Will Ohio Voters Learn the Pennsylvania Lesson?

With Issue 3 on the November 3 ballot, Ohio voters will get to vote — for the fifth time — on whether they want Las Vegas-style casinos to invade their state. They should consider themselves lucky. We in Pennsylvania never got to vote on this issue.

In Pennsylvania, the decision to permit casino gambling was decided for the people, not by the people.

Now, Pennsylvania is on a fast track to legalize table games (blackjack, craps, and roulette) at its slot-machine casinos. The one-sided legislative hearings were more like the presentation of a wish list as lawmakers dutifully asked casino executives what tax rate and license fee they would like to be charged. Casino opponents were frequently denied a spot on the agenda.

As in 2004, lawmakers offered amendments on the floor of the state House of Representatives to require a vote of the people before gambling could be expanded. Those attempts failed. Why? Thanks to the power and influence (read: spending) of the casino lobby, a deal had already been struck, and nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the deal.

Quite simply, Ohio voters will have an opportunity that has been denied to Pennsylvanians. Just last year, the people of Ohio rejected casino gambling by a two-to-one margin. With their “no” vote in November, Ohioans can again send the cash-rich casino lobby packing and looking for another state to exploit.

Ohio won’t likely get the promised payoff because it won’t draw many people from neighboring states. Why? Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan and Indiana already have casinos, and if Ohio legalizes them you can expect the Kentucky domino to fall shortly thereafter. As a result, Ohio will be simply luring its own citizens in as victims, not attracting money from out of state. Just look at the new Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh: Even with the potential of attracting nearby Ohioans, Rivers is performing at just 50 percent of projected revenues.

Pennsylvania’s casino law has failed to deliver on its soaring promises. Gambling’s first five years in Pennsylvania have been an embarrassment for residents and state officials. Instead of providing significant property tax relief — the carrot dangled before legislators and the public — it instead created a pattern of questionable actions by its overseers. The flaws in the legislation were pointed out before its hasty passage but were ignored, leaving taxpayers, local community officials and some legislators, with what amounts to big-time “buyer’s remorse.”

In Pennsylvania, all that’s left to seal the deal this time around for table games is for a small group of legislators and the governor to decide on a license fee and tax rate that the casinos “could live with.”

I hope they don’t let that happen in Ohio. On November 3, Ohio voters would be wise to get out and vote “No” on Issue 3.  I and thousands of Pennsylvanians wish we had that chance.

White Ribbons Against Pornography

White Ribbon Week raises awareness about harm of pornography on families, society. It started as one woman’s public campaign more than two decades ago in Butler, PA.  Download and print Church bulletin inserts or  Read more.

 

 

Do You Know Who You’re Voting For on November 3?

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2009

Download the Judicial Voters’ Guide!

Why should I care?

Voters will be choosing the judges on your own county’s Court of Common Pleas — who decide cases every day that affect local families and businesses. Their decisions often impact families more than legislative votes.

Perhaps even more critical is the selection of a new Justice on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and new judges for the other statewide courts, the Superior and Commonwealth courts. It is Supreme Court justices in states like Iowa and Massachusetts that have ordered legalization of same-sex marriage. Who sits on our courts is of critical importance.

It’s not a presidential election, so what’s the point?

Just as it is essential to care about the individuals that serve as your President or Governor or state legislator, those that we elect to the Pennsylvania courts also fulfill an important role within the checks and balances of state government.

With their ability to strike down laws and order government officials to take certain actions, judges can have tremendous influence on how government operates and how it impacts your life.

Judges are supposed to base their actions on legitimate sources of authority, such as the state constitution or the language of a law. Unfortunately, some judges put their personal or political agendas ahead of the law when they decide to act as legislators. They take it upon themselves to fix “problems” that they believe the legislature has ignored or has mishandled. This practice is called “legislating from the bench” or “judicial activism.”

Marriage – Will it remain as one man, one woman in Pennsylvania? It may end up being decided by even one justice on our court!

Did you know that same-sex marriage has been decided by narrow margins of activist courts in other states? Beginning with Massachusetts in 2004, but later in states like New Jersey, California and Iowa: High courts issued orders to those state legislatures, throwing out existing marriage laws and ignoring the will of the people in those states. It could happen here!

The Courts, Redistricting, and Legislative Elections

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has jurisdiction over appeals involving legislative redistricting. Redistricting is done the year following the federal census every 10 years, due next in 2010. The drawing of legislative districts can impact the make up of the General Assembly as the drawing of district lines impacts the competitiveness of districts. Many legislative districts are seen as “safe” for a particular political party because of the make-up of the voters within the district. The end result: it could mean less of a choice in who represents you!

Download the Judicial Voters’ Guide!

New Report Shows How Estate Tax Repeal Will Increase Jobs, Grow the Economy, and Boost Government Revenue

Attention: Lawmakers
Do you really want to help families and family businesses?
Pennsylvania Family Institute joins the Family Research Council and the American Family Business Foundation in releasing a new report today analyzing the effects of the estate tax (“death tax”) on jobs, government revenues, and economic growth.

* Pennsylvania could create 64,442 jobs if the Death Tax were repealed!

*But…An increase in the Death Tax rates to 55% with only a $1 million exemption, would cost Pennsylvania 21,481 jobs!

*Download the full 22-page report at www.pafamily.org.

Humble beginnings, Hopeful future

Today, the day after Labor Day, marks the exact 20th anniversary of the day Pennsylvania Family Institute opened its doors for business. It was two decades ago that I walked into our first office on opening day – 12 by 12 room a few blocks from the Capitol – and sat down to begin our pro-family work.

Over those twenty years we’ve grown a lot in size and influence. We’ve seen many ups, and a few downs, and an unrelenting aggressiveness by our ideological opponents — those who promote abortion, want to redefine marriage and the family, and diminish the influence of faith and traditional values in society.

That’s why I’m confident that Pennsylvania Family Institute was created for such a time as this – to stand for the founding principles of our nation, and for the sanctity of life and marriage, in a time and place when it’s desperately needed.

Today, we’ve grown to become one of the top Family Policy Councils in the nation, and that’s thanks to you – the people who support and pray for our work. And it’s thanks to our Board of Directors and staff, who have kept us on the “straight and narrow,” working with integrity, and focusing on the issues and trends that are core to our mission and for which our donors provide support. And it’s thanks to God, to whom we owe our very lives and sustenance.

Thank you to our past supporters, and for what I hope will be your continued generous partnership with Pennsylvania Family Institute in the coming days and years. Your tax-deductible contributions are welcomed and appreciated as we embark on our third decade of service to Pennsylvania families.

Happy Anniversary!

Gambling and Smoking and More Gambling

Well, Gov. Rendell must be happy. Two of his favorite tax targets – gamblin’ and smokin’ – are on the rise in the Christmas City.

One addiction feeds another. Addiction experts know that. And we who fight gambling expansion have warned about that. But today’s “news” is that smokers gamble more, so the Sands Casino will take advantage of that! Bethlehem’s Sands casino will be maxing out their smoking area to the state max of 50% of floor space.

So much for last year’s public smoking debates and this year’s budget woes for social services funding. The House (Casino) never loses.

If the post office ran healthcare…

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Pennsylvania Family Institute. We are currently preparing a special commemorative issue of our Pennsylvania Families Magazine. You don’t want to miss this issue!

As we consider including advertisements in this issue to cover our costs, we checked with the US Postal Service to find out if there were any restrictions in regards to sending the magazine at the non-profit standard mail rate. Wow. There are restrictions. And they make no sense, not even to the postal employees.

We cannot feature advertisements for “financial instruments, travel arrangements, or insurance.” Financial instruments include credit cards, which means we can’t even include the names of the credit cards on our donation form (where you check off Visa, Mastercard or Discover). We could place an ad from an insurance agent, but it would have to be his individual name and not include the name of the company he represents.

When we asked the post office why they had such specific, and odd, restrictions, they said to ask Congress. There is either someone they’re punishing, or someone who’s profiting from these regulations.

Just think if the government ran our healthcare:

“Yes sir, you can have one tonsil removed, but not two within three years, unless you’re between the ages of 6-12 and you live in the Midwest.” Why the Midwest? Well, that includes Chicago, and that’s where the President’s family lives.

Oh boy…I can’t wait.

Family Newswatch

What we’re reading:

Florida Quarterback Leaves Reporters Speechless: “Yes I am” Saving Myself for Marriage John Jalsevac, LifeSiteNews (30 July, 2009) -Being a big participant in the atheltic world myself, I have to say, Quarterback Tebow (a nominee for the Heisman Trophy) has made quite a statement.  Not many athletes, Christians included, are willing to be so boldfaced.  As news reporters surrounded him at the podium with questions and cameras, one reporter asked whether or not Tebow was ’saving himself’ for marriage.  And without hesitation, Tebow answered yes.  Then after experiencing the first moment of silence in a crowded room, Tebow said, “I think y’all were stunned by that.  Y’all can’t even ask a question. Wow. I mean, I was ready for that question. I don’t think y’all were.”

Obama’s Science Czar: Babies Aren’t Humans Until They’ve Been Socialized FRC Blog via RightWingNews (29 July, 2009) -”A large part of the horror of abortion lies in the monstrous presumption of liberals declaring that human life begins not at conception, but whenever they say it does. Maybe that’s six weeks, maybe six months. Maybe it’s years. Obama’s Science Czar John Holdren (the guy who wanted to put a sterilizing agent in our drinking water) gives us an idea of how slippery this slope can get. From his book Human Ecology: Problems and Solutions, via Patterico’s Pontifications:

The fetus, given the opportunity to develop properly before birth, and given the essential early socializing experiences and sufficient nourishing food during the crucial early years after birth, will ultimately develop into a human being.“

Family Newswatch

What we’re reading:

A Sacred Institution Government Must Protect Jim Daly, Washingtown Post (29 July, 2009) -”Focus on the Family President and CEO Jim Daly has joined the roster of global religious leaders who contribute to “On Faith,” a blog published jointly by The Washington Post and Newsweek.”  To start off, he defends the “sacred institution” of marriage.  He notes that the government is wrong in considering the union of two same-sex individuals as “sacred.”  However, what is even more interesting is to read the comments that other bloggers said in opposition to Daly’s statement, revealing how blind many people have become in even the simple concept of recognizing what is sacred.

Gay Activists Bankroll Opposition to Pro-Marriage State Senator Kim Trobee (29 July, 2009) -Gay activists are pushing their same-sex ‘marriage’ morals on Pennsylvania not by the voice of the people, but by money.  They are collecting money from Colorado and California to shut down the voices of senators and citizens that believe marriage to be between a man and a woman.  As Michael Geer, the President of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, said “They’re spending lots of money to not only promote that idea in the state, but to specifically go after Senator Eichelberger and anyone else who supports keeping marriage one man and one woman.”  Therefore, show your support for defining marriage between one man and one woman to your senators and in your community to keep encouraging people to do what is right.

No House Vote on Health-Care Until August Recess Kathleen Gilbert, LifeSiteNews (29, July 2009) -With the high costs of a public health-care system and the underlying push for legalizing abortion, the health-care plan is on hold.  This hold only opens the door for more opportunity to let our congressmen know where to stand on health-care with the abortion strings attached.  We need to stree the immorality of taxpayer funded abortions and the religious liberties that are lost if the current health-care plan passes.

Why moral conservatism is indispensable to liberty

“For many, the Judeo-Christian moral system is considered to be at best a relic of the past, and certainly as an outmoded set of rules and structures which are an attack on personal freedom.”  Dunkin continues by noting that the Judeo-Christian moral system is no longer viewed as necessary because more and more people believe that man is inherently good.  However, if this were the case that would mean that it is the government that causes man to sin.  As Dunkin says, “Man does not need government to incline him towards harming other people. Indeed, man needs government to STOP him from doing so.”

With this new motion that humans are inherently good, our nation has lost its ‘moral compass.’  People do not self-govern their actions according to a moral Truth, rather now they govern themselves according to the “if it feels good, do it” philosophy.

This poses a big problem for the type of government that Americans expect to remain.  For it was one of the founding fathers, John Adams, who said:

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.

 

So should we expect a government aimed to give liberty, if our country plans to disown its Judeo-Christian roots?  No, because as Dunkin says, “Lose morality, and you will sooner or later lose liberty.”

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