START IMPEACHING: In response to the tyrannical judicial decision declaring the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act "unconstitutional," the Washington Times opined this month: "It must stop. . . . No clarity of language and nobility of purpose can protect a statute from being voided by these berobed radicals who willfully misconstrue the Constitution for their own un-American purposes. They claim to protect the Constitution even as their rulings regularly corrupt its very essence. . . . Such perversion is a practiced pattern for Judge [Phyllis] Hamilton. In December, she declared as constitutional the role-playing of Islam forced on a class of seventh-graders at a California middle school. The students were required to take a Muslim name, give up candy for a day to demonstrate the daytime fast of Ramadan and even recite a Muslim prayer." Said the Times: "The only lawful remedy for such black-robed radicals-who have manifestly hijacked the law and the lives of the most innocent members of society for their own ideological purposes-is impeachment by the House and removal by the Senate."
ILLEGALS' COST: A new report from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) concludes that illegal immigration now costs Arizonans $1.3 billion a year-an astounding increase. "The report shows a nearly nine-fold increase in the costs of illegal immigration during the past decade, and that the burden on the state's taxpayers continues to grow rapidly," said FAIR on June 3. "The average native-born-headed household in Arizona now bears more than $700 a year in additional costs due to mass illegal immigration to the state." Education leads the way in cost, draining $810 million annually out of Arizona's public education system. Health care costs remove $400 million, and prison expenses add up to $80 million a year. "Only a small fraction of these and other costs incurred by the state are offset by an estimated $257 million a year that illegal aliens pay in taxes to the state. . . ," concludes FAIR, which says that between 1996 and 2000 alone, the illegal alien population in Arizona grew by 150%.
BAPTISTS FLEE? At its meeting beginning June 12, the Southern Baptist Convention will vote on a resolution calling on Baptists to remove their children from public schools. "Public schools are teaching values hostile to Christianity," said Marshall Fritz, director of www.getthekidsout.org and president of Alliance for Separation of School & State, in an e-mail letter. "Millions of Christian parents are deciding to get their kids out, put them in Christian schools, or teach them at home. And the results have been incredibly beneficial, not only for instilling Christian values, but for teaching basic knowledge and crucial life skills."
NO FREEDOM: The erosion of Americans' 1st Amendment rights continues. As if McCain-Feingold's making political speech a regulatory minefield at the federal level were not enough, states have their own regulations on speech. Supposedly libertarian-leaning Montana is currently persecuting a church for taking a stand for traditional marriage. The Alliance Defense Fund on June 7 said it sued the state government for investigating alleged election law violations by a church, reported the group. " 'Montana's election law regarding campaign finance and practice is so vague that it allows the state to chill the free speech and religious expression rights of churches that publicly take a position on the subject of marriage,' said Benjamin Bull, chief counsel for ADF." The church's alleged crime, says ADF: During a May 23 event, "the pastor preached about marriage, presented a religious video broadcast about marriage, and allowed congregants to sign petitions to authorize a pro-marriage amendment known as 'CI 96' to be put on the next general election ballot."
FOR THE BOYS: Freedom Alliance and Sean Hannity will raise money for scholarships for the children of servicemen killed or disabled in the line of duty. On July 8, Hannity will host his radio show from Six Flags in Jackson, N.J., which will be followed by a concert featuring Martina McBride and Darryl Worley. The "Hannity Freedom Concert" will raise money for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. "This event not only benefits the families of those military personnel who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, but it is a way for Americans to say thank you to all our troops who are fighting to keep America safe and strong," said Tom Kilgannon, president of Freedom Alliance, whose honorary chairman is Ollie North. To learn more or contribute, call 800-329-5454 or visit www.freedomalliance.org.
