Will the EPA infuriate gun owners–and seal the fate of Democrats on November 2?
BY John McCormack
August 27, 2010 9:57 AM

Will Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson make a back door move to ban lead bullets the day before the November 2 elections?

Several environmentalist groups led by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) are petitioning the EPA to ban lead bullets and shot (as well as lead sinkers for fishing) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Although EPA is barred by statute from controlling ammunition, CBD is seeking to work farther back along the manufacturing chain and have EPA ban the use of lead in bullets and shot because non-lead alternatives are available. But here’s the catch: the alternatives to lead bullets are more expensive. A ban on the sale of lead ammunition would force hunters and sport shooters to buy non-lead ammunition that is often double the cost of traditional lead ammunition.  A box of deer hunting bullets in a popular caliber could be upwards of $55.

Although the EPA could have dismissed the request due to a lack of jurisdiction, it is obliging CBD. The EPA has asked for public comment on banning lead in ammunition, and an EPA notice was published seeking public comment that closes on October 31. Jackson would then make a decision to accept or reject the petition on November 1. You might say that even considering enacting what is effectively a new tax on hunters and gun owners–seemingly the only non-liberal group the Obama administration hasn’t yet intentionally provoked–is less-than-perfect timing for the already beleaguered  Democrats as the midterm elections approach.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a trade association for the firearm and ammunition industry, has hit back against the petition sending Jackson a letter documenting why EPA has no jurisdiction and outlining the damage that banning lead ammunition would do to U.S. industry and jobs, conservation, and law enforcement. The NSSF estimates that more than 90 percent of hunters and sport shooters use traditional lead ammunition. If all hunters were forced to buy non-lead bullets that are made out of metals like tungsten, bismuth, and copper alloys, demand could easily begin to outstrip the supply and prices would go even higher.

Bill Clinton famously blamed the NRA and gun owners for sweeping Democrats from control of the House in 1994 after he pushed them to pass the Assault Weapons Ban. For Democrats, especially those in rural and conservative districts that are already facing voters’ wrath, gun control could once again be an issue that helps defeat them and swings control of the House and perhaps even the Senate to the GOP.

See article at: http://weeklystandard.com/blogs/epa-reviewing-request-ban-led-bullets

Justice Department Sued Over Black Panther Documents

By Jennifer Rubin, 5/26/10, Commentary Magazine

The Justice Department has been stonewalling individual members of Congress and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in their efforts to get to the bottom of the Obama-Holder Justice Department’s decision to abandon a default judgment against the New Black Panther Party and multiple individual defendants in a case of blatant voter intimidation. Now the conservative legal watchdog Judicial Watch is going to court to pry the documents loose:

Judicial Watch filed its original FOIA request on May 29, 2009. The Justice Department acknowledged receiving the request on June 18, 2009, but then referred the request to the Office of Information Policy (OIP) and the Civil Rights Division. On January 15, 2010, the OIP notified Judicial Watch that it would be responding to the request on behalf of the Offices of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, Associate Attorney General, Public Affairs, Legislative Affairs, Legal Policy, and Intergovernmental and Public Liaison.

On January 15, the OIP also indicated that the Office of the Associate Attorney General found 135 pages of records responsive to Judicial Watch’s request, but that all records would be withheld in full. On January 26, the OIP advised Judicial Watch that the Office of Public Affairs and Office of Legal Policy completed their searches and found no responsive documents. On February 10, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division indicated that after an extensive search it had located “numerous responsive records” but determined that “access to the majority of the records” should be denied. On March 26, the OIP indicated that the Office of Legislative Affairs and the Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison completed searches and found no documents.

It’s about time the courts rule on the panoply of made-up defenses and fake privileges that Holder has cooked up to avoid turning over these documents. Let the courts decide if the Obama administration can have it both ways — declining to invoke executive privilege but relying on the privilege under other names (”deliberative privilege”).

A knowledgeable lawyer e-mails me: “Notice DOJ revealed nothing about the number of panther documents in the AG and deputy AG office. Even for  the associate attorney general they revealed there were 135 but they weren’t going to turn them over. Failing to even name a number is extremely suspicious because those units can be searched quicker and easier for compliant documents. It leads one to conclude any number would be an embarrassment, and a high number would be a catastrophe. So, don’t reveal a number. Typical of this non-transparent operation.”

And now we’re going to see the administration’s true colors played out in open court. As a Judicial Watch spokesman said: “If there is nothing to hide, then Eric Holder should release this information as the law requires. And this is just one more example of how Obama’s promises of transparency are a big lie.”

But the Obama team may have a different problem: if either or both houses of Congress flip to Republican control, new chairmen will populate key committees and subpoenas will begin to fly. Congress is in an even better position to get access to the documents, as attorney-client privilege doesn’t work against a co-equal branch of government. In sum, Holder is running out of room to hide, finally.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/rubin/301191

The suggestion to Congress to act against our 2nd Amendment rights…

GOP Catches on to Soros/Cloward and Piven Strategy – Unveils New Non-Profits and Committees

TASK FORCE ON TENTH AMENDMENT

By Jackie Kucinich, Roll Call Staff

May 4, 2010, 12 a.m.

A group of conservative House Republicans will launch a states’ rights task force this week but hope to avoid getting mired in debates over a host of controversial 10th Amendment issues such as drug laws and gun control.

Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), one of the founding members of the new 10th Amendment Task Force, said Monday that the group will look at ways to restore power that has been siphoned away from the states by the federal government.

“It doesn’t mean cutting programs, it just means taking them out of federal control,” he said. “It’s not just about shrinking the size of government, it’s about increasing the number of options and choices people have” on the state level.

“The Task Force was formed to uphold the principle that the will of the people is best served at the state and local levels, and that the federal government should not interfere in matters that are fully within the purview of the states,” Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) said in a statement. The task force will be unveiled at a press conference Thursday…

…Other members of the task force include Republican Reps. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Jason Chaffetz (Utah), Mike Conaway (Texas), Doug Lamborn (Colo.), Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), Tom McClintock (Calif.) and Randy Neugebauer (Texas).

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_126/news/45815-1.html

RESURGENT REPUBLIC

Resurgent Republic is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to shaping the debate over the proper role of government.  It is an independent, not-for-profit organization modeled on Democracy Corps, which has made important contributions to the public debate from the left and has proven to be a valuable resource for labor unions, environmentalists, and liberal Congressional leaders.

Resurgent Republic seeks to replicate on the right the success Democracy Corps has enjoyed on the left.  As does Democracy Corps, Resurgent Republic makes survey and focus group results publicly available.  We promote conservative free market principles such as lower taxes and economic growth, and support strong national defense policies. Resurgent Republic has become a valuable resource for the general public, policy makers, Congressional leaders and others that are aligned with us on these important issues.

WHAT DOES RESURGENT REPUBLIC DO?

Resurgent Republic gauges public opinion about policy proposals under consideration by the White House and Congress.  Through a steady stream of national polls and focus groups, Resurgent Republic helps policy makers, think tanks, interest groups and others advocate for policies that are consistent with conservative principles, and to oppose policies that stifle job creation, weaken national security and undermine values that have made America a great country.

http://www.resurgentrepublic.com/pages/about

AMERICAN CROSSROADS

American Crossroads is a new kind of non-profit political organization dedicated to renewing America’s commitment to individual liberty, limited government, free enterprise and a strong national defense – through effective political action.

In 2010, America faces much more than a choice among various candidates for public office.  We face a Crossroads – a fundamental decision about the future direction of our country that will impact America’s strength and character for years to come.

We face a decision between two starkly different visions of America: one where the human creativity and initiative that are unleashed by individual liberty and free enterprise generate the economic growth that future generations need – and one where an increasingly powerful, all-controlling federal government decides how to allocate the economic spoils…

…The mission of American Crossroads is to help crystallize the debate over these two diametrically opposed visions for America’s future, to educate voters on how these contrasting visions would impact America’s future, and to empower citizens to hold lawmakers and office-seekers accountable for where they stand.

http://www.americancrossroads.org/

AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK

The American Action Network is a 501(c)(4) ‘action tank’ that will create, encourage and promote center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism, and strong national security.  The American Action Network’s primary goal is to put our center-right ideas into action by engaging the hearts and minds of the American people and spurring them into active participation in our democracy.

Mission:  An action center for a new era in American history; an incubator of promising ideas and alternatives; and a catalyst for action to change our country’s course.

http://americanactionnetwork.org/content/about

AMERICAN ACTION FORUM

The American Action Forum is a forward-looking policy institute dedicated to keeping America strong, free and prosperous.  It seeks to promote common-sense, innovative, and solutions-based policies that will reform government, challenge out-dated assumptions, and create a smaller, smarter government that will serve its citizens better. We will use the modern tools of communications to deploy ideas; engage Americans in the debate over the boundaries of government policy, personal freedoms, and market incentives; and educate and challenge the media to explore these issues and shape the next generation of political leaders.

http://americanactionforum.org/about

REPUBLICAN STATE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE – Making a national impact one state at a time

The RSLC has over 75,000 donors from all 50 states supporting the RSLC’s goals to pursue a pro-growth agenda, including reforming the tax code, healthcare and legal systems; promoting a better educational system; encouraging sound energy initiatives; and advocating public safety through tough, crime-fighting policies.

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country and is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and legislator. The RSLC concentrates on recruiting outstanding candidates and providing them with research, financial support, and assistance in message development and delivery.

The RSLC is building the farm team for the Party’s and America’s future. Just five years ago, President-elect Barack Obama was a State Senator from Illinois joining the ranks of half the U.S. Presidents who also had state legislative experience. At least 28 individuals who successfully ran for federal office in 2008 served as state legislators. There have been hundreds of individuals who have held the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, legislator and Secretary of State who have gone on to become Governor, U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator or President. We want to ensure that we have the right individuals determining the future of our country and it starts here with the RSLC.

http://www.rslc.com/

HR 2499 WILL BE VOTED ON TOMORROW, 4/29/10

Why the Rush on the Puerto Rico Statehood Bill?

By Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Huffington Post, April 28, 2010 11:50 PM

H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico statehood bill was brought to the House this week after a surprise announcement last Thursday. Debate on this bill has been severely limited by the way Democratic Leaders are managing the process…

…In my opinion, this bill is the political equivalent of a shady Goldman Sachs derivative: It’s secretive. It lacks transparency. It’s likely to blow up down the road and cause systemic risk to out democracy. And those who put this political derivative together don’t really tell you what this is really about and will play dumb when it explodes.

I get more time to debate renaming a Post Office than I will get to debate a bill that could make Puerto Rico the fifty-first state.

Two Puerto Rican U.S. Senators? Six or seven new Puerto Rican House Members? Really? I can understand why some people would like that idea…but shouldn’t we discuss it first?…

…What’s the rush? Something is wrong with this picture. It just does not add up.

I am a senior Democratic Member of Congress, whose parents were born in Puerto Rico, and for whom Puerto Rico self-determination has been -- and remains -- a central issue of my congressional career. This statehood bill is the opposite of self-determination.

It is designed to craft an artificial majority for statehood where none exists now. Every time the people of Puerto Rico have been consulted on this issue through a plebiscite they’ve said NO to Statehood. NO to Statehood in 1967. NO to Statehood in 1993. NO to Statehood in 1998. This should be called the “Don’t you dare say NO to Statehood Bill”.

Read this article in its entirety here;  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-luis-gutierrez/why-the-rush-on-the-puert_b_556328.html

Video presentaion of HR 2499, the Puerto Rico Statehood Bill