Week Ending May 23, 2008 - Washington, DC

Bush judicial nominee gave money to Obama / Why can't we pay our soldiers? / Congressman: Don't import human bodies for theatrical displays / Conservative bill passed in 2003 OK'd by the Supreme Court / Pro-life legislation slips by Pelosi and is signed by Bush

THE PRESIDENT

BUSH NOMINEE GAVE MONEY TO OBAMA - Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Helene White, who was nominated by President Bush last month to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, has contributed the legal maximum amount of $2,300 to Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for their respective presidential campaigns. The information was released as a result of a written questionnaire by Senator Coburn (R-OK). Although Judge White is a radical pro-abortion leftist, she was nominated by Bush as part of a deal to have four of his semi-conservative nominees approved by the Senate. This raises the question of exactly how many real conservatives John McCain will be able to appoint to the judiciary if in fact he is elected in November.

WE CAN'T PAY OUR SOLDIERS - Secretary of Defense Gates stated this week that without congressional action "Two critical accounts will run dry." He stated that: "After June 15th, we will run out of funds In this account to pay soldiers, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan." He said about a second account, the Operations and Maintenance account, "Around July 5th, O&M funds across the services will run out, starting with the Army. This may result in civilian furloughs, limits on training and curbing family support activities." Meanwhile Democrat Senate Leader Harry Reid has added funding for Planned Parenthood to the Military Supplemental Spending Bill.

THE CONGRESS

DON'T IMPORT HUMAN BODIES FOR THEATRICAL DISPLAYS - Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) has introduced H.R.5677 to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit the importation into the United States of plastinated human remains. So far he has 21 co-sponsors to the bill that would stop the importation of human bodies from China for display in the United States. He said, "considering China's human rights record, it's questionable whether the university obtained permission to plastinate the bodies." The bill was filed amid growing controversy involving "Bodies The Exhibition" now touring the United States. The exhibit features human bodies, carved and sliced in half to demonstrate anatomic systems. The exhibits are for entertainment, not scientific purposes and illustrate a continuing decline in respect for human life in America.

WE WIN ONE - This week the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the constitutionality of the PROTECT Act of 2003, which targeted child pornography possession and solicitation. The majority opinion, which reversed a decision by the 11th Circuit, was authored by Justice Scalia.

AND ANOTHER WIN - This week the President signed H.R. 493, the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA) into law. Pro-life groups fought language authored by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) included in the bill. The Stupak language ensured that the protections afforded by GINA cover the unborn as well as those who are born. This is a major pro-life victory considering the House and Senate are controlled by radical pro-abortionists.

INTERNATIONAL

THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE RFC - This week I was among a select group of individuals who were to meet with Prime Minister Barzani of the Kurdish region of Iraq. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the plight of Christians who have fled to the Nineveh Plains area located in the Kurdish region. Less than 30 minutes before the meeting, it was canceled by the Kurds for unknown reasons and Barzani returned to Iraq. Previously I had met with Qubad Talabani on this issue. He is the son of the President of Iraq and the Kurdish government representative in Washington. The Religious Freedom Coalition will continue to press for the rights of Christians in Iraq with that government and with the current US Administration.

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