Panamah
06-28-2006, 01:06 PM
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They can't mobilize to do squat for immigration, Iraq, Katrina, give poor workers a boost in minimum wage, but boy oh boy, come election time it is time to pound the drum for American Values.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/28/mg.thu/
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/28/mg.thu/
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Republicans released a package of bills Tuesday aimed at energizing social conservatives five months before the midterm elections.
Billed as the "American Values Agenda," the measures range from legislation that would "protect the Pledge of Allegiance from attacks by activist federal judges seeking to rule it unconstitutional" to a constitutional amendment "declaring marriage to be between a man and a woman."
"Through this agenda, we will work to protect the faith of our people, the sanctity of life and freedoms outlined by our founding fathers," House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) said in a statement released by his office.
Jennifer Crider, a spokeswoman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California), dismissed the announcement as a campaign stunt.
"The American people will see through the Republican's old playbook of distract, distort, and divide," Crider told the Grind. "Pandering to the radical right-wing's wrong priorities does not reflect American value of opportunity, security, and prosperity. Americans are demanding change, and Democrats are offering a new direction for America with real solutions to our nation's challenges."
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) told CNN's Deirdre Walsh that Republican leaders decided on the 10 legislative items after meeting with about two dozen outside groups in February as well as receiving input from the House GOP's "Values Action Team" headed by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pennsylvania).
Blunt said details were announced this week "both to give our outside friends the notice they need to make their final effort on these issues and to let the members know before we go home before the week in July that they'll be working in the district on this."
A Blunt spokesperson said the goal is to move on most of these items in July, but they will be spread out over several weeks depending on committee schedules. With the August Congressional recess fast approaching, some of these items could slip into September.
The GOP's "American Values Agenda" includes: Pledge Protection Act, HR 2389; Freedom to Display the American Flag Act, HR 42; The Public Expression of Religion Act, HR 2679; Marriage Amendment, HJ Res 88; Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, HR 356; Human Cloning Prohibition Act, HR 1357; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (BATFE) Reform, 5092; Internet Gambling Prohibition; Permanent Tax Relief for Families; Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act, HR 5013.
A House GOP aide told Walsh the first three items that likely will be addressed are the Pledge Protection Act, Marriage Amendment and Internet Gambling Prohibition.
They can't mobilize to do squat for immigration, Iraq, Katrina, give poor workers a boost in minimum wage, but boy oh boy, come election time it is time to pound the drum for American Values.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/28/mg.thu/
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/28/mg.thu/
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Republicans released a package of bills Tuesday aimed at energizing social conservatives five months before the midterm elections.
Billed as the "American Values Agenda," the measures range from legislation that would "protect the Pledge of Allegiance from attacks by activist federal judges seeking to rule it unconstitutional" to a constitutional amendment "declaring marriage to be between a man and a woman."
"Through this agenda, we will work to protect the faith of our people, the sanctity of life and freedoms outlined by our founding fathers," House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) said in a statement released by his office.
Jennifer Crider, a spokeswoman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California), dismissed the announcement as a campaign stunt.
"The American people will see through the Republican's old playbook of distract, distort, and divide," Crider told the Grind. "Pandering to the radical right-wing's wrong priorities does not reflect American value of opportunity, security, and prosperity. Americans are demanding change, and Democrats are offering a new direction for America with real solutions to our nation's challenges."
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) told CNN's Deirdre Walsh that Republican leaders decided on the 10 legislative items after meeting with about two dozen outside groups in February as well as receiving input from the House GOP's "Values Action Team" headed by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pennsylvania).
Blunt said details were announced this week "both to give our outside friends the notice they need to make their final effort on these issues and to let the members know before we go home before the week in July that they'll be working in the district on this."
A Blunt spokesperson said the goal is to move on most of these items in July, but they will be spread out over several weeks depending on committee schedules. With the August Congressional recess fast approaching, some of these items could slip into September.
The GOP's "American Values Agenda" includes: Pledge Protection Act, HR 2389; Freedom to Display the American Flag Act, HR 42; The Public Expression of Religion Act, HR 2679; Marriage Amendment, HJ Res 88; Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, HR 356; Human Cloning Prohibition Act, HR 1357; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (BATFE) Reform, 5092; Internet Gambling Prohibition; Permanent Tax Relief for Families; Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act, HR 5013.
A House GOP aide told Walsh the first three items that likely will be addressed are the Pledge Protection Act, Marriage Amendment and Internet Gambling Prohibition.