Dateline Sacramento (6/4/09)
Dateline Sacramento
News with a View from the California Capitol
June 4, 2009
Budget, Budget and More Budget
Currently, Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature are focused on remedying the state’s projected $24.3 billion deficit. Continued decline in state revenues, a depressed economy and the failure of the May 19 Special Election budget measures has forced the state to massively reduce spending or face complete fiscal collapse by July 29, according to State Controller John Chiang. As a result, the Governor has proposed drastic cuts to state spending, including state funding to Planned Parenthood, which will save preborn lives. The governor also proposed cutting employee salaries by five percent, in addition to the layoff of 5,000 state employees he has already ordered.
Tuesday, in an address to the Legislature, the Governor defended his May Revision, in which he outlined his plan to remedy the state’s dire fiscal situation with massive cuts in state spending, borrowing from local governments, and elimination of state programs. He stated, “Those spending cuts [as outlined in the May Revise] represent much more the hard decisions necessary to balance our budget.” Declaring that he had already taken executive actions to reduce state expenditures, he stressed the need for legislative leaders to set aside partisanship in order to solve the state budget problem.
Last week, the Legislature began reviewing the Governor’s proposed cuts. After convening a joint budget review committee, the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst Office provided detailed information and analysis of the proposals. The committee will continue to meet regularly to allow public comment and consider the impact of the cuts on the state. While the members of the Legislature are resigned to the reality that cuts are necessary, deciding on what to cut is not so clear.
If there is a silver lining to the state budgetary mess, it may be the reluctance of the State Legislature to enact additional costly new legislation that would adversely impact the California families. As previously noted, the proposed cut of $39 million to Planned Parenthood has the potential to save preborn lives.
Court Victory: battle continues…
Community celebrations for traditional marriage took place this past Sunday in Fresno and San Diego, where thousands of people gathered to express thanksgiving and praise for God’s help in the victory of Proposition 8. Protesters at both events attempted to drown out the messages and prayers offered from the podiums, with chants and bullhorns.
Last week, by a 6-1 vote, the California Supreme Court ruled that Prop 8 was properly an initiative by the people, and upheld its place in the State Constitution. The broad and active coalition of ProtectMarriage.com will continue its work to influence and educate Californians regarding the true meaning and purpose of marriage. Opponents of traditional marriage plan to bring their own initiative to permit same-sex marriage to the ballot in 2010 or 2012.
Another lawsuit has been filed against California’s definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman. Attorneys Ted Olsen and David Boies, legal opponents during the Bush-Gore election, have joined in an effort to argue for same-sex marriage in the federal court system. The Proposition 8 Legal Defense Fund has already filed a motion to intervene as plaintiff with the San Francisco Circuit Court.
Murder is never justified
Wichita, KS – Recent polls have revealed an awareness of the value of all human life, including the preborn, to Americans. Regrettably, Dr. George Tiller – one of the few physicians that performed late-term abortions – was murdered while attending church last Sunday. As many pro-life groups have continually stressed, the killing of medical personnel who perform abortions is completely incongruent to their mission and purpose. Respect for human life includes the lives of those who do not share a pro-life view or support and perform abortion services.
Pro-life and pro-abortion groups have all condemned the murder of Tiller and disavowed any connection with the accused assailant, Scott Roeder. Nonetheless, outrage over the murder will once again detract from the issue of protecting life. Already, pro-abortion groups are impugning pro-life groups as being hateful, dangerous and violent. One pro-abortion blog has claimed that Tiller’s murder justifies the recent disavowed Homeland Security report that classified pro-life Americans as potential terrorists. Scott Roeder, who has a history of being anti-government and is considered a “fanatic,” does not reflect or characterize the typical pro-life citizen.
Despite our differences on abortion, all Americans should come together and unite against the senseless taking of George Tiller’s life. Whether one supports or opposes Dr. Tiller’s actions in legally aborting preborn lives, his murder cannot be justified. Unlike Mr. Roeder, who believes there are justifications for homicide, biblical teaching commands us not to murder (Exodus 20:13).
Please keep the Tiller family in your prayers.
Local links
BONITA – San Diego County backs off controversial “religious assembly” citation against a home bible study. For many years, David and Mary Jones have held weeknight Bible studies in their home. Jones is the pastor of South Bay Community Church, and the numbers in attendance at his weekly studies number anywhere from 5-15 couples. After a complaint was filed by a visitor to the Jones’ neighborhood, county personnel told Jones that regulations required an expensive permit to use premises for ‘religious assemblies.’ The county warned of increasing fines for violations of assembly, and ultimately changed the offense to parking restrictions. The Western Center for Law and Policy intervened on Jones’ behalf, and the county has rescinded its order. Read more on the San Diego Tribune Web site.
LOS ANGELES – An openly gay teen has been voted prom queen at his Los Angeles high school in a campaign that began as a stunt but ended up spurring discussion on the campus about gender roles and popularity. Read more from AP Press.
OAKLAND – In one of the state’s most impoverished and poor performing cities, three no-frills charter schools in Oakland mock liberal orthodoxy, teach strictly to the test — and produce some of the state’s top scores. At these schools, performance is expected, is primary, and is the bottom-line. Read more in the Los Angeles Times.
"Opportunity knocks”
RIVERSIDE – California Family Council continues to expand its offerings of the acclaimed Truth Project group leader training seminars. Training in biblical worldview is a prerequisite to living out authentic Christianity in today’s postmodern culture with its subjective claims of truth.
Make plans now to attend one of the upcoming seminars to learn about a biblical worldview and matching your belief system to your actions; equip yourself to lead others through this DVD series that asks, “Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?” Find out more!
*June 13 at Calvary Chapel in Phelan
*June 27 at Diamond Bar Evangelical Free Church in Diamond Bar
*July 18 at Peoples Church in Fresno
If you are interested in hosting a Truth Project training seminar in your area, please call (951) 354-8362 and ask for Trudy Thomas.
