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 Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) has again proposed an amendment to the budget bill which would provide health coverage for unborn children on the SCHIP program. His amendment would codify this important policy into federal law, and will most likely be voted on when the Senate begins an intense session of voting this Thursday (March 13). AdvanceUSA thanks Sen. Allard for proposing this important pro-life legislation. Call both your senators today and urge them to vote “Yes” on Sen. Allard’s amendment (#4233) protecting unborn children under SCHIP!
For more information on SCHIP click here.
“Home-Schoolers 'In Shock' Over Court Ruling”
Homeschoolers in California and advocates of school choice endured a sneak attack recently when a California appeals court came out with a sweeping ruling that declares that parents have no constitutional right to educate their children in the home. The Washington Times reports. Excerpt:
National and California home-schooling advocates are banding together to fight a state court ruling they say could essentially outlaw the practice of allowing parents to teach their children at home.
 California Supreme Court Hears Marriage Case
As the LA Times reports, the California Supreme Court has heard the challenge to that state’s Defense of Marriage Act which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman only. Will the court usurp the will of the people and redefine marriage? We should know in less than 90 days. Excerpt from LA Times story:
The court is deciding four lawsuits brought on behalf of nearly two dozen same-sex couples. A trial judge here ruled in favor of same-sex marriages, but a Court of Appeal rejected that decision on a 2-1 vote. Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger argued in favor of keeping marriage an opposite-sex union, and Christian-affiliated groups joined them.
The California high court invalidated the San Francisco marriage licenses in August 2004, but will decide within 90 days whether gay men and lesbians should be permitted to marry in the future.
 The Pew Forum has provided this helpful resource for churches to know what political activities are permitted under IRS non-profit restrictions.
You can find this and other helpful resources at AdvanceUSA’s Church Involvement Page. Pastors and churches are often too intimidated speak out on important political issues for fear of losing tax-exempt status. Christians have a responsibility to act as “salt and light” in our society and culture, and must be armed with accurate information about what the law allows.
HSLDA reports. On their website you can
sign a petition in support of parents’ right to home school their
children. AdvanceUSA thanks HSLDA for
taking legal action in this case.
James Dobson comments here.
The
MBC Pathway reports on the status of the proposed
constitutional amendment to fully ban human cloning in Missouri. Excerpt:
[Missouri Secretary of State] Carnahan’s
rewrite of language submitted last fall by Cures Without Cloning (CWC) was
struck down Feb. 20 by Cole County Circuit Judge Patricia Joyce under
precedents established by previous judges as insufficient or unfair. Legally it
means her work is “inadequate, especially lacking adequate power, capacity or
competence. The word ‘unfair’ means to be marked by injustice, partiality, or
deception.” In other words, according to legal precedent, she stated the
consequences of the initiative “inadequately and with bias, prejudice,
deception and/or favoritism.”
An appeal filed by people sympathetic to
the argumentation of Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures will be heard by
the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, March 26. Once all legal
appeals are exhausted, it is believed that approximately 150,000 valid
signatures would need to be collected by May 5, the deadline for getting it on
the ballot in November. Many citizens are ready to fan out all over the state
to go get the necessary signatures once elected officials and judges are
finished with their work.
“We are confident the court of appeals will
uphold the ballot summary written by the circuit court and are preparing for
that outcome,” wrote Missourians Against Human Cloning (MAHC) Executive
Director Jaci Winship in an email alert that went out to supporters in the last
week of February. “We are hopeful the appeal process will move quickly so that
our volunteer army that has been preparing for months will be able to move
forward.”
HT: Sam Lee
LifeNews reports. Excerpt:
"Recently, my niece gave birth to her
first baby. It should have been a joyful moment for the entire family, but as I
stood looking at her cradling her newborn, I felt tears pricking at my
eyes," Woodgate wrote in a London Daily Mail column.
"All of a sudden, I found myself being
transported back in time almost 40 years, to the day that I was admitted to a
small cottage hospital in Leicester for a termination," she added.
Her memories of the abortion were so vivid
that she can still smell the disinfectant and see the "disapproving"
looks on the faces of the staff at the facility.
LifeNews reports. Excerpt:
A pro-life organization for Republicans is
calling on John McCain, who has captured enough delegates to be the party's
presidential nominee, to keep the GOP platform pro-life on abortion. The
Republican Party currently supports a human life amendment to the Constitution
to offer legal protection to unborn children.
Delegates to the Republican convention in
Minneapolis this summer will reconsider the party's 93-page platform that
opposes abortion and supports President Bush's policy against using tax dollars
to fund embryonic stem cell research.
“Students Raise
Money for Teacher’s Adult Stem-Cell Transplant”
CitizenLink
reports on this heart-warming
story.
Adult Stem Cells on
the Cutting Edge of Joint Repair and Replacement
As
Reuters reports, doctors are making great strides in joint repair and
replacement using novel biological techniques, including ethical adult stem
cell transplants. Excerpt:
Stem cell therapy could eventually
eliminate the need for joint replacement, said Einhorn, who last year performed
his first hip replacement surgery using the patient's own stem cells.
The undifferentiated, unspecialized stem
cells can morph into specialized cells with specific functions in the body.
Adult stem cells are available from a number of sources, including bone marrow
and fat.
Stem cells from a patient's own body are
being used to repair bones, ligaments, cartilage, muscle, spinal cord and
nerves.
Politico reports. If a Senate “staredown” makes judicial
nominations an important issue in 2008, we say “bring it on.”
Robert
Knight comments on the case before the California Supreme Court which could
have drastic
implications on marriage across the country. Excerpt:
At issue is California’s marriage law,
approved by voters in 2000 by a wide margin, which defines marriage as the
union of a man and a woman. Because of California’s history of liberal legal
activism, court watchers are taking bets over whether the high bench will
sucker punch the electorate and impose “gay marriage” on the state.
 Yesterday’s presidential primary contests breathed new “hope” into the struggling Clinton campaign. Sen. Clinton won the contests in Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island, while her Democrat opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, took Vermont. It appears the Democrat race will continue with no end in sight.
Sen. John McCain scored convincing victories against his chief GOP rival Gov. Mike Hucakbee. Sen. McCain has now won enough delegates to guarantee his nomination, and Mike Huckabee has withdrawn his candidacy. Only the libertarian-leaning Congressman Ron Paul remains in the GOP race as a high-profile contender.
To find out where the presidential candidates stand on important issues check out AdvanceUSA’s 2008 Candidate Comparisons.
Also, keep an eye out for AdvanceUSA’s special Candidate Comparisons for the general election in November.
March 4, 2008 Election Results
State Democrat Winner Republican Winner
Texas (primary) Clinton McCain
Ohio Clinton McCain
Vermont Obama McCain
Rhode Island Clinton McCain
Texas (caucus) Obama na
Full results here.
Graphic source: Leader-Post
 While Sen. John McCain is looking to seal his nomination from the Republican Party tonight over rival Gov. Mike Huckabee, Democrat Sen. Hillary Clinton is in a desperate race to reverse the momentum of Sen. Barack Obama and hold on to viability. Will the general election match-up finally be determined? The elections tonight in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Vermont could be crucial.
AdvanceUSA will post results tomorrow. Until then, USA Today will be reporting results as they come in tonight.
Find out how the major candidates stand on important issues with AdvanceUSA’s 2008 Candidate Comparisons.
Coming Soon: AdvanceUSA will be releasing a special Candidate Comparison for the eventual general election match-up. Stay tuned!
CNS News reports. Excerpt:
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) told a crowd at
Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, Sunday that he believes the Sermon on the
Mount justifies his support for legal recognition of same-sex unions. He also
told the crowd that his position in favor of legalized abortion does not make
him "less Christian."
By Daniel Herbster
I had the opportunity to speak to sophomore biology students and senior chemistry students at my high school alma mater about stem cells, cloning, and the pro-life cause. The students at Community Baptist Christian School were great, and showed genuine interest in the presentation. I'd like to thank Miss Anderson for inviting me to speak to her students and for taking these photos.
Explaining the science of human embryo development.
For more information about bioethics and life issues check the pro-life, stem cell, adult stem cell, and human cloning pages at AdvanceUSA.org or check the stem cell, adult stem cell, pro-life, abortion, and human cloning categories at AdvanceUSA Blog.
LifeNews reports. Excerpt:
A Johnson County grand jury has failed to
issue an indictment against a Planned Parenthood abortion center near Kansas
City. The verdict of "no true bill" comes after several allegations
that the grand jury process had been distorted by a judge who sided with the
abortion business in limiting the panel's access to abortion records.
The
Washington
Post also reports.
Lee
Culpepper chronicles the advantages
and accomplishments of charter schools.
Excerpt:
Charter schools have benefited from a
similar philosophy. They, too, “accomplish more with less.” They entice
committed families and teachers searching for something better in public
education. They also strike fear in the hearts of teacher unions and slippery
politicians.
Overall, charter schools have produced at
least as good -- but typically better results than traditional public schools.
Charter
schools demonstrate that greater choice and greater parental involvement are
important elements of improving education in America. Having worked in a charter school during
college, AdvanceUSA’s Daniel Herbster can attest to the academic quality and beneficial
atmosphere of those institutions.
 AdvanceUSA is proud of the courageous leadership shown by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) yesterday on the crucial issue of judicial confirmations. As frequently reported by AdvanceUSA, the Senate has shamefully fallen behind on its duty to consider and vote on the Presidents nominations to critical federal court positions. The obstruction is particularly dangerous when considering Circuit Court vacancies. Our friends at the Committee for Justice helpfully report on the leadership meetings that took place yesterday, as well as commenting on the excellent floor statements made by several Senators.
Excerpts:
Monday’s meeting appeared to mark a turning point in what the letter calls the Senate’s “most bitter” controversy. A fight over judges has been brewing for weeks now, as GOP senators have become increasingly frustrated with Leahy’s obstruction of nominees. Sen. Specter had urged his colleagues to postpone any hardball tactics while he tried again to work things out with Leahy. But yesterday, “Specter indicated to the conservative leaders that he too had run out of patience and was ready to lead his colleagues into battle,” said Committee for Justice executive director Curt Levey, one of the participants in the meeting.
…
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the floor after Specter to urge that his “Democratic colleagues resist the desire by some to drag us back into judicial confirmation brinksmanship.” McConnell noted that “many of these [judicial] nominees satisfy most or all of [Leahy’s] specific criteria for prompt consideration: they have strong-home state support, they fill judicial emergencies, and they have good or outstanding ABA ratings.” Nonetheless, McConnell said, “there have been no judicial confirmations so far this year, and there has been only one hearing on a circuit court nominee since September of last year.” In last year’s most contentious fight over a judicial nominee, both McConnell and Specter were instrumental in the successful confirmation of Fifth Circuit nominee Leslie Southwick.
Full story here.
To read the entire floor statements of Senators McConnell and Specter see below:
McConnell: End Brinksmanship on Judicial Nominees
Senator Arlen Specter Speaks on the Senate Floor Regarding Judicial Nominations
AdvanceUSA is encouraged that judicial confirmations might become a major issue in the 2008 election because the best strategy for getting well-qualified, originalist judges on federal benches is to rally voters to hold their elected officials accountable for who they nominate and how they vote (or don’t vote) on nominations.
To see how the major presidential candidates stand on judicial nominations and other issues, check out AdvanceUSA’s 2008 Candidates Comparisons.
Commentary by Daniel Herbster
 Last night my pastor gave a report on his recent mission trip to the poverty-stricken nation of Surinam in South America. During the presentation, he happened to mention how the practice of slavery hundreds of years ago has drastically affected the institution of marriage in that land, even to this day.
Apparently, when European colonial powers brought African slaves to Surinam, male slaves were dehumanized to such an extent that they were merely used for breeding purposes without ever being able to behave like actual fathers. This has led to a matriarchal culture where single women are left to raise the nation’s children alone while marriage is often considered unnecessary.
This is sobering evidence of how cultural decisions can have drastic effects on the institution of marriage, and how the deterioration of the family can prevent nations from achieving their full potential. We in America should redouble our efforts to protect marriage by encouraging stable, two-parent families and by protecting the traditional definition of marriage.
LifeNews reports. Ultrasound bills are important steps toward
fostering a “culture of life” in our nation.
Let’s hope even more states take a look at these effective pro-life
laws.
 Today the Supreme Court is meeting to decide whether to hear an appeal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over an outrageous decision by the 2nd Circuit Court. The 2nd Circuit ruled that “fleeting” instances of profanity were acceptable on broadcast radio and TV at any time of day regardless of the likelihood that children were in the audience. Pray that the Supreme Court takes up this case and gives the FCC the power it needs to enforce common-sense restrictions on indecency over the publicly owned airwaves. On Monday, the high court will announce its decision on whether or not to hear the case.
Regardless of the Court’s decision Monday, this issue reveals the importance of passing common-sense legislation in Congress which will clarify that the FCC can do its job (even for so-called “fleeting” instances of profanity). Our thanks to FCC Chairman Martin for his leadership.
Check back with AdvanceUSA for the latest on this important moral and cultural issue.
As
if Planned Parenthood could sink any lower.
LifeNews reports. Excerpt:
Pro-life members of Congress say the
federal government should stop funding Planned Parenthood through national family
programs because its teen-oriented web site features pornography.
“A
person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Does
that sound like a pro-life slogan to you?
This is a quote from Horton the elephant in Dr. Seuss’s classic “Horton
Hears a Who.” As World
Magazine’s Blog reports, with the release of a new animated film of the
same name, pro-lifers in Colorado are using the quote to demonstrate the need
for a state constitutional amendment to protect the unborn from the moment of
conception.
The
Committee for Justice explains. Here
is a particularly helpful excerpt relating to the role and importance of
judges:
Nonetheless, if you are not a judicial
conservative, you may be asking what’s wrong with judges protecting the weak
from the strong? Well, for one thing, identification of “the weak” is very much
in the eye of the beholder. We’re guessing that Barack Obama does not want
judges to favor gun owners, unborn babies, white men challenging employers’
racial preferences, or property owners threatened by environmental regulations,
no matter how much power they’re up against.
Moreover, the Constitution and the laws
enacted by our elected representatives already contain many protections for
criminal defendants, employees, minorities, women, and the like. The job of a
judge is to dispassionately apply these constitutional and statutory
protections, not to second guess their authors. That’s not to say that a good
judge succeeds at being completely dispassionate in every case. But it is only
the Left that wants to enshrine “what is in the judge's heart” as a “critical
ingredient” in the law, to quote Barack Obama.
Sen. Barack Obama
(D-IL)
Democrat candidate
for president
The
Virginia Senate has voted to prohibit
funds for Planned Parenthood because they advocate for and perform
abortions. Let’s hope other states and
the federal government begin to follow their example. It is a travesty that the largest company in
the abortion industry receives millions of dollars in tax dollars.
LifeNews and KETV
report. It looks like dangerous
loopholes allowing for “clone and kill” research have been removed from this
legislation in Nebraska, causing pro-life organizations to support it for fear
that something far worse would take its place.
Let’s hope Nebraska can continue to avoid following down the same road
that Missouri took
in 2006.
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