Could’ve, Should’ve, Didn’t
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 23, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
Good morning, Jim. The session is over, but several bills that should’ve passed didn’t. For example, there’s no logical reason legislators will not pass a law designating English as our official language. It’s a fact that we speak English, but some folks don’t want to put that fact in our State Constitution.
S.R. 808 and H.B. 895 would have prohibited the use of foreign law in Georgia courts, but for the third year in a row, that issue died in committee. That’s disturbing, since the State Constitution and the U.S. Constitution provide equal protection in court, regardless of nationality. Deciding some cases under Georgia law and other cases under foreign law is discrimination and unconstitutional, i.e. un-equal protection.
It seems strange that legislators, who are responsible for passing laws suited to our culture, won’t protect their legislative territory against the intrusion of foreign law that reflects foreign culture.Again, our legislators could’ve restored a semblance of parental authority, if they had passed S.B. 284. It authorized judges to use facts and common sense to decide whether a minor is mature enough or informed enough to decide to get or not to get an abortion. Right now, judges, doctors, nurses, counselors and teachers can share information about children with other counselors or doctors or teachers or refer them to organizations, but they can’t share that information with parents. So, this year’s crop of legislators missed their chance to reinforce parental authority and reestablish the family as important to all children, including teenagers.
If S.B. 289 had passed, schools could have allowed inspirational messages by students, but a recent Supreme Court decision could get it passed next time. In his opinion in the May 5th Supreme Court decision on public prayer, Justice Kennedy said, “Government may not seek to define permissible categories of religious speech. …Any test that would sweep away what has so long been settled would … begin anew the very divisions along religious lines that the Establishment Clause seeks to prevent.” If Kennedy’s opinion reminds other judges of the many religious expressions already categorized as off limits, perhaps they will correct their course and return this country to freedom OF religion, instead of freedom FROM religion.
All of us have until November to ask candidates who won the Primary to explain what they believe about parental rights, foreign law, the English language and religious freedom. After learning their positions on these and other critical issues, we must vote for candidates who will uphold the constitutions of Georgia and the United States. For Georgia Insight, I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.