Egyptian Islamists are poised to emerge as the big winners in Egypt’s parliamentary elections, a complex electoral process that will be held in phases until March. The first round of voting, to fill one-third of the seats in the lower house of parliament, was held on November 28–29, with run-off votes held on December 5–6. Although the official results have not yet been released, early reports based on partial results indicate that the first round of elections was dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, which received about …
This past April, when Members of Congress introduced the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NATGAS) Act that provides preferential tax treatment to subsidize the production, use, and purchase of natural-gas vehicles, the propane industry asked, “What about us?” Well, someone was listening, because a little over a month later Representatives John Carter (R–TX) and Dan Boren (D–OK) introduced the Propane Gas Act of 2011, which would provide a five-year extension for targeted tax credits for propane as a motor fuel, propane-powered vehicles, and propane autogas—propane converted to fuel …
Amidst the bustle of shopping for gifts, baking cookies, and wrapping presents, many Americans will celebrate this holiday season at places of worship, expressing their thanks for the blessings of another year. The religious practice and belief of Americans at the holidays and year-round signal good news for civil society and limited government. Decades of sociological research provide evidence of the connection between religious practice and a strong and vibrant civil society. As new charts on FamilyFacts.org demonstrate, individuals who frequently attend religious services are more likely to donate to …
On this day 70 years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress and requested a declaration of war against Japan following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor the day before. Roosevelt’s words carried forth across the nation via radio, and the consequences of the actions America would take would be felt around the world–and across history. The lessons America learned in those fateful days should be remembered even today. Roosevelt noted that the day of Japan’s attack would be “a date which will live in infamy,” and …
When Pam Tebow was counseled to abort her baby to save her own life, the doctor referred to him as a “mass of fetal tissue.” “(M)aybe she just called me that to toughen us up for the names I would be called the first time I played at LSU,” Tim Tebow, who became the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for the University of Florida, writes in his 2011 book “Through My Eyes.” Now that Tebow is a Denver Bronco and under intense scrutiny in the role of starting quarterback, his congenital instinct …
President Barack Obama wants to extend the temporary payroll tax cut into 2012, and congressional Democrats and Republicans agree. They disagree over how to pay for it. Democrats propose raising taxes on the financially successful. This would discourage potential entrepreneurs from starting new enterprises—not the best idea when job creation remains stuck near record lows. Republicans propose reducing the federal workforce by 10 percent and extending the President’s federal pay freeze for another three years. The GOP approach has many merits. Unlike tax increases, less government spending does not discourage …
A Senate appropriations panel will consider a measure that would prevent the Department of Energy from subordinating taxpayers to private investors in the repayment of federally guaranteed loans. The measure is the first legislative proposal created in response to the Solyndra scandal. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) will offer the measure as an amendment to the spending bill currently making its way through the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. The amendment reads: None of the funds made available by this Act may be used …
In this week’s Heritage in Focus, regulatory expert James Gattuso discussed the recent news that the U.S. Postal Service is cutting $3 billion in costs in order to stay afloat. Click here to listen. What services will change as a result of the cuts? How will these cuts affect the broader economy? And what’s the proper course of action for the Postal Service to take moving forward? Be sure to listen to hear answers to these questions and more! To get regular updates on Heritage in Focus podcasts, visit our …
Seventy years ago today, the Japanese shocked the American conscience and propelled the United States into World War II when it attacked Pearl Harbor. With 353 fighters, bombers and torpedo planes, Japan’s strike took the lives of 2,402 Americans and wounded 1,282 others. President Franklin Roosevelt accurately described it as “a date which will live in infamy.” As we reflect on that fateful day, Americans should remember that the strike came without notice or even a declaration of war–despite many Americans’ desire for isolationism even in the face of mounting …
Yesterday, Barack Obama became the second President to use a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, as an opportunity to take on the mantle of a previous President. President Obama evoked the memory of Theodore Roosevelt, who gave his famous “New Nationalism” speech laced with the now-rote themes in political rhetoric: “special interests,” the necessity of regulating corporations, and the clear distinction between human rights and property rights. Roosevelt was also playing presidential dress-up: he invoked the legacy of Abraham Lincoln to justify transforming America from its founding principles, in particular the …
