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News
Commonwealth Update - 5.26.10
Wednesday May 26, 2010 - 04:10 AM
Inside this issue: Scott Brown to oppose repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law; "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal vote likely on Thursday; "Bathroom Bill" supporters rally outside Statehouse; Rep. Jeff Perry takes on benefits for illegal immigrants; The weather is not the only thing heating up; Planned Parenthood opponents unable to approve petition; Focus warns parents about deceptive 'Safe Schools' program. Be sure to subscribe to receive Kris Mineau's Commonwealth Update in your Inbox every Wednesday.
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Scott Brown to oppose repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law
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Thank you for taking the time to send a personal email to U.S. Senator Scott Brown this week regarding the nomination of Elena Kagan and the upcoming vote on the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. On Tuesday, Sen. Brown, who is a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, officially came out in opposition to the repeal of the law.
Sen. Brown said that it is premature to repeal the law, and that he is continuing a personal review of the policy. He says that it would not be appropriate to approve such a sweeping change in policy without assurances that a new policy would not “jeopardiz[e] the mission of our military.”
This was a very courageous decision by Sen. Brown, and he is facing significant pressure from the homosexual activists to switch his position. Please take a moment to call Senator Brown at his Washington, D.C. office (202.224.4543) and offer him your support for opposing the repeal. If you are a veteran or have a relative actively serving, be sure to mention that during your call.
CLICK HERE to sign our petition of support to Scott Brown.
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"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal vote likely on Thursday
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According to multiple sources, a vote on a compromise on the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is likely this week. According to Politico, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was a key player in forcing the issue to a vote before the November elections, and before the military, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, have had a chance to conduct their own review of the impact that the law would have on the armed forces.
The plan is to attach the repeal to the must-pass Defense Authorization Bill, with a vote now, and the repeal going into effect later. The language states that the repeal would take place upon certification by the president, the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that a review of the policy had been conducted and that military readiness, effectiveness, cohesion, recruiting and retention would not be harmed by the implementation of the repeal.
Despite Sen. Brown’s principled stand against repeal, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) have all come out in support of the repeal, and Democrats appear to have the requisite 15 votes to attach the repeal amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill.
As a 30 year veteran of the Air Force with two sons who are veterans, these politically-motivated decisions weigh very heavily on me. Only 14 percent of Americans today have ever served in the military, and the same is true for members of Congress. Sadly, most elected officials have never been in the military and cannot begin to understand the conditions of those who have actively served, especially in war zones.
Only 24% of active duty military personnel support the repeal. The Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs have asked the President and Congress to not hold the vote until the Department of Defense completes its study of the repeal’s impact. Nevertheless, the Administration and Congress are charging headlong, putting political expediency and paybacks ahead of the morale, health and welfare of our troops.
Such wanton disregard for the brave men and women sacrificially serving our nation is reprehensible, never mind that it is being done on the eve of Memorial Day!
Today, I recorded a special MFI Spotlight on this issue. Click Here to view it.
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"Bathroom Bill" supporters rally outside Statehouse
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With the “Bathroom Bill” still before the Judiciary Committee, and with the leading Republican candidate for governor Charlie Baker expressing his opposition to the bill, supporters of the flawed bill are growing concerned that their chances of forcing the bill into law are dwindling.
About 100 demonstrators gathered in front of the State House over the weekend to hear from speakers advocating for the bill. Organizers noted that their decision to hold the event on May 22 was because it was “Harvey Milk Day,” the anniversary of the birth of the radical homosexual activist.
The demonstrators took their protest on the road, marching down Park Street, through Downtown Crossing, and finally through Boston Common before returning to the State House.
Though it would be easy for us to declare victory as the bill remains in Committee, that is just what our opponents want us to do as they turn up the heat on the Legislature. If you see your state representative over the long weekend, be sure to respectfully tell them you oppose the bill.
We constantly monitor the State House chatter for word of any movement on the bill. If we need more direct action, we will email you and contact you via Facebook and Twitter.
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Rep. Jeff Perry takes on benefits for illegal immigrants
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Though immigration is not one of MFI’s top tier issues, as someone who is an immigrant and became a naturalized citizen of the greatest country on earth, I am a great believer in legal immigration. Moreover, as someone who has served in the Armed Forces, I know how critical strong borders and enforced immigration laws are to public safety. Because the federal government has consistently failed to secure the borders or enforce the laws already on the books, states like Arizona have had to take matters into their own hands.
Here in Massachusetts, Rep. Jeff Perry (R-Sandwich) took the lead on taking away one of the carrots that lead immigrants to enter the country illegally. His budget amendment designed to cut off state benefits for those unable to prove citizenship was barely defeated when it was brought to a vote earlier this month. The fight to approve a similar amendment has now shifted to the state Senate.
Perry, who is also a candidate for U.S. Congress, has become an outspoken critic of the federal government for their immigration failures. In his legislative tenure, Rep. Perry has been a conservative of conviction on everything from marriage to abortion.
Click Here to read more about the immigration issue from our friends at Family Research Council.
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The weather is not the only thing heating up
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From the “Bathroom Bill” on Beacon Hill to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” on Capitol Hill, these are busy days for Massachusetts Family Institute. Though Memorial Day may mark the unofficial start of summer for many people, there is no let down for us at MFI and our partner organizations.
The 2010 elections are also fast approaching, and along with our lobbying efforts at State House, everything we do requires the necessary funding. I ask you to consider a special contribution to MFI as a renewal of your commitment to stand with MFI as we stand for the families of the Commonwealth.
Thank you!
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Planned Parenthood opponents unable to approve petition
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Last Wednesday, the Fitchburg City Council voted against a zoning change that would have made it more difficult for Planned Parenthood to open an office in the city’s central business district. The council also rejected a substitute motion that would have defined a medical office as a place to conduct certain medical business, but not abortions.
Though Planned Parenthood maintains that abortions will not be performed at the office, opponents were committed to making sure that was the case. “This is an effort to hold [the director of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts] and Planned Parenthood to their word and ensure abortions are not done at a medical office,” said Dr. Mark J. Rollo, an opponent of the clinic.
Dr. Rollo also responded to criticism that the zoning change would be unconstitutional by banning abortions from being performed in Fitchburg by explaining the policy change would only ensure that abortions would be done in a proper medical facility, and not in a medical office.
Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette
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Focus warns parents about deceptive 'Safe Schools' program
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Friday Five: Candi Cushman Warns Parents about Deceptive 'Safe Schools' Programs
Parents beware:
As the education analyst for CitizenLink, formerly Focus on the Family Action, Candi Cushman recently launched a new website called TrueTolerance.org. The site is designed to assist parents who are faced with promotion of homosexuality in their local schools — and to empower them to defend their parental rights and protect their children. Below, she explains the latest strategies homosexual activists are using to get their messages into schools, and how this has a real impact on local parents, like Tammy Schulz, a mother of four in Illinois — as well as what you can do about it.
1. What are the latest trends — as far as homosexuality promotion in schools goes — that parents should be aware of?
Well, first of all they need to be aware that there is a concerted effort to target public schools in every community. Homosexual activists openly acknowledge that this is a top priority. And it's easy to understand why: They realize that if they can capture the hearts and minds of the next generation, they will have settled the debate over the kinds of values that are going to direct the future of this country. But the good news is there are still many parents and people of faith in this country who don't want their taxpayer-funded schools turned into indoctrination centers. So to get around those objections, gay activists have latched onto a more subtle method — they are infiltrating classrooms under the cover of "anti-bullying" or "safe schools" initiatives.
2. What are the red flags parents should watch out for?
Watch out for initiatives and proposed laws with titles like "safe schools," "student protection" and "bullying or harassment prevention." Many times they are a guise for homosexuality lessons. These initiatives come in the form of everything from teacher training, curriculum, children's books and statewide laws. Also be on the lookout for your school district making alliances with local groups that may just be a front for national homosexual-advocacy organizations. For instance, in a recent Citizen magazine article, we tell the story of Tammy Schulz, an Illinois mom raising four African-American children (ages 3 to 10) whom she and her husband adopted through the foster-care system. Tammy and other moms in her prayer group recently learned that their local elementary school hosted a teacher training conducted by a local "partner organization" of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) —which is the national advocacy group founded by "Safe Schools czar" Kevin Jennings.
Not only was this training used to promote homosexual-themed books and videos for elementary-age kids, but it also listed as "perceived obstacles," things like "family values" and "faith systems." So now Tammy and the other parents are fighting to defend their parental rights and religious freedoms.
3. You mentioned legislation also being used to push this agenda. Can you give us examples?
Yes, parents should be on the alert for "anti-bullying" or "anti-discrimination" legislation that mandates schools to specifically enforce special protections for homosexual categories like "sexual orientation," "gender identity" and/or "gender expression," which can be construed to protect things like cross-dressing or boys using girls' bathrooms. By my count, at least 12 states have passed these types of laws. And this agenda is even reaching into Bible Belt states like North Carolina.
They're also trying to take the power completely out of parents' and elected state officials' hands by federalizing the whole issue. For instance, today's CitizenLink Daily Update covers a Senate bill introduced this week that would do just that.
4. Why is this agenda so effective, and how has it gained so much traction?
Well, it's important to understand that this really is a well-orchestrated plan. In fact, as far back as the 1990s, "Safe Schools czar" Kevin Jennings made a speech explaining how he planned to use the word "safety" to put opponents on the defensive. And it is an effective strategy. After all, no one likes to be accused of opposing student safety and bullying prevention.
While those titles sound nice and compassionate, the problem is that, once gay activists succeed in getting special protections for homosexual categories into policies, they then use those mandates as leverage to get what they want in the schools — such as student and teacher "diversity" training and books like Heather Has Two Mommies. (For specific examples of this, visit the "bullying resources" section at www.truetolerance.org.)
5. How can parents respond if they encounter these tactics in their school or state?
It's important to acknowledge the problem, while also promoting the right solution. As Christians, I think we can and should acknowledge that bullying and peer abuse is tragic and wrong — and it should be prohibited. But this can be done without sexualizing and politicizing the entire school environment. Our viewpoint is based on the fact that all human beings are created by God in His image — which means every person has innate dignity and worth. Every individual is worthy of being protected from harm — not because of the political subgroup they belong to — but because they are the unique creation of God. That's why we advocate strong and objective policies that prohibit bullying for any reason against any child. A fair and objective policy should put the emphasis on the wrong actions of the bully — not on the characteristics of the victim.
So if you see this happening in your area, visit www.truetolerance.org to access up-to-date statistics and talking points, as well as real-life stories from parents like Tammy. You can use the site, for instance, to counteract bad policies by offering a legally sound alternative that doesn't politicize the issue — a model anti-bullying policy crafted and researched by the Alliance Defense Fund. Just look for the "new bullying resources" section at the top of the page.
Source: CitizenLink.com
NOTE: MFI worked at the State House to ensure that the recent anti-bullying bill, unanimously passed in both the House and the Senate, did not mandate schools to specifically enforce special protections for homosexual categories like "sexual orientation," "gender identity" and/or "gender expression. Nonetheless, parents must be more aware than ever how their schools are implementing the new law, especially what organization’s curriculum will be used and who will conduct the teacher training. We ask that you contact us if you see any of the “red flags” mentioned above.
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