CBN Highlights How Family Council and Others Affected by “De-Banking”

Religious Freedom, ,

Last week the Christian Broadcasting Network reported how banks in America have been weaponized against conservative organizations. This is especially true of Christian groups that have been “de-banked” by JPMorgan Chase and others.

The CBN story — which you can watch above or read here — cites Family Council among the groups who have had their bank accounts closed.

At 10:29 AM on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, our office received a terse email from our credit card processor — a company owned by JPMorgan Chase — saying, “Unfortunately, we can no longer support your business. We wish you all the luck in the future, and hope that you find a processor that better fits your payment processing needs.”

Within sixty seconds, our account was terminated and and Family Council could no longer accept donations online.

Just like the CBN story highlights, eventually we learned the company had designated Family Council as “High Risk.” According to their Terms of Service, High Risk companies include:

  • Astrology and psychic services
  • Career placement services
  • Cyberlockers and file sharing or storage services
  • Companies that conduct research or testing on animals
  • Companies known to have issues with labor or working conditions
  • Companies involved in land acquisition and involuntary resettlement
  • Companies who have been subject to allegations related to human rights violations
  • Pawn shops
  • Private prison operators

The list goes on, but it’s unclear how what prompted the bank to decide Family Council fit under the “High Risk” category. All we can do is speculate that our conservative principles and our public policy work might have had something to do with the decision.

However, the Terms of Service also let the banking service terminate our account at any time for any reason or no reason at all. Apparently that’s what they decided to do with us.

It’s frustrating that one of the largest banks in the nation would treat its customers so unfairly and unprofessionally. Unfortunately, this kind of behavior may be more common than many people realize.

You can find the full story from CBN here.

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State Could Begin Accepting Grant Applications from Pregnancy Centers Next Month

Abortion, Pro-Life, , , ,

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration recently announced it expects applications for the 2023 Pregnancy Help Organizations Grant Program to open next month.

In April, Gov. Sanders signed Act 622 of 2023 authorizing $1 million in state-funded grants for crisis pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and social services agencies that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Under Act 622, the Department of Finance and Administration distributes this grant funding to eligible organizations that provide women and families with alternatives to abortion. In a recent announcement, the agency wrote,

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) will be seeking applications for funding from organizations eligible to apply under the Pregnancy Help Organizations (PHOs) Grant Program.  This grant program was established for the purpose of encouraging females facing unwanted pregnancy to give birth to their unborn child. DFA is the designated state entity to administer the PHO Grant Program in accordance with Act 622 of 2023. Pregnancy Resource Center Grant | Department of Finance and Administration (Arkansas.gov).

Once preliminary procedures are completed in accordance with state law, DFA will open the Request for Applications. 

The anticipated opening date is mid October.  Announcements will be posted on our website at the link above. 

Since the 2022 Dobbs decision reversing Roe v. Wade, state legislatures around the country have ramped up state funding for pregnancy help organizations.

For example, Ohio recently raised its state budget for pregnancy resource centers to $14 million per biennium.

In Tennessee, legislators appropriated $20 million for pro-life organizations that provide alternatives to abortion. Florida’s state budget allocates $30 million pregnancy help organizations.

The Texas Legislature budgets $50 million per year to its abortion alternatives program.

And Kansas — where some 405 women from Arkansas had abortions in 2022 — will provide $2 million to pregnancy centers in the coming months.

In June the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration finished awarding $1 million in grant funds to pregnancy help organizations as part of the 2022-2023 budget cycle. Now the state is preparing to award another million dollars by June 30, 2024. This grant funding will support women with unplanned pregnancies and help build a culture of life in Arkansas. That’s something to celebrate.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Federal Judge Blocks State from Enforcing Delta-8 Ban for Now

Marijuana,

Last week U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson issued a preliminary injunction blocking the State of Arkansas’ ban on Delta-8 THC.

Delta-8 THC is a mind-altering substance made from cannabis, and health experts increasingly warn the drug poses serious risks.

For example, from December 1, 2020, to February 28, 2022, the FDA documented 104 “adverse event reports” concerning Delta-8 THC — including hallucinations, vomiting, tremors, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness. National poison control centers also received 2,362 Delta-8 THC calls — most of which required evaluation at a healthcare facility. Eight percent of these calls resulted in admission to a critical care unit, and one child reportedly died as a result of exposure to Delta-8 THC.

Arkansas has virtually no meaningful restrictions on Delta-8 THC. That’s why earlier this year the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 629 of 2023 by Sen. Tyler Dees (R – Siloam Springs) and Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould). This good law prevents Delta-8 THC from being manufactured via industrial hemp — or cannabis — in Arkansas.

The law also places Delta-8, Delta-9, Delta-10 THC, and other psychoactive drugs made from industrial hemp on the list of controlled substances in state law, and it contains language enacting drug restrictions that would take effect if a state or federal court someday blocked Arkansas from prohibiting Delta-8 altogether.

However, a group of companies that profit from Delta-8 THC are suing to block Act 629 in federal court.

Judge Wilson’s ruling issued last week blocks the state from enforcing Act 629 for the time being, and it schedules the lawsuit over Act 629 to go to trial a little less than a year from now — on August 27, 2024.

It should not come as any surprise that companies who profit from Delta-8 THC in Arkansas are suing to keep Delta-8 legal.

Act 629 of 2023 is a good law that protects Arkansans from dangerous drugs. We believe courts ultimately will recognize that fact and let the state enforce it.

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