MFF Testifies at Senate Hearing
 Research
and Public Policy Director Dan Jarvis testified before the Senate
Judiciary Committee this week in support of SB 416. The bill would
make it illegal to sell "ultra-violent" or sexually
explicit video games to minors. Sen. Alan Cropsey (R-Dewitt) is
the bill's sponsor.
"This bill is just common sense as far as
MFF is concerned," said Jarvis. "We are committed to
protecting children from exposure to violent and sexually explicit
images. We were part of a successful effort in passing legislation
to protect them from exposure to pornography, and the court upheld
that law. We're confident that this law, if carefully crafted,
can be upheld in court as well."
To view the legislation, click
here. To read Dan Jarvis' testimony, click
here.
U.S. Senate Republicans
Say "No Deal" on Filibuster
 U.S.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has said "no deal"
in the latest round of talks with Democrats over the judicial
filibuster. Democrats have prevented some judicial nominees from
having a confirmation hearing before the full Senate through use
of the "endless debate tactic" known as the filibuster.
"My goal is to have fair up-or-down votes
on judicial nominees," Frist told reporters, according to
an MSNBC report. "At the end of the day, one will be left
standing — the Constitution, which allows up-or-down votes
— or the filibuster."
To read more on this issue, click
here.
Click
here to contact your Senators to ask for their support to
end filibusters of judicial nominees.
MFF Hosts Legislators for
"Issues Luncheon"
 Michigan
Family Forum has invited all state legislators to an special "issues
luncheon" on Tuesday, May 3. The speaker will be Hoover Institution
Research Fellow Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse. Dr. Morse will address
the issue of "State Budget Woes and the Family: Public Expenditures
for Private Choices."
"It's no secret that the state continues to
face ever increasing budget deficits. Expenditures as a result
of family breakdown are a huge portion of the state's overall
budget," said MFF Executive Director Brad Snavely. "Dr.
Morse will offer legislators information on how the state can
adopt policies to strengthen the family reducing the need for
more public assistance."
For more information on the work of Dr. Jennifer
Roback Morse, click
here.
Prison Population Continues
to Increase
 Many
Americans were shocked to learn this week that the latest Census
Bureau figures indicate that 1 out of every 138 Americans is currently
in prison. That means more than two million Americans are currently
incarcerated, and the figure just keeps growing higher. Even more
disturbing is the fact that since 1970, the prison population
has multiplied more than seven-fold, making the United States
the world's leader in the rate of incarceration.
"What the news report didn't say, however,
is that the vast majority of incarcerated men come from fatherless
homes," said MFF Executive Director Brad Snavely. "That
rate is even higher in juvenile detention facilities. Yet some
still contend that fathers aren't important or necessary in the
life of a child. Research and these disturbing statistics clearly
indicate otherwise."
One of MFF's four areas of focus is to Promote
Fatherhood in Michigan. This includes promoting programs for incarcerated
fathers to help them stay connected with their children and still
have a positive influence on their lives. To read our resource
publication, "Promoting Fatherhood in Michigan," click
here. To read more about the new census data on U.S. prison
population, click
here.
"The War Against Abstinence"
 Heritage
Foundation fellow Robert Rector recently published an opinion
piece on "townhall.com" entitled "Good Sex for
Teens: The War Against Abstinence."
Rector argues that polls continue to show that
both teens and parents want sex education programs to emphasize
abstinence. He also cites research indicating that such programs
work. Some politicians, however, still continue to push the "safe-sex"
message. The article also highlights recent attempts by Senator
Max Baucas (D-MT) to eliminate federal funding for abstinence
education programs. To read Rector's article, click
here.
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