April 15 Legislative Update

The following are items of concern to us as we lobby this week. This Thursday is the deadline for Senate Bills to pass out of the Senate. Friday is the deadline for House Bills to pass out of the House. These deadlines are arbitrary, in some respects, since legislation can be kept alive by extending the deadlines for passage (such as the Civil Unions bill, HB 1826).

HB 4623, sponsored by Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, amends the adoption act, aloowing adoptees over the age of 21 to access their original birth certificates. There are arguments on both sides of the issue. Of concern to us, is that pregnant young girls, who may be struggling with the decision of whether to give up their baby for adoption, may decide instead to abort their babies because of a concern for their privacy being compromised later in life. There are concerns that promises of confidentiality made in the past will be broken, identifying birth parents who do not want to be identified. Currently, half of the family members contacted by confidential intermediaries refuse to meet with adoptees. Although birth parents will be allowed to register that they do not want to be contacted, those who have moved out of state will not  be aware of the public service campaign going on in Illinois to notify they of their ability to opt out. This bill is on second reading on the House floor, and could come up for a vote this week.

HJRCA 2--ERA, sponsored by Rep. Lou Lang, is on second reading on the House floor. This is not subject to the deadlines, since it is a constitutional amendment. Reasons for opposing ERA are as follows:

• The highest courts in states that have ERA in their constitutions, have either used it to require same-sex marriage (Massachusetts and Hawaii--although Hawaii amended their constitution to allow the legislature to limit marriage to a man and a woman) or have ruled against same-sex marriage by a one vote margin (Washington and Maryland).
• ERA has been used in Connecticut and New Mexico to overturn a Ban on Public Funding of Abortion.
• According to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the ERA would require women to register for the draft and to fight equally with men on the front line.
• Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg uses any equality argument to say that stay-at-home moms should not be able to collect off their husbands' social security.

This bill needs 71 votes to pass. Please contact your Representative and ask how he/she is planning to vote on ERA. Then contact us be email (revbobvb@sbcglobal.net) to let us know.

HB 4731--Domestic Partners Death Benefits, sponsored by Rep. Greg Harris. This would amend the Chicago Teachers Union Pension Code to recognize same-sex and opposite sex "partners" to receive survivor and death benefits the same "as a surviving spouse." The date of designation shall be as the "date of marriage." This legislation must be stopped.

HB 1826--Civil Unions Bioll, sponsored by Rep. Greg Harris, is really a same-sex marriage bill. It was put on the House floor last year, and the deadlines have continued to be extended to keep it alive. A strong politically correct lobbying firm has been hired to work this bill this year. Please ask your legislators to vote NO on this bill.

SB 2898--Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research, by Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, appropriates $25 million for embryonic stem cell research. Is in the Senate Rules Committee, but could be released at any time.

SB 2865--Alternative Treatment for Serious Pain, by Sen. John Cullerton, legalizes growing up to 8 cannabis plants and legalizes possession of marijuana for medical purposes. Last year an identical bill was stopped in the senate with only 22 votes.

HB 1727--Library Internet Filter Bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Jacobs. Passed the House last year, and is stalled in the Senate Rules Committee. We are hoping to move it out of the Rules Committee in the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for your support and your prayers. Please continue to pray for us as we work with the legislature, that God will give us favor in their eyes.