News Items

Abortion Ban Lays Groundwork for Roe Challenge

A bill banning almost all abortions after 20 weeks is expected to pass the Republican-controlled House, but it has no chance of becoming a law anytime soon.

The Democratic-led Senate plans to ignore the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and the White House has already issued a veto threat.

Still, the legislation could set the stage for a future challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision tbat created a woman's right to abortions up to the age of viability - about 24 weeks.

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Study: Media Promotes Pro-Gay Marriage Bias

A study released Monday by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism shows media coverage around the time the U.S. Supreme Court first considered the homosexual marriage issue had much more content from supporters than opponents.

Researchers studied nearly 500 stories on the topic over a two-month period. They found that stories with statements supporting the legalization of same-sex marriage outnumbered by 5 to 1 stories dominated by the views of opponents.

Pew says many stories were about polls showing...

IRS supervisor in DC scrutinized Tea Party groups' cases

WASHINGTON –  A Washington-based IRS supervisor acknowledged she was personally involved in reviewing Tea Party applications for tax-exempt status as far back as 2010, Fox News confirms -- a detail that further challenges the agency's initial claim that the practice of singling out those groups was limited to a handful of employees in Ohio. 

Congressional sources confirmed to Fox News that Holly Paz, who until recently was a top deputy in the division that handles applications for tax-exempt status, told congressional investigators she reviewed 20 to 30 applications. Some...

House Panel OKs 20-Week Abortion Ban

A measure banning abortions after 20 weeks has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee.

The "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act" passed in a 20 to 12 vote.

The bill would narrow the current law enacted after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe vs. Wade, which bans abortions after 24-weeks.

The proposed ban will prevent abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy in all cases except when the mother's life is in danger.

Family Research Council applauded the committee for approving the measure.

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IRS Troubles Multiply as New Scandal Unfolds

If there's one government agency that doesn't need another scandal, it's the IRS.

In the news for wasting millions on videos, staff conferences and targeting conservative groups, now faces a claim that someone in the supposed independent agency committed a felony to silence opposing views on marriage.

No matter where you stand, the future of marriage stirs strong emotions on both sides of the debate, but one thing everyone agrees on: government agencies that are supposed to be independent, especially those as powerful as the Internal Revenue Service,...

Obamacare Causing Exodus on Capitol Hill?

Politico reports dozens of lawmakers and aides on Capitol Hill are considering quitting or retiring early. Their worry: the president's healthcare plan will cause their insurance premiums to skyrocket.

A provision of the Affordable Care Act says members of Congress and their aides have to use healthcare plans created by the bill or offered through a new healthcare exchange.

That means those lawmakers will no longer have access to their current federal health benefits.

Many on Capitol...

Four Maryland Abortion Clinics Shut Down After Patient Fatality

Authorities shut down four Maryland abortion clinics and suspended the licenses of three doctors in May.

Regulators cited the death of a patient at one clinic and lax procedures at all four facilities for their actions.  

A woman died after experiencing cardio-pulmonary arrest following an abortion at a Baltimore clinic.
    
An investigation found that neither the doctor nor the assistant had been trained to use the defibrillator.

The doctor attempted CPR on the...

State Department Denies Sex Scandal Cover-Up

The State Department is fighting new allegations it covered up sex scandals during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's tenure.

A former State Department investigator leaked an internal memo, blaming senior officials for interfering in the investigations.

One allegation says a U.S. ambassador often "ditched his security detail" to solicit sexual favors in a park near the embassy.

The memo also alleges three of Clinton's security agents solicited prostitutes while on official trips.

In...

Boehner: Obama IRS Claims Don't Pass Sniff Test

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio said he doesn't buy the White House's timetable for when President Obama knew about the IRS scandal targeting conservative groups.

The president has said he didn't learn about it until seeing news reports the day the story broke.
    
But in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Boehner said the president's timetable is "inconceivable."

"It's based on the fact that many of his senior staff knew about it, and have known about it for some time," Boehner said.

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Ohio Churches: Health Law Short on Faith Protections

A multi-denominational group of Ohio churches is worried President Obama's health care law does not protect religious liberty.

Eighteen Christian denominations in the Ohio Council of Churches issued a statement calling for more to be done to broaden the religious exemption in the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate.

The group cautions that it doesn't oppose most of Obamacare. But the group is concerned about the health care plan's definition of a religious institution, and its impact on religious charities,...

Plan B Foes 'Disappointed' in White House Reversal

The White House is dropping its legal efforts to stop over-the-counter sales of One Step "morning after" birth control pills to girls regardless of their age.

This comes after abortion rights groups criticized the president for siding with social conservatives.

President Obama has been fighting to prevent teens from having access to the pills since he took office.

"As a father of two daughters, I think it is important for us to make sure that we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter...

Rubio Proposes Plan to Do Away with Obamacare

Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told CBN News he has a plan to get rid of Obamacare.

It would involve passing a constitutional amendment that would ban any law that taxes Americans who don't buy a good or service - something the new healthcare law does.
    
"Under the ruling the Supreme Court had, if tomorrow the federal government decided every American must have a Smart Phone and if you don't, we're going to tax you for not having a Smart Phone," Rubio told CBN News's David Brody.

"They could do that under the logic of this...

Tea Party groups make gains against 'ObamaCore' education program

Tea Party groups are barnstorming state capitals across the country to stop an Obama administration-backed initiative to impose federal math and English education standards on public schools. 

Though conservatives have long argued that state and local officials can best make decisions on K-12 education, the Tea Party's opposition to the federal program -- Common Core State Standards -- represents a pivot for the movement, which started in 2009 to promote lower taxes and smaller government. And they are making gains, as some states consider putting the program on hold. 

"We have a renewed...

IRS Agents: Orders Came from Washington

Two Internal Revenue Service agents in the Cincinnati office say senior IRS officials in Washington helped to direct the probe of the Tea Party and other conservative groups.

The agents made those statements, which contradict the previous statements from top IRS officials, to congressional investigators.

The IRS has repeatedly blamed low-level workers in Cincinnati for stonewalling conservative groups that tried to get tax-exempt status.

One agent said an IRS lawyer in Washington named Carter Hill...

Valedictorian Bucks Graduation Prayer Ban

A South Carolina valedictorian disregarded a new ruling that prayer would be cut from his school district's graduation ceremonies.

According to a report by Christian News, Roy Costner IV ripped up his pre-approved speech and instead spoke about his Christian upbringing.

He then delivered the Lord's Prayer to a crowd cheering in support.    

"And I think most of you will understand when I say, 'Our Father, Who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will...

House Panel Votes to Extend Abortion Ban Nationwide

Republicans in the House Judiciary Subcommittee voted to expand Rep. Trent Franks', R-Ariz., Washington, D.C. abortion bill to apply to the entire country.

They advanced the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to the full committee.

The measure would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy in the United States in all cases except when the mother's life is in danger.

All four Democrats on the panel voted against it, saying the bill is unconstitutional.

The 1973 Supreme...

House Panel Rejects Military Chaplain Prayer Limits

A House committee voted to stop restrictions on military chaplain prayers.
    
The House Armed Services Committee decided chaplains should be able to pray in the name of Jesus or their faith's deity at general events.
    
Rep. Susan Davis, D-Calif., argued that such prayers would make some troops feel excluded.
    
But Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C., say there is no reason to have a chaplain "if they cannot pray according to their conscience."

And Rep....

Artist Says Pentagon Censoring Christian Art

An artist whose painting was removed from an U.S. Air Force dining hall says the Pentagon is censoring Christian art.

Ron Dicianni's painting is called "Blessed are the Peacemakers" and references the scripture Matthew 5:9. It was part of a collection to honor the heroes who responded to the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

The painting was removed from Idaho's Mountain Home Air Force Base less than an hour after a complaint from Mikey Weinstein, the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
 
This is the same organization leader called...

Susan Rice to Replace National Security Adviser Tom Donilon

President Obama's top national security adviser, Tom Donilon, is resigning. He'll be replaced by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice.

Conservatives severely criticized Rice after she blamed the last year's attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya on a YouTube video.  Instead, it turned out to be a terrorist attack.
    
President Obama considered nominating Rice for secretary of state, but she withdrew amid Republican criticism over her handling of Benghazi.

Rice...

IRS Victims Have Their Say Before House Panel

Conservative groups targeted by the Internal Revenue Service are telling their side of the story to Congress.
    
Several of the groups say their applications for tax-exempt status were delayed and that agents asked intrusive and unnecessary questions about who gave them money, their political views, and even how they prayed.
    
Leaders of six of the groups are testifying in front of the House Ways and Means Committee, one of three congressional committees investigating the IRS scandal. The Justice Department...