NEBRASKA’S MARRIAGE LAW OVERTURNED
Last Friday, a federal judge overturned Nebraska’s marriage law which was passed as a state constitutional amendment with 70% support. The judge cited the 14th Amendment to the Constitution (Equal Protection clause) and the Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court decision that struck down the sodomy laws in the states where it was still on the books – Georgia included.

Decisions such as this underscores why we need the Federal Marriage Amendment passed and passed quickly. There is nothing neither constitutional nor democratic about one person having such sway over the will of the people.

The decision will now be appealed to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

MEANWHILE, in Kansas….On April 5, Kansas voters passed a state constitutional marriage amendment by a margin of 70-30% with 592,000 people voting on the amendment itself. The amendment bans both “gay marriage” and Vermont-style civil unions. There are now 18 states that have adopted marriage amendments.

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Recently posted to our web site is an excellent article by Wall Street Journal’s James Taranto, “Why I’m Rooting for the Religious Right.” It is worth reading. Go to www.gachristiancoalition.org

STATE UPDATE
Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of being in the Governor’s office when he signed the Woman’s Right to Know bill into law. This bill ensures that women have all the information they need prior to making a decision about what is a life-changing and at times life-threatening decision. There were many legislators and activists present who had worked on this legislation for 15 years or longer. Among those attending was the former Senator Joe Burton who first introduced the legislation.

At the signing, Governor Perdue said “Women have a right to learn about all of the options available to them in the event of an unwanted pregnancy. The Woman’s Right to Know Act is a common sense approach to a sensitive issue and it reflects the mainstream values that Georgians share.

Thank you, Governor Perdue.

PARENTAL PERMISSION FOR EXTRA CURRICULAR & CLUB ACTIVITIES
On April 13, the State Board of Education tabled the rule requiring parental permission for children to join whatever club is available at school, and it looked like they would take no action on this proposed rule change.

However, when the Board met on May 11, the proposed rule change was added to their agenda. So, there will be another 30 day period for public input and another hearing for anyone who didn’t speak at the April 13 meeting. A called meeting has been set for June 14, at which time the Board will vote on the rule change.

I was unable to make the April 13 meeting, but our ever-faithful Sue Ella Deadwyler (Georgia Insight) was there along with Senator Nancy Schaeffer and Rep. Bobby Reese to represent those of us who believe that parents have the right to know what is going on in their public school regarding extra-curricular activities.

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IN MONTGOMERY County, Maryland after the school barred parents from sitting in on classes in which a new sex-education curriculum was to be taught, the parents sued and achieved a court-ordered delay against the new sex-education curriculum.

U. S. District Court Judge Alexander Williams Jr. temporarily blocked the implementation of a pilot sex-education program that presented homosexual conduct in a favorable light and discriminated against the viewpoints of traditional religious groups.

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NATIONAL LEGISLATION

OPPOSE H. R. 810
Coming up prior to the summer recess (August), the House will vote on H. R. 810. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has promised a vote “sooner rather than later.” This bill will provide federal funding for research that requires killing human embryos, and would overturn President Bush’s policy against using federal funds for embryo-destructive research.

Stems cells can be obtained without killing human embryos, from umbilical cord blood and from many types of adult tissue. According to National Right to Life, humans with at least 58 different diseases and conditions have received therapeutic benefit from treatment with such adult stem cells.

Currently, there are 199 co-sponsors of the bill including Georgia Reps. Cynthia McKinney (D-5) and Sanford Bishop (D-2). This is not enough votes to pass the House, but it is close. It takes 213 votes to pass, so if you have any reason at all to believe your Congressman may be inclined to vote for this bill, please take a moment to call him and urge him to vote against H. R. 810. Contact info www.gachristiancoalition.org

REAL ID ACT EASILY PASSES HOUSE
Recently, the House passed by a vote of 368-58 the final conference agreement on the Emergency Appropriations Supplemental Act (HR 1268) with Rep. Sensenbrenner’s REAL ID provisions largely intact. The provisions in this bill will keep driver’s licenses out of the hands of illegal aliens and the terrorists among them, will close dangerous loopholes in our asylum system, and will improve border security by enabling the completion of the San Diego-Tijuana border fence. (FAIR)

Thank you for Keeping The Faith.
Sadie Fields