Week Ending October 26, 2007 - Washington, DC

THE PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT WILL VETO GAY BILL
The White House warned the Democrat Congress that a pending piece of legislation to create new rights for homosexuals would be unconstitutional and it would be vetoed. H.R. 3685, the Employment Non- Discrimination Act, if passed would grant special employment rights and protected minority status to individuals based upon sexual behaviors. The law is based on the individual's "perception" of being persecuted. Under this bill, non-denominational Christian schools would be forced to hire homosexuals. Click here for the White House SAP.

THE HOUSE
PELOSI SETS RECORD-
Congress has failed to send a single annual spending bill to the President's desk for fiscal Year 2008 which actually began nearly a month ago. While several have passed the House and Senate in different versions, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has failed to appoint any conferees to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions. The bill providing funding for our Veterans passed 133 days ago, but Speaker Pelosi continues to delay getting this and other bills to the President to sign. See dates of budget bills going back 20 years for comparison

TAX RELIEF -
Congressman Rangel (D-NY), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, offered a new tax plan to "lower" the taxes of 90 million Americans. However, most of those he proposes to help already pay no income tax at all. His bill would eliminate the dreaded Alternative Minimum tax by increasing the tax on small businessmen. Oddly, it is small independent businessmen who pay most of the AMT now. Republican presidential candidates seized on the moment. ``We certainly shouldn't raise taxes the way Charlie Rangel wants to,'' said former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. ``It would devastate the economy.'' Even Hillary Clinton is afraid to back the proposal, fearing it will expose her future plans to tax and spend. Clic k here for Bloomberg coverage of the tax hike.

ENDA - THE GAY RIGHTS BILL -
Please see coverage under "President"

THE SENATE
NO ABORTION FUNDING -
Sen. Vitter (R-LA) intends to file an amendment to S. 1200, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. The amendment would codify a longstanding policy against funding of abortions with federal Indian Health Service (IHS) funds. The Senator has already offered an amendment to the Title X Family Planning amendment to the Labor Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Bill that would prohibit the distribution of taxpayer dollars to abortion providers. "The federal government should not redirect taxpayer dollars to pay for acts that so many Americans find morally wrong," said Vitter. "This amendment closes a loophole for taxpayer funded abortions." Click here for his press release.

HOW DUMB IS SCHIP? -
Congress is going to pay for children's medical expenses with higher taxes on smoking. The problem with this is that there are not enough smokers ... Watch this clip on youtube.

RELIGION AND CULTURE
ALL NEW CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The October 11, 2007 issue of the Chairman's Report is now available online. This issue contains new information on the Pledge Protection Act and Thought Crimes legislation. There is new material on George Soros and MoveOn.org. Also read about our participation in a Saudi Arabia human rights event on Capitol Hill. Much more! Click here to read.

INTERNATIONAL
FACT FINDING MISSION RETURNS -
Our fact finding mission to the Middle East to determine the condition of Iraqi Christian Refugees returned to the United States late Wednesday the 24th. The delegation, which was led by Governor David Beasley (R-SC), visited government officials and refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. Visas to Syria were withdrawn by that nation. A complete report and finding will be prepared and distributed.Overall the situation is not good for Iraqi refugees. In Jordan, our State Department has directed the Embassy to abdicate its responsibility for the refugees to the United Nations. The intake staff at the UNHCR is almost 100% Muslim, and Christian refugees seem to be mishandled. The situation in Lebanon appears to be somewhat better at the UNHCR because our embassy there appears to be more engaged in the refugee situation. On the other hand the Lebanese government is less tolerant of the refugees than is the Jordanian government. View some video clips from the fact finding mission at http://www.youtube.com/pro%20file?user=ChristianRefugees

ATTACK NEAR OUR MISSION -
Gunmen in a blue van fired automatic weapons at the busy Ariel junction close to the Eshel Hashomron hotel. This is the main entrance to Ariel and the mission we support there. Evangelist David Ortiz told us this is the same location where in 2002, three soldiers were killed and 19 people were wounded by a suicide bomber. I have visited both the hotel and the gas station at the intersection. Both have been bombed. Click here for news report.

SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION
THE PLEDGE -
My new book, The Pledge: One Nation Under God has been released and is now available online and at bookstores. The book has a forward by Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) who is the primary sponsor of the Pledge Protection Act to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Please order The Pledge from the RFC bookstore, as the funds will be used to help fight to keep "under God" in the Pledge. Click here or on Image to learn more.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET STORE -
There are literally tens of thousands of Christian theme items available at our affiliate store including jewelry from the Holy Land. It is a great place to shop for gifts. The store is located at http://www.rfcstore.com/. Please help us with our various projects on Capitol Hill and in the Holy Land by shopping at our affiliate Christian Superstore . Contributions to the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition can be made at http://www.rfcnet.org/donate.html