Thank you very much, secretary bernhardt. We also have with us very special people. Congressman jim jordan, congressman mark meadows, and representative john ratcliffe. Its an honor to be with everyone tonight and all across our land, melania and i would like to wish you a very, very Merry Christmas. And now, the first lady will do the honors of lighting the National Christmas tree. So well count from five down to that very special number. Five, four, three, two, one applause thats great. music plays thats beautiful. Thank you very much. And let us show our appreciation to the incredible workers at the department of the interior and the National Park service, please. Did such an incredible job. applause thank you very much. And thank you, as well, to the u. S. Marine corps band and the tucson arizona boys choir. You know that. The chorus is fantastic. And thank you very much, tucson arizona. Thank you very much. I also want to thank a special group of young, wonderful people west tenne
From across the spectrum on key Public Policy issues of the day. Joining us today to talk about his book while he took the jim wallace, good morning two. I want to start with christianity today. An editorial calling for President Trumps removal from office. Your reaction. Euros in your editorial that this might be a watershed moment for 2020, why . Guest i came back from a 27 city book tour. Right in the middle of advent. Which, in our tradition is a season of waiting and during and longing for christ. What iting for christ is was thinking coming home. All of a sudden cover this editorial appears from christianity today, a very established evangelical credible , mark galli, who i know, says there are moral issues at stake in the selection. Not just political, but deeper. The reality of a President Trump is what he is raising. Me, what did jesus say . What did he mean . Did he mean it . Heres this person today saying these tradeoffs, these transactional deals we like what donald trump i
Evening. Inave taught religion america for more than 35 years. And i believe that the First Amendment has played a vital role in the vitality of this nation. And i shall read it for you. Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press or the right of the people to peacefully assemble and to petition the government for a. D dress of grievances the to come first, which is where religious freedom is often called americas first freedom. Establishment actually comes even before religious freedom. Often people dont understand what establishment is. 1833, massachusetts this established. Established. What that means is people no longer had to pay taxes to support my own religious ancestors, the congregationalists. If you want to know why establishment when a way, imagine how popular it was to pay taxes for somebody elses preacher. That is one of the reasons it went away. In also, tha
Freedom forum. Tonightme you all here to celebrate the museum and the First Amendment and look forward to a new chapter. I would like to recognize some of the museums Founding Partners who we are so pleased to have with us this morning. [applause] we are also honored to have several of our trustees in attendance coleman, davidke jack kirschenbaum, john lee, charles, peter prichard, mike, john, prichard, mike, john, barbara. [applause] after more than 11 years, the museum will close its doors on pennsylvania avenue at the end of the month. While we are sad, we are also heartened that nearly 10 million visitors walked through our doors to experience a story of news, the role of the free press in history and the core freedoms of the First Amendment religion amendment religion, speech, assembly and petition apply to their lives. We think everyone who visited, but thank everyone who is part of this room. Belief inou for your the importance of our work and our mission. [applause] years, your
Hapter im excited to have you here today for our topic on occupational life insurance. This is actually occupational licensing. Occupational licensing laws established entry into professions and fields based on the allegation that the general safety and welfare of the community is served and protected by them. The reality is that connected Interest Groups favor occupational licensing for its anticompetitive effects. The fees and restrictions instituted by occupational licensure prevent entrepreneurial innovators who often come from modest backgrounds and represent vulnerable groups from efficiently providing consumers with better goods and services. Fallsus of these laws disproportionately on minority eliminates from the National Illumination of burdensome regulations and the expense of Economic Freedom and mobility. The Johnson Center for political economy recently did a study that was published in 2018 the cause of occupational licensing in alabama. We have dan sutter with us today w