Obfuscating the Issue

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 22, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Today’s word is “obfuscation,” which means “to cloud over, obscure, make dark or unclear, muddle, confuse, bewilder.” It would be easier to use a simpler word, but obfuscation is making a mockery of truth by belittling and changing the right way of handling issues.

Case in point is the reporting of S.B. 375 that failed to pass the General Assembly this year, although it would’ve been a “slam-dunk” a few years ago. Actually, S.B. 375 would not have been necessary years ago, because common sense and the Constitution settled such things.

Senator William Ligon introduced S.B. 375 on January 31 st . It passed the Senate 35 – 19 three weeks later, but died in a House committee when the session ended March 29th .

If S.B. 375 had passed, Georgia’s faith-based adoption agencies could have continued placing children with parents of the same faith and out-of-state faith-based adoption agencies could have expanded their services into Georgia. But the failure of the House to pass S.B. 375 may be laid at the feet of opponents who twisted the meaning of the bill, claiming it allowed adoption agencies to reject gay couples, but it, actually, upheld the religious rights of adoption agencies.

Legislative supporters of S.B. 375 said it would encourage more religious adoption agencies to open in Georgia; opponents said such discrimination would result in fewer adoptions. Blatant obfuscation was evident the last day of the session, when Senator Ligon tried to add faith-based adoption language to another bill.

According to Senate Rules, bills may be amended with language germane to the subject. Ballentine’s Legal Dictionary defines germane as “closely allied, relevant.” The person presiding declares what’s germane. Although the issue in S.B. 375 is adoption of foster children, and the bill he tried to amend was about adoption of foster children, the Lt. Governor, who was presiding over the Senate, ruled the amendment “non- germane.” As a result, the bill that passed the Senate could not be resurrected by the Senate. Remember that when you vote in November.

Senator Ligon’s intent was to open as many doors as possible for children who need homes. His bill did that, but the House Judiciary Committee killed his bill by holding it in committee for the entire last month of the session. The death of S.B. 375 indicates that some Georgia legislators value alternate lifestyles over religious freedom. For Georgia Insight , I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.