SOME STORIES THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION
THE SUPREME COURT:
Remember all the talk from the left that if we approve these conservative judges the ACA will be overturned, abortion rights will cease and every other civil right would be gone?
Well the court has proven to be pretty pragmatic and ruling almost down the middle and pretty much together. Two examples:
It voted 9-0 in favor of religious organizations allowing them to have a First Amendment right to turn away same-sex couples adoptions. Now they can still do adoptions and not break their religious beliefs. Kind of makes sense, doesn’t it? The government had wanted them to cease all adoptions if they couldn’t do same sex couples. The court thought of religion and the kids 9-0.
Then it voted 7-2 to preserve the Affordable Care Act, saying the Attorney Generals (Republican) did not have the legal standing to bring their lawsuit.
So, one liberal decision and one conservative. No 5-4 as they all feared. Just sanity.
ANOTHER COURT RULING THAT MADE SENSE:
Remember when the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act passed earlier this year?
The Department of Agriculture offered assistance to “socially disadvantaged” farmers and ranchers who are black, American Indian or Alaskan native, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian American or Pacific Islander. The USDA said those producers face “systemic discrimination” and, therefore, apparently deserve systemic favoritism and no white farmer was eligible.
That raised a question, is racism still racism no matter who it is against?
It went to court and Judge William Griesbach of Wisconsin’s Eastern District said that this discriminatory practice must stop. He ruled strongly in favor of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, which filed suit in April on behalf of farmers in Wisconsin, as well as Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, and South Dakota.
Griesbach halted the $4 billion program, saying the plaintiffs “are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim” that they have been denied pandemic relief dollars simply because they’re white. Indeed, the USDA’s “use of race-based criteria in the administration of the program violates their right to equal protection under the law,” Griesbach said. “The Court recognized that the federal government’s plan to condition and allocate benefits on the basis of race raises grave constitutional concerns and threatens our clients with irreparable harm,” said Rick Esenberg, president and general counsel for WILL. “The Biden administration is radically undermining bedrock principles of equality under the law.”
NOT MUCH COVERAGE:
I didn’t see the coverage but the House dropped their investigation against three Republicans that they accused of “instigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.” You know, the only riot and protest that mattered because it was against them. They made a big deal that the rioters had inside help from Republicans and now are forced to admit there is no evidence.
You heard the charges. Did you know this?
THEY CAN MOVE FAST:
The Senate and House passed in back to back days and President Biden signed a bill to make Juneteenth (June 19th) a federal holiday. It will be the first new holiday since 1983, when Congress made Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a holiday. It is the twelfth federal holiday we will have.
Juneteeth will be a day that marks the end of slavery in the U.S., and the holiday will be celebrated as Juneteenth National Independence Day.
THE CHANGE IN ISREAL:
You saw the change in Isreali leadership as the era of Benjamin Netanyahu came to end. Did you know the vote in the Israeli parliament was 60-59 to elect Naftail Bennent? After four elections it was that close.
WAIT, ARE WE FAIR?
You’ve heard of the Congressional Black Caucus, right? It’s made up of members of congress who are minority and want to discuss and fight for rights and legislation. Sounds good, right? Well a black Republican congressman wanted to join (Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida). He made several overtures to join. Rep. Donalds was a Trump supporter. He has been denied.
Why would that be, are conservative views not allowed? Wouldn’t they want all members and all views? Maybe they should change their name adding Liberal to it.
A FEW STORIES THAT MADE ME SAY “WHAT?”
– The administration has lifted sanctions on more than a dozen former Iranian officials and energy firms. Why? Iran is more active than in years and soon we’ll see their activity in Afghanistan. Shouldn’t sanctions lifting be a reward for positive behavior?
– The U.S. budget deficit grew to a record $2.1 trillion during the first eight months of the fiscal year.
Does anyone care about the debt of our children and grandchildren, or is all we care about is us and today?
– China has slowed its efforts to cut emissions. Here’s a direct quote: “China’s top economic planners have put the brakes on attempts by environmental officials to reduce carbon emissions.” Wait.
They’re the largest polluter, and now they’re slowing efforts to be better? Aren’t we all in on this Green Deal, no matter the cost? Does this make sense?
Is anyone surprised by this story other than maybe Biden, Harris and climate czar John Kerry?
– On that same score, gas prices rose 56.2% since last year. That’s the highest increase since Jimmy Carter’s last year in office. This is before we became an importer again.
THERE WAS A GLIMMER OF HOPE
A story that did not get much coverage but offers some hope was this one.
A federal judge in Louisiana issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Biden administration from pausing new oil and gas leases on federal land. Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court in Monroe said the administration doesn’t have the legal right to stop leasing federal territory for oil and gas production without approval from Congress.
Of course, Congress in its current format, may agree we should stop.
ANOTHER RULING, BUT WHY FIX A PROBLEM AT THE BORDER?
Homeland Security officials said they are “legally required” to spend billions of dollars Congress allocated to Mexican border wall construction, but said they will focus on projects that “mitigate” damage from previous construction rather than on finishing the wall President Trump had planned.
Sure, why fix the problem, that might make too much sense.
INFRASTRUCTURE:
There is much push back here and over 20 senators have signed on to a bipartisan compromise.
“We support this bipartisan framework that provides an historic investment in our nation’s core infrastructure needs without raising taxes,” the group of 20 senators — 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats — said in a statement. “We look forward to working with our Republican and Democratic colleagues to develop legislation based on this framework to address America’s critical infrastructure challenges.”
The group is closer to a $1trillion dollar plan than the proposed almost $3 trillion. In addition, they are proposing no new taxes to pay for it. They want to take from spending already approved and not used.
Imagine that. Let’s see what happens.
THE FILIBUSTER:
It is becoming clearer that there are more Democratic Senators other than Manchin and Sinema who are against changing it. Senator Tester is another, and there are a number of quiet members who are afraid to speak out. One who was, Senator Rosen (NV), told the Washington Post she was opposed to changing the 60 vote threshold. Within two days she was forced by the left to backtrack and say she was still open.
But, you get the idea, the support is not there. This upcoming week will see this issue front and center.
FINALLY, HOW MUCH HAVE WE CHANGED FROM OUR PARENTS GENERATION?
Here’s an example. This month in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a measure adding the phrase “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.
Couldn’t possibley be done today. In fact there are factions that want to take it out.