Posts Tagged ‘Obama’
Obama calls for research on media, video games and gun violence
Directive means media won’t be exempt from conversations about violence, but it also suggests Hollywood, television networks and video-game makers won’t be a central part of the discussion.
Biden seeks video-game industry input on guns
Vice president met yesterday with other representatives from the entertainment industry, including Comcast Corp. and the Motion Picture Association of America.
In 2013, escalating battles over claims of conscience
Attempts by the state to burden religious practices are always hotly contested – and that’s as it should be in a nation founded on religious freedom.
FEC levies $375K fine on Obama ’08 campaign
Fines are among the largest ever for a presidential campaign and stem from a series of missing notices for nearly 1,200 contributions totaling nearly $1.9 million.
President can keep secrets on targeted killings
Federal judge chides Obama administration for refusing to provide documents on drone strikes but says she has no authority to order them disclosed.
First Amendment predictions for 2013 include disputes over leaks
Expect Congress to revisit the free-speech and free-press issues surrounding news sources and the leaking of secrets and classified documents.
D.C. Circuit orders feds to rewrite part of health-care law
Religious colleges in North Carolina, Illinois are challenging rules that require the schools to provide free contraceptives to employees.
Mo. company wins temporary reprieve from contraception mandate
Federal judge had dismissed O’Brien Industrial Holdings’ lawsuit, but 8th Circuit halts enforcement of mandate while company appeals.
President signs whistleblower-protection bill
Capping a 13-year effort by supporters of whistleblower rights, the new law closes loopholes created by court rulings that had removed protections for federal workers.
Justices order new look at health-care challenge
High court revives claim by Liberty University that President Obama’s health-care overhaul violates the school’s religious freedoms.
Court refuses to block federal birth-control mandate
Judge says Hobby Lobby, which objects to providing insurance coverage for certain contraceptives, didn’t cite any case law that companies ‘have a constitutional right to the free exercise of religion.’
Christian publisher wins round in birth-control fight
Federal judge temporarily prevents the Obama administration from forcing Tyndale House Publishers to provide its employees with certain contraceptives under the new health-care law.
Top bishop: We won’t give in on birth-control rule
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan says church leaders are open to working toward a resolution with federal officials but will press ahead in the meantime with challenges to the mandate.
IRS not enforcing rules on churches and politics
Official says tax agency has suspended audits of churches suspected of breaching federal restrictions on political activity.
The First Amendment Center is an educational organization and cannot provide legal advice.
Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and in Washington, D.C. Previously, Paulson served as the editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center and president and chief operating officer of the Diversity Institute, is a veteran journalist whose career has included work in newspapers, radio, television and online.
John Seigenthaler founded the First Amendment Center in 1991 with the mission of creating national discussion, dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.
David L. Hudson Jr. is an expert in First Amendment issues who writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications. Hudson teaches law and was a scholar at the First Amendment Center.
Tiffany Villager is director/First Amendment studies at the First Amendment Center, which she joined in 1993. She also served as the center’s research manager and research coordinator, and developed the center’s library.
Featured Post • Inside the First Amendment • Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes
Perils and politics of inaugural prayers
In today’s deeply divided America, who prays the ceremonial prayers is fast becoming a religio-political weathervane pointing in the direction cultural winds are blowing.