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News
Commonwealth Update - 6.16.10
Wednesday June 16, 2010 - 12:18 PM
Inside this issue: Predatory gambling in the spotlight; Religious content no longer banned at community center; Federal government upholds ban on homosexual blood; Study showing lesbians being better parents than mom and dad debunked; NH pastors event with Gingrich, Barton; FRC Petition to protect our troops. Be sure to subscribe to receive Kris Mineau's Commonwealth Update in your Inbox every Wednesday.
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Predatory gambling in the spotlight
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As you know, MFI is working closely with our allies on the predatory gambling issue to stop the Legislature from making an enormous mistake in legalizing casinos and slot machines. Yesterday, I recorded an MFI Spotlight video on the issue of predatory gambling, and how casinos deceive and trap people into compulsive gambling.
On Monday, our friends at United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts called on state senators to release details on the one-sided, apparently taxpayer-funded, benefits- only study. Senate President Pro Tempore Stanley Rosenberg told The Republican of Springfield that the study will “contain justifications for the Senate’s casino plan.”
“It looks like Senate leadership is using untold taxpayer dollars on a private firm to create more propaganda to justify a proposal which, even proponents admit, will lead to increased corruption and crime, harm to families and children, losses to small businesses and their employees and vast new taxpayer costs,” said Kathleen Conley Norbut, president of United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts, the non-profit grassroots coalition of casino opponents. “Given the open admission by Senators that the predatory gambling bill will ruin lives, break apart families, lead to corruption and massive new taxpayer burdens, it’s astonishing – even in this manic atmosphere – that they wouldn’t bother to calculate the costs to taxpayers.”
Please take a moment to email your state senator. Here are some talking points to consider:
- Ensure a comprehensive, independent analysis of the true costs for regulations, criminal and consumer protections, infrastructure, traffic mitigation, losses of jobs to local businesses and regional municipal costs - not just those facing host communities.
- Immediately provide the public with the costs being incurred by the Senate, presumably at taxpayer expense, for the benefit analysis currently being conducted to “justify” leadership’s bill.
- Immediately provide the public with the name, credentials and any potential conflicts by the unnamed firm that the Senate has retained and list any past or current ties to the gambling industry, its mission, charge and scope of work.
- Develop and publicly release a side-by-side comparison of the House and Senate bills, as is commonly done in legislation of this magnitude, including in it the estimated costs to taxpayers of both bills.
- Include in the legislation clauses that force mitigation and services from casino owners that rise with inflation and increased costs.
Click Here to send your email today. |
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Religious content no longer banned at community center
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The Boston Centers for Youth and Families has decided to put an end to its problematic policy banning the use of religious content in its publicly available meeting rooms. The community center made the move after receiving a letter from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) that was sent on behalf of Calvary Chapel of the City.
Since 2008, the church has used the space to teach character development and virtues from a biblical perspective to children between the ages of 5 and 12. Prior to the policy change banning religious teaching in its rooms that are open to the rest of the general public, the church had reserved space for its weekly after-school “Calvary Kidz” program, as well as an upcoming vacation Bible school.
“Christian groups shouldn’t be discriminated against for their religious beliefs at facilities open to the public,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster. “The city has done the right thing in agreeing to no longer enforce its unconstitutional policy so that Christian groups can enjoy the same access that has been freely offered to everyone else.”
Source: Alliance Defense Fund
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Federal government upholds ban on homosexual blood
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From Family Research Council:
"Infect Americans in the name of political correctness!" That ought to be the slogan for the Left's latest attempt to change the FDA's policy on blood donors. Today, FRC's Peter Sprigg testified before the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability (AVBSA), urging them to keep the ban on homosexual donors in place.
The FDA created the rule because men who have sex with men are 60 times more likely to be infected with HIV/AIDS. People who care more about the homosexual agenda than public health claim the policy is discriminatory. (Sound familiar? This is the same argument used by the Left to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy: tolerance first, safety second.) Unfortunately, the country is full of extremists who can't seem to understand that this isn't about prejudice; it's about precaution.
As Peter said earlier today, the blood donation policy doesn't exist to serve socio-political purposes, nor should it be changed to advance them. Fortunately, the AVBSA agreed. In a huge victory for public health, the Committee voted 9-6 to heed the concerns of groups like FRC and keep the ban in place! Way to go, Peter!
Click Here to watch Peter Sprigg’s testimony.
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Study showing lesbians being better parents than mom and dad debunked
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According to the Ruth Institute, the study “is a small sample of politically interested, statistically unrepresentative, self-identified lesbian mothers reporting on the behavior of their children.” The mothers were found by researchers at events geared specifically towards lesbians, women’s bookstores and through lesbian newspapers in Boston, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. The study surveyed only 77 lesbian mothers of 78 children, and no other kinds of homes were part of the study.
The Ruth Institute is now conducting its own survey “non-random set of politically interested mothers to report on their own children” with the goal of getting 7,800 mothers’ reports by Fathers Day, this Sunday. If you are a mother with kids at home, we encourage you to participate in the Ruth Institute’s survey HERE.
Source and More Information: The Ruth Institute
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NH pastors event with Gingrich, Barton
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There will be a two-day briefing next week in New Hampshire for pastors and religious leaders. The New Hampshire Renewal Project is hosting a Pastors’ Policy Briefing titled “Rediscovering God in America.” Among the special guests are former Speaker Newt Gingrich, historian David Barton and former Congressman Bob McEwen. The event is complimentary, and includes all meals and lodging. It is being held Monday, June 21 and Tuesday, June 22 at the Radisson Hotel, 11 Tara Blvd, Nashua, NH 03062. To reserve your space at this exciting event, please call 800.992.5596.
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FRC Petition to protect our troops
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From Family Research Council:
Three weeks ago, Armed Services chiefs General Casey (Army), General Conway (Marines), Admiral Roughead (Navy) and General Schwartz (Air Force) sent letters to Congress asking Members to wait and not show disrespect for our troops by reversing the current policy of not allowing homosexuals to serve in the military. Two hundred thirty-four Representatives ignored that plea from our most senior military leaders and added language repealing the ban on homosexuals in the Armed Forces to the annual legislation that funds our troops. The U.S. Senate is now poised to do the same.
Additionally, Democrats have attached language to that same Defense funding bill that effectively would turn our military medical facilities into abortion clinics and force American taxpayers to underwrite the use of military facilities, the procurement of additional equipment, and the use of needed military personnel to perform abortions.
American Armed Forces leaders understand the reason our military exists: to protect our nation and to win wars. However, in the middle of two conflicts essential to our national security, President Obama and the Democratic leadership have decided to use our military as a laboratory for their liberal social policies, regardless how they affect our fighting strength, recruitment or readiness.
Please sign the petition to tell Congress to keep the law that says homosexuality is incompatible with military service, and oppose efforts to use our Armed Forces to advance the homosexual agenda.
We have gathered 90,000 signatures and need only 10,000 to reach our goal of 100,000 signatures before we present your signatures to Senate leaders live on a national webcast Tuesday, June 22.
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