KEEPING THE FAITH ACTION ALERT
February 2, 2007
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! FAMILY DAY AT
THE CAPITOL!
Saturday, February 10, 2007 is
Family Day at the Capitol. The Senate and House will go into session at
10 a.m. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to watch their
legislators in action. There will also be a number of exhibits and fun
activities for children.
*****
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
ULTRA SOUND BILL INTRODUCED IN
SENATE
The Ultra Sound bill (H. B. 147)
was introduced by Rep. James Mills in the House last week. This week
Sen. Nancy Schaefer introduced a companion bill (S.B. 66) in the House.
Both of these bills require ultrasound or sonograms for women seeking
abortion. The woman has the option of viewing the picture of her baby -
the bill does not require her to do so. Both bills require abortion
clinics to provide the woman a list of facilities where she can go to
have the ultrasound/sonogram at no charge.
H. B. 147 will be heard on
Tuesday, February 6 at 2:00 p.m. in the Judicial Non-Civil Committee,
chaired by Rep. David Ralston one of the top six signers on the bill.
The hearing will take place in Coverdell Legislative Office Building -
Room 506. You are invited!
*****
S. B. 25
Introduced by Sen. Chip Pearson
(R-51) this bill assures parents that home-educated students who
complete their high school courses and meet residency requirements will
be considered for college entry on the same basis as public and private
high school graduates.
Why is this bill necessary? On
September 12, 2006 the European Court of Human Rights issued a decision
that the German government has power to ban home education. You might
wonder what a ruling in Germany has to do with the United States.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court systematically considers
international law when deciding court cases in this country, although
international law has no jurisdiction here. Some believe the
international threat warrants an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to
protect home education here and the founders of the Home School Legal
Defense Association are working toward that end.
It has been assigned to the
Higher Education Committee. Please contact Chairman Seth Harp at
404-463-3931 and ask him to allow this bill out of committee.
H. B. 72
Introduced by Rep. Burke Day
(R-163), this bill will require colleges and universities to gather
student visa data and report those that don't enroll, don't go to class,
withdraw from school or otherwise violate their visas. Administrators
failing to report violations would be guilty of malfeasance of office
and could lose state funding and federal funding if it's administered
through the state. The bill has been assigned to the House Education
Committee, chaired by Rep. Brooks Coleman. His number is 404-656-9210.
SOME STATS
On average, 102 illegal aliens
come here every day. Between 2000 and 2002 Georgia's Hispanic population
grew faster than anywhere in the U.S. In Dawson County, the Hispanic
population increased 59 percent and in Gwinnett County, Hispanics became
13 percent of the entire population, the highest in Georgia. The cost of
teaching non-English speaking students caused Gwinnett to increase taxes
in 2002 for the first time in eight years.
Six times more immigrants enroll in welfare
programs than do native-born Americans and 33 percent more immigrants
use Medicaid than do native-born Americans. Georgia's $67 million cost
of teaching English as a Second Language is used in part for children of
illegal aliens whose legal status is not questioned. In 2004 H.B. 1325
passed giving non-American citizens HOPE scholarships. U.S. citizens
must pay out-of-state tuition for students in colleges outside their
home state, but illegal aliens pay in-state tuition to attend college
wherever they choose.
(Info provided by Sue Ella Deadwyler)
*****
H. B. 6
Representative Bobby Franklin
introduced H.B. 6 to reverse a law passed during the Barnes
administration. H.B. 6 prohibits emergency confiscation or registration
of firearms owned and carried legally by citizens, except when the
firearm must be held as evidence in a crime. It passed the House
Judiciary Committee by a 10-7 vote January 30 and is in Rules Committee.
Here is contact info for the
members of that committee. Rules Republican Representatives Ehrhart,
Ch., 404 656-5141; Parrish, 656-0213; Mills, 656-5099; Barnard,
656-5138; Bridges, 656-5143; Burkhalter, 656-5072; Casas, 656-0254;
Channell, 656-7856; Coan, 656-6801; Cooper, 463-8142; Fleming, 656-5024;
Golick, 651-7737; Keen, 656-5052; Lane, 656-5115; Lewis, 656-9198;
Lunsford, 656-7146; Millar, 656-5064; Ralston, 656-5943; Rice, 656-5912;
Roberts, 656-5025; Austin Scott, 656-5132; Vance Smith, 656-7153; Lynn
Smith, 656-7149; Bob Smith 463-2247; Stephens, 656-5122; Len Walker,
656-5139; Willard, 656-5124; and Democrat Representatives Hugley and
Porter, 656-5058; Cheokas, 656-0325; Hanner and Shaw, 656-7859; Jacobs,
656-0152; Mosby, 656-0287; Parham, 656-0202; Randall, 656-0109; Smyre,
656-0116.
*****
S. B. 50
Introduced by Sen. John Douglas
(R-17) S. B. 50 tightens the notary public law. This bill provides that
any person who wants to be a notary public must be at least 18 years old
and must be a legal resident of the United States. Current law says
anyone violating the notary public law is guilty of a misdemeanor. This
bill stipulates anyone violating the notary public law would be guilty
of a misdemeanor for the first and second offense. If there is a third
offense, then it becomes a felony punishable by up to five years in
prison or a fine up to $5,000 or both.
The bill has been assigned to the
Senate Judiciary Committee. Contact info for the members: Senators
Preston Smith, Ch., 404 656-0034; Harp, 463-3931; Hamrick, 656-0036;
Adelman, 463-1376; Brown, 656-5035; Carter, 651-7738; Cowsert, 463-1366;
Fort, 656-5091; Hill, Judson, 656-0150; Meyer von Bremen, 656-0637;
Reed, 463-1379; Wiles, 657-0406.
*****
H. B. 73
This bill provides emergency
evacuation service to the elderly, disabled and children that live in
licensed facilities. Such transportation would be activated during a
declared state of emergency. Although emergency transportation is
already required, H.B. 73, specifically, adds evacuation to the law.
This legislation might have been prompted by the Katrina disaster when,
reportedly, certain medical facilities in Louisiana did not move elderly
and disabled patients to safety.
To comment call Health and Human Services
Chairman Sharon Cooper at 404-463-8142.
Thank you for
Keeping The Faith.
Sadie Fields
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February 26, 2007 |
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Help pass
the Georgia Special Needs Scholarships bill
February 21, 2007 |
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Bible
Curriculum Now In 60+ Schools!
February 16, 2007 |
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Supporting
Sue Everhart for Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party at the GOP
State Convention
February 15, 2007 |
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RIP
Congressman Charlie Norwood
February 13, 2007 |
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Family Day at The Capitol!
February 2, 2007 |
| |
Register now for "Georgia's Tax
ystem: A Factual Foundation for Fundamental Reform"
January 26, 2007 |
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Senate Strikes Restrictions on
Grassroots Activism from Lobby Reform Bill
January 19, 2007 |
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Pre-order
Choose Life Tags
January 8, 2007 |
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