MFF Hosts Reception for Legislators
Event Corresponds with Release of 2005-06 Legislative
Agenda
 Michigan
Family Forum hosted legislators in Lansing this week to release
our new Legislative Agenda. "Putting Families First - Eighteen
Policy Recommendations to Strengthen Michigan Families for the
93rd Legislature" was warmly received by many of the legislators
in attendance.
"We were very pleased to have so many legislators
in attendance who are committed to working with us in the current
session to see these recommendations become law," said MFF
Executive Director Brad Snavely. "With the momentum gained
from our success in the previous session, we are confident that
this Legislature will once again support many of MFF's recommendations
for strong and healthy families."
Each lawmaker in attendance received a copy of
the new Agenda, as well as a copy of MFF's latest publication,
"Marriage and Divorce: Public Opinion in Michigan" (see
related article below). To download a copy of MFF's new agenda,
click
here. To view photos from the reception, click
here.
Grand
Rapids Press Supports Marriage Package
Tells Governor to Reconsider Her Veto
 A
recent editorial in the Grand Rapids Press encouraged the Michigan
Legislature to once again consider marriage education legislation
and suggested that Governor Granholm reconsider her veto. The
editorial was written in response to the Governor's veto in late
2004 of a package of bills that included incentives for couples
to seek counseling prior to marriage.
"All of our polling data indicates that the
public supports legislation creating incentives for or requiring
pre-marital counseling for couples, and now the media is beginning
to see the light as well," said MFF Executive Director Brad
Snavely. "The Governor needs to seriously reconsider her
position on this issue, which is clearly outside of the mainstream."
To read the Grand Rapids Press editorial, click
here.
New
U.S. Attorney General Goes After "Extreme" Porn Provider
 Newly
confirmed U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has given clear
indication of his department's commitment to uphold the nation's
anti-obscenity laws. In his first legal decision as Attorney General,
Gonzales has decided to reinstate the indictment against "Extreme
Associates, Inc." for blatantly violating public standards
of decency. The company deals in pornographic material of the
most repugnant nature, including depictions of rape and murder.
"The Department of Justice remains strongly
committed to the investigation and prosecution of adult obscenity
cases," said Gonzales, who pledged during his confirmation
hearing to pursue obscenity cases.
To read the full story, click
here.
Abstinence
Fact
When teenagers were asked asked
"How important do you think it is for teens to be given a
strong message from society that they should abstain from sex
until they are at least out of high school?", 71.1% of them
said it was "very important."
Source: Maher, Bridget and
Jennifer Marshall. The Family Portrait: A Compilation of Data,
Research and Public Opinion on the Family. Washington, DC: Family
Research Council, 2002.
Check Out MFF's Latest Publication!
 Michigan
Family Forum is pleased to announce the release of our latest
publication, "Marriage and Divorce: Public Opinion in Michigan."
The booklet is a compilation of MFF-commissioned polling data
from 1995 to 2004.
"This booklet speaks volumes about the broad
public support for marriage in this state," said MFF Executive
Director Brad Snavely. "Consistently, over a nine-year span,
the citizens of Michigan have continued to say that the state
needs to address the high divorce rate and do more to promote
healthy marriages."
The booklets were handed out at MFF's recent reception
for legislators, and will be hand delivered to those who were
not able to attend. To download your own copy of the booklet,
click
here.
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