All Issues
3/10/2010 | Homosexuality
Republicans Press Defense Secretary Gates to Explain Why Air Force Excluded Conservative Leader from Prayer Event
CNS News
The current and former House Republican Whips are calling on Defense Secretary Robert Gates to explain the “written or unwritten policies” that led the Air Force to rescind its invitation to conservative leader Tony Perkins from speaking at a national prayer luncheon at Andrews Air Force Base because he disagrees with President Obama’s policy on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
In a letter to Gates dated March 4, Reps. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) told the defense secretary they were “concerned” that a “new litmus test” was being applied when the Air Force (as CNSNews.com earlier reported) changed its mind about letting Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, participate in the Feb. 25 event “because statements posted on the organization he leads are purportedly at odds with the positions of the president” -- statements condemning Obama's intention to change the military policy on homosexuality.
“This action troubles us a great deal,” the congressmen wrote, “not only in this particular case, but because of the implications for anyone who might disagree with the administration in the future.”
3/10/2010 | Israel
Vice President Biden Says Palestinians Deserve 'Viable' State
Associated Press
U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk at a dinner at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner, Pool)
Ramallah, West Bank (AP) - Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday the Palestinians deserve a "viable" independent state with contiguous territory, seeking to reassure them of U.S. support after Israel announced plans to expand a Jewish neighborhood in disputed east Jerusalem.
The Israeli move has overshadowed Biden's visit, meant to promote a new round of U.S.-led negotiations, and drawn Palestinian accusations that Israel is not serious about peace. Israel apologized for embarrassing Biden with the timing of its announcement, but made clear it has no intention of reversing its plan.
Recommended Guests:
William Devlin, National President, Redeem The VotePaul "Dave" Gaubatz, Owner-Director, Wahhabi CT PublicationsPeter Lillback, President, Westminster Theological SeminaryJan Markell, President, Olive Tree MinistriesWalid Shoebat, President, Shoebat FoundationWilliam Sutter, Executive Director, The Friends of Israel3/8/2010 | Healthcare
Susan B. Anthony List Press Teleconference, March 5, 2010 – Ohio Polling Results
Press Call from the SBA List
Thanks for joining the call today. I'm Joy Yearout with the Susan B. Anthony List. I'll be your moderator this morning. The purpose of the teleconference is to announce the results of several polls we did on abortion and healthcare in select congressional districts in Ohio. We'll discuss the results and how they're informing the Susan B. Anthony List's effort to leverage the pro-life grassroots.
CLICK ON MARJORIE DANNENFELSER'S BIOGRAPHY TO THE RIGHT TO READ THE ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT
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3/8/2010 | Healthcare
Susan B. Anthony List Press Teleconference – March 5, 2010, Indiana Polling Results
Press Call from the SBA List
The purpose of our teleconference is to announce the results of polls on abortion and healthcare that were conducted this week in Indiana in two congressional districts, Congressman Brad Ellsworth and also Congressman Baron Hill. We'll discuss the results and how they are informing the Susan B. Anthony List's efforts to leverage the pro-life grassroots.
CLICK ON MARJORIE DANNENFELSER'S BIOGRAPHY TO THE RIGHT TO READ THE ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT
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3/8/2010 | Healthcare
Susan B. Anthony List Press Teleconference Call- March 5, 2010, Pennsylvania Polling Results
Press Call from the SBA List
The purpose of our teleconference is to announce the results of select polling in congressional districts in Pennsylvania. We'll discuss those results and how they're informing the Susan B. Anthony List's efforts to leverage the pro-life grassroots. The survey toplines and crosstabs are all available online at www.sba-list.org/poll. Again, you can download the survey results at www.sba-list.org/poll. We just posted the crosstabs today.
CLICK ON MARJORIE DANNENFELSER'S BIOGRAPHY TO THE RIGHT TO READ THE ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT
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3/5/2010 | Healthcare
Susan B. Anthony List and the Polling Company Release Poll on Abortion Funding In Healthcare Bill
Press Call from the SBA List
Joy Yearout: The purpose of this teleconference is to announce the results of eight polls on abortion and healthcare that were conducted this week in select congressional districts. We'll discuss the results and how they are informing the Susan B. Anthony List's effort to leverage the pro-life grassroots in the healthcare debate.
CLICK ON MARJORIE DANNENFELSER'S BIOGRAPHY TO THE RIGHT TO READ THE ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT
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3/4/2010 | Abortion, Healthcare
Stupak: 12 Dems ready to oppose health care bill
Associated Press
A congressman who has played a key role in the long-running health care debate says he and 11 other Democrats will vote against the overhaul unless a provision subsidizing abortion is removed.
Rep. Bart Stupak argued Thursday that the provision in the Senate-passed version has language that would permit the federal government to "directly subsidize abortions."
The Michigan Democrat said he supports health care change, but he said several Democrats who voted for it the House would oppose it next time around in the absence of change. Stupak said on ABC's "Good Morning America" that "we're not going to bypass some principles that we believe strongly about." The administration argues that Obama's bill would retain existing restrictions on federally-financed abortions.
Recommended Guests:
Rev. Clenard Childress, Jr., Assistant Director, Life Education and Resource NetworkSteve Curtis, LifeCommercials.comMarjorie Dannenfelser, President and Chairman of the Board, Susan B. Anthony ListLen Deo, President, New Jersey Family Policy CouncilWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJessica Echard, Executive Director, Eagle ForumTim G. Echols, President/Founder, TeenPactGeorgette Forney, Co-Founder, Silent No MoreColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingDr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchPeter Lillback, President, Westminster Theological SeminaryJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinAmy Payne, Director of Communications, Americans for ProsperityPhyllis Schlafly, President and Founder, Eagle ForumChristopher Slattery, Founder and President, EMC Frontline Pregnancy CentersDavid Smith, Executive Director, Illinois Family InstituteDavid Wheaton, Author, Speaker, Radio Talk Show Host, TheChristianWorldview.com3/4/2010 | Economy
House to Vote on Jobs Bill That Includes Tax Breaks for New Hires
Associated Press
A measure blending highway funding eagerly sought by the states with tax breaks for companies that hire unemployed workers appeared headed for House passage Thursday as Democrats work to send President Barack Obama the first of several promised election-year jobs bills.
Some Democrats, especially those representing minority districts, feel that the Senate's $35 billion proposal is too puny. The pressure, however, is on Democrats to create jobs and to deliver a badly needed win for Obama and a Democratic Party that's struggling in opinion polls and faces losses in upcoming midterm elections.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)David Bossie, President, Citizens UnitedDan Celia, Host, "Financial Issues Live" Radio ProgramWard Connerly, Author/Founder and Chairman, American Civil Rights InstituteWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJames Edwards, Cofounder, Olive, Edwards, & Cooper, LLCJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyJames Gelfand, Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingLowman Henry, Chairman & CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc.Larry Hunter, President, The Social Security InstituteJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)Tony Strickland, Taxpayer Advocate3/2/2010 | Economy
American reliance on government at all-time high
The Washington Times
The so-called "Great Recession" has left Americans depending on the government dole like never before.
Without record levels of welfare, unemployment and other government benefits as well as tax cuts last year, the income of U.S. households would have plunged by an astonishing $723 billion — more than four times the record $167 billion drop reported last month by the Commerce Department.
Moreover, for the first time since the Great Depression, Americans took more aid from the government than they paid in taxes.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)David Bossie, President, Citizens UnitedDan Celia, Host, "Financial Issues Live" Radio ProgramWard Connerly, Author/Founder and Chairman, American Civil Rights InstituteWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJames Edwards, Cofounder, Olive, Edwards, & Cooper, LLCJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyJames Gelfand, Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingLowman Henry, Chairman & CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc.Larry Hunter, President, The Social Security InstituteJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)Tony Strickland, Taxpayer Advocate3/2/2010 | Healthcare
Democrats ready final push for healthcare bill
Reuters
Congressional Democrats prepared to launch a final push on Tuesday to pass healthcare reform without Republicans this month, and predicted it could gain new support from Democrats who opposed it last year.
U.S. House of Representatives Democratic leader Steny Hoyer said he saw the possibility of gaining support for President Barack Obama's sweeping healthcare overhaul from Democrats who voted "no" when the House considered it in November.
2/25/2010 | Israel
EU: West Bank goods can't be considered Israeli
Associated Press
In a ruling touching on the status of the West Bank, the European Union high court said Thursday the disputed area is not part of Israel and Israeli goods made there are subject to EU import duties.
The ruling has no immediate bearing on the Mideast peace process. But for trade purposes, it argues Israel has no standing in the area where it has built settlements and where its companies make such products as cookies, pretzels, wines, cosmetics and computer equipment.
The ruling opens the door to EU import duties on Israeli goods from the West Bank rendering those products less competitive.
Recommended Guests:
William Devlin, National President, Redeem The VotePaul "Dave" Gaubatz, Owner-Director, Wahhabi CT PublicationsPeter Lillback, President, Westminster Theological SeminaryJan Markell, President, Olive Tree MinistriesWalid Shoebat, President, Shoebat FoundationWilliam Sutter, Executive Director, The Friends of Israel2/25/2010 | Healthcare
GOP to Obama at summit: 'We have a better idea'
Associated Press
President Barack Obama argued Thursday that a sweeping overhaul of the nation's broken health care system is imperative for the nation's future economic vitality, setting off an immediate clash in an extraordinary live-on-TV summit with Republicans who want far more modest changes. "We believe we have a better idea," retorted GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander.
With the daylong policy debate available from start to finish to a divided public, Obama and Democratic leaders cast the health care reform they want as critical to tackling an issue that's even more pressing to many Americans — the still-hurting economy. After opening the summit with hugs and handshakes, Obama declared that even as politicians focus on propelling economic growth, they must also address "one of the biggest drags on our economy
2/23/2010 | Healthcare
'My heart, my choice,' Williams says, defending decision for U.S. heart surgery
An unapologetic Danny Williams says he was aware his trip to the United States for heart surgery earlier this month would spark outcry, but he concluded his personal health trumped any public fallout over the controversial decision.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Williams said he went to Miami to have a "minimally invasive" surgery for an ailment first detected nearly a year ago, based on the advice of his doctors.
"This was my heart, my choice and my health," Williams said late Monday from his condominium in Sarasota, Fla.
Williams said he didn't announce his departure south of the border because he didn't want to create "a media gong show," but added that criticism would've followed him had he chose to have surgery in Canada.
"I would've been criticized if I had stayed in Canada and had been perceived as jumping a line or a wait list. ... I accept that. That's public life," he said.
2/22/2010 | Healthcare
Obama puts forward $1 trillion health care plan
Associated Press
President Barack Obama is putting forward a nearly $1 trillion, 10-year health care plan that would allow the government to deny or roll back egregious insurance premium increases that infuriated consumers.
Posted Monday morning on the White House Web site, the plan would provide coverage to more than 31 million Americans now uninsured without adding to the federal deficit.
It conspicuously omits a government insurance plan sought by liberals.
2/22/2010 | Economy
Obama Says Raising Taxes Will Fix Social Security
Associated Press
President Barack Obama says Social Security is slowly running out of money but that it can exist well into the future with a slight fix.
The system is funded with a tax on earnings, up to $109,000 a year. Obama says lifting that cap to tax a larger share of income would be one way to extend the system of monthly payments for retirees. It also would be unpopular with some.
Without an adjustment, Obama said Social Security will start to run out of money in about 20 years as more people begin collecting benefits.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)David Bossie, President, Citizens UnitedDan Celia, Host, "Financial Issues Live" Radio ProgramWard Connerly, Author/Founder and Chairman, American Civil Rights InstituteWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJames Edwards, Cofounder, Olive, Edwards, & Cooper, LLCJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyJames Gelfand, Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingLowman Henry, Chairman & CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc.Larry Hunter, President, The Social Security InstituteJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)Tony Strickland, Taxpayer Advocate2/19/2010 | Healthcare
HHS chief: Rates cry for reform
The Washington Post
The Obama administration stepped up its criticism Thursday of WellPoint and other health insurers' recent efforts to raise their rates -- an attempt to harness public aggravation with the industry and rebuild momentum for broad changes to the nation's health-care system.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius cited half a dozen examples, from Maine to Washington state, in which insurers have in the past year sought large premium increases on people who buy coverage individually. In all but one case, according to a report released by HHS, state insurance regulators rejected all or part of the requested increases.
2/19/2010 | Economy, Healthcare
Economy forces states to reduce Medicaid spending
USA Today
More than half the states are reducing Medicaid services and payments to health care providers this year as the recession propelled enrollments to record levels and sapped money from treasuries.
Governors who will meet with President Obama this weekend have taken some actions to close budget deficits. Arizona froze enrollment in its Children's Health Insurance Program. California plans to close adult day health care centers next month. Nevada is cutting coverage for eyeglasses, dentures and hearing aids.
Most states are threatening bigger cuts starting in July unless Congress extends a higher federal contribution included in last year's $862 billion economic stimulus law. Some of those cuts would make it harder for low-income people to qualify.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)David Bossie, President, Citizens UnitedDan Celia, Host, "Financial Issues Live" Radio ProgramWard Connerly, Author/Founder and Chairman, American Civil Rights InstituteMarjorie Dannenfelser, President and Chairman of the Board, Susan B. Anthony ListWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJames Edwards, Cofounder, Olive, Edwards, & Cooper, LLCJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyJames Gelfand, Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingLowman Henry, Chairman & CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc.Larry Hunter, President, The Social Security InstituteJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)Amy Payne, Director of Communications, Americans for ProsperityTony Strickland, Taxpayer Advocate2/18/2010 | Healthcare
Democrats May Not Have Health Proposal Before Summit With Obama
Bloomberg.com
U.S. House Democrats said their party may not be able to offer a single health-care proposal at the Feb. 25 meeting President Barack Obama has called with a challenge to Republicans to present their alternative. Obama has promised to “post online the text of a proposed health-insurance package” in advance of the televised meeting. Democrats in Congress are still reconciling differences between versions of health legislation passed last year by the House and Senate. House Democrats, during a conference call with reporters yesterday, said that though the two chambers are close to an agreement, they may not have a united plan by next week.
2/18/2010 | Governmental Control
‘Mt. Vernon Statement’ of Conservative Principles Released to Public
CNSNews.com
America must return to “constitutional conservatism” and her founding principles, which have been “under sustained attack,” reads a statement to be signed on Wednesday by 80 leaders of the conservative movement.
“We recommit ourselves to the ideas of the American Founding,” reads the document, entitled The Mt. Vernon Statement. “Through the Constitution, the Founders created an enduring framework of limited government based on the rule of law. They sought to secure national independence, provide for economic opportunity, establish true religious liberty and maintain a flourishing society of republican self-government.”
Recommended Guests:
Tom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteSteve Elliott, President, Grassfire.orgJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyJames Gelfand, Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceRick Green, President, Torch of Freedom FoundationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingCliff Kincaid, President, America's Survival, Inc.Gary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation NetworkJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)Phyllis Schlafly, President and Founder, Eagle ForumTony Strickland, Taxpayer AdvocateLorianne Updike, President & Executive Director, The Constitutional Sources Project2/16/2010 | Economy
Brand names fight to stay in stores
CNNMoney.com
Don't be shocked if you can't find your favorite salad dressing or mouthwash on your next trip to Wal-Mart.
Large retailers -- including Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500), the world's biggest -- are wrestling with having too many types of brand-name products. At the same time, shoppers are buying less and looking for bargains.
So unless a particular brand is a top seller in its category, it's getting knocked off the shelf -- and sometimes getting replaced by a cheaper store brand.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)David Bossie, President, Citizens UnitedDan Celia, Host, "Financial Issues Live" Radio ProgramWard Connerly, Author/Founder and Chairman, American Civil Rights InstituteWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJames Edwards, Cofounder, Olive, Edwards, & Cooper, LLCJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyJames Gelfand, Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingLowman Henry, Chairman & CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc.Larry Hunter, President, The Social Security InstituteJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)Tony Strickland, Taxpayer Advocate