UNDER THE DOME
National Legislation
Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121.
Judge Samuel Alito's confirmation
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the nomination out of the committee by a vote of 10 – 8; all Republicans voted for him, and all Democrats voted against him. The full Senate floor debate began this week, with a final vote for confirmation scheduled for Tuesday, January 31. Sens. Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, both Democrats from Massachusetts, are calling for a filibuster of the vote. As of now, it appears unlikely that they will have the forty votes needed for the filibuster. If you have not yet contacted our Kansas Senators, please do so immediately, and urge them to support Judge Alito. Also, please consider contacting the minority leader, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada), and ask him to discourage the members of his party from participating in the filibuster. Judge Alito is rated well qualified by the American Bar Association, the highest rating that they have. For a “tongue in cheek” article on the current attempt to filibuster, read Jan LaRue’s latest posting on CWA’s Web site.
Broadcast Indecency Legislation
The Senate Commerce Committee is still stalling the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, H.R. 310 sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton (R-Michigan) and S. 193 sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), as well as the cable choice legislation that CWA supports. Lanier Swann, CWA's Director of Government Relations, provided written testimony for the hearings which were held last week. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chair of the committee is still not moving the legislation forward. Referring to recent poling data on what American viewers want to have done, she said, “It is clear what they want: cable choice, stricter enforcement and higher fines, but Sen. Stevens continues to close his ears to the concerns of parents and consumers.” Once again, we are asking you to contact Sen. Stevens. He apparently is not yet convinced that enough Americans care.
2006 March for Life
LifeSite.net reports that at least 100,000 pro-lifers gathered in Washington, D.C. to show their support for the sanctity of all human life. Many of the marchers were young people who weren’t even born when the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion. Euthanasia issues have gained more notoriety because of the publicity surrounding Terri Schiavo’s death last year. Many women who have had abortions participated as members of the “Silent No More” campaign.
The message from President George W. Bush encouraged the marchers to keep fighting for life. He said, "We're vigorously promoting parental notification laws, adoption, teen abstinence, crisis pregnancy programs and the vital work of our faith-based groups.” The President called the rally from Manhattan, Kansas, on Monday just before he gave his speech to the audience gathered on the Kansas State University campus.
Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, commented on this year’s March for Life and referred to Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) as one of the pro-life movement’s best friends. He said, “[Sen. Brownback] is not one who can simply be counted on to vote with us when the pro-life battles come. Rather, he goes forward pro-actively to seek the battles and to work to advance the cause. He does not simply wait ‘for the right time;’ rather, he knows that the time is always right for justice.”
Concerned Women for America of Kansas
P. O. Box 11233
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207
Phone/Fax: 913-491-1380
Email: director@kansas.cwfa.org
Web site: kansas.cwfa.org
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