Family Research Council Statement on Senate Vote on Motion to Proceed to Obamacare Repeal

 July 25, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Senate agreed to proceed to a debate on H.R. 1628, the House-passed American Health Care Act of 2017. In order for the Senate to debate the important elements of Obamacare's repeal and replacement, senators needed first to support a procedural motion to begin consideration of H.R. 1628. Family Research Council (FRC) scored in favor of the motion to proceed to H.R. 1628.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

"Finally, the U.S. Senate has taken a crucial step toward repealing Obamacare, redirecting dollars away from the abortion giant Planned Parenthood and putting America's healthcare system on a path to recovery. For more than 7 years, Republicans have promised the American people that they would repeal Obamacare, they did so in 2015, and now Congress finally has a president who will put his signature on the legislation.

"Family Research Council supported beginning debate on this health care legislation in order to get to amendments to repeal Obamacare with its massive expansion of subsidies for health care plans that cover elective abortion, to defund abortion organizations from mandatory spending programs and pull back on this onerous law that has harmed so many families. The motion to proceed was only the first step, and now senators need to support amendments to rid America of the moral, regulatory, and cost burden that the so-called 'Affordable' Care Act has been.

"We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the many Members of Congress who make the protection of unborn children in the context of health care reform a high priority. The eyes of the pro-life movement are now intensely focused on the U.S. Senate as they vote on amendments to repeal Obamacare and replace it without also subsidizing elective abortion. We strongly support amendments to ensure that, if abortion funding protections on credits are struck on procedural grounds, that Americans' tax dollars are redirected in a way that does not subsidize abortion coverage.

"We strongly oppose any amendments to continue funding for abortion organizations, such as Planned Parenthood. It's the moral responsibility of Republican senators to support the repeal bill and fulfill their campaign promises that helped them secure the congressional majority," concluded Perkins.

Family Research Council Praises President Trump's Decision to Focus on Military Priorities Over Obam

July 26, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC -- Family Research Council (FRC) praised President Trump's decision today rescinding the Obama era transgender policy. A Rasmussen survey released last month finds "just 23% of likely U.S. voters think the U.S. military's decision to allow openly transgender people to serve is good for the military."

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a Marine veteran, released the following statement:

"I applaud President Trump for keeping his promise to return to military priorities -- and not continue the social experimentation of the Obama era that has crippled our nation's military. The military can now focus its efforts on preparing to fight and win wars rather than being used to advance the Obama social agenda.

"President Trump recognizes what the nation's military leadership and the American people realize, this Obama policy makes no sense.

"The last thing we should be doing is diverting billions of dollars from mission-critical training to something as controversial as gender reassignment surgery. However, the cost to readiness, recruitment, retention, morale and cohesion would have been even greater under the Obama policy. As our nation faces serious national security threats, our troops shouldn't be forced to endure hours of transgender 'sensitivity' classes and politically-correct distractions like this one.

"Now that we are assured that the Defense Department has its fiscal priorities in order, Family Research Council withdraws our opposition to increasing the budget of the Department of Defense through the 'Make America Secure Appropriations Act' and looks forward to seeing that legislation pass," concluded Perkins.

Transgender Policy Could Cost Military Billions Over Ten Years

http://www.frc.org/transgendermilitarycost

Participate in the Good of the Country

By Robert Klaus

 

1. I don't know if the Rappahannock News is really ready for another debate, but I could not leave this cute partisan contortion unanswered ("A Prince…", Comment, RN 13 July, 2017).  First, let me commend Mr. Gorfein, who has again demonstrated that he is capable of reading our founding documents.  Not a lot of citizens today are aware that the bulk of The Declaration of Independence is an enumeration of England's breaches of contract, which was the legal basis for our decision to separate.  Unfortunately, he neglects to first understand those introductory philosophical paragraphs which frame the arguments, so his musings are myopic.

 

First, he is critical of President Trump's supposed imperious ("rule" not "govern") approach; this without even a blush from a supporter of the guy who ruled by "I don't need Congress; I've got a pen and a phone", violating his own statements of the limits of executive authority.

 

Hank still has not been able to digest the fundamental premise of The Declaration: EACH person is endowed with God-given rights, and proper government exists to guard THOSE innate rights.  (I apologize to those who need a "safe-space" from this language, but the document says "endowed by their Creator.")  A government that violates that paradigm is not exercising "just powers".  Therefore, this society cannot have taxpayer-financed healthcare, where government forcibly takes one citizen's "pursuit of happiness" and gives it to another citizen; this violates that first-order principle.  Hence, "repeal[ing] the ACA" without replacement, bemoaned by Mr. Gorfein, only fulfills the primary tenet of our founding document; it is not a capricious imperious gesture (I wish; the Republican proposals so far all leave swaths of ACA in place.).

 

The problem conservatives have with the ACA is not only its current implosion, but the precedent of arbitrarily taking citizen's rights, which could be extrapolated to domains even Mr. Gorfein might object to (if 10% of your earnings "should" support someone else's healthcare, why not 25%?  40%?  How about for elective rhinoplasty?)  Until Mr. Gorfein can appreciate this not-subtle nuance of our government, his other complaints cannot be considered seriously, so I won't bother to challenge the individual merits of his other complaints.

 

2.  ("Trump a Troubled Man", Comment, RN 13 July, 2017)  Ms. Bynum needs to visit the Constitution: the House, not the the Senate, prepares articles of impeachment (Article 1, Section 2: right in front!  Read it sometime).

 

The "20 Million Americans" who will be deprived of healthcare (this number varies widely) was assessed a few months ago by the GAO as 14 million, of which 11 million were able-bodied adults without dependent children who had been added to the Medicaid dole in lieu of getting a job and paying for their own healthcare.  A large portion of the remainder are, for instance, nuns who don't want abortion coverage, and healthy young males who prefer to pay for a gym membership than for healthcare they won't use.  I am sorry if your friends want benefits they don't pay for, but that "want" does not create a "right" for them nor an "obligation" for me.

 

You complain President Trump is not qualified.  The last President, who was a career Community Organizer (!!), was tapped for political promotion by a self-acknowledged and un-repentant terrorist, inserted into State legislature for which his participation was mostly voting "Present" for the half-term he served, promoted to national office by political conniving which torpedoed the opposition at a critical juncture of the campaign (deftly, if not honorably, done), and then spent most of his abbreviated U.S. Senate career campaigning for president.  Please explain to me how this individual was more qualified than a man who built very successful businesses in a competitive real estate development market.  Embarrassing us to the world?  Contrast the un-paralleled reception President Trump received from 50 diverse Muslim-majority nations' rulers to President Obama's deference to the Saudi king.  Etc..

 

I do not believe that you are concerned about the "greater good of this country and of this world"; I believe you are part of a group of people who are OBSESSED (ponder that specific word choice) that the venal, flawed, self-absorbed candidate that the DNC cultivated could possibly have lost.  Get over it; participate in the good of the country instead of your choreographed petulance.  Or emigrate.

August 2nd: Invitation: AFP trip to hear House Freedom Caucus Chair Mark Meadows

Announcing a great opportunity to hear the Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, Congressman Mark Meadows, in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, August 2^nd.

 

Americans for Prosperityis working with Congressman Meadows and the House Freedom Caucus to advance key, pro-growth tax reforms.  And, we need your help in DC to let Chairman Meadows know he has our support.

 

Americans for Prosperity is providing a full complimentary tripto the incredible Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue on Wednesday, August 2nd.  Our visit to D.C. includes:

·        Seating in the Newseum Knight Broadcast Studio for our keynote event with Congressman Meadows, AFP President Tim Phillips and others.

·        Free round-trip bus transportation from Charlottesville and Harrisonburg

·        Complimentary on-board breakfast and lunch at the Newseum

·        Free ticket to tour the amazing Newseum after the program

 

 

Register today to reserve your seat!  Click this link to complete your FREE registration and select your bus pick-up location:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afp-presents-unrig-the-economy-with-rep-mark-meadows-in-dc-tickets-35938688585

 

Bus pick-up locations for Wednesday, August 2^nd:

8:00am  Harrisonburg:  Harrisonburg Crossing at Barnes & Noble parking area.

9:15am  Charlottesville:  Hilton Garden Inn on Route 250-East/Pantops Mountain.

 

Learn more about the Newseum experience:  http://www.newseum.org/about/

 

Register soon to be a part of advancing economic freedom for America!

 

For Freedom,

 

Flint Engleman | Western Region Senior Director | Americans for Prosperity-Virginia

m: 540.226.4591 | e: FEngleman@afphq.org  

The Path to Freebies

By Bob Dewey

The wisdom of our Founders is finally being recognized. The purpose and constraint of the "Enumerated Powers" provision in the Constitution has been made clear. A "Freebee" is hard to take back. The "Enumerated Powers" offered no "Freebees" to the voting public. Our public policy is now awash in "Freebees".

The path to our current "Freebee" station is clear. 1913 was a banner year. Both the 16th Amendment, which destroyed the marriage between taxation and representation, and the 17th Amendment, which effectively silenced the political voice of the Sovereign States in the Congress, were ratified. 1937 brought us the Supreme Court approval of the "New Deal" and the destruction of the "Enumerated Powers". Remember the "Court packing" threat. 1964 presented us with the "Great Society" gaggle of "Freebee" legislation. 2010 gifted us with the "Student Loan" and "Obamacare" legislation "Freebee" merger. The nation was but one step away from total dominance by the "Elite Political Establishment".

Contrary to the apparent beliefs of the two political marketing companies, the Democrat and Republican political parties, the American People understood that there was something wrong. Remember the over half a million person turnout of "Tea Partyers" on the Washington Mall in 2010 and the loss of the House to Republicans. The tide was turning. Down the escalator came a guy who said "Make America Great Again". Despite the stacking of the primary list with 16 other candidates and the political hijinks by the Republican Party, he won. The last step to political dominance by the "Elite Political Establishment" was, on 8 November 2016, left hanging in mid air.

The problem recognized by our Founders was simple, no "Freebees". The political issue today is not Obamacare. It is how to wean "We the people" off of "Freebees".

"Freebees" ain't free.

Family Research Council to Host Michael Stokes Paulsen for Discussion on Objections to Religious Lib

July 18, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Friday, July 21, Michael Stokes Paulsen, a distinguished University Chair & Professor of Law at the University of St. Thomas, will give a lecture at Family Research Council headquarters on the main controversies toward religious liberty due to society's declining acceptance of the religious premises upon which the First Amendment was written.

Professor Paulsen is the author of more than 90 scholarly articles and book chapters on a wide variety of constitutional law topics, and one of the nation's leading scholars on the U.S. constitutional law of religious liberty. In Professor Paulsen's presentation, he will share what he thinks are the four chief objections to religious liberty and provide possible responses to each objection.

Michael will be on hand after the lecture for a Q&A session on the issues impacting religious liberty in our culture today.

WHO: Michael Stokes Paulson
WHAT: Family Research Council Speaker Series
WHERE: Family Research Council headquarters, 801 G Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001
WHEN: Friday, July 21st at 12:00 PM Eastern

Watch the lecture on Facebook Live.

Meet Gillespie & Adams in Orange County on THURSDAY!

Ed Gillespie, John Adams, Sen. Bryce Reeves and Del. Nick Freitas will be making a stop in Orange County, Thursday July 20, to listen to voters and share their message of economic growth and more freedom for ALL Virginians. Come out and meet them this Thursday at 7pm! There will also be a brief meeting of the Orange County GOP.   Please be sure to forward this email to your contacts! This event is free and you will not be required to hold a ticket to enter. Thursday, July 20 @ 7pm  (heavy hors d'oeuvres served at 6:30pm)  Silk Mill Restaurant 101 Woodmark St Orange, VA 22960 Hope to see you there! RPV Events RPV · The Richard D Obenshain Center 115 E Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219, United States

"Catch Up With Cathy" event to be held at Blue Ridge Cafe' in Ruckersville on Sunday afternoon, 7/23

On Sunday afternoon, 7/23, an event will be held at Blue Ridge Cafe in Ruckersville to promote Ed Gillespie's candidacy for Governor.  This "Catch Up With Cathy" event will run from 2:30-4:30pm, with light h'ordeuvres and beverages provided.  Cathy Gillespie, Ed's wife, will stop by from 3-4pm to share the latest information from the campaign and spend some time meeting and talking with attendees.  Please consider joining us for this opportunity to socialize a little with other people who are concerned about the impact of politics on Virginia's future; and meet and talk with the person we hope will be our next Governor's wife.

 

If you plan to attend, please use the link below to sign up before Saturday, 7/22, at 11pm; and indicate the number of people in your group who plan to be at the event.  Note that this sign-up is very important, as we want to properly estimate the amount of refreshments that need to be provided.

 

Please register for the "Catch Up With Cathy" event here:  https://cathygreene.eventbrite.com

 

Please also share this event notice with anyone else who you think might be interested in attending.  By just doing this, you will be helping the Gillespie Campaign reach out to more people, who need to know how much is at stake for Virginia in the upcoming November General Election!

 

We hope to see many of you on Sunday afternoon!

This Saturday, July 22nd - MCRC BBQ

You Are Invited To Attend The Annual Madison County
 Republican Committee BBQ

On Saturday, July 22^nd 2017 From 1:00 – 4:00PM

  at The Madison County Volunteer Fire Company
 1223 N. Main Street Madison Virginia

Invited Guests Include Our 2017 Candidates

For The Great Commonwealth Of Virginia

Governor: Ed Gillespie  Lt. Governor:  Jill Vogel 

Attorney General: John Adams.

Our Current Congressman Tom Garrett,

Senator Emmett Hanger and Delegate Nick Freitas

Come One Come All And Enjoy Some Fantastic All You Can Eat Mill Valley BBQ With "Fixings", Dessert and Drinks.  Mix And Mingle With Fellow Conservatives And Show Our Appreciation and Madison Support for All The Candidates

                   Cost:  $10:00 For Adults  Children Under 12 Free

Call Bill Harvill, Jr. 540-948-6904 or John Tucker 540-948-6417 for Additional Information