Stephen Halbrook Testifies Against Confirmation of Eric Holder for Attorney General at Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing for the controversial nomination of Eric Holder to the position of Attorney General of the United States.

Independent Institute Research Fellow and attorney Stephen Halbrook is among the witnesses testifying, arguing that Holder's reputation as a steadfast opponent of Second Amendment rights makes him an unfit candidate for the job.

Halbrook, author of the new Institute book The Founders' Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms, filed an amicus brief on behalf of more than 300 members of Congress in the recent Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller. But the landmark decision, affirming an individual right in the Second Amendment, conflicts with Holder's track record, claims Halbrook. In fact, Holder joined in a brief arguing that the Second Amendment only concerns the "State's operation of a well-regulated militia" and does not protect an individual right, a position at odds with President-elect Barack Obama's approval of Heller.

"When Mr. Holder served as Deputy Attorney General (1997-2001) and Acting Attorney General (2001), the Department of Justice implemented policies hostile to Second Amendment rights," states Halbrook in his prepared written testimony. "In the establishment of the national instant criminal background check system ('NICS') in 1998, the Department claimed the authority to keep records on lawful firearm purchasers for an alleged 'audit log' for six months, despite the law's requirement that such records be destroyed and its prohibition on registration of firearm owners."

"In that same period, the Department circulated draft legislation that would be included in a bill introduced by Congressman John Conyers as H.R. 1768 (106th Cong., 1999). The bill would have: Imposed felony penalties on a person who planned a gun show without registering with and reporting to ATF; made it unlawful for persons under age 21 to possess firearms, even though they vote, serve on juries, and serve in the military; imposed a 3-day waiting period, and limited handgun purchases to one per month."

"After terrorists struck with box cutters on 9/11, Mr. Holder responded with an op ed arguing for 'background checks on all gun sales,' which would have extended felony penalties to the otherwise innocent, intrastate conduct of law-abiding private individuals. He added: 'Congress should also pass legislation that would give the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms a record of every firearm sale.' Under the guise of combating terrorism, every American firearm owner would thus be registered with the government," Halbrook states.

Continuing to reveal Holder as a staunch opponent of the Second Amendment, Halbrook concludes, "Eric Holder has taken a constricted view of Second Amendment rights. Millions of law-abiding Americans exercise the right to keep and bear arms. Mr. Holder's opinion is that the people have no such right unless they are commanded to exercise it in a formal militia, which renders the right meaningless... Many Americans have reason to be uneasy about Mr. Holder's nomination for Attorney General. They deserve to have a person in this role who is committed to upholding all parts of the Constitution, including the Second Amendment. Unfortunately, Mr. Holder has proven himself not to be that person."

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Republican National Committee: Will Rep. Hilda Solis Face Questions About Her Own Support for Secret Ballots for Congress But Not for Workers?

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Republican National Committee:

Today, The U.S. Senate Will Hold A Hearing For President-Elect Obama's Department Of Labor Nominee, Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA):

Solis Will Be Testifying At Her Senate Confirmation Hearing On Friday. "On Friday, Mr. Kennedy's panel will question Representative Hilda Solis, who has been chosen to be the Labor Secretary." (Kate Philips, "Confirmation Hearings Update," The New York Times' "The Caucus" Blog, thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com, 1/7/09)

In 2007, Solis Signed A Letter Protesting The Absence Of A Secret Ballot For The Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Election:

Solis Joined Other Female Democrats To Protest The Fact That The Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Election Was Held Without The Traditional Secret Ballot. "[Rep. Loretta] Sanchez said that beyond the personal problems she has with Baca, the fact that the caucus' election was held without the traditional secret ballot was a key issue she has with the group. Sanchez, her sister, Rep. Linda Sanchez, and Reps. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y. and Hilda Solis, D-El Monte, wrote a letter to Baca on Jan. 5 calling for a new election." (Dena Bunis, "Sanchez's Ears Burning," The Orange County Register, 2/2/07)

-- The Letter Argued That "It Is Imperative That Our Caucus' Integrity Be
Unquestioned." "'As we prepare for the 110th Congress in which the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus will have the opportunity to play a more
prominent role, we believe it is imperative that our Caucus' integrity
be unquestioned,' they said in the letter. The letter got no
response." (Dena Bunis, "Sanchez's Ears Burning," The Orange County
Register, 2/2/07)


But Solis Supports The "Employer Free Choice Act," Which Would Get Rid Of The Secret Ballot For Workers:

Solis Co-Sponsored The "Employer Free Choice Act." (H.R. 800, Introduced 2/5/07)

Solis: "I rise in support of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act. As the daughter of union family -- my father was a Teamster and my mother worked tirelessly for twenty five years -- I know that my seven siblings and I would not be where we are today without the wages, health coverage and retirement benefits my parents received." (Rep. Hilda Solis, "Rep. Solis Issues Statement In Support Of H.R.800, Employee Free Choice Act," Press Release, 3/1/07)

Solis: "The Employee Free Choice Act provides more protections for workers, and levels the playing field for those who want to join a union. I urge you to vote for H.R.800." (Rep. Hilda Solis, "Rep. Solis Issues Statement In Support Of H.R.800, Employee Free Choice Act," Press Release, 3/1/07)

Solis Received High Marks From Labor Unions:

Solis Has A 97 Percent Lifetime Rating From The AFL-CIO. (AFL-CIO Website, www.aflcio.org, Accessed 1/8/09)

-- In 2007, Solis Received A 100 Percent Rating From The AFL-CIO.
(AFL-CIO Website, www.aflcio.org, Accessed 1/8/09)


Solis Has A 100 Percent Career Rating From AFSCME. (AFSCME Website, www.afscme.org, Accessed 1/8/09)

In 2008, Solis Received A 100 Percent Rating From SEIU. (SEIU Website, capwiz.com, Accessed 1/8/09)

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