(From NY Times – Charlie Savage and Mark Landler)
WASHINGTON — The White House, pushing hard against criticism in Congress over the deepening air war in Libya, asserted Wednesday that President Obama had the authority to continue the military campaign without Congressional approval because American involvement fell short of full-blown hostilities……..In contending that the limited American role did not oblige the administration to ask for authorization under the War Powers Resolution, the report asserted that “U.S. operations do not involve sustained fighting or active exchanges of fire with hostile forces, nor do they involve U.S. ground troops.” Still, the White House acknowledged, the operation has cost the Pentagon $716 million in its first two months and will have cost $1.1 billion by September at the current scale of operations.
Read full article at NY Times – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/us/politics/16powers.html?_r=3
For the past three months, the United States has been engaged in a war in Libya, and during that time Congress has remained largely in the dark and on the sidelines about central questions in the conflict, all while U.S. forces remain committed without congressional authorization. Yesterday, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) sent a letter to President Barack Obama warning that the commander in chief may be in violation of the law if he refuses to ask Congress for that authorization.
In his letter, Boehner noted that the President is just days away from violating the War Powers Resolution, which maintains that, without congressional authorization, the President can deploy U.S. military forces for 90 days. In his letter, Boehner demanded that Obama provide legal justification for the operation in Libya by Friday. Though the War Powers Resolution is problematic, Congress is right to be angry and has an obligation to speak up on Libya. Read more
Thirteen Stars and Thirteen Stripes. It was on JUNE 14, 1777, that the Second Continental Congress selected the Flag of the United States. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed the Proclamation making JUNE 14 "National Flag Day." On Flag Day, 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt stated: "The belief in man, created free, in the image of God-is the crucial difference between ourselves and the enemies we face...God of the free...grant us victory over the tyrants who would enslave all free men." On JUNE 14, 1954, Dwight Eisenhower signed Joint Resolution (Public Law 396) adding the phrase "One Nation Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Eisenhower stated: "From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than...this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country's true meaning." President Eisenhower ended: "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource, in peace or in war."
(American Minute of Bill Federer www.AmericanMinute.com)
Withholding taxes from people's paychecks began JUNE 9, 1943. Congress passed it as an emergency measure to get money to fight Hitler. The idea came from Beardsley Ruml, treasurer of Macy's and chairman of New York's Federal Reserve Bank. Called the "pay-as-you-go" tax, so much money came in with so few complaints that it continued after the war. John F. Kennedy told Congress, April 20, 1961: "Introduced during the war when the income tax was extended to millions of new taxpayers, the wage-withholding system has been one of the most important and successful advances in our tax system in recent times. Initial difficulties were quickly overcome, and the new system helped the taxpayer no less than the tax collector." But Americans weren't always so taxed. In his 2nd Annual Message, 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote: "To proceed as we have begun in substituting economy for taxation." President Andrew Jackson stated in his 8th Annual Message, December 5, 1836: "There is no such provision as would authorize Congress to collect together the property of the country, under the name of revenue, for the purpose of dividing it equally or unequally among the States or the people. Indeed, it is not probable that such an idea ever occurred to the States when they adopted the Constitution." In his Message to Congress, May 27, 1830, Andrew Jackson said: "Through the favor of an overruling and indulgent Providence our country is blessed with general prosperity and our citizens exempted from the pressure of taxation, which other less favored portions of the human family are obliged to bear."
(From Bill Federer's American Minute - www.AmericanMinute.com - June 9, 2011)
Justice Wiggins was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2003 by Governor Vilsack. His current term expires December 31, 2012. He is the chairman of the state judicial nominating commission.Justice Wiggins is ostentatiously registered as an Independent, though not only has he recently been a registered Democrat but he has also donated $4,000 to the Iowa Democratic Party, $2,000 to Democrat Robert Tully’s ’98 campaign for Congress, $1,000 to Tom Harkin’s (D) ’02 reelection campaign, and $2,000 to John Norris’ (D) ’02 bid for Congress.
Justice Wiggins resides in West Des Moines, where he had worked with the law firm Williams, Hart, Lavorato & Kirtley prior to appointment to the bench. He graduated from Drake Law School in 1976.
IJW gives Justice Wiggins a failing grade for his judicial activism.
Activist opinions authored:
Activist opinions joined:
- Varnum v. Brien (2009)
- Simmons v Public Defender (2010)
- Iowa v Wing (2010)
- Galloway v Iowa (2010)
- Ashenfelter v Mulligan (2010)
Activist opinions dissented from:
None.
http://www.iowajudicialwatch.org/meet-your-judges/david-s-wiggins/
American Minute with Bill Federer June 5 JUNE 5, 1967, the Six-Day War began. Egypt sent 80,000 troops and 900 tanks to attack Israel. Jordan and Syria, with Soviet weapons, violently shelled Jerusalem and Israeli villages. Cairo radio announced: "The hour has come in which we shall destroy Israel." The hot line between Washington and Moscow was used for the first time. In a surprise move, Israeli Air Force destroyed 400 Egyptian planes, courageously drove Syria from the Golan Heights and captured all of Jerusalem. In a CBS-TV interview, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion stated: "In Israel, in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles." Seven months after the War, on Jan. 7, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson toasted Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol, saying: "Welcome to our family table...All Americans-and all Israelis-know...that none...can ever live by bread alone... One of your ancestors said it for all men almost 2,000 years ago...for peace it is written, 'pursue it.' That is our intention in the Middle East...To pursue peace... If we are wise, if we are fortunate, if we work together - perhaps our Nation and all nations may know the joys of that promise God once made about the children of Israel: 'I will make a covenant of peace with them...it shall be an everlasting covenant.'"
(From Danny Carrol and Chuck Hurley)
Legislative Republicans in both the Iowa House and Senate have mounted a valiant fight this session to control taxes and spending, while advancing efforts to protect life and the family. We have been determined to present legislative activity in a fair and accurate manner that does not falsely protect or accuse any legislator or political party. We are simply interested in the truth, and the right of Iowans to know that truth and evaluate legislators based on accurate and timely information.
Taxpayer-funded Abortions
House Republicans should be commended for an unheralded effort to protect the unborn. With the passage of HF649, the Human Services budget bill, they voted to stop spending taxpayers’ money to kill unborn babies who are “physically deformed, mentally deficient, or afflicted with a congenital illness.” They also voted against tax-funded abortions in the case of rape or incest, recognizing that the baby is not the guilty party and deserves to live.
The Democrat-led Iowa Senate is trying to reinstate the awful provision that says a handicapped baby is somehow unworthy of legal protection. News received today indicates that House Republicans will insist that the Human Services budget protect handicapped babies. They face a fight from the Iowa Senate Democrats.
Please contact any House Republican and let them know you appreciate their efforts to protect the lives of these innocent babies and that you will pray for their success as budget negotiations continue. They are doing the right thing, and are under considerable pressure to give in and adjourn this extended Session. Also, encourage the Senate Republicans in their support of the House language.
Planned Parenthood
Indiana recently passed legislation to prevent taxpayers’ money from going to Indiana Planned Parenthood, since they do abortions. Other states have done likewise.
Even though Governor Branstad said he would cut funding to Planned Parenthood, Iowa has yet to join other states in cutting off taxpayer funds to this evil organization.
But there is still time!
It looks like the Legislature may be in Session into late June. Iowa should cut off taxpayer dollars to any organization that supports the killing of unborn babies, and we urge Governor Branstad to provide the leadership necessary to do so, as he indicated during his campaign.
Continue praying for our legislative leaders, that they would fear God, and seek to govern justly and responsibly.
With gratitude,
Chuck Hurley
Danny Carroll