FREEDOM WORKS 12/16/2018 CALIFORNIA TRYING TO TAX TEXT SPEECH RETROACTIVELY

FreedomWorks Unites With Mike Lee and Dozens of Conservative Leaders Behind First Step Act   Sen. Mike Lee, FreedomWorks President Adam Brandon, Former Virgnia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and dozens of other conservative leaders united Thursday to urge Congress to help President Trump make our streets safer by finally passing the FIRST STEP Act. WATCH HERE     Bernie Sanders Spent Nearly $300,000 on Private Air Travel in October   Via Fox News Bernie Sanders is so concerned about climate change that he spent nearly $300,000 on private air travel in October so he could speak to audiences in nine battleground states prior to November's midterm elections. The independent U.S. senator from Vermont also used the opportunity to test the waters for a potential 2020 presidential run, according to reports. Sanders’ 2018 campaign committee issued an Oct. 10 payment of $297,685 to New York-based Apollo Jets, a charter jet company used by retired sports stars Derek Jeter and Shaquille O’Neal, according to federal campaign reports obtained by VTDigger.org, a watchdog news site in Vermont. “He wanted to go where he thinks he can be helpful in energizing the base and bringing in young people and independent voters and working-class voters who supported him,” said Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ 2016 campaign manager and longtime political adviser. READ MORE HERE     Listen to Ep. 23 of The Freedom Files with Adam Brandon Featuring DonorTrust CEO Lawson Bader!    President and CEO of DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund Lawson Bader sits down with Adam to share stories from his youth about East Germany and talk about the importance of charitable giving in America. LISTEN HERE     Rep. Ted Lieu Admits He Would 'Love to Regulate' Speech But the First Amendment Prevents Him   Via National Review Representative Ted Lieu (D., Calif.) said he would “love to regulate the content of speech” but is prevented from doing so by the first amendment during a Wednesday appearance on CNN. Following Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s hearing before the Judiciary Committee, CNN host Brianna Keilar asked Lieu if he and his colleagues should have spent more time asking about the platform’s efforts to counter the dissemination of conspiracy theories and hate speech. “It’s a very good point you make,” Lieu said. “I would love if I could have more than five minutes to question witnesses. Unfortunately, I don’t get that opportunity. However, I would love to be able to regulate the content of speech. The First Amendment prevents me from doing so, and that’s simply a function of the First Amendment, but I think over the long run, it’s better the government does not regulate the content of speech.” READ MORE HERE     California Regulators Want to Tax Texts You Sent Five Years Ago   Via Reason The State of California wants to tax text messages. And not just the messages that people send after the tax passes: The California Public Utilities Commission, which cooked up the proposal, wants the levy to apply to texts sent up to five years ago. "Wireless carriers who have not reported and remitted surcharges on text messaging within the last five years shall identify the amount of intrastate surcharges owed on text messaging services and propose a payment plan in their advice letter filings," the proposal states. In plain English, that means the proposal would retroactively apply to the past five years. Taxpayers would be on the hook for roughly $220 million right off the bat. READ MORE HERE     Can You Buy Alcohol in Your State on Christmas?   Via Competitive Enterprise Institute The holidays bring parties, feasts, and libations. But some celebrants may find themselves without a cup of cheer if they wait until the day of a holiday to buy their booze. Though alcohol Prohibition ended 85 years ago this December, many states maintain Prohibition-era laws, which ban the sales of liquor on Sundays and certain holidays. The freeze on holiday alcohol sales is mainly limited to New Year’s Day and the major Christian holidays, but many of non-Christian holidays overlap with Christmas and, as such, might be affected by such bans. READ MORE HERE     THE REGULATORY UPDATE WITH PATRICK HEDGER SPONSORED BY THE ALLIED EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION The Overwhelming Success of Internet Freedom     Patrick Hedger discusses the proposed reform of the "Waters of the United States" rule and how the repeal of Obama's Internet takeover is already paying dividends for all Americans on the latest episode of The Regulatory Update. WATCH IT HERE     As France Burns Over Fuel Taxes for Climate Change, Democrats Call for 'Green New Deal'   Via The Daily Caller As the worst unrest to grip France in 50 years rages on, triggered by a pending climate change fuel tax, President Macron announced a slate of measures designed to appease the masses. Macron said in a national address, “I know I’ve hurt some of you with my words” and then declared “an economic and social state of emergency.” But perhaps that state of emergency is due to the protesters viewing the proposed “green” fuel tax increase is a little more harmful than words. Here in America, will Democratic members of Congress and their climate activist allies learn the lessons of France? American climate activists are trying to be a little more subtle about it, and this is where the “Green New Deal” comes in. Rather than raise taxes directly on energy — something that would be transparent, honest and efficient economically (while being deadly at the ballot box) — the Green New Deal aims to seize control of the economy by promising a “green” job to every American who wants one. READ MORE HERE     EPA Begins Process of Restoring Common Sense to Water Regulations   By Former Representative Tim Huelskamp via The Hill The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday it is rolling back some of the excessive, and possibly illegal, water regulations imposed by the Obama administration. The EPA’s announcement is a welcome relief for homeowners and property owners impacted by overly aggressive EPA officials. As a federal executive agency, the EPA can only enforce laws that have been passed by Congress. While the EPA has some rulemaking authority, it cannot make up laws of its own and then decide to enforce them. Regarding water regulations, Congress, via the Clean Water Act, has given the executive branch authority to regulate only those bodies of water that are “navigable waters of the United States.” The EPA has always asserted a broad definition for navigable waters. Dating back to the 1980s, the EPA has asserted it can regulate smaller, streams and tributaries that cannot be navigated but that flow into navigable waters. READ MORE HERE     FreedomWorks In Action