Three Pennsylvania Mayors Want to Legalize Counterfeit Marriage

(Harrisburg) — Three Pennsylvania mayors — Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, John Callahan of Bethlehem and Joe Sinnot of Erie — have joined about 100 of their fellow anti-family mayors in signing a statement calling for the legalization of counterfeit marriage, also known as same-sex “marriage.”  This statement was in cooperation with the homosexual group Freedom to Marry.   The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide pro-family group, is appalled that three of our city mayors would support the redefinition of marriage and oppose what is best for children.

“Children need a mommy and a daddy and for Nutter, Callahan and Sinnot to support something that does not give that to their cities’ children or the other children of this Commonwealth and the nation is beyond outrageous.  They’ve signed onto lies – one,  people are born homosexual; two, homosexuals cannot already marry and three, children raised by two individuals of the same-sex are not adversely affected,” Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA stated.

In a November 23, 2007 Philadelphia Inquirer article Michael Smerconish calls on incoming mayor Michael Nutter to encourage marriage to help bring down the violence in Philadelphia because studies had shown children from an intact family are less likely to be involved in violent crimes.  He said in the article, ” I was anxious to question Michael Nutter about data I’ve studied and written about that suggests a link between crime and the dissolution of marriage. I offered the data. Nutter was dismissive.”  Unfortunate for Philadelphia as they closed 2011 as the ‘Per Capita Murder Capitol of the United States.’

Other findings on the importance of a married mother and father to children include:

1.) “Dual-Parenting: A Social Science Perspective For Optimal Child Rearing,”:  ”…there is no fact that has been established by social science literature more convincingly than the following: children ordinarily develop best and develop most fully when they are reared by both a mother and a father and are able to experience regular family interaction with both genders’ parenting techniques during their childhood.”

2.) The only major study to directly compare children raised in married, single-parent and same-sex households “Children in three contexts: Family, education and social development,”:  “Overall, the study has shown that children of married couples are more likely to do well at school, in academic and social terms, than children of cohabiting heterosexual and homosexual couples.”

3.) Journal of Divorce & Remarriage examined a number of “gay parenting” studies and reported: “The conclusion that there are no significant differences in children reared by lesbian mothers versus heterosexual mothers is not supported by the published research data base.”

“To think that these three Pennsylvania mayors joined other far left mayors in undermining  marriage and putting children further at risk is a disgrace to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Additionally, they do not represent the views of the majority of their constituency.  The small minority of homosexuals have a loud voice, but that does not change the fact that the majority of Pennsylvanians understand that marriage is between one man and one woman no matter what three city mayors may sign,” Gramley concluded.

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January 24, 2012

Issue

Vote on HR 2070 Scheduled

Details

HR 2070 – the World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2011 (go to version number 2 -”Reported in House – RH”)  — is scheduled for a vote in the House sometime this week.  Remember this bill . . . direct(s) the Secretary of the Interior to install in the area of the World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia a suitable plaque or an inscription with the words that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the Nation on June 6, 1944, the morning of D-Day.”  There were some concerns about the Commemorative Works Act  and its stipulation that a new memorial “does not interfere with, or encroach on, an existing commemorative work.”  In Committee, Section 3 was added which states the Commemorative Works Act “shall not apply to this Act.”  Of Pennsylvania’s Congressmen,  only Lou Barletta, Mike Kelly, Patrick Meehan, Joe Pitts,  and Todd Russell Platts are listed as co-sponsors!

Action Steps

Contact your Congressman and ask him or her to vote ‘Yes’ on HR 2070 when it comes to a vote later this week.  Click here for contact information.

January 17, 2012

Issues

Voter ID — HB 934

Details

HB 934 would require valid “proof of identification” in order to vote in a Pennsylvania primary or general election.  This would greatly cut down on voter fraud.  On June 23 HB 934 passed the State House and went to the Senate State Government Committee.  It was amended and reported out on December 12th.  On December 14th is was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.  Our primary election is April 24th and it would be great if HB 934 could be passed and signed into law before then!

Action Steps

1.)  Contact Senator Jake Corman, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and ask him to move H.B. 934 forward for a vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

2.)  Contact your State Senator and ask him or her to support HB 934 when it comes to a vote in the full Senate.

January 11, 2012

Issue

President Obama’s “Recess Appointments”

Details

One week ago today President Obama announced the “recess appointment” of not one, but FOUR nominees to controversial boards — former Democratic Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to serve as the director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  (CFPB) and three (two Democrats and one Republican) to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).  The two new Democrats on the NLRB were just nominated in mid-December and have never been vetted by the Senate!  Click here to listen to my Two Minute Weekly Update for more information.

Last week when the President made the two announcements — one for the CFPB and the other for NLRB appointments — the Republican leadership expressed disbelief and concern, but we haven’t heard anything since!  What does the Constitution say about what happened last Wednesday?

Article II, Section 2 says, “The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.”

Was the Senate even adjourned?

Article 1, Section 5 says, “Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.”

The House had not given the Senate ‘consent’ to adjourn and they were still holding pro-forma sessions.  Thus, the Senate was not legally adjourned.

Action Steps

Contact your Congressman and remind him or her what the Constitution says and ask what Congress plans to do.  Click here for contact information.

January 10, 2012

Issue

Department of Labor and Teens on Farms/Ranches

Details

The Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed significant changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that will severely impact the type of work young people are allowed to do on farms and ranches. The changes will greatly hinder a farmer or rancher in his desire to hire a young person.  While the FLSA already prevents young workers from doing some tasks, there has previously been sufficient flexibility within those rules to allow young people to work in agriculture.  The DOL proposal would prohibit children under the age of sixteen from assisting in a range of common agricultural practices, including the vaccination of livestock or the use of any power driven machines to do agriculture work, including tractors, pressure hoses, and battery operated tools.  In addition, no one under the age of eighteen would be allowed to work in stockyards, grain elevators, feedlots, livestock exchanges, and auctions.  Finally, there are also concerns that the proposal could severely limit young people from working on family farms.  Small farms and ranches which rely upon younger family members to help run the farm/ranch would be forced to hire help.  How will these proposals, if passed, impact the cost of food?  The unemployment rate of young people?  Kids in FFA or the 4H?

Action Steps

A Congressional letter was sent to Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on December 16th.  It opposes the proposed changes in the labor law.  Click here to read the letter.

As you can see over 100 Congressmen signed the letter.  Those included PA Congressmen Lou Barletta, Mark Critz, Tim Holden, Mike Kelly, Todd Russell Platts, Bill Shuster, and Glenn Thompson.    If your Congressman’s name is on this list, please take time to send him a quick thanks for standing up for the rights of farmers and ranchers to hire youth and ultimately standing up for all Americans who are struggling right now to put food on their table.  Click here for contact information.

FYI:  The US House will be back in session on January 17th, but you can contact your  Congressman’s district office nearest you for best results.

December 23, 2011

Issue

Ellwood City Nativity Scene

Details

Several weeks ago we sent information to the Borough of Ellwood City; the borough manager, Dom Vicarri immediately called us for additional information.  I, in turn, contacted our legal counsel, Liberty Counsel, about the situation.  They have communicated several times and advised the borough as to steps they can take to avoid litigation.  The issue has come down not to the Christmas display itself, but comments made by some of those representing the borough.  The display itself, with the inclusion of Santa, the menorah, etc. alongside the Nativity scene, is constitutionally sound and defensible.  However the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is holding the borough hostage because of the above referenced comments especially the offer to include their banner in the display.  As Liberty Counsel has advised the borough this could be very quickly resolved by allowing the banner to be included, thus opening the entire display up as a public forum.  In turn, allowing you and others to display banners in favor of Christmas and the borough and opposing the FFRF.  Click here to see how Chester County handled the Freethought Society, another group of atheists associated with FFRF.   However, Borough Council has decided to give into the demands of the FFRF and move the display across the street next year.  This would be an unnecessary capitulation of our constitutionally protected freedom of religion and a clear victory of the FFRF.  Their  original threats were hollow and they would never have won in a court of law.  Again, the problem was created when some of those officially representing the borough made unwise comments to the FFRF.  Yesterday we again faxed a copy of this article to Mr. Vicarri after he called and left a message that there was a group of concerned citizens who wanted to fight the effort to get the Christmas display moved off borough property.

Action Steps

1.)  If you live in the Borough of Ellwood City, please call TODAY and speak with Borough Manager Dom Vicarri.  His number is (724) 758-7777.  Here’s what you need to say to him:   follow the recommendations of Liberty Counsel to display the FFRF banner and thus open the display up as a public forum.

2.)  If you do not live in the borough, but know someone who lives there and is concerned about the threat of removing their Nativity scene, please share this information with them.

December 22, 2011

Issue

No “Merry Christmas” in the House

Details

One must wonder who is in charge in the United States House of Representatives.  In recent days it has been revealed that “currently” Congressmen are not permitted to say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy New Year” in any correspondence mailed using taxpayer dollars. It is permissible to say “Happy Holidays” or happy new year, but nothing else is permissible!  This is the determination of the “Franking Committee.”  So . . . just who/what is the “Franking Committee?”

“The bipartisan Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards or the “Franking Commission” has a three-fold mandate: (1) to issue regulations governing the proper use of the franking privilege; (2) to provide guidance in connection with mailings; (3) to act as a quasi-judicial body for the disposition of formal complaints against Members of Congress who have allegedly violated franking laws or regulations.  As a result of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for FY 1991, Members are required to submit all mass mailings (unsolicited mailings of 500 or more pieces of the same matter) for an advisory opinion prior to mailing.”

Click here to read the “Franking Checklist” to see what it has to say about holiday greetings.   Check out “Content of Official Mail,” under “Official May Not Include.”

If you have time and are interested, click here for some history and information on “the frank.”   There are six members of the Franking Commission.

Many Congressmen are fighting back! Illinois Republican Joe Walsh and Arkansas Democrat Mike Ross sent a letter to colleagues Monday asking them to support an effort to change the rule.

Action Steps

1.)     Contact the Franking Commission, click here for the e-mail form.  Ask them to change the franking rule on “Merry Christmas.”

2.)    Contact your Congressman and ask him or her to join the effort to change the rule.

Pennsylvania Makes Great Pro-Life Decisions This Week

(Harrisburg) –The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) commends the Pennsylvania legislature for taking steps this week to protect the most vulnerable of Pennsylvanians — the unborn.

• On Monday HB 1977  passed in the House.   This bill prohibits coverage for abortions in state health plans, unless the abortion is performed to prevent the death of the mother or if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest.  These exchanges are required if Obamacare takes effect in 2014.  It now goes to the Senate

• A similar bill SB 3  passed in the Senate on September 21st,  went to the House, passed on first consideration and was “Laid on the Table” on October 17th and is awaiting further action.
•  Yesterday the Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 732  with the House amendments by a vote of 32-18.  This bill requires abortion clinics to follow the same regulations as ambulatory surgical facilities.   One day earlier it overwhelmingly passed in the House.  The bill now goes to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

“Opponents of SB 732 argued that the bill would greatly increase costs for abortions at the 20 abortion clinics statewide.  The opponents have apparently forgotten about the babies and women killed in Kermit Gosnell’s Philadelphia House of Horrors.   That is the case that exposed the flaws in Pennsylvania’s law and led to these bills being introduced.  Instead Planned Parenthood, the League of Women Voters and legislators like Dan Frankel and Babette Josephs are concerned about ‘taking away a woman’s right to choose.’   What about the baby’s right to life,” remarked Diane Gramley, President of the AFA of PA.

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December 10, 2010

Issue

Congressman Works to Protect Christmas

Details

H.Res.489 was introduced on December 7th by Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO), a Member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus.  It expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for use by those who celebrate Christmas.

It specifically points out that the House

(1) recognizes the importance of the symbols and traditions of Christmas;
(2) strongly disapproves of attempts to ban references to Christmas; and
(3) expresses support for the use of these symbols and traditions by those who celebrate Christmas.

The bill has no co-sponsors and was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. 

Action Step

Contact your Congressman, even if not a member of the committee, and ask him or her to support and co-sponsor H. Res. 489.  Click here for contact information.   Pennsylvania members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform are Todd Russell Platts (PA-19), Pat Meehan (PA-7) and Mike Kelly (PA 3).