Monday, January 31, 2011

Restrictions on Pregnancy Centers Found Unconstitutional


In a decision that could have significant impact on legislation here in Washington State, a federal judge in Maryland struck down a law requiring pregnancy resource centers in Baltimore to post notification that they will not help you obtain an abortion.

The Baltimore ordinance, enacted December 4, 2009, states:

A limited-service pregnancy center must provide its clients and potential clients with a disclaimer substantially to the effect that the center does not provide or make referral for abortion or birth-control related services

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Why Washington Should Cut “Take Charge”

I know, I know. You have no idea what Take Charge is, much less have an opinion on why it should lose its funding. But that’s what we’re here for: enlightenment. Regardless, when you’re staring down a $5 billion budget deficit, it isn’t that hard to make the case that something should lose its funding.

Take Charge is a tax-payer funded program that pays for contraception. While the majority of the funds come from the federal government, millions of state dollars are spent on the program every biennium. According to the Feminist Women’s Health Center, the goal of Take Charge is to help people have the tools to reduce unintended pregnancies which will save on the state’s expense of paying for labor and delivery.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Monday Minute: Tell You What to Buy, Tell You What to Sell

Two stories in the last week are painting an interesting picture of what freedom in America might look like in the future.

The first story is the ongoing saga concerning the constitutionality of ObamaCare. A federal judge recently found the mandate to purchase health care, which is the foundation of President Obama’s health insurance plan, unconstitutional.

That decision is at odds with two others that have said the mandate is proper under the omnibus “commerce clause”.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Monday Minute : Is Your Pastor An Anarchist?


Thoughts from our Executive Director

Ok, the title is a bit alarmist. But there is a point, I promise.

Within Christendom, there are a wide range of approaches as to how Christians, both individually and collectively, should engage in law, government, and public policy. Some feel that government exists to make sure everyone behaves like them, some feel government is irrelevant. Still others feel government is an instrument of evil and should be totally abandoned.

However, the greatest conflict within Christian churches is between two groups that generally agree what the outcome should be but have strong differences of opinion as to what should be done to achieve that outcome.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Monday Minute : Unusual Marriage Appeal Heard Today



Thoughts from our Executive Director


In August of this year, a judge in California ruled that the California Constitution violated the U.S. Constitution by defining marriage as a relationship between one-man and one-woman. Today that decision is being appealed before the ninth circuit court of appeals.

This case is unusual in several respects. In addition to hearing arguments about a state’s ability to define marriage, the court will decide whether those who disagree with the judge’s decision even have standing to appeal it.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Highest Evangelical Turnout In History

Over the past several months, we have talked repeatedly about the need for conservative Christians to vote. Nationally, fewer than 40% of evangelicals vote in a typical election. As a result, millions of ballots that could be cast on behalf of enduring, common-sense values are left blank. Over the past decade, we have seen the impact of this failure to steward our civic authority as halls of government have become increasingly hostile to common sense and enduring concepts of what is true.

Then Tuesday happened.

By now you know that Tuesday’s elections represented an historic…something. The talking heads are still working out what that was. But what you may not know is exactly who is responsible for this change.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

10 Reasons to Oppose Taxpayer Funding of Abortion

In light of the Governor's ongoing hearings to discuss how to save tax dollars, here are 10 reasons why now is a good time to end taxpayer funding of abortions in Washington:

1. Every year Washington spends over $7 million directly to pay for abortions, through the Medicaid program. If these funds are to be spent on anything, they would be better spent helping the mentally and physically disabled, tuition expenses for exceptional but poor students,
2. Washington is just one of a handful of states that uses tax money to pay for abortions.
3. The federal government has not paid for abortions for decades, recognizing that it is immoral to compel people to fund activities they find morally wrong.
4. With a multi-billion dollar deficit, Olympia cannot justify this expenditure when so many other programs, with broad public support, are being cut.