U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta travels to Texas, speaks out on immigration

McALLEN, TX — U.S. Congressman Lou Barletta lashed out at the federal government Thursday, accusing unnamed officials of “not telling Americans the full story behind the growing crisis of unaccompanied minors at the border.”

Barletta made the charges at a special field hearing of the House Homeland Security hearing near the U.S. border with Mexico.

Earlier in the day, Barletta and other members of Congress toured a facility housing the minors at a nearby border patrol station.

The first witness before the committee was Governor Rick Perry, who said he did not believe the federal government was being honest

(Continue Reading)

Detriments of Regressive Taxation

“Last night I spoke on the House floor against the proposed cigarette tax increase. My full comments are available below. Hardworking Philadelphians and those visiting the city should not have to pay more and have those tax dollars funneled to the teacher union coffers. I will continue to oppose any and all tax increases. The government takes too much of our hard earned money already.” ~ Representative Daryl Metcalfe

SCOTUS Decision on Religious Freedom: An Orthodox Perspective

It was hard yesterday, on a quiet summer Sunday in rural central Pennsylvania, to imagine that the small factory across from the lot where we’re building our Orthodox mission temple would have its fate decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC today.

But it did.

Conestoga Wood Specialties, owned by a Mennonite family, was, along with better-known Hobby Lobby, owned by an Evangelical Protestant family, the focus of today’s final Supreme Court decision for this season.

The case centered on whether companies because of their owners’ religious beliefs could opt out of government-required contraceptive insurance coverage (which some deem abortifacient) under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or face crippling fines that would have forced Conestoga (continue reading)

Hallelujah! Victory for the Hahns, Religious Freedom

Freedom is the Ultimate Winner in Conestoga Wood and Hobby Lobby Supreme Court Decision

Pennsylvania Family Institute applauds ruling as important First Amendment victory

Liberty in America was affirmed and protected today as the United States Supreme Court sided with advocates for First Amendment freedoms, and rejected government overreach into the lives of those who own and operate businesses.

Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI) congratulates the Hahn Family, old-order Mennonites from Lancaster County and the founders and owners of Conestoga Wood Specialties, who challenged the federal government’s contraceptive drug coverage mandate.

“The Hahns made it very clear from the start being forced to provide employee coverage for drugs that can cause an abortion would be a severe violation of their religious faith and conscience, (continue reading)