already done by the House of Representatives and the White House is a message to those who march in Washington that the U.S. government has not forgotten about your respect for life, and the need to protect millions of unborn children.”

Background: Earlier this week, the House passed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7), and President Trump signed an Executive Order banning international nonprofit groups from receiving federal money to provide abortion services.

#####

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced that beginning on February 1, 2017, the ½ mile backwater no-wake restriction for Lake Havasu that was designated in May 2015 will be lifted.

#####

The Obama Administration, in its final hours, defied a Congressional hold placed on $221 million for the Palestinian territories and released the money to Palestine without approval.

#####

Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) issued the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order advancing the Keystone XL Pipeline:

“I applaud President Trump for advancing the Keystone XL Pipeline, which Republicans in Congress pushed the Obama administration to approve for years. Construction of the pipeline will support more than 40,000 jobs and add billions of dollars to our economy. It was subject to five safety and environmental reviews by the State Department, and is even supported by labor unions. This action will make a real difference to all of the Americans who will have the opportunity to work and support their families as a result of this pipeline.”

According to the State Department, construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline will support approximately 42,100 jobs and roughly $2 billion in earnings throughout the country.

#####

President Trump called for a “major investigation” into allegations of widespread voter fraud during the 2016 election.

#####

President Trump announced that the United States would pay for a border wall through a tax on all imports from Mexico.

#####

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA, 9th) announced that he has reintroduced legislation to establish a Joint Ad Hoc Congressional Committee on Trade Responsibilities, which would be tasked with developing a plan to move to the legislative branch the functions and responsibilities of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). This would be in accordance with Article I, Section 8 of our Constitution, which establishes that Congress shall have power “To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises…” and “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations…”

#####

Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which has protected more than 750,000 young illegal immigrants.

News Links from the House of Representatives, brought to you by The Ponder News:

ENGEL STATEMENT ON U.S.-MEXICO RELATIONS

Eshoo Calls on Federal Agencies to Provide Relief After Storms Damage Northern California Counties

Esty Denounces President Trump’s Attack on Law-Abiding Immigrant Families

CONGRESSMAN ADRIANO ESPAILLAT STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON IMMIGRATION


A Response to President Trump’s Inaugural Address & New Deal for African-Americans

FHWA Attempts to Skirt Law, Force TxDOT to Pay Housing Benefits to Illegal Aliens

STATEMENT: Fleischmann on Inauguration

Flores Statement on President Trump’s Executive Action on Border Security

Foster Condemns Trump Administration’s Attacks on Science

Foxx Praises Passage of Legislation to Permanently Ban Federal Funding of Abortion

FRANKEL SLAMS HOUSE PASSAGE OF ANTI-ABORTION LEGISLATION

Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge Statement on President Trump's Call for a Voter Fraud Investigation

FERGUSON: HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS SHOULD FOCUS ON PATIENTS

Fitzpatrick Resolution Removes ‘Members Only’ Signs from U.S. House of Representatives, Forces Lawmakers to Interact with Constituents