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NEW IMMIGRATION BILL: Rep. Charlie Norwood (R.-Ga.) introduced a new bill on July 9 that would facilitate the enforcement of America's under-enforced immigration laws. The CLEAR Act of 2003 (HR 2671) "gives local and state law enforcement agencies the authority to detain criminal and illegal aliens within the course of their regular duty" but "ensures federalism by giving states and localities the choice to enforce these immigration laws," says a summary provided by Norwood's office. Since many illegal aliens simply return to the United States after multiple deportations-another deportation is the only penalty they are likely to face-the bill "creates a financial disincentive for illegally returning to the U.S. again and again." The bill also removes an excuse that local police use to refrain from enforcing immigration laws: "Police officers and law enforcement agencies are granted immunity from legal liability for enforcing immigration law, leaving them free to do their duty in enforcement of immigration law."

BEYOND ABORTION ETC.: The nation's leftist judges are expanding the range of their abrogation of the law and the desires of the American people. The courts have long dictated their beliefs on such issues as abortion and criminals' rights, but now, the Nevada Supreme Court has suspended a state constitutional amendment approved directly by the people of the state about taxes. The Nevada court decided that the amendment, passed in 1996 and which requires a two-thirds vote in the state legislature or a majority vote of the Nevada people in order to raise taxes, could be ignored in order to raise taxes for the purpose of increasing funding for public schools. Nevada's constitution also requires that education in the state be funded. "The Supreme Court's decision might as well have told everyday Nevadans to go to the back of the bus, because when it comes to the law, taxpayers are second-class citizens," said National Taxpayers Union (NTU) Vice President Pete Sepp. Anti-tax members of the state legislature led by Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick (R.) have filed an appeal in federal court. Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn supports the tax hike.

NO HELP: Just before Independence Day, presidential candidate Rep. Dick Gephardt (D.-Mo.) undermined President Bush's efforts to promote stability in newly conquered Iraq, where guerillas and terrorists continue to attack our troops, by declaring his resolve. Bush said, "There are some who feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring them on." Gephardt replied July 2, "I have a message for the President: enough of the phony, macho rhetoric. We should be focused on a long-term security plan that reduces the danger to our military personnel. We need a clear plan to bring stability to Iraq and an honest discussion with the American people on the cost of that endeavor. We need a serious attempt to develop a post-war plan for Iraq and not more 'shoot-from-the-hip' one-liners."

KUCINICH HEDGES BETS: Ex-prolife Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D.-Ohio) says that he still thinks he can win the Democratic presidential nomination despite his campaign's languor, but he filed for re-election to his House seat just in case. Reported the Columbus Dispatch on July 8, "In a news briefing at Ohio Democratic Party headquarters, Kucinich, 56, said he will be a candidate for re-election to the Cleveland-dominated 10th congressional seat he has held since 1997 while simultaneously filing as a presidential candidate in the district. Carlo LoParo, spokesman for Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, said Kucinich legally can run for both offices."

NEW TACK: As most Catholic bishops refrain from action, a new Catholic group is battling the de facto religious test for office that Senate Democrats are trying to impose on President Bush's judicial nominees. "President Bush nominated Alabama Attorney General William Pryor, a devout Catholic, for the U.S. Court of Appeals. His confirmation in the Senate is being opposed mainly because he has answered the call of the Church to 'faithful citizenship,'" wrote Your Catholic Voice President Ray Flynn, former Democratic mayor of Boston and ambassador to the Vatican under President Clinton, to fellow ' Catholics. "We urgently need your help by calling your senators' offices right away." Pryor has been outspoken in his opposition to judicial activism and his support for the right to life of unborn children, and he and other traditional Christians have been targeted by Senate Democrats for their strong beliefs.

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