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Teachers, Planned Parenthood, and Candidate Recruitment

September 2, 2011 by 33 Comments

Teachers, Planned Parenthood, and Candidate Recruitment
You may or may not be surprised to hear that the union representing Arizona teachers – Arizona Education Association – and Planned Parenthood once again are teaming up to recruit and train “progressive” candidates. Planned Parenthood’s opposition to our work to protect life and the health and safety of women is well documented. So is the Arizona Education Association’s opposition to letting parents choose the best school setting for their children. It’s outrageous, though, for a union representing teachers to be aligned with an organization that exhibits little regard for human life. I also doubt that many rank and file teachers support their union’s position.

True Tolerance in Schools 
Our friends at Focus on the Family and CitizenLink have published a new resource for parents and teachers facing “tolerance” issues in schools. Over the past few years, we’ve seen how the homosexual lobby has worked through the public schools to undermine a parent’s right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. They use words and phrases like “tolerance” and “anti-hate” to advance their agenda. Yet this isn’t an issue of tolerance or hate; it’s about parents’ rights, and what’s appropriate for a classroom setting.
The resources at TrueTolerance.org will equip you to know your rights this school year. On the site, you’ll find:

  • Tips on how to respond to homosexual activism in schools.
  • Dos and don’ts for parents on approaching school officials with concerns.
  • Examples of homosexual-themed books and classroom materials parents should know about.
  • Model anti-bullying policy that provides strong protection for kids without unnecessarily sexualizing and politicizing the issue.
  • Legal memorandums on parental rights and religious freedoms that individuals can email directly to their school officials.
  • Latest statistics for parents to help communicate their viewpoint in a loving and fact-based way.

Also, be sure to consult the Arizona parents’ rights law or call CAP Legal Counsel Deborah Sheasby should you face public school issues.
A Fruitful Fall
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend then plan to join us at these fall evens to make a difference in our state. Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar!

  • Faith in Action Tour with Dr. Del Tackett: So you’ve gone through The Truth Project, but now what? How do you take what you learned and turn it into action that can transform our community? CAP, in collaboration with Truth in Action Ministries and Dr. Del Tackett, is hosting a special event on October 29 to equip you to transform our state through service. Even if you haven’t experienced The Truth Project small group, this is a great opportunity to hear from an inspiring teacher and connect with local community service organizations. Click here for more and to register.
  • Eleven11, Bringing Prayer to Public High Schools: Starting September 2nd, eleven11 will be traveling to eleven different public schools hosting 26 hours of prayer at each location. They are gathering to pray for the students and families of Arizona. Click here to sign up for an hour and to find a school near you.
  • 9-11 Remembrance Event: You are invited to a special 9-11 remembrance event at Peoria Sports Complex. The event will start at 2 p.m. on September 11 and ends at 9 p.m. Click here for details.
  • Arizona Right to Life Conference: On Friday and Saturday, September 23-24, join Arizona Right to Life for their education conference. You’ll connect with 300+ pro-life men and women all who support the dignity of life from conception to natural death. You will also get the latest updates on the battle for life at the legislature and in the courtroom, interact with pro-life elected officials, and learn more about the new 40 Days for Life prayer campaign in Phoenix. CAP Legal Counsel Deborah Sheasby and I both will be presenting workshops. Get more details and register online.
  • Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit: Consider joining me at FRC’s annual Value Voter Summit October 7-9 in Washington D.C.  This year, confirmed attendees include Michelle Bachman, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, and John Boehner. You’ll find details online.
Filed Under: Arizona Politics, Campaigns & Elections, Education, Family, LGBT, Sanctity of Life Tagged With: , , , ,

Doctors Make the “Choice” Not to Do Abortions

August 26, 2011 by 29 Comments

Doctors Make the “Choice” Not to Do Abortions
There’s more to the story of last week’s announcement from Planned Parenthood to shut down abortion services at seven locations rather than meet the new safety standards under the Abortion Consent Act.

Planned Parenthood Arizona is running into the same roadblock the abortion industry is facing across the country: fewer doctors want to be a part of their life-destroying work.

Initial reports from a survey of 1,800 practicing ob/gyn doctors published in Obstetrics and Gynecology found that 97% of these doctors encountered patients seeking abortions, but only 14% performed them.

This finding tracks with the ongoing and growing pro-life trends throughout the country. According to a recent Gallup poll, Americans increasingly support laws to protect women from the dangerous practices of the abortion industry. The pro-life wave can also be seen in state legislatures. Americans United for Life reports that there were more than 80 pro-life laws passed this year!

On the Foundations blog, CAP Legal Counsel Deborah Sheasby looks deeper into this trend and reveals the bleak reality the abortion industry faces in Arizona.

 
Community Colleges Consider “Gender Identity” Policy

This week, the Maricopa County Community College Board heard testimony on a proposal to add “gender identity” to the district’s non-discrimination policy. You may recall proponents failed a few years ago when they tried to promote a similar policy.
Read my letter to the Board opposing the policy change here. The policy’s vagueness would create confusion among faculty and students. Further, it would have a serious impact on their right to freely express their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. This policy could also put the colleges in conflict with the new University Student Religious Liberty Act, which was drafted and supported by CAP and became law on July 20.
 

New Pro-Life Laws to Take Effect
Maricopa County Judge Richard Gama signed off on an agreement this week between the state and Planned Parenthood to allow many of the recently passed CAP-supported pro-life laws to take effect on September 12! The agreement lifts the temporary injunction Planned Parenthood filed in July to block the laws from being enacted.

While this is not the final decision on whether Planned Parenthood’s arguments will be completely dismissed, it is great news that these important provisions will be in place soon. They include:

  • Applying health and safety standards to the distribution of the dangerous abortion pill.
  • Ensuring that only doctors dispense the abortion pill.

These laws are vital to the protection of Arizona’s women. According to the FDA, 14 women have now died from taking this medication. Read more on the Foundations blog.

 
Do You Have a Heart for Education?
CAP is preparing to launch our newest initiative: School Action Teams. We’re only one piece away – we need our School Action Team Coordinator. Is this you? Do you know someone with a heart for education and foundational principles? If so, check out the job description on Career Builder.

 
An “Invaluable Experience”
We are currently looking for fall interns for our policy team. Our internship provides students a frontlines perspective of the battle to promote and defend Arizona families. In a letter from summer intern Michal Bates, he wrote “My practical experiences in meetings, the court, writing briefs, research, prayer, and community have allowed me to cast a vision for a future career.” If you’d like to join the team this fall, click here.
Filed Under: Family, LGBT, Sanctity of Life Tagged With: , ,

ACLU at it Again; Files Lawsuit Challenging Center for Arizona Policy-Supported Bill

August 19, 2011 by 2 Comments

ACLU at it Again; Files Lawsuit Challenging
Center for Arizona Policy-Supported Bill

Lawsuit ignores longstanding precedent from the U.S. Supreme Court

PHOENIX – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit challenging HB 2384, which was signed by Governor Brewer earlier this year. Center for Arizona Policy (CAP) drafted and supported this legislation that ensures that donations to organizations that provide, promote, or provide referrals for abortion do not qualify for the state’s Working Poor Tax Credit.

The misguided lawsuit claims that HB 2384 violates the First Amendment rights of some organizations in Arizona because the policy is favoring life over abortion.

Yet the ACLU’s claims are in stark contrast to consistent precedent from the U.S. Supreme Court that government entities are allowed to create programs that support one type of behavior over another.

“There is no legitimate free speech issue here. Our nation’s highest court has said time and time again that government entities can offer benefits supporting childbirth over abortion,” said Center for Arizona Policy Legal Counsel Deborah Sheasby. “The longstanding public policy of our state is to promote life, and that is what HB 2384 does.”

The Legislature created the tax credit program to promote its own policy of ensuring that citizens’ immediate basic needs are met. This is a narrowly-crafted program, with specific parameters, for which less than five hundred organizations qualify. There are thousands of non-profit organizations that do not qualify, and this does not create any constitutional problems.

“In passing this bill, the Legislature rightly said that abortion does not qualify as an ‘immediate basic need’ and is therefore not the type of service that the charitable tax credit is seeking to promote. This legislation will not block one woman from having an abortion if she chooses,” said Sheasby.

Read more about Working Poor Tax Credit from the Department of Revenue here: http://1.usa.gov/fMLyAq

Read Center for Arizona Policy’s fact sheet on HB 2384 here: http://bit.ly/orlChc

Read HB 2384: http://1.usa.gov/ro4ePE

For more information, visit azpolicy.org or contact Aaron Baer, 602.456.1792

 

Center for Arizona Policy promotes and defends the foundational values of life,
marriage and family, and religious liberty.

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Filed Under: Judicial, Legislation, Sanctity of Life Tagged With: , , ,

VICTORY FOR LIFE ADVOCATES: ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS UPHOLDS ABORTION CONSENT ACT

August 11, 2011 by 3 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2011
Contact: Aaron Baer, 602.424.2525, ext. 242, or 602.456.1792

Victory for Life Advocates:
Arizona Court of Appeals Upholds Abortion Consent Act
Key provisions protecting health and safety of women upheld

PHOENIX – The Arizona Court of Appeals today upheld the Abortion Consent Act. This law, signed by Governor Jan Brewer in 2009, was enjoined by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daughton following a Planned Parenthood lawsuit.

Today’s 3-0 opinion vacates the injunction in its entirety.

Center for Arizona Policy (CAP) drafted the Abortion Consent Act and is a part of the legal team defending the constitutionality of the law. The team is led by the Arizona Attorney General, Arizona House Speaker, and Alliance Defense Fund and also includes Bioethics Defense Fund and Life Legal Defense Foundation.

Key provisions that will be enacted include:

  • The state will require a notarized parental signature before an abortion can be performed on a minor child.
  • Women will be provided with full and accurate information by a doctor in person at least 24 hours before an abortion.
  • Medical professionals cannot be forced to perform abortions if it contradicts their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.
  • Non-doctors will not be permitted by law to perform surgical abortions.

“The Court acknowledged the Legislature’s right to pass legislation to protect the health and safety of women considering abortion,” said Deborah Sheasby, Center for Arizona Policy’s Legal Counsel. “This is a major victory for Arizona women.”

“If Planned Parenthood truly cared about what’s best for women, they wouldn’t be repeatedly going to court around the nation to stop laws that allow women to make fully informed choices,” said ADF Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden, who argued before the Court of Appeals on June 14. “The court ruled rightly in this case in rejecting the arguments of the nation’s largest purveyor of abortion.  The protection of women is not unconstitutional.”

For more information on the Abortion Consent Act visit CAP’s information page: http://bit.ly/qDCDpv

To read the decision from the Court of Appeals click here: http://bit.ly/r2m5QU

For more information about Center for Arizona Policy, visit azpolicy.org or contact Aaron Baer, 602.424.2525.

Center for Arizona Policy promotes and defends the foundational values of
life, marriage and family, and religious liberty.

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Filed Under: Family, Judicial, Press Release, Sanctity of Life Tagged With: , , , , ,