Ted Cruz Declares Parliamentary War in the Senate [+video]

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Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has tied the Senate in knots into the weekend with his parliamentary maneuvers on a bill funding highway programs. The U.S. Senate is embroiled in a battle between leadership and conservatives that is getting ugly and personal.

Sen. Cruz has offered something called a “Third Degree Amendment.” That means nothing to most people. In plain English – Senator Cruz is digging in to lead the fight against the Senate Republican leadership to end the Export Import Bank and the Third Degree Amendment is his tool to fight.

New fronts in the battle are expected to be opened up on the highway bill this weekend over the issues of repealing Obamacare, Planned Parenthood funding and President Obama’s Iran deal. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) are expected to join the fight. The leadership will be using allies in the media to fire away at Cruz and his band of Senate conservatives.

How did we get here?

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is in the process of trying to check off two items on his to-do list for the year. First, he wants to pass a long-term highway bill. Second, he wants to help extend the life of the crony Export Import Bank – a bank that is anathema to conservatives. These are both leadership priorities. Senator Ted Cruz is using Senate procedure to fight the Export Import Bank extension that has been added as an amendment to the highway language in the bill. It is that simple.

The House has passed a short-term highway bill and they are insisting that the Senate just take up and pass a bill that will only last for a few months. That bill does not contain any extension for the Export Import Bank (EX-IM). The option remains for the Senate to take up the House passed highway bill without EX-IM if this fight results in a stalemate.

Procedurally this bill is getting complicated. It is important to note that many times, procedure is king because if a Senator can use procedure to gum up the works, all too often that Senator can use the procedure in the Senate to kill legislation. Here, the goal is to kill the EX-IM amendment to the highway bill and to get the Majority Leader to make the calculation that he wants a long-term highway bill more than he wants EX-IM.

McConnell has avoided one procedural blockade. The Senate Majority Leader has attached the highway bill to an unrelated bill from the House to make sure that he does not violate the Constitution.

Leader McConnell called up a House passed bill and added the text of the highway bill to it, then he called up an amendment that allows the Export-Import Bank to continue. This married an unrelated House bill to the highway bill and EX-IM. But then Senator McConnell did something that was unexpected.

Next, Senator McConnell offered an amendment for a full repeal of Obamacare. This seemed to be an attempt to intimidate the Tea Party faction in the Senate to take the vote on a full repeal of Obamacare and walk away from the fight over EX-IM. The problem is that nobody believes the Obamacare amendment to be anything other than meaningless vote.

McConnell then proceeded to use a parliamentary maneuver, abhorred by many conservatives and Senate procedure strict constructionists, to block all other amendments to the bill. This tactic, known as “Filling the Amendment Tree,” enraged many members of the Republican caucus who wanted to offer their own amendments to the bill. When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) ran the Senate he frequently filled the amendment tree as a way to block Republicans from ever offering amendments. This obstructionist tactic still rubs many conservatives the wrong way and is still considered by many to be an abuse of power.

Enter Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz took to the floor and offered an amendment to condition the Iran deal on Iran recognizing the right of Israel to exist and calling on Iran to release Americans held hostage. The Cruz amendment violates the Senate’s rules, because, under the current scenario, only certain amendments are allowed.

Senator Cruz’s amendment relating to Iran is out of order and not allowed by Senate precedent. Yet, the great thing about the Senate precedents is that they can be voted on and determined by the full Senate. That is, every voting member of the Senate gets to decide if Senator Cruz gets to offer the amendment on the Iran deal, or on anything else. This option is open to every member of the Senate.

Senator Rand Paul has vetted the idea of offering an amendment to defund Planned Parenthood – that could be the next third degree amendment. Senator Mike Lee might also get into the act with another third degree amendment. The full Senate will get to decide if their colleagues – Senator Cruz, Senator Paul, Senator Lee and potentially others – should be able to add their amendments to the underlying bill. If there is any question as to where Senators stand on defunding Planned Parenthood, recognizing Israel, and forcing Iran to release American hostages, the votes this weekend will make their positions clear.

Senator Cruz is going into parliamentary war with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

This weekend’s Senate skirmish translates directly to the epic fight we are expecting in the Presidential nomination contest between the Tea Party faction, most loudly led by Donald Trump these days, and the establishment faction, led by the establishment poster boy Jeb Bush. Senator Cruz’s fight with Majority Leader McConnell typifies the struggle of the Republican Party to define itself and what it will stand for. Will the Republican Party prioritize handouts to big corporations over defunding an organization that traffics baby body parts? Thanks to the efforts of courageous Senators like Ted Cruz, we will soon find out. (Published with permission from the author, “Ted Cruz Declares Parliamentary War in the Senate”, originally appeared HERE)

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State Forbids Pastors Calling Homosexuals ‘Sinful’

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The state of Kentucky has begun imposing a religious test on volunteer pastor counselors in its youth division, insisting that they refrain from calling homosexuality “sinful” and dismissing those who cannot bend their religious faith to accommodate the state requirements.

The policy was uncovered by Liberty Counsel, which has sent a letter to Bob Hayter, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, demanding that the state religious test be dropped and that a dismissed counselor be reinstated.

“Liberty Counsel writes regarding the blatantly unconstitutional revocation of volunteer prison minister status of ordained Christian minister David Wells, who has provided voluntary spiritual counseling and mentorship to juvenile inmates under the control of the Department of Juvenile Justice. … This revocation was issued by Warren County Regional Juvenile Detention Center on the basis of the April 4, 2014, DJJ Policy 912, which mandates full DJJ support of homosexuality and transvestism.

“With no evidence of any violation of DJJ policy on Mr. Wells’ part, his volunteer status was revoked by the Warren RJDC superintendent because he could not sign a state-mandated statement that homosexuality was not ‘sinful,’ among other things,” the letter said.

The policy states that DJJ staff, volunteers and others “shall not imply or tell LGBTQI juveniles that they are abnormal, deviant, sinful or that they can or should change their sexual orientation or gender identity.” (Read more from “State Forbids Pastors Calling Homosexuals ‘Sinful'” HERE)

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Planned Parenthood’s “False” Corporate Sponsor List

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If they sincerely cherish their names and reputations, the principals of Coca-Cola, Ford and Xerox should launch a joint lawsuit against Planned Parenthood.

Until the scandalous video showed their doctors talking about the sale of aborted baby parts as ‘taking care of business’, the names of the three multi-nationals, among others, were being openly advertised as corporate sponsors on the Planned Parenthood website. The purveyors of selling aborted baby parts have linked their names to infamy, and in fact disgraced all corporations boldly named on the Planned Parenthood website.

Members of the public at large have taken to the Internet calling for a boycott on the products of these companies thought to be in league with the baby killers.

“Representatives from Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Co. and Xerox say they’ve asked Planned Parenthood to remove their names as corporate donors to the embattled organization. (Daily Signal, July 23, 2015) . . .

Removing the list means the corporate donors who continue to support Planned Parenthood are now anonymous and will be able to carry on their support under the cover of covert secrecy. (Read more from “Planned Parenthood’s False Corporate Sponsor List” HERE)

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US Marshals Raid Sheriff Joe’s Office

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By WND. A judge on Friday ordered the seizure of identification documents and computer hard drives from Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office, and chastised his attorneys for failing to turn over the evidence, requested months ago in a racial-profiling case against the Arizona lawman.

The U.S. Marshals Service later raided the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. District Judge Murray Snow ordered the raid after a court-ordered monitor reported the sheriff’s office failed to hand over more than 1,400 identification documents – driver’s licenses, passports and identification cards – as part of a misconduct investigation involving the sheriff’s office.

Arpaio’s immigration smuggling squad and other deputies are accused of regularly pocketing items from people during traffic stops and busts of safe houses used during illegal-immigrant smuggling.

Court monitors claim the IDs belonged primarily to people of Hispanic descent. (Read more from “US Marshals Raid Sheriff Joe’s Office” HERE)

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Federal Judge Orders Information Be Seized From Arizona Sheriff

By Reuters. A federal judge on Friday ordered U.S. marshals to seize documents from the office of controversial Arizona lawman Joe Arpaio as part of an ongoing racial profiling case.

U.S. District Judge Murray Snow issued the order at an emergency hearing he convened after a court-appointed monitor reported that the sheriff’s office had failed to turn over information being sought in connection with the case.

In a brief order, Snow required that 1,459 identifications apparently taken from people by sheriff’s deputies during law enforcement actions and which were about to be destroyed be produced for federal marshals.

The judge also ordered that computer hard drives, documents and other materials related to an investigation involving the judge by a confidential informant be given to marshals by the end of the day on Friday.

Arpaio, the longtime Maricopa County sheriff, did not attend the last-minute afternoon hearing held in U.S. District Court in Phoenix. (Read more from “Federal Judge Orders Information Be Seized From Arizona Sheriff” HERE)

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Dude’s Rattlesnake Selfie Ends With $153,000 Bill

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A San Diego man who was nearly killed while trying to take a selfie with a rattlesnake racked up a killer $153,000 hospital bill instead.

By far the largest bite listed on the itemized bill is $83,341.25 for “pharmacy.” That’s because Fassler’s lifesaving treatment depleted the anti-venom supplies at two local hospitals, KGTV reported.

It’s not clear whether Fassler has insurance — and whether these are dollar amounts that he will in fact have to pay out of pocket. But the confusion over health-care pricing is common for Americans who receive bills and can’t be sure where the numbers come from.

There’s currently only one commercially available anti-venom for treating venomous snakebites in the United States — CroFab, manufactured by U.K.-based BTG. And with a stable market of 7,000 to 8,000 snakebite victims per year and no competitors, business is pretty good. BTG’s latest annual report shows CroFab sales topped out at close $98 million dollars last fiscal year.

The antivenin costs hospitals roughly $2,300 per vial, with a typical dose requiring four to six vials. In some cases multiple doses are needed, according to CroFab’s promotional Web site. Fassler required multiple dosings over a five day period. (Read more from “Dude’s Rattlesnake Selfie Ends With $153,000 Bill” HERE)

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Kenyan President Pushes Back Against Obama’s LGBT Agenda: ‘a Non-Issue’ for Kenyans [+video]

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Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta pushed back gently against President Obama’s promotion of homosexual and lesbian rights on Saturday, saying Kenyans had more pressing concerns to deal with, including health, education and “ensuring inclusivity of women.”

While Kenya and the U.S. shared many values, Kenyatta said during a joint press conference in Nairobi, “there are some things that we must admit we don’t share – our culture, our societies don’t accept. It is very difficult for us to be able to impose on people that which they themselves do not accept.”

“This is why I repeatedly say that, for Kenyans today, the issue of gay rights is really a non-issue,” he added. “We want to focus on other areas that are day-to-day living for our people.

Enhancing economic development for women, health, education, infrastructure, providing power and encouraging entrepreneurship “are our key focuses,” Kenyatta continued.

“Maybe once, like you have overcome some of these challenges, we can begin to look at new ones,” he said. “But as of now, the fact remains that this [homosexuality] issue is not really an issue that is on the foremost mind of Kenyans, and that is the fact.” (Read more from “Kenyan President Tells Obama: LGBT Rights ‘a Non-Issue’ for Kenyans Today” HERE)

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Famed Soviet Dissident Sharansky: US Jews Must Stand up to White House Over Iran Nuclear Deal

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By Shiryn Ghermezian. Jews in America should take a stand against the White House and oppose the nuclear deal recently agreed between world powers and Iran, famed Soviet dissident and now Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky said on Friday in an op-ed for The Washington Post.

“Those of us who believe that the nuclear agreement just signed between world powers and Iran is dangerously misguided are now compelled to criticize Israel’s best friend and ally, the government of the United States,” Sharansky said.

Sharansky acknowledged that standing up against the White House in support of “what we think is right” for both Jews and the world, puts American Jewry at odds with the “power best able to protect us and promote stability.” Nevertheless, he said Jews must even risk giving the impression “that we somehow prefer war” rather than join those who believe “peace is on the horizon.”

The human rights activist noted that the U.S. Jewish community similarly stood up to the White House 40 years ago in a historic move that helped secure freedom for Soviet Jews at the time.

In the early 1970s, Democratic Sen. Henry Jackson of Washington spearheaded an initiative to condition the removal of sanctions against the Soviet Union on the allowance of free emigration for its citizens, including Jews. By that time, tens of thousands of Soviet Jews had requested permission to leave for Israel, according to Sharansky. (Read more from “Sharansky Calls on US Jews to Stand up to White House Over Iran Nuclear Deal” HERE)


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As Jews Mourn Destruction of Temples, Palestinian Authority Denies They Ever Existed

By David Daoud. As Jews around the world mourned the destruction of the ancient Jewish temples on Sunday with the observance of Tisha B’Av, Palestinian Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash told Israel’s NRG that an Israelite temple never stood atop the Temple Mount.

“The Al-Aqsa Mosque is located atop the Temple Mount, and not the Temple. Look for your Holy Temple in another place,” said Al-Habbash.

Al-Habbash also assailed Jewish visitors who visited the holy site on Sunday, saying that “there is no room for religious pluralism” on the Temple Mount.

Al-Habbash added that, “this is a holy site for Islam, and only for Islam. Al-Aqsa Mosque is a Muslim site, and we do not recognize [as legitimate] any of the stories about the Temple.”

In fact, the entire platform, known as the Temple Mount, atop which the Al-Aqsa Mosque now stands was built by Herod the Great and previously housed two Jewish Temples: the First Temple built by Solomon in 957 BCE, and the Second Temple built by the prophet Ezra in 538 BCE and improved by King Herod. (Read more from this story HERE)

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“Absolutely Astonishing Discovery”: Scientists Decode Text of Leviticus on 1,500-Year-Old Parchment

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Nearly 45 years after a burned parchment was discovered during excavations on the western shore of the Dead Sea, researchers have identified it as part of the book of Leviticus from a 1,500-year-old Torah scroll.

“The historic discovery before us is fascinating and important,” said Culture Minister Miri Regev, who was at the press conference on Monday in which the Antiquities Authority revealed the discovery. “It is instructive about the Jewish people’s deep connection to its country and homeland.”

According to Haaretz, the piece of parchment from the sixth century AD was found in the ashes of an ancient synagogue at Ein Gedi, on the shores of the Dead Sea, in 1970. However, the scroll was so badly charred, scientists were unable to decipher any part of it.

Recently, researchers used a new, microcomputed tomography machine to scan the parchment, and were shocked to discover the first eight verses of Leviticus, the third book of the Hebrew Bible, inscribed on it . . .

“This discovery absolutely astonished us; we were certain it was just a shot in the dark but decided to try and scan the burnt scroll anyway,” said Pnina Shor, curator and director of the IAA’s Dead Sea Scrolls project, according to phys.org. (Read more from “Scientists Discover Text of Leviticus on 1,500-Year-Old Parchment” HERE)

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Denmark Will Take out Adverts in Foreign Newspapers Telling Refugees: ‘Don’t Come Here’

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The Danish government is to take out adverts in newspapers in targeted countries to tell would-be illegals to stay at home.

The move is going ahead despite rubbishing a similar plan only weeks ago by a rival political party.

Denmark’s ruling Venestre party called plans by the Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkpartei, DF), the largest party in Danish politics, to create a video campaign targeted at potential illegal migrants abroad ‘un-Danish’. In the intervening days the case for taking more radical steps to limit migration to the nation has grown, and now the integration minister has announced the newspaper campaign.

Remarking that “There is something strange about the fact that a refugee would travel through several countries before ending up in Denmark”, fiery Inger Støjberg now seems to be making her job just as much about discouraging migration to Denmark as it is about integrating people after they have arrived. (Read more from “Denmark Will Take out Adverts in Foreign Newspapers Telling Refugees: ‘Don’t Come Here'” HERE)

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San Francisco Combats the Stench of Urine With Pee-Repellent Paint

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Don’t get into a pissing match with walls in San Francisco.

The city’s Public Works agency is testing a pee-repellant paint on walls in areas that have been saturated with urine. Anyone urinating on the specially treated walls will get the spray splashed back onto them.

San Francisco’s director of public works, Mohammed Nuru – whose Twitter handle is @MrCleanSF – got the idea when he read on social media about the use of the paint in Hamburg, Germany’s nightclub district to stop beer drinkers from relieving themselves in the street.

The paint, called Ultra-Ever Dry, is sold by Ultratech International Inc and is billed as a superhydrophobic coating that will repel most liquids.

“The urine will bounce back on the guys pants and shoes. The idea is they will think twice next time about urinating in public,” said Rachel Gordon, a Public Works Department spokeswoman. She said the super-hard coating made the “bounce back” effect much stronger than when peeing on a regular wall. (Read more from “San Francisco Combats the Stench of Urine With Pee-Repellent Paint” HERE)

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