FREEDOMWORKS 04/17/2016 FRACKING REDUCES GREENHOUSE GASES!

FreedomWorks Opposes Burr-Feinstein Anti-Encryption Bill Following the release of a draft version of the Compliance with Court Orders Act by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), FreedomWorks CEO Adam Brandon commented: "There are a lot of bad ideas that are introduced in Congress every year, but this bill may be one of the worst in recent memory. To say that this bill would be a blow to digital privacy would be one of the biggest understatements in history. This bill turns backdoor access to encrypted data into a meteor-sized crater. Any notion of digital privacy is thrown out of the window if this bill becomes law. We’re also concerned about the negative impact this bill would have on America’s role in the digital economy.” Unfortunately, we are again hearing the same failed arguments from those who are all too happy to sacrifice our liberties for a false sense of security. It doesn’t protect our national security. It doesn’t keep us safer online. All it does is further erode our rights and undermine one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy." Read more here... Glenn Beck at FreePAC: Morning in America Summit Anti-Encryption Bill is an Affront to Privacy, Technological Security - by Joesph Donoso In recent months, the government has regularly been unable to underscore technological security and privacy in the digital sphere, as more and more tech companies turn to encrypting their data. From the Apple case to the recent WhatsApp encryption overhaul, individuals have witnessed a glimmer of hope that their privacy may once again be protected from government interference. However, this consumer privacy is in danger once more as Congress seeks to nullify the system of encryption. The Hill recently obtained a draft of a piece of legislation, sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Richard Burr, which would drastically increase the federal government’s power over online data. In a bold-faced slight at tech companies concerned with data security, the bill aptly starts with the clause that “no person or entity is above the law,” clearly referencing the failure to compel Apple’s compliance with colonial-era laws. However, as disrespectful to individual privacy as these introductory clauses are, the rest of the bill is much more terrifying.  Read more here... How Fracking Reduces Greenhouse Gases - by FreedomWorks Senior Economic Contributor Stephen Moore via The Washington Times The Department of Energy published data last week with some amazing revelations — so amazing that most Americans will find them hard to believe. As a nation, the United States reduced its carbon emissions by 2 percent from last year. Over the past 14 years our carbon emissions are down more than 10 percent. On a per unit of GDP basis, U.S. carbon emissions are down by closer to 20 percent. Even more stunning: we’ve reduced our carbon emissions more than virtually any other nation in the world, including most of Europe. How can this be? We never ratified the Kyoto Treaty. We never adopted a cap and trade system, or a carbon tax as so many of the sanctimonious Europeans have done.  Read more here... Incentives Bryan Caplan explains one of the core truths of economics: people respond to incentives. Incentives drive the actions of buyers and sellers in markets, and where government policies go wrong is failing to adequately account for these incentive effects. This analysis shows why government planning fails, while markets succeed. Read more here... Your Money, Your Congress, Their Rules - by Neil Siefring On Tuesday, the House is scheduled to consider H.R. 1567, the Global Food Security Act of 2015. The bill authorizes $1 billion for President Obama “to coordinate the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to accomplish the objectives of promoting global food security, resilience, and nutrition consistent with national food security investment plans.” Policy concerns aside, there is a procedural question at stake with the bill. It is scheduled to be considered under a procedure called suspension of the rules. Under this procedure, bills are debatable for only 40 minutes, and two-thirds must vote in favor of the bill for it to pass. No amendments are allowed. Traditionally, bills considered as suspensions are non-controversial such as naming post offices, encouraging action in a policy area, or requiring reports to Congress. Read more here... Puerto Rico Needs Drastic Financial Reform, and Fast - by FreedomWorks Senior Economic Contributor Stephen Moore FreedomWorks today praised Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for resisting a coordinated effort by liberal groups to pressure him into holding hearings and votes on President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee. “The fight over the future of the Supreme Court is one of the most important battles we’ve faced in recent memory. Chairman Grassley has shown tremendous resolve in this fight and withstood a barrage of attacks from Democrats and liberal groups,” said FreedomWorks CEO Adam Brandon. “Apparently, those who are targeting him don’t understand that the Senate is not an extension of the White House; it’s not a rubber stamp for any administration. That’s something Democrats believed in previous judicial nominations but have so conveniently forgotten.” Read more here... FreedomWorks in Action Sign up for the FreedomWorks Morning Update If you want an update like this newsletter twice a week, be sure to sign up for the FreedomWorks Morning Update! The Morning Update is your tool to keep up-to-date with all the threats to your freedom. Sign up here. Make freedom work, Jason Pye Communications Director, FreedomWorks