leaguerecord.com

King Middle School bill dead for the year

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:58:30 PST

Legislative Council Chambers this afternoon

I sat in the Legislative Council chambers this afternoon praying for a miracle. One of our board members sent me an email this morning in which she wrote, "Please pray today that in fairness, the Legislative Council will agree to move this bill forward to be heard by the whole Legislature." I prayed.

The King Middle School decided last fall to provide contraceptives to children under the age of 14 through their school-based health clinic. The decision was criticized internationally.

Motivated by his concern over the developments in Portland Senator Douglas Smith, R-Piscatiquis, introduced an after-deadline bill entitled, "An Act to Protect the Rights of Parents to Know of and Consent to Prescription Contraceptive Services Provided to their Children." The Legislative Council took up the after deadline proposal today at their regularly scheduled 1 p.m. meeting.

Scontras Speaks Powerfully at 2008 Hands Around the Capitol Rally

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:30:06 PST

Prayer Service, Rally, and Ceremony Among Day's Pro-Life Events

Dean Scontras

Over four hundred Maine pro-life supporters turned out on Saturday, January 12, for the 2008 Hands Around the Capitol Rally and Ceremony in Augusta.

Among those in attendance at the rally were Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland Bishop Richard Malone, State Senator Carol Weston, State Representative James Hamper, U.S. Congressional candidate Dean Scontras, and former State Senators Paul Davis and Carolyn Gilman.

Scontras spoke emotionally to the near capacity crowd in the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church gym about his bid for Congress and his "unequivocal" pro-life stand.

King Middle School bill delayed by Council

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:55:00 PST

Senator Douglas M. Smith

On December 6th the Associated Press reported on over four hundred bills that the Legislature is taking up. One important bill is not on the list. Senator Douglas M. Smith, R-Dover Foxcroft, wants parents of children younger than 14 years of age to know when educators are giving their youngsters contraceptives.

The bill is a response to the King Middle School debacle in Portland that is ongoing. The bill has languished on the Legislative Council table for weeks, stuck in legislative limbo. A Legislative Council meeting took place Thursday, December 21st. The Council decides whether bills will be assigned to a committee, and proceed to public hearing.

Urge Lawmakers to Allow Parental Consent Bill Passage

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:01:44 PST

The League has previously called for the Maine Attorney General to investigate this criminal sexual activity involving Portland's middle schools.

Others are collecting Portland resident signatures to recall some of the sitting Committee members.

State Senator Douglas M. Smith (R-Piscataquis County) is sponsoring a bill to prohibit any Maine school district from giving prescription contraceptives to schoolchildren without parental consent.

Contact the Legislative Council and urge them to allow Sen. Smith's Contraceptive Parental Consent bill to be considered in the upcoming Legislative session.

State Senator calls League a "Force of Evil"

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:35:54 PST

After a front-page news article in the Bangor Daily News and press releases, under fifty people showed for a pro-homosexual rally Sunday afternoon, October 7, in Augusta. Held on the Statehouse steps, the much publicized "Seven Straight Nights for Equal [Homosexual] Rights" did attract several prominent Maine Democrat politicians, however.

U.S. Representative Tom Allen, who is running for U.S. Senate in 2008 against current U.S. Senator Susan Collins, State Senator Ethan Strimling (Democrat - Portland), who is running to replace Allen in Congress, and State Rep. Elizabeth Miller (Democrat - Somerville) all attended and spoke at the homosexual youth event.

State Sen. Strimling exhorts the pro-homosexual crowd

Soulforce and Atticus Circle , two Texas-based radical homosexual youth organizations, sponsored the event.

Maine Democrat State Senator Ethan Strimling of Portland was the last and most vocal of the politicians to speak. He noted how proud he was to work on 2005's 'Maine Won't Discriminate' campaign to enact the homosexual special rights law. He referred to all who supported traditional marriage as the "forces of evil," when he spoke about the repeal of a homosexual special rights law in 1998.

Jones Defeats Morrell in Maine Special Election

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:39:43 PST

Pro-Sodomy, Pro-Abortion Forces Pick Up Legislative Seat

Democrat Deane Jones of Mount Vernon won the Maine House District 83 Special Election on June 12, beating Republican Penelope "Penny" Morrell 59.5% to 40.5%. Jones will take over the seat previously held by Republican Abigail Holman. Jones received more votes than Morrell in Manchester, Mount Vernon, Vienna, and Fayette, while Morrell handily won her hometown of Belgrade.

League Executive Director Mike Heath noted after the election results were announced, "We will continue to fight for righteousness alongside Bible-believing Maine Christian churches and Christian Mainers. I pray the sexual immorality lobby's victory today will be short-lived."

Hein blasts Catholic Chancery on talk radio

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:47:38 PST

League administrator Mike Hein blasted the Roman Catholic Chancery for supporting homosexual rights once again on a Bangor talk radio station on Thursday. The Chancery also supported gay rights in 2005 and in 1998. While the Chancery claims that they were neutral in those contests their rhetoric gave homosexual advocates everything they needed to eventually eke out a slim victory in 2005. During an early morning phone interview the determined pro-family advocate told the truth about LD 375, the recently passed bill that is misnamed the "Family Medical Leave Act." The bill has absolutely nothing to do with family. It is a bill, in fact, designed to undermine and destroy the traditional family in Maine.

Negative Tactics Used in Maine Special Election

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 08:08:10 PST

Planned Parenthood Pays for 'Push Polling'

Planned Parenthood PAC

Over $918 has been spent within the last week by Planned Parenthood of Northern New England's Action Fund -- MEPAC on the campaign of Maine Democrat State Representative Candidate Deane Jones of Mount Vernon. Jones is running for the Legislature's vacant House District 83 seat against Republican Penelope "Penny" Morrell. Morrell is employed by Maine Right to Life. Jones was endorsed by EqualityMaine in his failed bid for the same office last year.

The May 30 campaign expenditure by Planned Parenthood to Jones was paid to Broadcast Solutions, 13806 Goosefoot Terrace, Rockville, MD 20850, Buzzy Cohn, President, (301) 869-5005, info@broadcastsolutions.net, buzzycohn@yahoo.com. This expenditure was for a phone "push poll" on behalf of Jones that condemned Morrell for her pro-life social issue stance.

Maine Senator's Anti-Family Fundraising Email

Thu, 31 May 2007 15:49:02 PST

The following fundraising email was recently sent by former Maine State Treasurer, current Director of the Maine State Housing Authority, and Maine's most prominent lesbian, Dale McCormick and community development specialist, Maine Governor John Baldacci's sister, and campaign worker for current pro-homosexual marriage Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Rosemary Baldacci. They both currently serve on Senator Strimling's Exploratory Committee. The email details Sen. Strimling's anti-family credentials for the purpose of raising money.

...And as a State Senator, [Strimling] led battles behind the scenes to pass the Civil Rights Act of 2005 and is currently leading the charge to provide Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) benefits to domestic partners. He also had the courage to propose that Maine finally repeal our discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the law that prevents us from recognizing legal marriages from Massachusetts.

Maine Legislature Expands Homosexual Benefits

Fri, 25 May 2007 10:22:58 PST

Homosexual Welfare Bill Awaits Governor's Signature

After four months of intense lobbying, the Maine Legislature voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill on May 23 and 24 that will extend significant employment benefits to homosexuals. The bill, LD 375 "An Act To Amend the Family Medical Leave Laws," was sponsored by Senator Dennis Damon of Hancock County, and co-sponsored by nine other legislators.

The bill has been this session's legislative priority for the Maine homosexual lobby, led by homosexual lobbying groups EqualityMaine, the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the Maine Women's Lobby, and the Maine Civil Liberties Union. All four groups submitted written public testimony at the bill's February 28 public hearing before the Labor Committee.

Click here to see the Maine House of Representative votes.

Panel rejects state-funded abortions

Wed, 16 May 2007 06:51:24 PST

A proposal to use state money to fund abortions for poor women has been killed by a legislative committee.

Members of the Health and Human Services Committee voted unanimously against the bill after revisiting it on Friday.

Mike Hein, administrator of the Christian Civic League, said opponents are ready to fight in court, though he prefers that the debate happen in the State House, where citizens can give input and legislators are put on record.

"They kind of took a pass on this one," Hein said of lawmakers. "I suspect if it goes to the courts, it's anybody's guess."

League Praises Pro-Life Maine Democrat Legislator

Fri, 11 May 2007 11:33:57 PST

Lewiston/Auburn Freshman State Rep. Mark Paul Samson Issues Pro-Life Testimony

Rep. Mark Paul Samson

The Christian Civic League of Maine's President of the Board of Directors, Rev. Dallas E. Henry, praised freshman Democrat State Representative Mark Paul Samson this week in response to Rep. Samson's pro-life written testimony. The public document was submitted by Rep. Samson recently at a public hearing on LD 1309, "An Act to Provide Equity in Funding Women's Health Services," commonly referred to as Maine's abortion public funding bill.

"Why would an evangelical, social conservative like me vote for a Democrat?" Pastor Henry asked rhetorically, "because of fine young men of faith like Mark Paul Samson."

None of the seven pro-life Maine Republican legislators who attended the pro-life rally on the day of the bill's public hearing submitted written testimony to the Health and Human Services Committee. Only one provided verbal pro-life testimony to the committee. Rep. Samson's testimony is the only written testimony in opposition to the abortion bill.

Maine Legislature Must Fund Abortion or Face Litigation

Wed, 09 May 2007 08:01:46 PST

MCLU Threatens Court Action if Abortion Bill Rejected

Maine Civil Liberties Union

In its support for abortion funding for low-income women, the Maine Civil Liberties Union has threatened to sue the State of Maine. This threat of litigation was included in an undated four-page letter to the Maine Legislature's Joint Committee on Health and Human Services. It was submitted as written testimony on April 26, 2007 during public hearing of Legislative Document (LD) 1309, "An Act to Provide Equity in Funding Women's Health Services." Read in part to the committee by Zachary L. Heiden on behalf of the MCLU, this clearly worded public document states that court action will result if the current pending abortion legislation is not passed.

Finally, the letter concludes with the threat of litigation if the abortion funding bill is not passed: "In states where the legislature was unwilling to remedy an unfair discepancy in reproductive funding for low-income women, advocates have had to turn to the courts. In those states, it took years of costly litigation to learn what the Maine legislature should already know: that the state must remain neutral when funding a woman's constitutionally-protected reproductive health care choices."

Abortion Reporting Bill Killed; Abortion Funding Bill Postponed

Fri, 04 May 2007 17:00:03 PST

League President asks, "What are they hiding?"

Legislative Document (LD) 973 "An Act To Require the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention To Publish Abortion Statistics" was unanimously voted "Ought Not to Pass" (killed) in the Health and Human Services Committee this afternoon.

Rev. Dallas E. Henry, President of the Christian Civic League of Maine's Board of Directors, asked, "Maine's Health and Human Services Committee want what they call 'a woman's right to choose' and think that abortion is wonderful and good. Why do they not want to let the public know how many women are choosing to abort their babies? Does the committee or, more likely, the abortion lobby have something to hide themselves?"

LD 1309, Senate President Betheda Edmonds' abortion funding bill, was scheduled earlier this week for a work session, but was postponed without explanation or a specified future date given.

Nineteen Maine Christian Ministers Publicly Declare Abortion Support

Thu, 03 May 2007 17:00:00 PST

Congregational Denomination Reverends Sign Letter Supporting LD 1309

Maine UCC

Nineteen Maine United Church of Christ Congregational Ministers signed a letter supporting abortion, and public funding of abortion, according to Maine's Health and Human Services Committee this week. The letter, dated April 11, 2007 and obtained this week by the League, was submitted as written testimony in the public hearing of LD 1309, "An Act To Provide Equity in Funding for Women's Health Services."

The letter quotes from Proverbs 29:7, and states in part, "...we recognize that some [Maine] women who cannot afford abortions turn to desperate means to end unwanted pregnancies. Our calling is to care for those who need our help the most. Our religous traditions teach us that life is sacred, and it is precisely because life and parenthood are so precious that we believe no [Maine] woman should be coerced to carry a pregnancy to term."

Interestingly, nowhere in the letter do the Congregational ministers identify themselves as Christian, or belonging to a Christian denomination, or to the Church of Christ. Instead, they use only the phrase "members of Maine's faith community" to describe themselves. Click here for a listing of the nineteen pro-abortion Maine Congregational ministers.

Rural Maine GOP Caucus Nominates Christian Candidate

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 13:35:43 PST

Morrell Selected for Kennebec County House Race

Hon. Joshua Tardy with Philip Roy and Daniel Schuberth

Republicans from Belgrade, Fayette, Manchester, Mount Vernon, and Vienna gathered at the Augusta City Center to caucus and decide upon a candidate for District 83 State Representative. They nominated conservative Christian Penelope "Penny" Morrell of Belgrade to represent the GOP in the upcoming June 12 special election, under the watchful eyes of Maine Republican legislators and officials.

The caucus of the five towns picked Morrell with a majority of the votes cast after only one round of voting. Belgrade Republican activist John Fortier nominated Morrell and Mount Vernon Selectman Bruce Inch seconded the nomination.

Morrell is admired by many Christians within the district for her strong moral stand on social issues. She has publicly proclaimed marriage as an institution between one man and one woman only, and is 100% pro-life, opposing abortion with no exceptions.

Bishop, Legislators attend Pro-Life Capitol Rally

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 13:45:34 PST

State Rep. James Hamper

Pro-life Christian Maine leaders, legislators, and supporters gathered at the Capitol today at noon to oppose LD 1309, a bill that would directly fund abortions for low-income women. Among religious leaders who spoke to the estimated pro-life crowd of 100 was Roman Catholic Bishop Richard Malone of the Diocese of Portland (Maine).

State Senator Lois Snowe-Mello of Androscoggin County, State Senator Jonathan Courtney of York County, State Rep. Robert Crosthwaite of Ellsworth, State Rep. Richard Cebra of Naples, State Rep. James Hamper of Oxford, and State Rep. Douglas Thomas of Ripley also addressed those gathered at the State House steps.

LD 1309, "An Act To Provide Equity in Funding for Women's Health Services" had its public hearing by the Health and Human Service Committee following the rally. Senate President Betheda Edmonds sponsored the abortion funding bill.

Legislative Testimony Opposing Abortion Funding Bill

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:59:41 PST

Mike Heath

Testimony on LD 1309, “An Act To Provide Equity in Funding for Women's Health Services”

Chairman Brannigan, Chairwoman Perry, distinguished members of the Health and Human Services Committee, I urge you to report LD 1309 out of committee as - Ought Not to Pass (ONTP).

Reuters reported this week that Roman Catholic Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, denounced abortion as “terrorism with a human face.” The Christian Civic League of Maine agrees with Archbishop Amato in his assessment of abortion.

In the simplest terms: this bill will force Maine taxpayers to directly fund abortion. Most abhor the violence inherent in abortion, and Christians realize that abortion is the killing of unborn children.

Bill would allow state-funded abortions for poor women

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:06:24 PST

AUGUSTA: Both sides in the abortion debate are lobbying legislators on a bill that that would use state funds to pay for abortions for poor women. A public hearing on the bill, sponsored by Senate President Beth Edmonds, is scheduled for Thursday, April 26.

Right-to-life groups, including the Catholic Church, are encouraging people to show up for a rally on the Statehouse steps.

The estimated annual price tag on the proposal is $283,000.

Mike Hein, an administrator for the Christian Civic League of Maine, said for his organization the issue is not the money that could be spent, but the immorality of abortion. “It could be $283 or $2.83 million,” he said. “For us, it really comes down to the sanctity of life.”

Activists ready for abortion bill fight

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:00:14 PST

AUGUSTA - Activists in the abortion debate are gearing up for a fight over whether the state should pay for the procedure for poor women.

A bill sponsored by Senate President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport, would require the state to pay for abortions for women covered by MaineCare, the state's version of Medicaid. The federal-state program for the poor, elderly and disabled now covers abortion only in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is at risk.

"They won't be able to count on all the people who are pro-abortion to vote on this," said Mike Hein, administrator of the Christian Civic League. "They'll have defections on this."