A Look at What Happens if Democrats Win Congress by Deroy Murdock

Source: http://www.conservative.org/columnists/murdock/061025dm.asp

Scripps News
October 26, 2006

Hypothetically, if Democrats win Congress, don't expect a mild left turn. Watch the U.S. Capitol building spin nearly 180 degrees.

Congress' current Republican leadership—their haplessness and profligacy aside—generally feature senators and representatives with solidly conservative vote records. Conversely, minority leaders and ranking Democrats on congressional committees are among their party's staunchest liberals.

A Democratic victory on Capitol Hill naturally would involve a jump to the Left. But their steering the ship of state hard aport could toss passengers overboard.

Consider the latest vote scorecards from the ACLU, AFL-CIO, Ralph Nader's Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and the Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) on the Left. On the Right, peruse the ratings from the American Conservative Union (ACU), National Taxpayers Union (NTU), Citizens against Government Waste (CAGW), and the Center for Security Policy (CSP).

The contrast is jarring.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, earned a 100 percent rating from the ACU and CSP. Each judged House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, a zero. While the ACLU gave Pelosi a 100, it handed Hastert a zero. This is a public-policy yin-yang.

The House Judiciary Committee could go from chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisconsin, zero rating to a 95 for John Conyers, D-Michigan, who is poised to become chair.

The numbers 0 and 95 also reflect the respective PIRG ratings for Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, R-California, and ranking member Charles Rangel, D-New York.

Another key reversal could befall the House Intelligence Committee, where chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Michigan, has a 100 ACU rating versus a four for Alcee Hastings, D-Florida, reportedly expected to head Intelligence if Democrats prevail. A shift from Hoekstra's 11 ACLU rating to Hastings' 95 would sway a panel that oversees, among other things, terrorists interrogations.

In November 1988, incidentally, the House impeached then-U.S. District Judge Hastings. The Senate convicted him in October 1989 of perjury and conspiracy to solicit a bribe and ejected him from the federal bench. Three years later, he won a U.S. House seat.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Bill Frist's, R-Tennessee, 74 NTU rating could be subsumed by minority leader Harry Reid's five.

While Appropriations chairman Thad Cochran's, R-Mississippi, 63 CAGW rating is not stellar, it glistens beside West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd's nine.

Foreign Affairs Chairman Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, with an 88 ACU rating, could yield to Joseph Biden, D-Delaware, with an eight.

On Intelligence, Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, who earned zeros from the ADA and AFL-CIO, might swap with West Virginia Democrat Jay Rockefeller, who received 100 and 79 from those groups.

Today's GOP House speaker, majority leader, and the chairmen of Ways and Means, Budget, Appropriations, Judiciary, International Relations and Intelligence average a 91 ACU rating. Their Democratic counterparts score seven. Conversely, compare the GOP's average ADA rating of four with a 95 for these Democrats.

Today's Senate GOP majority leader and chairmen of Finance, Budget, Appropriations, Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence average an 84 ACU rating and an 11 ADA rating. Democrats' equivalents are 12 and 96.

Some applaud all this potential change.

"This Congress is clearly well out of step with American values," says Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU's Washington Legislative Office. "The ACLU's scorecard focuses on key votes for civil liberties and the Constitution—and we can see that the current leadership is flunking the test. All recent polls underscore that the American public wants a Congress that believes in our Constitution and the values that make America a great country, and not a government that condones torture and illegal actions by the president."

Others deem a Democratic takeover scarier than Halloween.

"CAGW has been critical of Republican spending, especially the increase in pork-barrel projects over the past several years," says CAGW president Tom Schatz. However, "If Democrats take over the House and/or Senate, taxpayers should expect massive increases in wasteful and ineffective domestic programs. The growth of entitlement programs also will explode; attempts to save them for future generations will be scuttled. And kiss your tax cuts goodbye."

For free marketeers, these data should offer a cautionary tale—and an impetus to keep a Democratic congressional takeover strictly hypothetical.

Deroy Murdock is a syndicated columnist. Researcher Marco DeSena contributed to this piece.

Former Celtics Coach Red Auerbach Dies

Former Celtics Coach Red Auerbach Dies

By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Red Auerbach, who had a genius for building Boston Celtic championship teams, a gift for straight talk, and a cigar at the ready for every victory, died Saturday, eight days after his 89th birthday.

Auerbach's death was announced by the Celtics, who still employed him as team president. Next season will be dedicated to him, they said.

The Hall of Fame coach died of a heart attack near his home in Washington, according to an NBA official, who declined to be identified because the family had not officially spoken. His last public appearance was on Wednesday, when he received the Navy's Lone Sailor Award at a ceremony in the nation's capital.

"Red Auerbach was the consummate teacher, leader, and a true pioneer of the sport of basketball," commissioner David Stern said on NBA.com. "The NBA wouldn't be what it is today without him."

Auerbach's 938 victories made him the winningest coach in NBA history until Lenny Wilkens overtook him during the 1994-95 season. His nine titles as a coach came in the 1950s and 1960s _ including eight straight from 1959 through 1966 _ and then through shrewd deals and foresight he became the architect of Celtics teams that won seven more championships in the 1970s and 1980s.

Auerbach was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. The jersey No. 2 was retired by the Celtics in his honor during the 1984-85 season.

"He was a unique personality, a combination of toughness and great, great caring about people," said author John Feinstein, who last year collaborated on a book with Auerbach on the coach's reflections of seven decades in basketball. "He cared about people much more than it showed in his public face, and that's why people cared about him."

With the Celtics, he made deals that brought Bill Russell, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale to Boston. He drafted Larry Bird a year early when the Indiana State star was a junior to make sure Bird would come to Boston.

He coached championship teams that featured players such as Russell, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, Bill Sharman, K.C. Jones and Sam Jones, all inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Phil Jackson matched Auerbach's record nine championships when the Los Angeles Lakers won the title in 2001-02.

After stepping down as general manager in 1984, Auerbach served as president of the Celtics and occasionally attended team practices into the mid-1990s, although his role in the draft and personnel decisions had diminished.

"Red was a guy who always introduced new things," Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca told The Associated Press in an interview this month. "He had some of the first black players in the league and some people didn't like that, but you've got to do what's right for the fans."

When Rick Pitino took the president's title when he became coach in 1997, and Auerbach became vice chairman of the board. After Pitino resigned in 2001, Auerbach regained the title of president and remained vice chairman. When the team was sold in 2002 to a group headed by Grousbeck, Auerbach stayed on as president.

Through all those changes and titles, Auerbach didn't lose his direct manner of speaking, such as when he discussed the parquet floor of the Boston Garden shortly before the Celtics' longtime home closed in September 1995.

"The whole thing was a myth," Auerbach said. "People thought not only that there were dead spots, but that we knew where every one was and we could play accordingly.

"Now, did you ever watch a ballplayer go up and down the court at that speed and pick out a dead spot?" he asked. "If our players worried about that, thinking that's going to help them win, they're out of their cotton-picking mind. But if the other team thought that: Hey, good for us."

As Celtics president, Auerbach shuttled between Boston and his home in the nation's capital, where he led an active lifestyle that included playing racquetball and tennis into his mid-70s.

Auerbach underwent two procedures in May 1993 to clear blocked arteries. He had been bothered by chest discomfort at various times beginning in 1986.

Auerbach was also hospitalized a year ago, but he was soon active again and attended the Celtics' home opener. Asked that night what his thoughts were, he replied in his usual blunt manner: "What goes through your mind is, 'When the hell are we going to win another one? I mean, it's as simple as that."

Auerbach had planned to be at the Celtics' opener this season, in Boston next Wednesday against the New Orleans Hornets.

In his 16 seasons as the Celtics' coach, Auerbach berated referees and paced the sideline with a rolled-up program in his clenched fist. The cigar came out when he was sure of another Celtic triumph.

He had a 938-479 regular-season coaching record and a 99-69 playoff mark. On Jan. 12, 1966, he got victory No. 1,000 in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Auerbach had a reputation as a keen judge of talent, seemingly always getting the best of trades with fellow coaches and general managers.

In 1956, he traded Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to St. Louis for the Hawks' first-round pick and ended up with Russell _ probably the greatest defensive center of all time and the heart of 11 championship teams.

In 1978, he drafted Bird in the first round even though he would have to wait a year before Bird could become a professional.

Before the 1980 draft, the Celtics traded the No. 1 overall selection to Golden State for Parish and the No. 3 pick. The Warriors took Joe Barry Carroll. The Celtics chose McHale.

In 1981, Boston chose Brigham Young guard Danny Ainge in the second round. Ainge was playing baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays organization at the time, but was freed after a court battle to play for the Celtics.

In June 1983, another one-sided deal brought guard Dennis Johnson from Phoenix for seldom-used backup center Rick Robey.

Born Arnold Auerbach in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Sept. 20, 1917, Auerbach attended Seth Low Junior College in New York and George Washington University. His playing career was undistinguished. In three seasons at George Washington he scored 334 points in 56 games. He would often attend games at GW's Smith Center, where the court is named in his honor.

As a coach, he was an instant success, posting the best record of his career in his first season. He led the Washington Capitols to a 49-11 mark in 1946-47, the NBA's debut season, and took them to the playoff semifinals.

The Capitols had winning records the next two seasons under Auerbach, who moved on to the Tri-Cities Blackhawks for one season in 1949-50. They had a 28-29 mark, Auerbach's only losing record in 20 years as an NBA coach.

In the NBA's first four seasons, the Celtics never had a winning record. But Auerbach changed that dramatically when he succeeded Alvin "Doggy" Julian as Boston's coach for the 1950-51 campaign.

They went 39-30 that year, and the Celtics never had a losing record in his 16 seasons on the bench. Boston's lowest winning percentage was .611 in his last 10 seasons.

His last game as coach was on April 28, 1966, when Boston edged the Lakers 95-93 in the seventh game of the finals to win the NBA title. He was just 48 years old, but ready to move on.

On Feb. 13 of that season, Auerbach was honored at halftime of a loss to Los Angeles at Boston Garden.

"They say that losing comes easier as you grow older," he said after the game. "But losing keeps getting harder for me. I just can't take it like I used to. It's time for me to step out."

Russell became player-coach the next season, while Auerbach concentrated on his job as general manager. Russell was the first of five Boston coaches who had played for Auerbach.

Auerbach fostered the image of the Celtics as a family and took pride in the fact that many ex-players remained close to the team. And although he cultivated a cantankerous public image, his former players testified to his basic good nature.

"He'd help me wherever he could," K.C. Jones said after the 1983-84 season, his first as Boston's coach. "He's done that from day one, so nothing's really changed. He's still the same grouchy guy, but he takes care of his people."

Auerbach worked under 11 ownership groups with the Celtics. When Grousbeck took over, Auerbach told the new owner why always had his players wear black sneakers.

"They stay cleaner. They don't have be changed," Grousbeck said. "There are a number of things we've learned directly from Red, and meeting him has been the highlight of this whole experience."

Auerbach is survived by his two daughters, Nancy Auerbach Collins and Randy Auerbach; his granddaughter, Julie Auerbach Flieger, and three great-grandchildren.

___

AP Sports Writers Howard Ulman and Jimmy Golen in Boston contributed to this report.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Joe Niekro passes away at 61

Joe Niekro passes away at 61
Brother of Hall of Famer Phil won 221 games in 22 seasons

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com

Joe Niekro recognized the pitch as soon as it left his brother's hand. After all, it was the pitch that their dad taught them when they were just kids growing up together in Ohio.
There it was -- the signature Niekro knuckleball -- dancing toward home plate at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium on May 29, 1979. By the time Phil finished his delivery, Joe had had swung, sending the baseball over the left-field wall for a home run -- the lone long ball of his 22-year career.

Joe lived in the shadows of his older brother's career, which was honored with an induction into baseball's Hall of Fame. But on that day, it was the younger Niekro who walked away the winner. Over 22 Major League seasons, the same pitch that Phil made famous helped Joe Niekro win 221 games, including a club-record 144 for the Houston Astros.

On Friday, Joe Niekro passed away. According to The Tampa Tribune, Niekro suffered an aneurysm and was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital before being transported to St. Joseph's hospital on Thursday. He was 61.

"It's really a shock when something like that happens," said Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who was a teammate of Niekro from 1980-85. "As a teammate, you spend a lot of time with each other and have close relationships. This news, you have to sort through it."

Niekro's big-league career began in 1967 and ended in 1988 -- a period in which he spent time with the Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Braves, Astros, Yankees and Twins. Chicago made the right-hander a third-round draft pick in 1966, when he was 21 years old.

When Joe signed with the Cubs, he threw a fastball, curve, and a slider. He didn't rely as heavily as Phil did on the knuckleball because he had the ability to throw harder. It wasn't until his Major League career got off to a slow start that Joe began using the pitch he learned during his childhood.

Phil Niekro Sr. could throw hard at a young age, but an arm injury prompted him to develop the knuckleball before moving on from baseball. After long days of working in coal mines in Ohio, Phil Sr. would come home and play catch with his two sons, passing on his unique pitch.

Joe had yet to reach his peak when Houston purchased his contract for $35,000 from Atlanta in 1975. The Astros were non-contenders from 1975-77, giving Niekro ample time to hone his craft. He'd spend parts of 11 seasons in Houston, where he became the club's winningest pitcher and first back-to-back 20-game winner in 1979-80.

"Times were different in baseball back then. Joe was 30, 31 when he got to Houston," said Astros president Tal Smith, who was Houston's general manager from 1975-80. "It took him a couple of years until he established himself. In those days, prior to the advent of free agency, you had more time, more patience to provide opportunities.

"That gave Niekro time to perfect the knuckeball, then he produced back-to-back 20-win seasons and all of the memorable things that happened," he added. "He was such a special guy. I never heard anybody who said anything disparaging about him. He always had a smile, a quip. He kept everybody loose in the clubhouse. And he was the consummate winner."

The 1979-80 seasons were the pinnacle of Niekro's career. In '79, he led the National League with 21 victories and five shutouts, finishing second to Bruce Sutter in the Cy Young voting. He was sixth in voting for the NL Most Valuable Player Award and was selected to his only All-Star team. The Sporting News recognized Niekro as the Pitcher of the Year that season.

A year later, Niekro went 20-12 and was fourth in the balloting for the NL Cy Young. Also in 1980, Niekro threw a complete-game six-hitter against the Dodgers in the 163rd game of Houston's season. The victory clinched the NL West title -- the first in team history. Niekro then led Houston to its first-ever playoff win by pitching 10 shutout innings in an 11-inning win over the Phillies in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series.

"He pitched a terrific game 163," recalled Smith, who was stunned by Niekro's death. "It was a real shock. I saw him in the spring and he looked great. He looked like he was in good health."

Niekro's postseason success wasn't limited to his time in Houston. He was a member of the 1972 Tigers, who won the American League East, and the '87 Twins, who won the World Series.

During that '87 season, Joe's son Lance -- 8 years old at the time -- was a batboy for Minnesota. He was on the field during the postgame celebration and he rode with his dad in a convertible during the parade held in Minneapolis.

Now, Lance Niekro is a first baseman in the San Francisco Giants' system. He has three big-league seasons under his belt and received some advice from his dad when he was demoted to Triple-A earlier this season.

"When I was going down to Fresno, my dad called and said he had five years in the big leagues when he was sent down," Lance Niekro said. "He said it was something that can happen, and you can go about it two ways -- be mad about everything, or go down there and say you have something to prove."

Throughout his career, Joe had plenty to prove as Phil -- six years his elder -- pitched his way to 318 wins and a plaque in the hallowed halls in Cooperstown, N.Y. Joe was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in November 2005.

Joe and Phil Niekro combined for 539 wins, the most by brothers in Major League history. So Joe's name lives on in the record books and the Niekro name continues to live on in baseball through his son.

"Just to see that name on the back of a Major League uniform, on a Major League field, is a big thrill," Joe Niekro told the San Francisco Chronicle in June, 2005.

Lance Niekro found his way to the big leagues with his bat, but that doesn't mean his dad didn't pass on that famous knuckleball. Lance learned how to throw the knuckler at the age of 12.

Joe probably taught Lance how to hit one, too.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Reporters Alyson Footer and Rich Draper contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Martin could drive Ford in limited truck schedule

Martin could drive Ford in limited truck schedule

Veteran says he has opportunity to race Chevys in Busch Series

By Ryan Smithson, NASCAR.COM
October 26, 2006
05:04 PM EDT (21:04 GMT)

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Mark Martin's days with Ford are not over yet.

Martin said on Thursday that his 2007 race schedule will likely include 5-10 races in a Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series. He also said that he is likely to run a 5-10-race Busch Series schedule in a Chevrolet.

At Talladega this month, Martin announced that he would drive a 20-race Nextel Cup schedule in the No. 01 Chevrolet for MB2 Motorsports next season.

Martin said that his Busch plans will involve an unnamed Chevrolet team, possibly one different than MB2.

"I am pretty close to a truck deal," said Martin, who has run 11 truck races this year, winning five of them. "I think the first hurdle has finally been cleared on that.

"I think I will race a Ford truck next year, and five, maybe even 10 races and I think I will race a Busch car five to 10 races in a very exciting variety, possibly three different teams. The Busch team will be a Chevrolet, and the truck will be a Ford, if I race it."

The move to MB2 Motorsports shocked the industry. There is arguably no driver more associated with a team than Mark Martin and Roush Racing -- the two have been together for 19 years -- but Martin did not want to run a full schedule in 2007.

MB2 Motorsports has struggled mightily this season -- the two-car team has scored just two top-10s all season -- but Martin says the team will surprise some people in 2007.

"Things were getting better before I signed on," Martin said. "In the past they have been a great team and a great contender. They started turning the corner."

----------------------------------------------
Bill's Comment: Stay tuned, in case the wind decides to blow another direction. I only say this because he keeps those who follow NASCAR in suspense as to whether or not he will retire, yet alone as to which team (or manufacturer) he will be racing for. Do not get me wrong. Mark Martin is one of the most respected drivers both on and off the track, and is a sentimental favorite amongst the fans. Regardless of whom he drives for (besides MB2 Motorsports, now Ginn Racing), his experience and expertise will only make the team that much better. No matter what track he will race at in the Craftsman Truck Series, he will be a favorite.

An E-mail from the NJ Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee

Bill's Pre-Comment: What you are about to see below is an e-mail that was sent to me by NJ State Senator Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. What strikes me funny, before I even read this, is that I am a registered Republican. Enjoy the propoganda you are about to read!

Bill

-------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friend :

In the five years since the vicious attack on our friends and neighbors, George W. Bush promised to make us safer by going to war in Iraq instead of finishing the job in Afghanistan. But this week our top spy and intelligence agencies released a report that said the war in Iraq has made us less safe today because the war is creating more terrorists then ever before.

President Bush and Republicans in control of congress are spending a record one billion, seven hundred fifty million dollars a week in Iraq, they cut while they slash homeland security funding for New Jersey. And guess what? The mastermind of the 9/11 attack still roams free somewhere near the mountains of Afghanistan.

Democrats know that the battle against the radical right-wing agenda of President George W. Bush and Republicans for control of congress begins here in New Jersey. And with a contribution of just $50 or more, you can help us win back control of congress and take our county in a new
direction. Click here to contribute.

If Republicans remain in power, then over the next two years they will try to shove their right-wing agenda down our throats and take us in the wrong direction.

We can't rely on the Republicans to protect our ports, our children's future, or retirement security. We need to support our local Democrats who will focus on our priorities here and fight to make sure we receive our fair share from Washington, D.C.

Click below to give $50 or more to help us take back Congress:
http://www.njdacc.com/contribute.php

When we wake up the day after the elections, let's make sure we have no regrets. Together we can take back our government and make sure it works for the people once again.

Thank you,

Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr.

Analysis: Ten Good Reasons to Vote GOP by Phil Brennan

Source: http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/10/25/200850.shtml

NewsMax.com

If the polls are to be believed, the Republicans who control the White House and Congress are in trouble.

Their problem?

People vote their pocketbooks, or wallets, the old adage goes.

But the economy is booming. Even gasoline prices have plummeted. Unemployment, the bogeyman of politicians, has shrunken to a record low point.

As for the security matter, since 9/11, the worst attack on American soil since the Civil War, the United States has been free of any significant terrorist attack. None. Zippo. Zilch.

If Americans do vote the GOP out of either House of Congress, many of these accomplishments are threatened.

Should Democrats get control of the House of Representatives, they have already promised that one of the Republican initiatives that made all these things possible will be rolled back.

Higher taxes -- and with it, economic recession and more unemployment.

The Democrats will also signal the terrorists a "victory" for their side with a push for a quick withdrawal from Iraq. Remember, the Congress, not the president, funds our troops abroad. A Democratic Congress will most assuredly withhold funding unless Bush relents.

The list of Republican accomplishments is both long and real, and provides the platform upon which even greater results will be built under a Republican Congress and White House.

For sure, the GOP has had its share of shortcomings. The economy could be doing better. The deficit could be smaller. The postwar plans in Iraq could have been better implemented.

If anything, the Republicans are facing a message deficit. The liberal media establishment is just not letting them tell their story to the American people.

Here are 10 good reasons why you should vote Republican come election day. You won't hear about them on ABCCBSNBC News.

Reason #1. The economy is kicking butt. It is robust, vibrant, strong and growing. In the 36 months since the Bush tax cuts ended the recession that began under President Clinton, the economy has experienced astonishing growth. Over the first half of this year, our economy grew at a strong 4.1 percent annual rate, faster than any other major industrialized nation. This strong economic activity has generated historic revenue growth that has shrunk the deficit. A continued commitment to spending restraint has also contributed to deficit reduction.

Reason #2. Unemployment is almost nil for a major economy, and is verging on full employment. Recently, jobless claims fellto the lowest level in 10 weeks. Employment increased in 48 states over the past 12 months ending in August. Our economy has now added jobs for 37 straight months.

Reason #3. The Dow is hitting record highs. In the past few days, the Dow climbed above 12,000 for the first time in the history of the stock market, thus increasing the value of countless pension and 401(k) that funds many Americans rely on for their retirement years.

Reason #4. Wages have risen dramatically. According to the Washington Post, demand for labor helped drive workers' average hourly wages, not including those of most managers, up to $16.84 last month -- a 4 percent increase from September 2005, the fastest wage growth in more than five years. Nominal wage growth has been 4.1 percent so far this year. This is better or comparable to its 1990s peaks. Over the first half of 2006, employee compensation per hour grew at a 6.3 percent annual rate adjusted for inflation. Real after-tax income has risen a whopping 15 percent since January 2001. Real after-tax income per person has risen by 9 percent since January 2001.

Reason #5. Gas prices have plunged. According to the Associated Press, the price of gasoline has fallen to its lowest level in more than 10 months. The federal Energy Information Administration said Monday that U.S. motorists paid $2.21 a gallon on average for regular grade last week, a decrease of 1.8 cents from the previous week. Pump prices are now 40 cents lower than a year ago and have plummeted by more than 80 cents a gallon since the start of August. The previous 2006 low for gasoline was set in the first week of January, when pump prices averaged $2.238. In the week ending Dec. 5, 2005, prices averaged $2.19. Today, gasoline can be found for less than $2 a gallon in many parts of the country.

Reason #6. Since 9/11, no terrorist attacks have occurred on U.S. soil. Since 9/11 the U.S. has not been attacked by terrorists thanks to such programs as the administration's monitoring of communications between al-Qaida operatives overseas and their agents in the U.S. and the monitoring of the international movement of terrorist funds -- both measure bitterly opposed by Democrats.

Reason #7. Productivity is surging and has grown by a strong 2.5 percent over the past four quarters, well ahead of the average productivity growth in the last 30 years. Strong productivity growth helps lead to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product, higher real wages, and stronger corporate profits.


Reason #8. The Prescription Drug Program is working. Despite dire predictions that most seniors would refrain from signing up to the new Medicare prescription benefits program, fully 75 percent of all those on Medicare have enrolled, and the overwhelming majority say they are happy with the program.

Reason #9. Bush has kept his promise of naming conservative judges. He has named two conservative justices to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito. In addition, he has named conservative justices who are devoted to the Constitution as it is written and not as activist liberal judges think it means. The strong likelihood that one or more justices will retire from the Supreme Court makes it mandatory for the Republicans to hold the Senate and have a chance to name new conservative justices.

Reason #10. The deficit has been cut in half three years ahead of the president's 2009 goal, with the 2006 fiscal year budget deficit down to $248 billion. The tax cuts have stimulated the economy and are working.

In contrast to this stunning record of real achievement, the Democrats offer no real plans for the way they want to improve America or make us safer.

Instead, issues like the Mark Foley scandal have been used to smokescreen their own lack of ideas in a public debate.

The choice voters will make is whether they want higher taxes and less security by surrendering the tools used to combat terrorism or lower taxes and the continued use of tools like the Patriot Act, terrorist surveillance, terrorist interrogations and missile defense.

Consider what leading Democrats are promising if they gain control of Congress.

* Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., who would lead the House tax-writing committee if Democrats win in November, said he "cannot think of one" tax cut he would renew. That agenda would result in $2.4 trillion tax increase over the next 10 years.


* If Democrats take majorities in the House and Senate, the average family of four can expect to pay an average of $2,000 more in taxes.


* The leader of House Democrats and the woman who would be speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said after 9/11 that she "doesn't really consider ourselves at war ... we're in a struggle against terrorism."


* By opposing the Patriot Act, terrorist surveillance missile defense and even interrogating the most dangerous terrorists captured on the battlefield, Democrats are in direct opposition to the vital tools we use to fight terrorism.


* Many Democrats, including the prospective House Ways and Means chairman, favor cutting off funding for the war in Iraq.


* Democratic leaders have made it clear that they see investigations and impeachment as viable options should they take control of Congress. They are therefore promising to tie the hands of the president and his administration in the middle of a war.


* Democrats want to reverse the president's economic policies that have led to a historically strong economy.

Enough said.

Spencer, Swann, Harris & Schlesinger...Election 2006 Notable Republican Underdogs

John Spencer, former Mayor of Yonkers and candidate for U.S. Senate in New York

A breath of fresh air to politics, in 1996, Spencer shocked the “experts” became the Republican mayor of overwhelmingly Democrat Yonkers, New York’s fourth-largest city. As mayor, he stood up for conservative principles and what was right for the people he represented.

What others thought of as impossible, he saw as challenges to overcome. He took a stagnant city in decline and changed its image to a city of progress. He revitalized the waterfront, cut taxes that others said couldn't be cut and improved services. John Spencer is proud to run on his life record and on his record as a big-city mayor who pulled a city out from under a state Financial Control Board and federal oversight of its court-ordered desegregation.

At the height of the Vietnam War, when others were avoiding the draft, John Spencer chose to enlist in the United States Army to serve his country. The awesome responsibility of leading men whose very survival depended on him as a young Infantry Lt., shaped and molded him into the leader he is today.

A principled conservative who can win.

As a candidate and public servant, Spencer has been proud to run and win with the Conservative Party of New York’s endorsement.  John Spencer has always clearly and unashamedly taken a principled stand for his pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-growth, pro-2nd amendment, and anti-illegal immigration positions.  As our candidate for the U.S. Senate, Spencer will provide a clear contrast to Senator Clinton’s views.  If we nominate a Republican who agrees with Senator Clinton on these issues, we are destined to lose.

As a self-made man, John Spencer worked his way up from construction worker to real estate management and knows firsthand the challenges that working class families face to make ends meet. He found his purpose in fatherhood and was not afraid to roll up his sleeves and work hard to provide for his family. His devotion to every aspect of his older children's lives, Jennifer and John, led to his active participation in the community. This was the beginning of his involvement in politics as a vehicle for social change. Since remarried, John and his wife Kathy are the proud parents of three young children, Kaitlyn, Patrick and James.

John Spencer: the true conservative you can trust.   Join Spencer for Senate today!

Lynn Swann, Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania

Lynn Swann's life has always been about seizing opportunities. Born in Alcoa, Tennessee to Willie and Mildred Swann, Lynn moved to California at the age of 2 with his parents and two brothers.

It was in California where Lynn was faced with his first challenge, which he turned into an opportunity. Mildred Swann enrolled her 8 year old son into dance class, and it was here that Lynn would develop incredible balance and grace that would serve him well in the future.

While in High School, Lynn would be named an All-American High School Football player. His athletic ability would afford him an opportunity that would forever change his life, the opportunity to go to college. With no intention to attend there but as a favor to a friend's dad, Lynn visited the University of Southern California. The rest is college football history.

Lynn used the opportunity to play football at the University of Southern California to earn his degree in public relations from the university's school of journalism. Lynn Swann excelled on the football field, playing on two Rose Bowl teams and a National Championship team in 1972. Lynn was team captain, most valuable player, and an All-American in 1973.

His success on the field led to an opportunity to play professional football. In 1974, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lynn would go on to be a cornerstone of the Steelers dynasty, winning four Super Bowls and playing in three pro-bowls. He was inducted into the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

During and following his success with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Lynn pursued an opportunity to launch a successful career as a sports broadcaster. Lynn has worked for ABC since 1976, covering a variety of events as a host, reporter, and analyst including the 1984 Summer Olympics, the Winter Games in 1988, International Diving Championships. USFL, NCAA, College and Monday Night Football, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the Irish Derby and Wide World of Sports. Lynn has traveled the world for ABC Sports.

Lynn has toured the country as a motivational speaker, touting the need for responsibility, strong leadership, and making the most of opportunities that present themselves. He also turned his success on the field into opportunities in the corporate world. Lynn currently sits on the board of directors of two companies -- H.J. Heinz Company and Hershey Entertainment and Resorts.

But out of all of his professional successes, moving to Pittsburgh in 1974 would prove to be the opportunity of a lifetime. Lynn and his family identified with the values that defined Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania; hard work, determination, and the will to succeed. That's why Lynn set out almost immediately to make his community better.

Lynn used his celebrity status to raise money to provide scholarships for the Pittsburgh Ballet. He has received numerous honors for his service toward the growth and improvement of our nation's youth. Since 1980, Lynn Swann has been the National Spokesman for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He now serves on their National Board of Directors and was President of the national board from 1993 to 1995. He has traveled across the country, testified before Congress and visited the White House on behalf of the nation's premiere one-to-one mentoring organization.

It is this community leadership along with other qualities that led President George W. Bush to ask Lynn to serve as the Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In this role, once held by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lynn is responsible for helping to create and implement the President's fitness agenda for America.

Now comes a unique opportunity for Lynn Swann to offer the state a fresh and energetic leadership. That's why Lynn Swann is running for Governor.

Far too many people have to leave Pennsylvania to find opportunity. Lynn wants to make sure that Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth have access to opportunity right here in Pennsylvania, just like he did. Swann for Governor is the first step in making that a reality.

~Joyce Comments: To read Lynn Swann's Policies for Change click here.



Katherine Harris, Representative of District 13 and candidate for U.S. Senate in Florida

With her swearing in on January 7, 2003 as the United States Representative for the 13th District of Florida, Katherine Harris opened the newest chapter in her distinguished career of public service to her native state. Continuing her work on behalf of Florida with a strong focus on economic and national security issues, Congresswoman Harris is a member of the House Financial Services Committee, the House International Relations Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. Katherine has also been appointed to serve on the leadership team as a deputy whip.

A Leader in the Florida State Senate...

During her term in the Florida state senate, Congresswoman Harris passed over one hundred bills, while serving as chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Economic Opportunities and as vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance and the Senate Committee on Governmental Reform. Her legislative achievements included an economic development package that helped fuel Florida's dramatic rise from 42nd place to 1st place in the nation as a state to start a new business or grow an existing business; a significant increase in teacher salaries; and stiffened penalties for white collar crime and for crimes committed against the elderly.

Distinguished Service as Florida's Secretary of State...

As Florida's 23rd and last elected secretary of state, Congresswoman Harris jointly exercised responsibility for clemency, education, law enforcement and the environment with the governor of Florida as a member of Florida's unique Executive Cabinet. She also served as head of the Florida Department of State, a multifaceted agency that managed Florida's state-level responsibilities in international affairs, elections, corporate and business registrations, licensing, historic preservation, libraries, and culture and the arts.

As secretary of state, Congresswoman Harris concurrently served as the head of Florida's Office of International Affairs and led the development of a wide variety of innovative programs that sought to employ diplomatic, humanitarian, educational and cultural tools to provide economic opportunities at home while building understanding, prosperity and stability abroad.

While serving as secretary of state, Congresswoman Harris laid the strong foundation for Florida's preeminent campaign to win the Permanent Secretariat for the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). She worked intensively to ensure Florida as the lead location among all candidates for the Secretariat in the Western Hemisphere by obtaining the unanimous vote of both houses of the United States Congress expressing a preference for Florida's candidacy over any other potential site in the United States, as well as securing funding from Congress to assist Florida's bid for the Secretariat.

Fighting for Issues Important to Florida...

Congresswoman Harris also led the transformation of the Gulf of Mexico States Accord into a vibrant partnership that has made tremendous strides towards its objective of unifying the Gulf region through the enhancement of investment, trade and tourism, as well as through the promotion of economic, transportation, academic and cultural exchanges between its member states. Launched in 1995, the Gulf of Mexico States Accord had lapsed into near dormancy when then-Secretary of State Harris negotiated the location of the Accord's Secretariat in Tampa. During the four months following the establishment of the Secretariat, the Tampa Bay region's trade with Mexico grew by $30 million, inspiring Chrysler to reroute the shipping of the automobiles manufactured in Mexico through the Port of Tampa, and establishing a pilot program ferry service between Tampa and the Yucatán.

In the aftermath of the 2000 election controversy, Congresswoman Harris' leadership provided a driving impetus for election reform. In 2001, she testified before the U.S. House Administration Committee and proposed legislation that became the blueprint for Florida's nationally acclaimed Election Reform Act. In 2002, she successfully proposed and achieved passage of historic civil rights legislation in Florida that forcefully addresses the exclusion of persons with disabilities from full and equal participation in the electoral process.

A Record of Success...

A former IBM marketing executive and vice president of a commercial real estate firm, Congresswoman Harris earned a Master's Degree from Harvard University with a specialization in international trade and negotiations, and a Bachelor's Degree in history from Agnes Scott College. She studied abroad at the University of Madrid and at L'Abri outside Geneva, Switzerland. Congresswoman Harris has received numerous honors for her dedicated work on behalf of Florida including: the Mel Fisher Award for International Trade Advocacy; the Florida Economic Development Council Legislator of the Year Award; the Florida United Business Association Outstanding Legislator Award; the Florida Arts Advocacy Award; the Sarasota Manatee Jewish Family and Children Service's Philanthropy Award; the Sarasota Humanitarian of the Year Award and the Sarasota Statesman of the Year Award.

Congresswoman Harris was born in Key West, Florida. She returns to the district every weekend to spend time with her husband Anders Ebbeson and his 24-year-old daughter, Louise and the constituents of District thirteen.

~Joyce Comments: To read Katherine Harris on issues click here.



Alan Schlesinger, former Mayor of Derby and candidate for U.S. Senate in Connecticut

Two term Mayor of the City of Derby: 1994-1998

Defeated a popular Democrat Incumbent and Re-elected with over 80% of the vote as a Republican in a City with a 4 to 1 Ratio of Democrat to Republican registration.

Alan brought the City of Derby out of a deep deficit situation to a surplus and then reduced taxes.

* Six term State Representative: 1981-1993

Defeated a popular Democrat Incumbent, leading the ticket and winning by large margins in a predominantly Democrat District

* Ranking Republican on the Banking Committee
(1987-1993)

* Vice Chairman of the Education Committe (1985-1986)

* Chairman of the Special Revenue Sub-Committee (1983-1984)

* Served on the Judiciary, Finance and Government Administration and Elections Committees

* Member of the National Conference of State Legislatures

Alan was a consistent taxpayer watchdog, warning of the state budget crisis several years before the implementation of the state income tax. Alan attempted to avert fiscal problems by offering many progressive tax and spending alternatives.

* Selectman (Town of Orange): 1979-1981

Defeated popular Democrat Incumbent

Alan worked hard for his local constituents from the time he was a volunteer in school.

Education:

* University of Connecticut School of Law: J. D.

* Wharton School of Finance of the University of Pennsylvania: B.S. in Economics

* Amity Regional High School (Orange, Woodbridge, Bethany)

Private Sector Experience:

* Partner in the Law Firm of Schlesinger and Barbara, LLC (Shelton, CT)

Connecticut Residency:

A lifelong resident of Connecticut, Alan grew up in Orange and has lived in both Derby and Woodbridge as an adult.

~Joyce Comments: To read Alan Schlesinger on issues click here.

Negron, DeVos & Healey...Election 2006 Notable Republicans

Joe Negron, State Representative and substitute candidate for House of Representatives District 16 in Florida

Joe Negron is a native Floridian with an extensive record of community and public service, combined with almost 20 years of legal, business, and professional experience. Currently, Joe is the State Representative for Dist. 82, serving Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties and is chairmen of the Appropriations Committee. Joe has been married for 22 years to Rebecca Negron, a maternal-child nurse. They have three children, David, Jonathan, and Becca.

In the 2004 election, Joe served as Regional Chairman of the Bush/Cheney ’04 Florida Legal Team.

Educational Background:

Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia, Juris Doctorate (law degree), 1986

Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, B.A., 1983

Editor-in-Chief of the Stetson Reporter campus newspaper

Who’s Who Among American College Students

First Class Honor Rating, Associated Collegiate Press; two marks of distinction

Internship with Congressman L.A. “Skip” Bafalis in Washington, D.C. as part of American University exchange program

Professional Background:

Currently Of Counsel to Akerman Senterfitt, One of Florida Largest Statewide Law Firms

Private practice of law in Martin and Palm Beach Counties, 1986 – Present

Concentrating in civil litigation

The Florida Bar, 1986 – Present

Consumer Protection Committee, 1996 – 1997

Public Service:

State Representative, Florida House of Representatives, Dist. 82, 2000 –
Present

Chairman, Fiscal Council, House of Representatives - Budget and Appropriations

Chairman, Legislative Budget Commission

Select Committee on Medicaid Reform, Co-Chair

Chairman, Martin County Legislative Delegation, 2005-2006

Chairman, Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation, 2003 – 2004

Awards and Honors for Public Service:

Police Benevolent Association (PBA), Legislator of the Year, 2005

Florida YMCA Outstanding Leadership Award, 2005

Florida Guardian Ad Litem Association, Legal Advocacy for Children, 2005

Florida Chamber of Commerce Legislative Scorecard – “A,” 2005

County Court Judges, 2005

Enterprise Florida Legislative Champion, 2005

Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF)

Florida School Board Association (FSBA), 2005

Florida Optometric Association, H.G.Landrum Legislator of the Year, 2005

The Florida Bar President’s Legislative Award, 2003-2004

Associated Industries of Florida – “Champion for Business,” 2004

Miami Herald Legislative Ranking – Four Star Legislator, 2003

Florida Chamber of Commerce – “A” Honor Roll Ranking, 2003

Trust for Public Lands – Legislative Leadership Award, 2001

Florida Medical Association – Freshman Legislator of the Year, 2001

Record of Civic and Community Service

Florida Attorney General’s Victims of Crime Advisory (VOCA) Review Panel Member

Chairman, United Way Targeted Care Panel

President, Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce

Chairman, Martin County Development Block Grant Task Force

Mentor, Youth LEADERship Martin County Program

Jeb Bush Fundraising Host Committee Member

Republican Executive Committee of Martin County Member

President, Republican Club of Martin County

Chairman, Charter Schools Advisory Committee for Martin County

Graduate, LEADERship Martin County, Class IV

Arthritis Foundation Board of Directors

Women’s Center of Martin County, Board of Directors

American Red Cross, Martin County Chapter Board of Directors

Salvation Army, Board of Directors

~Joyce Comments: For more about Joe Negron on issues click here.



Dick DeVos, candidate for Governor of Michigan

Michigan Born, Michigan Raised
Dick's story begins on October 21, 1955 in Ada, Michigan, a small village a few miles east of Grand Rapids. The first-born son of Rich and Helen DeVos, Dick was later joined by his brother Dan, sister Cheri, and brother Doug.

Winding dirt roads, the Thornapple River, and a few families characterized Ada in the 1950s. Soon after they were married, Rich and Helen built a small ranch home there, next door to Rich's friend and business partner, Jay Van Andel, and his wife Betty.



Dick's childhood was shaped by loving parents, an entrepreneurial father and a schoolteacher mother. Theirs was a busy home. Dick and brother Dan shared bedroom space in the basement with each other - and with their dad's office. And it was a simple home. Dick recalled how the bathroom went without floor tile for quite some time - until their Dachshund, Gretel, had a litter of puppies that funded the tiling of the floor.[more...]


Turning Around Grand Rapids - Getting it Done

"From a community standpoint, it was 'put up or shut up' time," DeVos recalled. "I thought possibly I was in position to bring people to the table to find consensus to make it happen. I wanted to make it happen. I wanted to make a few calls to see if this thing [could] go, or on the contrary, take it off the table for 10 years. It was clear one day we would have an arena. It was time to get on it or decide it's not going to happen"

Dick grew up in Grand Rapids. He knew his hometown was capable of more. He remembered the days when downtown was a destination, not a detour. The previous generation had gotten Grand Rapids off on the right foot, but more work was needed. Dick knew that with the right combination of leadership and motivation, Grand Rapids could change and become stronger. [more...]


The Alticor Story - Creating Opportunities and Jobs

A few years into his employment, the company initiated a management training program in which Dick enrolled. The program was designed to give individual exposure to and experience in the entire breadth of the Amway business. For nearly six years, Dick worked on the manufacturing lines. He worked in accounting and finance. He worked in research and development. He worked in shipping and receiving. He drove hi-los. He drove eighteen-wheelers. He worked in the printing shop. He worked shoulder-to-shoulder with nearly everyone in the Amway operation. He and his wife Betsy also worked as distributors, selling Michigan-made Amway products to friends and neighbors. They were constantly amazed at how few people really knew about the great, high-quality products being made in their own backyard.

After successfully completing the management training program, Dick began working in the meetings and special events department and later assumed leadership of the department. [more...]

~ Joyce Comments: To read Dick DeVos TurnAround Plan for Michigan click here.



Kerry Healey, Lieutenant Governor and candidate for Governor of Massachusetts

As Lieutenant Governor, Kerry Healey assumed a broad range of responsibilities in the Romney-Healey administration. She has drawn on her background in criminal justice to promote tougher public safety laws. Kerry has been a leader in efforts to increase penalties for sex offenders and drunk drivers. A vocal advocate for victims, Kerry has also championed legislation to mandate post-release supervision for convicted criminals as well as legislation to track violent criminals (including domestic abusers) using GPS technology.

Kerry Healey grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida, with her parents, Edward and Shirley Murphy. A World War II veteran, her father served 27 years in the US Army and the Army Reserves. Her mother taught in the Florida public school district for over 20 years. Kerry went to work at the age of 15 after her father suffered a disabling heart attack. She worked three jobs while she was in high school and went on to help put herself through Harvard, graduating in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in government.

She was awarded a Rotary International Scholarship in 1983 and earned a Ph.D. in political science and law from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. In 1985, Kerry was chosen to be a visiting researcher in the International and Comparative Legal Studies Program at Harvard Law School. She continues to pursue her interest in international affairs as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

For more than a decade, Kerry enjoyed a distinguished career as a law and public safety consultant at Abt Associates, Inc., in Cambridge, MA. While at Abt, she conducted extensive research for the U.S. Department of Justice related to child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, gang violence, victim and witness intimidation and the prosecution of drug crimes.

A Beverly resident, Kerry has been an active member of her community. She is a past member of the Foundation Board of North Shore Community College and the Friend's Board of Beverly Hospital. Kerry successfully co-chaired the campaign to rebuild her city's branch library, raising over $1 million in private funds and grants. In 2001, she co-chaired Beverly's United Way Campaign to support community development efforts.

Kerry also served as a member of the adjunct faculty at Endicott College and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell teaching criminal justice and social policy.

Kerry, 46 and her husband Sean have been married for 20 years. They have two school-aged children.

Fact Sheet: President Bush's Stem Cell Research Policy

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060719-6.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 19, 2006

      President Discusses Stem Cell Research Policy

Today, The President Signed A Bill That Draws A Clear Line Against One Of The Most Egregious Abuses In Biomedical Research And Vetoed A Bill That Attempts To Overturn His Balanced Stem Cell Research Policy:

• The President Signed The "Fetus Farming Prohibition Act," Which Prohibits Trafficking In Human Fetuses That Are Created With The Sole Intent Of Aborting Them To Harvest Their Parts.
  
  
  
• The President Vetoed H.R. 810, Which Would Overturn The Balanced Policy On Embryonic Stem Cell Research That The Administration Has Followed For The Past Five Years. This bill would also reverse the principle that Congress itself has followed for more than a decade, when each year it has prohibited Federal funding for research that destroys human embryos.
  
  
  
  
  
  • If This Bill Were To Become Law, American Taxpayers Would For The First Time In Our History Be Compelled To Fund The Deliberate Destruction Of Human Embryos. The President has made it clear to Congress he will not allow our Nation to cross this moral line. If we are to find the right ways to advance ethical medical research, we must also be willing to reject the wrong ways when necessary.
    
    
  
  
• President Bush Is Disappointed Congress Failed To Pass A Bill That Would Have Authorized Additional Federal Funding For Promising New Research That Could Produce Cells With The Abilities Of Embryonic Cells, But Without The Destruction Of Human Embryos. This bill was unanimously approved by the Senate and received 273 votes in the House of Representatives, but it was blocked by a minority in the House using procedural maneuvers.
  
  
  
  
  
  • It Makes No Sense To Say You Are In Favor Of Finding Cures For Terrible Diseases As Quickly As Possible And Then Block A Bill That Would Provide Funding For Promising And Ethical Stem Cell Research.
    
    
    
  • The President Is Directing The HHS Secretary And NIH Director To Use All The Tools At Their Disposal To Aid The Search For Stem Cell Techniques That Advance Promising Medical Science In An Ethical And Morally Responsible Way.

President Bush Is The First President To Provide Federal Funding For Embryonic Stem Cell Research

In 2001, President Bush Set Forth A New Policy On Stem Cell Research That Struck A Balance Between The Needs Of Science And The Demands Of Conscience. In this new era, our challenge is to harness the power of science to ease human suffering without sanctioning practices that violate the dignity of human life.

• When The President Took Office, There Was No Federal Funding For Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
  
  
  
• Under The Policy Announced Five Years Ago, This Administration Became The First To Make Federal Funds Available For This Research. Federal funding was made available for research only on human embryonic stem cell lines derived from embryos that had been destroyed before the announcement of the President's policy. The Administration has made available more than $90 million for research on these lines, allowing important research to go forward without using taxpayer funds to encourage the further deliberate destruction of human embryos.

Finding New Cures For Disease Does Not Require Destroying Human Embryos

Today, The President Met With Children Who Began Their Lives As Frozen Embryos Created For In Vitro Fertilization. These children were adopted while still embryos, and have been blessed with the chance to grow up in a loving family. They remind us of what is lost when embryos are destroyed in the name of research, that we all began our lives as a small collection of cells, and that America must never abandon our fundamental moral principles in our zeal for new treatments and cures.

Embryonic Stem Cells Come From Human Embryos That Are Destroyed For Their Cells. Each of these human embryos is a unique human life, with inherent dignity and matchless value.

With The Right Techniques And Policies, We Can Achieve Scientific Progress While Living Up To Our Ethical Responsibilities. America was founded on the principle that we are all created equal, and endowed by our Creator with the right to life. We can advance the cause of science while upholding this founding principle.

Since The President Announced His Policy In 2001, Advances In Scientific Research Have Also Shown The Great Potential Of Stem Cells That Are Derived Without Harming Human Embryos. The Administration has expanded the funding of research into stem cells that can be drawn from children, adults, and the blood in umbilical cords, with no harm to the donor - and these stem cells are already being used in medical treatments.

Researchers Are Now Also Investigating New Techniques That Could Allow Doctors And Scientists To Produce Stem Cells Just As Versatile As Those Derived From Human Embryos Without Requiring The Destruction Of These Embryos. One technique scientists are exploring would involve "reprogramming" an adult cell - for example, a skin cell - to function like an embryonic stem cell.

President Bush's Balanced Approach To Stem Cell Research Has Worked

The President's Policy Has Allowed Science To Explore The Potential Of Embryonic Stem Cells - And It Has Allowed America To Continue To Lead The World In This Area. Under the President's policy, 21 human embryonic stem cell lines are currently available for Federal funding, and are in use. Each of these lines can be replicated many times. As a result, the National Institutes of Health have helped make more than 700 shipments to researchers since 2001.

There Is No Ban On Embryonic Stem Cell Research. To the contrary, even critics of the President's policy concede that these Federally funded lines are being used in research every day by scientists across the world.

According To The Most Recent Data, From 1998 To 2004, 85 Percent Of Publications On Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Involved The Use Of Lines Approved For Funding By NIH. (Jason Owen-Smith and Jennifer McCormick, "An International Gap In Human ES Cell Research," Nature Biotechnology, April 2006)

According To The Most Recent Data, From 1998 To 2004, 46 Percent Of All Human Embryonic Stem Cell Studies Published Have Been Done In American Institutions. (Jason Owen-Smith and Jennifer McCormick, "An International Gap In Human ES Cell Research," Nature Biotechnology, April 2006)

The President Believes We Must Continue To Explore Hopeful Alternatives And Advance The Cause Of Scientific Research While Staying True To The Ideals Of A Decent And Humane Society. At a moment when ethical alternatives are becoming available, we cannot lose the opportunity to conduct research that would give hope to those suffering from terrible diseases and help move our Nation beyond the current controversies over embryonic stem cell research.