Fwd: Morning Bell: The Government vs. YOU

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From: "The Heritage Foundation" <morningbell@heritage.org>
Date: June 14, 2013 5:23:19 AM GMT-06:00
To: Bobby Martin <bobbygmartin1938@gmail.com>
Subject: Morning Bell: The Government vs. YOU
Reply-To: morningbell@heritage.org

The Government vs. YOU 06/14/2013 Every day, more Americans get trapped by big government. In addition to groups targeted by the IRS, upstanding citizens going about their normal lives are suddenly targeted by law enforcement authorities and charged as criminals. Just a few examples: A young girl was fined $535… for rescuing a wounded woodpecker. A businessman was jailed for years… for shipping lobsters in plastic bags rather than cardboard boxes. A Maryland father and building engineer faced a years-long legal ordeal… after being unfairly targeted under the Clean Water Act. These are only a few of the shocking incidents The Heritage Foundation chronicles in our new project, USA vs. YOU. Experts at Heritage's Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies reveal the stories of 22 people from all backgrounds, races, and income levels victimized by carelessly written laws. Get the FREE e-book USA vs. YOU now >> When criminal laws are created to "solve" every problem, punish every mistake, and compel the "right" behaviors, this troubling trend is known as overcriminalization. Ultimately, it leads to injustice for honest, hard-working Americans at every level of society. Public interest groups from across the political spectrum recognize how this flood of criminal laws violates our basic liberties. Diverse organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the American Center for Law and Justice, and Right on Crime, among others, have joined with Heritage to reaffirm the true purpose of America's justice system: to ensure public safety and protect the innocent. When was the last time you saw the ACLU work together with a faith-based group like Justice Fellowship? With USA vs. YOU, the problem is grave enough to bring together unlikely allies. And we're delivering this bipartisan message just as the House of Representatives has launched a task force aimed at correcting this issue. This morning, Heritage Senior Legal Fellow John Malcolm will testify at the first hearing of the Overcriminalization Task Force—shining a spotlight on the scope and severity of this threat to our liberties. Ending the practice of trapping our citizens with unnecessary laws will be no easy task, with an estimated 4,500 criminal law offenses and 300,000 criminal regulations on the books. Experience the stories of Americans like you treated unjustly – download the FREE e-book now >> Over the next six months, Members of Congress from both parties will study this issue in depth, hold hearings, and—with the right encouragement—take steps to enact real reform. This new effort includes tools for you to raise your voice and make a difference in defending our liberties. So explore the documented stories in USA vs. YOU, follow the links, and take real action today to help turn the tide. Read the Morning Bell and more en español every day at Heritage Libertad. Quick Hits: President Obama has changed his policy on Syria, saying that Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons and that the U.S. will provide military support to the rebels. The Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, won't be so "affordable" for many workers, reports the Associated Press. What would redefining marriage mean for Father's Day? Investigative journalist James O'Keefe has produced some shocking stories of corruption. In a new book, he details his undercover work with Project Veritas. For decades, inappropriate IRS behaviors have been revealed. Each time, the agency has assured the public that it takes these breaches "very seriously." Heritage's Jessica Zuckerman fact-checked President Obama's latest speech on immigration and amnesty. What are you doing for lunch today? Join us at noon ET for a Google+ hangout discussing the Obama Administration's Common Core education overreach. Print | Comments | Forward

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