Update: Results of Action after April 16th Alert

Thanks for your contacts and prayers.  Several of us attended the meeting to protest changes in H.B. 571, that appeared to accomplish the dreaded outcomes of S.B. 304 that had already died in committee for lack of a quorum.

Just minutes before the meeting convened, Representative Golick asked us to come out in the hall, so he could explain our worries away.  He assured us there is no connection between S.B. 304 and H.B. 571, pertaining to the State Sexual Offender Registry, although similarities in language caused our alarm.

Again, the next day, April 20^th, I took all three versions of S.B. 304 to him and explained how the language moved from Code Section to Code Section, causing changes in H.B. 571 to appear as another move to accomplish S.B. 304’s goal.

First, S.B. 304 was in Code Section 16, relating to sexual offenses.  Then, the proposed committee substitute put it in Code Section 15, relating to juvenile offenses, victim compensation and programs and protection for children and youth.  That was outright confirmation that the goal of S.B. 304 was to provide victim compensation for juvenile workers in the sex trade.

In addition to that, Lt. Gov. Cagle’s legal staff had stated to us, personally, that the issue of S.B. 304, deeming juvenile sex workers eligible for victim compensation, would be back in the 2011 session.  So, we’re on high alert for bills that could be used to attach that language before this session is over.

We were assured on Monday, April 19^th and I was assured again on Tuesday, April 20^th, that H.B. 571 is not being used for that purpose, but we remain vigilant.  One other bill in the current process could be used as a vehicle, but hopefully, that won’t happen, either.

Again, I thank you for your wonderful response.  A really good thing has happened during this process.  Both House and Senate are very aware that any attempt to legalize or decriminalize prostitution, masturbation for hire or pornography (for any age) will be met with stiff opposition.

Would the Georgia Senate unseat two committee chairmen and fire the minority whip in order to pass a bill decriminalizing juvenile prostitution, masturbation for hire and involvement in pornography?
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PLEASE ACT QUICKLY, this bill will be in committee
Monday, April 19th at 2:00, Room 450, State Capitol.

Whether it’s coincidence or a well-planned strategy, the radical change in the Senate Judiciary Committee might mean the passage of S.B. 304 as an amendment to H.B. 571.

H.B. 571 was on the Judiciary Committee’s Thursday April 15th agenda, but was postponed until Monday for further amendments or refinement.

Two pages of the committee substitute already have language to decriminalize juvenile sex acts. Components of S.B. 304 are now evident in H.B. 571. Consider this: S.B. 304 absolves juveniles of sexual offenses and specifies that they may be paid for their services in prostitution, masturbation for hire and pornography. S.B. 304 classifies juvenile sex workers as victims, for the express purpose of making them eligible for victim compensation. The components of S.B. 304 listed in this paragraph have already been added to H.B. 571 in the following language:

Page 6, lines 170 – 174: “For purposes of this Code section, a conviction for a misdemeanor shall not be considered a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor, and conduct which is adjudicated in juvenile court shall not be considered a criminal offense against a victim who is a minor.”

Page 7, lines 215 – 217 further the idea that minors involved in sexual offenses are victims, i.e., making them eligible for victim compensation funds.

Page 16, line 550 defines a minor as a person under age 18.
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ACTION – Oppose. PLEASE take time to call the following over the weekend, if possible, and again on Monday morning. If one of them is your senator, be sure to call at home and at the Capitol Monday morning, as well.
Call Judiciary Committee Senators Harp, 463-3931, Ch.; Hamrick, 656-0036; Adelman, 463-1376; Brown, 656-5035; Cowsert, 651-7738; Crosby, 463-5258; Fort, 656-5091; Judson Hill, 656-0150; Ramsey, 463-2598; Seabaugh, 656-6446; Smith, 404 656-0034; and Wiles 657-0406.
Don’t forget to call: Ex-officio Members Chance, 463-1366, and Unterman, 463-1368.

Preserve Individual Freedom
to Choose A Health Care Plan

S.B. 317 provides that no law or rule or regulation shall compel any person, employee, or health care provider to participate in any health care system. Also, it authorizes individuals and employers to pay directly for legal health care services without penalty or fine and allows the provider to receive direct payment. It does not affect the (a) services a health care provider or hospital must perform or provide or (b) health care provided under workers’ compensation. It passed the Senate 31 – 16 on March 17th and is in the House.

• To read the rest of this newsletter in PDF format, please click here.

Eagle Forum of Georgia
Invites You to Join Us
Wednesday, October 7th, at 12:00 Noon
At
The Farm
2324 White Road
Conyers, Georgia 30012

(Directions: Take Exit 82 off I-20 East. Turn left onto Highway 138 North. Go 5 miles. You will pass the International Horse Park. After the next light (about ¼ mile), get into the left lane to turn onto White Road. In less than ½ mile you will see the sign for The Farm.)

A light lunch will be provided, followed by a dynamic two-part program.

_____________________________

Dr. Richard Perry, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Retired
Will Speak On
Rules for Radicals, by Saul Alinsky
Lt. Col. Perry served in the Infantry for 30 years, two years in the Viet Nam War as an adviser to Viet Namese Army units. The first year, he served in the Mekong Delta with Ranger battalions and four years later, he was in the Central Highlands with an Infantry Regiment. Dr. Perry taught at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point and finished his career in Washington, D.C. at the Army’s Center of Military History, where he directed the book-writing division, recording the Army’s role in World War II, Korea and Viet Nam. But his most challenging job was guiding the transfer of the Panama Canal from the U.S. to the Panamanian government.
_____________________________

Sue Ella Deadwyler, Editor & Publisher, Georgia Insight
Will Speak On
State & Federal Legislative Issues & Updates
(Including the Federal Health Care Bill)
For 30 years Sue Ella has been a “watchman on the wall” at the Georgia State Capitol, where she monitors the legislature and reports the status of bills via her newsletter, published weekly during the session and monthly between sessions. For two years, she was Coordinator of Eagle Forum of Georgia and for several years she was Chairman of Georgia Women’s Forum, also affiliated with national Eagle Forum. She is recent past President of Eagle Forum of Georgia and is now Capitol Correspondent for both Georgia Insight and Eagle Forum of Georgia. You can hear her commentaries each Friday on WMVV New Life Radio, 90.7 FM at 7:00 a.m.

Conference Committee Would Write Final Bill

Radio Commentary, WMVV 90.7 New Life FM, September 11, 2009
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. We’ve discussed the healthcare bill for months and we’ve learned what’s in it and what’s not. We were told there’s no end-of-life counseling to encourage senior citizens toward assisted suicide. But after it was called a “death panel”, they said they’d take it out. Then, we were told the “public option” is not REALLY a government plan to get rid of private insurance and when so many people opposed it, they decided to drop it and create a co-op instead. But they never explained that a co-op is a public option in disguise.
Click here to read more »

Are you worried about America’s future? You’re not alone.

Join with concerned citizens from across the country and start taking back America to the values and ideals that made us great.

To learn more, click on the graphic below.

UPDATE! HATE CRIMES BILL S. 909 PASSED a big hurdle last night, but is not law, yet!

Final language will be worked out when the defense bill goes to conference.

H.R. 1319 is the House Hate Crimes bill that passed, 249 – 175, several weeks ago.
But it is not law … YET!
S. 909, the Senate Hate Crimes bill is on its way to passing the Senate after last night’s 10:51 p.m. to stop debate.
It was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act.
But it’s not law … YET!

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS Eagle Forum/Georgia Insight UPDATE.

Update! Thanks for calling!

H.R. 2454 now goes to the Senate, which recessed until July 6th. The House recessed immediately after passing H.R. 2454 Friday evening.

H.R. 2454, Cap & Tax Bill Passed U.S. House, June 26th
Vote: 219 Yes – 212 No
(NO was the good vote!)

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS Eagle Forum/Georgia Insight UPDATE.