Dear Friends:
On the heels of the signing of Georgia’s “heartbeat bill,” lawmakers in Louisiana are now poised to pass their own legislation to prohibit abortions on unborn babies with detectable heartbeats. Last Thursday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards was publicly asked about the bill. Governor Edwards responded:
“In eight years in the legislature, I was a pro-life legislator, 100 percent with the Louisiana Right to Life. When I ran for governor, I said I was pro-life and so that’s something that’s consistent.”
In recent weeks, pro-life Governors across the nation have been signing pro-life legislation at a record pace. Governor Edwards, however, is different from the other pro-life Governors because…Governor Edwards is a Democrat.
Within hours of his public statement, my newsfeeds were flooded with headlines—“Louisiana Governor breaks with Democrats on Abortion.” But the headlines only tell part of the story. Most of the stories do not mention that:
- The Sponsor of the bill is a Democrat.
- Six of the Louisiana Senate’s fourteen Democrats voted in favor of the bill.
- The bill is expected to pass the Louisiana House with Democratic support.
As I was reviewing these facts, I was reminded of what took place during the recent Legislative Session here in New Mexico—when 14 Democrats in our State Legislature opposed the radical abortion bill, HB 51. Surely, the victories happening in legislatures throughout the country are encouraging. At the same time, I believe they represent a response to an even greater force at work—and that is, the power of culture.
For years, the radical, pro-abortion lobby has portrayed the life issue as a battle between Republicans and Democrats; between young people and older people; and between women and men. A recent poll, however, revealed that a majority of Americans now support laws that would ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected; that younger voters are more supportive of the laws than older voters; and that women do not differ significantly from men on the issue.
You see, this issue not a matter of Republican versus Democrat, young versus old, or even woman versus man. It is simply a matter of life versus death; and, thank the good Lord, life is winning in America!
It’s time that life wins in New Mexico too, and soon, we will have our opportunity.
Sincerely,
Vince Torres
President and Executive Director
P.S. I want to personally thank every one of you who took time to read, forward, and reply to last week’s email – “Governor Lujan Grisham Sends a Message to Hollywood.” I have never received so many responses and I am deeply grateful for all your words of support!
Dear Friends:
On the heels of the signing of Georgia’s “heartbeat bill,” lawmakers in Louisiana are now poised to pass their own legislation to prohibit abortions on unborn babies with detectable heartbeats. Last Thursday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards was publicly asked about the bill. Governor Edwards responded:
“In eight years in the legislature, I was a pro-life legislator, 100 percent with the Louisiana Right to Life. When I ran for governor, I said I was pro-life and so that’s something that’s consistent.”
In recent weeks, pro-life Governors across the nation have been signing pro-life legislation at a record pace. Governor Edwards, however, is different from the other pro-life Governors because…Governor Edwards is a Democrat.
Within hours of his public statement, my newsfeeds were flooded with headlines—“Louisiana Governor breaks with Democrats on Abortion.” But the headlines only tell part of the story. Most of the stories do not mention that:
- The Sponsor of the bill is a Democrat.
- Six of the Louisiana Senate’s fourteen Democrats voted in favor of the bill.
- The bill is expected to pass the Louisiana House with Democratic support.
As I was reviewing these facts, I was reminded of what took place during the recent Legislative Session here in New Mexico—when 14 Democrats in our State Legislature opposed the radical abortion bill, HB 51. Surely, the victories happening in legislatures throughout the country are encouraging. At the same time, I believe they represent a response to an even greater force at work—and that is, the power of culture.
For years, the radical, pro-abortion lobby has portrayed the life issue as a battle between Republicans and Democrats; between young people and older people; and between women and men. A recent poll, however, revealed that a majority of Americans now support laws that would ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected; that younger voters are more supportive of the laws than older voters; and that women do not differ significantly from men on the issue.
You see, this issue not a matter of Republican versus Democrat, young versus old, or even woman versus man. It is simply a matter of life versus death; and, thank the good Lord, life is winning in America!
It’s time that life wins in New Mexico too, and soon, we will have our opportunity.
Sincerely,
Vince Torres
President and Executive Director
P.S. I want to personally thank every one of you who took time to read, forward, and reply to last week’s email – “Governor Lujan Grisham Sends a Message to Hollywood.” I have never received so many responses and I am deeply grateful for all your words of support!
Dear Friends:
In case you missed it, the abortion debate was back in national headlines again last week and, interestingly enough, it was both major political parties taking heat on the issue!
“Democrats Abandon Catholics.” In a brief, yet thought-provoking Wall Street Journal editorial, Cardinal Timothy Dolan (Archbishop of New York) accused the Democratic Party of abandoning Catholics and pointed to the party’s growing hostility toward religious education and the sanctity of human life. In Cardinal Dolan’s words: “…the needs of poor and middle-class children in Catholic schools, and the right to life of the baby in the womb—largely have been rejected by the party of our youth. An esteemed pro-life Democrat in Illinois, Rep. Dan Lipinski, effectively was blacklisted by his own party. Last year, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez insisted that pro-life candidates have no place in the modern Democratic Party.” Cardinal Dolan concluded the article lamenting the fact that “the party that once embraced Catholics now slams the door on us.”
“Republicans Betray Pro-Life Conservatives.” In an extremely disappointing move, the Republican-controlled Congress passed the $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill, which included continued funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. Planned Parenthood receives approximately $500 million in taxpayer subsidies each year and performs more than 300,000 abortions annually. In a statement explaining his vote against the omnibus spending bill, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) stated: “I voted against this deficit-spending bill because I believe our promises to change Washington matter. Even in such an enormous bill that combines so many different things, Congress somehow still failed to deliver for President Trump on issues important to grassroots Americans, including…stopping forced taxpayer support of Planned Parenthood.”
Friends – I agree with Senator Paul. Promises matter and continuing to fund the abortion giant Planned Parenthood, represents a broken promise made by the Republican leadership. I also agree with Cardinal Dolan. To those of us who stand for life, the Democratic Party has made it clear that we are no longer welcome.
There is, however, some good news for people of faith. We can change this developing track record of abandonment and betrayal because we have a VOICE and we have a VOTE! This year, it is our hope that you will join us in speaking up for the biblical values we hold and voting for those candidates who will faithfully support and defend those values, regardless of party politics or pressures.
We believe two things are desperately needed in New Mexico and across our nation – greater accountability during the election and greater accountability after the election. You see, it is not enough to simply elect the right person. We must also hold that person accountable to make the right decisions after they are elected.
In this effort, Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico is proud to serve as a dependable resource, and since we are not beholden to any political party, you can always trust us to keep all parties, officials, and candidates accountable on the issues that matter most to you and your family.
On that note, please stay tuned for some important information in the weeks to come!
In the meantime, God bless you and have a great week!
Vince Torres
President and Executive Director
To read Cardinal Dolan’s editorial in its entirety, please click here.
Family Policy Alliance is proud to work alongside Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, one of over 40 state-based Family Policy Alliance allies.
Eric Teetsel, President of Family Policy Alliance’s ally in Kansas, Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, recently introduced a resolution to the Kansas Republican Party platform that affirms God’s design for male and female.
The resolution received a lot of media attention in Kansas—and opposition from both the Left and some Republicans. But, it ultimately passed. Isn’t it stunning that stating the obvious biological fact—there are two sexes—can be met with such backlash?
Read more in World News.
It’s safe to say most people were surprised by the outcome of November’s federal elections. But the surprises didn’t stop there.
Focus on the Family’s magazine Citizen, takes a look at the election outcomes and highlights state efforts to take back the culture for the family.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the article.
The vice-presidential debate is now long over and forgotten. But toward the end of the debate, both candidates—self-proclaimed Christians—were asked to “discuss in detail a time when you struggled to balance your personal faith and a public policy position.”
Democratic candidate Tim Kaine responded: “I try to practice my religion in a very devout way and follow the teachings of my church in my own personal life. But I don’t believe that in this nation, a First Amendment nation, where we don’t raise any religion over the other, and we allow people to worship as they please, that the doctrines of any one religion should be mandated for everyone.” He went on to say that he and Hillary Clinton support Roe v. Wade and “a woman’s right to choose.”
In contrast, Republican candidate Mike Pence, now vice president-elect, said: “I would tell you that for me the sanctity of life proceeds out of the belief that . . . where God says before you were formed in the womb, I knew you, and so . . . I sought to stand with great compassion for the sanctity of life.” He continued, “so for me, my faith informs my life.”
One’s natural response was to paraphrase the Constitution and a Supreme Court ruling to justify his support for abortion on demand. The other’s was to cite God’s Word and how it directs his steps.
Both men’s faith teaches personhood at conception. Yet, only one aligns his actions with his faith.
We saw during that debate the contrast between a politician and a statesman—a person who stands firm and takes action (Dan. 11:32b) regardless of the personal consequences.
Your sacrificial gifts are training and discipling people like Mike Pence as Family Policy Foundation Statesmen. What a hopeful future we are building together!
Paul Weber
President and CEO
Family Policy Alliance
Now that the election is over and conservatives hold the senate, house and White House, what’s the first thing they should tackle?
Stuart Shepard shares some of the ways the conservative majority could advance family policy in an interview with Bob Crittenden of The Meeting House on Faith Radio.
America is about to make an important decision. In his Stoplight® commentary, Stuart Shepard asks a few questions that Donald Trump should answer.
Family Policy Alliance and our allies have written an open letter to Mr. Trump asking these questions and more. We’re still waiting for his response. You may read the letter and sign on if you’d also like to hear his answers.
Convenient Amnesia
Senate Democrats are telling their Republican colleagues to “Do Your Job” and confirm a Supreme Court nominee.
In his Stoplight® commentary, Stuart Shepard recalls how those very same lawmakers chose to do their job in 2006.
Thank you for sharing Stoplight with your friends.
South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard abandons a common sense approach to the issue at hand.
Colorado Springs, CO, March 2, 2016–South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed a bill that would have protected children from predators and provided accommodations for students who are not comfortable using the bathroom or locker room facilities that correspond with their biological sex. HB 1008 was passed by both the House and Senate and said that students should be required to use the bathroom and changing rooms that correspond to their sex at birth, a common sense approach to the issue at hand.
“We sincerely believe that the Governor missed an opportunity,” said Dale Bartscher, president of Family Heritage Alliance, “to get out in front of this issue and help accommodate both sides in a peaceful and respectful manner.”
CitizenLink and its alliance with nearly 40 state-based policy groups, including Family Heritage Alliance, worked to activate South Dakotans to contact the Governor and encourage him to sign the bill into law. Despite the disappointing outcome, we will continue to stand for families across the nation.
“No child should be forced to share a bathroom or locker room with someone of the opposite sex while at school,” said CitizenLink President and CEO Paul Weber. “We will continue to work, along with our state-based policy groups, to promote laws that protect the institution of the family and provide safety for our children.”
CitizenLink is a public policy partner of Focus on the Family. Our mission is to see a nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive and life is cherished.