On Capitol Hill This Week: Vol. XVI, No. 25

In This Issue:
• On Capitol Hill This Week: Vol. XVI, No. 25
• This Week, Worship Our Lord As . . .

Greetings!
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On Capitol Hill This Week - Volume XVI, Number 25
August 3 - 7, 2009

"For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." (Isaiah 60:2)

PLEASE NOTE:

The House is now out of session, and the Senate is expected to recess at the end of this week. The next edition of "On Capitol Hill This Week" will be published two weeks from now, on Monday, August 10th. This will be a wrap-up of recent congressional activity.

"The Daily Brief" will continue to be published on its normal schedule throughout the month of August.

1. HEALTH CARE PLAN: GENERATING UPRISINGS ACROSS THE NATION
2. SENATE TO VOTE THIS WEEK ON SOTOMAYOR
3. BILL TO AUDIT THE FED GAINS MOMENTUM AS PUBLIC SUPPORT GROWS
4. GLENN BECK EXPOSES 'CASH FOR CLUNKERS' LANGUAGE
5. SENATORS UNITE TO REINSTATE D.C. SCHOOL VOUCHERS
6. ATHEIST GROUP SUES TO BLOCK "IN GOD WE TRUST" AT CVC
7. CZAR OF THE WEEK: SCIENCE ADVISOR DR. JOHN HOLDREN
8. ADMINISTRATION CHARGES CEOs FOR WHITE HOUSE LUNCH
9. OBAMA AWARDS MEDAL OF FREEDOM TO PRO-ABORTION, GAY ACTIVISTS
10. MILITARY PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE H1N1 OUTBREAK
11. MAJOR JEWISH GROUP CRITICIZES OBAMA ON ISRAEL
12. ISRAEL DETECTS TOUGHENING U.S. POSITION ON IRAN

1. HEALTH CARE PLAN: GENERATING UPRISINGS ACROSS THE NATION

Townhall or Townbrawl?

Being home is no picnic for the Democrats in charge, as one blogger makes abundantly clear in a home video taken during a recent townhall meeting on health care. In a packed gymnasium, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius were booed so loudly that you can barely hear their answers to some basic questions. The comments that were audible only managed to cause more outrage.

One audience member asked how Americans can be confident in Congress to reform the health care system when members won't even read the legislation. Sebelius's response? "I'm not a member of Congress," which apparently absolves her from understanding the $1 trillion plan her Department will be tasked with implementing. That answer is still better than Sen. Specter's explanation, which was, "[W]e have to make judgments very fast, and every bill is . . . understood by me before I vote." Sebelius tried to interrupt the hissing crowd but her defense of Senate Democrats was almost impossible to hear amid the jeering.

In "Townhalls gone wild," Politico chronicles another side of the debate that includes "screaming constituents, protestors dragged out by the cops, [and, sad to say] congressmen fearful for their safety." More Democrats are canceling meetings, concerned about "angry, sign-carrying mobs" that greeted a long list of their colleagues including: Reps. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), Thomas Perriello (D-Va.), Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Bruce Braley (D-Iowa), and Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.). Bishop, who was escorted away by police after his meeting got out of hand, said, "I have no problem with someone disagreeing with positions I hold. But I also believe no one is served if you can't talk through your differences."

Unfortunately, Americans are talking. The leadership just refuses to listen. Until it does, House and Senate Democrats can expect a long, uncomfortable August where the temperatures outside are nothing compared to the heat they're feeling inside their District offices. FRC has posted a schedule of townhall meetings across the country and sample questions you can ask. Please make a point of going to the forums near you and share--in a respectable manner--your thoughts with your congressman. While you're at it, why not bring your video camera? (Family Research Council)

Watch congressional greetings at town hall meetings at home by going here.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=105758

- Many of us have been praying, for a long time now, that America would "wake up" to our true fallen state and now, God is answering our prayers. In townhall meeting after townhall meeting, citizens from every walk of life and from every political party are holding up copies of the Constitution, asking our leaders to return to, and to adhere to, the Law of the Land. And that Law is founded upon the Law of God.

- As this new wave of energy among our people continues to grow, let us continue on our own knees, in repentance for our sin; and asking our Lord to turn the hearts of our people back to Him. Now is the time; today is the day . . . PRAY!

- "I was found by those who sought Me not; I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me." (Romans 10:20)

2. SENATE TO VOTE THIS WEEK ON SOTOMAYOR

After receiving the Senate Judiciary Committee's approval, Judge Sonia Sotomayor is one step away from becoming the next associate justice to the U.S. Supreme Court. This week, the full Senate will vote on whether to send her to the nation's highest court. In commenting on Sotomayor's nomination, Dr. Richard Land, President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention states: "Despite her compelling personal story, we remain unconvinced that Judge Sotomayor would apply the law with blind justice as required by the Constitution. There are simply too many alarming rulings from her time as a lower court judge-from discriminating on the basis of race to achieve a predetermined racial outcome to censoring a pastor's religious expression of Bible verses on a billboard to denying private property rights in two significant cases."

"And there are too many questions left unanswered-such as what role she played as a board member and vice president and chair of the litigation committee of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, which filed briefs in at least six prominent court cases in support of abortion rights during her time with the group. Simply put, she is out of the mainstream of the American public and too often of the very court for which she is being considered." (ERLC Action Alert)

- Pray and ask that the people be reminded this is not about ethnicity, this is about the law in the United States of America, and appointing someone to the Supreme Court to uphold it. In intercession, ask for one appointed by God to take this high place of office. Ask, that our prayer for godly wisdom and impeccable integrity in our judicial system will be heard. Pray, too, that during floor debate, the truth will be spoken about her stands on abortion and other life issues. This is a pro-life country and she does not stand with the majority of Americans on this issue.Your senators need to hear from you today!

- "The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them." (Proverbs 11:3)

3. BILL TO AUDIT THE FED GAINS MOMENTUM AS PUBLIC SUPPORT GROWS

In an article by Ryan McCarthy posted Thursday on the HuffingtonPost.com 75% of Americans are in favor of auditing the illusive and secretive Federal Reserve Bank. The House bill, H.R. 1207, sponsored by Ron Paul and others, has already gained support from over half of congress.

In the face of slumping favorability ratings and in a last ditch attempt at damage control, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has been on a public relations campaign to quell public interest and concern over Fed bank policies starting with a town hall meeting earlier this week. Bernanke, along with others, threaten that an audit of the Fed would result in a total collapse of world financial markets and limit the Fed's independence. When asked by the News Hour's Jim Lehr to define the Fed's "independence", Bernanke was vague at best in describing who is responsible for setting monetary policy or who the Fed is controlled by. (Huffington Post)

- Offer praise that, on this issue, too, the people are starting to wake up to the need to make the Federal Reserve be accountable to Congress. The time has come for this unelected and powerful "branch" of our government to come under authority. Pray for passage of H.R. 1207 when Congress returns this fall. Amen.

- ". . . if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)

4. GLENN BECK EXPOSES 'CASH FOR CLUNKERS' LANGUAGE GIVES FEDS AUTHORITY TO TAKE CONTROL OF COMPUTERS

On his July 31 program, Glenn Beck hosted a segment about the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) Web site, also known as "Cash for Clunkers," and demonstrated what a Web browser would encounter when logging onto the system.

"Here is www.Cars.gov. The dealer goes to Cars.gov, and then they hit 'submit transaction.' Here it says, 'Privacy Act & Security Statement,' and you're just like, 'Oh, it's the Privacy Act of 1974.' However, once the Web operator proceeds beyond that point in the dealers' section - the government has some very frightening language posted about what authority they have over your computer. A warning box comes up, and it says, 'This application provides access to the DoT CARS system. When logged onto the CARS system, your computer is considered a federal computer system and it is property of the United States government,'" Beck read. "'Any and all uses of this system and all files on this system may be intercepted, monitored, recorded, copied, audited, inspected, and disclosed to authorized CARS, DoT and law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign.'"

Kimberly Guilfoyle, a legal analyst for Fox News, interpreted the language to mean the government has very broad authority over your computer - including the ability to seize personal and private information. Guilfoyle said. "Here you are trying to be a good citizen and make a charitable contribution." Guilfoyle also said legally the government can use Web software to track your computer any time they want once you've logged onto the site. "They can continue to track you basically forever," Guilfoyle said. "Once they've tapped into your system - and the government of course has like malware systems and tracking cookies - they can tap in any time they want." (NewsBusters,org; FoxNews)

- Praise the Lord for investigators like Glenn Beck! How dare the federal government decide that all our computers belong to it for its perusal - and in such as tricky way! Pray for integrity in the behaviors of those who create such secretive programs. Pray the Lord will raise up whistle-blowers in the federal government, who can and will "keep watch" on behalf of all of us. Pray!

- "You shall not steal." (Exodus 20:15)

5. LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE SENATORS UNITE TO REINSTATE D.C. SCHOOL VOUCHERS

A bipartisan group of senators announced Thursday that they plan to introduce legislation to revive the District of Columbia's recently terminated D.C. Opportunity Scholarship school-voucher program. "It's not a liberal or conservative program, it's a program that puts children first," said Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) Thursday at a Capitol Hill press conference announcing the effort. "I'm happy to say it's a program that's working to give D.C. children, every one of them, a chance at a better education." Legislation to reinstate the program is backed by senators from across the political spectrum - Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives. In addition to moderates Lieberman, Collins and Voinovich; the bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.); John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.). During the 2008-2009 school year, over 1,700 children were aided by the Opportunity Scholarship Program, enabling them to enroll in 49 different non-public schools. (CNSNews.com)

- Offer praise for the spirit of bipartisanship that was demonstrated in the passage of this bill. Ask that the same spirit would begin to permeate the chambers of both the House and the Senate. In this case, 216 families, living in the District, are blessed as a result. Praise God!

- "Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:10)

6. ATHEIST GROUP SUES TO BLOCK "IN GOD WE TRUST" AT CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a state/church watchdog and the nation's largest association of atheists and agnostics, filed a federal lawsuit on July 14th to stop the prominent engraving of "In God We Trust" and the religious Pledge of Allegiance at the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) in Washington, D.C.

Last week, the House and the Senate passed resolutions directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave "In God We Trust" and the Pledge of Allegiance in prominent places in the Capitol Visitor Center, which is "the entrance for the thousands of tourists who visit the Capitol every day." Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., the Senate sponsor.. . .said the engraving would . . . welcome God back into the Center and highlight the "all important relationship between faith and freedom in America."

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, claimed that without the engravings of "In God We Trust" and the Pledge of Allegiance, the Visitor Center would reflect an effort "to scrub references to America's Christian heritage" and to eradicate "the role of Christianity in America."

The lawsuit seeks a judgment declaring the Congressional directive unconstitutional and an order enjoining the defendant from engraving "In God We Trust" and the Pledge of Allegiance in the Capitol Visitor Center. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the western district of Wisconsin.

- The Becket Fund will be filing an amicus brief on behalf of Members of Congress to defend the engraving of the national motto on the CVC. Lift up the attorneys who will be working on this case, and ask our Lord to grant each one His wisdom as they prepare to go to court. Praise God that the courts of heaven have already heard our case: we do proclaim, "In God We Trust."

- "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you." (Psalm 33:22)

7. CZAR OF THE WEEK: SCIENCE ADVISOR DR. JOHN HOLDREN

President Obama's top science adviser said in a book he co-authored in 1973 that a newborn child "will ultimately develop into a human being" if he or she is properly fed and socialized. "The fetus, given the opportunity to develop properly before birth, and given the essential early socializing experiences and sufficient nourishing food during the crucial early years after birth, will ultimately develop into a human being," John P. Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, wrote in "Human Ecology: Problems and Solutions."

In his book, Holdren argued that the human race faced dire consequences unless human population growth was stopped. "Human beings cling jealously to their prerogative to reproduce as they please." The specific passage expressing the authors' view that a baby "will ultimately develop into a human being" is on page 235 in chapter 8 of the book, which is titled "Population Limitation."

In February, when Holdren appeared before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for a confirmation hearing, he was not asked about his comment in "Human Ecology. Sen. David Vitter (R.-La.) did ask him, however, about the population-control ideas he expressed in 1973. "In 1973, you encouraged a, quote, 'decline in fertility to well below replacement,' close quote, in the United States," said Vitter. "What would your number for the right population in the U.S. be today?"

"I no longer think it's productive, senator, to focus on the optimum population for the United States," Holdren responded. "When I wrote those lines in 1973, I was preoccupied with the fact that many problems in the United States appeared to be being made more difficult by the rate of population growth that then prevailed. And we need to aim for something that I have been calling 'sustainable prosperity.'" In a subsequent question, Vitter asked, "Do you think determining optimal population is a proper role of government?" "No, senator, I do not," said Holdren. (CNSNews.com)

- Pray for Dr. Holdren to receive revelation from the Holy Spirit that God is Jehovah Jireh. Ask the Lord to de-program his mind from such Marxist/Communistic thinking as he holds his office for science in the US government. Praise the Lord for the discernment of Senator Vitter, who asked questions during that hearing that did reveal insight into the thinking of Dr. Holdren.

- "For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all the nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory." (Isaiah 66:18)

8. ADMINISTRATION CHARGES CEOs FOR WHITE HOUSE LUNCH

RUSH: Politico has this story: "Four of the most powerful business leaders in America arrived at the White House one day last month for lunch with President Barack Obama, sitting down in his private dining room just steps from the Oval Office. . . White House staffers collected credit card numbers for each executive and carefully billed them for the cost of the meal with the president. The White House defended the unusual move as a way to avoid conflicts of interest." Now, I have had lunch in that dining room twice, and I've had dinner up in the White House residence twice during the eight years of George W. Bush. I never was asked for a credit card, nor was I sent a bill. "But the Bush administration didn't charge presidential guests for meals, one former official said, and at least one etiquette expert found the whole thing unseemly -- suggesting it was a serious breach of protocol. 'I'm sure they have their political reasons for doing that, but I think it's not what . . . hospitality . . . is all about,' said Letitia Baldrige, who headed Jacqueline Kennedy's White House staff in the early 1960s. 'We've got to relax about this. To have people to the White House and worry about the price of things is laughable.'" (POLITICO; excerpt)

- "A man will be commended according to his wisdom, But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised." (Proverbs 12:8)

9. WHITE HOUSE AWARDS MEDAL OF FREEDOM TO PRO-ABORTION AND GAY ACTIVISTS

Several of the famous figures President Obama announced today as recipients of the 2009 Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. honor to civilians, have solidly pro-abortion and homosexualist roots. "These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds," said Obama of the award recipients in a White House press release. "Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way."

One recipient was Sen. Edward Kennedy, who has been fighting brain cancer since 2008, and whom Obama lauded as "one of the greatest lawmakers - and leaders - of our time." One of the longest-serving and most aggressive pro-abortion legislators in Congressional history, Kennedy has a 100% NARAL pro-abortion voting record and has been a steady supporter of embryonic stem cell research and same-sex "marriage." A Medal of Freedom also went to former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who supported Roe v. Wade and opposed banning partial-birth abortion. Another recipient Obama chose to award posthumously was Harvey Milk, the openly homosexual San Francisco politician widely lauded as a pioneer of the homosexualist movement in the late 1970s. A medal was also awarded to South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the leading promoters of homosexuality in the Anglican Church among African prelates.

Former Republican congressman and NFL football player Jack Kemp was the sole pro-life representative among the awardees. (LifeSiteNews.com)

- May the Lord, giver of all life, have mercy on the soul of our president! Certainly, the president does not understand the bondage of iniquity that he places upon himself and all others whom he honors. He also violates the Declaration of Independence, which says that we are endowed by our Creator. With life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Emotional and physical lives are destroyed through abortion, homosexual behaviors, and stem-cell use.Pray that our American youth do not see the president's choices as ones to emulate.

- ". . .that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart." (Ephesians 4:17b,18)

10. MILITARY PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE H1N1 OUTBREAK

The U.S. military wants to establish regional teams of military personnel to assist civilian authorities in the event of a significant outbreak of the H1N1 virus this fall, according to Defense Department officials. The proposal is awaiting final approval from Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The officials would not be identified because the proposal from U.S. Northern Command's Gen. Victor Renuart has not been approved by the secretary.

The plan calls for military task forces to work in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There is no final decision on how the military effort would be manned, but one source said it would likely include personnel from all branches of the military. It has yet to be determined how many troops would be needed and whether they would come from the active duty or the National Guard and Reserve forces.

Civilian authorities would lead any relief efforts in the event of a major outbreak, the official said. The military, as they would for a natural disaster or other significant emergency situation, could provide support and fulfill any tasks that civilian authorities could not, such as air transport or testing of large numbers of viral samples from infected patients. As a first step, Gates is being asked to sign a so-called "execution order" that would authorize the military to begin to conduct the detailed planning to execute the proposed plan. (CNN)

- Please pray for the Defense Department and those higher up, that the truth will come to the forefront of how our government body plans to deal with the issue of H1N1. Ask that the life and health of the individual be served first, and not a crisis creating plot, as officials are refusing to be named, but would work with FEMA in this maneuver. Pray for the wisdom of God to show up in the form of individuals who will wrestle with this until we get it right, being unwilling to risk the lives and futures of the American people.

- "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." (Psalm 50:15)

11. MAJOR JEWISH GROUP CRITICIZES OBAMA ON ISRAEL

A conference of 52 major Jewish groups is taking on President Barack Obama for his demand that Israel stop construction of Jewish housing in east Jerusalem. In a statement issued by the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, Chairman Alan Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein say they "find disturbing the objections raised to the proposed construction of residential units on property that was legally purchased and approved by the appropriate authorities." The statement concludes, "No government of Israel has or can pursue a discriminatory policy that would prevent the legitimate presence of Jews in any area of its capital."

Hoenlein first criticized Obama in a June 14 Newsmax story, saying Jewish leaders are deeply troubled by his recent Middle East initiatives, and some are questioning what he really believes. According to Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, one of the major Jewish organizations, Hoenlein's comments and similar ones by Klein in a Newsmax interview prompted Obama to call a meeting of 14 Jewish leaders on July 13. Klein says Jewish support for Obama has continued to dwindle since that meeting. (Newsmax.com)

- Praise the Lord for the Jewish leadership that is standing for the unity of its capital city Jerusalem. What arrogance on the part of the American president to think that he has the right to dictate rules to a sovereign nation. Pray for humility for our president so that he can see truth staring him in the face. Anyone who tries to fool God makes himself a fool by his thinking.

- "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise." (Proverbs 12:15)

12. ISRAEL DETECTS TOUGHENING U.S. POSITION ON IRAN

Israeli leaders detected a tougher attitude on Iran in their meetings in Jerusalem this week with senior figures from the Obama Administration, with the American officials laying out proposals for stronger sanctions if Tehran fails to engage in dialogue with Washington by late September.

Both US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and National Security Advisor Gen. James Jones briefed Israeli officials on proposed ways to tighten sanctions against the Islamic Republic if it has not responded positively to US overtures by the UN General Assembly at the end of September. One new sanction discussed would be a ban on the transfer of refined petroleum products, a measure which many experts say would finally get the ruling regime's attention.

The US shift in attitude is due in large part to the Iranian regime's brutal crackdown on post-election street protests, which have gained renewed momentum in recent days. The US State Department on Friday issued scathing criticism of yesterday's violent suppression of a graveside memorial service for Neda Agha Soltan. The 27-year old music student, whose brutal murder on June 20 by members of the Basij youth militia was captured on video and seen by millions all over the world, has become the symbol of the protest movement.

The televised scenes of the crackdown at Soltan's gravesite were met with shock and outrage in the Arab world, where mourning for the dead by marking the 40th day since their death is a sacrosanct tradition. Attempts to commemorate her death were also violently dispersed at other locations around Tehran, and mourners responded by setting fire to garbage and throwing stones. (ICEJ News)

- Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for God to intervene in the horrific regime now in power in Iran. Pray for pressure to continue on Ahmadinejad so that he is either deposed or brought to "heel" by his own political faction. Let truth be a strong issue in Iran - anything is possible with the Lord. Cover the Iranian citizens with God's love.

- For Israel and the Iranians: "Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord!" (Psalm 70:1)

This Week, Worship Our Lord As . . .

LORD OUR GOD (Adoni Elohaynu )

"Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool. He is holy." (Psalm 99:5)

Lord God, how I praise You for this wonderful plan of redemption that You had before time began. Thank You that You made a way where there seemed to be no way. You did it back then, and I thank You that You continue to work like that today. It is a privilege to be Your child.

(Taken from: Intimate Moments with the Hebrew Names of God, by Barri Cae Malin and Shmuel Wolkenfeld; Bridge-Logos Publishers; Gainesville, FL, 32614. ISBN: 0-88270-801-5)