CONGRESS IN SESSION

THE PRESIDENCY

Staff members of the Religious Freedom Coalition were on hand to witness the historic signing of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban by President George W. Bush. Prior to signing the act into law the President said, "For years, a terrible form of violence has been directed at children only inches from birth while the law looked away. Today, at last the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defense of the innocent child."

The bill-signing ceremony was held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center a few blocks from the White House because of the large crowd of supporters expected. About 600 people squeezed into the building's amphitheater to witness the signing. Among those present were Dr. Jerry Falwell, Dr. James Dobson, Chuck Colson and many Senators and congressmen including House Speaker Hastert. (Video of signing click here)

THE SENATE

THE JUDICIAL BATTLE Rev. Al Sharpton has sided with Republican conservatives in the battle to confirm Judge Janice Rogers-Brown to the nation's second highest court. On Tuesday Rev. Sharpton, who is running for president, said she should receive an "up or down vote" and not be filibustered. Since the vast majority of Senators would vote for her, a group of extremist Senators who are in the pocket of special interest liberal groups such as the NAACP plan a filibuster. Al Sharpton's statement is a huge break in the liberal coalition to block the appointment of conservative minorities to federal judgeships. Liberals such as Julian Bond of the NAACP have said Rogers-Brown is ..."outside the mainstream," despite the fact that 76% of California voters cast votes for her in 1998 to return to the Supreme Court of that state. News of Sharpton's statement shocked a conference being held that same day by liberal activists wanting to stop her and other minority conservatives from serving in higher offices. When told of Al Sharpton's comments, Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights said, "I don't believe it. That can't be true. It would be shockingly surprising." Henderson, like Julian Bond, believes that all blacks should believe as they do or not be allowed to serve as judges or in any other higher office. They have a common hatred for Secretary of State Colin Powell and Presidential advisor Condi Rice because they are the "wrong kind of blacks."

Rev. Al Sharpton's comments bring some real problems to other Democrat presidential hopefuls, in particular Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. Edwards is part of the filibuster of conservative black judges and comes from a state where most Democrat voters are black. Sharpton's poll numbers continue to rise in South Carolina while Edwards' numbers continue to drop. This could be the beginning of the end for Democrat racism against conservative black judges.

A REAL FILIBUSTER

Next Wednesday a "real" filibuster will occur in the Senate over the blockade of federal judges by extremist Democrat Senators. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has called for debate, starting next Wednesday at 6:00 PM through midnight next Thursday, on three federal judge appointees who have been blocked by the Democrats. During that time a press conference will be held hourly by Republicans to put a media spotlight on the stalling of good judges by extremist Democrat Senators.

During this "real" filibuster at least fifty (50) Republican Senators must be in the chamber at all times. On the other hand, only one Democrat needs be there. I have reported in this Legislative Update numerous times that there is great public misunderstanding of the filibuster process. Yes, we will get media attention, but we will take our Senators away from their important duties. In my September 12th update I clearly outlined the filibuster process and gave the solid reasons why an all-day, all-night filibuster would only serve the purposes of the Democrats. The thirty-six continuous hours of debate called for by Senator Frist will not move any Judicial nominees through, but it is a brilliant strategy to expose the extremist Democrats in the media where they are clearly losing this battle. As of October 28th there have been 277 newspaper editorials in 38 states against the Democrats and only 46 editorials in 21 different newspapers in favor of their extremist tactics against judges appointed by George W. Bush. This 36 hour demonstration will only add more heat to the media fire against the Democrat extremist Senators who are blocking these judges.

CARE ACT

Senator Tom Daschle is holding up the Charity, Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act (CARE) despite the fact that Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) asked for speedy passage of the bill. The CARE Act would provide certain tax breaks that would increase giving to charities. The bill was sponsored in the House by Congressman Joe Pitts and passed there by a huge margin of 408 to 13 on September 17th. Back in April it passed the Senate by 95 to 5. But, the House and Senate versions of the bill are slightly different and those differences must be resolved in a conference committee. Senator Daschle is using procedural blocks to stop the conference committee members from the Senate from being appointed. He claims he just wants more Democrats on the conference committee. The question is why? There is virtually nothing to negotiate. Regardless of what he does there will still be more Republicans on the conference committee than Democrats so there is no chance to change the final versions anyway. It may simply be because the CARE Act is part of the President's Faith Based initiative. Senator Daschle simply does not want charities to do what can be done by the government with your tax dollars. To contact Senator Daschle click here.

THE HOUSE

HOLLY'S LAW