Leaders from our 40 allied state family policy councils (FPCs) gathered for the 25th Family Policy Alliance FPC Conference held July 24-28 in Colorado Springs.
It ran concurrently with the Statesmen Academy, which is a project of our sister organization called Family Policy Foundation. More than 30 men and women, who are either in office or seeking to be in office, learned what it means to govern based on principle and to join a dynamic network of like-minded lawmakers.
Each group heard from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Sen. Tom Coburn, Rep. Joe Pitts, Rep. Daniel Webster, Matthew Spalding from Hillsdale College, and other experts who shared insights on everything from policy to technology to how to win. The theme for the week: “Ready to Win.”
Here are some photos to give you a window into these outstanding events.
As we prepare to spend time with family and friends this Thanksgiving, Family Policy Alliance wanted to thank you for your support and partnership during this election cycle.
With conservative majorities in the House, Senate and a conservative in the White House, we’re looking forward to making gains toward a nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive and life is cherished.
Because of you, Family Policy Alliance was able to work shoulder to shoulder with some amazing, godly public servants and help them retain or gain an elected office. We were instrumental in 24 out of 30 races in which we were involved – that’s an 80% win rate!
Graduates of our Statesmen Academy were successful in 14 out of 16 races – an 88% win rate!
We were able to use mailers, television, digital ads, newspaper submissions, radio and email to inform voters and help them unleash their citizenship.
But without your prayer and partnership, we couldn’t have done this amazing work. Thank you for walking with us and allowing us to impact our world.
May this Thanksgiving be one of the best for you and your family.
Paul Weber
President and CEO
Family Policy Alliance
Family advocates are likely to make some big gains in state legislatures in 2016.
Family advocates are likely to make some big gains in state legislatures in 2016. At the same time, harmful legislation is threatening families and biblical values in other states.
That puts CitizenLink and our Family Policy Alliance in the center of the action. Here’s a look at the battles that will be decided over the coming weeks and months.
Thanks to political gains in state legislatures in recent elections—made possible through your support of CitizenLink—a number of states stand ready to pass important pro-family measures.
Prospects are especially strong for passing pro-life bills. Following the release of the Planned Parenthood videos last summer, some states, such as Wisconsin, are working to stop taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood. Others are working to ensure that aborted babies are handled humanely, which helps focus attention on the humanity of each preborn baby.
With the growing attacks on religious freedom, CitizenLink and our state family policy allies are also advancing religious liberty protections. Some, such as in West Virginia, would give broad religious freedom safeguards, while others provide very specific protections. With a strong lobbying effort, several have a good chance of passing.
The bulk of the Left’s attacks at the state level are coming in two areas. First, the homosexual lobby is pushing hard to advance their agenda even further, following the Obergefell same-sex marriage decision. At the top of their agenda is forcing more states—among them Idaho—to give special protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. These laws are at the cutting edge in the assault on religious freedom. Gay activists are also looking to ban counseling that would help lead minors away from homosexuality. Similar bills have already been signed by Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey and in three other states, with Massachusetts among several targets this year.
Meanwhile, euthanasia zealots are trying to build momentum off of their lone victory last year—an assisted suicide bill that had to be rammed through a special session to get it passed in California. CitizenLink and our state allies are part of a strong and diverse coalition that is looking to build on last year’s successes in exposing and defeating these threats to the sanctity of life. Dozens of such bills could be introduced this year, with New York and Maryland facing especially tough battles.