"The wife of U.S. Pastor Saeed Abedini, Naghmeh, and American Center for Law and Justice Executive Director Jordan Sekulow will testify before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations this week."The hearing on the plight of Pastor Saeed, who's been imprisoned in Iran for his faith, is set for Thursday morning in Washington. [PLEASE BE IN PRAYER that this hearing [TODAY] will result in more pressure from the US for the pastor's release.]
ANSWER TO PRAYER!: Korean War Veteran Returns Home After Long Detention - 12/7/2013; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3357
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
"Missionary in Philippines: 'Bodies Laying Everywhere'- By Dale Hurd and Heather Sells, November 12; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Truckloads-of-Bodies-Filipinos-Plead-for-Help/ - [PRAY that relief supplies will get to the needed area in time to help the tens of thousands who are in great need. PRAY that security can be established in the midst of looters causing problems in the midst of the devastation. - Stan]
NEWS ALERT: Oct. 23: "Christians Fleeing IRAQ Area Once Considered Safe," - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Christians-Fleeing-Iraq-Area-Once-Considered-Safe/ PRAY that believers in Iraq will know God's protection and provision; that believers will know[ whether they are called to flee or remain and persevere; and that their persecutors may come to hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ. - Stan]
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - The United States is willing to engage North Korea to secure the release of imprisoned American Christian Kenneth Bae. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States is "willing to consider a number of different options" to bring him home.In a video recently released by a North Korean newspaper, Bae requested the United States send a high-ranking official to North Korea to seek his pardon. It is unclear if he spoke of his own volition in the video. Bae, 45, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for sharing his faith. He suffers health problems such as diabetes and is currently hospitalized.[PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
NEWS ALERT: Monday, November 04, 2013 - Saeed's Life in [Greater] Jeopardy After Prison Transfer - CBNNews.com, ; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Saeeds-Life-in-Jeopardy-after-Prison-Transfer/ IRAN - Vigils Mark One Year Imprisonment of Pastor Saeed - CBNNews.com, Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Today marks one-year that American pastor Saeed Abedini has been held in an Iranian prison. He is serving an eight-year sentence because of his Christian faith. It has been a year of torment as he has suffered beatings, physical pain from untreated medical conditions, and separation from his wife and two children... The suffering has not dampened his passion for Jesus. Pastor Abedini has led more than 30 prisoners to Christ during his time in prison. This afternoon, thousands of Americans from coast to coast will pray for his release. Events will be held in 40 states at capitols, city halls, parks and churches. Thousands more will join from 15 nations around the world
PRAY: - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- BOLDly (Beside Our Leaders Daily) for leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release
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"3 Things You Need to Know About the Congressional Budget Deal"- By Romina Boccia, December 11, 2013
Many had high hopes that the first budget conference in four years would make a substantial down payment [1] toward fixing the U.S. spending and debt crisis. The new “Bipartisan Budget Act [2]” thoroughly disappoints. While we dig through the details for a more complete assessment, here are three key facts on the sour deal:
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"3 Things You Need to Know About the Congressional Budget Deal"- By Romina Boccia, December 11, 2013
"3 Things You Need to Know About the Congressional Budget Deal"- By Romina Boccia, December 11, 2013
1. It busts through supposed spending “caps.” The way Congress operates, it’s ridiculous for Members to set spending caps. They just keep busting right through them. The deal announced yesterday raises discretionary spending above the bipartisan spending agreement forged in 2011 as part of the Budget Control Act. Spending for defense and non-defense domestic programs would be raised by $45 billion in 2014 and by $18 billion in 2015.
Once again, Congress has fallen into its old and destructive habit [3] of trading more spending in one area for more spending in another. This is a bad “compromise” that keeps increasing spending, when just a little more effort to eliminate bad government programs [4] and reduce wasteful spending [5] could have saved taxpayers money instead.
2. It taxes and spends. The agreement says that the increased spending is fully offset elsewhere in the budget, using a mix of spending cuts and non-tax revenue. Make no mistake, raising revenue to spend more is simply taxing and spending. If anything, automatic spending cuts could be exchanged for targeted spending cuts. Trading spending cuts for more revenue, however, grows the burden of government. After all, Washington suffers from a spending problem, not a revenue one [6].
3. It spends now and delays savings till later. The budget deal would spend $63 billion more over the next two years—but take 10 years to make up for this splurge. This is a common Washington gimmick. To the conferees’ credit, the deal suggests one-third in additional deficit reduction—the details of which remain to be evaluated.
The budget conferees failed to make substantive reforms to the real drivers of spending and debt: the entitlement programs. Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) forged a deal that would increase spending immediately, while delaying deficit reduction till later and trading spending cuts for more revenue. Far from simply being another missed opportunity, this deal keeps the nation on its fiscal collision course.
[bold, italics, and underline emphasis mine]
Quick Hits:
- This liberal and this conservative [9] think the budget plan is a raw deal for Americans.
- Heritage Action writes the opposing view in USA Today on why the budget deal is a step backward [10].
- What could possibly be worse than Obamacare? When it comes to disastrous implementation, this program ranks pretty high [11].
- Guess which country is passing Saudi Arabia [12] in oil production?
- What does “social justice” really mean when it comes to good public policy [13]?
- How low can he go? New poll indicates rising disapproval for the President [14] on health care.
- Does it matter that President Obama shook hands with Cuban dictator [15] Raul Castro?
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Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org; URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/11/3-things-you-need-to-know-about-congressional-budget-deal/
URLs in this post:
[1] a substantial down payment: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/11/principles-for-the-budget-conference
[2] Bipartisan Budget Act: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/10/ryan-murray-announce-budget-deal-conservatives-voice-disappointment/
[3] old and destructive habit: http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2013/11/the-sure-path-to-american-decline
[4] eliminate bad government programs: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/08/tight-budget-congress-can-save-42-billion-by-eliminating-bad-government-programs
[5] wasteful spending: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/08/20/morning-bell-15-pictures-of-ridiculous-government-spending-guaranteed-to-make-you-mad/
[6] Washington suffers from a spending problem, not a revenue one: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/10/31/tax-revenue-rose-five-times-faster-than-spending-fell-in-2013/
[7] Heritage Libertad: http://www.libertad.org/
[8] Conversations with Conservatives: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/10/watch-conversations-conservatives-budget-deal-obamacare/
[9] This liberal and this conservative: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/10/liberal-conservative-think-ryan-murray-budget-plan-raw-deal-americans/
[10] why the budget deal is a step backward: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/12/10/budget-deal-heritage-action-for-america-editorials-debates/3975653/
[11] this program ranks pretty high: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/10/afts-weingarten-common-core-implementation-will-worse-obamacare/
[12] which country is passing Saudi Arabia: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/10/we-are-drilling-baby-u-s-passing-saudi-arabia-in-oil-production/
[13] when it comes to good public policy: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/10/pope-francis-americas-obligations-poor/
[14] rising disapproval for the President: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/192669-poll-obama-hits-new-low-on-healthcare
[15] President Obama shook hands with Cuban dictator: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/10/president-obama-shakes-hands-cuban-dictator/
Copyright © 2013 The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.
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"The More You Buy, the More You Save" - By Amy Payne, December 12, 2013; http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/12/buy-save/
"Why We Need to Reform the Budget Process" - Alex Durante, December 11, 2013; http://blog.heritage.org/2013/12/11/need-reform-budget-process/
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