I’m on my way to California today. Tonight, I’ll be in Palm Desert speaking to a group at the Desert Springs Church. Tomorrow, I’ll be addressing a wonderful gathering of pro-life supporters at a pregnancy resource clinic banquet in Newport Beach. These are true stalwarts. One of their clinics (in Long Beach) is literally situated between two abortion providers. In this year alone the facility has saved 191 babies!
On a related note, results from last night’s mid-term elections are continuing to roll in. By almost any measure, it was an historic and encouraging night for those of us committed to a pro-life, pro-family and pro-marriage worldview. For a complete analysis, I would encourage you to visit Citizenlink.com.
But just a few thoughts based upon what we know about the election results thus far:
Last night’s outcome is good for state marriage efforts and the hope of passing a federal ban on taxpayer funding of abortion.
· We were thrilled to learn that more than 50 pro-abortion House incumbents were replaced with an equal number of pro-life representatives – giving a no-taxpayer-funding-for-abortion bill even more support in the House. In fact, just today, at a luncheon in Washington, D.C., an aide to one of the leading pro-life representatives in the House of Representatives said, “The biggest thing we will do, we will end the taxpayer funding of abortion.” These new members will also help protect pro-life annual amendments that restrict abortion funding and destructive embryo research, plus prevent a vote on legalizing human cloning.
· Incidentally, nine new pro-life House members are medical doctors.
On the state level:
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In Iowa, 3 state Supreme Court justices who previously ruled against traditional marriage were not retained, the first time a justice was not retained in Iowa since the retention process was started in 1962.
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There was also significant changes in several state legislatures. The chances of passing state marriage amendments are now stronger in Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
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In New Hampshire, conservative candidates have helped to flip both the House and Senate with a veto-proof majority. This is significant for marriage as it could signal a repeal of that state’s same-sex marriage law. Governor John Lynch won re-election despite the fact that he initially pledged to veto same-sex marriage legislation, only to later sign it into law. A veto-proof majority could get around a Governor Lynch veto of legislation to reverse the law.
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Pro-marijuana initiatives in California, South Dakota and Arizona all lost.
Hale and hearty thanks and congratulations to all of you who helped bring about such positive outcomes! My own long-time colleagues at CitizenLink, led by Tom Minnery, Carrie Gordon Earll, Stuart Shepard and Sonja Swiatkiewicz have once again made an outstanding effort this election year. I am proud of these principled and godly individuals. They are not driven by partisan politics but instead by their robust Christian convictions and a commitment to help protect children and defend the sanctity of life.
Please join me in regularly praying for all of our elected representatives. Regardless of party or position, they have assumed heady and significant responsibilities. May the Lord grant them courage and strength to do what is right in the days, weeks, months and years to come.
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