June 14, 2013 Radio Commentary

Posted on by

Destroying Local Control

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 14, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim.  They’ve been working on it for a very long time and the demise of local control over education is almost gone.  I knew we were in trouble when education elitists said “local school boards are dysfunctional,” probably because they are elected and hard to control.  As the “dysfunctional” label took root in Georgia, efforts were made to appoint members of local school boards, but that failed, as did efforts to appoint the state school superintendent.

However, the 14-member (one from each congressional district) State Board of Education is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate for seven-year terms.  Meaning, voters don’t elect them and voters can’t replace them.

While thinking about that, consider this.  By a margin of 14 to one, the appointed State Board of Education that makes education policy out-numbers the elected state school superintendent, who presides over State School Board meetings.  So, the one voice elected by voters is out-numbered by 14 voices appointed by the governor.  But, since the governor is elected as well, the actual ratio of elected voices to appointed voices is 14 to two.  That means the greatest influence over education in Georgia is not voters!  It’s the governor!

The State Constitution authorizes locally elected boards of education to manage and control schools and voters are constitutionally authorized to elect and replace local members.  But two decades ago, Georgia adopted the Next Generation School (NGS) project to transfer control of education from the local level to state and federal levels and, also, give teachers and staff control over schools, a direct contradiction to the State Constitution. Continue reading →

June 7, 2013 Radio Commentary

Posted on by

S.B. 104 Impedes Regional Government

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 7, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim.  Most of us have heard Edmund Burke’s powerful statement: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing!”  Switch it around and it becomes, “All that’s necessary for good to triumph is that good men do what’s right!”

Today I’ll talk about Senator Frank Ginn, an engineer and farmer from Danielsville, Georgia, a good man who’s done right.  The “right” thing he did was to introduce for a second time a bill to restore constitutional government to Georgia’s municipalities and communities.

In 2011 after getting S.B. 86 passed with enough votes to override the governor’s veto, he took the governor’s suggestion and tried again later, which he did in 2013 by introducing S.B. 104 that passed the last day of the session.  When the governor signed it May 7th, it became Act 341, which takes effect July 1st. Continue reading →

May 31, 2013 Radio Commentary

Posted on by

Morning-After Pills for 15-Year-Olds
(Over the counter, no prescription, no parental consent)

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 31, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim.  On April 30th the office of Health and Human Services told women who work for religious-affiliated organizations their health coverage may involve two insurance plans.  Their employer-provided plan would cover EVERYTHING but contraceptives, but no-cost contraceptives, including the morning-after pill, would be covered in a separate insurance policy NOT connected to their religious employer.

Matt Bowman of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian organization, called the rule an “abortion pill mandate … that does nothing to protect many faith-based employers or religious families from the unconstitutional abortion pill mandate … and the government has no business … picking and choosing who is allowed to exercise faith.”

Mr. Bowman referred to the morning-after pill as Plan B that prevents pregnancy up to three days after unprotected sex or “Ella,” which is a prescription-only pill to prevent pregnancy up to five days after unprotected sex. Continue reading →

May 24, 2013 Radio Commentary

Posted on by

Lobby Bill De-Fanged

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 24, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim.  For some reason, this year’s legislative session was, especially, disturbing for volunteers who go to the state capitol to influence bills and resolutions that may become law and affect the way we live.  But, this year, the problem started with House Rule 171.9 that said representatives could not discuss issues with any person that was NOT wearing a $320 lobby badge … UNLESS that person lived in that representative’s district.

House Rule 171.9 became part of the House rules of order January 14th, the first day of the session.  From that day on, freedom of speech was curtailed for representatives, as well as volunteers, and both were denied free participation in our republican form of government.

But 16 days later, House Speaker Ralston introduced H.B. 142 as an ethics bill limiting gifts to legislators, but also requiring EVERY lobbyist – volunteer or professional – to buy that $320 badge and file periodic reports of expenditures to public officials or face whopping fines for late reports.  Continue reading →