Protect the U.S. Constitution:
Oppose H.B. 667, H.R. 1137, S.R. 673

H.B. 667 Would By-Pass Electoral College; Elect President by National Popular Vote was introduced by Representative Benfield January 9, 2012 to by-pass the Electoral College, which is, ironically, the only function of national government performed outside of D.C. If 34 states pass identical bills, presidential candidates would campaign in densely populated areas only and ignore other locations. Georgia’s 15 members of the Electoral College (2 U.S. senators, 13 U.S. representatives) will become 16 when an additional representative is elected in November.

ACTION – Oppose. Contact the House Governmental Affairs Committee Representatives Hamilton, Ch., 404 656-5132; Purcell, 656-5139; Hatfield, 656-0109; Brockway, 656-0188; Brooks, 656-6372; Floyd, 656-0250; Kidd, 656-0202; Meadows, 656-5141; Morgan, 656-0109; Mosby, 656-0287; Oliver, 656-0265; O’Neal, 656-5052; Powell, J., 656-7856; Powell, A., 656-0202; and Williamson, 656-7859.

Two Con Con Bills introduced in Georgia General Assembly

H.R. 1137 Application to Congress for a Constitutional Convention1 introduced by Representative Welch January 23, 2012 joins other states in asking Congress to convene a Con Con for the purpose of passing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced federal budget. It covers the same subject as applications from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas. If two-thirds of the states apply on the same subject, a con-con would be called by or before January 1, 2020.

ACTION – Oppose. These 58 co-signed H.R.1137. Ask your representative and others to remove their names. Representatives Welch, 404 656-0109; England, 463-2245; Meadows, 656-5141; Lindsey, 656-5024; Josh Clark, 656- 0325; Atwood, 656-0152; Yates, 656-5126; Teasley, 656-0177; Williamson, 656-7859; Dudgeon, 656-0298; Hightower, 656-0152; Jasperse, 656-0188; Coomer, 656-0109; Peake, 656-5025; Shaw, 656-0213; Dutton, 656-0188; Dickey, 656- 0287; Benton, 656-0213; Willard, 656-5125; Brockway, 656-0188; Rogers, 656-0325; Riley, 656-0188; Byrd, 656-0298; Davis, 656-7857; Bryant, 656-0298; Manning, 656-7857; McBrayer, 656-0126; Purcell, 656-5139; Parrish, 463-2247; McKillip, 656-0177; Casas, 656-0254; Dickson, 463-2247; Powell, A., 656-0202; Cooke, 656-0325; Black, 656-0287; Setzler, 656-0177; McCall, 656-5115; Braddock, 656-0177; Rogers 656-5146; Dunahoo, 656-0126; Hembree, 656-6801; Lynn Smith, 656-7149; Battles, 656-0152; Jerguson, 656-0188; Knight, 656-7855; Lane, 656-5087; Harden, 656-0188; Maddox, 656-3947; Wilkerson, 463-8143; Ron Stephens, 656-5115; C. Williams, 656-0254; Weldon, 656-0152; Dollar, 656-0254; Pak, 656-0254; Rynders, 463-2247; Parsons, 656-9198; R. Smith, 656-6831; Collins, 656-7737; and Sheldon, 656-5025.

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Christmas Gift to Shoppers: “Naughty & Nice” List

Retailers’ Choice: Honor Christmas or Censor Christmas

Liberty Counsel, affiliated with Liberty University School of Law, annually publishes a “Naughty and Nice” list of over 50 national retailers who censor or recognize Christmas. The information is gathered by consumers and is updated as new data is received. Liberty’s goal for the list is “to give the gift of Christmas back to those retailers who support it.”

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mathew D. Staver said, “Christmas isn’t a dirty word. No other federal holiday is blacklisted to the extent that Christmas is by some retailers.” Since the list began in 1995, many retailers have reversed course about Christmas. A good example:

Walgreens, November 22, 2011. If you had read the November 22nd Liberty Counsel press release entitled, “CVS and Walgreens Switched Sides on the “Naughty & Nice List,” you might have decided to boycott Walgreens during Christmas. Here‟s the story. For the first time since 2007, CVS Pharmacy has embraced Christmas with a “Christmas Central” portion of its web site. In contrast, Walgreens – on the “Nice” side last year – moved to the “Naughty” side this year, for not recognizing Christmas Day or Christmas Season as Christmas. Until …

Walgreens, November 23, 2011. The day after its previous press release, Liberty Counsel published a follow-up story entitled, “Walgreens Retracts Its Description of Christmas Decorations as “Holiday” Ones.” Then, explained the Walgreens turn-around:

“Just one day after coming under a firestorm for selling “holiday” gifts and providing “holiday” shipping for gifts to arrive by December 25th, Walgreens has worked to regain their “nice” status. …[A] spokesperson for Walgreens states, “During the month of December, there will be greater use of “Christmas” in our store and online. We should use the word “Christmas” to describe … Christmas decorations and gifts … there will be plenty of messages in our store and online that say “Merry Christmas.”"

But there’s more. Liberty Counsel received a report that Christmas music was being played in Indiana Walgreens stores in response to a directive from headquarters. Mr. Staver commented: “I am pleased with Walgreens for joining the growing number of stores that recognize Christmas. We will be monitoring stores and updating our “Naughty and Nice List” to help consumers support stores that support Christmas.”

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NEA and the New World Order

200 years after the declaration of Independence was adopted, NEA made an even more stunning declaration – their endorsement of Dr. Henry Commager’s Declaration of INTERdependence. That announcement was publicly made in 1976 during NEA’s bicentennial program entitled, “A Declaration of Interdependence: Education for a Global Community.”

The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia had commissioned American historian Henry Steele Commager to write the Declaration of INTERdependence, partially, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. The Declaration states, “Two centuries ago our forefathers brought forth a new nation; now we must join with others to bring forth a new world order.” NEA’s endorsement indicates a preference for a new world order that would absorb all nations, including the U.S.A.

NEA affirmed that position when the 7,321 delegates of this year’s NEA conference endorsed President Obama for re-election and the NEA-PAC announced it would spend up to $60 million to give him another term. Off the subject a bit: The NEA union gave its “Friend of Education” award to the 14 Wisconsin Democrat state senators that left Wisconsin for three weeks to block a bill to limit the bargaining rights of state employee unions, including public school teachers.

A Sampling of NEA Resolutions Passed in 2011
Resolution B-24. Supports financial aid, in-state tuition, and U.S. citizenship for illegal aliens.
Resolution I-2. Urges U.S. participation/deliberations before the International Court of Justice.
Resolution I-3. NEA “believes” the U.S. should ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and recognize and support its authority and jurisdiction.

President George Herbert Walker Bush announced his expectation for a “new world order” to arise soon after September 11, 1990, when he said to Congress: “our fifth objective – a new world order – can emerge” after the Persian Gulf war. It didn’t happen openly then, but today, we’re creeping toward a full-fledged new world order, determined to absorb the United States.

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The Great 2014 Turn-Off: U.S. Light Bulbs

“Feds can’t make up minds on mercury bulbs, ban outdoor lights while mandating use indoors. In what critics call a classic case of the government working at cross purposes, Washington is forcing residents across the country to install mercury lighting inside their homes while phasing out mercury lighting outside homes to protect the environment. In 2005, Congress passed a law banning mercury vapor streetlights – two years before it banned incandescent light bulbs in favor of mercury vapor compact florescent bulbs.” – WorldNetDaily, July 22, 2011

The 2007 Energy Act banned the manufacture and sale of Edison light bulbs by 2014. Also in 2007, General Electric announced plans to produce by 2010 an energy-efficient new generation incandescent bulb. Since that never materialized, 100-watt bulbs are scheduled for phase-out in 2012. Unless the 2007 law is repealed or a “new generation” of incandescent bulbs is invented to satisfy environmentalists, manufacture and sale of Edison 75-, 60- and 40-watt bulbs will end by 2014. Their replacement is a made-in-China dimmer fluorescent bulb containing mercury. Breakage is so dangerous HAZMAT has strict clean-up guidelines to reduce health hazards.

H.R. 2417, introduced in Congress July 6th to repeal the 2007 federal incandescent bulb ban, was put on a fast track, had no hearing and was rushed onto the House floor. That violation of procedure triggered a super majority vote rule, resulting in a 233 – 193 party-line defeat July 12th, when ten Republicans voted AGAINST it and only five Democrats voted FOR it.

H.R. 2417 co-sponsor Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) explained why the ban should be repealed: “It’s just another government intrusion in our lives. I think people are just increasingly aggravated that the government is telling us what kind of toilets we have, what kind of light bulbs we have, what kind of health insurance, so I think it is just coming to a boil outside.”

Georgia’s S.B. 61, introduced by Senator Barry Loudermilk, cited the U.S. Constitution Tenth Amendment, Ninth Amendment and Article I, Section 8 as authorization for states to counteract federal law. His bill would authorize the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs within Georgia, but they could not be exported to another state. S.B. 61 passed the Georgia Senate on March 7th and is in the House Science and Technology Committee for action in 2012.

Situation Summary. (a) A new incandescent bulb bill may be introduced any time in Congress. (b) Georgia’s S.B. 61 remains alive for the 2012 session. (c) If a good bulb bill fails to pass by 2014, (d) China’s economy will be enriched, (e) as factories close and jobs vanish in the U.S.

ACTION – Support American-made light bulb legislation. Contact state and federal officials as follows:
1. Federal H.R. 2417. Congressmen by districts: 1. Kingston, 202 225-5831, fax 912 352-0105; 2. Bishop, 202 225-3631, fax 229 436-2099; 3. Westmoreland, 202 225-5901, fax 770 683-2042; 4. Johnson, 202 225-1605, fax 770 987-8721; 5. Lewis, 202 225-3801, fax 404 331-0947; 6. Price, 202 225-4501, fax 770 565-7570; 7. Woodall, 202 225-4272, fax 770 232-2909; 8. Marshall, 202 225-6531, 478 464-0277; 9. Graves, 202 225-5211, fax 770 335-2765; 10. Broun, 202 225-4101, fax 706 868-8756; 11. Gingrey, 202 225-2931, fax 678 721-7995; 12. Barrow, 202 225-2823, fax 706 722-4496; 13. Scott, 202 225-2939, fax 770 210-5673 (Georgia fax numbers)
2. Georgia Legislation S.B. 61. Contact Science and Technology Committee Representatives Amerson, Ch., 404 657-8443; Battles, V-Ch., 404 656-0152; Byrd, Sec., 404 656-0298; Dudgeon, 404 656-0298; Kidd, 404 656-0202; C. Martin, 404 656-5064; Reece-Massey, 404 656-7859; Oliver, 404 656-0265; S. Scott, 404 656-0314; and Watson, 404 656-0109.

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Looming: Civil Rights Status
for Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

H.B. 630 gives civil rights protection to pedophiles, peeping toms, cross-dressers, flashers and those practicing bestiality or necrophilia (sex with corpse). The American Psychiatric Association (APA) lists these and other acts as deviant and abnormal sexual behaviors. They are chargeable offenses under Georgia law, as well.

H.B. 630 Requires Workforce “Balance”
Based on Sexual Orientation & Gender ID

The American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders categorizes many sexual orientations and variant gender identities as deviant and abnormal behaviors. Although homosexuality was dropped from the list in 1974, after activists stormed an APA conference, it will be among almost two dozen sexual orientations and other gender identities that would be elevated to civil rights status in Georgia, if H.B. 630 passes.

Since H.B. 630 proposes a drastic shift in public policy, results of its passage must be carefully examined. Discussions of H.B. 630 must include the following highly relevant facts: (a) Sex and gender are not synonymous terms. (b) Sexual orientation and gender identity fail the three-pronged test used to determine civil rights status. (c) Sexual identity is a biological fact evidenced by the perineum. (d) Gender identity is self-determined and self-assumed.

Representative Karla Drenner introduced H.B. 630 with only three days left in the session, so it would be carried into the 2012 session. Her strategy was to recruit as many co-sponsors as she could before introducing it March 31st with 70 co-sponsors – 58 Democrats and 12 Republicans, who must be unaware of the transformation such a law would enforce on society.

H.B. 630 would classify “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as civil rights, without defining the terms. So, two broad undefined behavioral groups would get civil rights status and special protection. Affirmative action would give them preference in public employment and offenders could not be charged for actions they could blame on sexual orientation or gender ID.

H.B. 630 would require the state, its counties and municipalities to give employees claiming variant sexual orientations and/or gender identities, all the benefits and special provisions of federal laws concerning civil rights, equal employment, age discrimination, and rehabilitation

Ultimately or immediately, the state, municipalities and counties would be required to hire, fire, train, compensate and promote using affirmative action to achieve workforce “balance” based on variant sexual behaviors and gender identities. Staff in public daycare and public schools – teachers, counselors, substitutes, aides, principals, superintendents, custodians, security guards, cafeteria work – would be “balanced,” according to sexual orientation and gender identity.

ACTION – Ask the following 12 Republican to remove their names as co-sponsors of H.B. 630. Below are their names, towns, capitol phones, local phones and fax numbers if available. 58 Democrats may be contacted later.

Ellis Black, Valdosta, 404 656-0287, 229 251-0303; Sharon Cooper, Marietta, 404 656-5069, 770 951-2841, fax 770 956-9693; Harry Geisinger, Roswell, 404 656-0254, 678 777-6010, fax 770 594-1510; Gerald Greene, Cuthbert, 404 656-0202, 229 732-2750; Ben Harbin, Evans, 404 656-3949, 706 869-1953, fax 706 863-8959; Mike Jacobs, Atlanta, 404 656-0152, 404 441-0583; Alan Powell, Hartwell, 404 656-0202, 706 376-4422; Kip Smith, Columbus, 404 656-0213, 706 315-8532; Richard Smith, Columbus, 404 656-6831, 706 442-3480; Ron Stephens, Savannah, 404 656-5099, 912 966-5665, fax 912 964-9699; Wendell Willard, Sandy Springs, 404 656-5125, 770 481-7100, fax 770 481-7111;
Roger Williams, Dalton, 404 656-3904; 706 278-0390

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