And why is it important to preserve it when it comes to legislation in the U.S. Senate?
CWA Filibuster FactSheet
Click here for a .PDF download.
Stop the Dangerous H.R. 1, For the People Act
At a time when the country is in desperate need of confidence in our elections, this bill will completely shatter American’s confidence. The bill oversteps constitutional limits by seeking to curtail the states’ rights in an attempt to nationalize election procedures and permanently alter the power balance to favor one political party. These are some of the most grievous provisions included in H.R. 1:
- It makes pandemic-related emergency changes to election procedures permanent.
The threat presented by COVID-19 in the last election gave way to a barrage of “accommodations,” like expanding mail-in voting or extending deadlines beyond what state law required, which gave way to irregularities that undermined public confidence in the election. H.R. 1 wants to force states to make these changes permanently. For example:- It requires states to implement an automatic registration system to register any eligible unregistered citizen, while at the same time shielding them from prosecution if ineligible voters are mistakenly registered.
- It mandates no-excuse absentee voting, while prohibiting the requiring of a voter I.D.
- Its ultimate end is to nationalize our election system.
- It mandates that states provide ballot drop boxes 45 days before a federal election.
- It requires states to establish an independent redistricting commission, in strict violation of federalism principles.
- It establishes a new federal “Election Security Grants Advisory Committee,” to award grants to states that meet federal preferences.
- It seeks to aggravate our national divide in order to punish political opponents, in direct violation of our First Amendment protections.
- Imposes new requirements on any group that merely seeks to speak about federal policy, incentivizing disengagement.
- It seeks to force citizens who contribute to nonprofit organizations into a searchable government database, facilitating the harassment and intimidation of private citizens by making their personal information available to the public.
- It makes permanent the politicization of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that we have experienced in the past under malicious officials like Lois Lerner.
- It permits the IRS to investigate and consider the political and policy persuasions of any organization and its members before granting tax-exempt status.
- As if our national debt was not a crisis already, it seeks to inject more federal money into funding political campaigns.
- R. 1 actually creates a 6 to 1 government match to any small donor contributions of $200 or less in a congressional or presidential campaign.
- It also establishes a new voucher pilot program that grants eligible voters a $25 voucher to donate to any campaign of their choosing.
- It further seeks to blatantly politicize the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
- It changes the FEC from a bipartisan, six-member agency to a partisan, five-member agency under the control of whoever is president, opening it up to political manipulations by a simple majority.
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Part IV is scheduled for release on May 20 at 3PM on Facebook Live. Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you can be notified to join us live!
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The U.S. Constitution Series – Part II
The U.S. Constitution Series – Part I
Part III is scheduled for release on May 6 at 3PM on Facebook Live. Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you can be notified to join us live! And let others know about it.
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The U.S. Constitution – Part 3
The U.S. Constitution Series – Part I
“Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention … I should tremble for the result of a second.” “the most violent partisans,” and “individuals of insidious views” would strive to be delegates and would have “a dangerous opportunity of sapping the very foundations of the fabric” of our Country. James Madison’s letter to G.L. Turberville, 1788
HJR5001 is a bad bill that would put our U.S. Constitution in jeopardy by opening it up for amendments (changes) such as the repeal of the Second Amendment or abolishing the Electoral College. It could even re-energize the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) of the 1970s that would solidify taxpayer-funded abortion in the Constitution. There are some whose aim is to rewrite our Constitution.
We are pleased to report that HJR5001 was defeated in the full House February 12, with a vote of 32-37. You can check the votes here. We wanted a NO vote.
If your representatives voted No, please thank them. If they voted Yes, you may respectfully express your disappointment.
Please read our brochure “The U.S. Constitution is Not the Problem!” to understand this topic.
Talking points:
- It is too risky to open our Constitution. Too much national division, radical interest groups.
- Limit power of the Federal Government, Fiscal restraint — All the goals the Constitutional Convention is trying to achieve are already listed in our Constitution. It just needs to be obeyed.
- Too much uncertainty as to how a Constitutional Convention would be conducted.
- Delegates to a Constitutional Convention could set their own rules with a new ratification mode.
- Who selects the delegates? Would California get more than South Dakota? Unknown.
- Ideas already suggested for Constitutional Convention consideration: abolish Electoral College, Repeal of Second Amendment, weakening of First Amendment, Equal Rights Amendment, a new constitution.
Contact Information
Click here to view the list of legislators and click on their e-mail address.
Click here if you do not know who your legislators are; or you may call your county auditor to find out their name.
Linda Schauer
State Director
By all accounts, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) should be dead. The 1979 ratification deadline passed 40-years ago three states short of ratification. Concerned Women for America was on the front lines with opponents who stopped this constitutional amendment to prohibit sex distinctions in law that ultimately would “ERAse” women. But that has not stopped modern attempts to resurrect it.
Three states passed the ERA in recent years to argue that passage by three-fourths of states (38) has now been reached. Virginia claimed its place as the 38th state this year. The U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion in January that the ERA has expired by every legal measure. This bars any action by the National Archives to certify new states because the ratification has expired.
Nevertheless, proponents in Congress are seeking to pass legislation to remove the deadline believing they have the authority to airdrop the ERA into the Constitution. Their motivation is clear: the ERA would become a new constitutional right guaranteeing abortion on demand. For abortion advocates, the ERA is now about achieving Every Right to Abortion.
State-level ERAs have been used to require taxpayer-funded abortion
- In 1998, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the state ERA required the state to fund abortions since procedures sought by men, like prostate surgery, are funded. A lawsuit in Connecticut used similar arguments and achieved the same objective: full taxpayer-funded abortion.
- In 2019 Planned Parenthood and Women’s Law Center filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania arguing that Pennsylvania’s ERA means abortion must be included in medical coverage for women because men aren’t denied coverage for anything.
Abortion groups are actively campaigning to pass the ERA
- Proponents of the ERA today say ratification would enable courts to rule that any restrictions on abortion would “perpetuate gender inequality.” NARAL Pro-Choice America claims: “With its ratification, the ERA would reinforce the constitutional right to abortion…”
- In a 2019 letter to the House Judiciary Committee, the ACLU stated: “The Equal Rights Amendment could provide an addition [sic] layer of protection against restrictions on abortion, contraception, and other forms of reproductive healthcare.”
- The pro-ERA website, EqualRightsAmendment.org, explicitly states that ratifying the ERA into the U.S. Constitution would “provide a strong legal defense against a rollback of women’s rights (including but not limited to: Roe v. Wade…).”
Attempts to resurrect the ERA must be defeated
- ERA proponents see a new opportunity in a modern age to resurrect the ERA. Their efforts must be stopped. Any legislation seeking to amend the Constitution with an ERA must be defeated. Any legislator on the side of protecting life must oppose the ERA.
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Click here for a printable PDF version.
“Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention … I should tremble for the result of a second.” “the most violent partisans,” and “individuals of insidious views” would strive to be delegates and would have “a dangerous opportunity of sapping the very foundations of the fabric” of our Country. James Madison’s letter to G.L. Turberville, 1788
House Joint Resolution 5001 (HJR) is a bad resolution that would put our U.S. Constitution in jeopardy by opening it up for amendments (changes) such as repeal of the Second Amendment or abolishing the Electoral College. It could even re-energize the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) of the 1970s that would solidify tax-payer funded abortion in the Constitution. These ideas are currently being discussed as in the state of Virginia where the ERA has passed. Now Virginia lawmakers are working to gut the Second Amendment.
HJR5001will be heard in the House State Affairs committee the morning of Friday, February 7. Click here to view the members of that committee. If one of your state representatives is a member of that committee, we are targeting them to oppose HJR5001.
Please read our brochure “The U.S. Constitution is Not the Problem!” to understand this topic.
We must defeat HJR5001. Your e-mail to your two representatives is very important. Please e-mail them and ask others to do as well.
View contact information below.
Talking points:
- It is too risky to open our Constitution. There is too much political division, radical special interest groups.
- “Limit power of the Federal Government, Fiscal restraint” — All the goals the Constitutional Convention is trying to achieve are already listed in our Constitution. It just needs to be obeyed.
- Too much uncertainty as to how a Constitutional Convention would be conducted.
- The Declaration of Independence gives the People the right to “alter or abolish” our form of government. Delegates to a Constitutional Convention could set their own rules with a new ratification mode.
- Who selects the delegates? Would California get more than South Dakota? Unknown.
- Ideas already suggested for Constitutional Convention consideration: abolish Electoral College, Repeal of Second Amendment, weakening of First Amendment, Equal Rights Amendment, a new constitution.
Action Needed Today!
- Contact your two state representatives and urge them to oppose HJR5001, the Convention of States Resolution. Click here to view the list of state representatives, and then click on their e-mail addresses. Click here if you do not know who your state representatives are; or you can call your county auditor to obtain their names.
- In addition to e-mailing, phone the House lobby at (605) 773-3851 and leave a message for your two state representatives. Be sure to provide your address so they know you are from their district.
- Share this information with other concerned friends and family members.
Your e-mails and phone calls are very important.
Father, we thank you for our country and the amazing founding document you directed brilliant men to create. We ask Your protection of our U.S. Constitution from those who wish to do mischief with it. We ask that American citizens would be knowledgeable about our government and that lawmakers would obey the Constitution. Bless our nation with righteousness and revival. May we be a nation that blesses and honors You.
God bless you for your faithfulness in prayer and action.
Linda Schauer
State Director
“Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention … I should tremble for the result of a second.” “the most violent partisans,” and “individuals of insidious views” would strive to be delegates and would have “a dangerous opportunity of sapping the very foundations of the fabric” of our Country. – James Madison’s letter to G.L. Turberville, 1788
HJR1005 is a bad bill that would put our U.S. Constitution in jeopardy by opening it up for amendments (changes) such as repeal of the Second Amendment or abolishing the Electoral College. It could even re-energize the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) of the 1970s that would solidify tax-payer funded abortion in the Constitution. (CWA of Virginia and Georgia are currently dealing with the ERA and working to defeat it.)
Please read our new brochure “The U.S. Constitution is Not the Problem!” to understand this topic.
HJR1005 was defeated in House State Affairs committee, Wednesday, February 6. Click here to view the votes. (We wanted a No vote.) However, even after the defeat in committee, the sponsor “smoked” it out of committee for a full debate, and a vote on the House floor is scheduled for Monday, February 11.
We must defeat HJR1005! Don’t delay, let your two representatives know where you stand, and then please forward this e-alert to others to do the same.
Please take action TODAY and through the weekend!
Contact your two representatives and ask them to oppose HJR1005. Consider using some of the talking points listed below.
Contact Information:
When e-mailing, provide your name and address. Put a brief message in subject line: OPPOSE HJR1005.
When communicating with your legislators always be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of South Dakota.
Click here to view the list of legislators and simply click on their e-mail address.
Click here if you do not know who your legislators are.
In addition to e-mailing, phone the House lobby today or Monday morning at (605) 773-3851 and leave a message for your two House representatives.
Please join us in prayer. Pray for clarity and wisdom for our House of Representatives.
Talking Points:
- It is too risky to open our Constitution. Too much national division, radical interest groups.
- Limit power of the Federal Government, Fiscal restraint — All the goals the Constitutional Convention is trying to achieve are already listed in our Constitution. It just needs to be obeyed.
- Too much uncertainty as to how a Constitutional Convention would be conducted.
- Delegates to a Constitutional Convention could set their own rules with a new ratification mode.
- Who selects the delegates? Would California get more than South Dakota? Unknown.
- Ideas already suggested for Constitutional Convention consideration: abolish Electoral College, Repeal of Second Amendment, weakening of First Amendment, Equal Rights Amendment, a new constitution.
Your e-mails and phone messages are very important. Again, please share this information with your friends.
Blessings,
Linda Schauer
State Director
CWA of South Dakota
(605) 380-6914
[email protected]
sd.cwfa.org
