Declarations

Don’t Text and Drive

“Over time, it’s going to be part of getting people to get their priorities straight. When they’re driving a car, they need to be focused on the road.”

—Pennsylvania State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, commenting on a new state law that bans texting while driving. The statewide ban carries a $50 fine and gives police authority to pull over suspected violators on sight.

Volcker Rule

“This is a really important issue, we understand that, and we are reviewing the comment letters carefully.”

—Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro, explaining to lawmakers this month that her agency is examining whether insurers qualify for an exemption in the proposed Volcker rule which requires commercial banks to scale back investments in hedge funds. Some insurers have complained they would be hit by the rule because they are affiliated with banks.

Freedom-of-Religion Battle

“It is a freedom-of-religion battle…We are talking about an unwarranted, unprecedented radical intrusion into the interior life of integrity of a church’s ability to teach, serve and sanctify in its own.”

—New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan, speaking at a New York event earlier this month. He called on Catholics to stand against the government in a contraceptive coverage controversy involving religious-affiliated institutions.