WASHINGTON -- While U.S. Intelligence officials warn Osama bin Laden's death could lead to retaliation, it could also deal a more crippling blow to the terrorist group al Qaeda. During Sunday's covert raid on bin Laden's million-dollar compound outside the Pakistan's capital city, U.S. Navy Seals recovered a treasure trove of documents, DVD's, and computer hard drives that may expose more cracks in the terrorist network. Intelligence officials are reviewing the information in hopes that it could...
Read more
For Rep. Gregg Harper, the surreal nature of Friday’s shutdown countdown was encapsulated by wardrobe options. The Mississippi Republican began the day with a staffer offering to order him a canary red blazer, the staple of a Capitol tour guide’s uniform, since only Members could accompany visitors if Capitol tour guides were furloughed during a shutdown. “He said, ‘Hey, what size should I get you?’” Harper joked. The Congressman ended the night decked out in a black tuxedo that he had no time t...
Read more
An East Texas congressman and a local pastor will be honored Monday night during Vision America’s annual Gala and Freedom Celebration. U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) and Denman Avenue Baptist Church Pastor Charles Roberts are being honored during the celebration as “Guardians of the Family.” This will be the third time Vision America has held its East Texas banquet, according to Rick Scarborough, who founded the group in 1998. “(Vision America) is all about advertising the principles of Bibli...
Read more
Troops would continue to get their paychecks and other benefits on time if the government shuts down, under a bill proposed Friday by a Texas lawmaker. Congress has been unable to pass a budget for this fiscal year, so it has passed several short-term spending measures to continue funding the government at last year’s levels. The latest measure ends April 8. Lawmakers have three options: Agree on a budget by then, pass another temporary spending measure, or shut down the government.. The possibi...
Read more
Active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces and military civilians who support them still have to show up to work even if the government shuts down next Friday, inspiring lawmakers to find a way to pay them minus a Defense Department operating budget. According to a senior defense official, active-duty military would be required to work since they are considered "essential government personnel" exempt from a shutdown -- as are military civilians acting in support of U.S. operations and activiti...
Read more
Georgia Republican Congressman Jack Kingston and Texas Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert held a press conference to introduce new legislation designed to remove up to the $105.5 billion in automatic funding that they insist was buried in President Obama's health care legislation. The lawmakers were to be joined by Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., but she apparently got hung in the Libya hearing and was a no show. The lawmakers say the legislation returns to Congress its authority to review this fun...
Read more
Texas' environmental regulators are "the best in the country," and "Texas air quality is excellent," U.S. Rep. Joe Barton said Friday during an event that highlighted the state's ongoing scrap with federal authorities over air quality. Barton, an Arlington Republican, and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Tyler Republican, visited the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Fort Worth office to learn about its mobile air monitoring program and speak with local reporters about the Environmental Prot...
Read more
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, shared stories about Texas history, his childhood and living for what you believe at Orr Elementary School. Gohmert stopped by the campus Wednesday as part of Texas Public Schools Week. Clad in a navy blazer, boots and a white cowboy hat — the school had hat day — Gohmert took a short tour before talking to third- and fourth-graders. Gohmert said it was a not-so-favorite fourth-grade teacher who turned his interests toward law when he was a child. The teacher ha...
Read more
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) asked FBI Director Robert Mueller on Wednesday whether the bureau had any outreach programs specifically for the Baptist or Catholic communities like it did with the Muslim community. "How is your outreach going with the Baptists or the Catholics?" Gohmert inquired. "Do you have a particular program of outreach to Hindus, Buddhists, the Jewish community, agnostics, or is it just a particular outreach program for [Muslims]?" Gohmert pressed. "I've looked extensively and ...
Read more
In 1997 three-time Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser was convicted of a federal crime that exposed him to a $5,000 fine and a six month prison sentence. What did Unser do that so angered the federal government? He got lost in a blizzard. That’s it. How did getting lost in a blizzard become a crime? Watch the attached video or click through to Heritage analyst Brian Wash’s Commentary, below: What do former Indianapolis 500 champion Bobby Unser and small-businessman Abbie Schoenwetter have in common? Bo...
Read more
