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January 27, 2005 - Volume 3, Issue 4 |
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January 27, 2005 - Volume 3, Issue 4 |
Federal
Court Rules in Favor of Hardcore PornCiting the U.S. Supreme Court’s Lawrence v. Texas ruling that legalized sodomy, a U.S. District Judge has struck down a lawsuit against a hardcore internet porn provider. The "Extreme Associates" website includes graphic images of rape and murder.
Justice Department officials overseeing the case were stunned by the surprise decision. Even the president of Adult Video News, the porn industry’s chief publication, said the sites were "horrible, unwatchable, disgusting, and abhorrent." For more information about the ruling, click here.
Will
the U.S. Senate Make Marriage Protection a Priority?Is the federal Marriage Protection Amendment a priority with the White House and Republican leadership? That's the question some pro-family groups are asking after the Senate outlined its agenda for the coming year.
While Republicans listed Social Security, tax reform and the Child Custody Protection Act as some of their top 10 bills for the 109th Congress, the Marriage Protection Amendment was not on the list. Bill Wichterman, a policy adviser for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, explained that the top 10 list included only legislative bills, not Senate joint resolutions—which is how the marriage amendment is being categorized.
The Marriage Protection Amendment was indeed reintroduced in the Senate as "Senate Joint Resolution 1" on January 24. For more information, click here.
President’s
Inaugural Speech Seeks to Inspire CharacterPresidentGeorge W. Bush delivered his inaugural address recently to hundreds of thousands who had gathered in Washington, DC, and millions of others who listened or watched from their homes and workplaces.
The President highlighted many issues, but the overall theme of his speech was to emphasize the freedom, liberty, and self-government that make America great. He also sought to inspire character in America’s citizens when he said, "Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself - and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character.
To read the full text of the President’s Inaugural Address, click here.
MFF
Publication Hot Commodity Among MichiganOne of MFF’s recent publications, "Sex Education: Rights and Responsibilities in Michigan Law," has stirred up quite a bit of interest in Michigan’s public and charter schools. MFF sent a free copy of the booklet to all school boards and superintendents.
Orders for more copies of the booklet were quick to follow. Some districts are even planning to provide a copy to parents and guardians of students. Michigan law requires parental involvement in selection of a sex education curriculum within a school district. If you are interested in being part of your district’s advisory board, contact your local school superintendent. To read MFF’s publication, click here.
Seniors
at Risk for Gambling ProblemsA new study finds a growing number of senior citizens are gambling—with many putting themselves at risk of financial ruin and personal despair.
The report in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychology found that 70 percent of seniors say they gamble. Eleven percent are considered "at risk"—defined as placing more than $100 on a single bet or betting more than they can afford to lose.
"Michigan Family Forum is committed to honoring and protecting our elderly," said MFF Executive Director Brad Snavely. "Hopefully passage of Proposal 1, which MFF supported, will help keep our seniors safe from new forms of gambling."
Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved Proposal 1 in November. The proposal prevents the expansion of gambling in Michigan unless the people vote otherwise. For more information, click here.
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Forum Online
© 2005 Michigan Family Forum
112 E. Allegan, Suite 600, P.O. Box 15216
Lansing, MI, 48901-5216
Phone: (517) 374-1171, Fax: (517) 374-6112
Executive Director: Brad Snavely
Editor: Jon Stanton
Questions? E-mail us: info@michiganfamily.org