DOMA Challenged Obamacare Legal Challenges Schedule for 2010 With Your Support We can Make a Difference Bits and Pieces

Doma Challenged

The Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage as between one man and one woman for all federal laws, and provides that states are not required to recognize a marriage from another state if it is between persons of the same sex.
A summary of where we are currently at with the states is in order: thirty states have constitutional amendments defining marriage. Illinois is one of seven states that have statutes defining marriage as between a man and a woman (passed in 1995 due to our efforts). Three states, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa have legalized same-sex marriage as a result of court decisions. New Hampshire and Vermont have legalized same-sex marriage through legislation. The District of Columbia also recognizes same-sex marriage.

read more »

The Legislature has adjourned, giving all of us a well-deserved break. I don't think we have ever been so busy at the Capitol (or maybe it just seems that way every year). This year has been more difficult than most, with amendments being proposed, rejected, and negotiated. There have been a number of bills that seemed to have no problems--until they were amended and a frantic push was made to correct the problems.

The Legislature has not yet reached any kind of agreement on the state budget. Essentially, the budget is in the hands of Speaker Madigan in the House, and Senate President Cullerton in the Senate. The budget proposals that are out there do not really address the concerns of the budget, but rather, throw a lump sum into areas of the budget, then allow the Governor to makde whatever cuts are needed. This is really evidence that the legislature is not doing its job in putting together a thoughtful and thorough budget. (Of course, why should this year be any different--we haven't really had a good budget for years not.)

The problems are catching up though. There are over $6 billion in unpaid bills from last year, and the legislature does not want to make cuts to this year's budget. At our house, when we are spending more than we are taking in, the spending must stop--but not the Illinois House and Senate.

Why is there no real budget? Because for years the majority leadership in the House and Senate have designed a budget for the state that cut the minority party out of negotiating. Now they would like everyone to take the blame.

read more »

This afternoon, in the Senate Criminal Law Committee, Rev. Vanden Bosch testified against SB 3359, which was amended in the House to include electronic harassment. After a lenthy debate, it passed the House of Representatives on Friday, April 30.  The floor debate was used as the substance of testimony this afternoon.

Rev. Vanden Bosch and Ralph Rivera have been working to protect religious speech in legislation that passed. SB 3299 was ultimately amended in such a way that there was concern for religious free speech. During the House floor debate, these concerns were brought out and verified as being a potential problem. Rep. David Reis (R) asked Rep. McAsey (D), "What constitutes an 'intent to harass'? What is meant by 'harass'?"

Rep. McAsey, in here response said that "harassment implies intentional acts to make someon be worried, anxious, or uncomfortable...." It is not unusual when sharing the gospel with others that people can become worried, anxious, or uncomfortable. Because this bill dealt with electronic harassment, a follow-up email, website posting, or a cell phone call could all potentially become electronic harassment.

read more »

FOCA is Dead! Confidentiality in Adoptions Attacks on Marriage Legislation in the 96th G.A. Schedule for 2010 Please Help Support our Ministries Bits and Pieces

FOCA is Dead!

HB 6205, the Reproductive Health and Access Act, has been returned to the House Rules Committee, indicating it is dead for this session. On Friday, March 26, the bill we call the “Freedom of Choice Act” (FOCA) was returned to the House Rules Committee without coming to a vote on the House floor.

This is a clear indication that the bill did not have the support necessary to move it out of the Illinois House even though it has been amended to remove the Parental Notification Act of 1995 and the Medical Right of Conscience Act.

read more »

Status of Illinois FOCA Bill Protecting Confidentiality in Adoptions Legislation in the 96th G.A. Bits and Pieces

Status of Illinois FOCA Bill

HB 6205, the Reproductive Health and Access Act, passed out of the Human Services Committee of the House on March
10, 2010, and is on second reading at the time of this publication going to press. Although the bill was amended in
the Human Services Committee, there are some major problems with the legislation.

1) Abortion is made into a "fundamental right" for a woman, meaning there can be no interference with receiving an
abortion or contraception. In other words, there is a right to an abortion, a right to contraception, and a right
to state funding for both (including contraception for boys). The “fundamental right” which is established here is
more restrictive than the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.

read more »

HB 6205, the Reproductive Health and Access Act, passed out of the Human Services Committee of the House today and could be voted upon as early as next week in the Illinois House. Although the bill was amended in the Human Services Committee, there are some major problems with the legislation.

1) Abortion is made into a "fundamental right" for a woman, meaning there can be no interference with receiving an abortion or contraception. In other words, there is a right to an abortion, a right to contraception, and a right to state funding for both (including contraception for boys).

2) This will overturn the Ban on Medicaid Funding of Abortion, requiring taxpayers who have religious and conscientious objections to abortion to pay for abortion with state dollars. In 1978, the last year before the passage of the Ban on Medicaid Funding of Abortion, the state paid for 12,738 abortions. Within two years after the passage of the bill, the number of abortions paid for by the state dropped to 22 abortions. Even though a judge required that "health" of the woman be added to the legislation, the number of abortions paid for by Illinois taxpayers hovers between 200-300 abortions, not 10,000-20,000 abortions.

3) Comprehensive sex education which conforms to the human rights act (sexual orientation) will be required for all public schools. This means that homosexuality must be taught as being as valid as heterosexuality to all public school students. Although the bill states the information must be "age-appropriate", mentioning what is considered age-appropriate for 5 year-olds would make one blush.

read more »

With a tremendous outcry last year, citizens of Illinois helped to defeat HB 2354, the Reproductive Health and Access Act, better known to us as the FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act). On the last day to file legislation, Rep. Barbara Currie (D) introduced HB 6205, The Reproductive Health and Access Act. Although the Act is structured differently than HB 2354, it does essentially the same things as HB 2354.HB 6205, as introduced by Rep. Barbara Currie (D), creates a "fundamental right of privacy with respect to reproductive decisions." This means that there is a right to abortion, contraception, and state funding of both at any age (even for boys getting contraception).

Most of the following information is from an analysis of the legislation by pro-life lobbyist Ralph Rivera.

Because abortion would be considered a fundamental right, there can be NO "interference" with obtaining an abortion or contraceptives at any age, by any political division or subdivision of the state (by any government agency or part of the government). If there is a "violation," the individual can sue for civil action, and the state, county, or other subdivision will have to pay uncertain, but large amounts of attorneys' fees, court costs, etc.

read more »