By Theodore King

Some follow-up from the summer 2009 issue about H.R. 1913, the Hate Crimes bill that adds "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" (i.e. transgenders) to Title 18 of the U.S. Criminal Code. Last July, the Senate attached H.R. 1913 to the Defense Appropriations bill which is something that was done two years ago when the legislation was offered then. On Thursday, October 8th, the House voted on H.R. 2647, the Defense Appropriation bill for 2010 with the Hate Crimes bill, H.R. 1913, included. H.R. 2647 passed the House 281 to 146. All five members of the Oklahoma delegation voted against this bill with the Hate Crimes legislation attached. The House and Senate versions of the Defense Appropriation bill will be resolved in House and Senate committees and then go to the president for his willing signature.

H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (i.e. the Cap and Trade bill or the China and India Full Employment Act as I like to call it), is now in the Senate after passing the House last June. Senator Lindsey Graham (RINO South Carolina) has said he wants to work with the Democrats to get something passed on this American job-killing bill. Graham even coauthored an op-ed piece with Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts calling for climate change legislation.

It is good to see Americans acting like Americans again. The fact that thousands have taken to the streets and town hall meetings across the nation to protest the government take-over of healthcare is encouraging. H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (Obamacare), is a battle on capitol hill and the nation. There isn't the time or space in this column to deal with many facets of this government healthcare bill. I, instead, look at one part of it that I think is of special interest.

On July 30th, pro-life Republican Congressmen Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania and Democrat Bart Stupak of Michigan both offered an amendment that would prevent abortion funding under H.R. 3200. The pro-life amendment was defeated. That same day, the House committee approved a "compromise amendment" by pro-abortion Democrat Lois Capps of California that would mandate abortion coverage in his "healthcare" bill. Currently, Medicaid prohibits abortion funding (except rape, incest, and mother's life endangerment) under the Hyde Amendment created by the late and great pro-life Republican Congressman Henry Hyde.

"Two important points: (a) Under this amendment, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who is on record against any limitations on abortion, can decide to allow government coverage of abortions that are not allowed under the Hyde Amendment (because the Hyde Amendment does not apply to the provisions in H.R. 3200); (b) Even if Secretary Sebelius does not exercise her discretion to allow government coverage of all abortions, if the Hyde Amendment, which lapses if not renewed yearly, is ever eliminated from HHS Appropriations, all abortions would automatically become "Hyde-permitted" abortions, and would therefore be covered by the public plan."

Source - Americans United for Life. www.aul.org

The Americans United for Life report goes on to state:

The Capps Amendment is not a compromise. In fact, it mandates abortion coverage and allows federal funding to go to private insurance plans that cover abortion. The Capps Amendment also fails to provide right of conscience protection for pro-life insurance companies. This Amendment would create a radical departure from existing law, in that the government would subsidize health insurance plans that pay for abortion. It is critically important that the health care reform bills before Congress include explicit language that truly prohibits abortion funding and coverage, and includes comprehensive conscience protection.

Source - Americans United for Life. www.aul.org

For a glimpse of our future under national heath care, here is an excerpt from an article in The Weekly Standard titled "Tony the Lionhearted" about then British Prime Minister Tony Blair dated February 3, 2003:

The National Health Service is a shambles, a 20 percent increase in funding having produced only a 1 percent rise in the number of cases handled, no surprise since the number of administrators among its over one-million workers exceeds the number of hospital beds.

In a rare case of bipartisan common sense, there is a House resolution offered by Oregon Republican Greg Walden and Washington state Democrat Brian Baird. H. Res. 554 would require a 72-hour delay before any final vote on healthcare reform. H. Res 554 is designed to give members of Congress some time to read the final version of a bill, and the press and public the chance to do so as well. This would be helpful, to say the least, before Congress approves a socialized healthcare system. All five members of the Oklahoma delegation have endorsed this resolution.

On September 23rd, Congressman Walden offered a discharge petition (only the sixth one this year) with the House Rules Committee to get a vote on the house floor. A majority of members in Congress have to sign on to this petition to get it out of committee. According to Congressman Walden's office, they are about 30 members short of a majority. Since the resolution needs more Democrat members to sign on to this petition, they are not likely to have the needed majority. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi doesn't want the public to see this healthcare bill before it is passed.

On the Senate side, Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky offered his own 72-hour resolution, S. Res. 307, on the healthcare bill. Senators Coburn and Inhofe are cosponsors. On October 7th, S. Res. 307 was voted down 11-12 in the Senate Rules Committee. Only one Democrat, Blance Lincoln Lambert of Arkansas, voted with the Republicans for this 72-hour delay before a vote.

The defeats of the 72-hour resolution are a display of foolish arrogance by the Democrat leadership in the House and Senate. Not letting the public see a healthcare bill that will directly affect them is really bad politics and will likely come with a heavy price in the next election.

The National Debt was, according to Dr. Tom Coburn's website, $11,883,837,308,722 as of 10:00 PM CDT, October 24, 2009. You now owe the government that does so much to you - $38,608.58.

Writing of foolish arrogance, several weeks ago when I requested a speaking engagement to promote my book, The War on Smokers and the Rise of the Nanny State before the College Republicans at Oklahoma State University, this is the response I received from the chairwoman:

"Mr. King,

Thanks for your interest in speaking to our group. However, we book speakers quite a ways [sic] in advance and our schedule is full for some time. Also, I personally appreciate bans on smoking in public places as I am not only allergic to it, but enjoy being able to walk down a sidewalk or sit in a restaurant and leave without my hair smelling of smoke. The right of the general public to breathe clean air is being protected. I also appreciate OSU's smoke-free policy. Sorry I couldn't help more.

Ashley Reynolds

Chairman

OSU College Republicans"

The ironically-named Ashley Reynolds disagrees with me. Therefore, I won't be allowed to speak to her group. This is the leader of the College Republicans at OSU! Ashley's "right" today, enforced by OSU's fiat, not to smell tobacco smoke in the open air, is some vegan's "right" not to smell meat on a grill tomorrow.

I think she's in the wrong party.

"All Socialism involves slavery." -- Herbert Spencer