Thank you to these Republican members of Congress for voting for the complete National Defense Authorization Act: Representatives Biggert, Bono Mack, Cao, Castle, Dent, Djou, Kirk, Reichert, Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you for voting on the right side of history.

Posted: May 28th, 2010 under Action Alert, Elections, From the Right, GOP Heroes, GOP Progress, In Congress, In Focus, Issues in Focus.
Comments: none

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.), originally supported the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 1993 but was one of the five Republicans in Congress that voted to repeal it. He released the following statement addressing that his constituents and their involvements were the changing factor.

 ”I have received several calls and visits from constituents who, in spite of the heavy investment in their training, have been forced out of the military simply because they were discovered to be homosexual,” Paul said Friday. “To me, this seems like an awful waste. Personal behavior that is disruptive should be subject to military discipline regardless of whether the individual is heterosexual or homosexual. But to discharge an otherwise well-trained, professional, and highly skilled member of the military for these reasons is unfortunate and makes no financial sense.”

Posted: May 28th, 2010 under From the Right, GOP Heroes, In the News, Issues in Focus.
Comments: none

Although Brown opposes the repealing of the policy, he has stated that he will not join with fellow Republicans to mount a filibuster preventing a Senate vote.  

  “Filibuster’s never — it’s not my style. I want to make sure that we have a full and fair debate on it,” he said in an interview yesterday.

 Strong opponents have risen in support of a filibuster led by Sen. John McCain that would block a vote on the issue. These opponents would need 41 votes to filibuster but with Sen. Brown’s rejection and Sen. Collins supporting repeal, Republicans would need to convince two Democrats to join their filibuster vote.  

 The policy repeal will go before the full Senate as part of a larger defense spending bill, so blocking the entire bill would block troops and crucial funds.

Posted: May 28th, 2010 under Action Alert, From the Right, GOP Heroes, In Congress, Issues in Focus.
Comments: 1

After the tragic suicide death of fifth grader Jaheem Herrera, legislatures in Georgia decided action needed to be taken in schools to prevent future occurrences of bullying. Jaheem Herrera’s mother stated that he endured extensive bullying at school including students referring to him as “gay.” Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta) was the key sponser of the bill.

 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports today that Herrera’s family applauded the state legislature.

“This is the first step in the long journey to end the terror that grips victims in the schoolhouse,” the Herrera family said in a statement, according to the AJC. “We applaud the governor and the fine lawmakers of the state of Georgia for hearing the cries of the innocent and oppressed victims of bullying. Jaheem’s memory will forever be known as the agent for change in Georgia classrooms.”

 The bill does not specifically address sexual orientation or gender identity issues, yet is a great step in the right direction to help all young students in America’s schools that face harsh bullying.

 Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham described that the Georgia Equality lobbied for the bill at the state Capitol and was pleased with its passage. Graham outlined the specifics of what the bill will accomplish:

 • Sets a January 2011 deadline for the state Department of Education to develop an anti-bullying policy that can be a model for local school systems

• Requires age-appropriate consequences for bullying from kindergarten through 12th grade – current policies only deal with bullying in sixth through 12th grades

• Requires school staff to report suspected incidents, and instructs school boards to punish and work to prevent bullying

• Provides that a student can be reassigned to another school for the purpose of separating the student from his or her bullying victim

• Provides for immediate notification of law enforcement when a student commits an alleged physical assault or battery on another student, teacher or other school employee

• Defines bullying as threats of injury, displays of force used to intimidate a victim, or written, verbal and physical acts which a reasonable person would perceive as being intended to threaten, harass or intimidate

Posted: May 28th, 2010 under Action Alert, GOP Heroes, In the News, In the States.
Comments: 1

Last night was a significant step toward a full repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The House and the Senate Armed Service Committee both voted to repeal the policy yesterday. Although the vote was mostly Democrats, a few Republicans stood up and cast their votes for equality.  Representatives Biggert (R – IL),  Cao (R – LA),  Djou (R-HI),  Ron Paul (R – TX), and Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) were the Republicans in Congress that voted on the right side of history. Senator Susan Collins of Maine was the one Republican vote on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Log Cabin Republicans are thankful for these members of Congress and look forward to working with them again.

 There remains much follow-up work to do with Congress, the Department of Defense and the Administration ahead in the future. Log Cabin is continuing to work with Capitol Hill to meet with Republican members of Congress and remind them that Inclusion Wins!

Posted: May 28th, 2010 under Action Alert, GOP Heroes, GOP Progress, In Congress, In Focus, In the News, Issues in Focus.
Comments: none

LCR has received word that the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16-12 to repeal the arcane “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.  We look forward to ensuring repeal of DADT remain in the Defense Authorization bill throughout the conference process with the House.

- R. Clarke Cooper, Executive Director, Log Cabin Republicans

Posted: May 27th, 2010 under In Congress.
Comments: none

One of the provisions in the House extenders package imposes a self-employment tax on small businesses collecting S-corporation profits. S-corporations are defined as firms with three or fewer members, and engaged in “personal services” (health, law, lobbying, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performance arts, consulting, athletics, investment management, and brokerage services). According to the IRS, there were 4 million S-corporations in 2007.

 Under tax law, a corporation can select to be considered as an “S-corporation” under “Subchapter S.” Unlike other businesses, an S-corporation does not pay taxes on profits at the company level.  Rather, the company’s profits flow to the owners, who pay income taxes on them with their 1040 forms.  Under current tax law, no self-employment taxes are owed on S-corporation profits. 

 The current rate most S-corporation pay will rise from 35 percent (income tax only) to 43.4 percent by 2013 (3.8 percent Medicare payroll tax plus 39.6 percent top income tax rate that year). 

 In order to pay this new tax rate, most owners will probably take extra money out of their companies.  This is intra-capital will no longer pay for wages, benefits, new jobs, new technology, or any other vital investments into our crippled economy.

Posted: May 27th, 2010 under In Congress, In the News, Issues in Focus.
Comments: 1

After numerous conferences and discussions, The White House and Department of Defense reached a compromise late on Monday about the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The compromise is backed by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services.

 This new compromise will tie the repeal of the policy to a certification from the military with Sec. Robert Gates and President Obama that the ending of the policy will not affect military readiness or morale. Having this compromise between the White House and the Department of Defense is crucial in aiding to convince several members of Congress to support repeal efforts. A full report on the policy is due in December from the Department of Defense, but we should see movement on the issue this week.

 A debate is expected on the House floor later this week and a vote in the Senate Armed Services Committee in a closed session. Log Cabin representatives have held meetings with several members to ensure this crucial vote has Republican support for equality.

 Congressman Murphy believes the vote will pass without problem in the House. “We have the votes to get this done,” he describes. “I have 192 co-sponsors and commitments from dozens of others.” This would put the count at well above the 217 needed to pass the House.  

Posted: May 26th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

On Saturday the votes were tallied for Hawaii’s first district congressional vacant seat. Republican Charles Djou won the election with almost 40% of the vote. Djou was endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans in April for his determination to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

 This is the first time in two decades that a Republican is representing Hawaii in Congress. The mail-in special election was held to replace the vacated seat of Democrat Neil Abercrombie, who is leaving Congress to run for governor.  

 The Republican victory in Hawaii is an attention grabber in Washington D.C. Republican Djou won an election in Obama’s home turf. Djou will represent the people of Hawaii as a free-market conservative and vote to limit the growing government.  

 Terry W. Hamilton, Chairman of the National Board of Directors said, “We are confident that he will be a consistent champion of liberty equality and freedom for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation.”

 Djou will be sworn in soon to represent the Republican Party and work to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. As an Army Reserve captain, Congressman-elect Djou’s opposition of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a first hand experience of the ineffective and discriminatory antigay policy.

 Djou’s campaign work does not draw to a close with this success but will continue through November to ensure he remains in Congress striving for the Republican ideals.

Posted: May 24th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 2

Vice Admiral Jeffrey L. Fowler, superintendent of the Naval Academy, stated that if the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is lifted by Congress, they will adapt, just like they have over the years.  Since the policy’s passing in 1993, gay men and lesbians have been barred from openly serving in the military.

 Fowler described that if repealed, the academy will continue to strive for “basic respect” for all shipmen. The ability to work together as a team is imperative for success, he described.

 ”You cannot get through here without your classmates, and that will continue forever,” Fowler said.

 Fowler identified the diversity of the military, recognizing the different backgrounds of each in the group. Trust and respect are crucial in the academy’s “high stress environment,” he added.

 ”Basic respect” was needed when he was a student, “and that’s really what we teach our midshipmen.”

Posted: May 21st, 2010 under In Focus, In the News.
Comments: 1