In another episode of That's Our Congress

The U.S. Postal Service defaulted on a $5.5 billion health care payment to its retirees this week, and there are no signs of Congress stepping in to help. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t taken action toward the post offices.

During the 18 months of service by the 112th Congress, the House has introduced 60 bills to rename various post offices, according to ABC News. 38 have passed the House and 26 have been voted into law.

Reform legislation for the Postal Service itself? Not happening. And now Congress goes on recess for five weeks.

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Missouri To Vote On Prayer Amendment 2 Known As 'Right To Pray'

Missourians will vote on Tuesday (Aug. 7) on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that supporters say would protect residents' right to pray in public, and if a recent poll is any indication, it could pass by a mammoth margin.

Supporters say the so-called "right to pray" ballot measure -- known as Amendment 2 -- better defines Missourians' First Amendment rights and will help to protect the state's Christians, about 80 percent of the population, who they say are under siege in the public square.

snip

State Rep. Chris Kelly, a Democrat who opposed the original legislation, called Amendment 2 "a jobs bill for lawyers."

In other news...
Hartford Institute estimates there are roughly 350,000 religious congregations in the United States. This estimate relies on the RCMS 2010 religious congregations census. Of those, about 314,000 are Protestant and other Christian churches, and 24,000 are Catholic and Orthodox churches. Non-Christian religious congregations are estimated at about 12,000.

Some siege, huh?

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The parents of U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte are facing foreclosure in Florida.

According to a lawsuit filed in May in Volusia County, CitiMortgage is suing to foreclose on Steven and Ileana Lochte. The bank is seeking to recoup $250,000. The news was first reported by TMZ.

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Intolerance tastes terrible

Supporters of gay marriage in the US have been protesting at outlets of a fast-food chain, in response to its owner's opposition to same-sex unions.

More than 13,000 people said on Facebook they would be attending "National Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A" on Friday.

I can't embed, but here is a link to the video.

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Clint Eastwood just made Mitt Romney's day.

Who said this isn't one big joke?

The Oscar-winning director and longtime movie star says he's endorsing the Republican presidential candidate.

Eastwood tells The Associated Press that he's backing Romney because, in Eastwood's words, "I think the country needs a boost."

Eastwood is among the Romney supporters attending a fundraiser for the Republican candidate Friday night in Sun Valley, Idaho.

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And a story with a very happy ending

Rain is a giving soul and has provided meals and transportation to many a friend. Over the years, she has been an advocate for peace, her neighborhood, the environment, and a champion of social justice. She devoted time to a number of organizations and it seemed her mode of operation was always to give, and give all she had. With her own struggles of depression and her 12-year-old daughter recently diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis, the stress and the bills stacked up around her. On July 30th, Rain owed $13,000 and a foreclosure auction to sell her home was scheduled on August 2nd.

There were just four days left to save her home. It was a long shot but her friends got organized, just like they have so many times before for the causes and people they believe in. In the span of 18 hours they launched a full-scale media blitz that included a video, an online petition, and a fundraising site.

The story was picked up by Gloria Steinem and the hacker-collective Anonymous. Facebook statuses and Twitter posts picked up in Richmond, traveled through the US and eventually help came from all over the world...