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Dateline Sacramento (8/13/2009)


Dateline Sacramento
News with a View from the California Capitol
August 13, 2009
Budget Battle Continues: Steinberg v. Schwarzenegger
On July 28, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law modifications to the state budget, which was originally approved in February. These modifications were necessary to address a $26 billion deficit resulting from the inability of the Legislature and governor to effectively predict revenues and manage state resources in the continued recession. After months of debate, politicking and maneuvering, Governor Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders agreed on $25 billion in budget remedies to close the deficit. 
However, legislative leaders in the state Assembly could not garner the necessary votes to pass two pieces of the “budget deal.” Assembly members refused to allow the state to borrow $1 billion from local government gas taxes, and would not approve limited offshore oil drilling that would raise $100 million. In response to the Assembly’s failure to approve these measures, the governor vetoed approximately $600 million from the modified budget. 
The governor’s vetoes riled legislative Democrats and the affected constituency groups. Before the ink could dry on the governor’s signature, groups began plans to sue the state over its budget actions. One surprising litigant is Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), the Senate Pro Tem. Steinberg contends that the governor “violated his constitutional authority in making line-item vetoes to the budget revision bill.” 
Based on a Legislative Counsel opinion, which argued the governor’s use of his “line-item” veto authority was invalid, Senator Steinberg officially filed suit on August 10, 2009. In the Legislative Counsel’s opinion, the governor’s veto authority is limited to “appropriations.” The Counsel’s interpretation is that the budget bill included only reductions to previously approved appropriations, and vetoes of amended appropriations are outside the governor’s constitutional authority. In other words, according to the Legislative Counsel’s office, the governor’s veto pen will reach as far as an original appropriation, but cannot veto planned expenses that have already been reduced by a vote of the Legislature.
In response to criticism of his veto usage, Andrea Lynn Hoch, Schwarzenegger’s Legal Affairs Secretary, issued a statement saying the budget – original or amended – can only contain appropriations; as such, his veto actions are legal and appropriate. The Court will now be asked to define what an “appropriation” is. 
APA Refuses To Acknowledge Sexual Orientation Can Change
In 2006, Dr. Nicolas Cumming, PhD, ScD, a former president of the American Psychological Association (APA), raised major concerns regarding the association’s direction and the need for reform. In his remarks, he raised concern over the APA’s growing problem of research and advocacy motivated by political agendas rather than science. He further provided several examples of the association’s refusal to examine studies that fell outside of political correctness. Cumming reminded members of the APA that when psychologists take professional stances, those positions should be based strictly on research evidence and clinical experience, and that failure to rely on unbiased evidence risks the loss of the APA’s credibility.
Last week, at the APA’s annual convention in Toronto, Canada, the association adopted a resolution stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling homosexual clients that change in sexual orientation is possible. The resolution is based on a report by the APA’s task force on the “Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation,” and was commissioned specifically to review the efficacy of “reparative therapy” or sexual orientation change efforts. However, the report actually dismissed or ignored research evidence – past and current – regarding the success of reparative therapy programs. 
According to a 2007 study by Drs. Stanton Jones and Mark Yarhouse entitled “Ex-Gay?: An Extended Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation,” the six-year study found reorientation was possible, and not harmful to those seeking treatment. Jones’ and Yarhouse’s findings sharply contrast with the APA task force’s assertions that suggest sexual orientation is immutable, and that reparative psychotherapy programs are potentially harmful to patients. In this longitudinal study, the authors assessed the sexual orientation and psychological impacts of 98 individuals who were seeking change through reparative therapy programs. The study evaluated these individuals from the beginning of the change process and followed them regularly throughout the process using sound and respected research methodologies. 
The Jones and Yarhouse study methodology was designed to directly address the criticisms APA used to challenge the validity of previous research. Specifically, the study addressed APA’s claim that older research regarding sexual orientation change was poorly documented, failed to monitor patients over time, lacked objectivity from the patients, and over-relied on patients’ memories of past feelings rather than prospective actions. 
The longitudinal research found that 38% of the study group’s members were successful in their efforts to change. Of note is that this rate of change is comparable to individuals dealing with other difficult issues, such as depression. Within the success group of 38%, 15% no longer considered themselves “homosexual,” and the remaining 23% demonstrated less same-sex attraction and refrained from acting upon homosexual urges. However, the authors agree there is a need for additional study, which they are continuing.
Regardless of the success of the program in assisting individuals in their efforts to change their sexual orientation, researchers found no increased mental distress over time. The authors regularly assessed participants’ well being through standard assessment tools. However, the authors admitted that there was insufficient data on the individuals who dropped out of the program. Still, Jones and Yarhouse state that the data does not support the hypothesis that the change process produces clinical distress or psychological harm. 
Study Analysis: Link
Alameda Families File Suit Over School District's Homosexual Curriculum
The community of Alameda, California, is responding in strength and strategy to the decision by the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) to impose instructional curriculum specific to homosexuality on public school students from kindergarten through 5th grade. Despite hundreds of parents jamming the school board’s meetings to oppose the curriculum, the AUSD Board of Directors disregarded the clear will of parents, and went so far as to disallow parents from opting their child out of the instruction.
In response, a coalition of individuals and organizations known as SERVE Alameda has initiated a recall of AUSB board members Tracy Jensen, Ron Mooney, and Neil Tam. SERVE Alameda is also making plans for a Town Hall meeting, press conference and pastors gathering. Additionally, the Pacific Justice Institute has filed lawsuit against the Alameda Unified School District, “seeking enforcement of opt-out provisions in the California Education Code.”  For more information on the suit, click here.
 
Local Links
SANTA CRUZ – Residents of about 250 homes have been evacuated in Santa Cruz County as a massive wildfire burns uncontrollably. An evacuation center has been created in order to provide information and shelter, though no beds have yet been set up. Thousands more people are likely to be evacuated. Read more on the KGO website.
SACRAMENTO – Faced with the significant choice between loyalties to the state's powerful California Teachers Union or claiming their share of billions of dollars in new federal funding, Sacramento legislators are re-evaluating a law that prevents the state from evaluating teacher performance by student test scores. At stake is California's ability to compete with Florida, Texas and other states for $4.35 billion in education stimulus dollars. The 2006 law is a sticking point in a political feud between the Obama administration and state educators. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has strongly signaled that California will probably be disqualified from the new "Race to the Top" funds if the law remains on the books. Read more in the San Jose Mercury News.
SAN FRANCISCO – Featuring a panel of cross-sector leaders, San Francisco hosted a Town Hall discussion regarding the need for a Constitutional Convention. This was the city’s first major opportunity to learn more and ask questions about this powerful method to reform the Golden State's tarnished politics. Over 400 Californians came to learn more about the process that could profoundly affect California for generations to come. Read more on the 24-7 website.
Truth Project Opportunities
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. 
The next Truth Project group leader training seminar:
 
Saturday, September 12, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host Church: Arcadia Presbyterian Church
121 Alice Street
Arcadia, CA 91006
 
 
For more information on attending or hosting a seminar, call the California Family Council at 951.354.8362 and ask for Trudy. Online registration for seminars at: www.californiafamily.org.
 
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