Fwd: Pelosi Calls Press Conference to Unveil $140,000 Light Fixtures in House Cafeteria

Today's Headlines Thursday, April 22, 2010

Pelosi Calls Press Conference to Unveil $140,000 Light Fixtures in House Cafeteria (CNSNews.com) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called a Capitol Hill press conference on Wednesday to unveil new light fixtures in the House cafeteria. The light fixtures cost $140,000 and will take around 10 years to pay off in saved energy. Democrat Congressman: America's Fossil Fuel Use Is 'Sinful' (CNSNews.com) – Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) said on Wednesday that it is "sinful" for Americans to use the amount of fossil fuels they do. Cleaver, a United Methodist pastor, also said the Bible commands people to be good stewards of the Earth, which he said mankind is not doing. Congressman's Earth Day Message: Trees Along Streets Make Better Drivers (CNSNews.com) – In a speech to the Alliance for Community Trees on Wednesday, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) said that more trees lining urban streets "retards speeding." "I don't know if it's calming or it changes the visual impact on them, but it changes driving behavior and makes those communities safer." Obama Won't Rule Out Value Added Tax, Which Would Hit All Income Levels Washington (CNSNews.com) – On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs repeated his assertion, first made on Monday, that President Obama is not currently considering a value added tax. But Gibbs did not give a definitive answer when reporters pressed him on whether the president would rule out a VAT if a fiscal commission appointed by the president recommends it. Dick Armey: Democrats Will Impose Value Added Tax On Top of All Other Taxes (CNSNews.com) – Economist and former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) told CNSNews.com he "always believed" that Democrats would impose a Value Added Tax (VAT) on top of all existing, current taxes when they took control of the House, Senate and White House. Armey described the VAT as the most "insidious tax of all." DHS Official Says Underwear Bomber Might Have Raised A Red Flag After He Arrived in Detroit (CNSNews.com) – A Department of Homeland Security official told a Senate panel on Wednesday that the Christmas Day bomber probably would have raised a red flag on his arrival in the United States. The committee called the hearing to find out what changes the Obama administration has made since the Nigerian man tried to detonate a bomb hidden in his underwear on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it neared the airport in Detroit on Dec. 25, 2009. Sen. Leahy Wants Obama to Nominate A Justice Who Will Move Supreme Court to the Left Washington (CNSNews.com) – Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) wants President Obama's next court appointee to move the court in a different direction. "We have right now a very, very activist, conservative activist, Supreme Court," Leahy told reporters after he and other senators met with President Obama Wednesday. "I think this does not reflect the American people but reflects more of a partisan agenda. I would hope that the president's nominee can get us back away from that." Activists Claim Free Speech Victory As 'Leaving Islam' Ads Return to Buses (CNSNews.com) – A public transit authority in Florida has reversed a decision to take down banner advertisements on buses that offer help to Muslims wanting to leave their faith. The decision came after the group initiating the ad campaign threatened a lawsuit, claiming breach of contract and violation of First Amendment rights. ENDA Could Open 'Every Classroom in America' to Cross-Dressing Teachers, Conservative Group Says (CNSNews.com) - Homosexual activists are pressuring the House to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). They want a vote on the bill as early as this week. A conservative group warns the bill could bar employers from firing transsexuals, cross-dressers or men who think of themselves as women.   CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO Actress Sigourney Weaver Criticizes President Obama (CNSNews.com) - Actress Sigourney Weaver, best known for her roles in the films Avatar, Aliens, and Ghostbusters, says President Obama's offshore oil drilling proposal is a step backward. "I just think there's too much at risk between the fishing industry and the tourism industry, you know? We have such magnificent coastlines and I think it's, I think, again, it's stepping backward." James Cameron: Climate Change 'As Great As The Threat' U.S. Faced in World War II (CNSNews.com) - Academy Award-winning Director James Cameron says climate change is "as great as the threat" the United States faced in World War II. He made the comment last week during a panel discussion about environmental policy on Capitol Hill. OTHER CNSNEWS.COM HEADLINES U.S. Military Jury in Baghdad Clears Navy SEAL in Prisoner Abuse Case Sour Economy Cited for Drop in Motorcyclist Deaths Obama Brings His War on Wall Street to New York on Thursday Schools Urge Parents, Don't Take Your Kid to Work on Thursday Mexico City Offers Bike-Share Program As Part of Clean-Air Campaign Many International Flights Resume, But Ash Forces Closures in Sweden and Norway Israel Rejects Obama's Demand to Stop New Housing Construction in Jerusalem No More Burning Rivers, but Earth Day Brings New Threats Arizona Immigration Debate Forces McCain to Move to the Right Whale Capsizes Canoe, Drowning Man in Cape Cod Iran's President Ahmadinejad Visits Zimbabwe See-Through Toaster Coming This Spring Hillary Clinton Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Defense of Europe Donate Today! Please help CNSNews.com keep bringing you 'The Right News - Right Now!' Make a contribution to CNSNews.com today. It's fast, simple and secure. Help CNSNews.com and Donate Today!  NEWSPAPER ROUNDUP: Senior official quits Amnesty International over its ties to a former Gitmo detainee Boston proposes wind turbine that could power 800 homes Pelosi tells Reid: Immigration bill before climate change is 'fine' With or without Congress, carbon curbs are coming, says Obama climate adviser Sens. Durbin, Lugar urge halt to illegal student deportations Boy who punched schoolmate won't be deported Colorado voters may be asked to expand gambling to aid universities Boulder County launches aggressive campaign to stop energy wasters Democrats' budget plan adds $3.9 trillion more government debt over 5 years Pro-life groups plan offensive against their former allies, pro-life House Dems Canadian immigration authorities tap into sensitive U.S. government databases New York Mayor Bloomberg defends Wall Street Specter blasted for attacking his challenger's Navy service Blue Cross of RI reports $100 million loss in 2009 Gov. Chris Christie says N.J. school budget defeats should serve as 'wake up call' Jury rules nurse didn't violate rights of woman barred from partner's room Counties using federal grant money to buy, sell foreclosed homes U-Maryland officials produce video of student's beating by police COMMENTARY Taxes and Voting By Walter E. Williams According to the Tax Policy Center, a Washington, D.C., research organization, nearly half of U.S. households will pay no federal income taxes for 2009. That's up from the Tax Foundation's 2006 estimate that 41 percent of the American population, or 121 million Americans, were completely outside the federal income tax system. Here's my perhaps politically incorrect question: If one has no financial stake in our country, how much of a say-so should he have in its management?