Trump has signed more bills in 100 days than any president since Truman

Mostly True: Trump has signed more bills in 100 days than any president since Truman https://t.co/iGcWPJ1Nj5 #PolitiFact100 pic.twitter.com/3Y8RKTe0qX

— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) April 27, 2017

Confused About The Furor Over Indiana’s Religious Freedom Law? Read These 9 Things

Your Questions On Indiana's Religious Freedom Bill, Answered http://t.co/WRaQ1gvjaF

— Matt Dawson (@SaintRPh) March 31, 2015

CT Gov. calls Indiana RFRA 'outright bigotry,' forgets to mention CT has one just like it http://t.co/knH9iRySHI pic.twitter.com/bNVZjDYbKa

— Herman Cain (@THEHermanCain) March 31, 2015

◼ With the cacophonous debate on both sides of this issue, it’s hard to know what the heck is actually going on. So here are the nine things you need to know about Indiana’s new religious freedom law. - Casey Harper/Daily Caller

1. The law is based on the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which says that the government “may substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” only “in the furtherance of a compelling government interest” and using “the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest.” The Indiana law is not specifically targeted at gay people and does not even mention sexuality, but gay rights advocates say the law’s language is ripe for abuse.

2. This law is not a get out of jail free card for “discriminators.” ...

3. In the approximately 20 years RFRA has been federal law, not a single person has successfully used RFRA to circumvent civil rights laws. Some people have tried and failed.

4. This law already exists in different forms at the federal level and in 19 states across the country. Those laws passed without nearly the same hullabaloo.

5. A large reason for the controversy now is that, as American Civil Liberties Union Director Jane Henegar puts it, many believe “the bill was introduced as a backlash reaction to achieving marriage equality for same-sex couples in Indiana.” The previous RFRA laws passed before gay marriage was such an issue....

6. Indiana’s RFRA law is different in one large way. The law has more explicit language that allows businesses or individuals to invoke RFRA in civil disputes. ...

7. Indiana does not have a law explicitly prohibiting discrimination against gay people. Many other states do.

8. This is a largely symbolic fight that will have little effect on gay discrimination cases in Indiana, of which there are few.

9. There is a growing list of companies, governments and celebrities vowing to boycott the state because of the law.... read the whole article at The Daily Caller

All the lies told about an Indiana law http://t.co/p6dRSZQ6BC

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 31, 2015

On one side is the CEO of the world's largest company. On the other is a 70-year-old grandma baker. http://t.co/CfUh5oMeXR

— Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) March 31, 2015

◼ An amusing struggle as the press tries to explain why RFRA is different from all those other laws - HotAir

It took some prodding from conservative outlets, but the media has at long last begun to grudgingly admit that virtually identical laws are on the books in nearly two dozen other states and on the federal level, many bearing the signatures of Democrats. This has left liberal opponents sputtering and side stepping in their attempts to say, well yeah, but this is way worse because… Republicans!

...Hey! When we passed this thing you never said it was going to be used to protect Christians!!...

UNBELIEVABLE: @EdSchultzmsnbc cuts @RyanT_Anderson's mic when he can't win argument: ---> http://t.co/VwZtJ5rF8A pic.twitter.com/diibRisR1z

— National Review (@NRO) April 1, 2015

◼ "This protest movement against Indiana’s Religious-Freedom Restoration Act has gotten completely out of hand. The outrage is based on lies, misinformation, and propaganda about things that are not even in the law." - Paula Bollard/PjMedia

The People understand religious liberty. Media is creating alternate reality to bully @GovPenceIN. Just like gun control.

— John Nolte (@NolteNC) March 31, 2015

@sallykohn I want a Muslim baker to make me this: pic.twitter.com/QziIfLwTL1

— Dr Hugo Hackenbush (@MangyLover) March 31, 2015

House GOP: We're done bailing out the Senate. "They were a do-nothing majority, and now they’re trying to be a do-nothing minority"

◼ rustrated House Republicans are through negotiating with themselves. - David Drucker/Washington Examiner

Majority Whip Steve Scalise joined Senate Republicans for a private lunch on Wednesday to deliver a friendly but blunt message: House Republicans aren’t working on a “Plan B” to fund the Department of Homeland Security and won’t consider another bill until the Senate acts.

After four years of curtailing their agenda to the whims of Sen. Harry Reid and watching a Democratic-controlled Senate bury hundreds of House-passed bills, they’ve had enough.

“Frankly, they were a do-nothing majority, and now they’re trying to be a do-nothing minority,” Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said in an interview with reporters.

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly's 'Initiative Transparency' Bill Signed Into Law

The initiative process gives the People a means of direct control over their government and has allowed them to enact many important reforms over the past century. The right of initiative is reserved by the People under our Constitution and has been described by the courts as one of the most precious rights of our democratic process. With his signature on AB 2439, Governor Brown chose to uphold and strengthen the reserve right of the people to directly petition their government.

Progressive Left: “On Second Thought, We Actually Do Want Government in the Bedroom.”

◼ In California, natch - Gay Patriot
◼ REGULATE SEX: Cali Libs Now Want To Control Your Boinking - ClashDaily

...a new bill in California would require students to give verbal or written consent before sex and also requires that there be ongoing consent throughout the encounter. What can possibly go wrong?

◼ CA BILL DEMANDS VERBAL OR WRITTEN CONSENT FOR SEX ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES - Breitbart

SB 967, amended last week by state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), would mandate that college students obtain "an affirmative, unambiguous, and conscious decision by each participant to engage in mutually agreed-upon sexual activity."

◼ link

You're in the heat of the moment, rounding third, but then you must stop and ask, Can I have your verbal or written consent to have sex with you?

Sounds quite unspontaneous. But a law co-authored by L.A. state Sen. Kevin de Leon would have state-run college campuses establish an "affirmative consent" standard for its students.

According to the language of the bill, SB 967, students who want to have sex must essentially establish that there has been "an affirmative, unambiguous, and conscious decision by each participant to engage in mutually agreed-upon sexual activity." In fact, the legislation says, ...

... It is the responsibility of the person who wants to engage in initiating the sexual activity to ensure that he or she has the consent of the other person to engage in the sexual activity. Lack of protest or resistance does not mean consent, nor does silence mean consent.

No more making sexy faces and sounds for you. You've got to verbalize. Or get it on paper.

Missouri Legislature Nears Approval Of Nullification Bill To Limit Federal Gun Control

◼ The Missouri State Legislature is on the verge of forwarding a bill to Democratic Governor Jay Nixon that, if signed into law, will nullify virtually all Federal gun laws while asserting the State’s rejection of “unlimited submission” to Federal powers not enumerated in the Constitution. - Personal Liberty

On Wednesday, the Missouri State Senate approved a bill that originated in the State House of Representatives – HB 1439 – and returned the measure, with minor markups, to the House for final approval. The House had originally passed the bill on an overwhelming 110-36 vote. The Senate followed suit, approving the measure by a vote of 23-8.

According to the Tenth Amendment Center blog, both chambers tagged the measure as an “emergency” bill, which fast-tracks its enactment sooner than the standard 90 days required for news laws to take effect after a legislative session has adjourned for the year.

...What does HB 1439 do? It pretty much nullifies anything the Federal government attempts to do to guns that the 2nd Amendment hasn’t already covered: “All federal acts, laws, executive orders, administrative orders, court orders, rules, and regulations, whether past, present, or future, which infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.”

Make-Up Sex: So Good an Idea, A Law Has Been Proposed to Ban It Without the State’s Permission

◼ A proposed amendment to Massachusett’s divorce law would require divorcing couples to obtain specific authorization before a couple can have any sort of romantic interaction. - IJ Review

The exact wording:

In divorce, separation, or 209A proceedings involving children and a marital home, the party remaining in the home shall not conduct a dating or sexual relationship within the home until a divorce is final and all financial and custody issues are resolved, unless the express permission is granted by the courts.

Republican state Senator Richard Ross, the author of the bill, distanced himself from it after receiving media blowback, saying that he merely submitted it at the request of a vengeful constituent.

40,000 new laws take effect in 2014

◼ Legendary attorney, Harvard law professor, and author of "Taking the Stand" Alan Dershowitz joins Jake Tapper's "The Lead" to discuss some of the other fascinating – and controversial – new laws of 2014. - The Lead/CNN

George W. Law Professor: Obama's "Becoming The Very Danger The Constitution Was Designed To Avoid"

◼ George Washington University Law Professor, Jonathan Turley at Wednesday's House Judiciary Committee hearing: - Greg Hengler/TownHall

Abortion restrictions pass Texas House, gain votes since Wendy Davis filibuster

◼ It was Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis’ nearly 11-hour filibuster against new abortion restrictions that brought national attention to Texas’ debate over late-term abortion, but her efforts didn’t sway many votes in the state House, at least in her direction. GOP consultant Matt Mackowiak and others noted that the legislation actually picked up a few votes. - Twitchy

Now the governor seeks to undo what he done did in haste and stupidity - and other gun news

◼ Andy Cuomo Learns an Important Lesson About Guns - Bryan Preston/PJM

“There is no such thing as a seven-bullet magazine,” Mr. Cuomo said at a news conference. “That doesn’t exist. So you really have no practical option.”

So, even under the revision, New Yorkers could own a 10-round magazine…they just couldn’t put 10 rounds into it.

Criminals all over the state will be sure to abide by that.

Corrupt Rep Charlie Rangel: "Millions of kids dying, being shot down by assault weapons." (Total gun/firearm homicides in 2011 were 8,583)

— Tom Jurman (@tjurman) March 21, 2013

◼ RANGEL FIBS: DEMOCRAT CLAIMS ‘MILLIONS’ OF KIDS BEING ‘SHOT DOWN BY ASSAULT WEAPONS’ - FOX

Think Gabby Giffords will text @vp that she's alive & well? RT @caintv: Biden: Giffords 'mortally wounded' by gunshot bit.ly/YbEWJs

— Herman Cain (@THEHermanCain) March 21, 2013

◼ Colorado Gov. signs gun control bill amid opposition - Red Alert Politics

On Wednesday, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill that strictly curbs gun rights in that state.

Hickenlooper, a Democrat, signed legislation requiring a background check for all gun purchases in Colorado, a bill that requires the gun buyer to pay for that background check, as well as legislation that restricts gun magazine capacity to 15 rounds of ammunition. The new regulations will begin on July 1....

“He just slapped rural Colorado right in the face,” Brophy said about Hickenlooper’s signing of the bill. ”They are overwhelmingly upset about this.”

Besides the obvious Second Amendment issues, many other pro-gun advocates pointed to losses in jobs and business that will occur because of the new legislation. One company, Magpul Industries, which manufactures gun magazines and accessories in Colorado, has already announced that they will be leaving the state in order to re-establish their business elsewhere.

Many sheriffs in the state have come out opposing the legislation, with a few even announcing that they will not enforce it. One sheriff, Terry Maketa of El Paso County, Colo., even went so far as to say that he would destroy any concealed carry records his department held, rather than hand them over.

“[I]f anyone tried to get their hands on it [database of gun owners], I would destroy the database [and] would intervene if government agents started arresting county residents for exercising their constitutional rights,” Maketa said.

SHARIA/ FOREIGN LAW PROHIBITION JUST PASSED ALABAMA STATE SENATE

◼ I just received word that the American Laws for American Courts bill, SB4, authored by Senator Gerald Allen, just passed the Alabama state senate. Congratulations, freedom lovers. (hat tip Chris Holton) - Pamela Gellar/Atlas Shrugs

◼ SB 4 Alabama Senate Bill

“Hey Matt — you familiar with this organization?”

◼ Interview request to Ohio mayor sets off alarms for Bloomberg, Media Matters - Daily Caller

◼ MAIG Coordinators Paid as City Employees, Saves Gun-Hater’s Money - Sean Caranna/All Nine Yards

Here’s a great way to reduce overhead and be effective at running a national organization dedicated to infringing on the gun rights of everyday people all at the same time… Have cities hire your people for you so that tax payers cover ¼ of your people’s salary and benefits, pay for most of their operational costs, and finance all of their other resources! It also embeds your people as leaders in city government so that you don’t have to lobby there!

Sounds like another conspiracy theory from the tinfoil hat brigade… Right?

...Back in March, while researching the repeal of some anti-gun ordinances, I stumbled across an Orlando City Council agenda item that grabbed my attention. It was, on its surface, just a mundane action item for the annual contract renewal of a city employee. But this city employee’s job title was, well, unique…

“Approving Employment Contract for the Grant-Funded Position of Mayors Against Illegal Guns Regional Coordinator.” City of Orlando Website

The agenda included a budgetary breakdown for how a $75,000 grant from the “United Against Illegal Guns Support Fund” was to be spent.

$60,000 in salary and benefits for the “MAIG Regional Coordinator”
$2,000 for Supplies
$3,000 for “Contractual Services”
10,000 for Travel

Also attached was the Fiscal Impact statement. It showed that this employee’s salary and benefits were expected to cost the city $84,000 for the year. It allocated $24,000 from the city’s “General Fund” to cover the grant’s shortfall.... ◼ More at the links

EPA's CO2 Endangerment Finding is Endangered

◼ (W)ithout the TSD ((Technical Support Document), the Endangerment Finding is toast - and so is regulation of carbon dioxide - S. Fred Singer/American Thinker

The United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act (HR 2829), passed 23-15.

Committee Passes Landmark Legislation to Reform United Nations - Middle East North Africa Financial Network

EPA delays global warming rules again

◼ For the second time in four months the Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that they will again delay the release of their much anticipated global warming regulations. - Conn Carroll/Washington Examiner

The EPA's latest retreat on climate change regulation comes almost two weeks after President Obama ordered EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to rescind her ozone rules. According to the EPA's own esitmates, the ozone rule would have infliced $90 billion in costs on the U.S. economy every year. Analysts expect the EPA's global warming regulations to cost more than $100 billion annually.

Governor Jerry Brown Takes Surprise Shot at Nanny State

◼ In a Nixon-to-China moment, Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown reminded voters - and his party leaders - that they voted in a different type of Democrat last November. - Fox&Hounds

"I'm concerned about the continuing and seemingly inexorable transfer of authority from parents to the state," the governor wrote. "Not every human problem deserves a law."

In California: Contempt for Voters in Senate Move on Amazon Tax

◼ The maneuver in the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday to undercut the referendum on the Amazon tax legislation is a glaring example of the contempt with which legislators hold the people's right of initiative and referendum. - Joel Fox at Fox & Hounds

...The process is an integral part of the checks and balances system giving the people control over their government. Clearly, some legislators don't want the voters making decisions at the ballot box on actions taken by the legislature.

Amazon.com challenged a new law that requires online retailers to collect sales tax. A referendum was filed to put the issue before the voters. According to the Los Angeles Times, signature gatherers "already are off the streets, having met their goal well before the Sept. 27 deadline for turning in completed petitions."

To foil this process, Senator Loni Hancock pulled what amounts to a parliamentary parlor trick by gutting a bill and substituting language similar to the wording in the original tax law calling the revised bill an "urgency" measure. The constitution declares that an urgency measure, which requires a two-thirds vote to pass, is immune to a referendum effort.

Obama's default

◼ If the government ends up defaulting on its debt obligations, President Obama will have no one to blame but himself. - Emily Miller/Washington Times

It’s a breath of fresh air to have Congress take the debt issue out of the backrooms of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. and discuss the issue in an open floor debate. The public is behind the concept of a balanced budget and needs to hear the Democrats stubbornly clinging to the tax-and-spend mentality that got us into this problem in the first place. Their position is reckless and indefensible. Cut, Cap and Balance prevents a government shutdown and preserves America’s credit rating. If Mr. Obama follows through with his threat to veto this proposal, the blame for whatever happens next will be on him.

"The federal government has no right to tell me or any other citizen what type of light bulb to use at home," Burgess said. "It is our right to choose."

◼ Saving the incandescent bulb: GOP light bulb amendment likely to pass Friday after earlier defeat - The Hill
◼ UPDATE: House turns off light bulb standards by voice vote - Politico

The House on Friday morning moved to block federal light bulb efficiency standards without even a roll call vote.

An amendment from Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) defunding the Energy Department's standards for traditional incandescent light bulbs to be 30 percent more energy efficient starting next year was approved rather anticlimactically by voice vote.