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Dateline Sacramento (10/1/2009)

Dateline Sacramento
News with a View from the California Capitol
October 1, 2009
The Hollywood Disconnect about Polanski
Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski was arrested this week in Zurich, Switzerland, as he arrived from his home in France to participate in the Zurich Film Festival. Polanski now awaits extradition to the United States. Polanski was first arrested in 1977, admitting to sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. Although Polanski spent 42 days in prison and was released prior to a judge’s formal sentencing, he fled the United States out of fear of a harsh sentence. 
Of highest significance to this story is the response from many Hollywood and international film celebrities, who disregard Polanski’s alleged drugging and sodomizing of a young teenager. For more information, refer to the following links. CONTENT ALERT – the links describe in greater detail the actions for which Polanski is sought. 
Links:
The Initiative Process under assault, but remains the people’s vehicle for change
In 1911, progressive California Governor Hiram Johnson pushed through reform legislation that included the ability of voters to amend the state constitution and statutes through the initiative process. Providing voters the opportunity to bypass the California State Legislature and Governor was in response to the excessive corruption of the state legislature, the courts, and the press. Prior to the progressive movement, political power was wielded by a few leaders, who too often controlled the aforementioned entities.
Since 1978, when California voters approved Proposition 13 (the property-tax relief initiative), voters have used the initiative process to make many policy and constitutional changes. The initiative process has been used to overturn court decisions, guarantee funding for public schools and after-school programs, for libraries, drug treatment and use, to increase prison terms, change farming practices, limit social services for illegal immigrants, transform transportation and police services, and restore and strengthen traditional marriage in law.
California has experienced a gradual rise in the use of the initiative process in recent decades because special interest groups and political leaders have become increasingly frustrated in the ability of the Legislature and Governor to address critical state issues. Adding to the people’s frustration is the activist nature of our courts – oftentimes creating law rather than limiting their duties to interpreting law - bringing the citizenry to accomplish legislation at the ballot-box. The passage of Proposition 8 – the constitutional amendment defining marriage according to its traditional understanding – is one example of voters utilizing the initiative process to overturn the state Supreme Court decision and inhibit the Legislature from making laws that do not reflect the people’s interests.
Increased use of the initiative process is now bringing critics out of the woodwork. Believing that the initiative process undermines the legislative process, these critics denounce the practice, claiming that it has created democracy-by-initiative and ballot-box budgeting. They argue that voters are ultimately ill-served by the initiative process because initiatives by the people completely bypass the legislative process of deliberation and modification, safety buffers necessary for good, long-term results. 
The passage of Proposition 8 has reinvigorated efforts to inhibit use of the people’s initiative. In 2009, legislators introduced over 40 bills that attempted to modify the initiative process, limit voter participation, or change the vote requirements on previously approved, citizen-generated initiatives. While most egregious legislative efforts stalled this year, following are measures currently awaiting Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature or veto, authored by Assemblywoman Lori Saldana (D-San Diego) and Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro):
  • AB 6 – This bill requires initiative petition firms to register with the Secretary of State and pay a registration fee.
  • AB 436 – This bill requires a new fee to be placed on draft initiative language submitted to the Attorney General before petitions are approved for circulation.
  • AB 1068 – This bill would prohibit initiative proponents from utilizing contracts for circulating petitions and gathering signatures for a measure that make payment contingent on the initiative measure qualifying for the ballot.
  • SB 34 – This bill would make it a misdemeanor crime for a person to pay or receive money or any other thing of value based on the number of signatures obtained on a state or local initiative, referendum or recall petition.
In spite of legislative efforts, voters, special interest groups, and political leaders continue to submit initiative language to the Attorney General and Secretary of State. This is just the beginning of the extensive and costly process of placing an issue onto the ballot. Once title and summary of an initiative is returned from the Attorney General, nearly one million signatures must be obtained from registered voters who agree with the cause. Currently, there have been 39 measures filed with the hope of placing them on the ballot. Historically, the vast majority of measures filed with the Secretary of State do not qualify. However, several measures should interest California families. 
List of Potential 2010 Initiatives
  • 09-0007 – Statutorily prohibits citizens from voting at the polls without government-issued photo identification.
  • 09-0010 – Statutorily denies benefits to individuals that can not verify their lawful citizenship and denies birth certificates to illegal immigrant parents.
  • 09-0013 – Constitutional Amendment returning the Legislature to a part-time legislative body.
  • 09-0016 – Lowers the constitutional vote requirement from two-thirds to three-fifths to approve the state budget and raise taxes.
  • 09-0019 – Constitutional Amendment authorizing a constitutional convention to draft a new constitution.
  • 09-0025 – Statutory initiative that legalizes and regulates,marijuana use, and taxes its sale.
  • 09-0036 – Removes the constitutional protection of traditional marriage and redefines it to include any two persons.
  • 09-0043 – Constitutional Amendment which classifies all living human organisms as “persons.”
Marriage Battle Continues in the Golden State
A year ago, mired in debate and campaign rhetoric, the battle to define marriage as only between one man and one woman played out on the California – and on the national – stage. Mainstream polling, in the days and weeks leading up to the election, gave opponents – a grassroots contingent organized under the banner of Equality California – a sense that they couldn’t lose. On the other hand, ProtectMarriage.com, a coalition of grassroots, churches, and organizations, led a coordinated effort bathed in prayer to pass Proposition 8 and add the constitutional protection of marriage between a man and a woman to California law.
At Prop 8’s passage, the dismay of homosexual activists erupted overnight in protests, demonstrations and boycotts. The rallying cry of “2010” echoed across the Internet, as small, grassroots groups burst on the scene to give voice to opponents. Equality California, long an organized advocacy voice in the California Legislature, tried to gather the splintered factions into a reasoned, coherent campaign. After much analysis, they concluded it would be more feasible to wait until 2012 to attempt an initiative to overturn Proposition 8.
Yet individuals and groups intent on overturning Prop 8 had filed two initiatives within six months. Both failed to garner enough signatures. Then, again last week, a coalition of 40 homosexual groups has forged ahead and filed proposed language aimed at the 2010 ballot. Once the language is cleared for circulation, Love Honor Respect would have until April 16 to collect the 700,000 valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot. 
Two respected professors of political science, Gregory B. Lewis of Georgia State University and Charles W. Gossett from California State University, Sacramento, assessed the question, “Why Did Californians Pass Proposition 8?”. Reviewing data from 24 polls since 1985, they examined why the polls got it wrong and predicted the defeat of Proposition 8 in the days leading up to the election. They concluded that most people in California continue to oppose same-sex marriage and surmised that many Californians initially misunderstood Prop 8, but as they learned more about it, they became more aware of its actual meaning and intent. 
While pro-homosexual activists hope to change the minds of California about marriage, Lewis and Gossett determined that an analysis of changing opinions over time lend little credence that public opinion would change enough prior to 2010 – or even 2012 – to support that belief.
New Report Details the Life-saving Impact of Pregnancy Resource Centers
Compassionate Americans in all 50 states are now praying for change. 40 Days for Life, which began on September 23rd, is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America.
The pro-life message is one of love and compassion for women faced with crisis pregnancies, and while peaceful prayers are being offered outside abortion clinics today, pregnancy resource centers offer life-saving alternatives.
Yesterday at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, the Family Research Council (FRC) announced the release of a groundbreaking report: A Passion to Serve, A Vision for Life. The first ever in-depth report on the pregnancy resource movement, A Passion to Serve, A Vision for Life details the tremendous contributions of dedicated staff and volunteers who have served women in pregnancy resource centers since their inception 40 years ago.
“There has been much discussion about information and outreach concerning parenting, primary prevention, and pregnancy support. This report lays out the untold story of centers that provide caring and compassionate services to at least 1.9 million people each year at little or no cost to the clients, in large part thanks to private charity and the high proportion of volunteers who work at the centers,” stated Tony Perkins of FRC.
Pregnancy resource centers across the country and around the world have helped millions of women avoid the medical and mental health heartache that accompanies an abortion, by providing godly hope and counsel. The report details the ways in which women have received tangible pregnancy help for decades, at little or no cost.
The panel of speakers at the National Press Club included physicians, clients served by the centers, and presidents of three national pregnancy center networks representing more than 2,300 cross-affiliates in all 50 states:
Heartbeat International president Peggy Hartshorn told LifeNews.com, “This report shines a light on the positive contributions of pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and pregnancy help medical clinics. These faith-based community organizations - 40,000 volunteers strong - brighten a woman’s future with the support and help she needs to bring new life into the world.”
Tony Perkins added, “As the national debate over health care continues to unfold, the work of the nation's more than 2,300 nonprofit pregnancy resource centers in support of maternal and child health and well-being deserves to be affirmed and supported. Pregnancy Resource Centers support a vision of true reproductive health and are model faith-based providers meeting a pressing national need.”
A webcast of the event can be accessed at http://www.frc.org/apassiontoserve.
As part of today’s event, FRC also launched a new website dedicated to the project. There, you can download copies of the report, support the project, and learn more about how you can help this vital movement.
Local Links
SAN BERNARDINO - Responding to a demand that First Church of the Nazarene ban registered sex offenders from attendance at church or stop receiving city money to host a youth facility there, the church's pastor contended the ultimatum is an unconstitutional violation of his religious freedom. Read more in the Contra Costa Times.
LODI – The city of Lodi, one of a handful of small California cities challenged for their invocations during public meetings, on Wednesday night rebuffed efforts to eliminate the prayers. The council voted unanimously to develop a policy allowing uncensored invocations that avoid favoring any one religion. Read more in the Sacramento Bee.
SAN DIEGO – A California woman has settled a lawsuit against her former doctors who denied her artificial insemination based on her sexual orientation, attorneys for both sides said Tuesday. Guadalupe Benitez, 36, of Oceanside, and her partner sued doctors at North Coast Women's Medical Group in Vista for discrimination in 2001. California's highest court last year barred the Christian doctors from invoking religious beliefs, ruling state law prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination extends to the medical profession.  Read more at Kolotv.com.
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, October 24, 2009
Spanish Language Training
9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Host Church: Iglesia Amigos (Southern California)
5211 Lakeview Avenue
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
 
Saturday, November 14, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host Church: Neighborhood Church of Anderson and Cottonwood (Shasta County)
4684 Rhonda Rd., Anderson, CA 96007
 
Saturday, November 21, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host Church: Calvary Chapel, Paso Robles (Central Coast)
1615 Commerce Way #A, Paso Robles, 93446-3614
 
For more information on attending or hosting a seminar, call the California Family Council at 951.354.8362 and ask for Trudy. Register online for seminars at: www.californiafamily.org.
 
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