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The courts this week took an important step toward
protecting women's reproductive rights with two key rulings.
Judge Myron Thompson, who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter, blocked Alabama's extreme abortion ban saying it "
defies the United States Constitution." Alabama's law is the strictest in the nation. It contains no exception for rape and incest.
Judge J. Clifford Wallace, joined by Judge Susan Graber, wrote an opinion saying that the Trump administration rules giving employers with religious or moral objections the right to opt out of Obamacare's requirement that they
provide birth control coverage in employee health plans aren't enforceable.
President Richard Nixon appointed Wallace. He was confirmed by a Democratic Senate. Susan Graham was appointed by Clinton and approved by GOP-controlled Senate.
All of these judges were
deemed qualified and held opinions and philosophies within the judicial mainstream. The Senate approved them without consideration to political ideology.
Today,
politics are more important than judicial principles. Judges are nominated and confirmed based on their extreme views which are aligned with Trump's.
The Senate is getting ready to take up the nomination of Steven Menashi. He is considered one of
Trump's most dangerous judicial nominees to date. As Betsy DeVos's right-hand man at the Department of Education, Menashi worked to strip away critical protections for students, sexual assault survivors, LGBTQ people, and people of color.
Menashi could be joined on the courts by Sarah Pitlyk. She spent her career attacking women's reproductive rights, including in-vitro fertilization and surrogacy. Pitlyk has
likened birth control to abortion.
While the House is battling to protect the principles of the Constitution, the Senate continues to turn away from those principles when it comes to our courts. This will only change when we elect candidates to the Senate who believe that our
nation's judges must provide entitled equal protection under the law to all.
Elections matter because
courts matter.
Not sure who to donate to? Make a donation to JAC and we will use it to support our candidates.
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JAC met with Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-9) in Chicago.
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JAC members met with Mark Kelly, candidate for U.S. Senate in AZ, and former Rep. Gabby Giffords. (l to r front: Susan Insoft, Stacy Michelon, Marlene Breslow Blitstein, Lois Zoller, Michael Zoller. Linda Rae Sher, Michael Arkes, Amy Small, Jennifer Brown, Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords, Linda Schottenstein Fisher, Sharon Koltin. l to r back: Nancy Eisenberg, Claire Levenberg, Barbara Bluhm-Kaul, Kathy Emanuel, Marcia Balonick, Hollis Wein, Jamie McLaughin, Jacki Parmacek)
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Likud, Blue and White Work out the Details of Rotation Deal
Likud negotiators tried to assuage some of Blue and White's concerns about a rotation for the premiership between the parties' respective leaders, Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz. One of Blue and White's hesitations about a unity government has been that, as prime minister, Netanyahu would have the authority to fire ministers from their party without input from Gantz, sparking another election before Netanyahu goes on leave and Gantz becomes prime minister.
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Senators: We're Coming Together to Combat Anti-Semitism
Too often, members of Congress feel compelled to highlight what divides us. In an age of intense partisanship and ideological division, it is an easy trap -- one that can distract us from addressing the core issues on which we agree and can take action. Today, the two of us -- a practicing Jewish Democrat from Nevada and a devoted Christian Republican from Oklahoma -- are calling on our colleagues to set aside the labels, the bickering and the grandstanding to join together to take on one of the most disturbing trends of our time. We stand united in the common goal of defeating hate and combating the violent scourge of anti-Semitism.
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In Ruling Against Alabama's Abortion Ban, Federal Judge Doesn't Mince Words
"Alabama's abortion ban contravenes clear Supreme Court precedent," Judge Thompson wrote. "It violates the right of an individual to privacy, to make 'choices central to personal dignity and autonomy.' It diminishes 'the capacity of women to act in society, and to make reproductive decisions.' It defies the United States Constitution." Set to go into effect on November 15, the law threatened abortion providers with felony charges and up to 99 years in prison for performing an abortion, or ten years in prison for attempting one.
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Liberal Christian Group Files Ethics Complaint Against Attorney General Barr
Faithful America, a Christian advocacy group that often champions liberal causes, has filed an ethics complaint against U.S. Attorney General William Barr, claiming he violated his oath to defend religious liberty for all Americans in a recent speech at Notre Dame University's law school.
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A New Push for Gun Violence Prevention Wins Support from Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill
A bipartisan group of lawmakers are unveiling new legislation that hopes to prevent gun violence by promoting the safe storage of firearms. The legislation, titled the Prevent Family Fire Act of 2019, is being introduced in the House by Democratic Rep. Mike Levin of California and Republican Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois. It will be co-sponsored by other House Democrats as well as Republican Reps. Mike Turner of Ohio and Elise Stefanik of New York.
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'That's Not Bringing About Change': Obama Advises 'Woke' Young People Not to Be so Judgmental
Former President Barack Obama has a message for the "politically woke" crowd that has become prolific on social media in recent years: Get over it. Obama called out young progressives for being too ideologically rigid and judgmental during an interview Tuesday moderated by "Grown-ish" star Yara Shahidi at the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago. "This idea of purity and you're never compromised and you're always politically woke and all that stuff, you should get over that quickly," the two-term Democrat said. "The world is messy. There are ambiguities. People who do really good stuff have flaws. People who you are fighting may love their kids and share certain things with you."
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Why Does Israel Have so Many Startups?
Tel Aviv contains more startups per capita than any city in the world other than Silicon Valley, according to the 2019 Global Startup Ecosystem Report published by Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network. Prior to 2019, Tel Aviv contained the most startups per capita, even beating Silicon Valley. With companies including Google, Nielsen, and Nvidia operating incubators, accelerators, and competitions around Israel, some are even calling Tel Aviv the next Silicon Valley.
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Introducing JACII, a JAC group for young professionals, advocates, and those young at heart who are looking to get involved. Groups have started in Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Events will feature elected officials and speakers in lively settings. JACII is by and for young people. Now is the perfect time to get involved.
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Know someone who would be interested in joining or hosting a meeting? Let us know at info@jacpac.org. We will be happy to help organize a JACII in your city.
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"I have unbroken confidence in our system of checks and balances and trust in our Constitution to guide us on the path ahead."
-- Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL)
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An Evening with
Rep. Max Rose (NY-11)
November 10, 6-8 pm
Chicago area
Call the JAC office for details
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Breakfast with
Rep. Elissa Slotkin
Monday, November 17
8:00 am
Chicago
Call the JAC office for details
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SAVE THE DATE
April 21-23, 2020
JAC's 2020 Annual Meeting
Celebrating 40 years of JAC
Washington, DC
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Want to host a JAC event? Contact the office and we will help organize it.
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Jewish Community Voter Guide
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The 2019 Jewish Community Voter Guide is now available.
The JAC Education Foundation's nonpartisan Congressional Voter Guide is now available for download and in print version. This edition tracks the votes of all members of the House and Senate from January - July of 2019 on key votes important to the Jewish community.
If you would like printed copies for your synagogue or organization, please contact the JAC Education Foundation office at 847.433.5999.
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Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC) is a pro-Israel PAC with a domestic agenda. We support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocate for reproductive health and the separation of religion and state and incorporate other issues of importance to the Jewish community, including gun violence prevention and climate change. In addition to providing financial support for U.S. Senate and House campaigns, JACPAC educates our membership with outreach events designed to inform and activate their participation in the political process.
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Paid for by Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs. Contributions or gifts are not tax deductible. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Corporate contributions and contributions from non-US citizens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence are prohibited. All contributions by individuals must be made from personal funds and may not be reimbursed or paid by another person.
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