Judicial Watch: Court Hearing on Monday, September 11, Regarding Taxpayer Lawsuit over San Francisco's Sanctuary Policy

Source: Judicial Watch

Washington, D.C. - September 8, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Judicial Watch has announced a court hearing will be held on Monday, September 11, 2017, before Judge Harold A. Kahn regarding Judicial Watch's taxpayer lawsuit against San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy and the San Francisco Sheriff's Department (SFSD) to prevent the use of taxpayer funds on policies "that prohibit or restrict SFSD personnel from sharing ... immigration-related information with federal immigration law enforcement officials." The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Cynthia Cerletti, a taxpayer of the city and county of San Francisco, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco (Cynthia Cerletti v. Vicki Hennessy (No. CGC-16-556164)).

In its court filing opposing Sheriff Hennessy's effort to have Ms. Cerletti's lawsuit dismissed, Judicial Watch argues:

"Sheriff Hennessy's refusal to share basic information about the release of deportable criminal aliens in her custody – the date, time, and place of their scheduled release – plainly frustrates Congress' clear purpose in enacting section 1226(c). By refusing to share release information, Sheriff Hennessy allows deportable criminal aliens in her custody – aliens Congress plainly intended to be detained upon release from the custody of [law enforcement agencies] such as SFSD – to escape federal immigration officials' grasp. Her restrictions enable aliens who have committed aggravated felonies or other crimes deemed sufficiently serious by Congress to warrant detaining them and denying them bond or conditional parole to remain at large pending removal. Not only might such persons pose a further danger to the community – which was one of Congress' main concerns – but federal immigration officials must spend additional time and resources and assume unnecessary risk to themselves, the aliens, and others locating and apprehending them."

"San Francisco's sanctuary policy is illegal and dangerous," stated Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch president. "San Francisco and other sanctuary cities are on notice that taxpayers can challenge these unlawful policies in court."

The court hearing is scheduled for:

Date: Monday, September 11, 2017
Time: 9:30 a.m. PT
Location: Superior Court of California
400 McAllister Street
Department 302
San Francisco, CA 94102-3680
Civic Center Courthouse

Robert Patrick Sticht, a Los Angeles-based attorney, is serving as lead counsel in the Cerletti litigation.

For all recent filings in this case, click here.

Save the Children Prioritizes Recovery of Child Care Centers, Schools in Texas in Wake of Hurricane Harvey

Source: Save the Children

Fairfield, CT - September 8, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- The most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years has damaged or destroyed an estimated 40 percent* of child care and early education centers in the greater Houston area. Save the Children is working with local education partners across the Lone Star state to help restore these centers so children can begin to recover and get back to learning.

"Children can begin to cope when they are able to interact and play with their peers and resume a normal routine," said Jeanne-Aimee De Marrais, Save the Children's senior director of U.S. emergencies. "That is why it is so important to get these children back into daycare and preschool classrooms. It is essential for them to stay engaged and focused on learning during this stressful time."

Save the Children is the national leader in helping restore child care and early education centers after emergencies, and helped lead such efforts in Texas in 2008 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike and in New Jersey and New York in 2012 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

The global humanitarian organization, as part of a coalition of local and state partners, has been assessing the greater Houston area's child care recovery needs, and working to ensure local families – including those displaced and living in evacuation shelters – can once again access child care and early education programs. It is also planning to meet the needs of families who, because of the impact of the storm, have a new need for child care services.

"I have met many children in the area shelters we're supporting who can't wait for school to start and see their friends," said De Marrais. "Our priority is to make sure the children and families affected by this hurricane are able to regain a sense of normalcy as soon as possible, and getting these kids back in school will help that process."

Nearly half the schools in Houston were also impacted by the record-breaking storm, and with some schools planned to reopen as early as Monday, Save the Children is helping make sure school-age kids can have access to schools and after-school programs. It also plans to help secure and distribute essential school supplies damaged by Hurricane Harvey, including books, computers, sports, band and art equipment and supplies, and support efforts to refurbish libraries and playgrounds.

Save the Children's emergency response team has been on the ground in Texas since before the storm hit, working to meet children and families' immediate needs. It has established Child Friendly Spaces in evacuation shelters in areas disrupted by the storm, as well as distributed essential supplies to shelters, such as portable cribs, strollers and infant and toddler hygiene supplies. Save the Children's Child Friendly Spaces are safe, designated areas where children can play, socialize and begin to recover after a disaster, while allowing their parents to concentrate on addressing immediate and longer-term recovery needs.

Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood — every day, in times of crisis and for our future.

Video: Protesters Disrupt Public Advocate at White House

Source: Public Advocate USA

Washington, D.C. - September 8, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Protesters crashed and disrupted Public Advocate president Eugene Delgaudio as he concluded a statement about the reversal of President Donald Trump's standing executive order on transgender policies in the nation's school system by out of control Obama Administrative holdovers in the Department of Education.

Delgaudio was asking for President Trump to correct the intent of a "secret legal memorandum" issued earler by Education bureaucrats and demonstrators started chanting "Hey Hey Ho Ho, Donald Trump has got to go".

Delgaudio said this in part:

"Mr. President, America applauds your leadership and reversals of many corrupt Obama policies that attacked America's children and their privacy through a so-called Transgender bathroom policy ordered by then president Obama. Now, today, a secrect legal memorandum seems to have been distributed without serious public notice or media scrutiny of any kind that reverses your own actions to protect millions of Christian and other morally traditional American families. Please quickly correct this sneak attack to undo your own proper restraint of those who would interfere or otherwise propagandize their anti-traditional family practices on innocents, " said Delgaudio

See the video

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Rules in Favor of Invocations before Jackson County Board of Commissioners Meetings

Source: First Liberty

The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit sitting en banc affirmed the decision of a federal district court judge and ruled today that the Board of Commissioners in Jackson County, Michigan—represented by First Liberty Institute—may open its meetings with invocations. The commissioners offer invocations on a rotating basis and are free to act according to their own consciences by delivering either an invocation or offering a moment of silence.

"Today's decision further solidifies what the U.S. Supreme Court has now twice said: Invocations before government meetings are constitutional and an important part of our nation's history and heritage," said Ken Klukowski, Senior Counsel at First Liberty.

In Marsh v. Chambers (1983) and Town of Greece v. Galloway (2014), the U.S. Supreme Court found invocations before government meetings to be fully consistent with the Constitution and an important part of America's history and heritage.

First Liberty also represents the commissioners of Rowan County, North Carolina (Lund v. Rowan County), whose case was heard en banc in March 2017 before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In July, the Fourth Circuit ruled against the Rowan County commissioners in a split 10-5 vote. First Liberty is currently considering an appeal of the Rowan County decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Click here to learn more...

First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

Houston Texans Player Jon Weeks Releases T-Shirt to Support Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

Source: Athletes Brand

Scottsdale, AZ - September 8, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Houston Texans long snapper Jon Weeks has teamed up with Athletes Brand on a limited edition t-shirt to help fellow Houstonians in the wake of unimaginable devastation that was wrought by Hurricane Harvey throughout Texas. 100% of t-shirt profits will benefit a hurricane relief fund established by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and housed under the Greater Houston Community Fund (GHCF).

Though officially released today, the t-shirt has already helped raise more than $2,300 for the benefiting fund. A relief effort spearheaded by J.J. Watt, Jon’s teammate, has helped garner nearly $19 million at the time of this writing. While the amount of critical funds raised varies greatly, the root of their efforts is one in the same.

“(Southeast) Texas has suffered previously unimaginable devastating loss. In the midst of frightening chaos during the multi day storm, came shining tales of hope - images of neighbor helping neighbor,” said Jon Weeks, in a statement on his Instagram page. Thank you to our brave first responders, neighbors in their bass boats, our local affiliates and their incredible reporting, and to the Cajun Navy. We are all Houston Strong. There are many ways to give to Hurricane Harvey Relief. (The t-shirt campaign) is one of them. We love you, Houston. We will get through this.”

The limited-edition “Houston Strong” t-shirt can be purchased from HoustonStrongShirt.com. Co-designed and imagined by Weeks, the shirt features a Houston skyline that takes on a hand drawn look, an ode to the people of Houston who are rebuilding the city by hand and extending a hand to one another every step of the way. The tri-blend shirt is available in Men’s, Women’s, and Youth options.


For more information about Weeks’ campaign, click here.

NLC Statement in Response to House Passage of the SELF DRIVE Act

Source: The National League of Cities

Washington, D.C. - September 8, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- The U.S. House of Representatives passed the SELF DRIVE Act (HR3388), a bill that provides for information on highly automated driving systems to be made available to prospective buyers. In response to House passage The National League of Cities released the following statement:

"City leaders welcome the promise of safer roads and reduced congestion that autonomous vehicles (AV) can offer our communities. As AV legislation advances, we call on Congress to ensure a safe and effective rollout of AVs on city streets. Cities have been the testing ground for this technology, and local leaders remain committed to ensuring that AVs are integrated onto our roads in a safe and timely manner.”

Chabot Praises Court Decision to End Overtime Rule

Source: House Small Business Committee

Washington, D.C. - September 8, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Last week, a federal judge struck down the Obama administration’s costly Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime rule. House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) commended the decision in the following statement:

“Small business owners, and their employees, can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they will have to worry about one less burdensome rule that hurts their business or affects their job. This is an issue the Committee has been working hard to reverse. I look forward to working with the new Administration as the Department of Labor continues to get feedback from stakeholders about what would be most favorable to small business owners,” said Chairman Chabot.

Chairman Chabot and Committee Republicans have focused on the DOL overtime rule throughout the 114th and 115th Congress.

The Committee has held numerous hearings and roundtables and sent letters explaining the damage this rule would cause to small businesses.

The Department of Labor is still inviting stakeholders to submit public comments on the overtime rule. For more information, the Committee has put together a Regulatory Watch page on our website to track regulatory proposals that have been published in the Federal Register and are open for public comment.

Subcommittee Begins Comprehensive Onshore Federal Lands Energy Policy Overhaul with Review of Targeted Reform Measures

Source: The House Committee on Natural Resources

Washington, D.C. - September 7, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources began a comprehensive legislative overhaul of federal onshore energy development with a legislative hearing to review targeted bills that reform the existing federal regulatory framework.

“Each of these bills seeks to facilitate responsible onshore energy production and promote economic development and diversification in energy producing States across the country,” Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar (R-AZ) said.

H.R. 3565, the “Federal Lands Freedom Act,” introduced by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), allows States to seek primacy for the implementation of federal leasing, permitting and regulatory responsibilities for oil and gas development on federal lands.

“The key to sustainable, long term growth of federal minerals is a comprehensive long term energy strategy with focus on enhanced access, streamlined development approval and reasonable and protective environmental regulations. Delegating primary authority to the states would ensure environmentally-responsible development is possible without the lengthy delays associated with the federal onshore process,” Chairman of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming Paul Ulrich stated.

Anthony Ferate, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association, explains that this is not a new concept as the Environmental Protect Agency currently grants primacy to states for the Underground Injection Control Program.

“State regulators are better situated to understand the geology of the state, [the] unique land issues at hand in a state and to know operators that function within state’s borders,” Ferate added.

A 2015 study by the Property and Environment Research Center found that the federal government loses money managing valuable natural resources on federal lands, while states generate significant financial returns from state trust lands. More specifically, for every dollar spent managing federal lands, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management earned 73 cents while state land trusts earned over $14.

H.R. 2907, the “Planning for American Energy Act of 2017,” introduced by Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), directs the Secretary of Interior to develop an all-of-the-above energy production plan strategy for all onshore federal lands every four years to ensure the nation’s long-term energy security.

“Affordable energy is the backbone of a strong economy. Low electric bills mean more money in family pockets. It makes a difference in quality of life from heat to groceries, from the light switch to the refrigerator,” Ulrich noted.

H.R. 2661, the “State Mineral Revenue Protection Act,” introduced by Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), enables States to administer the collection of their share of mineral revenues produced on their lands, eliminating the need for the 2% administrative fee charged by the federal government. In fiscal year 2016, the fee collected almost $26 million, which could have been used by states to fund public services such as public school systems.

“These revenues that the States so badly need go for example to serve schools and some of our most economically hard hit areas. These are crucial revenues that the States need that we get from energy development and that energy is powering this nation,” Rep. Cheney said.

Trump administration moves to take away overtime pay from workers

Source: Economic Policy Institute

Washington, D.C. - September 7, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- "Once again, the Trump administration is weighing in against working people getting raises. The Department of Justice today filed a motion to dismiss its appeal of a preliminary injunction against the Obama administration’s overtime rule, quietly siding with business groups and state attorneys general who challenged the updated rule because they do not want millions of working people to earn overtime pay or spend more time with their families.

Unsurprisingly, when choosing between corporate interests and working people, the Trump administration sides with the former. A higher overtime threshold would literally put money in the pockets of hard-working middle class workers or give them more time with their families and the Trump administration is choosing to support weakening or killing this rule. One cannot help but notice that the Trump administration is quick to position itself near working people in photo ops, but is quietly working to undermine regulations that actually help working people."

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Eagle Forum Applauds Trump Administration for Eliminating Business-Killing Regulation

Source: Eagle Forum

Alton, IL - September 7, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Eagle Forum applauds President Trump for withdrawing an Obama Administration regulation that mandated burdensome requirements for businesses to report salary data based on race and sex,” said Eagle Forum President Eunie Smith.

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====“The purpose behind the regulation was to lay the bureaucratic foundation for enacting ‘comparable worth,’ a radical feminist concept Eagle Forum has been fighting for decades,” Smith noted. “Comparable worth is a euphemism for federal government wage control.”

The feminists demand this kind of government intervention in order to eliminate the so called “gender pay gap.”

Not only did this regulation place an enormous burden on businesses; it supported a disingenuous statistic. Merely averaging men’s and women’s wages ignores the reality that many women choose to take time off from the labor force in order to raise a family. Many women choose to work fewer hours per week to allow time for other activities. Many women choose less labor-intensive or dangerous careers. Many women prefer jobs with flexible work schedules. Any job with a flexible work schedule will likely be a lower-paying job.

“Eagle Forum opposes all federal government efforts to control wages and the job killing regulations that come along with such efforts,” Smith concluded, “We are so thankful to have a president who understands that such policy dramatically harms businesses, which, in turn, harms women and men alike.”