Assisted Suicide, Illegal Aliens & Charter Schools

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, March 2, 2012
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. 30 years ago Dr. Jack Kevorkian wanted to know why we can’t help people commit suicide, since we help them while they’re being born. After raising that question, he took his old rusty Volkswagen van in 1990 and his self-injection machine and crisscrossed Michigan helping folks kill themselves with a lethal drug. Soon he was known as Dr. Death and not much later was convicted of second-degree murder and sent to prison for eight years.

Georgia’s law against assisted suicide passed in 1994 and went unchallenged until the Final Exit Network asked the court to rule it unconstitutional, claiming it violated their right to freely advertise their Final Exit services. The Georgia Supreme Court recently ruled in their favor and Georgia’s law against assisted suicide was nullified.

But, on February 22nd, Representative Ed Setzler introduced H.B. 1114 to make assisted suicide a felony, punishable by one to ten years in prison and loss of license to practice. That would, certainly, restrict assisted suicide. The Non Civil Judiciary Committee passed it by substitute and it’s now in the House Rules Committee, chaired by Representative John Meadows. Please call him at404 656-5141 and ask him to put it on the House calendar, immediately. To pass this session, it needs to be voted on by the end of cross-over day, which is Wednesday, March 7th.

S.B. 458 was introduced by Senator Barry Loudermilk February 17th to clarify state laws aimed at illegal immigration and streamline the proof of eligibility process for accessing public benefits. It would increase national and state security regarding the acceptance of foreign passports and keep our public funded college and tech school classroom seats for U.S. citizens and those who enter this country the right way.

S.B. 458 it poised to pass in the Senate. It has progressed through the Senate Judiciary Committee, through the Senate Rules Committee and the full Senate will vote on it Monday, March 5th. Since it’s on the second page of Monday’s calendar, please call your senator before noon on Monday and ask him to vote YES on S.B. 458.

Incidentally, H.R. 1162, the charter school bill passed the House 123 to 48 on February 22nd. If it passes the Senate, a question will be on the November ballot for voters to decide whether the Constitution should be changed to give more power to the state by decreasing the authority of locally elected school boards. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.

Two Great Bills: S.R. 926 & S.B. 459

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 24, 2012
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. February 17th became a great day, when Georgia senators introduced two exceptionally good bills – S.R. 926, a proposed constitutional amendment concerning foreign law and S.B. 459 to correct an injustice utility companies are forcing on consumers.

Josh McKoon, freshman senator from Columbus, introduced S.R. 926 to add a new Section V to the state constitution to prohibit the use of foreign laws that fail to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Georgia.

S.R. 926 prohibits prejudicial treatment of women and violence against women and children; protects the individual right to leave, change, or renounce a religion or belief; protects freedom of speech and the right to assemble. It prohibits plural marriage, forced marriage, underage marriage or contracts for sexual services. It outlaws punishments such as amputation, lashing, flogging, stoning, branding, body piercing, female genital mutilation or human sacrifice.

This is an extremely important bill, since some U.S. courts (including Supreme) consult with foreign laws to shape decisions for this country. S.R. 926 is in the Senate Judiciary committee that must hear it within the next few days to position it for passage this session. Senator Hamrick plans to hear it in committee next week. Please call his committee as follows:

ACTION on S.R. 926 – Support. Contact Judiciary Senators Hamrick, Ch., 404 656-0036; Cowsert, 463-1383; Crosby, 463-5258; Bethel, 656-6436; McKoon, 463-3931; Stone, 463-1314; Ligon, 656-0045; Fort, 656-5091; Ramsey, 463-2598; and Carter, 463-1376.

Another great bill is Senator David Shafer’s S.B. 459, authorizing the Public Service Commission to allow consumers to “elect not to use smart meters” that are provided by electric light and power companies owned by investors. It, also, authorizes utilities to apply a surcharge for reading bills of those who refuse smart meters, but sets no limit on the additional amount.

S.B. 459 was tabled in Senator Shafer’s Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee February 23rd after Senator Carter proposed a solar panel amendment. The bill will be in the committee for further discussion Monday, February 27th. There are at several possibilities: The committee (a) could vote FOR both issues or (b) the solar amendment could be rejected and the opt-out language retained (c) or vice versa or (d) the entire bill could be defeated. Originally, S.B. 459, simply, authorized PSC to offer opt-outs for smart meter use. We need that part to pass.

ACTION on S.B. 459 – Ask the following to, especially, vote YES on the opt-out language and pass it out of committee. Call Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee Senators Shafer, Ch., 404 656-0048; Unterman, 463-1368; Harbison, 656-0074; Ginn, 656-4700; Carter, 656-5109; Jeffares, 656-0503; Jack Hill, l656-5038; Hooks, 656-0065; Butler, 656-0075; and Henson, 656-0085.

For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.

Civil Rights Status for Sexual Orientation & Gender-Benders

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 17, 2012
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. H.B. 630 would require affirmative action in government jobs for almost two dozen sexual orientations and gender identities listed in the American Psychiatric Association and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and legalize many sex acts that have always been crimes in Georgia and throughout the country.

Unfortunately, most people have been conditioned to think the word “gender” is just another word for “sex,” but it’s not. Sexual identity is a biological fact that divides males and females by physical characteristics and reproductive functions. Gender identity is a self-determined rejection of natural sexual identity and assumption of opposite-sex actions and appearance, sometimes permanently, sometimes spasmodically.

“Gender-bender” is the word Webster’s New World College Dictionary uses for someone who assumes the appearance and demeanor of the opposite sex, such as transvestites and transsexuals. In states whose laws accommodate gender identity, anyone claiming transgender status may use any public rest room or other public facility anywhere, including churches and religious establishments, unless local law allows religious exemptions.

H.B. 630 classifies “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as civil rights, without defining the terms. So, two broad undefined behavioral groups, that include Peeping Toms, flashers and those practicing pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia, etc., would get civil rights status and special protection from prosecution for sex crimes, simply, by claiming civil rights status.

H.B. 630 affects at least nine government employment laws in Georgia. The state, its agencies, municipalities and counties would have to hire, fire, train, compensate and promote using affirmative action for workforce “balance” based on aberrant sexual behavior for jobs in such sensitive facilities as public daycare, public schools, group homes, orphanages, foster care and juvenile detention.

H.B. 630 is a dangerous bill that must be defeated. It’s on the agenda for Representative Roger Lane’s Judiciary Subcommittee at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, in room 132 State Capitol. Before then, ask the following committee members to vote NO on H.B. 630.

Representative Lane, Ch. 404 656-5087
Representative Allison 656-0188
Representative Crawford 656-0265
Representative Hatfield 656-0109
Representative Maddox 656-0152
Representative McKillip 656-0177
Representative Nix 656-0177
Representative Oliver 656-0265
Representative Stephenson 656-0126

Food Stamps and Mattresses

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 10, 2012
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. Freshman Senator Ligon from South Georgia District 3 introduced S.B. 312 to require recipients of food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to participate in personal growth activities. Current law already requires them to attend counseling on abstinence until marriage.

If those receiving food-stamps and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) don’t have a full-time job and don’t have a high school diploma, they could choose from a list of government-recommended ways to improve themselves and work toward self-sufficiency. They could go back to school and get a general educational diploma or they could go to technical school or self-development classes or enroll in adult literacy classes.

If S.B. 312 becomes law, the Department of Health & Human Services would make the rules and regulate implementation. Please call Health and Human Services Chairman Unterman at 404 463-1368 and ask her to pass S.B. 312 out of her committee.

Twin bills were introduced January 23rd to protect consumers who buy articles of bedding, which is defined as any mattress, mattress pad, mattress protector, upholstered spring, comforter, quilted pad, quilt, cushion, or pillow that’s partly or entirely stuffed or filled with concealed material.

If either of these bills passes, manufacturers, renovators and reupholsterers that make, reupholster, or renovate articles of bedding would be required to obtain a numbered certificate of registration from the Department of Agriculture. That certificate would cost manufacturers an annual fee of $1,000 and renovators and reupholsterers would annually pay $250.

Manufacturers of new bedding items, reupholsterers and renovators of used bedding must appropriately tag the product with “Made of New Material” or “Made of Previously Used Material” or “Secondhand.” However, there’s an interesting exception to these requirements. Such standards and annual fees do not apply to bedding made by inmates for use by prisoners, detainees, or other government purposes.

These bills authorize Department of Agriculture inspectors to open a seam, if necessary, to determine whether the tag is accurate and penalize violators as much as a year in prison and $10,000.

You need to call two legislators on these bills. Call Senator Bulloch at 404 656-0040 and ask him to pass S.B. 314 out of his committee. Then, call Representative McCall at 404 656-5114 and ask him to pass H.B. 678 out of his committee. Sanitary bedding sounds good to me. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.