Gov. Rick Perry: U.S. Senate Should Reject Nomination of Liberal Judicial Activist Caitlin Halligan

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement:

"As New York Solicitor General, Caitlin Halligan used her liberal interpretation of the law to target pro-life Americans, gun owners, and gun manufacturers, and otherwise use the law as a liberal political tool. The last thing the American people need on the second highest court is another liberal judicial activist, like Ms. Halligan, who lacks respect for the U.S. Constitution.

"The nomination of liberal activist Caitlin Halligan to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals should be immediately withdrawn by the President. If the President refuses to withdraw this misguided nomination, the U.S. Senate should reject her appointment to the second-most powerful court in the country."

Ms. Halligan's confirmation has been vigorously opposed by the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, and Committee for Justice. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously rejected her confirmation earlier this year. In 2003, as Solicitor General of New York, Halligan attempted to hold gun manufacturers liable for criminal acts committed with handguns. She filed briefs in federal court arguing for the unconstitutionality of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which the National Rifle Association described as providing "essential protection...for the Second Amendment rights of honest Americans[.]"

Halligan also filed an amicus brief in arguing that federal RICO laws should be used against pro-life groups. She repeatedly attempted to hijack the federal court system in order to impose her own political beliefs on the general public.

Gov. Rick Perry on Obama Administration's Use of Gay Rights to Make Foreign Aid Decisions

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement:

"Just when you thought Barack Obama couldn't get any more out of touch with America's values, AP reports his administration wants to make foreign aid decisions based on gay rights.

"This administration's war on traditional American values must stop.

"I have proposed a foreign aid budget that starts at zero. From that zero baseline, we will consider aid requests based solely on America's national security interests. Promoting special rights for gays in foreign countries is not in America's interests and not worth a dime of taxpayers' money.

"But there is a troubling trend here beyond the national security nonsense inherent in this silly idea. This is just the most recent example of an administration at war with people of faith in this country. Investing tax dollars promoting a lifestyle many Americas of faith find so deeply objectionable is wrong.

"President Obama has again mistaken America's tolerance for different lifestyles with an endorsement of those lifestyles. I will not make that mistake."

Gov. Rick Perry on Ambassador Gutman and the Obama Administration's Hostility Towards Israel

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today issued the following statement:

"Ambassador Gutman's troubling statement is part of a pattern of hostility on the part of the Obama administration toward Israel. In the same week that Ambassador Gutman excused anti-Semitism because of Israel's refusal to accommodate Palestinian demands, President Obama's Secretary of Defense ranted that the Israelis must get back to the 'd*** table' for negotiations, and his Secretary of State insinuated that Israel's democracy is less than viable because of gender-related debates between religious and secular segments of Israeli society.

"The long and ugly history of anti-Semitism has seen all too many episodes of apologists justifying hatred of the Jews. Given the gathering threat posed by the brutal regime in Iran, now is the time to strengthen ties with Israel to achieve our mutual security interests. 

"President Obama must send a clear signal to the world by relieving Ambassador Gutman of his post, stopping his administration's Israel bashing and recognizing that a two-state solution requires good-faith discussion and negotiation from the Palestinians as well as Israelis."

Acting NLRB General Counsel: 'We screwed up the U.S. economy,' ALG responds

Nov. 10, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson reacted to the release of e-mails by Judicial Watch from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) discussing its controversial decision to attempt to stop Boeing Corporation from building a production facility in South Carolina.  The e-mails were released due to a Freedom of Information Act request by Judicial Watch.

 "Acting NLRB General Counsel Lafe Solomon's whining that he hasn't received enough credit for his attacks on South Carolina workers reveals the shallowest of evil.  Solomon clearly relishes destroying worker opportunities if it gets him notice in the media.  It is unconscionable that someone who has been so instrumental in 'screwing up the U.S. economy' still has a job at all.

"Chairman John Kline should haul Solomon before his Education and Workforce committee to inquire as to why he thinks it's so funny that Americans are losing their jobs.  Government officials should not be making light of the fact that their decisions are wrecking the economy."

CEI Daily - Drilling Permits, Pennsylvania Liquor Regulations, and the Regulation of the Day

Drilling Permits

If the Obama Administration wanted to "create" jobs, it could restore the number of offshore drilling permits to what it was before the Gulf spill.

Research Associate Matthew Melchiorre explains.

"This is not the only way the Obama administration bungled its handling of Mexico. It wiped out thousands of jobs in our export sector, by committing a minor NAFTA violation that led to major Mexican tariffs against $2.4 billion in American exports (the violation in question blocked a measley 97 Mexican truckers from U.S. roads. Mexico retaliated with tariffs on 90 American products)."

Pennsylvania Liquor Regulations

Last week, Republican State Senator Mike Turzai unveiled legislation that would privatize the ownership and management of the state’s liquor stores.

Policy Analyst Michelle Minton explains what the legislation would do.

"The proposal would privatize wholesale operations and sell off all of the state-owned and -operated liquor stores. It would also eliminate the 18 percent Johnstown Flood tax, the ridiculously outdated mandate I wrote about earlier. It would also end the state’s 30 percent mark-up on products and institute a per-gallon excise tax between $8.25 and $12 a gallon, depending on product type. That’s quite a bit lower than the current $55 per-gallon tax the state currently draws from liquor."

Regulation of the Day

Fellow in Regulatory Studies Ryan Young presents the latest Regulation of the Day---an Illinois regulation regarding the waistband height of pants.

Read here.