Attorney General Issues Opinion on Same-Sex
Benefits
for State and Local Employees
 Attorney
General Mike Cox issued an opinion this week that says Michigan's
Marriage Amendment (Proposal 2) prevents state and local governments
from providing benefits to same-sex partners. In the absence of
a court ruling, opinions from the Attorney General are considered
binding. Only future employment contracts would be affected; those
already in place would remain in effect.
Opponents were quick to say they plan to fight
the issue in court. The state Court of Appeals is scheduled to
hear arguments next month in a case challenging Ann Arbor Public
Schools' domestic partner benefits. For more on this story, click
here. The Attorney General's opinions are available online.
At press time, this opinion had not yet been posted. Click
here to visit the site where they are listed.
Governor Launches Faith-Based
Initiatives Office
 Governor
Jennifer Granholm this week announced the creation of Michigan's
"Office of Community and Faith-Based Initiatives." The
Office will serve as the single point of contact for community
or faith-based groups wanting to use state dollars to provide
social services. The plan is similar to one that President Bush
has proposed at the federal level.
Critics said that the Office would have a difficult
time knowing whether some faith-based groups have discriminatory
hiring practices or requirements for services. The Governor disagreed
saying that the Office is not about a "particular faith,"
but rather about "serving the citizens in the most effective
way."
"This is an encouraging development,"
said MFF Executive Director Brad Snavely. "The Governor realizes
that faith-based groups have effective programs in place that
benefit the citizens of this state." To read more about the
new Faith-Based Office, click
here.
California
Judge Overturns Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
 In
a stunning ruling this week, a California Superior Court judge
overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriages. The judge claimed
that the ban, approved by 62-percent of California voters last
year, was unconstitutional. His ruling was immediately appealed,
which means that same-sex marriage will remain illegal for the
time being. The case is expected to eventually end up in California's
Supreme Court.
"This is a prime example of why Michigan's
constitutional amendment is necessary," said MFF Public Policy
Director Dan Jarvis. "The vote in California did not amend
the state's constitution, it only made same-sex marriage illegal.
An actual constitutional amendment would have prevented a state
court judge from even ruling on the case." For more information
about the California ruling, click
here.
Federal
Bill Would Help Parents Protect Kids from
Offensive DVD Scenes
 A
bill that allows parents and children to filter the curse words,
sex scenes and violence out of movie DVDs has moved closer to
approval by Congress. The House Judiciary Committee on voice vote
gave the legislation its endorsement, sending it to the full House.
The Senate passed the bill earlier this year. If representatives
now pass it without changes, it will go to President Bush for
his signature. The legislation was introduced because Hollywood
studios and directors had sued to stop the makers and distributors
of technology for DVD players that would skip movie scenes deemed
offensive.
The legislation creates an exemption in the copyright laws to
make sure companies that offer the technology cannot be sued.
To read more, click
here.
Marriage
Getaway Planned for April 8-10 in Saginaw
 The
International Lutheran Marriage Encounter (ILME) is sponsoring
a marriage seminar in Saginaw, April 8-10. This special weekend
experience, lasting from Friday evening until early Sunday evening,
is designed to help married couples improve their communication
in order to deepen and enrich their relationship. While couples
listen to a series of presentations as a group, there is NO group
discussion.
The weekend provides a relaxed and private setting, time away
from daily pressures and responsibilities, and the opportunity
to focus on the couple relationship in private. For details, call
(810) 364-4597 or visit the group's website, www.ilme.org.
Quote of the Week
"Tonight, about 40-percent of American
children will go to sleep in homes in which their fathers do not
live. Before they reach the age of eighteen, more than half of
our nation's children are likely to spend at least a significant
portion of their childhood living apart from their fathers."
Source: Fatherless America: Confronting
Our Most Urgent Social Problem
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