About Impeachment Vote

Below are some statements from Newsmakers:

Michael E. Capuano (D-MA, 7th)

“As a lawyer I have approached impeachment deliberately and thoughtfully. Taking steps to impeach a President is a gravely serious matter. Practically and politically, I think most of us can agree that passing articles of impeachment in this House isn’t realistic at this moment in our history. But sometimes, it’s more important to follow your heart than do the practical or political calculation. Today, I followed my heart and cast a vote to begin a debate on whether this President has committed impeachable acts. It’s time to have an open, honest debate on President Trump and his fitness for office."

Judy Chu (D-CA, 27th)

“Donald Trump has exhibited alarming behaviors that raise questions about his fitness to serve since before he was sworn in, from his myriad lies, to accusations of sexual assault, violations of the emoluments clause, or possible collusion with Russia. That’s why there are currently three investigations into the President’s actions. There is a process that has begun, and so far, it has resulted in Michael Flynn pleading guilty to lying. I believe we owe it to our institutions to continue the process to determine the truth about the Trump administration, and that any impeachment vote should take place after the investigations have concluded. I look forward to reviewing the findings from Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the Senate and House committees so that we can make a fully informed decision about the President’s future.”

Trump Recognizes Jerusalem as Capitol of Israel

Below are statements from newsmakers commending the decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem:

Andre’ Carson, (D-IN, 7th)

“I am deeply concerned by President Trump’s decision to overturn longstanding U.S. policy by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocating our embassy. This decision is likely to drive serious unrest across the region, unacceptably putting countless innocent people at risk. It makes lasting peace much more difficult to achieve, makes Israel less secure, and ignores competing Palestinian claims for parts of Jerusalem, which should be resolved through peace negotiations and not unilateral U.S. action.

“In his announcement, President Trump said this does not represent an American position on a final status agreement, expressed openness to a two state solution, and called for continuation of the status quo at Jerusalem holy sites. I support these important statements. However, it is simply unreasonable to think that today’s announcement will do anything but inflame tensions on both sides and unduly influence negotiations with broad international implications.

“If President Trump truly wants to pursue peace he should avoid taking actions, like this one, that lead to conflict, and instead work to bring the Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table.”

Carlos Curbelo (R-FL, 26th)

“Jerusalem is without question the capital of Israel and I commend the President’s decision to recognize it as such. Denying simple, obvious truths is not a strategy for peace. With this decision we are not only standing by our ally, but also recognizing the freedom of all major faiths to continue worshiping in Jerusalem.”

Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT, 3rd)

“The President’s irresponsible decision to move our nation’s embassy to Jerusalem goes against decades of bipartisan American foreign policy and will likely increase tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, instead of moving us toward a lasting peace agreement. This action may lead to more needless violence and undermines America’s ability to lead the region toward peace, stability, and security.”

“The strength of the United States’ relationship with Israel cannot be understated. They are amongst our most valuable allies, and our bond is unshakable. Peace is only attainable if the United States fully engages diplomatically as an honest broker between the Israelis and Palestinians with the goal of creating a comprehensive and durable two-state solution.”

Ron DeSantis (R-FL, 6th)

“Last December, the Obama administration worked furiously to engineer a U.N. resolution so anti-Israel that it characterized the Western Wall as ‘occupied’ territory. This December, President Trump is doing what his recent predecessors have promised but failed to deliver: formal recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, to be followed by relocation of the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Fifty years after the reunification of Jerusalem, the ancient and holy city stands as one of the jewels of the world, and Israel’s stewardship of the holy sites (Jewish, Christian and Muslim) since being liberated from Jordanian occupation has been tremendous. With President Trump’s announcement, the U.S. is finally following through with what Congress enacted in the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act.”

DeSantis, as Chairman of the National Security Subcommittee, has visited potential embassy relocation sites in Jerusalem and recently held a hearing to discuss the benefits and challenges of relocating the embassy.

Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL, 25th)

“I am pleased by President Trump's bold decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It is well past time that our embassy is moved to its rightful home. Though many may be upset with the decision, or even use this as an excuse to incite violence, we must remember that Jerusalem is the country’s true capital. I commend the administration for its resolute commitment to our allies.”

Debbie Dingell (D-MI, 12th)

“President Trump’s decision to designate Jerusalem as the Israeli capital outside of a comprehensive two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is deeply disturbing as it undercuts continuing efforts toward peace. The final status of Jerusalem should be determined through negotiations between the two parties as part of a resolution to the conflict, as has been U.S. policy since 1967. This action raises tensions in an already restive region, placing Americans stationed in the Middle East at risk while increasing the chance of a wider regional conflict. I strongly oppose President Trump’s decision, which will serve as an obstacle to future peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”

Daniel Donovan (R-NY, 11th)

“I support the President’s decision to formally recognize what has been the reality for a long time: Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The city is Israel’s seat of government and where the country conducts its national business, and it makes no sense to ignore this fact. Today’s announcement affirms that after eight years, the U.S. is finally returning to our longstanding policy of supporting Israel. I applaud the President for taking much-needed steps to repair our relationship with our closest ally in the region.”

Jeff Duncan (R-SC, 3rd)

“I applaud President Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and promising to move the U.S. Embassy to reflect this change in policy. This decision is in clear contrast to the last administration’s anti-Israel sentiments, and it is refreshing to have a leader in the White House who supports and stands with our strong ally. I agree with President Trump that this decision is in the best interest of the United States as we work towards lasting peace.”

Keith Ellison (D-MN, 5th)

“President Trump’s decision today to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel impedes the Israel-Palestine peace process, jeopardizes the safety of U.S. personnel stationed abroad, and seriously limits the U.S.’s ability to serve as an effective broker in the future. Trump irresponsibly broke with decades of precedent in order to fulfill a dangerous campaign promise, and did so despite the warnings of leaders around the world. This White House continues to play politics with issues of national security and international peace, and its reckless decision making should concern us all.”

Dwight Evans (D PA, 2nd)

“Jerusalem has been and always will be the eternal capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. This is a fact of history reaffirmed by Congress that cannot and will not be denied. With this, the United States has always been and always will remain a strong ally of Israel. In the absence of a comprehensive plan for a peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians I am concerned about the further unrest and instability President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel may cause. As a nation I believe we have an important obligation to play a crucial role in supporting the State of Israel in order to achieve a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians."

Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN, 3rd)

"Today, President Trump made the historic announcement to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel. For years, Jerusalem has been regarded as Israel’s capital city by the Knesset, the United States Congress, and the people of Israel. The President’s announcement reaffirms the longstanding friendship and support between United States and Israel. I applaud President Trump for his decision, and will continue to stand with Israel as our ally in the Middle East."

What "long-standing policy? You mean the one where the sitting President signs a delay on a decision that was made a long time ago?

Conceal Carry Reciprocity Act Passes House

Washington, D.C. - December 7, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- The House passed H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, by a margin of 231-198, which would allow individuals who are lawfully permitted to carry a concealed firearm in their home states to carry concealed firearms in other states that allow the practice.

Existing state codes have created a confusing patchwork of reciprocity agreements for concealed carry permit holders. Even the most careful and knowledgeable concealed carry permit holders find it difficult to navigate the current maze of state and local concealed carry laws. All 50 states already allow for some form of concealed carry, a policy that has been proven to increase public safety. A 2013 study in Applied Economic Letters found that between 1980 and 2009, “states with more restrictive concealed carry laws had gun-related murder rates that were 10 percent higher.” Additionally, a 2013 survey of 15,000 current and retired police officers found that 90 percent of them support the concealed carry of guns by civilians.

HR 38 also reauthorizes the National Instant Criminal Background Check Systems (NICS) Improvement Act and increases records submissions assistance for states. The Attorney General is required to report every two years on the improvements made to the NICS system, and law enforcement shall be notified when a prohibited person received a firearm in error. This will help ensure that criminals who have been barred from gun ownership remain unable to get their hands on firearms.

Below are some statements from Newsmakers:

Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming at large)

“I’m proud the House passed H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This legislation, which I co-sponsored, will ensure that law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights are not infringed when they cross state lines. Folks in Wyoming deserve to know the constitutional carry rights we enjoy at home won’t be threatened when we cross into other jurisdictions. Law-abiding citizens shouldn’t have to fear criminal prosecution for exercising their Second Amendment rights. I am proud the House passed this important bill that will protect our citizens’ individual constitutional right to keep and bear arms.”

Steve Cohen (D-TN, 9th)

“Just a month after the mass shooting of 26 in Texas and two months after a gunman killed 58 in Las Vegas, the House majority’s response is to override state laws with reasonable restrictions on the concealed carrying of handguns. Beyond the incomprehensible tone deafness of this action, it ignores the very states’ rights Republicans so often cling to – except when the National Rifle Association tells them not to,” Cohen said.

“Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia, including Tennessee, require residents to be at least 21 to receive a concealed carry handgun permit. This bill would allow permit holders from states allowing concealed carry at younger ages to, in essence, violate more restrictive states’ laws. I support concealed carry laws and was the sponsor of Tennessee’s when I was in the state senate, but I think state laws that are more restrictive should be respected.”

Doug Collins (R-GA, 9th)

“As a member of Congress, I have a duty to uphold American liberties—including the right to bear arms—for current and future generations. I cosponsored the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act because I believe the Second Amendment doesn't end at state borders.

"Our forefathers didn't cement our right to defend ourselves and our families as a philosophical exercise—they were protecting freedoms that they recognized as essential elements of our democracy. The Second Amendment will always be one of those foundational liberties, and today's vote affirms that.”

James Comer (R-KY, 1st)

Congressman James Comer (KY-01) voted in favor of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 231-198. The bill, which is endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), prioritizes the Constitutional Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act will ensure that concealed carry permits issued in one state are valid in other states. This guarantees that Americans’ Second Amendment rights do not stop at a state line. Additionally, it puts the burden of proof on the state to show an individual carrying a concealed firearm violated the law, protecting law-abiding gun owners from burdensome civil lawsuits.

“I am proud to support this common-sense legislation. The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act protects the rights of Kentucky gun owners by saying that if you can legally carry a firearm in the Commonwealth you won’t have to worry about crossing into Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee or any other state as long as you follow that state’s laws. The Second Amendment right to bear arms is one of the most fundamental rights provided to us in the Constitution and I will proudly continue to stand up for the gun rights of Kentuckians.”

Paul Cook (R-CA, 8th)

“This important legislation will go a long way toward protecting our rights while making Americans safer. It clarifies current gun regulations, preserves the right of law-abiding citizens to right to carry a gun for self-defense, and maintains and improves safeguards to ensure we keep guns out of the hands of criminals. I urge the Senate to swiftly take up and pass this vital public safety legislation.”

Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota)

“There is no reason a law-abiding gun owner in North Dakota should lose their Second Amendment rights while crossing state lines,” said Cramer. “The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act protects every citizens’ federal constitutional right to bear arms while ensuring individuals, who are legally prohibited from owning a firearm under current law, are prevented from doing so. This is a very common sense law.”

John Culberson (R-TX, 7th)

“Today, the House of Representatives took decisive action to protect one of our most fundamental rights: the right to keep and bear arms. Today’s legislation will guarantee that our second amendment rights are valid from coast to coast and do not stop at state lines. H.R. 38, The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, was combined with H.R. 4477, the Fix NICS Act of 2017, to create one bill which will ensure that concealed carry permit holders can travel across state lines without fear of arrest.”

Henry Cuellar (D-TX, 28th)

“I believe that Congress is taking appropriate steps in protecting people’s basic constitutional rights. However, I think that more should be done to prevent tragedies like the one that occurred in Sutherland Springs, from happening in the future. That is why Congressman Culberson and I have joined together, alongside other members in Congress, to push our legislation aimed at curbing gun violence. We are dedicated to improving the federal criminal background check system and confident in closing major loopholes in the NICS database.”

Diana Degette (D-CO, 1st)

“This bill gives the weakest state standards on gun violence prevention the force of law nationwide,” DeGette said. “Compelling state legislatures to adopt the concealed carry standards of other states will only undermine the protections that their citizens have come to expect their elected officials to uphold.

“If this bill passes the Senate and is signed into law, Coloradans would be in greater peril. I refuse to let our communities face such mindless and needless danger without a fight.”

DeGette is a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, which was formed after the December 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Shortly thereafter, she introduced a bill to ban high-capacity assault magazines similar to the one in place in Colorado, and she continues to support this move. She has also advocated other measures in the current Congress, including the proposed ban on bump stocks that briefly seemed to have bipartisan support after the Las Vegas mass shooting two months ago but has since stalled.

Scott DesJarlais (R-TN, 4th)

“The right to self-defense is an unalienable one and the most important to protecting ourselves from harm,” said Rep. DesJarlais (TN-04), “as the Supreme Court has decided. Our Constitution guarantees that right – and also that states must respect our common laws.”

“Today’s bill ensures Tennesseans who wish to exercise their Second Amendment rights will face no undue burden when traveling to gun-friendly states,” he said. The Congressman is a strong Second Amendment supporter, as well as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, who after terror attacks at a recruitment center and military facility near Chattanooga in 2015, guided passage of a law allowing more service members to carry firearms on base.

Sean P. Duffy (R-WI, 7th)

“Law-abiding Wisconsinites deserve Concealed Carry Reciprocity, because your Second Amendment right shouldn’t stop at a state’s border,” said Congressman Duffy. “I’m proud to cosponsor the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act because citizens with a concealed carry permit deserve to protect themselves and their families regardless of what state they’re in.”

Eliot Engel (D-NY, 16th)

“This bill is attack on common-sense gun laws across the country. It doesn’t create a national standard, but instead, lets the states with the weakest laws dictate safety standards for everyone else,” Engel said. “Thirty-one states require safety training. Thirty-five states prohibit domestic abusers from carrying concealed weapons. Twenty-seven states prohibit people convicted of violent misdemeanors from carrying concealed weapons. All of these state laws will be overridden if H.R. 38 becomes law.

“It is unconscionable that in the wake of two of the worst mass shootings in modern American history, Republicans are trying to dismantle gun laws. We must fight on behalf of the safety of all Americans and pass comprehensive gun safety laws, not this dangerous bill.

“So much for the Republican mantra of ‘State’s rights.’”

Elizabeth Esty (D-CT, 5th)

“It is outrageous that today, of all days, one week before the five-year anniversary of the horrific murder of twenty schoolchildren in my district, and just two months after the slaughter of over fifty Americans in Las Vegas, that we are acting on a bill to put more guns in more the hands of more dangerous people,” Esty said. “Rather than helping raise the standards nationally for gun safety, this bill would lower them, making it easier for domestic abusers, stalkers, and violent criminals to carry loaded, hidden weapons across state lines.”

Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN, 3rd)

"For far too long law-abiding gun owners have had to navigate a treacherous and ever shifting labyrinth of local and state gun laws while traveling with their concealed carry permits," Fleischmann said. "H.R. 38, The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, will provide certainty to properly licensed individuals who travel with a firearm to carry in all states that already allow for concealed carry. I was proud to vote for H.R. 38 to ensure that upstanding citizens are not deprived of their Second Amendment rights or threatened with needless jail time due to crossing a state border."

Bill Flores (R-TX, 17th)

“Today, the House strengthened the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans by ensuring that these fundamental rights apply across state lines. The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support, affirms that law-abiding citizens who are issued a concealed carry license or permit in one state can carry in other states that also allow concealed carry. The bill also makes sure that federal and state agencies are reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System as prescribed by current law. Gaps in this system contributed to the tragedy in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Additionally, the bill calls for a report to be submitted to Congress by the Bureau of Justice Statistics regarding the use of bump stocks. It is important that we continue to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens while at the same time working to improve public safety.”

H.R. 38 is supported by 24 State Attorneys General in a letter written to congressional leadership outlining how the individual right of gun ownership does not correlate to increased risk of crime. Both bills move to the Senate for further action.

The Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, on whose board of directors Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich serves, opposes the bill, saying that undermining state and municipal laws will increase danger to police officers.

The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence also opposes the bill.

See more headlines about gun issues at The Ponder News Web Site

Have a Merry Christmas ... and a Deplorable New Year!

The Left has rebelled against Christmas. They even have a new Christmas Ornament -- A Hillary Clinton Angel -- to sit atop the Christmas Tree. It's their "Resistmas" ornament.
​
So, we've decided to have our own kind of Christmas Here at The Ponder News:

Tax Bill Goes to Conference

Washington, D.C. - December 5, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Monday to send the Tax Bill to conference with the Senate to hammer out their differences. Reactions vary.

Below are some of them:

Julia Brownly (D-CA, 26th):

“I firmly believe that we need to overhaul the U.S. tax code. Tax reform that makes the system fairer for middle-class families, helps small businesses, and encourages entrepreneurship and innovation is long overdue. Unfortunately, if you look at the House and Senate bills, they don’t achieve these goals.

“While there are differences between the two bills that Republicans are trying to work out, nonpartisan economists have already shown that when you add the different provisions up, the Ryan-McConnell plan raises taxes on millions of middle-class families. To make matters worse, the Senate version also undermines our healthcare system, driving up premiums for working families – all to give a kick-back to wealthy donors, Washington special interests, and corporations that ship jobs overseas.

“I want middle-class families and small businesses to get a tax cut, so I will keep fighting for real tax reform.”

Jack Bergman (R-MI, 1st):

"We are one step closer to providing tax relief for the hard-working people of Michigan's First District. Congress has been hard at work crafting legislation to make our tax code simple and fair, and today I voted to send the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to conference to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions to produce the best results for all Americans.

"The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will create over 25,000 new Michigan jobs, save the average Michigander $1182 dollars per year, and lower the small business tax rate to no more than 25%. Our goal is to give the hard-working people of Michigan’s First District tax relief going into 2018."

Nanette Barragan (D-CA, 44th):

"House Republicans took another step tonight in ramming through a massive tax cut for the wealthy and corporations that the overwhelming majority of Americans don’t want. The GOP tax scam hurts hardworking Americans to give massive tax breaks to the top 1 percent and corporations.

Just this past Saturday, the Senate passed its own version of tax cuts for the wealthy, hastily written and passed in the dead of night. We should instead be working on bipartisan legislation that grows the economy and helps working Americans."

See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Supreme Court Travel Ban Decision Praised

Washington, D.C. - December 5, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- The United States Supreme Court ruled President Trump’s travel pause may go forward while appeals continue.

Lou Barletta (R-PA, 11th) released the following statement:

“President Trump is fighting to prevent terrorists from entering the American homeland. The Supreme Court made the right decision. Those who oppose the actions our president is taking to keep American citizens safe are fighting against the man, not the policy. Until radical Islamic terrorism ceases to threaten the United States, I will continue to support President Trump’s clear authority to use all legal tools at his disposal to prevent terrorists from entering the American homeland.”

PEN America Washington Director Gabe Rottman released the following statement:

“At most, this is a temporary victory for the administration. Challenges to this unprecedented, divisive, and cruel Muslim ban will continue to work their way through the courts, and we will fight to ensure that every American can exercise their constitutional right to meet face-to-face with writers and artists from around the world. We should be a beacon for the free flow of ideas, and a haven for those who are persecuted for their beliefs, not a country that tears families apart for no reason other than hate and spite.”


See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Supreme Court Hears New Jersey Sports Betting Case

Washington, D.C. - December 5, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senator Bob Menendez released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on New Jersey’s case to legalize sports betting:

“Six years ago, the people of New Jersey spoke out overwhelmingly by referendum in favor of legalizing sports betting in the Garden State. After years of legal wrangling, they were finally heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Whether we like it or not, and despite well-intentioned federal restrictions on sports betting, fans across the nation continue to place wagers on their favorite sports teams. But it’s time to bring sports gaming into the light, so that states like New Jersey can protect against underground and dangerous operations while collecting much needed revenue.

“By continuing to challenge New Jersey state’s rights even after partnering with daily fantasy sports—gambling by any other name—the professional sports leagues have made clear their true intentions: they care less about the so-called sanctity of their games, but rather about protecting their own money-making, cottage gaming industry.

“It is my hope that the nation’s highest court will uphold the will of the people and allow New Jersey to legislate its own affairs.”


See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Senators Demand Google Answer Questions About Covert Collection of User Location Data from Android Devices

Washington, D.C. - December 5, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- After an investigation by technology publication Quartz revealed Google collects Android users’ location data – even when location services are disabled – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) wrote to Google CEO Sundar Pichai to demand answers.

According to the Quartz investigation, Android devices are continually and covertly collecting users’ location information and sending this information to Google – including when location services are disabled, the phone has been reset to factory condition, no apps are running, or the SIM card is removed. These practices, which Google confirmed in the article, are alarming – and possibly in violation of Americans’ privacy rights.

Google’s response to the November 21 Quartz investigation was a pledge to no longer send “cell-tower location data to Google” by the end of November. It is not clear if the company has upheld its promise. In addition, Google has not indicated whether it would also commit to not sending back location data derived from other kinds of technologies used to determine location.

“These practices…are alarming, and the public deserves a full explanation from the company’s CEO of the reason behind this data collection. To date, Google’s explanation for this location tracking behavior has been inadequate,” Blumenthal and Markey wrote to Pichai. “The American public is growing increasingly uneasy about the amount of data collected on them. It is important that they are fully aware of exactly when, how, and why their location information is being collected by the companies that they have put their trust in.”

Blumenthal is Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security, and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Markey is a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

The full text of the Senators’ letter to Google is available for download here

See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Lawmakers Blast President Trump’s Attempt to Shrink National Monuments

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after President Trump announced he would drastically shrink the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, both created under the 1906 Antiquities Act:

“Once again, President Trump is taking an unprecedented step—this time, by trying to roll back public land protections and gut the time-honored Antiquities Act-- as a gift to Big Oil and other multi-national corporations. This is deeply disappointing but hardly surprising. Whether we are talking tax cuts, health care or any other issue, it is clear the Trump Administration will leave no stone unturned in its quest to make the rich richer, even if that means chipping away at tribal treaty rights, undermining efforts to combat climate change, or leaving middle class Americans behind.”

U.S. Senator Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the Interior Department’s budget, issued the following response to President Trump’s decision to massively roll back protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante national monuments.

“Let’s get one thing clear: Donald Trump’s decision to roll back Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante national monuments by over 80 percent isn’t a reconfiguration of the boundaries. His proclamation revokes the original monument boundaries, eviscerating protections for the lands and artifacts found upon them, and amounts to the largest frontal assault on public lands in history. These are lands of stunning natural beauty, unique ecology, and sacred meaning that the United States holds in trust for all of the American people. And today, the president attacked their cultural and historical significance, the outdoor recreation jobs in Southeastern Utah that depend on the monuments, and the stunning natural heritage we preserve for future generations.

“Most serious of all, the president’s actions are deeply insulting to the Native American Tribes who worked over many years to establish Bears Ears National Monument and now co-manage the monument. The Navajo, Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, Zuni, and Hopi tribes urged protection to shield sacred land and cultural sites from looting, vandalism, and energy development. The president is lifting protections for tens of thousands of Native American sacred sites, putting them at risk, and opening them for coal, oil and gas development. Trump’s decision to rescind protections and create new boundaries was made in secret — the public had no opportunity to review the plans or the decision-making process, and the Tribes were not consulted. Donald Trump’s ignorance and repeated disrespect for Native Americans diminish the office of the president of the United States.

“For all of these reasons, I believe this attack on public lands and heritage will not stand up to scrutiny. President Trump doesn’t have the legal authority to diminish a monument. He is using never-tested and dubious legal theories to try to reverse designations, and he will be challenged in court. I support the legal fight, and I will fight the president every step of the way in my capacity as the Democratic leader on Senate Indian Affairs and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.”

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) today released the following statement on Trump’s executive order to dramatically shrink the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah:

“This is an unprecedented and arguably illegal move that threatens our heritage. These places, like so many other public lands (including Oregon’s own Cascade-Siskiyou), hold cultural, environmental, economic, and recreational value that belong to all Americans, not just a select few. Honoring Native American cultural artifacts and celebrating the incredible biodiversity of these places should be of paramount importance for our nation’s leaders. Instead, the administration is opening the door for private industry to strip them bare.

“Americans overwhelmingly support protections for these remarkable treasures—and we will continue our fight to keep public lands in public hands.”

The Fight is on Against the Opioid Crisis: Manufacturers and Distributors Being Sued; Lawmakers Working Overtime

Washington, D.C. - December 4, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- According to a story in TwinCities.com, "Minnesota county attorneys from across the state plan to sue opioid manufacturers and distributors for allegedly using marketing tactics akin to the tobacco industry to flood communities with addictive and deadly narcotics." They aren't the only states suing.

There's been a lot of cases brought against Opioid manufacturers and distributors recently, and many of those cases won. A few of these cases are listed below, courtesy of Attorney Levin Papantonio at Levinlaw.com:

In 2017, McKesson Corporation, one of the nation’s largest distributors of pharmaceuticals, paid a $150 million civil penalty for violations of the Controlled Substances Act. McKesson was failing to report “suspicious orders” for oxycodone and hydrocodone, such as orders that were suspicious in frequency, size, or other patterns. To read more, click Justice Department McKesson

In 2017, Mallinckrodt Plc, a manufacturer of oxycodone, agreed to pay $35 million to resolve U.S. investigations into its monitoring and reporting of suspicious orders of controlled substances. To read more, click Reuters

In 2017, Costco Wholesale reached an $11.75 million settlement to resolve allegations that its pharmacies violated the Controlled Substances Act when they improperly filled prescriptions for controlled substances. To read more, click Justice Department Cosco

In 2017, Cardinal Health reached a settlement in the amount of $20 million with the state of West Virginia regarding the company's distribution of opioids in state between 2007 and 2012. "Cardinal and other wholesalers in a six-year period sent 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills to West Virginia – 433 per state resident . . . . In that time, there were 1,728 fatal overdoses from the addictive painkillers.” To read more, click Columbus Business First

In 2016, Cardinal Health, Inc. agreed to pay $44 million to the United States to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act in Maryland, Florida and New York by failing to report suspicious orders of controlled substances to pharmacies located in those states. To read more, click Justice Department Cardinal Health

In 2015, Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, agreed to pay the state of Kentucky $24 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of misleading the public about the addictiveness of the prescription opioid. To read more, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-settles-lawsuit-with-oxycontin-maker-for-24-million/

Another law firm, Haygood, Orr and Pearson, who've dubbed themselves the "Painkiller Overdose Lawyers", work like the traditional "ambulance chaser" lawyers with their ad page which says,

If you have lost a loved one to an overdose caused by opioid painkillers, you may qualify to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the drug or the doctor or hospital that issued the prescription. The first step in taking legal action is to discuss your case with an attorney to learn more your legal rights and review the first steps in filing a case.

The lawyers at Heygood, Orr & Pearson have filed hundreds of lawsuits on behalf of patients who harmed by opioid painkillers. Our law firm has settled more cases involving the powerful opioid fentanyl than all other law firms in the U.S. combined. Heygood, Orr & Pearson has also represented hundreds of patients who were victims of an opioid overdose.

For more information about filing an opioid overdose lawsuit and to find out whether you may be eligible to file a case, contact Heygood, Orr & Pearson...

According to Cohen and Malad, LLP Blog, "Consolidated City of Indianapolis hired Cohen & Malad, LLP to pursue legal action against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The mayor stated at an October 5, 2017 press conference that this legal action is an additional resource for the city in the fight against the opioid addiction epidemic sweeping across the United States and ravaging our communities."

These are only a few examples of the war against opioids going on.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar has released a statement following the announcement that Minnesota county attorneys have announced lawsuits against drug manufacturers and distributors for the public cost of the opioid crisis:

“The Minnesota Department of Health reported that 637 Minnesotans died from drug overdoses last year alone—and this crisis is not just in our state, it’s all over the country. Drug manufacturers and distributors spent years misleading the public about the addictive nature of their prescription drugs, contributing to the epidemic that has been officially deemed a public health emergency. These companies should be held accountable for their role in this crisis – and help pay for drug treatment for the people they got addicted.”

As a former Hennepin County Attorney, Klobuchar has long led local and national efforts to curb drug abuse and help people overcome addiction. Klobuchar was one of four senators, along with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), to lead the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). This bipartisan bill, which was signed into law in July 2016, encourages states and local communities to pursue a full array of proven strategies in the fight against opioid addiction. At the end of 2016, $1 billion was made available by Congress to fund the national effort. To build on the monumental first step of CARA, Klobuchar introduced the Prescription Drug Monitoring Act, which would require the use of strong prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) in all states that receive certain federal funding to combat opioid abuse and also requires states to make their PDMP data available to other states.

Earlier this year, she and ten other senators introduced the Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment (LifeBOAT) Act, which would establish a reliable funding stream to provide and expand access to substance abuse treatment. She and a bipartisan group of senators also introduced the Synthetic Abuse and Labeling of Toxic Substances (SALTS) Act and the Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act. The SALTS Act would make it easier to prosecute the sale of “analogue” drugs, which are synthetic substances that are substantially similar to illegal drugs. The STOP Act would help close a loophole in the U.S. postal system to stop dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from being shipped through our borders to drug traffickers in the U.S.

In September 2014, the DEA implemented Klobuchar’s bipartisan Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act. Under the legislation, consumers are provided with more safe and responsible ways to dispose of unused prescription medications and controlled substances.

It will be interesting to see how it all turns out...

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