RI governor’s veto on redefining hate crimes

Press Release
5 Aug 2010
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On June 30, Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri vetoed a bill designed to expand the state’s definition of a hate crime to include “gender identity” and “gender expression.” The governor said the state’s existing law already addresses actions “motivated by racial, religious, sexual orientation, gender, and disability prejudice;” therefore, the measure was not required.  Caleb H. Price, an analyst for CitizenLink, commended Carcieri for seeing beyond Current Events and for understanding the long-term implications not only for marriage, but also for those struggling with gender confusion. “Those who struggle with gender confusion,” Price said, “deserve our compassion and understanding–not laws […]

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Hawaii governor vetoes civil union bill

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In a highly anticipated announcement, Hawaii’s Governor Linda Lingle vetoed the civil union bill, as the definition of a union it contains was too similar to that of marriage.  The law would have allowed gay and lesbian-identified couples the same rights and privileges of married couples. In her veto message, Lingle stated that an issue as contentious as this should not be up to one person to decide. The liberal blog, Huffington Post, had promoted this decision as “mission critical,” so this announcement was a devastating blow to gay activists. They immediately called for a boycott.  Twenty-two legislators broke into […]

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Back room deals on DISCLOSE Act threaten First Amendment rights

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H.R. 5175 is an attempt by Democrats to overturn a recent Supreme Court decision that found portions of the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Law to be unconstitutional.  If passed, the bill would negatively affect grassroots organizations that inform voters on ballot issues. Many groups had stood in opposition to the bill, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), which fears it would be muzzled by the new measure. Reports from Capitol Hill reveal the NRA has struck a deal with lawmakers to exclude the organization from compliance, along with certain corporations. Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst with CitizenLink, said the Democrats’ move […]

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Florida governor Charlie Crist vetoes pro-life bill

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Governor Charlie Crist vetoed an ultrasound bill in June that would have allowed abortion-minded women in Florida the chance to see an image of their preborn child. HB 1143 would have also banned taxpayer funding of abortions. This is the fourth time an ultrasound bill has been defeated. More than 63,000 people contacted the governor’s office in the days leading up to the veto, with 36,104 of them asking him to please sign the measure. John Stemberger, president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council, said the move speaks volumes about Crist’s duplicity and lack of trustworthiness. “He […]

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Supreme Court pick may be sidelined

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As solicitor general, Elena Kagan has taken sides on a number of issues, which may exclude her from initial decisions as a Supreme Court justice. As the person chosen by President Obama to represent the interests of the U.S. before the high court, she would, as a justice, find herself called upon to offer an opinion on cases she was directly involved in.If confirmed, Kagan would likely have to recuse herself from 11 out of 24 cases, including a racketeering lawsuit against tobacco companies and a suit involving detainees at Guantanamo Bay.Stuart Roth, senior counsel at the American Center for […]

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$17,000 tax bill hits South Dakota church

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As cash-strapped cities and municipalities try to find creative ways to generate revenue, some are setting a dangerous precedent when they look to churches as a targeted source. Joe Infranco, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), has seen a marked increase in the number of cases handled by ADF’s 1,800 allied attorneys, who represent churches free of charge. “Whether out of ignorance or malice, (municipalities) are slowly chipping away at the Church’s tax exemption when and where they are able,” said Infranco. “This is a very dangerous trend.” Just this week, an ADF-allied attorney filed an appeal in […]

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News shorts from around the country

Press Release
6 Jul 2010
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Legislative trend may attract educational grantsEP NewsMore states are adopting teacher evaluation reform in an effort to get a second chance at the federal government’s Race to the Top educational grants. The legislative trend ties teacher tenure and pay to overall student performance. Louisiana is one of the most recent states to take action, approving a value added assessment for teachers. State Rep. Frank Hoffmann said that reform is indeed a positive step. “The concept stands by itself,” he said, “whether we had Race to the Top available or not,” he said. Matt Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth […]

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Grassroots effort fights Kagan nomination

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Only 46 percent of Americans support the nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to a USA Today/Gallup Poll. That’s lower than the last five court nominations.Ed Whelan, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, said her lack of experience is cause for concern.  He also sees other red flags. “Her whole course of conduct against military recruiters at Harvard Law School is very troubling, and the excuses that have been offered for that simply don’t justify what she did.”The latest online buzz about Kagan is her support of Aharon Barak, a retired Israeli Supreme Court […]

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Florida school district quashes religious expression

Press Release
3 Jul 2010
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The Santa Rosa County School District has drafted a policy that prohibits students from asking God’s blessing during high school graduations. The policy also prohibits district employees from participating in privately sponsored off-campus religious events or baccalaureate addresses.  Moreover, faculty and staff are required to stop prayer at privately sponsored after-school clubs. The ACLU drafted the model policy, which was agreed to by the district and entered into the legal record by a federal court. Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, said his group has filed a preliminary injunction to stop the order.  He said the policy violates the free […]

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Texas passes social studies standards

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  On May 21, the Texas State Board of Education passed the social studies standards that it had been debating for over a year; however, a California state legislator has moved to block the standards from influencing the textbooks in his state. The decision came after some had wanted to remove or diminish references in the Texas textbooks to Christmas, Independence Day, and America’s religious heritage. A majority of the Texas State Board stood firm, and voted 9-5 to strike down any attempts to rewrite history. Jonathan Saenz, director of legislative affairs for Liberty Institute, said that it was a […]

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