Made In America Week ....(and more...)

From the House of Representatives

Grijalva Signs Resolution of "No Confidence" Against Trump, Declares Him "Utterly Unfit" to Serve As President
Raul Grijalva (D-AZ, 3rd)
July 20, 2017
Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) released the following statement after signing a resolution of “no confidence” in Donald Trump’s fitness to serve as President of the United States. Amongst other grievances – including Trump’s suppression of the Press, verbal assaults on women, and violation of the Emoluments Clause - the resolution addresses Trump’s troubling connections to the Russian Government during the 2016 presidential campaign. The resolution also comes after reports that Trump held a secret second meeting with Russian President, Vladimir Putin during the recent G-20 summit as well as new revelations that an eighth person with deep Russian business ties attended the June 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian attorney connected to the Kremlin.
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There is an old addage that says "If you keep looking for something wrong with someone long enough, you will find it. So, stop the witch hunt and you might gain more confidence. Of course, since he is not a lefty liberal, I'm sure there is nothing you will like about him. You guys have already made it clear that you will not work with anyone who isn't. Personally, I have no confidence in you because of that.

Grothman to Appropriators: Defund Anti-American Area Studies Programs in Higher Education Act
Glenn Grothman (R-WI, 6th)
July 20, 2017
“… at too many Title VI centers across the country, academic diversity is severely lacking, with many centers using the young, malleable minds of college-aged students as a one-sided sounding board for professors’ anti-American and anti-Semitic political agendas. These professor’s significant biases seep into how their students approach their academic course of study and prevent students from being exposed to alternative viewpoints—perspectives that often reflect the positive aspects of long-practiced and accepted American foreign policies and norms.
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It's about time someone start focusing on how our young men and women are being affected by these rogue professors.

During ‘Made in America' Week, Guthrie Votes to Improve Energy Infrastructure, Create Jobs
Brett S. Guthrie (R-KY, 2nd)
July 20, 2017
Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, voted for two bills to improve energy infrastructure in the United States, the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R. 2883) and the Promoting Interagency Coordination for Review of Natural Gas Pipelines Act (H.R. 2910).
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GUTIÉRREZ REACTS TO SENATE INTRODUCTION OF NEW DREAM ACT
Luis Gutierrez (D-IL, 4th)
July 20, 2017
On Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a new version of the DREAM Act (an acronym for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors). The President has pledged, through a spokesperson, to fight this bipartisan legislation that would allow immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children to live and work here legally if they meet certain criteria. This happens as the DACA program (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the program that provides temporary deportation relief for Dreamers and allows them to work legally) is under attack by Republican leaders and it is clear the President and his team are unlikely to defend it. This could make the 800,000 people who would qualify for the DREAM Act and who currently have DACA vulnerable to deportation, especially because they have registered with federal authorities as part of the program.
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Hartzler Introduces Bill to Protect Subsidized Housing from Smoke Damage
Vicky Hartzler (R-MO, 4th)
July 20, 2017
Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) introduced the Smoke Free Affordable Housing Act (HR3322) today to encourage subsidized housing developers to maintain a healthy environment for residents while protecting the subsidized property from expensive smoking related remediation costs. The federal government is investing billions of dollars every year in subsidized housing only to see many properties seriously degraded by smoke damage within only a few years. The Smoke Free Affordable Housing Act would incentivize subsidized housing developers to establish and maintain smoke-free policies to create a healthy environment for residents and protect the investment of hardworking taxpayers.
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Congressman Higgins Says Proposed 2018 Federal Budget is a Vehicle to Take from Hardworking Americans & Give to the Wealthy
Brian Higgins (D-NY, 26th)
July 20, 2017
Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), a member of the House Committee on the Budget, objected to the Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution introduced by House Republicans this week which slashes Medicare and fails to invest in the growth of the American Economy.
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Higgins Issues Statement on U.S. - China Rice Agreement
Clay Higgins (R-LA, 3rd)
July 20, 2017
“The best rice in the world is grown in the heart of Acadiana, with Louisiana rice farmers already contributing more than $700 million to the state’s economic output each year. Expanding rice exports, while ensuring that Louisiana farmers are competing on a level playing field, supports thousands of jobs and generates much-needed economic activity in rice country. I’m glad to see Secretary Perdue and officials at USDA announce the opening of this new market, and I’m confident that Louisiana rice farmers are poised to strengthen our state’s position as one of the world’s leading rice exporters.”
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Hill Reaffirms Commitment to Enhancing American Energy Resources
French Hill (R-AR, 2nd)
July 20, 2017
“We’re working hard to implement American energy policies that boost our energy independence, benefit consumers, protect our environment, and preserve our natural resources. The common sense bills we passed this week remove unnecessary red tape and provide flexibility to our states—creating jobs, moving towards energy independence, and promoting a strong national energy policy. Enhancing our energy resources across Arkansas and the nation will greatly increase jobs and benefit hardworking Americans.”
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While Obamacare Struggle Continues, Tax Reform is Questionable...

John McCain, Republican senator from Arizona, diagnosed with brain tumor
Washington Post
July 19, 2017
The Mayo Clinic said doctors diagnosed a tumor called a glioblastoma after surgery to remove a blood clot above McCain’s left eye last week. The senator and his family are considering treatment options, including a combination of chemotherapy and radiation, according to the hospital.
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Prayers, indeed. I have never known anyone who survived this. Politics aside, I feel for his family.

Should doctors be paid a premium for assisting deaths?
MacLean's
July 12, 2017
Daws was among the first assisted-dying providers in Canada and had been a vocal advocate for the service long before it became legal 13 months ago. For the first six months the law was in place—before the province had formal fee codes for how doctors would be paid—Daws and the other seven early providers in B.C. worked for free, assuming that they would be paid retroactively, and fairly, for their work. But that hasn’t happened, and providers are losing faith that it will.
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Why should death be profitable? Only an undertaker should make money off of death -- but that is just my opinion.

Minneapolis Mayor ENCOURAGED Muslim Cop To Kill White Woman With What She Did Days Earlier
USA Daily News 24
July 19, 2017
America is still in shock over the death of Minneapolis resident Justine Damond, who called police after witnessing an assault in her neighborhood. Minutes after her 911 call was placed, Damond would be dead, after a Somali Muslim police officer turned off his body cam and shot her in cold blood through his police car window. Now sickening information is coming about about Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges’ intimate ties with the Muslim police officer, who now has innocent blood on her hands thanks to sickening thing she did in the months leading up to Damond’s murder.
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Still think it will never come here? I hate to tell you, it already is.

Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated: Mawson Homeschooled Study Reveals Who is Sicker
Children's Medical Safety Research Institute
May 4, 2017
A pilot study of 666 homeschooled six to 12-year-olds from four American states published on April 27th in the Journal of Translational Sciences, compared 261 unvaccinated children with 405 partially or fully vaccinated children, and assessed their overall health based on their mothers' reports of vaccinations and physician-diagnosed illnesses. What it found about increases in immune-mediated diseases like allergies and neurodevelopmental diseases including autism, should make all parents think twice before they ever vaccinate again:
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I usually don't put out news this old, but it is still recent enough that I thought it was worth relaying.


After healthcare failure, Republicans face similar divisions on tax reform
Yahoo! News
July 18, 2017
"If we move too much in the mandatory area, then it will make tax reform that much more difficult to get. It's that basic," Dent told Reuters.
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Trump tells Republican senators to send him ObamaCare repeal bill before August recess
Fox News
July 19, 2017
President Trump told Republican senators Wednesday that they shouldn’t leave Washington for August recess until they send him an ObamaCare repeal bill to sign.
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Surveillance footage captures last days of boy fed to pigs
Hot 99.5
This is soooo horrific...
I have no words...How could this happen!!!

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Great Tweets!

Gov. Mike Huckabee‏ Jul 19
If GOP Senators Murkowski, Collins, and Capito won't stop Planned Parenthood $$ to vacuum babies from womb, then vacuum them out of office!

House Committee Delivers $1.6 Billion for Trump Border Wall (and more...)

Zuckerberg for President?
Fort Madison Daily Democrat
July 13, 2017
Mark Zuckerberg, rumored to be (and acting like) a candidate for high office - possibly United States president, recently hosted the Facebook Communities Summit. The summit’s mission, Zuckerberg explained in a post on his Facebook account, is to “bring the world closer together ... A world where we care about a person in India or China or Nigeria or Mexico as much as a person here.”
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I won't be voting for him.

OPINION

Letter: Sanctuary cities harbor criminals
Muscatine:Journal
July 12, 2017
In the 2016 presidential election, 63 million Americans voted for the candidate who promised to faithfully enforce the immigration laws passed by Congress -- in stark contrast to his predecessor. And now that action against illegal immigration has begun, the spotlight is on more than 650 cities, counties, and municipalities that have their own statutes that directly oppose federal and even state laws. These local governments uphold sanctuary laws that forbid local officials from assisting federal agents who are enforcing U.S. immigration law. From 1990 to 2014, the number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. tripled from 3.5 million to 11.7 million, meaning that illegal immigrants now account for about 3.5 percent of the nation's population. Because these illegal immigrants aren't 'vetted' before entering the country, a disproportionate number of violent criminals have infiltrated these otherwise hardworking individual families seeking a better life.
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From the House of Representatives

Rep. Tom Graves, House Committee Deliver $1.6 Billion for Trump Border Wall
Tom Graves (R-GA, 14th)
July 18, 2017
“President Trump promised to build a wall and secure the border,” said Rep. Graves. “This bill gives the president the funds necessary to start construction. It also increases funding for border security and immigration enforcement, and makes key investments in cybersecurity. The bill is an America First funding bill that will help keep Georgians and all Americans safe.”
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Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Votes Against Bill to Gut Clean Air Act
Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI, 2nd)
July 18, 2017
This bill erodes the Clean Air Act’s science-based standards to measure air quality at the expense of the health and safety of the American people, all to benefit heavy-polluting industries. Rolling back the EPA’s ability to regulate air quality and enforce crucial ozone standards for eight years will exacerbate asthma, respiratory illness, and other health issues impacting our family, workforce, and kūpuna.
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Rep. Gallagher Releases Statement on Passage of NDAA
Mike Gallagher (R-WI, 8th)
July 14, 2017
“Today in the House, we took an important step toward ensuring that the U.S. military is modern, lethal, and capable, and that our service members are trained, equipped, and ready to fight at a moment’s notice. This bill gets us closer to our goal of a 355 ship Navy, and includes funding for three littoral combat ships. After eight years of experiencing a sharp rise in the number of military threats from foreign aggressors and playing passive spectator on the world stage, today’s vote in the House demonstrates to our allies and adversaries our unquestioned commitment to global leadership. As we look ahead toward conference with the Senate, I will continue to fight tooth and nail to give our warfighters exactly what they need to deter threats, support our allies, and above all, keep the American people safe.”
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HASC Member John Garamendi Votes to Advance FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act

Gohmert’s Statement on the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act


Gossar: For Immediate Release: NDAA FY18


Graves Votes to Give Troops their Biggest Raise this Decade

Rep. Gene Green Legislation Included in Passage of Fiscal Year 2018 Defense Authorization

Senate to take up bill to repeal Obamacare without replacement plan...(and more...)

State agencies warn of 'pink' synthetic opioid drug threat
KCCI (Des Moines, Iowa)
July 17, 2017
The Iowa Department of Public Health, Department of Public Safety, Poison Control Center and Office of Drug Control policy issued an advisory Monday to warn Iowans of a new synthetic opioid drug threat recently discovered in Iowa.
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Now For The REAL News: Time To Investigate John Podesta For Ties To Russia (For Real)
Clinton News
July 12, 2017
With not a single shred of evidence other than Hillary Clinton shrieking “Russia!” and all of her media lapdogs responding in kind to affirm it as gospel truth, the witch hunt against President Trump over his alleged involvement with the Russian government to supposedly steal the 2016 presidential election continues. Meanwhile, actual real evidence of Clinton’s former campaign manager, John Podesta, having accepted millions of dollars from Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials is so far being ignored as if it never happened.
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Weapon policy verbiage gets new twist
Daily Sentinel (Le Mars)
July 12, 2017
Courthouse security was a key issue at Tuesday’s Plymouth County Board of Supervisor’s meeting. That was the case because a new law passed by the Iowa legislature states no city or county may ban firearms in their courthouse.
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FBI data show cases of children murdering their parents is rare
KWGC TV-6
July 12, 2017
The crimes draw lots of attention, but official statistics show these cases are rare. The most recent FBI data from 2014 showed 169 people were killed by family members younger than themselves. The data doesn't distinguish the exact relationship. But the data also shows in 2014, there were over 14,000 murders across the United States. Parricide was only a small fraction.
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Senate to take up bill to repeal Obamacare without replacement plan
Des Moines Register
July 17, 2017
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced late Monday that the Senate will give up on its bill to replace Obamacare and vote instead on legislation to repeal the law within two years.
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YES, YES, YES!!! THAT is what we have been waiting for!

Net Neutrality: Be Informed

In keeping with the reason I created this news blog, I am including information about Net Neutrality, which is coming to the forefront, once again, as an issue worth take note of. If you are going to form an opinion for or against Net Neutrality, then it is best to get all the information you can find. This should get you started:

The FCC Needs Your Quality Comments About Net Neutrality Today
TechDirt.com
July 17, 2017
Today is the deadline for the first round of the FCC's comment period on its attempt to roll back the 2015 open internet "net neutrality" rules. The deadline is partly meaningless, because there's a second comment period that is technically to respond to earlier comments -- but allows you to just file more comments. However, it is still important to make your voice heard no matter which side you're on. We'll be posting our own comments later today, but first, we wanted to share Mike Godwin's thoughtful discussion on why you should comment and why you should provide a thoughtful, careful "quality" comment, which he first posted to the R-Street blog, but which is being cross posted here.
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Net Neutrality Is A Poor Solution To The Wrong Problem
Forbes
July 16, 2017
It appears likely the Federal Communications Commission is going to modify its stance on net neutrality, issuing new rules that will allow some actions opposed by advocates of net neutrality. At the simplest level, the forthcoming rules supposedly will allow internet service providers to accept payment from content providers for faster delivery and potentially even allow throttling or complete denial of access. This is progress. Net neutrality is bad policy and would be unnecessary if the FCC addressed the real problem: local governments overcharging for their right-of-way.
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Doyle Supports Net Neutrality
Mike Doyle (D-PA, 14th)
July 12, 2017
“The American People have spoken out loud and clear in support of Net Neutrality - more than 6.5 million people have filed comments with the FCC so far this year. They support the current Net Neutrality rules, which protect consumers, small businesses, and edge providers looking to provide innovative and competitive new services. They deserve to have their views respected by the federal government.
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FCC chair Ajit Pai explains why he wants to scrap net neutrality
PBS Newshour
April 27, 2017
A political fight is brewing about access to the Internet. The new head of the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission, wants to clear away regulations about who controls and polices the flow of content on the Internet.
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Am I The Only Techie Against Net Neutrality?
Forbes
MAY 14, 2014
If you watch the news, it seems just about everyone is in favor of “Net Neutrality” legislation. Despite being a tech-addicted entrepreneur, I am not. No, I am not a paid shill for the cable industry. I am no fan of Comcast or any other ISP I’ve ever had the "pleasure" of dealing with. I’m skeptical of large corporations generally and dislike the fact that in this debate I appear to be on their side. While I have no problem with net neutrality as a principle or concept, I have serious concerns about Net Neutrality as legislation or public policy. And since a false dichotomy is being perpetuated by the media in regards to this matter, I feel an obligation to put forth a third point of view. In taking this stand, I realize I may be the only techie, if I can aspire to that label, opposed to Net Neutrality and that I open myself to accusations of killing the dreams of young entrepreneurs, wrecking free speech, and destroying the Internet. Nevertheless, here are three reasons I’m against Net Neutrality legislation.
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Major tech firms urge U.S. to retain net neutrality rules
Reuters
July 17, 2017
A group representing major technology firms including Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) and Facebook Inc (FB.O) urged the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Monday to abandon plans to reverse the landmark 2015 rules barring internet service providers from blocking or slowing consumer access to web content.
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I wsas unable to find a song against Net Neutrality, or I would have included it here as well. Enjoy!

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.

Abortion, Trumpcare, Voters, Terrorist, Suicidal Teens

In Arkansas, rape survivors will be forced to notify their attacker if they get an abortion
The Daily Dot
July 10, 2017
Arkansas women may soon be forced to notify their sexual partner or family members if they want to have an abortion, thanks to a provision passed in the state’s 2017 legislative session. H.B. 1566, the Tissue Disposal Mandate, would make it illegal for a woman to have an abortion without communicating with the man who impregnated her — whether that be her husband, boyfriend, a casual hook-up, or a perpetrator of sexual assault.
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Here is an idea: outlaw abortion and we won't have that problem. If the mother is forced to confront her accuser, it should be in a court of law where he is being prosecuted for his crime, and the child should get the opportunity to survive by monetary support from the rapist for the rest of his life. It's not the child's fault he or she exists. Why punish the child by executing it?

Sen. Rand Paul: Senate GOP Decides to Keep Obamacare
Breitbart
July 12, 2017
The Senate Obamacare bill does not repeal Obamacare. I want to repeat that so everyone realizes why I’ll vote “no” as it stands now:
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Sigh....Get RID of Obamacare and legislate the insurance companies instead of replacing it with "Trumpcare". Is it that hard to understand? Why do people feel the need to fix something by making it more complicated?

Hundreds of Colorado Voters Withdraw Registrations in Wake of Trump-ordered Probe of Fraudulent Voting!
Breitbart
July 12, 2017
Colorado is one state that has agreed to comply with the voter fraud commission that President Donald Trump put in place with an executive order in May. And now county clerks in that state are reporting that they’ve seen hundreds of people withdraw their voter registrations. A spokesperson for the Denver Elections Division told a Denver media outlet that 180 people have withdrawn their registrations in the county since Monday of this week.
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That could be a good thing if all of the voters are dead Democrats. If they have nothing to hide, why would they withdraw? Apparently something illegal is going on or it wouldn't be happening. After all, if they refuse to vote out of protest, they are just hurting themselves.

ISIS finally confirms the death of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
MFS--The Other News
July 11, 2017
According to a statement by the Russian defense ministry carried in reports by the local media outlets, Al-Baghdadi was targeted along with at least 300 other insurgents and 30 top leaders of the terror group.
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The enemy of our enemy...

"Blue Whale Challenge" urges young people to end their lives
CBS News
July 12, 2017
The family of a Texas teen who hanged himself says their son was involved in a ghoulish online game that calls on participants to complete a series of tasks before taking their own lives, and some schools are warning parents about the so-called Blue Whale Challenge.
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How tragic...do parents not teach their children the difference between fantasy and reality now days?

Plane Crash, Human Chain, Lawless Corporations, Voting, Russia, Navy Secretary

Marine special ops troops among 16 dead in plane crash
UPI
July 12, 2017
Federal Aviation Administration officials contacted the Marines when the aircraft disappeared from air traffic control radar as it flew over Mississippi, officials said. The plane burned after it struck the ground, and possible unexploded ordnance and ammunition could be surrounding the plane and hampering investigation, WLBT-TV, Jackson, Miss., reported.
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Good Samaritans form human chain to rescue swimmers caught in rip current off Florida coast
Good Morning America
July 11, 2017
“[Jessica and I] are no Olympic swimmers, not even Coast Guard swimmers but just two average people who spend a lot of time in the water,” Simmons said. “Everybody that was involved is a hero in my book.” The chain eventually grew to around 40 people, according to a police report obtained by ABC News. The report estimates the swimmers were stuck nearly 70 yards away from the shoreline.
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Judiciary Democrats Praise Rule to Restore the Rights of Hardworking Americans to Hold Lawless Corporations Accountable
David Cicilline (D-RI, 1st)
July 10, 2017
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee applauded the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for finalizing a rule to prohibit the use of pre-dispute, binding (“forced”) arbitration in contracts for consumer financial products such as checking or savings accounts, student loans, or credit cards.
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Clay Demands Swift Action from Ashcroft to Safeguard Missouri Voter Rolls, Election Day Operations from Foreign Tampering
William “Lacy” Clay, Jr. (D-MO, 1st)
July 10, 2017
Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri is demanding that Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft identify immediate actions he intends to take to safeguard Missouri elections from foreign tampering. The Congressman’s letter to Mr. Ashcroft also denounced Missouri’s new Photo ID law. Mr. Clay, Missouri’s senior Democrat in Congress, first warned of Russian attempts to tamper with U.S. elections early last year during hearings before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
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Trump Sees Fake Russia During Meeting With Former KGB Agent Putin While Cohen Sees Real Russia at OSCE PA in Minsk
Steve Cohen (D-TN, 9th)
July 11, 2017
While at the annual Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly last week in Minsk, Belarus, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission), witnessed the real Russia that votes against human rights, democratic values, free elections, and the territorial integrity of nations, while President Trump saw the fake Russia during his meeting at the G20 Summit in Germany with former KGB agent and Russian President Vladimir Putin:
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Senator Tom Cotton RIPS Obama’s departed Navy secretary
Allen West Republic
JULY 12, 2017
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on Tuesday told President Trump’s pick for Navy secretary, Richard V. Spencer, that he may be hindered in his new position by the legacy of his Obama predecessor, whom he called one of the most unpopular secretaries in modern history.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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."
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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.
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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….”
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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.
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Atheist's Freedom of Religion and more...

Blackburn-sponsored bill making hearing aids affordable, accessible advances
Marsha Blackburn (R-TN 7th)
July 7, 2017
Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) on Wednesday applauded the bipartisan passage of their Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act in the House Energy & Commerce Committee. The legislation would make certain types of hearing aids available over-the-counter to Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss.
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Trial begins in lawsuit alleging toxic 'boys' club' at Iowa Statehouse
Press-Citizen
July 10, 2017
Kirsten Anderson, a 39-year-old former communications director for the Senate Republican caucus, brought the lawsuit after being fired in May 2013, just seven hours after giving her boss a memo asking for an investigation into workplace culture at the Capitol and for stronger policies against harassment.
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Opinion

Council Preview: Atheist invocation draws ire
Oskaloosa Herald
July 5, 2017
Atheist activist Justin Scott is scheduled to give a secular invocation at the Oskaloosa City Council meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, and many in the community say they may come out to protest his invocation.
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Seriously? I am not an atheist by any means. I believe firmly that Christ died for my sins and have excepted Him in my life. However, that does not give me the license to take someone else's freedom to be wrong away from him.

Furthermore, if Christians wish to keep their First Amendment rights, then we'd better learn to let everyone, not just people we like, have them.

To protest this event is lowering yourself to the level of the person protested against in this case. Do unto others: If we wish atheists would stop protesting our rights away, then we need to make sure those rights are able to be enjoyed by atheists.

Finally, atheism is a religion. Religion, according to Webster's Dictionary is "a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices". Therefore, if an atheist believes there is no God, and practices that belief, then atheism is his religion. To protest him is to protest his rights to practice his freedom of religion.

This is just my opinion

Shonda M. Ponder, editor
(Once again saying something that is unpopular, but true.}