February 10, 2005 - Volume 3, Issue 6

Detroit News Profiles "Values Voters"

The Detroit News recently published a special report entitled "The Values Agenda." The articles were written in conjunction with a poll that the newspaper commissioned to find out the attitudes of Michigan voters regarding the interaction of faith and politics.

MFF Executive Director Brad Snavely was interviewed and quoted in one of the articles, which also discussed MFF’s goals of strengthening marriage and the family. To read the article and see the poll, click here.

Focus on the Family also highlighted a recent poll by the Pew Forum that indicates the role "values voters" played in the November election. For more information and to view that poll, click here.

Governor Gives State of the State Speech

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm gave her annual State of the State address to the Michigan legislature on February 8. The speech focused largely on economic issues that continue to plague the state and the Governor’s proposals for improving them.

Governor Granholm did share with lawmakers her continuing commitment to protect children from violent and inappropriate images. Granholm signed an MFF-initiated bill in 2003 that required businesses to protect children from exposure to pornographic material. In her speech, she asked the Legislature to pass Rep. Hansen Clarke’s bill that would restrict the sale of mature and ultra-violent video games to children.

To read the text of the State of the State address, click here.

President’s Budget Proposal Shows Commitment to Abstinence
Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs Receive Cuts

President Bush’s 2006 Budget Proposal includes a $38 million increase in funding for abstinence education. The President has repeatedly voiced his support for programs committed to teaching kids to abstain from sex until they are married. Unfortunately, the same budget also contains cuts to healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood programs. To find out more, click here.

Abstinence Fact

"1.35 million births (33 percent of all births) in 2000 occurred out of wedlock."
Source: http://www.fatherhood.org/fatherfacts_t10.asp


Ramifications of Supreme Court "Lawrence" Decision Continue

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision in Lawrence v. Texas, which overturned that state’s anti-sodomy laws, continues to impact court action across the nation. Those who argued to uphold the Texas statute warned that the Court’s decision could lead to an "anything goes" mentality regarding marriage and human "relationships."

The most recent example took place in Salt Lake City this week as the Utah Supreme Court began to openly question the state’s anti-polygamy laws. Citing the Lawrence case, the court called into question whether Utah’s ban on polygamist relationships constituted the same type of "state intrusion" that the Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional in the Lawrence decision.

For more information on this disturbing development, click here.

_________________________________________________

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

www.michiganfamily.org

Executive Director: Brad Snavely

Editor: Jon Stanton

 

Questions?  E-mail us: info@michiganfamily.org