3 Pro-Life Bills Win House Approval, Now Go to Gov. Henry

Pro-life legislation overwhelmingly passed the House yesterday.

SB 1890, by Rep. Dan Sullivan, forbids abortions based solely on the sex of the child. The bill passed the House with a vote of 95-1.

SB 1891, by Rep. Pam Peterson, creates the Freedom of Conscience Act, which would protect the rights of health care professionals to refuse to take part in the destruction of innocent human life. Her bill passed the House with a vote of 80-13.

SB 1902, by Rep. Skye McNiel, makes it illegal for a person other than a physician to provide or administer the chemical abortion pill, RU-486, for the purposes of inducing an abortion. The bill also requires physicians to file a report under certain circumstances, and provides a civil action for certain fathers and maternal grandparents of unborn children aborted by a physician who knowingly or recklessly violates the provisions of the measure. The bill passed the House with a vote of 91-7.

All three bills now head to Gov. Brad Henry for either approval or veto.

Glenn Beck Explains Media Reports, Encourages Citizens' Prayers

Oklahoma Family Policy Council has always encouraged Oklahomans to utilize principled persuasion, the electoral process, hard work, perserverance, and goodwill in citizens' efforts to change public policy. In trying times like these, we continue to encourage people to adhere to the wise admonition of Scriptue, which says in Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

In light of the recent exaggerated national media reports of alleged racism, threats, and hatred supposedly expressed by conservative Americans and Tea Party members since the passage of the massive health care bill last Sunday, this March 24 YouTube clip from Glenn Beck's television program is particularly helpful. It serves as a good reminder for all of us to ‘look up’ while we are engaged in the duties of citizenship.

Family Day at the State Capitol Now Just One Week Away

The general public is cordially invited to attend Family Day at the State Capitol next Thursday, April 1 from 9:00 a.m. to noon in Oklahoma City.

Some 25 pro-family groups will be on hand in the 4th Floor Rotunda to explain their nonprofit work to attendees. Perhaps most important, the 2010 Oklahoma Family of the Year will be recognized for the first time publicly and also in the state House of Representatives (beginning at approximately 10 a.m.).

The purpose of this annual Family Day event is to honor the institution of the Family in Oklahoma and to serve as a reminder to state legislators and to Gov. Brad Henry to always remember the family and to consider the family impact of bills -- both positive and negative -- when they are legislating. Gov. Henry has issued an executive proclamation, which declares April 1 as Family Day in the state of Oklahoma.

Family Day at the State Capitol is sponsored by the Character Council of Central Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Family Policy Council.

Your family is welcome and encouraged to attend.

For more information, call (405) 787-7744.

Rep. John Dingell Explains ‘Control of the People’

83-year-old Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) perhaps explained more than he intended about the intent of the political Progressives in Congress during a radio interview following the passage of the Obama health care bill.

OFPC Holds State Capitol News Conference

This morning, OFPC Executive Director Mike Jestes participated in a State Capitol news conference with Rep. Rebecca Hamilton (D-Oklahoma City), Dr. Dominic Pedulla, and other pro-life leaders regarding HB 3077.

This bill, which is now in the state Senate would, like in eight other states and several countries, prevent the paying of compensation to young women who risk their health to donate human eggs to fertility clinics and for medical research purposes.

Under the legislation, all women could continue to donate their eggs for IVF purposes, in an effort to conceive a child, but no compensation would be paid.

In a moral society, Oklahomans shouldn't want to unnecessarily put young women's health at risk via egg harvesting and allow creation of an unethical market for body parts.

Coburn Sends Warning to Earmark Seeking House Members

According to Code Red, 16 House members remain undecided on how they will vote on the health care takeover bill (as of Friday night, 10:52 p.m.).

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Muskogee) sent House members a stern message yesterday, warning them they will be exposed if they switch their vote from no to yes in exchange for earmarks.

Certification Training in PREPARE-ENRICH Marriage Assessments to be Offered

Pastors, Marriage Mentors, and Lay Marriage Ministry Activists:

Be trained to counsel premarital couples and crisis couples! Take one of several upcoming PREPARE-ENRICH certification trainings.

Marriage Network Oklahoma referrals get a 20% discount (see details below); Southern Baptist pastors can get a special price through the BGCO.

The PREPARE-ENRICH certification workshop is designed to help facilitators learn how to administer the PREPARE-ENRICH assessments and to provide feedback to premarital and married couples using six core and over 20 supplemental exercises.

Learn to help couples identify their strengths and growth areas in categories such as Communication, Conflict Resolution, Spiritual Beliefs & Financial Management.

All Workshops led by: Dr. Walter Mullican
Time: 9:00-4:00

Cost: Special price for Marriage Network referrals - $140. Receive a 20% discount (say you want the MNO discount) from the regular price of $175 (spouse attends free).

Upcoming Workshop Dates:

Thursday, March 25, 2010 – Capital Baptist Assoc. Office, 2233 W I-44 Service Rd., Okla. City, OK 73112

Thursday, April 8, 2010 – South Tulsa Baptist Church, 10310 South Sheridan Road, Tulsa, OK 74133
Register by: March 31

Saturday, May 8, 2010 – Portland Ave Baptist Church, 1301 N Portland Avenue, OK 73107
Register by: April 28

Thursday, May 20, 2010 – First Baptist Church, 202 East Hanks Trail, Woodward, OK 73801 [map]
Register by: May 12

This PREPARE-ENRICH training workshop is nondenominational and available for all interested persons of any religious faith, or no faith. The workshop is simply being held at the churches above to reduce workshop cost for participants.

To Register: Contact Dr. Walter Mullican (405) 640-7731, wmullican@portlandavenue.org

The Oklahoman Prints Op-Ed on HB 3077

Yesterday, The Oklahoman printed an important Op-Ed jointly authored by OFPC Executive Director Mike Jestes, Family Research Council Senior Fellow Dr. David Prentice, and Jennifer Lahl, R.N., with the Center for Bioethics & Culture.

The March 17th Op-Ed deals with HB 3077, a bill by Rep. Rebecca Hamiltion (D-Oklahoma City), which would, if approved in the Senate and signed by Gov. Brad Henry, prevent the paying of compensation to women for what is, in effect, the sale of their eggs.

The intent of the bill is NOT to prevent medical procedures like in-vitro fertilization by married couples, but rather to prevent the development of an unethical market in Oklahoma for the human eggs of young women.

HB 3077 passed the state House by a large margin and now is in the state Senate, where lobbyists for the state medical association are reportedly trying to kill the bill.

If HB 3077 becomes law, women will continue to be able to donate their eggs to fertility clinics in Oklahoma; it will just become illegal to sell their eggs to fertility clinics for paid compensation.

Click here to view the Op-Ed.

The Choice: ‘Deem and Pass’ OR ‘Pass and Stow’?

The time is upon us.

For the American people and for our posterity, which will it be in the House of Representatives?

Will it be the House of ‘Deem and Pass’ or the House of ‘Pass and Stow’?

Lawsuit Ready to Challenge Constitutionality of Health Care Passage Process

Today, it's unclear whether the U.S. House of Representatives will pass the health care takeover bill. Democratic leaders don't yet have the votes, apparently, to takeover one-sixth of the U.S. economy. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and his allies remain committed to vote against the bill due to its inclusion of public financing of abortion.

Of course, reports are circulating that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will rely on the so-called Slaughter Rule to "deem the bill to have passed in the House" without actually voting on the Senate version of the bill. This moves the bill forward and allows House members from actually having to go on record for this unpopular bill.

If that happens in violation of the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 7, then constitutional challenges will surely be offered in court. In fact, Landmark Legal Foundation President Mark Levine (also a well-known talk radio host) has already drafted a legal Complaint, which can be viewed by clicking here.

The House vote (or maneuver) can be expected by Saturday. All members of the Oklahoma delegation are committed to vote against the bill.

If this socialistic health care plan passes, a recent survey found that up to 46 percent of doctors nationwide may leave the practice of medicine, thus setting the stage for future doctor shortages and medical rationing, just as the opponents have predicted.

Human Trafficking Bill Clears Senate, Heads to House

SB 2258, a bill by Sen. R. Clark Jolley (R-Edmond), which is designed to make human trafficking more difficult to accomplish in Oklahoma, has passed the state Senate and is now headed to the state House.

For information, read this CapitolBeatOK story by clicking here.

The O'Reilly Factor to Highlight Tulsa Tea Party

As you may know, popular broadcaster Glenn Beck and bestselling author and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin were both in Tulsa this past Saturday afternoon to speak to a sold-out Tulsa Convention Center crowd about "Tak'in Back Our Country."

Tonight, on the Fox News Channel, The O'Reilly Factor program will have a special report about their appearance and also air a spotlight on the Tulsa Tea Party, which was central in organizing the successful Tulsa event.

If you're interested to see this national focus on our state, you can catch The O'Reilly Factor broacast tonight on cable at either 7 p.m. or 10 p.m.

Pro-Marriage Bill Passes House, Advances to Senate

Yesterday, Rep. Mark McCullough's pro-marriage bill, HB 2634, passed the state House of Representatives on a 51-45 vote.

HB 2634 would require two hours of pre-marital counseling before the issuance of a marriage license and provide a $45 dollar discount on a marriage license for couples getting eight or more hours of pre-marital counseling.

The measure also allows for a “covenant marriage” license, ends future recognition of “common law” marriages, and requires court directed pre-divorce education classes for couples with children. Those courses would cover issues such as the impact of separate parenting on children and separate financial responsibility for children.

McCullough noted the counseling and divorce education provisions are already in state law, but are permissive and participation is not mandatory.

“The problem of family fragmentation is the elephant in the living room of state government,” McCullough said. “The fallout from divorce and unwed childbearing cost the State hundreds of millions of dollars annually and it goes against the grain of our conservative culture here in Oklahoma. Yet getting to the point of having a forthright discussion on these issues has proven difficult. So many people have either been divorced or someone close to them has gone through divorce, and that makes people uncomfortable with these issues. I really understand the painful nature of this whole subject. I’m not trying to hurt or shame anyone; I just don’t think we can afford to avert our gaze anymore. This is a conversation we need to have as a state and the Oklahoma House was an appropriate place to start it.”

A recent study from the Institute for American Values and Georgia Family Council, The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Childbearing: First-Ever Estimates for the Fifty States and the Nation, conservatively estimates divorce has a dramatic impact on the cost of state government (largely through public assistance programs) – of at least $430 million annually in Oklahoma.

McCullough's bill now heads to the state Senate.

Abortion in the Obama Health Care Bill

It's a huge bill, as we all know. Who can read it?

Thankfully, Chuck Donovan, formerly of Family Research Council, now with The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., has done an excellent analysis of how President Barack Obama's newest health care reform bill WILL definitely pay for more federal funding of abortions.

Click here to read his excellent analysis.

Let's pray that pro-life Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and his House colleagues are successful in stopping this immoral, Progressive bill, which will, over time, end up bankrupting the country and denying medical treatment and care for untold numbers of Americans, including the unborn.

Texas Considers New Social Studies Standards

Will Texas adopt K-12 textbooks that eliminate all teaching about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln? Will textbooks begin social studies instruction about American history only after 1877? Will Texas textbooks eliminate all references to Christmas? These are the questions that the Fox News Channel has been asking and promoting the past couple of days.

Whoa! Did the foxes get caught trying to transform the henhouse? Or are things being blown all out of proportion by Fox News?

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) seems to think so; they issued a news release today taking exception to the characterizations being made by Fox News. Click here to see the TEA release.

Tonight, Sean Hannity will have Michelle Malkin on his Fox News Channel program to discuss what's going on further. We invite you to watch the program tonight at 8 p.m. (or view the rebroadcast at 11 p.m.) and see what you think.

Here's what we know:

There is an ongoing, continuing fight between Christian conservatives, secularists, and progressives for control of the Texas State Board of Education. This has been going on for several years. Conservatives have control now, but they have been steadily losing seats.

Today through Friday, the state of Texas is holding formal hearings in Austin to consider the adoption of new social studies textbook standards, which will incorporated in new Texas social studies textbooks to be adopted in 2011. The meetings had originally been scheduled for January, but were continued until today to allow time for more study.

Conservatives in Texas are pushing for traditional teaching of American history in the textbooks, including more teaching about our Christian heritage and the Founding Fathers who birthed the nation. Others in Texas are pushing back against that direction.

Although it's not at all likely the inflammatory social studies standards will be adopted, given the current national attention, it is interesting to us that a proposal to teach history only after 1877 is even on the table. Political Progressivism in the U.S., which began in about 1880, has continued throughout the 20th and 21st Centuries, gaining much influence and dilluting adherence to our nation's founding documents and original understandings about the role of government.

So, any new plan to teach the younger generation history only after the year 1877 would effectively immerse them only in Progressive political thought and influence and divorce students from any understanding of our nation's true historical roots and Christian past.

A preliminary vote will be taken this week. A final vote on the standards will come in May, and, as stated above, the textbooks will not be adopted until next year.

This fight is important because textbooks adopted in Texas are often used as model textbooks by other states nationwide.

Bill to Require Teaching of America's Founding Documents Fails

Yesterday, the state House of Representatives failed to pass a bill by Rep. Charles Key (R-Oklahoma City) and Sen. Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso) that would have required the state Board of Education to promulgate rules to teach public school students in Oklahoma about the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, as a part of social studies curriculum.

The vote was 44-52. To see how your representative voted, click here and search for HB 2814 vote on March 9.

Co-authors of HB 2814 included Rep. Sue Tibbs, Rep. Ann Coody, and Rep. Jason Nelson. Rep. Key filed a motion to reconsider his bill, which means he can attempt to change minds and call for another vote within the next few days.

Indoctrination in Our Schools

Today, on the Fox News Channel beginning at 4 p.m. (and rebroadcast at 1 a.m.) broadcaster Glenn Beck and former leftist David Horowitz will discuss the topic of indoctrination in our schools.

While the problem of indoctrination is more pronounced in certain public schools nationwide, all children in the U.S. to some degree are being affected because 1) the outcomes-based educational objectives in force in each state pursue politically correct outcomes for all students, and 2) the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) test assesses all public school students to measure students' attitudes, values, and beliefs, as well as to measure their academic attainment.

Parents will want to watch this hour-long program, or catch the rebroadcast, if at all possible.

State Loses Bid for Race to the Top Grant Funds

Today, it was announced that Oklahoma's proposal to receive Race to the Top funds for so-called education reform in Oklahoma failed to win federal approval.

Conservatives statewide should cheer this announcement since Race to the Top funds are being used by the U.S. Department of Education to transition the 50 states to increased federalization of education. Their plan also includes the creation of an electronic dangan for all students, similar to what exists now in Communist China, which will bring with it a complete loss of student privacy, as we reported in this blog just last January.

In June, the state of Oklahoma, led by Gov. Brad Henry's top education advisor Kathy Taylor, can submit anoher proposal seeking these federal funds, which it is expected to do.

Will They or Won't They?

. . . pass a health care reform proposal the American people have told Washington repeatedly they don't want?

As you know, the White House plan, portions of which President Barack Obama signaled Wednesday, is for the U.S. House of Representatives to first pass the previously passed U.S. Senate bill (the infamous Christmas Eve version) without adding any House amendments. Then, the Senate will make any amendments desired by the House members (and Senate Republicans, including Dr. Tom Coburn (R-Muskogee), will offer hundreds of amendments to slow down the legislative process). Finally, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and his colleagues will supposedly pass the final health care bill by simple majority using the reconciliation process. The bill would then go to President Obama.

But, there are a lot of unresolved issues. What will House members, who will all face election in November, do? What will so-called more conservative Blue-Dog Democrats, like Rep. Dan Boren (D-Muskogee) do as a group? Will they bow to pressure from the White House and Speaker Nancy Peloski (D-Calif.) and vote for the bill? Boren says he won't "over my dead body," regardless of what pressures come his way. "They may break my arms, but they'll never get my vote," Boren said.

The President has told Congressional leaders he wants a Congressional vote by Easter, now just one month away.

The cost is surely well over $1 trillion, regardless of the President's statements to the contrary. The Heritage Foundation says it will cost $2.5 trillion. One thing we know: there's fraud about the numbers. At least $250 million dedicated to provide additional funds for doctors who serve Medicaid patients (the so-called "Doctor's fix") was not included in the health care reform bill, but rather in the so-called Jobs (AKA Stimulus) bill, which just passed the Senate. That allowed the Congressional Budget Office to score the President's bill at under a trillion dollars.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow has been floating the idea that there are 9 House members who voted against health care last time who are now willing to switch their votes and vote for it this time. But, many observers suggest it's all smoke and mirrors and an effort to persuade undecided House members to side with the President.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), author of the pro-life Stupak Amendment, says he has 12 House Democrats who will vote against the Senate bill because it doesn't contain protections related to a continuing ban on federal funding of abortion as did the original House bill. That's good news!

It's going to be an interesting month. Now is NOT the time for opponents of socialized medicine to give up at all. We must all redouble our efforts! Americans shouldn't permit the round hole of the best health care system in the world to be forced into accommodating the square peg dreams of Progressive, utopian, big government, European-style socialists.

To read a conservative analysis of the President's health care reform proposal prepared by The Heritage Foundation, click here.

Perkins Says President's ‘New’ HC Proposal Funds Abortion

Today, in a 20 minute speech, President Barack Obama introduced the most recent health care reform proposal and called on Congressional leaders Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid to schedule a final vote in the next few weeks.

In response, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

This new White House health care statement completely undermines President Obama's claim last week dismissing charges that the Senate bill would fund abortion as mere 'talking points.' President Obama's legislation not only maintains the Senate abortion funding provisions; it would make them worse by increasing federal funding for community health centers that could be used directly to kill unborn babies.

Ignoring the only bi-partisan provision that passed, the Stupak amendment that prevents abortion funding, the President's bill to amend the Senate bill leaves several abortion provisions in place. In Section 1303 it allows tax credit subsidies for plans that include abortion and leaves the abortion surcharge in place. It maintains the proposal to create a multi-state plan that includes abortion in Sec. 1334. Even worse, it would increase the Senate bill funding from $7 billion to $11 billion for community health centers in Sec. 10503 without any abortion funding restrictions.

"If this bill becomes law," Perkins says, "this Congress will oversee the largest ever expansion of abortion on demand at taxpayer expense."

Leaders Invited to Breakfast March 9 and Discuss Strengthening Fatherhood

Dr. Carey Casey, president of the National Center of Fathering in Kansas City, will be the speaker March 9 at an important breakfast in Oklahoma City for pastors, community leaders, youth leaders, and nonprofit executives.

Dr. Casey will lead attendees in a discussion of ways we can network and creatively address the problem of fatherlessness, absent fathers, and family fragmentation in Central Oklahoma.

This community-wide, nondenominational breakfast is being sponsored by the National Center for Fathering, Fairview Baptist Church, and Oklahoma Family Policy Council.

The breakfast, which begins at 7:00 a.m. and should conclude by 9 a.m., is free, but you must RSVP to attend. To RSVP, call Oklahoma Family Policy Council at (405) 787-7744.

Churches to Meet Thursday for Premarital Training Workshop

Tomorrow, Marriage Network Oklahoma will again present its quarterly workshop -- this time to train Oklahoma churches in how to effectively prepare couples for successful marriage.

More premarital preparation needs to be done since between 43 percent to half of all first-time marriages will end in divorce. As recently as the late 1990's, only 25% to 33% of couples attended any relationship education prior to marriage.

Today, comprehensive assessments like PREPARE help couples indentify and resolve likely conflicts prior to the marriage. Premarital classes help couples learn about common areas of concern (communication, sex, finances, children). Marriage Mentors serve as experienced guides to help newly married couples negotiate the well-worn trail of marriage.

If your church is not presently partnering with MNO, we invite you to ask your church leadership to investigate MNO and consider how we might work together (http://www.marriagenetworkok.net/).

D.C. Begins Issuing Marriage Licenses to Same-Sex Couples

Today, officials in the District of Columbia, for the first time ever, began issuing so-called "marriage" licenses to same-sex couples. In Maryland, officials also said they would do the same.

Last night, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts refused to intervene to stop the pending issuance of same-sex marriage licenses in D.C.

Chief Justice Roberts' refusal to act perhaps signals that the U.S. Supreme Court expects to address the same-sex marriage issue soon, probably via California's Proposition 8 case, which is now working its way through the federal courts.

Don't Forget to Vote Today

Today, March 2nd, all registered voters in Oklahoma City have a chance to vote in the mayoral election being decided in Oklahoma City. Polling places will be open until 7 p.m. tonight.

Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett is seeking his third four-year term as OKC's mayor. He is being challenged by newcomer Steve Hunt, who is challenging Mayor Cornett based on his disputed handling of the MAPS 3 measure, which was approved 54.3 percent to 45.7 percent by city voters last December.

Don't forget to vote today.

Pro-Life Ultrasound Bill Passes Oklahoma House of Representatives

(from House of Representatives Media Division)

Pro-life legislation further defending the unborn child passed the House today.


House Bill 2780, by Rep. Lisa Billy, expands on pro-life legislation passed in 2006 that required abortion doctors to tell a woman she had a right to a free ultrasound at an off-site location. This legislation would provide an ultrasound at the clinic where the abortion would be performed.

“This legislation is about giving mothers as much information as possible in advance about this irrevocable, life-altering decision. We must do all we can to ensure every woman has all the facts so she can make the most informed decision possible,” said Billy, R-Purcell.

The bill passed the House today with a vote of 87-7 and will now move to the Senate for consideration.

Bill Increases Penalties for Repeat Child Molesters

Today, the House passed HB 2965, by Rep. Rex Duncan (R-Sand Springs), which increases penalties for repeat child molesters, including the possibility of life without parole or death.

Under current law, a child molester can face a sentence of 25 years to life for a first offense. Duncan’s legislation will increase the penalty to include a maximum sentence of life without parole.

His legislation will also allow the death penalty to be considered for those convicted of a second or subsequent offense. That provision has been crafted to comply with recent court rulings.

The legislation will also eliminate the "homeless defense" as an excuse for not registering as a sex offender and allow those convicted of failure to register to receive a 20-year prison sentence.

Catch Dr. Peter Jones' Lecture Post Lecture!

If you missed last Thursday's Webcast of Dr. Peter Jones' lecure on "How the Early Christians of Rome Defeated Pagan Sexuality" don't despair. Yes, you can still catch his lecture by visiting FRC's Website.

Click here to access the site, where you can download Dr. Jones' lecture as an mp3 file. You might want to save the file for future reference.

State House to Debate 2 Pro-Life Bills Today

This afternnon (March 1), the state House of Representatives will debate and vote on two pro-life bills, HB 2780 and HB 3110.

HB 2780, by Rep. Lisa J. Billy, would require that all women seeking abortions in Oklahoma be provided with an ultrasound, prior to any abortion. The woman would NOT be required to look at the ultrasound images of her unborn child, but the ultrasound would be required to be performed.

HB 3110, by Rep. Pam Peterson, would create the Freedom of Conscience Act, and would allow certain medical professionals from being required to perform abortions or provide abortifacients as a condition of their employment.

Both of these bills have been passed into law in prior years, but are being resubmitted in light of recent rulings by Oklahoma County judges, as respects the constitutionality of how the legislation was approved in violation of the single-subject rule.

Another bill, HB 3077, by Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, is NOT on today's agenda, but is expected to be put on the calendar in the coming days. Her bill would prevent women from selling their eggs in Oklahoma, thus creating a marketplace for human eggs in violation of moral and bioethics concerns.