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Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger Discusses Election Integrity, Ballot Security on the Ben Burnett Show

Ben Burnett
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Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger Discusses Election Integrity, Ballot Security on the Ben Burnett Show

For more stories on Georgia politics, visit our Georgia political news section.

Four Vital Facts Ignored During Jon Stewart’s Debate with Arkansas’ Attorney General

Matt OHern
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Four Vital Facts Ignored During Jon Stewart’s Debate with Arkansas’ Attorney General

In one of the most widely publicized examples of bias confirmation disguised as journalism, comedian Jon Stewart confronted Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge for opposing “guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.” Without providing viewers any details about the AAP, Stewart condemned the state’s stance against gender transition care for youth, basing his argument on the fact that gender-affirming care was endorsed by AAP. Throughout the heated discussion, it becomes clear to viewers that Stewart is implying that the majority of pediatricians in the nation endorse “gender affirming” treatments. Stewart proceeded to conflate the AAP’s guidelines with similar guidance given to parents of children contemplating chemotherapy for cancer.

To those unfamiliar with pediatric medicine and the AAP’s structure, Stewart’s passionate presentation seemed noble to some, but four vital facts should be known by anyone who watched the interview.

4 VITAL FACTS THAT WOULD HAVE ENDED STEWART’S ARGUMENT:

FACT 1:

National pediatric and psychological organizations in the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and Sweden are reconsidering the use of hormones and surgeries and calling for rigorous systematic review of available evidence regarding the safety, efficacy, and risks of childhood social transition, puberty blockers, cross sex hormones and surgery. These concerns were raised by members of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the same organization Stewart cites to stress his biggest point.

FACT 2:

The American Academy of Pediatrics was accused by several of its own members of stifling a resolution that called for re-evalution of the academy’s stance gender affirming treatments at the 2022 AAP Annual Leadership Conference. The resolution cited multiple national medical organizations, including the countries listed in the last fact. Ironically, AAP’s response to media inquiry regarding the resolution backpedals from Stewart’s description of AAP’s endorsement. An excerpt from MedPageToday.com reads, “The resolution, which was proposed again at an August AAP leadership meeting but failed to pass, stated that other countries are reconsidering hormone therapy as a first-line treatment and that the AAP should do the same. However, the AAP has said that this mischaracterizes its current policy, which does not recommend hormone therapy as a first-line treatment, but rather promotes following a systematic, collaborative evaluation by clinicians and mental health professionals.

FACT 3:

Sweden and Finland, two nations considered far more socially liberal than the United States, ended their use of puberty blockers and reversed their endorsement of gender transition treatments for children, including hormone replacement therapy. They cited concerns about the inherent risks and dangers posed to the patients, including reproductive risks and other critical issues such as bone density.

FACT 4:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center paused its practice of gender affirming therapies based on “new recommendations” from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. In other words, VUMC didn’t deem AAP’s endorsement of gender affirming care sufficient to prevent its pause of gender affirming procedures. VUMC’s deputy CEO and chief health system officer C. Wright Pinson said the clinic will be “seeking more advice from local and national clinical experts”. VUMC’s announcement came a week after Tennessee legislators pressed VUMC’s for answers regarding videos of a doctor on staff touting that gender-affirming procedures are “huge money makers”, and another video showed a staffer saying anyone with a religious objection should quit.

The news of Vanderbilt’s decision to pause their clinic’s gender-affirming treatments broke roughly around the same time that Stewart’s show aired, but Stewart’s production team undoubtedly has the ability to add such vital info via digital editing, and has yet to do so, more than a week after VUMC’s’s announcement. Since the pause, VUMC has noted that their gender affirming procedures didn’t involve surgery on genitalia, but didn’t disclose any details on puberty blockers or other hormone therapies.

Of course, Stewart didn’t bother to get into any such nuance, because doing so would have informed viewers that there is nothing close to a widespread endorsement from the majority of pediatricians throughout the country, even if you filter that pool down into strictly pediatricians who are undermined the crux of his chief point and repeated grievance throughout the interview. While it’s obvious that Attorney General Rutledge wasn’t adequately prepared to defend her stance, she also has plenty of other pressing issues on her plate, and is accustomed to questions from reporters that aren’t as intellectually dishonest or misleading as the Stewart and the drivel repeated ad nauseam. In the past, Stewart showed a true talent for balancing comedy with intellectual curiosity regarding policies, but this recent hit piece on Arkansas’ attorney general exposes Stewart as the hypocrite, not the elected official. Stewart used to be considered a more moderate version of another internationally-known liberal comedian and commentator, Bill Maher, but they seem to have traded roles during the past year, as the clip below demonstrates.

For more articles on Arkansas politics and government, visit our Arkansas political news section.

2022 Senate Races in the South with the Most Undecided Voters

Matt OHern
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2022 Senate Races in the South with the Most Undecided Voters

Three of the most competitive 2022 Senate races are in the southeast. In Florida, incumbent Republican Senator Marco Rubio holds a Real Clear Politics average lead of 4.7 percent over Democrat Congresswoman Val Demings. As we reported earlier, Rubio and Florida Republicans enjoy a statistical advantage, with more registered voters this cycle, and Governor Ron DeSantis growing his lead vs. Charlie Crist in recent polls.

In Georgia, incumbent Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock holds an RCP average lead of 3.3 percent over Republican candidate Herschel Walker. Last week, Warnock and Walker debated in Savannah, where Walker’s gaffes included flashing an honorary police badge as a rebuttal to Warnock citing Walker’s misleading claims about being a member of law enforcement. The moderator reminded Walker that props were not allowed at the debate, but Walker falsely claimed that the badge was a legitimate piece of law enforcement identification. Two days ago, former President Barack Obama said he will campaign in Atlanta for Warnock, as well as the Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams, who is falling further behind Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in recent polls, including the Atlanta Journal Constitution. .

In North Carolina’s Senate Race, current Republican Congressman Ted Budd enjoys a slight edge over former North Carolina State Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley, with Budd up by 2.5 in the RCP average, putting the two in a statistical dead heat to take the seat relinquished by retiring Senator Richard Burr. Budd and Beasley also debated last week, but neither candidate committed a remarkable gaffe or took a position that surprised any spectators.

With each race close enough to be considered within the typical margin of error, the two keys to success will be get out the vote efforts by the respective parties, and the ultimate decision of voters who have yet to commit to either candidate. With those factors in mind, below is a list of the percentage of undecided voters in the two most recent polls in each of the three states.

PERCENTAGE OF NORTH CAROLINA VOTERS UNDECIDED IN BUDD VS BEASLEY SENATE RACE:

PERCENTAGE OF UNDECIDED FLORIDA VOTERS IN RUBIO VS. DEMINGS SENATE RACE:

  • 10 PERCENT UNDECIDED IN MASON-DIXON’S POLL. Rubio leads Demings by 6 percent in the same poll, 47 to 41.
  • 9 PERCENT UNDECIDED IN SPECTRUM / SIENNA POLL. Rubio leads Demings by 7 percent in the same poll, 48 to 41.

PERCENTAGE OF UNDECIDED GEORGIA VOTERS IN WARNOCK VS. WALKER SENATE RACE:

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Maintains Impressive Lead Over Stacey Abrams

Matt OHern
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Georgia Governor Brian Kemp Maintains Impressive Lead Over Stacey Abrams

With less than 30 days until 2022 Midterm Election Day, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appears to be headed to a comfortable re-election against Stacey Abrams. In a poll released earlier this week by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Kemp led Abrams 51 percent to 41 percent. With the exception of a Quinnipiac Poll, Kemp’s lead throughout October has been by at least five points, and Abrams has yet to get any more than 46 percent of the vote.

For more stories on Georgia politics, visit our Georgia political news section.

Wicker Rips Biden for Abandoning Southern Border

Matt OHern
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Wicker Rips Biden for Abandoning Southern Border

Mississippi senator Roger Wicker condemned President Biden‘s policies on border security. Below is a copy of the official press release from Wicker’s senate office.

Two Million Migrants Enter Country While Biden Looks Other Way

Our nation is facing many challenges, but none has gone more ignored by President Biden than the crisis on our southern border. Since the President took office, border states have been overwhelmed by waves of illegal immigrants and vast quantities of dangerous drugs. This year alone, Border Patrol agents have encountered a record two million border crossers and counting – nearly quadruple the 458,000 that were counted in 2020.

In the face of this worsening catastrophe, the Administration has feigned ignorance. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Administration’s “border czar,” recently made the absurd claim that “the border is secure.” Meanwhile President Biden still has not visited the border in his nearly 21 months in office. Because of this inaction, some border state governors have resorted to relocating migrants to cities like New York and Washington, D.C., to get the Democrats’ attention. Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Biden advisor, made the governors’ point for them by saying these communities “are not prepared to receive them,” even though the administration has been distributing migrants to other jurisdictions across the country for months.

Deadly Drugs Pour Into Our Communities

One deadly symptom of the President’s failure on the southern border is the sharp increase in U.S. deaths from fentanyl. The drug, which is being imported by Mexican cartels, is 50 times more potent than heroin. Over the past two years, fentanyl overdoses have become the leading cause of death among adults aged 18-45 in the U.S.

The rise of fentanyl deaths is directly linked to the flood of illegal immigration. Uncontrolled migration keeps the Border Patrol occupied, giving drug traffickers more of an open lane. Fentanyl seizures nationwide have gone up by 200 percent, indicating that drug cartels are ramping up their operations.

With so much lawlessness, it is no surprise that violence and crime are also becoming more commonplace in our border communities. Sheriffs are reporting a dramatic uptick in the number of migrants found dead while attempting to cross the border.  Recent estimates indicate 10,000 illegal immigrants with prior criminal records entered the U.S. last year. And from summer 2021 to summer 2022, Border Patrol agents apprehended 78 confirmed terrorists at the border.

Republicans Call for Solutions

Despite more than half of Americans agreeing there’s an “invasion” at the southern border, Democrats have done nothing to address the issue this Congress. This month, I was heartened to see Republican leaders roll out a legislative agenda that would make securing the border a top priority if Republicans win back control of Congress next year. This plan includes restarting construction on our southern border wall and providing additional funding for advanced technology to prevent illegal crossings. These are simple but effective policies I have voted to support through multiple administrations. 

Republicans have also pledged to eliminate many of the incentives that have drawn migrants to the U.S. and emboldened traffickers. We will work to end the “catch-and-release” policies of the Biden Administration and crack down on crime along our border. Recently, I joined Senator Marco Rubio in cosponsoring the Felony Murder for Fentanyl Distribution Act. If enacted, this bill would allow prosecutors to charge dealers with murder for selling fentanyl if it results in a death. This would send a loud and clear message that the U.S. will not tolerate this drug.

There are already many tools at the President’s disposal to tackle the problem of illegal immigration, but all of them require him to take the catastrophe at our border seriously. Americans will continue to suffer until he does.

Missouri Governor Signs Largest Income Tax Cut in State’s History

Matt OHern
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Missouri Governor Signs Largest Income Tax Cut in State’s History

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo – On October 5, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed SBs 3 & 5 and HB 3 into law. Both pieces of legislation are a result of the special session Governor Parson called to pass historic income tax cuts and extend key agriculture tax credits for a minimum of six years.

“Missouri’s elected officials have been hard at work at the State Capitol to pass critical support for farmers and ranchers and the largest income tax cut in state history for all taxpaying Missourians,” Governor Parson said. “This summer, we engaged stakeholders, representatives, and senators. We went to them, met them where they were, and formulated a concrete path ahead. Today, on the successful conclusion of our special session, we are proud to sign two historical pieces of legislation into law.”

SBs 3 & 5 reduces Missourians’ income tax liability by making several changes to income tax laws in the state of Missouri, including:

  • Reducing the top individual income tax rate from 5.2 to 4.95 percent, resulting in the majority of taxpaying Missourians seeing an approximately five percent decrease in their tax liability; 
  • Eliminating the bottom income tax bracket, allowing Missourians to earn their first $1000 tax free;
  • Allowing an additional .15 percent top income tax rate reduction to 4.8 percent when net general revenues increase by $175 million;
  • Eliminating income taxes for individuals making less than $13,000 a year and couples making less than $26,000; and
  • Allowing three additional .1 percent top income tax rate reductions in future years when net general revenue increases by $200 million, adjusted for inflation.

Due to additional rate reductions and revenue triggers, once fully realized, SBs 3 & 5 will reduce the top income tax rate in Missouri to 4.5 percent. For more information on SBs 3 & 5, click here. 

“Every Missourian can support sending less of their money to the government, and we trust Missourians to make decisions with their own money,” Governor Parson said. “Throughout my career, I’ve committed to exploring every opportunity to reduce Missourians’ tax burden, and thanks to our strong financial position and balanced approach, the time is now. This historic tax cut means more money for Missourians to spend, invest, and save. It means economic growth, business expansions, and good-paying jobs for Missourians both today and tomorrow.”

Governor Parson also signed HB 3 into law, which includes the extension and creation of several agriculture tax credit programs intended to help develop key areas of Missouri’s agricultural industry, the state’s top economic driver. The sunset for each program is for a minimum of six years. HB 3 includes:

  • Extending the expiration of the meat processing facility investment tax credit;
  • Creating a tax credit program for Missouri retail dealers of higher ethanol blend fuels;
  • Creating a tax credit program for Missouri retail dealers of biodiesel;
  • Creating a tax credit program for Missouri biodiesel producers;
  • Creating a tax credit program for establishing or improving urban farming operations;
  • Extending the expiration of the Rolling Stock Tax Credit program;
  • Extending the expiration of the Agricultural Product Utilization Contributor Tax Credit;
  • Extending the expiration of the New Generation Cooperative Incentive Tax Credit;
  • Extending the Wood Energy Tax Credit program;
  • Exempting utility vehicles for agriculture use from state and local sales and use taxes;
  • Creating the Specialty Agricultural Crops Act; and
  • Amending the Family Farms Act to modify the definition of small farmer.

“These wins will help further develop Missouri’s agriculture industry, create opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and ag-businesses, and help ensure Missouri agriculture remains not only our state’s top economic driver but that its spirit and tradition continues to live on in the next generations,” Governor Parson said. “We thank all of Missouri’s agriculture groups for their trust in us to get this done. We appreciate their leadership and commitment in securing a better deal for Missouri’s farm and ranch families.”

For more information on HB 3, click here. 

Vanderbilt Pauses ‘Gender-Affirming’ Surgeries on Minors After Pressure from State Leaders

Matt OHern
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Vanderbilt Pauses ‘Gender-Affirming’ Surgeries on Minors After Pressure from State Leaders

One of the nation’s most well-known pediatric clinics, Vanderbilt Medical Center, is suspending its gender transition services on minors. Tennessee State Rep. Jason Zachary tweeted a photocopy of a letter from C. Wright Pinon, VUMC’s deputy CEO and chief health system officer, which announced the decision to suspend services.

“We are pausing gender affirmation surgeries on patients under age 18 while we complete this review, which may take several months,” wrote Pinson.

Pinson’s letter comes days after a group of Tennessee state assembly members told Vanderbilt to stop gender transition surgeries on minors by Matt Walsh, a conservative columnist that the clinic’s practices qualify as “nothing less than abuse.”

Vanderbilt’s controversial practices involving minors and gender transition procedures were investigated by conservative author Matt Walsh, who recently released a documentary, “What is a woman?”, which interviews doctors involved with the procedures, as well as opponents and supporters of gender transition services for youth.

In another sign of academica reversing its course on liberal rule, the University of Florida’s disclosed that Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse was the sole finalist among the candidates evaluated and interviewed by the school’s presidential search committee. All that remains is the formality of a final vote by the board of trustees. The news of Sasse’s likely hire surfaced less than two months after a viewpoint diversity survey by The Capitolist ranked UF as the most politically oppressive campus in the state, due to the fact that it had the highest percentage of students and employees who report feeling “intimidated” to share their views on campus. Sasse is known as a staunch advocate of free speech but is also known for his background in academia, and his vote in favor impeaching Donald Trump following the January 6 capitol riots. Those factors undoubtedly made Sasse much more palatable to a board of trustees who otherwise wouldn’t have given him any consideration to run a department, nevermind the entire school. 

Election polls are always interesting, but the fact that two universities in power five conferences are opening their doors to conservative thought may prove to be a leading indicator that Democrats greatly overestimated their momentum leading into the 2022 midterms.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Announces Run for Governor

Matt OHern
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Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Announces Run for Governor

While the 2022 Midterm Election has the national media’s spotlight, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry made statewide headlines for 2023, announcing his candidacy in Louisiana’s 2023 gubernatorial race.

Landry, a Republican, must win his party’s primary election in order to challenge the seat that will be left vacant by outgoing Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards.

You can see Landry’s announcement video and read an excerpt from the bio on his campaign website, JeffLandry.com, below.

“Having joined the Louisiana Army National Guard while still in high school, Jeff Landry served his country and the people of Louisiana for eleven years. Over his decade-plus years of service, Jeff became a decorated veteran of Desert Storm. He also received the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, a National Defense Ribbon, and the Louisiana War Cross.

Understanding the importance of education, Jeff returned home after he fulfilled his commitment to our country and worked through college by continuing to serve others as a local police officer and sheriff’s deputy. Working in law enforcement, Jeff saw the best and the worst a community has to offer and worked every day to protect the most vulnerable.

After graduating from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he started his own oil and gas environmental service company. He also served as the executive director of the St. Martin Parish Economic Development Authority. During this time, Jeff heard from many local job creators that over-regulation from burdensome government officials imposes hefty costs upon small businesses across Louisiana.

That’s why Jeff decided to go to law school – to stand up for business owners and help them succeed in the face of big government. He took night classes and worked during the day until graduating from Loyola University in 2004.

From digging ditches to Desert Storm. From patrolling the beat to passing the bar exam. Jeff Landry walked in the shoes of people who struggle more than they should in a state as blessed as this one. 

But that life experience turned a regular guy, a political outsider involved in his community, into a national leader that shocked the Louisiana political establishment when he ran for and won a seat in Congress.

As a Congressman, Jeff Landry stood up for what we believe in and was named one of the top five most conservative members of Congress. Still, Jeff also cast more bi-partisan votes than any other member from Louisiana at that time because Jeff will always do what’s right – not what’s politically popular.

And as your Attorney General – that has not changed. Jeff Landry has worked tirelessly to stem the opioid crisis, prosecute welfare fraud, and restructure and reform the Department of Justice. Jeff battles every day to protect your Constitutional rights and successfully prosecute dangerous criminals that harm the good people of Louisiana’s quality of life.

Jeff embraced the responsibility to protect this state, her culture, her values, her people, and her children. During his time in office, Jeff Landry has helped reform Louisiana’s Department of Justice, which he leads. He created the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to fight crime and the Louisiana Solicitor General’s office to handle major Litigation, including national cases that impact Louisiana as they made their way to the United States Supreme Court.

Whether in Washington D.C. or in Baton Rouge, he is a fearless advocate for the Constitution and a champion for the Louisiana he loves. Jeff Landry is running for Governor of Louisiana because he knows that we deserve a government as good as our people, and we’re not getting it.

He and his wife, Sharon, are raising their son, J.T., in Acadiana, just miles from where Jeff grew up.”

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