top mosker
01-20-05, 02:25 PM
I joined the Christian Coalition to be able to receive things like this:
Thursday, January 20, 2005
MEMO
TO: Christian Coalition Church Liaisons
FROM: Dr. Billy McCormack, National Church Liaison Director
RE: 2005 CCA Agenda
Christian Coalition of America's Agenda for 2005 (in the 109th Congress):
1. Getting votes in the first session of the 109th Congress to confirm President Bush’s judicial nominations and confirm any of President Bush’s Supreme Court nominees.
Filibusters were conducted against 10 of President Bush's circuit court of appeals nominees including Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, and Carolyn Kuhl during the 107th and 108th Congresses (2001-2004). After the nomination of the President’s nominee, Miguel Estrada’s had been filibustered by the Senate for months, Mr. Estrada asked that his nomination be withdrawn. Christian Coalition will also strongly support President Bush’s nominations to the Supreme Court and support efforts by Majority Leader Bill Frist to return to Senate precedents whereby if a judicial nominee has the support of a majority of Senators, that judicial nominee should get a vote on the Senate floor. For the past 4 years, only 41 Senators could stop a judicial nominee from even getting a vote on the Senate floor. The Founding Fathers never intended that 60 Senators would be needed to vote on a judicial nomination. President Bush has promised to appoint only strict constructionists (who do not legislate from the bench) to the Supreme Court.
2. Making permanent President Bush’s 2001 federal tax cuts, including the marriage penalty tax cut and supporting President Bush's tax reform.
Helping the Congress make permanent the president’s 2001 tax cuts, including all income tax cuts, the marriage penalty tax cut, child tax credit, etc. now set to expire in 2010. In addition, since the American people waste about $300 billion in tax preparation costs every year because of the hugely complicated Internal Revenue Service code and laws, Christian Coalition will support tax reform which could include abolition of the IRS and the federal income tax and replacing it with a flat tax or a national sales tax with people in lower income tax brackets getting refunds (possibly monthly refunds.)
3. Passing the "Child Custody Protection Act" in the House and Senate (i.e. protecting parental notification rights for abortions on minors).
Senator John Ensign’s bill, "Child Custody Protection Act" had 23 co-sponsors in the 108th Congress. His bill would "prohibit taking minors across state lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents on abortion decisions." Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has a bill which is similar to the Senate bill and she had over co-sponsors in the 108th Congress. Her bill has already passed in the U.S.House of Representatives overwhelming by a margin of 260-161.
4. Helping pass President Bush's Social Security reform (private accounts for young people and up to age 50).
Christian Coalition will support Social Security reform which President Bush strongly supports and possibly the legislation to be introduced by Senator John Sununu or Senator Lindsey Graham and by Congressman Paul Ryan in the U.S. House of Representatives. President Bush wants Social Security reform to include turning President Roosevelt's New Deal-era retirement program into a self-financing private investment accounts system which workers could own and control. Right now those receiving Social Security cannot give the remainder of their benefits at their death to their children. The White House is considering letting workers put up to 4% of their payroll taxes into stock or bond funds. It will be similar to the hugely successful federal employee retirement system that now let's workers invest in several stock, bond, or fixed investment securities. In the beginning of the new Social Security private account system for younger people, there would be limited investment choices: three or more, all fully diversified, low-risk funds.
5. Get a vote on Congressman Chris Smith’s "Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act".
Congressman Chris Smith introduced his "Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act" during the 108th Congress, similar to Senator Sam Brownback’s bill. The bill would require abortion providers to notify women who want an abortion 20 weeks after fertilization that the evidence suggests their unborn child feels pain and they have the option to obtain anesthesia for their unborn child in order in order to reduce or eliminate pain. Christian Coalition has made this a top priority to pass in the 109th Congress.
6. Getting a vote on the Marriage Protection (constitutional) amendment in the United States Senate and then getting a vote in the U.S. House again.
Although there was a vote on the "Marriage Protection (constitutional) Amendment (MPA) sponsored by Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, R-CO, in the U.S. House of Representatives, liberal Senators prevented a vote on the MPA on the U.S. Senate floor. Christian Coalition was the only major organization supporting the Musgrave marriage amendment from the beginning when she introduced it in May 2003, and supported a similar constitutional amendment introduced by Senator Wayne Allard in late 2003. Although Congresswoman Musgrave got a 227-186 majority in the United States House of Representatives in 2004, a constitutional amendment needs 290 votes in the House and 67 Senate votes. Christian Coalition will work to grow the votes until it finally passes Congress and is sent to the state legislatures where 38 states are needed to ratify the marriage constitutional amendment allowing it to become the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
7. Supporting increases for abstinence-only funding which is now up to about $170 million.
Abstinence funding has been increased to $170 million with the help of Christian Coalition. These funds will be used to teach young people the benefits of abstaining from sex until marriage. By law, they are not allowed to discuss any benefits of birth control or condoms in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
8. Passing Congressman Walter Jones’ "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act".
Congressman Walter Jones’ bill, H.R. 235, got around 175 votes in the House in the 108th Congress. This bill does not affect the 2002 campaign finance law. This bill will liberate clergy from the muzzle imposed by the absolute ban on all speech that may be regarded as "political" and thereby enable them to speak out on all vital and moral and political questions of the day. It will free houses of worship from fear, anxiety, and uncertainty created by the threat that the IRS will impose financial penalties or revoke tax-exempt status altogether says its sponsor. Christian Coalition will fight to get a vote in the first session of the 109th Congress.
9. Passing Congressman Bartlett's First Amendment Restoration Act, H.R.3801.
Congressman Roscoe Bartlett's bill, H. R. 3801, the First Amendment Restoration Act (FARA), campaign reform legislation will restore First Amendment rights in the 30-60 day period before elections. The Bartlett bill would repeal an unconstitutional provision in the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the president in 2002. The McCain-Feingold bill bans non-PAC-funded issue advocacy and other such references to federal candidates in broadcast ads during the 30 and 60 days before primary and general elections.
10. Passing Senator Shelby’s/Congressman Aderholt’s Constitutional Restoration Act of 2004.
Senator Richard Shelby’s (S. 2082) and Congressman Roberta Aderholt’s (H.R.3799) "Constitutional Restoration Act of 2004" will restrict the appellate jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court and all lower federal courts to that jurisdiction permitted to them by the U.S. Constitution.
11. Getting a vote on Congressman Henry Brown’s "Real and Virtual Child Pornography Ban Constitutional Amendment" in both the House and Senate.
Congressman Brown introduced his constitutional amendment to get rid of real and "virtual" child pornography in the past 2 Congresses. Christian Coalition will seek a vote on his amendment in the 109th Congress.
12. Passing Congressman Robert Aderholt’s "10 Commandments Display Act,"H.R.2045.
Congressman Aderholt’s states’ rights bill gives the individual States the power to decide whether or not to display the Ten Commandments on or within publicly owned buildings and the bill does not mandate that they be displayed. Christian Coalition will seek a vote on this bill during the 109th Congress.
13. Support Congressman Todd Akin’s "Pledge Protection Act" bill.
Congressman Akin’s bill, H.R.2028, had more than 220 co-sponsors and it will "To amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance. It passed in the U.S. House in 2004. Christian Coalition will seek to also get a vote in the U.S. Senate during the 109th Congress.
14. Passing Senator Lindsey Graham’s and Congressman Joe Wilson’s "Holy Sites" resolution.
Senator Graham’s "Holy Sites" resolution and Congressman Wilson’s similar resolution addresses the protection of religious sites mainly in and near Israel and the freedom of access and worship in these sites.
15. Passing Majority Whip Roy Blunt’s "Charitable Giving Act of 2003", H.R. 7.
Christian Coalition will seek to pass Congressman Blunt’s faith-based bill passed in the U.S. Senate in 2005. His bill’s provisions would mean an additional $4.3 billion in giving to American charities.
16. Passing Senator Sam Brownback’s anti-cloning bill in the U.S. Senate.
Christian Coalition will seek a vote on Sen. Brownback’s anti-cloning bill in the U.S. Senate. The House passed the bipartisan bill sponsored by Congressmen Dave Weldon and Bart Stupak on February 27, 2003 by a margin of 241-155. Senator Orin Hatch has joined forces with Senator Diane Feinstein to come up with their own much-watered down anti-cloning bill. Liberals in the U.S. Senate have prevented an up or down vote, with no substitute bills, on the Brownback anti-cloning bill.
17. Get a vote for Congressman Charles "Chip" Pickering’s "Safeguarding Our Religious Liberties Act".
Congressman Pickering has sponsored "Safeguarding our Religious Liberties Act," introduced in September 2003. The States will be able to make decisions such as the display of the 10 Commandments and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. All federal courts, except the Supreme Court, will not be able to rule on such issues.
18. Helping to pass "Holly’s Law" to take the abortion pill, RU 486 off market until there is an investigation.
Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s and Congressman Jim DeMint introduced their bill called "Holly’s Law" named after 18-year-old Holly Patterson died after taking the abortion pill, RU486 has bipartisan support. At least 2 other women have died after taking the abortion pill. It had 59 original co-sponsors in the 108th Congress.
Sorry for it being so long, but no link...
Some scary things on the agenda - numbers 7, 8, and 9 are especially disturbing. Good bye democracy, hello theocracy!
Number 12 - the ten commandments...
I read an article by Kurt Vonnegut the other day which made the most reasonable argument I think I have ever heard about this issue. To sum it up, you don't see Christian groups trying to post the Beatitudes from Jesus' sermon on the mount anywhere.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
MEMO
TO: Christian Coalition Church Liaisons
FROM: Dr. Billy McCormack, National Church Liaison Director
RE: 2005 CCA Agenda
Christian Coalition of America's Agenda for 2005 (in the 109th Congress):
1. Getting votes in the first session of the 109th Congress to confirm President Bush’s judicial nominations and confirm any of President Bush’s Supreme Court nominees.
Filibusters were conducted against 10 of President Bush's circuit court of appeals nominees including Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, and Carolyn Kuhl during the 107th and 108th Congresses (2001-2004). After the nomination of the President’s nominee, Miguel Estrada’s had been filibustered by the Senate for months, Mr. Estrada asked that his nomination be withdrawn. Christian Coalition will also strongly support President Bush’s nominations to the Supreme Court and support efforts by Majority Leader Bill Frist to return to Senate precedents whereby if a judicial nominee has the support of a majority of Senators, that judicial nominee should get a vote on the Senate floor. For the past 4 years, only 41 Senators could stop a judicial nominee from even getting a vote on the Senate floor. The Founding Fathers never intended that 60 Senators would be needed to vote on a judicial nomination. President Bush has promised to appoint only strict constructionists (who do not legislate from the bench) to the Supreme Court.
2. Making permanent President Bush’s 2001 federal tax cuts, including the marriage penalty tax cut and supporting President Bush's tax reform.
Helping the Congress make permanent the president’s 2001 tax cuts, including all income tax cuts, the marriage penalty tax cut, child tax credit, etc. now set to expire in 2010. In addition, since the American people waste about $300 billion in tax preparation costs every year because of the hugely complicated Internal Revenue Service code and laws, Christian Coalition will support tax reform which could include abolition of the IRS and the federal income tax and replacing it with a flat tax or a national sales tax with people in lower income tax brackets getting refunds (possibly monthly refunds.)
3. Passing the "Child Custody Protection Act" in the House and Senate (i.e. protecting parental notification rights for abortions on minors).
Senator John Ensign’s bill, "Child Custody Protection Act" had 23 co-sponsors in the 108th Congress. His bill would "prohibit taking minors across state lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents on abortion decisions." Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has a bill which is similar to the Senate bill and she had over co-sponsors in the 108th Congress. Her bill has already passed in the U.S.House of Representatives overwhelming by a margin of 260-161.
4. Helping pass President Bush's Social Security reform (private accounts for young people and up to age 50).
Christian Coalition will support Social Security reform which President Bush strongly supports and possibly the legislation to be introduced by Senator John Sununu or Senator Lindsey Graham and by Congressman Paul Ryan in the U.S. House of Representatives. President Bush wants Social Security reform to include turning President Roosevelt's New Deal-era retirement program into a self-financing private investment accounts system which workers could own and control. Right now those receiving Social Security cannot give the remainder of their benefits at their death to their children. The White House is considering letting workers put up to 4% of their payroll taxes into stock or bond funds. It will be similar to the hugely successful federal employee retirement system that now let's workers invest in several stock, bond, or fixed investment securities. In the beginning of the new Social Security private account system for younger people, there would be limited investment choices: three or more, all fully diversified, low-risk funds.
5. Get a vote on Congressman Chris Smith’s "Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act".
Congressman Chris Smith introduced his "Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act" during the 108th Congress, similar to Senator Sam Brownback’s bill. The bill would require abortion providers to notify women who want an abortion 20 weeks after fertilization that the evidence suggests their unborn child feels pain and they have the option to obtain anesthesia for their unborn child in order in order to reduce or eliminate pain. Christian Coalition has made this a top priority to pass in the 109th Congress.
6. Getting a vote on the Marriage Protection (constitutional) amendment in the United States Senate and then getting a vote in the U.S. House again.
Although there was a vote on the "Marriage Protection (constitutional) Amendment (MPA) sponsored by Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, R-CO, in the U.S. House of Representatives, liberal Senators prevented a vote on the MPA on the U.S. Senate floor. Christian Coalition was the only major organization supporting the Musgrave marriage amendment from the beginning when she introduced it in May 2003, and supported a similar constitutional amendment introduced by Senator Wayne Allard in late 2003. Although Congresswoman Musgrave got a 227-186 majority in the United States House of Representatives in 2004, a constitutional amendment needs 290 votes in the House and 67 Senate votes. Christian Coalition will work to grow the votes until it finally passes Congress and is sent to the state legislatures where 38 states are needed to ratify the marriage constitutional amendment allowing it to become the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
7. Supporting increases for abstinence-only funding which is now up to about $170 million.
Abstinence funding has been increased to $170 million with the help of Christian Coalition. These funds will be used to teach young people the benefits of abstaining from sex until marriage. By law, they are not allowed to discuss any benefits of birth control or condoms in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
8. Passing Congressman Walter Jones’ "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act".
Congressman Walter Jones’ bill, H.R. 235, got around 175 votes in the House in the 108th Congress. This bill does not affect the 2002 campaign finance law. This bill will liberate clergy from the muzzle imposed by the absolute ban on all speech that may be regarded as "political" and thereby enable them to speak out on all vital and moral and political questions of the day. It will free houses of worship from fear, anxiety, and uncertainty created by the threat that the IRS will impose financial penalties or revoke tax-exempt status altogether says its sponsor. Christian Coalition will fight to get a vote in the first session of the 109th Congress.
9. Passing Congressman Bartlett's First Amendment Restoration Act, H.R.3801.
Congressman Roscoe Bartlett's bill, H. R. 3801, the First Amendment Restoration Act (FARA), campaign reform legislation will restore First Amendment rights in the 30-60 day period before elections. The Bartlett bill would repeal an unconstitutional provision in the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the president in 2002. The McCain-Feingold bill bans non-PAC-funded issue advocacy and other such references to federal candidates in broadcast ads during the 30 and 60 days before primary and general elections.
10. Passing Senator Shelby’s/Congressman Aderholt’s Constitutional Restoration Act of 2004.
Senator Richard Shelby’s (S. 2082) and Congressman Roberta Aderholt’s (H.R.3799) "Constitutional Restoration Act of 2004" will restrict the appellate jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court and all lower federal courts to that jurisdiction permitted to them by the U.S. Constitution.
11. Getting a vote on Congressman Henry Brown’s "Real and Virtual Child Pornography Ban Constitutional Amendment" in both the House and Senate.
Congressman Brown introduced his constitutional amendment to get rid of real and "virtual" child pornography in the past 2 Congresses. Christian Coalition will seek a vote on his amendment in the 109th Congress.
12. Passing Congressman Robert Aderholt’s "10 Commandments Display Act,"H.R.2045.
Congressman Aderholt’s states’ rights bill gives the individual States the power to decide whether or not to display the Ten Commandments on or within publicly owned buildings and the bill does not mandate that they be displayed. Christian Coalition will seek a vote on this bill during the 109th Congress.
13. Support Congressman Todd Akin’s "Pledge Protection Act" bill.
Congressman Akin’s bill, H.R.2028, had more than 220 co-sponsors and it will "To amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance. It passed in the U.S. House in 2004. Christian Coalition will seek to also get a vote in the U.S. Senate during the 109th Congress.
14. Passing Senator Lindsey Graham’s and Congressman Joe Wilson’s "Holy Sites" resolution.
Senator Graham’s "Holy Sites" resolution and Congressman Wilson’s similar resolution addresses the protection of religious sites mainly in and near Israel and the freedom of access and worship in these sites.
15. Passing Majority Whip Roy Blunt’s "Charitable Giving Act of 2003", H.R. 7.
Christian Coalition will seek to pass Congressman Blunt’s faith-based bill passed in the U.S. Senate in 2005. His bill’s provisions would mean an additional $4.3 billion in giving to American charities.
16. Passing Senator Sam Brownback’s anti-cloning bill in the U.S. Senate.
Christian Coalition will seek a vote on Sen. Brownback’s anti-cloning bill in the U.S. Senate. The House passed the bipartisan bill sponsored by Congressmen Dave Weldon and Bart Stupak on February 27, 2003 by a margin of 241-155. Senator Orin Hatch has joined forces with Senator Diane Feinstein to come up with their own much-watered down anti-cloning bill. Liberals in the U.S. Senate have prevented an up or down vote, with no substitute bills, on the Brownback anti-cloning bill.
17. Get a vote for Congressman Charles "Chip" Pickering’s "Safeguarding Our Religious Liberties Act".
Congressman Pickering has sponsored "Safeguarding our Religious Liberties Act," introduced in September 2003. The States will be able to make decisions such as the display of the 10 Commandments and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. All federal courts, except the Supreme Court, will not be able to rule on such issues.
18. Helping to pass "Holly’s Law" to take the abortion pill, RU 486 off market until there is an investigation.
Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s and Congressman Jim DeMint introduced their bill called "Holly’s Law" named after 18-year-old Holly Patterson died after taking the abortion pill, RU486 has bipartisan support. At least 2 other women have died after taking the abortion pill. It had 59 original co-sponsors in the 108th Congress.
Sorry for it being so long, but no link...
Some scary things on the agenda - numbers 7, 8, and 9 are especially disturbing. Good bye democracy, hello theocracy!
Number 12 - the ten commandments...
I read an article by Kurt Vonnegut the other day which made the most reasonable argument I think I have ever heard about this issue. To sum it up, you don't see Christian groups trying to post the Beatitudes from Jesus' sermon on the mount anywhere.