Q: What type of health insurance do members of Congress receive? Is it a single-payer, government-run system? A: Members of Congress are covered by private insurance under the same system that covers all federal workers. Click to Read the Full Post Read More →
If you don’t keep your eye on the health care overhaul bills making their way through Congress, it’s easy to find your knowledge quickly outdated. We posted an article Friday dealing with accusations by some conservative groups that the bills would mandate government-funded abortions (they wouldn’t). That very evening, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a new bill. Government-funded abortions still wouldn’t be possible under this version – in fact, it’s... Click to Read the Full Post
Q: Is Obama planning to increase the federal tax on gun ammunition by 500 percent? A: No such proposal has been made by the Obama administration. And nobody in Congress has introduced any bill to increase the 11 percent federal excise tax on ammo. Click to Read the Full Post Read More →
Q: Would Senate bill 2099 put a yearly $50 tax on each privately owned firearm? A: There is no such bill. A chain e-mail containing bogus claims refers to a bill that died more than eight years ago. Click to Read the Full Post Read More →
Q: Did the government issue new dollar coins without the words "In God We Trust"? A: Congress ordered the words to be stamped on the edges of the coins, but an unknown number of "Godless dollars" were produced by mistake. Click to Read the Full Post Read More →
Q: Would the "hate crimes" bill make it a crime to denounce homosexuality from the pulpit and give legal protection to pedophiles? A: No on both counts. The First Amendment is still operative, and pedophiles would get no breaks under this bill. Click to Read the Full Post Read More →
Q: Have 84 members of Congress been arrested for drunk driving in the last year? Have seven been arrested for fraud? A: We judge these statistics to be not credible. They originated nearly a decade ago with a Web site that still refuses to provide any proof or documentation, or even to name those accused. Click to Read the Full Post Read More →
Q: Would a bill in Congress require looking into possible reparations for slavery? A: Such a bill exists but President Obama has nothing to do with it, contrary to what a chain e-mail implies. Click to Read the Full Post Read More →
Q: Is Congress creating a mandatory public service system? Are participants not allowed to go to church? A: The national service bill does not mandate that youth must participate nor does it forbid anyone who does participate from going to church. Click to Read the Full Post Read More →
Q: Would a new bill in Congress make my backyard organic garden illegal? A: A House bill proposes to split the Food & Drug Administration, creating a separate entity to oversee food safety. It’s aimed at food sold in supermarkets and doesn’t say anything about organic gardening, pesticides, farmers’ markets or that tomato plant in your backyard. Click to Read the Full Post Read More →
