Legislative Week In Review #4, Feb 10

Legislative Week In Review #4, Feb 10

image_pdfimage_print

If you would like to receive 2014 Iowa Legislature updates like the one below, CLICK HERE to sign up for future updates!

Legislative Report, Week #4

Abortion

This past week, a House sub-committee met to discuss HF 2073, known as the “Telemed Abortion Ban” Bill.  The proposed law would make abortion by means of telemedicine illegal.  The head of the sub-committee, Rep. Kevin Koester of Ankeny, is to be commended for advancing the Bill.  Rep. Matt Windschitl, the lead sponsor of the Bill, spoke to the sub-committee, along with Danny Carroll.  They were the primary speakers who defended the unalienable right to life of the unborn child; other speakers emphasized the health dangers to the mother—both valid reasons to stop this horrible practice that has claimed tens of thousands of Iowa babies’ lives since Planned Parenthood started it a few years ago.

Late last night (Thursday), after enduring hours of, at times, condescending and strident condemnation by pro-abortion Democrats, all 12 Republicans on the Human Resources Committee voted for the Bill to go to the full House.  All 9 Democrats voted “No.”  Please join us in thanking those 12 Legislators who are working long and hard to defend the lives of unborn children, and especially Representative Koester who has taken the lead, and incurred most of the abuse.  His home telephone is 515-963-9996.  Also join us in prayer for all those who are fighting for the sanctity of life at the Iowa State Capitol. Thanks!!

Republican House Human Resources Committee members:

 

Marriage

The Iowa Marriage Amendment (IMA) is still in the House Judiciary Committee.   The Committee Chairman, Rep. Chip Baltimore from Boone, has said that while the IMA has his full personal support, he does NOT plan to move it out of Committee.  He believes that trying to advance the IMA, in the face of resolute Senate opposition, is counter-productive.  We disagree, and are asking that marriage supporters contact the committee and urge passage of the IMA (HJR 11).  Members of the Committee are listed below.  PLEASE be friendly—MOST of the Committee members are sponsors of the IMA.  They simply need to hear from you that you believe, as we do, that it’s vital to keep advocating and legislating for God’s first institution:  one man, one woman marriage.

Here are a few key points you can make:

  1. Children do better with a married mom AND a dad.  Decades of social science – including very recent and robust studies – show this. (Social Science Research, Vol. 41, No. 4 July 2012)
  2. Taxpayers do better when families are headed by married moms and dads.  Without both moms and dads, government intervenes in families more often, and welfare programs grow even larger.  (Jennifer Roback Morse, “Privatizing Marriage Will Expand the Role of the State,” Public Discourse, April 3, 2012).  Also, marriage reduces the probability of child poverty by 80 percent!  (Robert Rector, “Marriage: America’s Greatest Weapon Against Child Poverty,” Heritage Foundation Special Report No. 117, Sept. 5, 2012). And,
  3. Our society is doomed to die, like ancient Rome, Sodom, etc. if we allow God’s design for family and sexuality to be mocked.

Republican House Judiciary Committee Members:

  • Chip Baltimore (R, District 47), Chair
  • Megan Hess (R, District 2), Vice Chair
  • Dwayne Alons (R, District 4)
  • Mark Brandenburg (R, District 15)
  • Tedd Gassman (R, District 7)
  • Stan Gustafson (R, District 25)
  • Chris Hagenow (R, District 43)
  • Greg Heartsill (R, District 28)
  • David E. Heaton (R, District 84)
  • Bobby Kaufmann (R, District 73)
  • Matt W. Windschitl (R, District 17)
  • Gary Worthan (R, District 11)

 

Discipleship

Some of the most significant work we do at the State Capitol does not allow for much detail.  Devoted lawmakers, staff, and lobbyists, who give hours of attention to public policy, also have a human side.  They need and deserve support that can often only be found in prayer and confidential counsel.  Also, many of them have never been exposed to a comprehensive Christian worldview of government.  The FAMiLY LEADER capitol team strives to be available to come alongside them in their time of need. Two major incidents happened this past week, for which we praise God that He was able to use us.  Thank you for making it possible, through your gifts and prayers, for us to be Christian friends to our public servants at the Capitol.  We believe it is making a huge Kingdom difference.

 

In Christ,

Chuck Hurley

Danny Carroll

Greg Baker

Tamara Scott

P.S. Help us continue to bring Salt and Light to the Capitol!  Please make a donation to The FAMiLY LEADER so we can have maximum impact.

 

Watch The FAMiLY LEADER’s Capitol Team answer this question:
What does revival look like in the Iowa Legislature?  

 

[fblike style=”standard” showfaces=”false” verb=”like” font=”arial”]