ADF Attorney Jordan Lorence will be our guest tonight 9:00-9:30 PM Eastern tonight. Tonight we will be discussing the case of Jennifer Keeton, a counseling student at Augusta State University, who is being threatened with expulsion because she expressed her christian convicitons about homosexuality. Her only alternative is to complete a "remediation program," in whcih she'll be asked to write papers and attend seminars on "diversity, GBLT issues," etc. She is even being censured for views she expresses outside the classroom. Suing on her behalf is the Alliance Defense fund, which is once again to be commended for standing up for the underdog and supporting the cause of liberty.

ABOUT Jordan Lorence: Jordan Lorence serves as senior counsel and senior vice-president of the Office of Strategic Initiatives for the Alliance Defense Fund at its Washington, D.C., Regional Service Center. He has litigated religious liberty, free speech, and marriage cases across the nation since 1984. Lorence earned a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1980. He is admitted to the bar in three states, the U.S. Supreme Court, and multiple federal courts. Host Andre Traversa, Co-host Jim Lagnese

Call in at 1-646-915-9887

Streaming page is here.

See her videos here:

http://www.telladf.org/UserDocs/video/KeetonVNR.mov

http://www.telladf.org/UserDocs/video/KeetonSOT6.mov

ALASKA, TEXAS & NORTH DAKOTA

From Eric Dondero:

Congress just approved yet another extension for unemployment benefits. And Some have been on the government dole for over 2 years. Now new numbers have been released. And they show that if these displaced workers would simply move to a Republican State, their job-finding prospects would be improved dramatically.

The Top 3 States in the Nation for Job Growth for 2010 for the first two quarters of fiscal year 2010 are North Dakota, Alaska, and Texas; All 3 solidly Red States. Out of the Top 10, 8 out of 10 are Republican-run. The two exceptions are the glaring anamoly of the District of Columbia coming in at #5, and oddly enough New York.

From Reuters:

Here are the state-by-state rankings as of mid-2010:

1 North Dakota
2 Alaska
3 Texas
4 South Dakota
5 District of Columbia
6 Nebraska
7 Louisiana
8 New York
9 New Hampshire
10 Utah

Conversely, making up the bottom of the list a number of deeply Blue Democrat states like Michigan, California, Rhode Island, and Ohio. Though, two Republican states - Florida and Georgia - are also near the bottom of the list. One swing state - Nevada - is at the very bottom.

Photos - Gov. Sean Parnell of Alaska, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, Gov. John Hoeven of North Dakota.

Loss for Democrat-run states like New York, Illinois, and Ohio is a big gain for Texas

From Eric Dondero:

Governor Rick Perry attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Reyes-Amtex Automotive’s production facility, in San Antonio.

From the Office of the Governor (release):

Reyes–Amtex Automotive is part of a joint venture that is comprised of three companies with a combined 120 years of manufacturing experience. The three entities will combine their strengths to make trim components and carpet manufacturing for the next generation Toyota Tundra pick-up trucks using injection molding, blow molding and various assembly techniques.

While other States mainly in the Northeast, Mid-West and California, are losing jobs at a record pace, Texas continues to be among the leaders in job creation. Commented Perry:

“As Americans look for the best place to live, work and raise a family, more of them are heading to Texas all the time,” Gov. Perry said. “The root cause of our economic success is hardworking Texans, but pro-job policies, low taxes, predictable regulations and fair legal system have also helped Texas lead the nation in job creation.”

The Business world is taking notice. CNBC recently named Texas "America’s Top State for Business" for a second year in a row. CEO named Texas the "Best State to Do Business" for the sixth time in a row. Finally, Forbes named Texas Metro-areas like San Antonion, among "America’s Recovery Capitals."

Cut State Workers; dramatically increase Private Sector Jobs

From Eric Dondero:

Bucking a national trend, particularly in Democrat states like New York, California and Illinois, North Dakota is moving to cut its property tax through initiative.

From the North Dakota Policy Council:

If property taxes were eliminated and the state government had to fund 100% of local government revenue that is generated by property taxes, North Dakota's private sector would create nearly 12,000 new jobs in the first year and more than 13,000 new jobs by 2015. Personal income would increase a staggering $877 million in the first year and by more than $1 billion by 2015. Private investment would increase nearly $700 million in the first year and by more than $1 billion by 2015. These are good things for North Dakota's economy.

Further a study commissioned by Council, by the Massachusetts-based Beacon Hill Institute, indicated that a cut in the state work force would dramatically increase private sector employment. Continuing:

In 2009, $693,184,750.09 were collected in special taxes and property taxes. According to the Beacon Hill Institute's study, the increase in disposable income for North Dakotans and increased business activity because of that income - along with new private investment - would generate $65.88 million in new state revenue.

Simple Math - if you cut the State Work force, you don't need Revenue increases to make up a Tax Cut shortfall

Predictably, liberals in the State are framing the proposed tax cut as a loss of revenue to State coffers.

North Dakota Tax Commissioner Cory Fong is suggesting that the State will have to make up for it, with increases in other revenue sources.

Rob Port of the conservative blog Say Anything, based in ND, shoots that argument down:

flying in the face of Fong’s suggestion that other taxes in the state would have to be drastically increased to make up for the property tax is a study just released by the Beacon Hill Institute showing that if the tax were to go away the state would really only have to make up about $29 million in tax revenues. And that’s a conservative estimate. The reality is probably quite a bit less.

the state could save $25 million annually that it spends now in assessing the property tax. That combined with reductions in the state’s work force and other cuts in wasteful spending put the study’d estimate at the amount of revenue that would need to be made up through other tax increases at only $29 million (worst case scenario).

Tax was taking $25 million a year from dock workers and other support industries

Alaska Governor Sean Parnell has signed a bill which would lower taxes dramatically on tourists visiting the State. His Cruise Ship legislation reduced the passenger tax from $46 per person to $19.50.

"Through this legislative session it became very clear as I talked to small business owners around the state that what they needed was for state government to step out of the way and create more opportunity."

Parnell continued:

"This really gives Alaskans, thousands of Alaskans, hope that we have turned the corner now and we will no longer have the exodus of ships and capacity out of our state and that we will start to build the business back and get those Alaska jobs back for Alaskans."

According to AK3 one industry source estimated that the tax was "taking about $25 million a year away from docks and other work supporting the industry and addressing tourism impacts."

The tax was snuck into a proposition approved by voters, that was pushed by environmentalists and other liberal special interest groups in 2006. The result of the tax was almost immediately felt by Alaska workers along the southeast Coast.

Juneau lost a ship that was permenently berthed at the city's harbour. From JuneauEmpire.com, July 26:

Royal Caribbean this year has relocated the 2,100-berth Serenade of the Seas from Alaskan waters after a dispute with the state over the commercial passenger vessel tax, commonly known as the "head tax," established by voters in 2006.

Overall, Juneau is expecting 14 percent fewer cruise ship visitors this year.

The Legislature has reduced the head tax, beginning next year, and also rolled back associated environmental regulations in a effort to win ship visits in future years.

A Radical for Capitalism, and Gun Rights

Ayn Randian Republican for the US Congress - Colorado CD 3

From Eric Dondero:

Sarah Palin has endorsed a string of libertarian Republicans for congress, senate and governor's races this year, including most prominently Nikki Haley for South Carolina Gov., Tim Scott for Congress in SC, Tom Emmer for Minnesota Gov. and Rand Paul for US Senate in Kentucky. Now add Ayn Randian, Pro-Military Vietnam War Veteran and staunch gun rights advocate Bob McConnell in Colorado.

From Sarah Palin's Facebook, July 19:

Bob McConnell is considered a grassroots underdog candidate running a dynamic, prudent campaign to represent Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. Bob sometimes describes himself as a “recovering lawyer,” but that’s just one of his professions. Impressively, he’s a retired Colonel and Airborne Ranger. He’s a husband and the proud father of three and grandfather of seven, and he’s a true American patriot who wants to serve his fellow Coloradans for all the right reasons. Bob knows that in times like these ordinary citizens must be bold and take a stand to return our country back to our Constitutional roots of limited and fiscally responsible government. A decorated combat veteran, Bob is supported by the honorable Combat Veterans for Congress, and was unique in being able to tell a rally crowd at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum that he’s parachuted out of three of the aircraft in that museum! He’s also an avid outdoorsman who climbed Mt. Everest and lived off the grid as a mountain guide for a number of years.

Please join many other concerned Americans in moving the country onto the right path by supporting Bob McConnell. Visit his website at http://www.mcconnellforcongress.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

McConnell is in a tight race with moderate-conservative Scott Tipton. The District stretches from southeast Colorado - Pueblo to the Western Slope and Grand Junction.

Obama Birth Certificate now the big issue

From Eric Dondero:

The Colorado Republican Senate Primary is just two weeks away. Battling for the nomination are fmr. Lt. Governor Jane Norton and Well County Prosecutor Ken Buck. From the beginning Buck has been regarded as the Tea Party favorite. But Norton has sharply challenged that notion.

Now a new controversy has erupted over Obama's Birth Certificate. Buck, off mic made a disparaging remark about so-called "Birthers."

At an event Buck said:

"Will you tell those dumbasses at the tea party to stop asking questions about birth certificates while I’m on the camera?"

A Buck campaign spokesman has since apologized for the candidate and stated that Buck was simply tired from a long day's campaigning and was "venting."

But Norton is not letting it pass. Her spokesman remarked (via AP, Politics News):

“Ken Buck is two steps short of fraud. He’s a self-proclaimed tea partier who trashes tea partiers when he thinks no one is looking,” Norton spokeswoman Cinamon Watson said.

Just last week Norton praised former Congressman and now Constitution Party candidate for Governor Tom Tancredo for saying Obama posed a worst threat to the U.S. than the "Soviet Union... or Al Qaeda."

Polls have shown a virtual dead heat, with Buck slightly ahead.

(By Mark Rutherford, National LP Vice Chairman. Originally posted on LP.org.)

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