Independence Hall Foundation Endorses Health Act

Independence Hall Foundation Endorses Health Act — After agonizing deliberation, the 12-member board of the Independence Hall Foundation is announcing, today, (March 24)  its support for the American Health Care Act–with reservations.

“President Trump’s recent ultimatum suggesting that today may be the last opportunity to repeal ObamaCare has given greater urgency to the passage of this bill,” said Foundation spokeswoman, Teri Adams.

“For years, our organization has strenuously opposed ObamaCare, in every aspect, and we welcome the opportunity to replace it with free markets solutions–such as Health Savings Accounts and insurance competition across state lines.

“While the AHCA doesn’t achieve all of our immediate objectives, it’s a good first step in a three-pronged approach.

“AHCA eliminates the detested ObamaCare mandates (employer and individual); repeals taxes on insurers, medical devices manufacturers, and pharmaceuticals; reduces costly federal subsidies; encourages Health Savings Accounts; gives states more flexibility and control–especially in relation to Medicaid; and ends funding for Planned Parenthood,” said Ms. Adams.

“The architects of this legislation have promised a follow-up to this bill which includes two additional phases. Phase 2 would entail action on the part of the administration to initiate regulatory changes and provide the states with even greater administrative flexibility.

“The final phase, Phase 3, is the one we greatly support but have reservations regarding the will of Congress to enact at a future date–and that involves allowing health care insurers to compete across state lines.

“In order to achieve this objective, such a bill would have to clear a 60-vote filibuster proof majority in the Senate and we’re not confident that the votes are there.”

“All in all, though, we can’t keep second-guessing Congressional leaders and the Administration. We must act.

“We trust they have brought forth this legislation in good faith. Let’s pray it succeeds–for the good of the people and our nation,” said Ms. Adams.

Independence Hall Foundation Endorses Health Act

Independence Hall Foundation Praises Gorsuch

Independence Hall Foundation Praises Gorsuch — The Independence Hall Foundation is praising President Donald Trump’s selection of Judge Neil Gorsuch, of Colorado, a federal judge who currently serves on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

“We believe Judge Gorsuch is cut out of the same cloth as Justice Scalia and will arrive at his court decisions after giving careful consideration to the orginal intent of the framers of the U.S. Constitution,” said Foundation spokeswoman, Teri Adams. 

“We are impressed with Judge Gorsuch’s written opinions and his recent decision affirming religious liberty.               

“Although we anticipate a confirmation battle from Democrats on the far left of the political spectrum, we think reasonable Democrats will defer to President Trump on this choice given Judge Gorsuch’s stellar record as a judge and his tremendous intellectual prowess.

“Our organization will do everything in its power to make sure Judge Gorsuch is confirmed,” said Ms. Adams.

“We also note that Judge Gorsuch clerked for former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron White, a Democrat appointed to the court by President John F. Kennedy.

“We are grateful to Republican senators, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, for postponing, indefinitely, a vote on President Barach Obama’s choice to fill the Scalia vacancy, Judge Merrick Garland,” said Ms. Adams.

Independence Hall Foundation Praises Gorsuch

Independence Hall Foundation Honors Scott Garrett

Independence Hall Foundation Honors Scott Garrett — The conservative Independence Hall Foundation has chosen Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ-5) as its 2016 Frederick Muhlenberg Legislator of the year.

The Award is named in honor of Pennsylvania Congressman Frederick Muhlenberg, the first Speaker of the US House of Representatives and is awarded annually to a legislator from the tri-state region. 

Congressman Muhlenberg, born January 1, 1750 in Trappe, Montgomery County, PA, served in the Continental Congress and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before representing the Keystone State’s At-Large and 2nd Congressional Districts from 1789-1797.  As House Speaker, Congressman Muhlenberg had the distinct honor of being the first signer of the Bill of Rights.

Previous Foundation Legislator of the Year award recipients are Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8), 2015; Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA-6), 2014; and Pennsylvania State Representative Steve Barrar, 2013.

“This year’s recipient, Congressman Scott Garrett, a staunch defender of religious liberty and the Bill of Rights, was a natural choice for this award,” said Foundation spokeswoman, Teri Adams.

“A consistent conservative over the years, outgoing Congressman Garrett, who represents a portion of Northern New Jersey, has a lifetime rating of 99.3 from the American Conservative Union. 

“A founder of the House Constitution Caucus and the House Freedom Caucus, Congressman Garrett is also a member of the Republican Liberty Caucus,” said Ms. Adams.

“While serving on the House Budget Committee, the Congressman fought for accuracy in government accounting by introducing the Budgetary and Accounting Transparency Act of 2014.

“Among a myriad of other concerns, the Congressman also fought against government earmarks and for the First Amendment Defense Act.  In 2007, he sponsored legislation supporting United Nations Membership for the island of Taiwan.”

Born in Englewood, NJ, Congressman Garrett spent most of his life in the Garden State–serving in the New Jersey State Assembly from 1992-2003. The Congressman received a BA in Political Science from Montclair State College and a JD from Rutgers School of Law, Camden.

He and his wife, Mary Ellen, have two adult daughters.

Independence Hall Foundation Honors Scott Garrett

241st Year Agenda

241st Year Agenda

By Don Adams

As our nation enters its 241st year, there are so many serious issues confronting us that it often seems overwhelming.241st Year Agenda

It appears there are three overarching problems currently threatening our Right to Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness.

On the international front, no one can deny that the violence of Islamic Jihadism has been so pervasive over the past several decades, both in the US and abroad, as to warrant a most serious effort to defeat it.

Yet world leaders such as President Obama, Pope Benedict, and Angela Merkel focus far too much energy and resources on the supposed long term threat of “global warming” rather than the eminent danger of global terrorism. This colossal failure of leadership must radically change now or our way of life will be the next casualty.

We must declare war on Islamic Jihadists and determine to defeat them within this decade.

On the domestic front, we face pending economic and cultural decline due to excessive centralized government and a lack of individual responsibility.

Federal, state, and local governments, whose spending is largely out of control, continue to regulate and tax us into submission. As the arm of government attempts to reign supreme, it diminishes the importance of church, community and family in our personal lives. As a result, the economy remains stagnant and we the people grow restless.

The diminished church, the apathetic community, and the embattled family leave us vulnerable to negative cultural influences that peddle drug and alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, and other irresponsible behaviors.

Too many of our current elected officials and bureaucrats–in all levels of government–are attempting to control rather than to empower us to lead productive, happy lives.

But, alas, it is not too late to rise up, as our Founders did 240 years ago today, and fight to preserve our cherished freedoms and institutions.

As Brexit has shown, the pendulum is swinging against big, centralized government and in the direction of decentralized, limited government; individual empowerment; and personal responsibility.

If our nation can defeat ISIS and the onslaught of tyrannical government, we will have successfully brought the American Revolution into the 21st century.

Our Foundation hopes to be at the forefront of this ongoing, never-ending American Revolution–with all of you!

We pray God continues to bless you and our great nation.

Mr. Adams is on the board of the Independence Hall Foundation.

241st Year Agenda

Case For Pat Meehan

Case For Pat Meehan

By Don Adams

The Independence Hall Foundation, the largest independent conservative grass roots organization in the tri-state region, is questioning the conservative credentials of congressional candidate Stan Casacio, a former Republican Cheltenham Township Commissioner running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.

Case For Pat Meehan
Congressman Pat Meehan

The Casacio campaign is airing 60 second spots on 1210 WPHT-AM which roundly accuses his opponent, US Representative Pat Meehan, of being an Arlen Specter Republican and a RINO (Republican in name only)–an outrageous charge which the conservative Independence Hall Foundation flatly rejects.

The ad falsely implies that Pat Meehan supports Planned Parenthood and is somehow not pro-life, when, in fact, Meehan has consistently voted to defund the nation’s largest abortion provider.   In addition, Meehan has been endorsed  by the National Right to Life .Committee in every general election cycle since 2010 and will receive their endorsement this fall.

The 20-member Foundation Board voted unanimously to endorse Pat Meehan because of his consistent votes, over the years, to defund Planned Parenthood; repeal ObamaCare (over 60 votes); lower taxes; decrease spending; expose corrupt practices of the Veterans Administration; hold the Obama Administration accountable on the Benghazi and Fast and Furious scandals; stop Obama’s Executive Order on Immigration, and support our nation’s defense.  Meehan has also been a staunch advocate of local law enforcement communities.

That is a very strong conservative record,. We wish, however, the same could be said for Stan Casacio.

During his tenure as Cheltenham Township Commissioner (Montgomery County) in the 1980’s, Casacio, who served on the township’s finance committee, voted to increase the township’s budget by 80 percent and raise property taxes by 42 percent to cover the deficit he helped create.

Casacio has not refuted the official record–instead, he and his defenders dismiss his record as something from the distant past.

But this is Casacio’s official public record–and Casacio’s record of taxing and spending is much more in line with RINO Arlen Specter.

We certainly hope voters in the 7th District consider all the facts before voting.

The Pennsylvania 7th Congressional District comprises most of Delaware County, along with parts of Montgomery, Chester, Berks, and Lancaster Counties.

Mr. Adams is a member of the Independence Hall Foundation

Case For Pat Meehan

Meehan Gets Independence Hall Endorsement

Meehan Gets Independence Hall Endorsement — The influential Independence Hall Foundation, a conservative grass roots organization with thousands of followers in the tri-state (DE, NJ, PA) region, is announcing today that its Board of Directors has voted unanimously to endorse Pat Meehan for Congress in the April 26 Pennsylvania Primary.

Meehan Gets Independence Hall Endorsement
Congressman Pat Meehan

“The 20-member Board of the Independence Hall Foundation has chosen to endorse Congressman Meehan (PA-7) because of his conservative record on fiscal, social, and defense issues” said Foundation spokesperson, Teri Adams, of Montgomery County, PA.

“We supported Pat Meehan when he first ran for office in 2010 and we fought hard to flip the seat from D to R as Democrat Joe Sestak had been the seat’s prior occupant.

“We see absolutely no reason to withdraw our support now.

“In fact, we are proud of Congressman Meehan’s efforts to overturn ObamaCare; defund Planned Parenthood; lower taxes; decrease spending; expose corrupt practices of the Veterans Administration; hold the Obama Administration accountable on the Benghazi and Fast and Furious scandals; and support our nation’s military preparedness.

“In January 2015, Congressman Meehan spoke at the Foundation’s Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally in support of our region’s law enforcement community.

“While we may not agree with every vote cast by Congressman Meehan, we are more than pleased with his overall record,” said Ms. Adams.

Meehan is being challenged in the April 26 Republican primary by Stan Casacio.

Meehan Gets Independence Hall Endorsement

Casey, Coons Iran Vote Scorned

The tri-state Independence Hall Foundation  voiced utter disdain, Sept. 1, for the announced decisions of Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Chris Coons (D-DE) to back the Iran deal.  Casey, Coons Iran Vote Scorned

“This is a major miscalculation on the part of both politicians,” said Foundation spokesperson Teri Adams.

“Most importantly, passage of this treaty will lead to a more unstable world–starting with an increase in Middle East violence and ending with Iran as an irrational and unpredictable
nuclear power.

“Secondly, one or both of these men can and will be defeated if they stand for re-election in 2018.  That is not a threat, it’s an observation.

“With upwards of two-thirds of Americans opposing all or parts of this deal in recent surveys, Senators Casey and Coons are alienating big voting blocks in their respective states,” said Ms. Adams.

The following is a copy of a letter the Foundation sent to Senators Casey, Coons, and Corey Booker (D-NJ):

August 28, 2015

Dear Senator (Casey, Coon, Booker),

The Independence Hall Foundation, a non-partisan, non-profit civic organization with over 10,000 adherents in the tri-state region (DE, NJ, PA), is writing to inform you of our overwhelming opposition to the Iran Deal negotiated by the Obama Administration.

While our objections are long, for the sake of brevity, we are going to list our five main reasons for opposing this agreement:

1.  The Iranian government currently holds four American hostages: Washington Post
journalist Jason Rezaian; former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati; pastor Saeed Abedini; and former FBI agent Robert Levinson.

Their release should have been a prerequisite for any negotiations.

2.  The Iranian government sanctions anti-American protests in which its supporters chant “Death to America” — clearly demonstrating that the current regime is our enemy.  Iran, until this year, has been listed as a top exporter of worldwide terrorism.  What has changed?

3.  Lifting sanctions will give the Iranian dictatorship access to upward of $150 billion — enabling them to increase their funding of terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah which operate throughout the Middle East.  The agreement also allows unfettered activity at its Arak nuclear facility.

4.  The agreement is much too lax regarding the inspection of known nuclear facilities and does not adequately address the problem of hidden sites.

5.  Most importantly, we believe this deal could actually hasten Iran’s development of a nuclear bomb by allowing it to continue to enrich uranium in addition to developing and testing centrifuges.  Such an outcome puts all of our allies in the Middle East, especially Israel, in imminent danger.
 
In the short run, the violent activity of Hamas and Hezbollah will surely escalate.  In the long run, one can imagine disaster, not only for Israel and our other Middle Eastern allies, but for the United States as well.  Will it be a nuclear disaster?  God forbid it.

Is this the legacy the Obama Administration seeks?

On behalf of the Foundation Board,
Teri Adams, 267.531.8169

Casey, Coons Iran Vote

Gary R’nel Leaves WPHT

Gary R'nel Leaves WPHT Don Adams of Independence Hall Foundation tells us that center-right WPHT radio host, Gary R'nel, will no longer occupy the mic at the Big Talker studio in Old City. Don Adams of Independence Hall Foundation tells us that center-right WPHT radio host, Gary R’nel, will no longer occupy the mic at the Big Talker studio in Old City.

“R’nel, who is affectionately known to listeners as “Gary ba-by,” will be impossible to replace due to his quirky sense of humor and his congenial personality,” Adams said. “We found his show most interesting because he quite often refused to tow the ultra-conservative line.”

Gary R’nel Leaves WPHT

Iran Rally Features Dom Giordano

WPHT 1210 talk show host Dom Giordano will headline the Delaware Valley Stop Iran Rally tentatively scheduled for 2 to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 13 on Independence Mall, Philadelphia, according to Teri Adams of Independence Hall Foundation.  Iran Rally Features Dom Giordano

The rally, initiated by the Foundation, will be spearheaded by the new Delaware Valley Stop Iran Committee. Any legitimate, locally-based, non-profit group wishing to join the Committee should call 215-620-3055 for  details.

“The purpose of the event is to unite opponents, educate the public to the dangerous nature of the agreement, and convince undecided members of our area Congressional delegation to oppose the deal,” said Ms. Adams.

Iran Rally Features Dom Giordano

John Fund Philly Bound

Noted Commentator John Fund will be the keynote speaker at the Independence Hall Foundation's July 3 event at the Independence Visors Center Ballroom, 6th and Market streets, Philadelphia.  It runs 4 to 5:30 p.m. and celebrates the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta and the 239th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
John Fund

Noted Commentator John Fund will be the keynote speaker at the Independence Hall Foundation’s July 3 event at the Independence Visors Center Ballroom, 6th and Market streets, Philadelphia.  It runs 4 to 5:30 p.m. and celebrates the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta and the 239th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Fund’s topics will be those documents along with Pope Francis’ recent encyclical Laudato Si.

Also speaking will be Charlie Gerow, who is founder of Quantum Communications and was an advisor to President Ronald Reagan.

The event will also feature the presentations of this year’s Thomas Jefferson Defender of Liberty Award; the Franklin Award for Excellence in Journalism and the Betsy Ross Activist of the Year Award.

Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 at the door; with a student rate of $7.50 in advance and $10 at the door.

There will be an after party at the Independence Beer Garden, 100 S. Independence Mall West.

To RSVP, mail checks to: Independence Hall Foundation, The Continental, 615 Chestnut St., Box 39725 Philadelphia, PA 19106.

The group is also sponsoring a lunch with Fund at 2 p.m. at City Tavern, 2nd and Walnut streets. Seating is limited. For cost and details, call 215-620-3055.

John Fund Philly Bound