Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) recently questioned Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) about the Kennedy health reform bill—and whether a new provision would include abortion providers—in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Sen. Mikulski confirmed that the bill “would include Planned Parenthood clinics” and “any service deemed medically necessary or medically appropriate.”
In the realm of politics, there are a lot of misunderstood issues, and “hate-crimes” legislation is one of them. It seems harmless on the surface, but don’t let appearances fool you—it could be used to stifle and even prosecute religious speech.
The Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Act (S.909), which is ready to be voted on this week in the U.S. Senate (probably as an amendent to the Defense Authorization Bill), would grant the Department of Justice alarming, broad-sweeping power. If passed, the DOJ would be authorized to investigate and prosecute certain bias-motivated crimes based on the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
Good Bills Enacted and Signed Into Law
Parental Consent for Abortions: HB 1033 is a bill by Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson of Little Rock requires parental consent for a minor to obtain an abortion. This bill has passed the legislature and was signed into law on March 3 by Governor Huckabee.
In God We Trust License Plate: HB 1488 is a bill by Rep. Frank Glidewell of Fort Smith that allows the State of Arkansas to issue an “In God We Trust” license plate. This bill has passed the House and the Senate. It should be signed into law by the time you read this letter.
Good Bills We Are Working to Get Passed
Preventing Adoptions and Foster Care by Unmarried Homosexual and Heterosexual Couples:
HB 1119 is a bill by Rep. Bob Adams of Sheridan that prevents couples who cohabit (live together out of wedlock) from adopting children or serving as foster parents. This bill has passed the house but it fell one vote short of passage in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 2. This bill is still alive and it may be voted on in the committee again.
Defining Marriage in Public Schools: HB 1136 is a bill by Rep. Roy Ragland of Marshall that prohibits public schools from promoting any definition of marriage that is contrary to the definition of marriage in the Arkansas Constitution. This bill has passed the House but it fell one vote short of passage in the Senate Education Committee on February 23. This bill is still alive and it may be voted on again in the committee.
Banning Partial-Birth Abortion: HB 2546 is a bill by Rep. Bill Pritchard of Fayetteville that would prohibit “partial-birth” abortion in Arkansas. This bill has been assigned to the House Public Health Committee.
Protecting Children from Internet Stalkers: HB 2578 is a bill by Rep. Jay Martin of Jacksonville that creates the crime of Internet stalking of a child. This bill has been assigned to the House Technology Committee.
Support for the Federal Marriage Amendment: HR 1016 is a resolution by Rep. Doug Matayo of Springdale that encourages the Arkansas Congressional delegation to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. This resolution has been assigned to the House Aging, Children and Youth Committee. SR 9 is a resolution by Sen. Shawn Womack of Mountain Home does the same thing. It has been assigned to Senate Health.
Tax Credit for Stay at Home Parents: SB 11 by Sen. Denny Altes of Fort Smith provides a state income tax credit for a lower income parent who stays at home with a young child rather than placing the child in daycare.
Pro-Life: SB 74 by Sen. Shawn Womack requires doctors who perform abortions on women whose pregnancy is past the 20th week to inform them that studies have shown that unborn babies past this age are able to feel pain.
Conscience Bill for Health Care Providers: SB 1141 is a bill by Sen. Jack Critcher of Batesville to allow health care providers to refuse to dispense medicine or participate in health care procedures if their beliefs are being violated. This is especially important regarding dispensing of drugs that may cause abortions or medical procedures that violate the right to life of newborn babies or the elderly.
Good Home School Bill: HB 2729 is a bill by Rep. Mike Kenney of Siloam Springs that has been filed as a “shell bill.” This bill can be amended to help home schools if the need arises. No action is needed on this bill at this time. Reducing Drunk Driving: SB 1061 is a bill by Sen. Tim Wooldridge of Paragould that allows judges to require persons convicted of DWI to abstain totally from alcohol. The convicted person would wear a device that makes a record of any time they drink alcohol.
Alcohol Beverage Control Board: HB 2775 is a bill by Rep. Scott Sullivan that would require at least 2 members of the Alcohol Beverage Control Board to be appointed from dry counties. The current ABC board has no members from dry counties. This bill would provide the opportunity for there to be more equal representation on the board from counties across the state. SB 1108 by Sen. Holt provides for similar actions.
Requiring the ACLU to Register When They Oppose Ballot Issues: HB 1262 by Rep. Sid Rosenbaum of Little Rock requires organizations filing lawsuits to remove issues from the ballot to register and report their donations and expenditures with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.
Unborn Child Abuse: SB 114 by Sen. Tim Wooldridge of Paragould enables the mothers of newborn babies to be charged with child abuse if the child is born with illegal drugs in its system. This bill passed the Senate and House Judiciary Committee, but the full House failed to pass an amendment. It should be considered again.
Strengthening Covenant Marriage: HB 2948 is a bill by Rep. Jay Martin that improves Arkansas’ Covenant Marriage law. A covenant marriage is one in which couples limit their grounds for divorce.
Prohibiting Interference with Student-Initiated Prayer in Public Schools: HB 2971 by Rep. Bill Pritchard makes it illegal for school officials to interfere with student-led prayer at public school events such as athletic competitions, commencement exercises, or other school-sponsored functions.
HB 1768 by Rep. Johnny Key of Mountain Home: An act to provide for an administrative suspension of driver’s license for the offense of possession of alcohol by a minor.
HB 2338 by Rep. Benny Petrus of DeWitt: An act prohibiting the conduct of voyeurism.
HB 2562 by Rep. Eric Harris of Lowell: An act concerning school vouchers.
HB 2580 by Rep. Sid Rosenbaum of Little Rock: An act to allow a deduction from Arkansas income tax for education expenses.
SB 444 & SB 445 by Sen. Shawn Womack of Mountain Home: Keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors.
SB 981 by Sen. Shawn Womack: Keeping violent video and computer software games away from children.
SB 1003 by Sen. Shane Broadway of Benton: Makes it less likely that signatures on initiative and referendum petitions will be disqualified.
HB 1079 & HB 1265 by Rep. Timothy Hutchinson of Lowell creates penalties for pregnant women who use illegal drugs.
Bad Bills Defeated
Separation of Church and State: HR 1005 by Rep. Buddy Blair of Fort Smith was a resolution affirming the principle of “separation of church and state.” This resolution was defeated on the floor of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Bad Bills We Are Trying to Defeat
Bad Home School Bill: HB 2439 is a bill by Rep. David Cook of Williford that would place more state regulation on home schools. Public school students would not be able to transfer to a home school during the semester and home school students who miss the annual state-mandated test would have to pay a testing agency to give them a make up test. This bill has been assigned to the House Education Committee.
A Social Worker in Every School: HB 2594 is a bill by Rep. Stephanie Flowers of Pine Bluff that requires the Department of Human Services to place social workers in public schools. This will increase the instances of state investigation of homes and families. A little government involvement in some homes and families can be good, but this is likely a case of too much of a good thing. This bill has been assigned to the House Education Committee.
Higher Priced Health Insurance With Mandatory Contraceptive Coverage: HB 2618 by Rep. Lindsley Smith of Fayetteville is a bill that requires insurance companies to include contraceptive coverage in all insurance policies. This will increase the cost of health insurance. This bill has been assigned to the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.
Mandatory Contraceptives in all Clinics: HB 2782 is a bill by Rep. Joyce Elliott of Little Rock that forces health care facilities to stock emergency birth control medicines that some medical providers believe causes an abortion rather than preventing conception. Special Rights for Homosexuals: HB 2751 is a bill by Rep. Lindsley Smith of Fayetteville that adds the category of sexual orientation to Arkansas’ civil rights law. Our federal civil rights law does not include this category. Adding the category of sexual orientation would result in special rights being granted to homosexuals.
Discrimination Against Private School and Home School Students: HB 1983 is a bill by Rep. Jodie Mahony of El Dorado that would require home schoolers and private school students to pay $100 for the test and pass the public school benchmark exam in order to be eligible for the Governor’s Academic Challenge Scholarship. This bill has been assigned to the House Education Committee.
Weakening Sex Offender Laws: SB 958 & 959 are two bills by Sen. Percy Malone of Arkadelphia that lower from age 14 to 13 the age at which a person can be the victim of sexual indecency and removes enhanced penalties for indecent exposure if the victim is age 14 or under. These bills have been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Charitable Bingo: HJR 1003 by Rep. Shirley Borhauer of Bella Vista is a proposed amendment to the Arkansas Constitution allowing non-profit organizations to conduct bingo and allowing the State of Arkansas to tax it. This bill has been assigned to the House State Agencies Committee.
Lottery: Here is a list of bills not likely to pass that seek to establish a state lottery: HJR 1004 by Rep. Blair, HJR 1005 by Rep. Flowers, and HJR 1006 by Rep. Ormond.
Bingo: Here is a list of bills not likely to pass that seek to allow charitable bingo: HJR 1002 by Rep. Borhauer, SJR 2 by Sen. Broadway.
Expansion of Gambling: SB 999 by Rep. Bob Johnson of Bigelow opens the door to the expansion of gambling at Oaklawn Race Track in Hot Springs and Southland Greyhound Park in West Memphis through a local election to establish “casino-type” gaming at those locations.
Reduced Funding for Virtual School: HB 2822 by Rep. Jodie Mahony prohibits state funding of the Arkansas Virtual School. This would force the Arkansas Virtual School to have to operate on grant money, donations or other sources of funding.
Bills of Interest that Fall Outside Family Council’s Mission
Scholarships for Children of Illegal Aliens: HB 1525 is a bill by Rep. Joyce Elliot that allows the children of illegal immigrants to be eligible for in-state college tuition and for the Governor’s scholarships. This bill passed Arkansas House, but it failed to pass the Senate Education Committee on March 2. It can be brought up again.
Providing More Governor’s Academic Challenge Scholarships: SB 940 by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress of Crossett raises the family income threshold at which students will be able to qualify for the Governor’s Academic Challenge Scholarship. This will increase the number of students eligible for the scholarship.
Speak Up! Make Your Voice Heard! Make a Difference!
How to contact your legislator:
Leave a message at the Senate switchboard M-F 8-5: (501) 682-2902
Leave a message at the House switchboard M-F 8-5: (501) 682-6211
Find our who your legislators are and send them an e-mail
Go to our Voter Voice Internet site and type in your name and address. Here is the link: http://votervoice.net/groups/arfc
If you need talking points on these and other bills: Contact Family Council at (501) 375-7000 or e-mail us at:
info@familycouncil.org