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*************************************** Re-Importing a Bad Idea "(Prescription drug) reimportation from Canada is pushed even by some conservatives. Yet prices are lower there because the government imposes price controls and litigation costs are less - the country is not full of profit-minded tort attorneys. Charging Canadian (or Mexican, or Afghan) prices in the U.S. means the drugs would not be developed in the first place." - Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute **************************************** How to Subscribe If you know someone who might like to receive News & Views, you can sign 'em up at: http://www.chuckmuth.com. *************************************** Re-Importing Hypocrites Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R) is pushing a bill in Congress that would legalize the re-importation of prescription drugs from Canada and some 20 other countries, all but one of which has some kind of price controls established for medicine. Gutknecht's support for cheap foreign goods is a politically motivated move to boost his re-election prospects with his district's seasoned citizens. It's also hypocritical to the max, as exposed by Robert Goldberg of the Manhattan Institute. When it comes to free world trade for prescription drugs, Gutknecht is all for it. But when it comes to free world trade for imported milk protein concentrates, Gutknecht has pushed for higher tariffs in order to protect his state's dairy industry. Hmm. So much for the free market principle. Gutknecht is far from alone in this free world trade hypocrisy though. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R) - a self-proclaimed free trader and Gutknecht's co-conspirator in the effort to risk America's drug supply with re-imported drugs - has backed slapping higher duties on imported steel. Hmm. Over in the Senate, re-importation king Sen. Byron Dorgan (D) thinks allowing the re-importation of pharmaceuticals is OK, but when it comes to Canadians selling Americans wheat at a lower cost, that's where Dorgan draws the line. That would be unfair competition, according to Dorgan's version of free trade. Hmm. Ditto his cohort, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D). Stabenow complains of "barriers on our borders that force American citizens to purchase their prescription drugs at prices that are often twice that of our neighbors in Canada." Yet Stabenow has no problem supporting higher tariffs on imported steel, or, for that matter, apples. Stabenow "and other pro-drug import members have fought courageously for higher prices and a 52 percent duty on 'unfairly priced' Chinese apple juice products that upset the apple growers in their respective states." Hmm. The more you dig into this re-importation issue and the backgrounds of the people supporting it, the more it stinks like yesterday's diapers. *************************************** Foot-Dragging "To me, it's absolutely amazing how one crazed lunatic can interfere with the entire footwear of a nation of 285 million people." - Unnamed frequent flyer reacting to the new Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) new policy of "encouraging" people to remove their shoes before going through airport security checkpoints or risk being "profiled" for a more-thorough search, Washington Times, 7/15/03 ***************************************** Gun Conference The 18th annual Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC), which will be taking place September 26, 27 and 28, 2003 at the George Bush International Airport Marriott in Houston, Texas. Registration is available online, at http://www.saf.org/GRPCinfo.htm, or you can register over the phone at (425) 454-7012. *************************************** Return of the McGoverniks "In their eagerness to prove President Bush wrong on Iraq, Democrats are throwing caution to the wind and setting themselves up for what could be big fall in the 2004 elections. . . . Rather than cause a majority of Americans to turn on the president when the vote comes up next year, Democrats may be reminding voters of their party's biggest weakness: They are perceived as soft on national defense and therefore cannot be trusted to manage the national security." - USA Today columnist Richard Benedetto *************************************** UN-believable "Many congressional Democrats who have opposed the war in Iraq support sending troops to Liberia," reports the Washington Times, "especially because it would be at the request of the United Nations." In addition, the Congressional Black Caucus, which opposed U.S. action in Iraq by naively claiming there was no "clearly demonstrated and imminent threat of attack on the United States," is now urging President Bush to send troops into Liberia - where there clearly is no demonstrated or imminent threat to the U.S. So let's get this straight. The Democrat's foreign policy position goes something like this: We oppose using American military force to defend the U.S. against a clear and present danger if the United Nations says no, but we'll put those same American troops in harm's way for race-based politically correct reasons as long as the United Nations tells us to do so. And these people wonder why American voters have no trust in their ability to defend the nation? **************************************** Now Shipping! Get the HOTTEST bumper sticker in the country today: "Conservatives Are >From Mars, Liberals Are From Uranus!" $2.95 each. Buy 3...Get 1 FREE. No charge for shipping. Limited supply. Go to: http://chuckmuth.com/merchandise.htm **************************************** Race-Baiter Extraordinaire "We have defeated Jim Crow, but we now have to deal with his son, James Crow Jr., esquire." - Democrat presidential candidate Al Sharpton at this weekend's NAACP convention, comparing Bush administration policies to the racist Jim Crow laws of a long time ago **************************************** Flipping the NAACP the Bird Three Democrat candidates for president decided they had better things to do with their time this weekend than attend the NAACP annual convention. Joey Lieberman had to wash his socks, Dicky Gephardt had to wash his hair and Denny Kucinich had to wash his car. Priorities, ya know. Dissing the annual race-hustler conference got NAACP President Kweisi Mfume' s knickers in a knot. "If you expect us to believe that you could not find 90 minutes to come by," the outraged jilted race-baiter warned the three no-shows, "then you have no legitimacy over the next nine months to come into our communities expecting our support." We can't help but sit back and enjoy the spectacle of white, liberal candidates taking the black vote so for granted that they figure they can thumb their noses at the NAACP, along with the conniptions the NAACP is having over some Democrats failing to pay the proper homage to their organization. And the moral of this story, boys and girls, is: "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free." **************************************** Goin' Postal What does a large company do when it finds out it has 16,000 too many clerical employees on payroll? Layoffs, right? Now, what does a government agency do when it finds it has 16,000 too many clerical employees on ITS staff? Offer 'em early retirement with darn near full pay and benefits. At least, that's what the post office intends to offer its surplus workers this fall. Alas, as Mike Causey points out in his "Federal Report" column, "in the past only about 3 percent of workers offered early retirement" have accepted the option without an accompanying $25,000 cash bribe tied to the deal. And some of you still think the post office is doing a great job with your money, huh? *************************************** Campaign Hot Tips New to campaigns and grassroots activism? Seasoned veteran who recognizes there's always something new to learn? Then sign up for Mark Montini's FREE "Campaign Hot Tips" e-newsletter at: http://www.campaignsecrets.com/hot_tips.asp **************************************** War on Coke "Local school systems are examining ways to offer more nutritious choices in their soda machines as a Seattle school board faces litigation law professor John Bhanzaf III several weeks ago sent a legal notice to the seven members of the Seattle Board of Education, warning they would be sued by a group of trial lawyers if they voted to extend an exclusive-rights contract with Coca-Cola Co. Inc." - Washington Times, 7/14/03 **************************************** The Grease Police "(B)arring sweeping tort reform, obesity lawsuits have a very good chance of succeeding in the future. Last summer's cases were merely shots across the bow in preparation for what promises to be a long and relentless war waged by trial lawyers. One such lawyer, named John Banzhaf, said this: 'They can stand fast, make fun of us, call us the grease Gestapo and food police, and then we're going to sue them and sue them and sue them, and I think ultimately, as with tobacco, we're going to win.' Trial lawyers are manipulating the legal system so lawsuits that never stood a chance in the past can actually succeed today." - Duane Parde, executive director, American Legislative Exchange Council **************************************** Supreme Outrage "In a state that has given us the quickie divorce, legalized prostitution and gambling, you'd think it would be hard to raise eyebrows. But compared to their Supreme Court, Nevada's sin industries are looking downright respectable. In a landmark 6-to-1 ruling Thursday, Nevada's justices came up with a real doozy: Essentially they ordered state legislators to violate the state constitution they have sworn to uphold. "That's the real meaning of their ruling that a Nevada constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority in both state houses for any tax hike was trumped by another constitutional requirement that the state fund public education. "...This case shouldn't have been before the court at all. And it wouldn't have been had Republican Governor Kenny Guinn not taken the extraordinary step of suing his own state legislature when it refused to push through nearly $1 billion in tax increases he wanted. "...Now, Governors feuding with legislators over budgets is nothing new. But by resorting to a judicially enforced tax decision that properly belongs to the elected representatives of the people of Nevada, the Governor and the judges have put themselves in a class all their own. At least the state's gamblers and prostitutes can claim to be working within the law. ".By contrast, to conduct their business Nevada's highest court and its chief executive pulled an end run around a clear constitutional imperative in order to carve out an exemption for a specific spending interest. In this case that happened to be public education. But who is to say other justices won't discover other special interests? "...It appears Governor Guinn will now get his tax hike. But let's remember that in suing the state's legislators, he was in reality suing his own voters." - Wall Street Journal editorial, 6/15/03 **************************************** Tax Hike Sinks Poll Numbers "(Nevada Gov.) Kenny Guinn, who some thought heralded the rebirth of a powerful Nevada GOP, has seen his approval rating drop 10 points since the beginning of February. According to a Mason-Dixon poll published Saturday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Guinn's is positives are down to 43 percent, most likely because of his unrepentant advocacy of $1 billion in new taxes to pay for new spending while keeping the budget balanced. "On Thursday the Nevada state Supreme Court, for whom the knives are now out, ruled that implied responsibilities like funding education take precedence over the explicit requirement that two-thirds of the Legislature vote in the affirmative to raise taxes. The supermajority requirement kept the parties involved from reaching a deal, so the court effectively erased it." - Peter Roff, "The Peter Principles," 7/15/03 **************************************** Hunting Naked Women KLAS-TV in Las Vegas reported this week that "men are paying thousands of dollars to shoot naked women with paintball guns" in the Las Vegas desert. For $5-10K, men can hunt "Bambis" running around in nothing but tennis shoes and their birthday suits. The operator of the "sport," Michael Burdick, says safety is a concern but doesn't allow the naked babes to wear any protective gear. "I don't go deer hunting and see a deer with a football helmet on," says Burdick, "so I don't want to see one on my girl either." The naked nymphs get paid $2,500 if they avoid being hit in the hunt; $1,000 if they get plugged. 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Also, occasionally, the automatic listserve we use will "bump" subscribers off the list if your mailbox is full or experiences some other technical glitch. If you suddenly stop receiving News & Views, the first thing you should do is try to re-subscribe using the link above. Published by Citizen Outreach Chuck Muth Editor/Publisher 611 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, #439 Washington, DC 20003-4303 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Citizen Outreach is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public policy organization and does not endorse candidates or lobby for specific legislation. The opinions and views expressed in Chuck Muth's News & Views reflect those of the writers, editors and columnists therein and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Citizen Outreach, its officers, directors or employees. To be REMOVED, go to: http://www.chuckmuth.com/remove/default.cfm and complete the removal request instructions you'll find there. Or send your request to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # #
