News: March 2008
Headlines
- God is Still in Control!
- ERA update
- Legislative Update
- Schedule for 2008
- Bits and Pieces
God is Still in Control!
Sometimes when we look at the Illinois General Assembly, and just the state of politics in Illinois, it is easy to get discouraged. The number of far-reaching legislative initiatives that deal with moral issues not only seems to be increasing, but also seems to have an increasing impact on the future of Illinois families.
Yet, in spite of all the radical legislation that has been introduced, and in spite of a political climate in Illinois that seems opposed to the values of Christianity, God has protected us and given us many victories.
In spite of legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, two bills to require civil unions in Illinois, and five bills to provide same-sex domestic partners death benefits, we are hold our own in Illinois.
There has been other legislation (HB 5615), which would not only codify Roe v. Wade, but also allow no restrictions on abortion or contraceptives in Illinois, do away with the medical right of conscience, and require the teaching of comprehensive sex education in Illinois.
read more » Evening, March 12 Legislative Update
God continues to bless us in many ways as we lobby the Illinois General Assembly. Today is just another example.
This morning, in the House Human Services Committee, Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie did not call HB 5615, the Reproductive Justice and Access Act for a vote in the committee. This does not mean it could not be called up for a vote or kept alive by extraordinary measures, but it does indicate that even the sponsor recognizes that she will have problems with passage of the legislation. Again, this legislation is radical in its approach to codifying ROE v. WADE.
This afternoon, SB 2263, the Same-Sex Domestic Partners Death Benefits legislation was not called for a vote in the Senate Insurance Committee. After working with the committee members, it became clear that the sponsor, Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), did not have the votes in the Committee. Tomorrow, HB 4731, which is essentially the same legislation, is assigned for a hearing in the House Personnel and Pensions Committee.
SB 2099, which legalizes selling certain lottery tickets on the internet, passed out of the Senate Revenue Committee today, and HB 4128, which authorizes a much wider sale of lottery tickets over the interent by a private vender, also passed out of the House Gaming Committee. Both of these are dangerous pieces of legislation which could increase the incidence of gambling addictions.
Again, if you have not called your legislators regarding HJRCA2, the ERA, please contact them and ask the to vote NO on ERA.
read more » News: February 2008
Headlines
- ERA Passes Onto House Floor
- ERA and Social Security
- Other Effects of the ERA
- Schedule for 2008
- Bits and Pieces
ERA Passes Onto House Floor
The federal Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), HJRCA 2, passed out of the House Judiciary I Civil Law Committee onto the House floor on Thursday, February 21, 2008. The sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang (D), maneuvered to pass the legislation out of the committee by replacing Democratic committee members who oppose ERA with those who support it.
Rev. Vanden Bosch and Ralph Rivera with Illinois Citizens for Life, testified against it in the committee. It passed out fo the committee by a vote of 8-5, with our testimony being cut short by the chairman of the committee.
read more » Action Items Legislation--February 26, 2008
KEY PRO-LIFE AND PRO-FAMILY RELATED LEGISLATION IN THE 2008 ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PREPARED BY RALPH RIVERA – FEBRUARY 25, 2008
Additional Information by Rev. Bob
read more » ERA and Social Security Benefits
ERA Threatens Wives' and Widows' Social Security Benefits
by Phyllis Schlafly
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has made it clear that ERA would abolish the homemaker wife's and widow's benefits in Social Security. This is the benefit that most mothers and grandmothers rely on.
The Social Security Act is sex-neutral -- employed women receive exactly the same Social Security benefits as employed men.
But what about the homemaker wife who is financially dependent on her husband for much or most of her life, who may work in the labor force only a few years or only part-time, and therefore does not build up enough credits in Social Security to receive a significant retirement check based on her own earnings? The Social Security System recognizes her value by giving the homemaker "wife" a check for 50% of her husband's benefit over and above the check he receives. Upon her husband's death, the widow receives the full benefit that her husband had been receiving. (The law also gives this benefit to a dependent husband, but we know that nearly all dependent spouses are women.)
read more » STOP ERA IN ILLINOIS!
The following is information from STOP ERA Illinois. WE NEED YOUR HELP IN STOPPING ERA IN ILLINOIS.
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was voted out of the House Jud 1- Civil Law Committee today and could come before the full Illinois House for a vote very soon. We originally had enough votes committed to block its passage out of committee, but we didn't anticipate that the Democrats would use a parliamentary procedure to substitute two liberal representatives in place of our two committed Democrat votes. As a result, we lost two supporters, and we lost the vote by 8-6. Greg Harris (D) was substituted for John Bradley (D) who couldn't make it in due to severe weather in his area, and Mary Flowers (D) was substituted in place of Careen Gordon
(D). The result is frustrating, but also illustrative of the ERA supporters' dishonest tactics that they use each time to push this harmful legislation upon the rest of us. With that said, we need to immediately go to work to block passage of the ERA in both the Illinois House and the Illinois Senate. The task is doable, and we are not alone in our efforts. Please help by taking action on the following items:
read more » ERA Legislative Update
A Valentine's Gift for the Illinois Pro-Family Movement
February 14, 2008
Although the ERA (HJRCA 2) was posted for a hearing in the House Judiciary Civil Law Committee today, the sponsor, Rep. Lou Lang (D), was unable to pass it out of the committee.
Eight of the fourteen members of the committee have committed to vote NO on ERA. The newest member on the Committee has solidly committed to voting NO, and the others have renewed their commitment. This does not mean other means cannot be taken to move ERA forward. Please continue to watch and pray for us in Springfield as we lobby.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
In His Service,
Rev. Bob
News: January 2008
Headlines
- Legislature Increases Sales Tax to Fund Mass Transit
- Primary Voting February 5
- Schedule for 2008
- Thanks for Your Generous Gifts
- Bits and Pieces
The Good News
The mass transit funding crisis has been taken care of so mass transit will continue. Jobs will not be lost, and people can continue to travel to their workplaces.
- Downstate transit systems will get more operating assistance from the state.
- Seniors will get free rides, but only in the districts in which they live.
- Major pension reform was part of the legislation, saving millions of dollars per year.
- Suburbs will get millions of dollars per year to spend on local roads and public safety.
- There have been no casinos added to provide state funds—and rob the poor.
The Bad News
Sales tax will increase in the 6 county area of Northeastern Illinois. In Cook County (which gets the largest benefit), sales tax will increase by 1/4%. In the collar counties, sales tax will increase by 1/2%. The total price tag? $530 million!
read more » 
