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AFA of PA ACTION ALERT
September 18, 2009
Issues (check corresponding number in ‘Details’ and ‘Action’ Sections)
1.) H.B. 1861 - State Attack on Marriage
2.) Attempts to Expand Gambling in Pennsylvania
3.) H.R. 2262 – Federal Pro-Homosexual Bullying Bill
4.) U.S. House Votes to Formally Scold Congressman Joe Wilson
Details
1.) H.B. 1861 passed in the State House Wednesday by a vote of 145 to 52. This bill will increase rates and license fees for various things including increasing the marriage license fee from $3.00 to $28.00 - an 833% increase! Of that $28.00, $25.50 will go to the Commonwealth and $25.00 of that will be forwarded to domestic violence programs funneled through the PA Department of Welfare. Sounds like a good idea, until you look a little closer at what some of this money will be used for. The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence will obtain a large junk of this money and it will also be used in cases of same-sex domestic violence. This organization is also a member of the ‘Value All Families Coalition” and opposes a Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment. Additionally, the spring 2009 newsletter of the PA Coalition Against Rape (also a recipient of the increased fees) reveals that organization’s questionable views on how to deal with sexting. So, these increased fees will not only place a hardship on some young couples seeking to marry, but most of the fees will go to organizations that encourage same-sex relationships and don’t see a problem with teenagers sending nude pictures of themselves to other teens over their cell phones. Should our elected officials pass laws that specifically fund anti-marriage and anti-decency organizations? Click here for the roll call vote I believe you may be surprised by some of the ones we consider pro-family who voted “YES” on this bill! (Normally a roll call vote list distinguishes between the parties with different fonts, however this one does not . . . so the Republicans are the first two columns on the left down to ‘Barbin’ where the Democrats begin. The last one listed is Keith McCall, he is a Democrat and the Speaker of the House.)
2.) Two bills -- SB 1033 and H.B. 21 -- would legalize table games in Pennsylvania. I believe we are all still waiting for the $1 billion property tax relief promised in 2004 when the legislative body approved slot machines! Act 71 passed at that time and has not been fully implemented because of financial, legal, and ethical problems the PA Gaming Control Board has encountered. Most states which rely heavily on gambling revenue have turned to other sources to help in their budget shortfalls. Pennsylvania appears headed in the wrong direction.
3.) The AFA of PA believes all students should be provided a safe learning environment; however is it safe to promote a lifestyle to students that increases their health risks? Those who engage in homosexual activity have increased risks of domestic violence, eating and psychological disorders, substance abuse and sexually transmitted diseases. Should schools be forced to ignore these risks and tell students it is okay to engage in this activity? Homosexual activists never support bills which simply say ‘all’ students should be protected from bullying. They demand that a list be part of the bill and ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ be on that list. See for yourself, click here to read H.R.2262. This is a proposed amendment to the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act that was introduced on May 5, 2009. If passed, it will require schools that receive Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funding to implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies that enumerate categories often targeted by bullies, including. . .sexual orientation and gender identity. Schools that already receive funding for drug prevention education would either have to include homosexuality, cross-dressing, and "transsexuality" or lose federal funding for their drug prevention programs. And this would apply not just to high schools but to elementary schools as well.
4.) Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) vocally expressed his “concerns” over the health care misinformation contained in President Obama’s speech before the joint sessions of Congress last Wednesday. His outburst took everyone by surprise and immediately after the speech he apologized to the President and his apology was accepted. (I’m going to interject here: I agree with Congressman Wilson, but it was not the appropriate setting to express his outrage and he recognized that immediately after the words leaped from his mouth. His son told him he just had ‘a town hall moment.’) The apology to the President was not enough for the Democrats and they demanded a formal apology from the Congressman from the floor of the House. He refused and on Tuesday they voted 240-179 to formally scold him.
Action Steps:
1.) H.B. 1861, the bill raising marriage license fees from $3.00 to $28.00 and other fees that will help fund anti-family and anti-decency organizations, now goes to the Senate. Contact your State Senator and ask him or her to vote ‘NO’ on H.B. 1861. Click here for contact info. On this linked page, key in your nine-digit zip code in the upper right hand corner, if you do not know who your State Senator or State Representative are.
2.) While you have your Senator on the phone about H.B. 1861, also ask him or her to oppose S.B. 1033, which would legalize gaming tables. Then call your State Representative – click here for contact info – and ask him or her to oppose H.B. 21 which would also legalize gaming tables.
3.) Contact your U.S. Congressman and ask him or her to oppose H.R. 2262 – the pro-homosexual bullying bill that will force schools to teach K-12 students that ‘gay is okay.’ Click here for contact info.
4.) Click here to check out your Congressman’s Scorecard to see how he voted on the resolution condemning Congressman Wilson’s actions. If you’d like to send Congressman Wilson a word of encouragement, you can do that through his website by clicking here.
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