MEDICARE AS A MODEL? - During his address to Congress Barack Obama talked of using Medicare as a model. Why on earth would he say that? First of all, Medicare is going broke. It is so underfunded that there is no way to pay the benefits of even the Baby-boomer generation. Second, it is subsidized by private insurance. Medicare payout rates are so low that doctors and hospitals have to charge others more. To get a true picture of Medicare as a model, read this Wall Street Journal Online Op-ed.

HUCKABEE ON OBAMA - I received an e-mail from Governor Mike Huckabee on Obama's address to Congress. He had this to say: "President Obama's biggest problem is that last night, he made many clearly-stated promises that sound great - health care for all, lower costs, free colonoscopies - but that's not what Congress is about to vote on. He talked as if the process is just starting, but there's already a bill before Congress, and it's a murky, 1,018-page monstrosity, and nobody can explain for certain what it says." And there is more. There are a total of four bills that have passed House committees and another version in the Senate. Everyone of them would use federal money for abortions and/or force private insurance companies to pay for abortions contrary to the comments of Barack Obama." See Huckabee video on Obama-care

OBAMA AND 9-11 - I believe it was wrong for Barack Obama to hold a major address to Congress just 36 hours before the anniversary hour of the 9-11 Jihad attack on the United States. Last week I posted a Youtube video stating that this would put him in the center of the news on 9-11, rather than the victims of Islam. Sure enough, all the headlines today are about Obama-care, not the victims of 9-11. Couldn't this speech have waited one week? See my Youtube video

WHEN SANITY RULED CONGRESS - The Journals of the Continental Congress record that on Wednesday, September 7, 1774 at 9:00 AM the Congress voted to thank Rev. Mr. Duche for the prayer he gave at the beginning of the session. This was the first official prayer in the Congress to anyone's knowledge. The text of the prayer can be read on the website of the Office of the Chaplain of the House. Click here to view.

ACTRESS FIRED FOR REFUSING PRO-GAY ROLE - Patricia Mauceri was fired and abruptly replaced on "One Life to Live" after she objected to acting in a segment with a gay storyline. She said her religious beliefs and even those of the character she played would not allow her to. She was instructed to read a script that made it seem her conservative Christian character approved of homosexuality. She is not the first soap opera star to leave a show over this issue. Earlier, Chris Engen quit "The Young and the Restless" because his character, Adam, was supposed to kiss a man. The message from Hollywood is clear. If you will not accept homosexuality or play the part of a homosexual, you will not get work. New York Daily News.

AUGUST 26, 2009 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT - The all new August 26, 2009 Chairman's Report is now available to read in PDF format. This issue contains more information about our work on Capitol Hill with the 111th Congress, and also about our work on international issues. Help your Sunday School class understand these issues better. Print out and distribute the Chairman's Report to your class or fellowship this Sunday! Click here to review.

PLEASE VISIT OUR STORE - We have a great Internet store with thousands of books, CD's, DVD's, and even Christian jewelry ... OK ... We are not as cheap as Amazon, but we don't sell porn and Satanic cult materials either. Please check out or store!

MAKE COMMENTS - You can make comments on this and other articles in these updates at www.MurrayOnTheHill.com

PETITION TO HILLARY CLINTON ON IRAQI CHRISTIANS - Read and sign the Internet petition to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The petition urges Clinton to direct our embassies to assist Christians who have fled Islamic terror in Iraq. The petition is located at www.iraqichristianrefugees.org.