Radio America Online News Bureau

Bolton Replaces McMaster, GOP’s Ugly Omnibus, Millennials Love Doing Taxes

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Teddy Kupfer of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America cheer President Trump’s selection of John Bolton as National Security Adviser and look forward to his tough stance on North Korean nukes and the Iran nuclear deal while liberals fear that Bolton will start bombing everyone.  They also unload on the bloated $1.3 trillion omnibus that the majority of Republican representatives and senators approved, much to the delight of Democrats and the fury of fiscal conservatives.  Teddy and Greg understand the desire of Republicans to rebuild the military but find the reckless spending in other areas unacceptable.  They scratch their heads trying to figure out why more than half of millennials actually enjoy doing their taxes.  And they offer a champagne toast to the late Democratic Georgia Gov. and Sen. Zell Miller and reflect upon his memorable keynote address at the Republican convention in 2004.

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‘The Worst Bill I’ve Ever Voted On’

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The House of Representatives approved a $1.3 trillion spending bill Thursday that has fiscal conservatives fuming about the price tag and a process that left everyone but the leaders out in the cold.

The House passed the bill 256-167, with 145 Republicans voting for the increased spending and 90 lining up against it.  Among Democrats, 111 voted for it and 77 opposed it.

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., a member of the House Freedom Caucus who was elected in the tea party wave of 2010 is among the GOP critics.

“This is probably the worst bill I have ever voted on in my eight years here,” said Gosar, who says it was not humanly possible to read the bill in the limited time between leadership releasing the text and calling for a vote.

“We has less than 12 hours to review this bill of over 2,000 pages.  That is not possible.  The American people, whom we represent, should be able to see this as well before we vote on it.  It’s a sad deal that we didn’t have the time to find out what was actually in the bill,” said Gosar.

He says that approach ought to sound familiar.

“We chastised Nancy Pelosi for having to pass the bill to find out what was in it,” said Gosar, referring to then-Speaker Pelosi’s statement urging passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

“Guess what we just did.  We did the same thing.  A culture that doesn’t understand it’s history is doomed to repeat history and I guess we just did,” said Gosar.

Despite the short time given to review the omnibus spending bill hammered out by House and Senate leaders, Gosar says he saw more than enough to vote against it.

“I sped-read through about 400 of the pages and what we saw was not good, and that’s why we were a principled ‘no’ against the vote,” said Gosar, who then elaborated on the provisions that bothered him most.

“First of all, the price tag of $1.3 trillion.  That’s just unfathomable.  I was elected in 2010 to get our budget in order and start to make sense of this budgetary process.  This was bad process, bad policy, and bad politics,” said Gosar.

“Within this bill we actually did the takings of over a billion dollars of private property.  We actually armed the endowment of the arts and we disarmed the second amendment,” said Gosar.

How did the second amendment lose in this bill?  Gosar says Speaker Paul Ryan made a specific promise to Republicans about efforts to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System that wasn’t kept.

“We had a promise by the speaker that if the Fix NICS bill was actually brought forward, it would have conceal and carry (reciprocity).  Of course, conceal and carry was dropped form the bill.  Very problematic for the speaker in terms of a promise offered and a promise not kept,” said Gosar.

“The leadership on the Republican side and the Democratic side are the same,” added Gosar.

He says Ryan’s actions as Speaker of the House simply don’t match his rhetoric of fiscal responsibility.

“Take a look at this product.  Words are cheap, actions speak.  You look at somebody talking like a conservative, but when they act like a liberal, you know what?  Is it really what they talk about or is it the actions they display?  I think it’s the latter,” said Gosar.

Gosar credits Ryan for shepherding appropriations bills through the House in regular order but blasts Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for never taking them up because he doesn’t have the votes to break a Democratic filibuster.  Gosar says McConnell is hiding behind rules rather than any concrete constitutional obstacle.

But this cannot all be on the leadership.  What about those 145 House Republicans who voted for the bill?  Gosar says many of them did it because they were left with a terrible choice over military spending.

“We have so crippled our military that anything was better than nothing.  That’s a sad place to be put in when we’re spending the American taxpayers’ dollars,” said Gosar.

Gosar says the Republicans had a golden opportunity in January when the Democrats were against the political ropes and being blamed for a brief government shutdown.  He says GOP leaders should have insisted on higher military spending while refusing to raise non-defense discretionary spending.

“It was leadership that failed to look at this.  The way we negotiate in this institution is absolutely abominable,” said Gosar.

“The way we’re doing things doesn’t work and it needs to be reformed.  It needs to be reformed right away.  If that requires different leadership, so be it,” said Gosar.

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Wray of Sanity in McCabe Flap, Facebook Under Fire, Carson Blames Wife

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Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America are glad to see FBI Director Christopher Wray conclude there was no political agenda at work in the firing of former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.  They also react to Facebook’s weak explanation for how user data ended up in the hands of Cambridge Analytica and Jim details how the right and left are furious with social media outlets for very different reasons.  And they shake their heads as HUD Sec. Ben Carson tells lawmakers his wife helped pick out the $31,000 dining set after he had rejected expensive furniture.

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Austin Bomber Dead, Fiscal Conservatism is Dead, Congratulate-Gate

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Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America briefly grouse about D.C.area drivers in inclement weather before sipping their martinis.  Then, they welcome the end of the Austin mail bombing horrors as the suspect apparently blows himself up as police close in on him.  They also fume as the GOP-led Congress pursues yet another omnibus spending bill with virtually no fiscal restraint in sight, leading Jim to declare that “fiscal conservatism is dead.”  And they sigh as President Trump defies his staff to congratulate Vladimir Putin on “winning” his election and because a disgruntled Trump staffer then leaked classified information to the media.

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Supremes Take on Free Speech and Abortion

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The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over a California law requiring pro-life crisis pregnancy centers to post information about how to obtain abortions, a requirement that the pro-life movement considers a direct infringement on free speech.

However, the pro-life side is also optimistic that the court will rule in its favor.

The legal battle is over a 2015 California law known as the FACT Act, which forces openly pro-life centers to prominently display information on how to get an abortion.

The sign reads: “California has public programs that provide immediate free or low-cost access to comprehensive family planning services (including all FDA-approved methods of contraception), prenatal care and abortion for eligible women.”  It also provides contact information to learn more about abortions.

“This case really isn’t about abortion or Roe v. Wade.  It’s about free speech.  It’s a basic question about whether the government can compel private speakers to speak a message that they disagree with or, frankly, they just don’t want to say for any reason,” said Denise Harle, a legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing the plaintiff in the case, known as National Institute of Family Life Advocates vs. Becerra

“American’s can’t be forced by the government to promote messages that conflict with their beliefs.  The first amendment guarantees that free speech means that Americans cannot be compelled to speak or forbidden to speak,” said Harle.  “California has enacted a law forcing pro-life speakers to advertise for the abortion industry.”

Harle offered more details on what message the signs convey.

“The sign has to be in 48-point font in the waiting room.  It actually gives a number to call,” she said.  “The law says it has to be clear and conspicuous placement in multiple languages that tells them where to get a free or low-cost abortion.

“If they call that number, they will actually be referred to Planned Parenthood or another abortion clinic,” added Harle.

The FACT Act also makes advertising difficult for the pro-life facilities.

“The law also requires for certain centers to put in every single one of their advertisements this 29-word disclaimer in multiple languages and it makes it completely impossible for them to do internet advertising, newspaper ads, billboards,” said Harle.

In addition, Harle says the law applies only to explicitly pro-life pregnancy centers.

“It only applies to pro-life speakers, which I think is so concerning about this law.  It exempts all other doctors.  It exempts out all for-profit health care providers.  And it exempts out the non-profit general community clinics if they aren’t primarily pregnancy focused,” said Harle.

Legally speaking, Harle says the law places a tremendous burden on the clinics.

“It interrupts the pro-life center’s message to women.  Not only is it confusing, but it’s a severe burden on the consciences of these centers that exist solely to defend life because they believe life is precious and encourage childbirth.  For the government to force them to promote abortion is just completely wrong,” said Harle.

Harle says working on this case has been a joy because of the pro-life convictions of the directors and volunteers at the centers.  But she says they are wrestling with conscience issues over this law.

“This law just adds layer upon layer of burden.  So not only are the clinic workers having their consciences burdened, they have a really serious decision about whether to work in a place that post signs promoting free abortion,” said Harle.

“Can you imagine having your whole existence being based on pro-life views and yet having to be a billboard for free and low-cost abortions,” she added.

It could also dry up resources for such centers.

“Donors are burdened with a conflict.  What am I doing now if I’m supporting these centers but they’re having to advertise for abortion.  Is this something I can continue to support?” said Harle.

At the Supreme Court Tuesday, the four liberal justices seemed to argue that pro-life centers ought to be required to inform patients of other options since that is the rule for abortion clinics as well.

The remaining justices seemed sympathetic to the argument that these signs conflict with the first amendment, with Justice Anthony Kennedy accusing the law of “mandating speech.”

Harle believes the oral arguments bode well for her clients.

“We’re very hopeful that we have several justices who agree that that’s a basic first amendment violation,” she said.

If the court sides with California, Harle says the consequences would be chilling.

“There almost seems to be no limit  to what a government could do if it doesn’t like a certain viewpoint.  If they don’t like a certain advocacy group or ideology and it’s going to impose these burdensome on them, that is going to silence and suppress free speech.

“Anyone on any side of any issue should be really concerned about a government that has that much power,” said Harle.

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Maryland School Shooting, Driverless Disaster, Nixon Challenges Status Cuomo

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Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America are horrified to see another high school shooting, this time in Maryland, but they are gratified to see the school resource officer intervened quickly to neutralize the shooter.  They also react to the news of a driverless vehicle killing a pedestrian in Arizona and explain why humans behind the wheel will always make more sense than a computer.  And they pop the popcorn as “Sex and the City” actress Cynthia Nixon mounts a liberal primary challenge to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

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Cabinet Secretary Ethics Woes: Corruption, Confusion or Both?

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Several members of the Trump cabinet are under scrutiny for alleged ethics violations after reports of using taxpayer dollars for personal travel or spending huge sums of money on office furniture, and a government waste watchdog says much clearer ethics rules would make a huge difference.

Several Trump administration cabinet officials have raised eyebrows.  Former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned last year after reports of using taxpayer dollars to take private flights to various events.  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin are under fire for questionable travel expenses.  Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Housing Secretary Ben Carson are facing questions about lavish spending on office decor.

So do stories like these suggest the cabinet secretaries have a stunning disregard for taxpayer dollars or is it the result of a labyrinth of confusing ethics rules that leave these officials wondering what can be charged to the government and what can’t?

Citizens Against Government Waste President Tom Schatz says these stories make for good political fodder but there’s more than meets the eye.

“Taxpayer-funded travel has always been an easy target for both sides to try to score political points.  The problem is no one knows what prior administrations did , how they spent the money, (and) what the budget amount might be for the various activities,” said Schatz.

“It’s easy to point out a few trips here or there that might look like something’s wrong.  But again, no one knows what the prior secretaries did.  There’s no way to know whether any of this may be within the rules, which also differ – not just between different administrations but even among agencies,” said Schatz.

And how is it that one administration has no idea what rules the previous one enacted?

“All of this information is really inaccessible.  There’s no searchable database to find out how often federal officials use taxpayer-funded travel, how much it costs, whether it’s necessary, whether it’s done on military aircraft or private planes.  It’s confusing.  It’s disorganized,” said Schatz.

And while Congress is not at the centerpiece of the recent stories, Schatz says that’s where responsibility ultimate lies for establishing a clear set of rules.

“Congress is ultimately at fault for how much money is being spent because they approve the budget.  This recent budget deal increases spending 14 percent.  We continue to suggest that Congress find ways to cut spending, to offset these increases if it’s that critical to increase defense spending and non-defense spending,” said Schatz.

Members of Congress seems to have a better handle on what their ethics rules are but Schatz says there’s still way too much wiggle room.

“There is nothing that shows the list of congressional travel.  There is no committee vote.  There is no transparency about what the legislators are supposed to accomplish.

“One thing that did occur over the years is they stopped taking spouses and staff to the Paris Air Show, but why are they going at all as members?  What happens with the results of these trips?  What’s the legislative activity that follows?” asked Schatz.

Schatz is doing more than complaining about the lack of transparency.  He and National Taxpayers Union President Pete Sepp launched an effort to bring clarity to the process following the Price resignation last year.

“We asked taxpayers to sign an online petition to demand detailed transparency on who was traveling, the mode of transportation, who is traveling with the public official, the purpose of the trip, the compilation of an annual report – including the cost associated with military aircraft and personnel – and then put it on one website that covers all federal agencies so that everyone can see what is going on.

“Then it might be more sensible to say, this individual or that individual or this agency or that agency is or is not doing something that violates the rules.  And I think uniform rules would also be very helpful,” said Schatz.

But will Congress actually address any of this?

“It would be nice if this happened, but like everything else in Washington, it’s just inertia, whether it’s the bureaucracy or whether it’s Congress itself after the issues with Sec. Price.

“They talked about having Chief of Staff John Kelly sign off on cabinet-level travel, but that still doesn’t address the inconsistent and fragmented reporting of travel rules and the exact costs that are associated with the travel.  That still probably wouldn’t be available,” said Schatz.

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McCabe Mania, Media Notice Austin Bombings, D.C. Lawmaker’s Conspiracy Theory

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Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America have whiplash from all the media hyperbole in the wake of Andrew McCabe getting fired, almost all of it from people who have never read the inspector general’s report.  They also hammer President Trump for gloating about McCabe’s ouster and McCabe for suggesting his firing was a political hit job from Trump when multiple DOJ officials recommended it.  They also applaud the media for finally noticing a series of bombings in Austin, Texas, which have killed or injured several people in a story reminiscent of the Unabomber.  And they have some fun with D.C. city council member Trayon White alleging that the Rothschilds control the weather to bring calamity to American cities and then swoop in to pay for the cleanup and take control of the cities.

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Navy Considering Atheist Chaplains

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The U.S. Navy is considering allowing atheists into the Chaplain Corps, a move that even the Obama administration opposed and that Christian conservatives say would squander precious resources and open the corps to almost anything in the years ahead.

“I do think it would be really deleterious,” said Family Research Council Senior Fellow Chris Gacek.

This is not the first round of this fight.  In 2015, Jason Heap filed suit to become a Navy chaplain after the Defense Department rejected his request because he sought to affiliate with a pair of humanist groups instead of a religious denomination.  The Obama administration fought Heap’s lawsuit and won but Heap is making the push again.

This time, the U.S. Navy seems more open to the idea.

“The Defense Department won all the cases against Jason Heap so you would think that they would leave well enough alone and, therefore, there wouldn’t be a problem in the future.  But there is a board called the Chaplain Appointment and Retention Eligibility Advisory Group that is recommending that the Navy accept him as a chaplain.

“So even though he couldn’t get it through the courts or through other processes, there’s another group of faceless bureaucrats that have an agenda and are trying to push it through,” said Gacek.

Gacek argues that if the Navy allows an atheist chaplain there’s no telling where that decision could lead.

“What’s the limit?  There’s no reason to think it would just be stuck at one or that you wouldn’t have more of them or all sorts of people coming in here who are just basically yoga instructors,” said Gacek.

“It’s like saying the pastors and priests division has to accept atheists.  A does not equal B here.  It’s like having square wheels or something.  It’s kind of hard to imagine you even have to have this debate.

“It’s important I think to maintain the integrity of the institution.  We’ve had chaplains since 1775, when George Washington himself had Congress establish the chaplains,” said Gacek.

While the Navy considers and possibly advances this idea, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., 22 other senators and 40 House members are pushing back.  Gacek says that pressure and possible appropriations riders on funding could force the Navy’s hand on this.

Gacek says he’s surprised this idea has any oxygen at all in a Republican administration.

“If you had a sensible Secretary of Defense and they were in charge of these things, this would be taken care of.  It’s sort of amazing that this is happening in the Trump administration,” said Gacek.

In addition to pointing out the logical inconsistency of an atheist chaplain, Gacek says scarce resources for the Chaplain Corps would stretched even thinner for those identifying with a specific faith or denomination.  He says those chaplains are vital in ministering to people far from home.

The Chaplain Corps is already strained.  Gacek says eight years of Obama’s cultural agenda took a heavy toll.

“In the Obama administration, you had certain social agendas being pushed.  There were people who wouldn’t accede to the idea of same-sex marriage.  I can imagine it’s only getting worse with all these new gender categories they’re trying to cram down everybody’s throat.

“Since the Bible has a set idea about sex, there being only two of them, and there being only two genders, this isn’t really going to fly for a lot of people,” said Gacek.

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Truth About Haspel, Dems’ Anti-Pelosi Canard, Flake’s Tired Act

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Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America shake their heads as ProPublica issues a massive correction to confirm that President Trump’s nominee to be CIA director didn’t oversee the waterboarding of terrorists after all and that the original reporting was based on assumptions.  They also sound the alarm on all the supposedly moderate Democrats running away from Nancy Pelosi as they run for seats in competitive or right-leaning districts.  News flash:  If Democrats win the House, Pelosi will be speaker.  And they roll their eyes as Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake says the refusal of Republicans to denounce Trump suggests maybe the GOP doesn’t deserve to lead.

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