Florida Catholic Bishops: The Supreme Court got it wrong

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The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops issued this statement:

“The Supreme Court has dealt a profound injustice to the American people by striking down in part the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)”, said the U.S. Bishops in a statement on today’s U.S. Supreme Court decisions on marriage. “The Court got it wrong. The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so. The preservation of liberty and justice requires that all laws, federal and state, respect the truth, including the truth about marriage. It is also unfortunate that the Court did not take the opportunity to uphold California’s Proposition 8 but instead decided not to rule on the matter.”

The U.S. Bishops also expressed, “Now that the Supreme Court has issued its decisions, with renewed purpose we call upon all of our leaders and the people of this good nation to stand steadfastly together in promoting and defending the unique meaning of marriage: one man, one woman, for life. We also ask for prayers as the Court’s decisions are reviewed and their implications further clarified.”

While the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions will have profound consequences on marriage and society as a whole, neither of today’s two rulings directly affect Article 1, Section 27 of Florida’s Constitution approved by 62% of voters in 2008, which defines marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife. In particular, the limited ruling on DOMA did not strike the portion of the law that protects states from being forced to recognize same-sex marriage, and the Prop 8 ruling is limited to California.

The Bishops of Florida will continue to uphold and defend the true nature and meaning of marriage as an exclusive, lifelong communion between a man and a woman. It is within this union of husband and wife that children are received and nurtured. The common good and the future of our society are best served by ensuring that a child’s right to a mother and a father, who bring unique gifts to the education and rearing of children, is protected.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS

MISSION: Serve as liaison to state government on matters of concern to the Catholic Church in the seven dioceses of the Province of Miami, as a nonpartisan public policy voice on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Florida.

VISION: The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of his Church guide the work of the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops which, through relationships with representatives and agencies of Florida government, analyzes the moral dimension of public policies, proclaims the sanctity of life and dignity of the human person, leads decision makers in reaching just solutions, and provides opportunities for Catholics in Florida to carry out their responsibility to participate in political life.

Jeb Bush to award Hillary on eve of first anniversary of Benghazi attack

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In the midst of the Benghazi scandal, Jeb Bush, the former Republican governor of Florida and chairman of the National Constitution Center, will award Hillary Clinton the Liberty Medal in honor of her career in public service and “her advocacy efforts on behalf of women”.

The award will be presented on Tuesday, September 10, 2013. This is the eve of the first anniversary of the September 11th, 2012 attack in Benghazi.

According to the Center’s website, “Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will receive the 2013 Liberty Medal in recognition of her lifelong career in public service and her ongoing advocacy efforts on behalf of women and girls around the globe … Throughout her nearly four-decade career as one of America’s most dedicated public servants, Secretary Clinton has continued to champion equal opportunities for women and girls in order to advance the security and prosperity of all people and nations.”

Have women fared better under former Secretary of State Clinton?

Irshad Soomro writes in The Nation, “Every morning, we hear many diverse stories of domestic violence, honor killing, forced and early marriage, acid throwing, and rape. The volume of women violation, discrimination and harassment; particularly in Sindh [South Eastern Province in Pakistan], is increasing day by day. Somewhere, a sister has to lose her life for the sake of honour, whereas, the next one is forced into marriage by an offending party to the males victim, as consideration of comprising offences; the custom is called ‘vani’.”

“Much has been written and spoken about women violence in Pakistan, but all these efforts proved useless. In spite of women protection laws, government institutions seem helpless and dysfunctional before feudal power, the only custodian of policymaking institutions and law enforcement agencies. Woman emancipation is related with her education and economic empowerment, and if, the state really wants to empower and emancipate women, it must pass a law of mandatory education for girls with strict punishment. Any parent who does not educate his female child up to secondary level should be punished. Women’s education is the only way to nation’s peace and prosperity,” notes Soomro.

The Times of India reports ‘No change in women’s plight’. Tejaswini Madabhushi writes, “I don’t see a visible change as yet. Women who come to us with complaints of domestic violence, which is the most common complaint, still say that the police refuse to register complaints immediately and always try to brush the matter off as petty family dispute,” said V Sandhya, president of Progressive Organisation of Women.

Advocacy and effort are fine but as Soomro points out “these efforts are proved useless”.

Awarding former Secretary of  State Hillary Clinton the Liberty Medal should perhaps be based upon results, not effort?

The Supreme Court’s Marriage Decisions by the Numbers

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The following is courtesy of the Heritage Foundation:

The morning after two important—and troubling—Supreme Court decisions in the Proposition 8 and Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) cases, here’s the lay of the land. The important take away: The marriage debate is every bit as live today as it was yesterday morning. Some key numbers following the decisions:

50  The number of states whose marriage laws remain the same after the Court’s marriage decisions.

38  The number of states with laws defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. That includes California and Florida, where the scope of today’s Prop 8 decision beyond the specific plaintiffs will be the subject of ongoing debate and, most likely, further litigation.

12  The number of states that can now force the federal government to recognize their redefinition of marriage. The Court struck Section 3 of DOMA, which means that it must recognize same-sex marriages in states that redefine marriage.

1  The number of sections of the Defense of Marriage Act struck down yesterday (Section 3). Section 2, which ensures that no state will be forced to recognize another state’s redefinition of marriage, is still law.

0  The number of states forced to recognize other states’ redefinition of marriage.

Ryan Anderson discusses what the Supreme Court did in its marriage decisions—but why the proponents of same-sex marriage failed to achieve their goal of a court-imposed nationwide redefinition.

The important news you may not be hearing is that the U.S. Supreme Court did not redefine marriage across the nation. That means the debate about marriage will continue. States are free to uphold policies recognizing that marriage is the union of a man and a woman, so that children have a mother and a father.

In the states, support for marriage as the union of a man and a woman remains strong. Many believe the Court should have respected the authority of California citizens and Congress.

On DOMA, it appears the Court did not respect Congress’s authority to define marriage for the purposes of federal programs and benefits. The Court may have gotten federalism wrong.

On Proposition 8, the citizens of California who voted twice to pass Prop 8 should have been able to count on their Governor and Attorney General to defend the state’s constitution. That’s what democratic self-government is all about.

Download your free copy of TheMarriageFacts.com.

Read the Morning Bell and more en español every day at Heritage Libertad.

Florida Federal Judge Bans Enforcement of HHS Mandate

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ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, announced that this past Monday, Federal District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich of the Middle District of Florida granted its Motion for a Preliminary Injunction barring enforcement of the HHS Mandate.  The motion for a Preliminary Injunction was filed by TMLC on behalf of Plaintiffs Thomas R. Beckwith and his family’s company, Beckwith Electric.

The government claimed that once a business owner chooses to enter into the marketplace or incorporate his business, he surrenders his right to exercise his religious beliefs.

However, Judge Kovachevich’s 37-page decision which mentioned Thomas R. Beckwith’s unique family history—Beckwith’s ancestors arrived on the shores of America in 1626 to escape religious persecution from England — ended with a powerful statement on religious freedom:

 “The First Amendment, and its statutory corollary the RFRA, endow upon the citizens of the United States the unalienable right to exercise religion, and that right is not relinquished by efforts to engage in free enterprise under the corporate form. No legislative, executive, or judicial officer shall corrupt the Framers’ initial expression, through their enactment of laws, enforcement of those laws, or more importantly, their interpretation of those laws. And any action that debases, or cheapens, the intrinsic value of the tenet of religious tolerance that is entrenched in the Constitution cannot stand.” (Emphasis added)

Erin Mersino, TMLC’s lead attorney representing Beckwith, commented, “Tom Beckwith was fighting the Federal Government for the freedom to practice his Southern Baptist faith.  The HHS Mandate would have forced him to provide insurance coverage for abortion-inducing drugs in violation of his religious beliefs or face up to $6 million in annual penalties. Kovachevich’s ruling halts enforcement of the HHS mandate until a final decision is reached in this case.”

 Click here to read Judge Kovachevich’s entire opinion.

Judge Kovachevich’s ruling is the first injunction against the HHS Mandate granted in the State of Florida.  It also marks the twenty-second injunction against the HHS Mandate granted by Federal Courts on religious freedom grounds across the country. The Government is expected to appeal the ruling to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Thomas More Law Center was assisted by local counsel Paul Pizzo and Scott Richards of the firm Fowler White Boggs, P.A. located in Tampa, Florida.

The Attorney General of the State of Florida filed a friend of the court brief in support of the Thomas More Law Center, as did several other Christian organizations, including the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

ABOUT THE THOMAS MORE LAW CENTER:

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life.  It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America.  The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities.  It does not charge for its services.  The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

In Florida you may be a felon if you own a pipe

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The DailyPaul.com blog reports, “[S]tarting July 1st, [2013] smoking devices are now illegal in Florida. Anyone found in possession of a pipe two times (even if it has never been used) becomes a third degree felon. In Florida, this means you are permanently banned from voting … With one swoop of the pen Rick Scott may have put thousands of companies out of business, and their employees looking for jobs. They also need to offload their entire inventory before July 1st when the bill goes into effect (yea, only a couple weeks from now).”

The bill in question is FL HB 49/SB1140. Specifically the bill bans:

(a) Metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, or ceramic pipes, with or without screens, permanent screens, hashish heads, or punctured metal bowls
(b) Water pipes.
(c) Carburetion tubes and devices.
(d) Chamber pipes.
(e) Carburetor pipes.
(f) Electric pipes.
(g) Air-driven pipes.
(h) Chillums.
(i) Bongs.
(j) Ice pipes or chillers.

drug paraphenaliaThe bill establishes the following five drug paraphernalia crimes: 1. use or possession of drug paraphernalia; 2. manufacture or delivery of drug paraphernalia; 3. delivery of drug paraphernalia to a minor; 4. transportation of drug paraphernalia; and 5. advertisement of drug paraphernalia.

Florida Rep. Ray Pilon, a co-sponsor of the bill, when asked about the DailyPaul.com story responded, “Its correct [bill reference] but the economic negative impact is not an issue nor is the prison impact statement. Truth is these devices are only used to smoke drugs not tobacco and are sold mostly in Head Shops, you know those legitimate free market small business guys just trying to make an Honest buck by promoting the use of illegal drugs. Truth is they are nothing but drug paraphernalia always have been and always will be.”

Small government advocates say Pilon’s statement is very much like the arguments used by anti-gun advocates. The focus is always on the how and not the why. The bill outlaws “drug paraphernalia” (i.e. guns, magazines, etc.) in the hopes it reduces drug abuse (i.e. murders and violence). But how does that stop drug addiction (or the violence that is part of the illegal drug cartels)?

Florida has a major prescription drug abuse problem. The Florida House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, upheld the emergency substance ban on certain drugs announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi in 2011, who has declared war on synthetic drugs.  The committee heard testimony describing the current process for policing synthetic substances, chemically-altered compounds popularly known as ‘bath salts’ and found in names such as ”Cloud 9”, ”Mauie Wowie” and ”Ivory Wave.” “It’s just a little disconcerting that every year we’re back here doing the same, same thing,” said state Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Port St. Lucie,who suggesting penalizing retailers like 7-Eleven who may have some of these substances available.

Many believe the solution must focus on the why, not the how. That is the nut that must be cracked.

 

Islamic Society of North America conference in Tampa “to counteract different forms of extremism.”

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The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is holding a conference “to counteract different forms of extremism.”  It appears the extremism they are talking about is not the Jihadists of Islam that despise America and want to change its public policy.  The extremism that ISNA is referring to is the efforts by those who do not want Sharia law to have any place in American politics. Among those who have spoken out against ISNA is Dr. Zuhdi M. Jasser, Founder and President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy.

Since 9/11 there have been over 21,000 deadly terrorist attacks conducted by Muslims, over 93,000 Syrians have died in a Sunni vs. Shia regional conflict, and sharia compliant Islamic regimes in Turkey and Egypt are clamping down on those petitioning their governments. The most recent Boston Bombing by two Muslim Americans adds to the growing distrust of shariah as both brothers were following its tenants while murdering fellow Americans.

According to the ISNA website the conference is scheduled for June 29, 2013 at the Sheraton Tampa East on 10221 Princess Palm Avenue in Tampa, Florida.  The Sheraton Tampa East is owned by Starwood.

Ahmed Bedier (right) in front of poster supporting terrorist fundraiser Sami al-Arian. For a larger view click on the image.

Ahmed Bedier is a featured speaker at the ISNA conference in Tampa.  Ahmed Bedier:

  • Is leading a national effort through United Voices for America to oppose federal legislation that would prohibit American courts from recognizing Sharia law.
  • As director of the Tampa office of the Council on Islamic-American Relations defended Sami Al Arian, who was indicted and pled to federal charges of raising support for a Palestinian Jihad organization.
  • As director of the Tampa office of the Council on Islamic-American Relations spoke on behalf of Youssef Megahed one of two University of South Florida students who were arrested for allegedly carrying pipe bombs near the Goose Creek, S.C a naval base and Megahed was arrested later for deportation.
  • Lobbying efforts as director of the Tampa office of the Council on Islamic-American Relations resulted in the Hillsborough County School Board removing Yom Kippur and Good Friday from the school calendar even after nearly sixty percent of the students (supported by parents) protested by staying home from school on subsequent Good Fridays.  See Note 4 with references below.

ISNA founder and former Secretary-General Sayyid Syeed said in 2006, “Our job is to change the constitution of America.”  It is the Islamist mission to institute Sharia law as public policy in the United States.

The Clarion Project reported on May 30, 2013 in the article titled ISNA Redefines “Shari’a” for Western Consumption. The latest issue of the Islamic Horizons magazine of the Islamic Society of North America, a U.S. Muslim Brotherhood entity, has an article with this message:

The U.S could learn from Islamic law if it weren’t for the “Islamophobes” bashing Sharia.  The theme of the article is that “Islamophobes” are twisting the meaning of Sharia, and it is up to Muslim-Americans to set the record straight.

 Some provisions of Sharia law are antithetical to the rights and liberties afforded under Article 6 of the United States Constitution, which states the US Constitution is the “supreme law of the land”. Under Sharia law the Quran supersedes any other laws, meaning the Constitution must conform to the Quran. Shariah requires the establishment of a single religion – Islam.

Email promoting ISNA conference in Tampa:

Date: Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Subject: ISNA Day in Tampa is June 29, look who will be there

Asalaamu Alaikum-

ISNA is proud to be hosting ISNA Community Day in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, June 29th (inshallah) featuring Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui, Moutasim Atiya, country muslim singer Kareem Salama, Wajahat Ali, Reverend Charles McKenzie and many more.

The event is from 3:00 PM – 10:30 PM at the Sheraton Tampa East (10221 Princess Palm Avenue). In light of recent events and frequent misconceptions about Muslims, the theme “The American Muslim Identity: Challenges to Opportunities” will focus on addressing the difficulties Muslims face and discussing practical and positive solutions to counteract different forms of extremism.

EDITORS NOTES:

Note 1.  Ahmed Bedier is President of United Voices for America.  The top issue at Unitedvoices.com is opposing federal legislation to prohibit American courts from recognizing Sharia law.  The headline issue on this web site states “If passed, this legislation will be disastrous…”  Click here to read top article titled “UV Policy Brief: Should Sharia Law Be Banned in America?” at United Voices for America.

Note 2.  “Ahmed Bedier, Tampa spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations, said Moffitt was wrong about the Al-Arian plea. Al-Arian did not agree to admit to any charges associated with terrorism, Bedier said.

“He stayed true to his convictions – he stayed true he wasn’t going to plead to those issues,” Bedier said. “There is no conspiracy to support terrorism.”

Bedier said he could not reveal what charge Al-Arian agreed to, and he refused to reveal the source of his information.

Bedier convened a 7 p.m. news conference, saying he hoped to have Al-Arian’s family there. They did not appear.

“Their lawyer would not allow them,” Bedier said. He later said Al-Arian’s family learned of the plea agreement Friday from a news report.

All of the above statements were reported by The Tampa Tribune on April 15, 2006.

Note 3.  “We have faith in the American judicial system,” said Ahmed Bedier, executive director of the Tampa chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. “So far we’ve only heard and read about vague language describing an explosive device, but no actual evidence. Until that’s displayed it’s going to be unclear what’s going on.”

The above statements were reported by the Tampa Tribune on September 1, 2007.

Note 4:  CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) lead then by Ahmed Bedier placed intense pressure on the Hillsborough County School Board to include the Muslim day Eid Al-Fitr in the 2006-07 school year calendar.  The school board responded to CAIR’s pressure by removing Good Friday and Yom Kippur from the school calendar.

Allen West: “We need to beware judicial activism” #DOMA

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Posted by allenwestrepublic on 

130327-Supreme_Court-DOMA_620x350

by Allen West via Facebook

I don’t believe when the 14th Amendment was passed to support the 13th amendment, the writers ever conceived it would be used as a catch-all for various special interest groups. And I am very concerned that special interest groups can challenge the referendum of the people and seek out their interest before the courts – and in fact overrule the democratic process by legislating from the bench.

America is facing immense issues that threaten our republic — economic, energy, and national security issues –and I shall not get caught up in debates at the federal government level on legislating sexual behaviors. The states will make the final determination….but then again, we need to beware judicial activism.

EDITORS NOTE: 

Florida in 2008 passed an amendment to the Florida Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.  Amendment 2 added Article I Section 27 of the Florida constitution, which states:

Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.

RELATED COLUMN:

HOLD ON, DOMA WASN’T TOTALLY THROWN OUT: HERE’S THE PROVISION THAT COULD LEAD TO ANOTHER GAY MARRIAGE BATTLE

Rubio: Supreme Court made “serious mistake” striking down DOMA

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Pro-gay marriage advocates celebrate at the US Supreme Court.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following statement on today’s U.S. Supreme Court rulings:

“I believe the Supreme Court made a serious mistake today when it overstepped its important, but limited role.  I do not believe that President Clinton and overwhelming bipartisan majorities of both houses of Congress acted with malice or intent to ‘demean’ a class of people when they adopted a uniform definition of marriage for the purposes of federal law.  The Court should not have second guessed the will of the American people acting through their elected representatives without firm constitutional justifications.  The sweeping language of today’s majority opinion is more troubling than the ruling itself as it points to further interference by the Court in the years to come.

“I recognize that the definition of marriage and the legal status of same-sex relationships is a deeply personal and emotional issue for Americans of a variety of viewpoints.  These types of disagreements should be settled through the democratic process, as the Founders intended, not through litigation and court pronouncements.

“For millions of Americans, the definition of marriage is not an abstract political question, or some remote legal debate.  It’s a deeply personal issue. It’s an issue that I have grappled with as well.

“I believe that marriage is a unique historical institution best defined as the union between one man and one woman. In the U.S., marriage has traditionally been defined by state law, and I believe each state, acting through their elected representatives or the ballot, should decide their own definition of marriage. For the purposes of federal law, however, Congress had every right to adopt a uniform definition and I regret that the Supreme Court would interfere with that determination.

“I appreciate that many Americans’ attitude towards same-sex marriage have changed in recent years. I respect the rights of states to allow same-sex marriages, even though I disagree with them. But I also expect that the decisions made by states like Florida to define marriage as between one man and one woman will also be respected.

“I do not believe there exists a federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage. Therefore, I am glad the Supreme Court did not create one in the Proposition 8 case.

“Rather than having courts redefine marriage for all Americans, my hope is that the American people, through their state legislatures and referendums, can continue to decide the definition of marriage.  It is through debates like this that the brilliance of our constitutional system of democracy, and the inherent goodness of our people, is revealed.

“My hope is that those of us who believe in the sanctity and uniqueness of traditional marriage will continue to argue for its protection in a way that is respectful to the millions of American sons and daughters who are gay. It is also my hope that those who argue for the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex marriage will refrain from assailing the millions of Americans who disagree with them as bigots.” [Emphasis added]

EDITORS NOTE: 

Florida in 2008 passed an amendment to the Florida Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.  Amendment 2 added Article I Section 27 of the Florida constitution, which states:

Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.

RELATED COLUMN:

HOLD ON, DOMA WASN’T TOTALLY THROWN OUT: HERE’S THE PROVISION THAT COULD LEAD TO ANOTHER GAY MARRIAGE BATTLE

Mother, two daughters murdered over video of them enjoying the rain

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Column courtesy of Robert Spencer from Jihad Watch:

honor killingMuslims commit 91 percent of honor killings worldwide. A manual of Islamic law certified as a reliable guide to Sunni orthodoxy by Al-Azhar University, the most respected authority in Sunni Islam, says that “retaliation is obligatory against anyone who kills a human being purely intentionally and without right.” However, “not subject to retaliation” is “a father or mother (or their fathers or mothers) for killing their offspring, or offspring’s offspring.” (‘Umdat al-Saliko1.1-2). In other words, someone who kills his child incurs no legal penalty under Islamic law.

The Palestinian Authority gives pardons or suspended sentences for honor murders. Iraqi women have asked for tougher sentences for Islamic honor murderers, who get off lightly now. Syria in 2009 scrapped a law limiting the length of sentences for honor killings, but “the new law says a man can still benefit from extenuating circumstances in crimes of passion or honour ‘provided he serves a prison term of no less than two years in the case of killing.'” And in 2003 the Jordanian Parliament voted down on Islamic grounds a provision designed to stiffen penalties for honor killings. Al-Jazeera reported that “Islamists and conservatives said the laws violated religious traditions and would destroy families and values.”

In light of all this, until authorities get the courage to tell the truth about honor killing, there will be many more such murders.

“Two girls, mother killed over family video,” from Dawn, June 25 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):

GILGIT, June 24: A family video showing two teenage girls enjoying rain in their house led to their murder in Chilas on Sunday night. Their mother was also gunned down allegedly by her stepson and his four friends. Five masked men barged into the house of retired police officer Rehmat Nabi and started firing, killing his wife and daughters, aged 15 and 16.

According to police, the crime was motivated by a video clip circulated on mobile phones and showing the girls overjoyed by rain in the lawn of their bungalow.

The video, recorded six months ago, was circulated in the area four months later probably after a relative sent it to his friends.

Police believed that the girls’ stepbrother Khutore took it as an “assault on the honour of his family” and tried to “restore the family’s honour” by killing the girls.

Khutore escaped when police tried to get in touch with him for investigation. But, his four friends were arrested and, according to a senior police official, they have confessed to the crime. A case has been registered against the five.

Read more.

Florida 2013 Economic Freedom Legislative Scorecard released

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Americans for Prosperity released its 2013 Economic Freedom Scorecard. The scorecard grades more than 3,000 individual votes on twenty legislative issues. Each of the AFP 2013 legislative priorities is included on this scorecard, as well as any additional issues that the AFP communicated support or opposition for during the 2013 session.

The AFP 2013 legislative priorities were based on their Five for Florida plan, which focuses on the principle of economic freedom and outlines policies that make a state more economically free.

Fifty-three legislators received A+ scores, designating them Champions of Economic Freedom.  Additionally, there were nine As, twenty-three Bs, twelve Cs, eight Ds, and fifty-four Fs.

Read the full scorecard, including the issues and explanation of the grades below.

About AFP-Florida

Americans for Prosperity is a grassroots movement of over 2.3 million activists nationwide who advocate and promote limited government, lower taxes, and more freedom. We have more than 146,000 activists across the state of Florida who are taking action every day on behalf of the free market movement and influencing decision makers.  Whether it’s calling members of congress, gathering with fellow activists, or attending an AFP event in their neighborhood – AFP activists are making a difference in the fight against big government on the local and national level.

We encourage you to join the more than 146,000 members of AFP in Florida and the 2.3 million activists nationwide on the front line in the fight against big government. As an AFP activist we will provide you with action alerts that allow you to contact your elected officials, updates on how you can promote limited government, and the tools to make your voice heard.

US backed Syrian rebels put child in chains

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According to Pamela Geller from Atlas Shrugs:

According to Syrian Truth’s Facebook page, the below photo is of a toddler living in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate in eastern Syria, bordering Iraq. She was tied up by members of the U.S.-supported “Free Syrian Army” — which is dominated by foreign, Sunni jihadis — and made to watch as her mother and father were killed for being Shia. Here is how the Obama administration is using your tax dollars — mockingly in the name of “freedom.” (thanks to Raymond Ibrahim hat tip Jane)

Here is the picture as it appears on the Syrian Truth Facebook page. Note the caption on the photo:

 

 

Florida native Nik Wallenda crosses the Grand Canyon while “Praising the Lord Jesus”

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Daredevil Nik Wallenda, a Sarasota, Florida native, successfully crossed a gorge near the Grand Canyon on a high wire, becoming the first person to attempt and complete the walk 1500 ft above the Little Colorado River. It is the longest high wire walk in history. That is until Nik tells us what he will do to top this breathtaking event.

Congratulations to Nik. You have make Florida proud of you. Not sure we can take the tension of your next daredevil event. Thanks for praising the Lord Jesus Christ during your entire walk. He was with you and we pray he keeps you safe in the future.

Katie Baker from Florida, a WDW – FL reader, sent us this music video done by her that you may wish to listen to. It seems appropriate given yesterday’s amazing Grand Canyon walk. It is dedicated to Nik:

RELATED COLUMNS:

GRAND STAND: Daredevil sets new tightrope world record…
‘Thank you Lord. Thank you for calming that cable, God’…

Florida Parents Against Common Core preparing legislation for 2014 session

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Florida Parents Against Common Core (FPACC) are putting together draft legislation to stop the implementation of the program in Florida.

In an email to WDW – FL Laura Zorc, FPACC SE State Coordinator, states, “What is happening in other states is what we are looking to do here in Florida. However, in our bill we will add a third review that would encompass a legal review to determine if violation with  state and federal constitution.  We have team of attorneys  working on establishing the need for review based on their findings.  Our intentions are to have this a back up support for our bill sponsor.”

Fifteen states have filed bills in their state legislatures to stop CCSS.

Below are of examples and actual legislation that addresses issues related to the adoption and implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) by delaying the implementation of the standards or assessments, not funding implementation, or withdrawing completely from using the CCSS.  These vary considerably in the scope of what is addressed.  Links have been provided for the History, Download, and Alternate.  Original bills as introduced are often stronger in nature before being subjected to changes as it is considered during the legislative process in each state.

  • History—link to official state legislative page or other page with bill history and info
  • Download—link to download the legislative bill
  • Alternate—an alternate download link in event official link is broken

Sample Legislation

Comprehensive Legislative Package Opposing the Common Core State Standards  Download

Actual Legislative Bills

2011 Texas HB 2923  An Act relating to the state sovereignty over curriculum standards assessments, and student information.  History   Download   Alternate

2011 New Hampshire HB 164 Requiring legislative approval for the adoption of the common core state standards in New Hampshire.  History   Download   Alternate

2011 South Carolina S. 604  A bill to provide that the common core standards may not be imposed on South Carolina.  History   Download   Alternate

2011 Washington HB 1891 Delaying adoption and implementation of the common core standards.   History   Download   Alternate

2012 Utah S.C.R. 13 Urges the State Board of Education to reconsider the board’s decision to adopt the Common Core standards and, in reconsidering the board’s decision, evaluate the cost, control, and quality of Utah standards and assessments compared to the cost, control, and quality of the Common Core standards and SBAC assessments.  History   Download   Alternate

2013 South Carolina H. 3943 To provide the State Board of Education may not adopt and the Department of Education may not implement the common core standards.   History   Download   Alternate

2013 Georgia SB 167 To declare certain actions void ab initio relating to adoption of certain curricula; to prohibit state education agencies from entering into any commitments relating to the federal Race to the Top program; to require hearings and public input prior to adoption of state-wide competencies and content standards; to limit the compilation and sharing of personal student and teacher data; to prohibit the expenditure of funds for a state-wide longitudinal data system except for administrative needs and federal grant compliance; to provide notice to students or teachers if certain student or teacher data are provided to the United States Department of Education as a condition of receiving a federal education grant; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.   History   Download   Alternate

2013 Alabama SB 190 Relating to education and core curriculum standards; to prohibit the State Board of Education from adopting and the Department of Education from implementing the Common Core State Standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative; to prohibit the State Board of Education, the Department of Education, and other state bodies from compiling or sharing data about students or teachers, except under limited circumstances; to prohibit the State Board of Education from entering into an agreement or joining a consortium that would cede any control to an entity outside the state; and to require notice and public hearings before the State Board of Education adopts or implements any statewide standards.  History   Download   Alternate

2013 Alabama SB 403 Companion to SB 190.  History   Download   Alternate

2013 Alabama HB 565 Relating to curriculum standards; to clarify that the State Board of Education retains the sole authority to develop and adopt curriculum standards independent of the federal government or other agency or entity outside of the state. History   Download   Alternate

2013 Oklahoma HB 1907 An Act relating to schools; creating the Common Core Task Force; providing termination date; stating purpose of the Task Force; providing for membership; providing date for appointments and organizational meeting; providing for selection of officers; stating duties; exempting the Task Force from certain acts; providing for meetings; providing for travel reimbursement and staff assistance; requiring completion of the study by a certain date; providing for non codification; and declaring an emergency. History   Download   Alternate

2013 Kansas HB 2289 No school district, nor the department of education nor the state board of education shall expend any moneys to implement the set of educational curriculum standards for grades kindergarten through established by the common core state standards initiative.   History   Download   Alternate

2013 Indiana SB 0193 Provides that the state board of education may not adopt as standards for the state any common core educational standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Voids any action taken to adopt common core educational standards. History   Download   Alternate

2013 Indiana HB 1427 This is the bill that passed and has been signed by the governor.  It pauses the implementation of the CCSS while a the standards are evaluated and hearings are conducted.   History   Download   Alternate

2013 Missouri SB 210 The state board of education and the department of elementary and secondary education shall not implement the Common Core State Standards.   History   Download   Alternate

2013 Michigan HB 4328 Budget approved.  Sec. 230. Prohibit Funding for Common Core and Smarter Balance – House adds language stating that funds shall not be used to fund the Common Core State Standards Initiative or Smarter Balanced Assessments, and that funds shall not be used to implement programs or assessments created by these organizations.   History   Download   Alternate

2013 Michigan HB 4276 Prohibits implementation of common core standards. History   Download   Alternate

2013 Texas HB 462 Prohibits school districts from using the common core state standards.   History   Download   Alternate

2013 South Dakota HB 1204 An Act to require the Board of Education to obtain legislative approval before adopting any further Common core standards.   History   Download   Alternate

Florida Judge: Zimmerman did not racially profile Trayvon Martin but!

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The  Associated Press reports, “Prosecutors in Florida can argue in opening statements that George Zimmerman profiled Trayvon Martin based on factors such as age or clothing before he shot the unarmed black teenager, but they cannot say he was profiled based on race, a judge ruled Friday.”

Circuit Court Judge Debra Nelson made the ruling ahead of Monday’s expected opening statements in Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial.

Defense attorneys had asked the judge to prohibit prosecutors from using a series of words in opening statements that they deemed inflammatory. Those words included “profiled,” “vigilante,” “wannabe cop,” and that Zimmerman had confronted Martin. Zimmerman is Hispanic.

Many believe the only reason Zimmerman is being tried today is because Martin is black.

President Obama set the tone when he stated, “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon. I think [Trayvon’s parents] are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and we are going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.

This led to demonstrations and accusations of “racial profiling”. Martin was visiting Sanford, FL while serving a 10-day suspension from Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School in north Miami. His parents are divorced but both still live in Miami where his mother is a county housing agency employee and his father is a truck driver.

Martin had pictures of guns, a video of a fist fight and photos of him smoking marijuana on his cell phone according to the defense team. On the night of the shooting, Zimmerman was driving through his community running errands when he saw a young man on the property whom he thought looked suspicious.  He called the Sanford Police Department.  He said “This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or is on drugs or something.  It is raining and he is just walking around and looking at all of the houses.”

Images from Trayvon Martin’s cell phone. For a larger view click on the image.

I reported on May 20, 2013:

President Obama talked about “racism” at Morehouse College this weekend. The timing is interesting because the trial of George Zimmerman, the man who shot Trayvon Martin in February 2012, will begin in June. Zimmerman is Hispanic and Martin was black.

President Obama stated at Morehouse, “We know that too many young men in our community continue to make bad choices. Growing up, I made quite a few myself. Sometimes I wrote off my own failings as just another example of the world trying to keep a black man down. I had a tendency sometimes to make excuses for me not doing the right thing. But one of the things that all of you have learned over the last four years, is there’s no longer any room for excuses.”

I stated in an earlier column, “Since February 26, 2012, when Trayvon Martin was killed by a single gunshot fired by George Zimmerman, it seems that the tragic shooting has been turned into a racial profiling incident by our news media. ”

As this trial progresses many are asking if Zimmerman will get a fair trial or will he become the victim of a racially charged agenda led in part by President Obama.

RELATED COLUMNS:

Zimmerman Trial: Judge Allows Prosecutors to use Inflammatory “Wannabe Cop” and “Vigilante” to Describe Defendant

University of South Florida professor attacked for telling truths about Islam

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Robert Spencer from Jihad Watch reports:

USF Professor Jonathan Matusitz

Professor Jonathan Matusitz is plain-spoken, if this report is accurate, but everything he says can be substantiated. This demonstrates yet again that there is no one who opposes jihad terror who is acceptable to Hamas-linked CAIR and its allies. When Hamas-linked CAIR targets so-called “Islamophobes” and details all their alleged enormities, some on the Right think that they can avoid this demonization and defamation by highlighting the work of “moderate Muslims” (Zuhdi Jasser, call your office) and talking about how the true Islam is peaceful. But the recent CAIR attack on Congressman Mike Pompeo shows that even they will not be spared.

In its “Islamophobia” report a few years back, Hamas-linked CAIR affirmed that there was acceptable and legitimate criticism of Islam and jihad. But the report offered no examples, and Hamas-linked CAIR has never offered any such examples. In reality, anyone and everyone who dares to oppose jihad and Islamic supremacism will become a target for a Hamas-linked CAIR smear campaign. CAIR’s real agenda is not to distinguish legitimate resistance to jihad from bigotry and hatred, but to stigmatize all resistance to jihad as bigotry and hatred, and clear away all obstacles to the advance of that jihad. Professor Matusitz is just the latest to be in its sights.

“Islamic group says UCF professor promotes anti-Muslim hate,” by Denise-Marie Ordway for the Orlando Sentinel, June 20 (thanks to all who sent this in):

The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is accusing a UCF professor of teaching anti-Muslim bigotry.Officials with the group sent a complaint to the University of Central Florida asking it to review the content of professor Jonathan Matusitz’s courses.

Matusitz, 36, has taught several communication classes at UCF, including one called Terrorism and Communication and another on intercultural communication. He wrote a book titled “Terrorism & Communication: A Critical Introduction” that was published last year.

The council points to a YouTube video of Matusitz as an example of his sharing “Islamophobic” views with students that it says are inaccurate, biased and over-generalized. UCF says that video, which appears to have been taped in a classroom, actually features an “outside-of-the-classroom presentation” that took place in January.

UCF spokesman Grant Heston said the school has received no complaints from students or Matusitz’s colleagues about his work.

In the video, Matusitz stresses the link between terrorism and Islamic culture. He also suggests countries should resist the global spread of Islam.

“Why do so many Muslims, relative to other religions, want to kill us?” he asks in the video. “The answer is easy, very easy. It is seven letters: culture.”

He also explains that Islam cannot be changed.

“How can you change a movement in which you have 1.5 billion members? It’s impossible,” he says. “We just have to resist it and just elect people who are willing just to resist it and just be true American. That’s the only answer. We’re not going to change Islam.”

Heston said Matusitz was not speaking on behalf of UCF, which does not endorse his views.

At this point, the university is not reviewing the professor’s lessons or work at UCF.

“Dr. Matusitz expressed his opinion, which is his right,” Heston said.

Read more.

Note that the Orlando Sentinel doesn’t bother to mention that CAIR is a Hamas front, but does go out of its way to assert that ACT! for America “promotes anti-Islamic views.”