News: May 2009
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The State of Illinois!
During the “reign” of Gov. Blagojevich, Illinois’ legislative leaders, in conjunction with the governor, have dug a tremendous financial hole for the state. Although there was speculation that the budget passed by the Illinois General Assembly last year, was in the red by as much as $4 billion, in reality, Illinois has reached a point where the budget for this year is in the red $12 billion!
This has led to promises by the new Governor, Pat Quinn, to go to a two-tiered pension system, and to increase pension payments of state employees, as well as proposing an income tax increase from 3% to 4.5% and other tax and fee increases.
read more » Legislative Update, May 6, 2009
After four months of the legislative session, a large number of the bills we have been working on have either been stopped in committees or because of a lack of votes on the floor of the House or Senate. Following are bills that have been stopped:
HB 90 The Communicable Disease Act--HIV Reporting--made it to the House floor but fell quite short of the 60 votes required for passage.
HB 178 Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Freedom Act--was not called for a vote in the Youth and Families Committee in the House because of a lack of votes for passage.
HB 288 Student Silent Reflection Act--was not voted on in the Senate Education Committee due to a lack of votes. Would have removed "prayer" from the current language to stop an appeal to the Seventh Circuit Federal Appeals Court. This will allow the appeal process to move forward.
HB 374 Abusive Work Environment Prevention Act--did not come up for a vote on the House floor due to a lack of votes for passage. The groups pushing for this bill claimed it would prevent "Bullying" in the workplace, but they would not allow an amendment to protect constitutionally protected religious speech in the bill.
HB 2354 FOCA--Reproductive Health and Access Act--was not voted on because of a lack of votes for passage on the floor of the House.
read more » President Obama's Legacy
FYI -- You can access information on President Obama's legacy during the first 100 days of 2009 at the following web address:
http://www.concernedchristianamericans.com/the-first-hundred-days-of-obamas-presidency
Although the information is not complete, it will give you a good sense of the direction in which President Obama is taking our country. This will help provide you with information about some of his appointees and the policies that are being promoted.
Most of all, my desire is that you would pass this information on to others with prayerful consideration for our country, our president, Congress, and all those who are in authority in the government. As my friend, Pastor Joey Watt has said, "Pray that God raises up a Daniel in the Obama administration."
Thank you for your prayers and your consideration. In His Service, Rev. Bob
News: April 2009
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Greatest Threat? Civil Unions!
Thankfully, the Illinois FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act—HB 2354) has been stopped in the Illinois General Assembly. God has been gracious to us in helping to stop the following bills:
HB 178—Same-Sex Marriage.
read more » Praise God! HB 2354 is Defeated!
Congratulations to all of you who worked so hard to defeat HB 2354, the Illinois FOCA bill. Tonight (we got back from the Capitol at 10:30), both Ralph Rivera and I had a number of legislators mention to us that Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, the sponsor of the bill, had made a decision to not call the bill for a vote.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers and the outpouring of grassroots support at the Capitol. Many legislators commented on the wonderful job that was done by the opponents of this legislation.
We thank God for this victory and for each of you who prayed, financially helped, called, emailed, or wrote your legislators. Your faithfulness in carrying out your responsibility made our workload lighter and more effective. Please continue to pray, for tomorrow is a key day that will determine much about out legislative load the remainder of the spring session.
Legislative Update, March 31, 2009
April 3 is the deadline for legislation to move out of both Houses. At that point, many of the bills sitting out there will die. Pray for wisdom for both Ralph Rivera and me as we work in a hectic environment.
Homosexual Agenda
HB 178 Same-Sex Marriage--Dead.
HB 2234 Civil Unions--Rep. Greg Harris (D). On third reading in the House. The for this legislation is to have a "cause of action" in the courts to overturn the current marriage laws of Illinois. Rep. Harris has been quoted in the papers as saying he has the votes, but according to our numbers, he is far from it. Moving the bill from second to third reading places it where it can be voted upon. If your legislators have indicated what they will do regarding this bill, please notify Rev. Bob at revbobvb@sbcglobal.net as to what your legislator's position is on this bill!
HB 90 Communicable Disease Act--AIDS Reporting--Rep. LaShawn Ford (D). Deletes the requirement that Boards of Public Health report to school principals when a student who is HIV positive enrolls in the school. We believe the current law works, since we have no cases of AIDS being passed on in Illinois public schools. This bill passed out of the House committee by a very close vote and is now on the House floor on third reading. There are not enough votes to pass this legislation out of the House.
read more » News: March 2009
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Illinois Freedom of Choice Act
While the focus of the pro-life movement has been on Washington D.C. and the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), the Illinois General Assembly has quietly moved HB 2354, the so-called Reproductive Health and Access Act to the floor of the House. Essentially, HB 2354, the Illinois FOCA, goes much further than the federal FOCA, and certainly much further than the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade.
HB 2354 states, Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any other law to the contrary, the State…shall not...deny or interfere with a pregnant woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy.” The passage of this bill would strike down all state laws limiting abortions in all stages of a pregnancy.
read more » Legislative Update, March 20, 2009
Homosexual Agenda
HB 178 Same-Sex Marriage--Rep. Greg Harris (D). Although this bill is posted in the Youth and Family Committee for Thursday, March 12, at 9 AM. Has been returned to the Rules Committee in the House, which essentially means the bill is dead. It will be deleted from the list of bills we are watching, and will not appear again unless it comes back out of the Rules Committee.
HB 2234 Civil Unions--Rep. Greg Harris (D). This bill is on third reading in the House. The reason the homosexual community wants to this legislation is to have a "cause of action" in the courts to overturn the current marriage laws of Illinois. Just as California added "sexual orientation" to their civil rights laws, Illinois has added "sexual orientation" to our Human Rights Act. If this legislation passes, a lawsuit will be filed saying that the homosexuals are being discriminated against, for they will be offered "equal but separate" status through this bill (meaning that they will have all the rights and responsibilities of marriage without it being called marriage). Please contact your legislators regarding this bill and notify Rev. Bob at revbobvb@sbcglobal.net as to what your legislator's position is on this bill!
read more » 
