FREEDOMWORKS 12/18/2014

1. To: America - A Political Christmas Tree of Deceit - by Ted Abram A politician’s speech is seldom precise or logically reasoned. Seeking a favorable image, the politician talks in generalities, exaggerates and obfuscates. A political Christmas tree is a single bill decorated with ornaments of monetary gifts and policy changes, which hopes to entice enough politicians to buy its passage. In a last minute rush to keep the federal government operating, Senators and Members of Congress are making deals, changing policies and spending $1.1 trillion. A bonanza for lobbyists. One of the most egregious gifts given was to Blue Cross/Blue Shield. This health insurance giant received a special bill...just for them. As Yuval Levin reports in the National Review: Read more here... 2. Liberty Christmas List What do you want for Christmas? Watch the Liberty Christmas List where Julie Borowski and her fellow FreedomWorks staffers ask for what they want. Watch here... 3. If Elizabeth Warren is So Anti-Wall Street, Why Does She Support the Ex-Im Bank? - by Julie Borowski Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has a populist reputation of being anti-Wall Street. Last week, she nearly threatened to shut down the government because the Omnibus bill would repeal a section in the Dodd-Frank financial regulation bill that passed in 2010. She gave a passionate speech on the Senate floor calling for her colleagues to oppose the government spending bill unless the provision was removed. Read more here... 4. Supreme Court Spotlight: Free Speech, Facebook, and "True Threats" - by Tommy Creegan After being estranged from his wife and fired from his job, Anthony Elonis began posting a series of disturbing Facebook statuses that spoke of harming and killing his ex-wife, initiating “the most heinous school-shooting ever imagined,” and blowing up FBI agents. Elonis was charged in December 2010 with “transmitting in interstate commerce communications containing a threat to injure the person of another in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c).” After being successfully indicted, a trial jury convicted Elonis on four counts. After a series of appeals, the Supreme Court has taken up the case. Read more here... 5. Debunked: Net Neutrality - by Sam Martin Net neutrality may yield unintended consequences that generate benefits for some while imposing substantial costs on others. Most importantly, price controls would push all costs to end users in the name of net neutrality. Unfortunately, these price controls would have the effect that price controls always have on the workings of the market—less output, less innovation, and less investment in the infrastructure critical for the deployment of broadband. Much has changed in how the internet is used, yet new mandates threaten to lock in an architecture that may limit the deployment of new technology. Watch here... 6. Cynically Manipulating Race - by Deneen Borelli via Pittsburg Tribune-Review Deneen Borelli is outreach director with FreedomWorks, president of Conservative Review, a Fox News contributor and author of the 2012 book “Blacklash.” She spoke to the Trib regarding recent racial tensions in America. Q: Given the recent events in Ferguson, Mo., and New York City, do you believe race relations are at a flashpoint in this country? Read more here... In Liberty, Jackie Bodnar Director of Communications, FreedomWorks