Week Ending August 3, 2007 - Washington, DC
August 4, 2007 9:30AM EST

August 3, 2007

Week Ending August 3, 2007 - Washington, DC State Department and Christian refugees / More veto threats from White House / Profanity in the House chamber / More on SCHIP socialized medicine / SCHIP covers 25-year-old "children" but not unborn babies / Ten Commandments resolution / Senate goes home but not Senator Inhofe The July 18th issue of the Chairman's Report is available! THE PRESIDENT STATE DEPARTMENT AND IRAQI CHRISTIANS - This week I spoke with Elle n Sauerbrey who is the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration about the situation of Iraqi Christians who have fled to Jordan. The Religious Freedom Coalition and other organizations continue to urge the Bush Administration to push Jordan toward more humane treatment of the Christians who have fled Iraq. MORE VETOS - The White House has issed several more Statements of Administration Policy (SAPs) to the Congress. One SAP makes it clear that the President will veto the new SCHIP expansion. The SCHIP monster was created by the Republican controlled Congress in 1997 and now the Democrats are using it as an instrument for socialized medicine. SCHIP under the Democrats will give free medical insurance to "children" up to 25 years of age in homes with an income of 400% of the poverty rate. Famliles with incomes of over $85,000 a year will get free medical insurance from the goverment. To finance the expansion, benifits will be cut for Medicare and taxes expanded in many areas. THE HOUSE OH JESSE - Jesse Jackson Jr. has done things this week that congressman do not normally do, including standing on a desk and shouting. The media does not seem to mind, even when he repeatedly used the "F" word and told Republican Congressman Lee Terry he wanted to settle an argument "outside" making it clear he meant to a fist fight. Despite numerous witnesses no major newspaper or news service has reported his outrageous behavior. If he were a conservative Republican, this would be front page news in the New York Times. MORE SCHIP - If the Democrats have their way you will be paying the medical bills of every illegal immigrant "child" in America. Keep in mind that they define a child as up to 25 years of age. In pushing the State Children's Health Insurance Program into a full blown base of socialized medicine the Democrats seem to want to add everyone in, regardless of legal status. BUT NOT UNBORN KIDS - Congressman Joe Pitts (R- PA) offered an amendment to SCHIP that would include an unborn child if the pregnant mother did not have insurance. The Democrats were appalled and voted it down. Illegal alien kids are in the program, but those still in the womb are not seen as human by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her liberal army in Congress. TEN COMMANDMENTS - Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) has introduced H. Res. 598 supporting the Ten Commandments Commission of which I have spoken often. The Resolution states: Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) supports the goals of the Ten Commandments Commission and recognizes the vital contributions of America's tens of thousands of spiritual leaders, churches, synagogues, fellowships, ministries, and organizations participating in Ten Commandments Weekend; and (2) congratulates the Ten Commandments Commission and all supporting spiritual leaders, churches, synagogues, fellowships, ministries, and organizations for their key role in promoting and ensuring recognition of the Ten Commandments as the cornerstone of Western law. THE SENATE ADJOURN- The Senate, like the House will adjourn for the traditional August recess. Some Senators vacation during the month. It is no vacation for Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) who will take his 14th trip to visit the troops in Iraq. He has travelled to Iraq in support of the troops more often than any other congressman or senator. RELIGION AND CULTURE THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT- Every three weeks I issue a Chairman's Report that is mailed to the supporters of the Religious Freedom Coalition. While it contains some material from Legislative Updates, much of it is new or expanded material about the work of the Religious Freedom Coalition. The July 18th edition of the Chairman's Report is now available online. INTERNATIONAL Iraqi CHRISTIANS - In the Administration section I described briefly my conversation with Assistant Secretary of State Sauerbrey about the condition of Christians living in Iraq. In addition a letter has been delivered directly to Secretary of State Rice concerning this matter. Pope Benedict XVI has spoken directly to President George W. Bush about the condition of Iraqi Christians yet there seems to be no real movement to convince Middle Eastern governments to stop the persecution. SUPPORT THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COALITION 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 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 www.rfcnet.org. email: support@rfcnet.org phone: 202.742.8990 web: http://www.rfcnet.org William J. Murray, Chairman Religious Freedom Coalition, PO Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013 - (202) 742.8990 This publication is a service of the Religious Freedom Coalition (RFC). Links to political and other sites are for informational purposes and do not constitute endorsement. No statement is intended to assist or defeat any candidate running for public office. Religious Freedom Coalition * Copyright - 2007