|
Latest news
ACC Has Only Just Begun
The Christian Coalition of Alabama has been active in defending and representing Christians across the political spectrum in the recently completed legislative session. The Coalition has been accomplishing many positive and impacting things which seem to fall underneath the media radar. In the short time Dr. Brinson has led the Coalition, much has been done to advance Christian interests and to halt liberal agendas which contradict those Christian values.
In the eleventh hour, the Alabama legislature addressed a bill which would have opened the door for taxation of churches for construction materials and many items needed for non-profit organizations such as food banks and animal shelters. House Bill 629 would have delayed or eliminated many projects aimed at helping our communities by placing a tax burden which could have crippled many non-profit organizations. Working with the legislature and those the bill would impact, the ACC was able to defeat its passage.
Concerning HB629, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa, Dr. Gil McKee, said, “We are so thankful to Sen. Erwin, Rep. Bentley, and the Alabama Christian Coalition for helping defeat this measure. We’re relying on our sales tax exemption to help fund a $7 million expansion that’s already underway and to provide medical care to the poor through the Good Samaritan Clinic and food to needy through the Soup Bowl. If the state were to impose sales taxes on us, our resources would not go nearly as far, hurting people who have no other place to go for help.”
The Coalition was also instrumental in defeating Sunday liquor sales legislation and in helping to pressure the legislature to finish their jobs without having to go into special session.
Besides making sure some things did not happen, the Coalition helped to make sure important things did happen. For instance, ACC’s support of House Bill 391 which made provision for children to be able to testify on camera rather than in a courtroom in front of multiple strangers and possibly the perpetrators of horrible things done to the child.
While the stories making news about any and all organizations trying to do good will continue to be controversial, particularly when the issue surrounds political power struggles or ideology, the Christian Coalition of Alabama will continue making positive strides for Christ and His people, in Alabama and hopefully beyond. We will continue to use our influence within the legislature and other political organizations to work to improve the lives of the citizens of our state.
Eric Guttensohn, Director of Communications, Christian Coalition of Alabama
Christian Coalition wins church tax battle
June 18, 2007. MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- One of the toughest battles going on during the Legislature's final meeting day was between the Christian Coalition and the Alabama Education Association over some churches not paying sales taxes.
The battle was won by the Christian Coalition in the closing minutes of the session.
"Being a neophyte there, I think we did pretty good," new state Chairman Randy Brinson said.
Brinson, a Montgomery physician, took over the state Christian Coalition after its previous leaders split from the national Christian Coalition and started a new group. This was his first legislative session as the leader.
AEA Executive Secretary Paul Hubbert said the battle over church taxes is not likely to be repeated in future legislative sessions, even though it means the loss of an undetermined amount of state sales taxes that pay for public schools and colleges.
"With all the furor being raised, nobody wants to vote against churches, so I suspect we'll drop it," Hubbert said in an interview.
The legislative battle stems from tax attorneys getting churches to set up "united appeal" organizations that don't have to pay sales taxes under the state tax code. Then that tax break is used by the churches to avoid paying sales taxes when they have big building projects where the sales taxes on building materials could total six figures.
It's an issue that concerns state Revenue Commissioner Tom Surtees, even though an administrative law judge for his department has upheld the practice.
Surtees said all churches were paying sales taxes until tax lawyers developed "a new spin" on the united appeal exemption. He said some mega-churches have started paying lawyers thousands of dollars to set up the united appeal organizations and avoid paying sales taxes. But smaller churches can't afford high-priced lawyers and are still paying taxes.
Surtees said it creates an unfair tax situation that can either be fixed by exempting all churches from sales taxes or exempting none. "This administration leans toward exempting all of them," Surtees said.
A bill to do that went nowhere in the last session of the Legislature.
No one is sure how much money is involved in the tax issue. But Surtees said the typical construction project would have about 40 percent of the costs in building materials. Assuming a $5 million building program, a church that didn't have to pay sales taxes could save $200,000 in Montgomery, where the sales tax rate is 10 percent, he said.
For many years, Alabama's tax code has exempted "all community chests and united appeal funds" as well as the charitable organizations they support with their money.
With the backing of AEA, state Rep. Betty Carol Graham, D-Alexander City, introduced a bill to strike "all community chests and united appeal funds" and replace it with "The United Way."
Graham and AEA's Hubbert said they were concerned that the state tax code wasn't clear about whether the United Way was truly exempt and they wanted to make that clear.
Hubbert said he was concerned that lawyers were beginning to promote the "united appeal" language to some churches. The AEA leader said it wasn't until near the end of the legislative session that he became aware that lots of churches were already using the tax exemption.
"There has been a cottage industry grow up on the part of some law firms to help them beat the sales tax law," he said.
Graham's bill breezed through the House and was awaiting passage in the Senate on the final night of the legislative session on June 7, when the Christian Coalition got allies in the Senate to stall it as the clock ticked toward midnight.
Brinson said the legislation would have wrecked the budgets of churches that had begun building projects by using tax-exempt "united appeal" organizations.
Brinson said the bill had been pushed through the House as simply a way to clarify the tax exemption for United Way. "The hypocrisy is unbelievable," he said.
Graham, who chairs the taxes and exemptions subcommittee of the House Education Finance and Appropriations Committee, said she did not try to mislead anyone. "This bill had passed the House before I knew there was a church issue involved. ... This bill did not start out with any intent to do anything to churches," she said.
Jay Guin, a Tuscaloosa tax lawyer, said the bill would have affected many organizations other than churches that have set up united appeals to save money on taxes. They include some organizations helping unwed pregnant women, rescue missions for the homeless, and medical programs for the poor.
Guin said his law firm has helped form several dozen united appeal funds for churches and nonprofit groups.
Christian Coalition broadens its focus
Sunday, June 10, 2007
RANDY BRINSON
When the Christian Coalition of Alabama began anew in 2007, we pledged to work to promote Christian and moral values in the state of Alabama. This pledge means working with all members of the faith community, across political and party lines.
The focus of the coalition was broadened to include not only issues such as tax reduction, homosexual marriage and gambling, but issues as diverse as promoting a sound education for all children, financial independence for all Alabamians, environmental protection, protecting the most vulnerable from babies in the womb to the elderly and increasing the availability of proper health care to those in need.
The coalition has sought to engage and listen to those on both sides of political debates and find common ground with which real strides could be made toward pro-family, pro-Christian goals. We feel that in order to be relevant, effective and credible, we must call on brothers and sisters in Christ from diverse backgrounds and opinions in order to form relationships where spirited debate could lead to true consensus about issues affecting Alabama. And once that common ground is established, use it to go forward as a united front against agendas and directions contrary to Christian values.
We have worked to allow Bible literacy in our public schools. By allowing students to study the influence of the Bible on our culture, Christians and non-Christians alike can better understand the tremendous influence of the Bible on our country's heritage, and hopefully this will lead to better understanding between the Christian community and other faith perspectives.
We have worked to confine gambling to a single front where the coordinated and overwhelming force in the battle could be Christian individuals and organizations rather than casino bosses and gambling interests. Where the attack could be waged against one or two strongholds rather than against scattered pockets of gas station slot machines and corner store gaming.
We have crossed denominational and racial aisles to bring churches together to fight against issues that may not be as much on the radar of some congregations. We are joining forces with black and white churches to cap interest rates on short-term "pay-day" loans, which can reach 400 percent a year.
After Jerry Falwell's death, The Washington Post wrote, "...a sometimes bitter debate is pitting evangelicals who want to keep their political activity tightly focused on few issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, against those who want to embrace a broader agenda, including climate change and global poverty. ... All these shifts present opportunity for younger leaders. But they also pose the possibility that the movement will become more fragmented." The Christian Coalition of Alabama is striving to address this generation's broader concerns as well as fighting any fragmentation of the movement by calling the diverse Christian community together and reaching outside to bring others into the fold.
While in the past there has been an uneasy relationship between economic conservatives and social conservatives, the events of the past few years are instructive. Voters' response in 2006 indicated that when partisan relationships take precedence over established Christian social mores and their political dialogue, many Christian and value-motivated voters will abandon party allegiance or, worse, disengage from the political process.
The revelation of sexual misconduct by U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, criminal conviction of U.S. Rep. Duke Cunningham on accepting bribes, and here in Alabama, the revelation of the gambling influence within the state of Alabama with the previous leadership of the Christian Coalition fueled further skepticism.
Within Alabama over the past few years, from 2003 to 2006, evangelical voters polled demonstrated a dramatic decrease in Republican Party affiliation from 78 percent to 54 percent. The majority of these voters did not shift to the Democratic Party, but stated no party allegiance. As a result, we saw many voters split their ticket between both the Republican and Democratic parties in 2006. Today, voters in Alabama are even less likely to be influenced by political rhetoric or personal attacks. Instead, they are looking for answers to the pressing complex problems facing most families in our state, from educating their children, improving health care delivery, job security and saving for retirement.
We, the present leadership of Christian Coalition of Alabama, want to represent Christians across the state devoid of partisan allegiance or endorsement and seek to solve the complex issues of our state. Our message has been warmly received, and we want to represent the Christian community so that we can be "salt and light" to our state and the nation. Randy Brinson is chairman of the Christian Coalition of Alabama. E-mail: randy.brinson@charter.net.
News archive
Christian Coalition Blogger Says Senator McCain May Win Presidency With "America is a Christian Nation" Comments
Washington D.C. -- Christian Coalition of America blogger, Jim Backlin, comments about Senator John McCain's "America is a Christian nation" remarks:
In a Christian Coalition of America blog entry entitled: "McCain's 'America is a Christian Nation' Comments Might Make Him President," Jim Backlin said: “Comments like 'America was founded on Christian principles' by Senator John McCain just might make him president. In an interview last Saturday with a Christian-oriented webset called Beliefnet, Senator McCain stated that "I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles, personally, I would prefer someone who has a grounding in my faith." The fact that the left-wing Muslim groups vociferously reacted against McCain's remarks, just added validity to his comments, and indeed value for his presidential nomination hopes.
Senator McCain, who at this time last year led in most of the national polls for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, needs something to break out of his current funk, that is, 4th place in most polls behind Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, and Mitt Romney and just above Mike Huckabee. Social conservatives who have been flailing around for a candidate who agrees with them on abortion and homosexual marriage -- even after Fred Thompson's entry into the race last month -- seem not to trust any of the frontrunners, most especially pro-abortion and liberal-on-most-social issues, Rudy Giuliani.
In the Beliefnet interview, Senator McCain went on to say that he agreed with a recent poll saying that a whopping 55% of Americans believe that the United States Constitution established America as a Christian Nation. McCain said: I would probably have to say yes, that the Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation." On Sunday, he clarified his statement by saying that the United Sates of America was founded on the values of Judeo-Christian values. The Muslim groups fired another fusillade of comments following the McCain clarification. Who knows? The McCain Straight Talk Express just might begin appealing to a divided conservative community with courageous comments such as these."
Washington Weekly Review
Friday, May 25, 2007
Roberta Combs, President
Tennessee Democrat Congressman Insulted Christian Evangelicals and Christian Universities During his House Judiciary Committee Questioning on Wednesday of Former Justice Department Official who was a former Regent University Graduate and He Exposed Religious Intolerance of the Left
Congressman Steve Cohen -- a Democrat from the conservative state of Tennessee, during a House of Representatives Judiciary Committee hearing in which former Justice Department official and former Regent University Law School graduate Monica Goodling was interrogated -- insulted Christian evangelicals and questioned the credibility of Christian universities in America. The following is a sampling of the interrogation of Monica Goodling by Congressman Cohen.
REP. COHEN: The mission of the law school you attended, Regent, is to bring bear -- "is to bring to bear upon legal education and the legal profession the will of Almighty God, our Creator." What is "the will of Almighty God, our Creator" on the legal profession?
MS. GOODLING: I'm not sure that I could define that question for you.
REP. COHEN: Are there a lot of -- an inordinate number of people from Regent University Law School that were hired by the Department of Justice while you were there?
MS. GOODLING: I think we have a lot more people from Harvard and Yale.
REP. COHEN: Well, that's refreshing...."
As a result of this religious intolerance during Wednesday's congressional hearing, a number of outraged Republican Congressmen during their questioning of witness Monica Goodling, reminded their left-wing colleagues of the Christian roots of the founding of America and its early colleges and universities. Congressman Cohen was reminded that Harvard University was founded by a young minister, the Reverend John Harvard. For example, Texas Republican Congressman (and former judge) Louie Gohmert said:
"... And I would also point out, when we bring up God and Christianity and question somebody's belief for attending a religious college, that Harvard itself -- if we want to refer to them -- Psalm 8 is on Emerson Hall that houses the Philosophy Department.
Representative GOHMERT: What is man that thou art mindful of him? -- talking to God, from Psalm 8.
The Latin phrase meant truth for Christ and the church, and that was the official motto of Harvard in 1692.
And the rules and precepts of Harvard in 1646 said, Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, and therefore to lay Christ at the bottom as the only foundation. It is part of the foundation...."
Congressman Mike Pence, Republican from Indiana and former Chairman of the House of Representatives Republican Study Committee, also reminded Congressman Cohen in his questioning of Monica Goodling about the outstanding graduates who have graduated from Regent University: "... I was looking a little bit at your biography. I was piqued by a story on April the 8th in, I think, The Boston Globe that reflected on the harsh spotlight that had been drawn on the administration's tendency -- I'm quoting now -- to hire individuals from, quote, "conservative schools with sometimes marginal reputations," close- quote. You're a graduate, I think, cum laude from -- is it Regent University School of Law and Government, Virginia Beach, Virginia?
MS. GOODLING: I have a master's in public policy and a law degree from Regent, yes.
REP. PENCE: And is it also -- and you don't need to answer this. I think you may know that the attorney general of the state of Virginia is also a graduate of Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Congressman Randy Forbes, Republican from Virginia, represents a congressional district near Regent University said this during his questionning of Monica Goodling: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ms. Goodling, many of us feared this day would come, but we did not realize it would arrive so soon, when the fact that someone was a Christian would be the subject of a line of questioning as to how someone performed their job at the Department of Justice or any other agency in the United States government.
It's not a good day, nor a good sign of things to come, and I just hope those individuals watching this across the country realize the sea change that's taken place.
In addition, since my district is contiguous to Regent University, I'd like to point out that not only is the attorney general of Virginia a graduate of Regent University, but this year, Regent University students won the American Bar Association's Negotiation Competition February 11, not only beating out 220 teams, but also beating the former winner, Harvard University.
And the American Bar Association, not exactly a bastion of conservatism, has chosen Regent University to compete internationally in their competition.And that Regent has won the ABA's National Appellate Advocacy Competition 11 out of the last 14 years, including placing first for the best brief...."
Finally, Representative Steve King, Republican from Iowa said: "...So Harvard was founded to supplement the ministry itself. And then when I looked back on the founding documents of Yale and I find that they wanted to -- they did establish Yale in 1701 as a result of a conservative reaction by congregationalist leaders worried of what they identified as the increasing departure of Harvard College from its Calvinistic heritage.
(LAUGHTER)
Rep. KING: So then I look at Regent University, which Mr. Forbes has so well laid out their credentials and also your credentials simultaneously -- whether it was advertent or inadvertent.
And here I read, 'Our students, faculty and administrators share a calling founded on biblical principles to make a significant difference in our communities, our cities, our nations and the world.'
So I would submit that Regent is a successor to Yale, which is a successor to Harvard, in being founded upon religious principles. And this nation was founded upon religious principles, as was our Constitution.
So I think it is a laudable thing, not a derogatory thing. And we will on this side of the aisle stand up for all of our principles, our constitutional principles and our Christian principles whenever they are challenged or whenever we have the opportunity without them being challenged...."
South Carolina Republican Congressman J. Gresham Barrett Reintroduces the "Public Prayer Protection Act" with 47 Co-sponsors/Bill Will Ensure that Elected Officials Have the Right to Express Their Beliefs Through Public Prayer
Congressman J. Gresham Barrett, R-SC, reintroduced his "Public Prayer Protection Act," H.R. 2104, with 47 co-sponsors, twice as many as he had in the last Congress. He wrote a "Dear Colleague" letter to the other 434 Members of the House of Representatives and quoted Thomas Jefferson who said, "[The] liberty to worship our Creator in the way we think most agreeable to His will [is] a liberty deemed in other countries incompatible with good government and yet proved by our experience to be its best support."
Congressman Barrett told his colleagues, "Although Congress and many other legislatures throughout the country often solemnize their legislative sessions with prayers, the right of public officials throughout our nation to express themselves through prayer has once again come under attack. For example, in addition to his attempt to strike 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance, Michael Newdow also unsuccessfully sought to prevent the use of chaplains in the U.S. House and Senate."
Indeed, the atheists suffered a great defeat in the Republican-led 109th Congress last year when legislation -- sponsored by Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA,) Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC,) and Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO,) which enabled military chaplains to pray in the name of Jesus whenever they want -- was signed into law by President George W. Bush.
Congressman J. Gresham Barrett said that his bill seeks to protect the right of elected and appointed officials to express their religious beliefs through public prayer by removing all establishment clause cases involving prayer by public officials to the jurisdiction of state courts."
ACTION: Please your Congressman at 202-225-3121 or you can go to http://www.cc.org/contactcongress.cfm and email them and urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 2104, the "Public Prayer Protection Act."
House Judiciary Committee Last Week Rejected Meehan Amendment to H.R. 2316, a Lobby Reform bill/Meehan Amendment Opposed by Left-wing and Conservative Groups Would Have Regulated "Grassroots Lobbying"/House Passes Overall Lobby Reform Bill Yesterday Which Restricts Former Members and Staffers' Lobbying Activities
The Democrat-controlled House Judiciary Committee rejected an amendment by Massachusetts Democrat Congressman Marty Meehan which would expand the meaning of lobbyists. Under Congressman Meehan's language, "lobbying firm" would mean "paid communication campaigns to influence the general public to lobby Congress." What qualifies as "lobbying Congress" is even broader. It includes actions that urge lawmakers or the Executive Branch "to take specific action."
The House Judiciary Committee's rejection of the Meehan Amendment was in response to the large-scale objections by both left-wing and conservative groups. Indeed, a similar "grassroots lobbying" provision was defeated in the Senate after pressure from both the right and the left.
The rejected legislation would have required every "nonprofit advocacy group" to reveal the names and addresses of all donors who give $500 or more. In similar bills in previous Congresses, there was always an exemption for 501(c) organizations. However, in this year's Democrat bill, even churches all across America were threatened since the protections for charitable organizations had been stripped from the proposal. Grassroots groups, and even churches and synagogues feared they may have to disclose donors. For example, some were afraid that if their donor lists were revealed to the public, their supporters would be vulnerable to harassment by opponents of family values.
The final bill, H.R. 2316, without the Meehan Amendment, passed in the House of Representatives yesterday by a margin of 396 to 22 (with 15 Democrats voting no and 7 Republicans voting no.) The bill will increase from one to two years the ban on former senior and very senior executive personnel, former Members of Congress, legislative branch officers and employees, and such individuals who represent foreign entities from making lobbying contacts with any officer or employee of the entity in which such person served before his or her tenure terminated. It also requires public disclosure by Members of Congress and congressional staff of employment negotiations. The bill also subjects to fines and penalties a Member of Congress or a congressional employee who wrongfully influences, on a partisan basis, an entity's employment decisions or practices.
Yesterday, Anti-War Democrats In House and Senate Surrender, and Finally -- some 115 days after President Bush urged Congress to fund the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan -- Fund our American Troops/Democrats Give up on their 2nd "Cut, Run, and Surrender" Bill Which President Bush Vowed to Veto
Yesterday afternoon, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives and Democrat-controlled Senate gave up on passing "Cut, Run, and Surrender" bills and finally -- some 115 days after President George W. Bush requested funding for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan -- surrendered to President Bush and overwhelmingly passed the bill which will fund the troops without timetables. After the 280-142 vote in the House of Representatives, the bill was sent to the Senate and the Senate passed the funding bill by a margin of 80-14 last night.
President Bush said yesterday: "The Iraqi government needs to show real progress in return for America's continued support and sacrifice." President Bush said today at the National Naval Medical Center after receiving the funding bill, "There are expectations in America and expectations on how to move forward." He also warned that August could prove to be a violent and bloody month for our American troops and for Iraqi citizens. House Republican leader, John Boehner, R-OH, choked back tears as he recalled the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "After 3,000 of our fellow citizens died at the hands of these terrorists, when are we going to take them on? When are we going to defeat them," he asked.
Senator Sam Brownback Alarmed by Tenure Denial at Iowa State University/Professor Guillermo Gonzalez' Interest in Intelligent Design Theory May be the Reason for Iowa State University's Denying Tenure to Him
Senator Sam Brownback, R-KS, commented this week on the denial of tenure to Iowa State University professor Guillermo Gonzales. Senator Brownback said: "When I was informed that Professor Guillermo Gonzalez was denied tenure, I was puzzled given his excellent academic record of achievement and faithful service. I understand that now two of Dr. Gonzalez's colleagues have indicated that Gonzalez's interest in intelligent design theory was, at least in part, responsible for this denial of tenure. This is rather alarming."
Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez is currently an Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Iowa State University. He has authored 68 peer-reviewed scientific papers and co-authored a major college-level astronomy textbook published by Cambridge University Press. Dr. Gonzalez developed the concept of the Galactic Habitable Zone and his research has been featured in such journals as Science, Nature, and Scientific American. Gonzales also co-authored The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos is Designed for Discovery, which was published in 2004. The Privileged Planet provides scientific evidence for intelligent design theory, which challenges neo-Darwinism's claim that the development of the universe is the result of an unpredictable and purposeless process. Intelligent design theory rather explores recent discoveries in the fields of physics, cosmolog y, biochemistry, genetics, and paleontology that logically point to an intelligent cause in the development of life and the cosmos.
Senator Brownback said: "Observation, testing, and the development of reasonable hypotheses have long been integral to good science. Scholars, such as Professor Guillermo Gonzales, ought not to be intimidated nor silenced by those in the academic community who would rather dismiss a well-reasoned hypothesis than debate it on its merits. Such an assault on academic freedom does not bode well for the advancement of true science."
Christian Coalition Activists Need to Encourage 110th Congress to Pass Both "Net Neutrality" and "Multicast/Equal Access" Legislation to Prevent Discrimination Against Religious Broadcasters /Democrat-controlled Congress Expected to Pass "Net Neutrality"
The lame-duck Republican Senate did not pass a telecommunications bill and thus a "Net Neutrality" provision was not passed in the 109th Congress. "Net Neutrality" is an issue extremely important to America's grassro ots organizations and those Americans who want to ensure the cable and phone companies controlling access to the Internet will not discriminate against groups like Christian Coalition of America. Although AT & T recently made an agreement with the FCC that it would agree to "net neutrality" in order to merge with BellSouth Corp. in a $86 billion merger, the agreement only lasts 2 years. Therefore Congress must pass "net neutrality" legislation in order to make "net neutrality" permanent.
It is anticipated that the Democrat-controlled 110th Congress will agree with the position of the recent House Judiciary Committee Chairman, James Sensenbrenner, Republican-WI, and pass a "Net Neutrality" bill during the 110th Congress. If "Net Neutrality" legislation does not pass, consumers will have to pay an additional fee to have a website. The cable/telephone monopoly will be dividing the Internet into a "fast track" and "slow track." Our grassroots, many of whom cannot afford the additional fees, will have to be on the slow track, which will mean that many of our websites will be passed by because the general public will not have the patience to go on the "slow track".
"Multicast/Equal Access" (formerly called "Multicast/Must-carry") will go a long way to preventing discrimination against religious broadcasters. Without a "Multicast/Equal Access" law, the cable and satellite companies would probably not add new Christian channels and the influence of current Christian channels will be diluted.
Please continue to ask your Members of Congress to support “Multicast/Equal Access” and religious broadcasters. Call your Congressman and 2 Senators at 202-225-3121 or you can go to http://www.cc.org/contactcongress.cfm and email them and let them know we need a “Multicast/Equal Access” and "Net Neutrality" legislation to pass in the 110th Congress.
Please sign our petition and join the Faith & Family Television Task Force at http://www.cc.org/taskforce.cfm encourage your family, friends and church friends to also sign the petition at our website join the Christian Coalition’s Judicial Task Force, which is dedicated to ending the obstruction of the President's judicial nominees and ensuring that they ALL receive a fair "up or down" vote by the full Senate. There are a number of President Bush's Circuit Court of Appeals' nominees who have not yet received a Senate floor vote. The challenge to confirm President Bush's nominees in a Democrat-controlled Senate will be very difficult and we need your help in doing just that. You will become part of a team of individuals who are committed to being ready on a moment’s notice to take action when obstruction occurs.
Please keep the above issues in prayer. Through prayer and action great and mighty things can be accomplished.
Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…”
State Senate - DO YOUR JOB
Chairman, Christian Coalition of Alabama
Randy Brinson
I want to urge you to call your State Senator and tell them to quick bickering and playing politics. With only a few days remaining in the Regular Session, the Alabama Senate has virtually killed a number of important bills because of a partisan standoff, but it is the taxpayers of Alabama who will pay the price. If action is not taken to get the State Senate moving, neither budget will pass. That means the Governor will be forced to call a Special Session costing more than $500,000 which will have to be paid for by the taxpayers.
There is no justifiable reason for legislators not to pass that state operating budgets during the Regular Session. This inaction threatens funding for all local schools for next school year as well as the operation of every state agency from Medicaid to Prisons to Youth Services.
Call your Senator at 334-242-7800 and tell them to go to work and pass the budgets. The time for partisanship and political games has ended, and they need to know that you and their other constituents are watching what they do -- and not do. Call your Senator at 334-242-7800 today.
In his service,
Randy Brinson, MD
Chairman, Christian Coalition of Alabama
Steps in the Right Direction
By Dr. Randy Brinson
An article in the May 2007 “Christianity Today” magazine titled, “Abortion Overreach, The all-or-nothing strategy is not the way to go” talks about successful strategies used by Christian organizations to chip away at pro-abortion legislation. The article mentions how the state of Mississippi has passed 15 pro-life laws in 14 years, reducing the abortion rate by 60 percent. None of the 15 laws passed called for the complete abolishment of abortion. No matter how much the pro-life movement would like to completely outlaw abortion they have realized that such a law would never pass. So instead of well-intentioned “all-or-none” fanaticism, the choice of strategic sensible steps in the right direction has moved Mississippi 60 percent closer to the elimination of abortion.
After sighting the effectiveness of “incremental strategies” and showing how hammering away for total bans had actually hurt the momentum of the pro-life movement, the article concluded that it was “time to back off this all-or-nothing strategy. Effective service in God’s kingdom matches zeal with wisdom.”
Chuck Colson in his February 22, 2007 “BreakPoint” article, “”One Bite At A Time, How to take on social evils” echoed the point that the Christianity Today article made. Colson was talking about a different “social evil”, that of slavery. And he was talking about a different time, the 1780’s. But he was talking about the same strategy when he said, “If you hope to overthrow a great social evil - one to which people have become accustomed to - it’s crucial that you take the incremental approach.”
Colson was writing about William Wilberforce and how he set about to eliminate slavery in England. Wilberforce did not demand that all slavery stop immediately, he began by getting a friend, the prime minister, to introduce a resolution to “discuss” the slave trade. Then he introduced a one-year experimental bill regulating the number of slaves that could be transported per ship. Next, Wilberforce toured his colleagues through the horrifying reality of the salve trade. Step by step, for five years, Wilberforce marched opinion in the direction of abolition.
In 1792, Wilberforce made a motion to abolish the slave trade. Even then the House of Commons demanded that the bill use the word gradually, but the direction Wilberforce was going continued. It ultimately took 20 years for the trafficking of human lives to be outlawed in England, but it was outlawed.
Was Wilberforce on the side of the “slavers” because he favored regulating the trade of slaves? Was he anti-freedom because he did not call for the total abolition of slavery first off? These things easily could have been argued by any fanatical anti-slavery organization. But history has played out where Wilberforce truly stood. He was willing to reach across to the other side and slowly bring them around to the right decision in order to accomplish what could not be accomplished by a single-minded, all-or-nothing strategy.
Another “social evil” we as Christians face today is that of organized gambling. It is wrong in all forms and should be outlawed completely. But there is a problem. It is one of those social evils that people have become accustomed to. One of those evils that will not disappear with the passage of a strict abolition of all gaming, because such a law will never pass! Unless we take the strategic step-by-step, incremental strategy to chip away at the gaming industry, it will only become more firmly entrenched as an accepted evil. Contain, control, regulate, tax are not terms of support for gambling. They are first steps toward its reduction and, prayerfully, its ultimate demise.
The Christianity Today article put it well when they said, “Pushing for too much, too soon is a political death wish.” Any bill calling for the elimination of gambling sounds great, but truthfully, a bill like that would be political suicide for any sponsor, and would never pass. Let’s take the proven strategy, adopting laws that would regulate, control, contain, and chip away at gambling. If a social evil will not disappear all at once, a 60% reduction is definitely a step in the right direction.
Legislature can fix “Severely Challenged” Alabama Medicaid Program
By Chairman, Christian Coalition of Alabama, Dr. Randy Brinson
State Medicaid programs, a state-federal partnership that provides health care to the majority of the nation’s poor, has been recently evaluated by the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. Overall, all the state programs were rated from a D minus to below F.
Alabama ranking was near the bottom of all of the nation’s programs, ranking 42nd out of the 50 state programs. One of the problems with the state Medicaid programs was the wide variation in the scope and extent of coverage as well as eligibility requirements among those covered by the various state programs. Although the federal government and the state share in the cost of the programs and account for almost 20% of all US health care expenditures, the federal government only sets guidelines for minimal services which states must offer, but broader services can be extended to eligible patients. In addition, many states have taken advantage of a number of waivers through the Department of HHS to help states tailor their programs to th e unique needs of their citizens.
In Alabama, previous legislatures and the Governor’s office have been reluctant to make the necessary changes or appropriate the resources to place Medicaid on a solid financial footing. This is despite the significant benefit with federal matching dollars to the state for funding health care for the poor of our state (3 to 1 matching dollars). Multiple attempts to increase tax revenues from a variety of sources including tobacco tax revenues have been poorly received by our legislative leaders.
If nothing is done to reform Medicaid or seek unique waivers to promote healthy lifestyles, then many of the financial burdens for health care for the poor and disabled will fall even more disproportional to our state, its health care facilities, physicians and ultimately to the tax payers. This is because of the explosion of other health related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and arthritis that are directly related to obesity, which is a growing problem among the poorest Alabamians. Congress has already considering legislation to push this burden back to the states in the form of one time block grants based on present levels of Medicaid enrollees.
We must find novel ways to address the largest component of the General Fund Budget, which is Medicaid, and seek ways to contain its persistent growth. The legislature has introduced HB 527 which will provide 120 million new dollars to invest into Medicaid which will not require any new tax revenues from the taxpayers. However, it will move a significant amount of non taxed gambling revenue into the state coffers to make up for the growing drainage of state revenues appropriated for Medicaid. Some have argued against this bill, but no one has stated that they would be willing to pay additional personal or business taxes to equal the tax revenue that would be generated by this legislation.
All of us, including physicians like myself, realize that the health care resources and delivery in our state needs immediate attention. Increasing tax revenues to fund indigent care and Medicaid would be a great start in improving the health and productivity of our most vulnerable citizens. This approach, coupled with well planned regionalization of our health care resources, promoting healthy lifestyles, nutrition, and obesity programs, will ultimately restore the financial stability to the health care system in our state as well as our entire nation.
Quotes from Joseph Hollis:
Joseph Hollis, is a member of the board of Christian Coalition of Alabama
and member of Fresh Anointing Church, in Montgomery Al
Regarding: Christian Coalition of Alabama
The absolutely NEW Christian Coalition (of Alabama) has begun the business of breaking stereotypes and solidifying the tone for the conducting of business in Alabama. As walls are broken, real Christians will emerge with a single, real voice that will permeate culture and motivate social revival and renewal.
Regarding: Dr. Randy Brinson
Dr. Randy Brinson has accepted the call to guide the winds of change in the State of Alabama. His practical display of the gospel of Jesus Christ through public policy will revolutionize American thinking and challenge all Americans to live both righteous and just lives.
A Response from Dr. Randy Brinson
Chairman, Christian Coalition of Alabama
When the previous president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama left, the Coalition did not disappear. As the new president of the Christian Coalition of Alabama, I am humbled and honored to represent those same members who belonged to, fought for and supported the coalition’s pro-life, pro-family and anti-gambling positions of the past. When the previous president of the coalition, John Giles, said that the coalition and I were, "only one man and a name," it made me wonder what he thought happened to those who belonged to and supported the work of the coalition. In the same article in the April 15th Montgomery Advertiser many such statements were made by Mr. Giles.
Which leads me to say how greatly concerned I am about recent events surrounding House Bill 527. While I welcome a spirited debate of the issues, I cannot understand or participate in personal attacks stemming from disagreements over those issues. The recent debate over 527 has not produced discussion of the merit of the bill, but instead quotes such as, "It [The Christian Coalition of Alabama] is not a pro-family group anymore." While there may be strong disagreement over what the bill will accomplish, I pray that there is no question over the motive behind any of the Christian groups in the discussion. The Christian Coalition of Alabama is a pro-family group who firmly believes that the control and confinement of gambling could best lead to its ultimate demise.
Presently my most pressing concern is to build understanding and support for that confinement and control of gambling in Alabama. In the long term, this will help us to address, drive back and ultimately defeat all gambling interests in the state. But this is not the only concern of the coalition. Our legislative agenda includes economic, educational, environmental and empowerment issues important to the Christian community. I do not see this as representing a part of a "turn to the left" of the national group as Mr. Giles has said, but a firm base on which we can take hard stands and move in the direction Christ would have us go.
The Christian Coalition of Alabama is committed to advancing Christian values. I look forward to fighting side by side with my Christian brothers and sisters and the organizations that represent them to advance Christ’s agenda in Alabama and beyond.
Differing opinions between Christian groups creates confusion.
4/14/2007, 12:40 p.m. CDT
By BOB JOHNSON
The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — It's like an episode of the television show "To Tell the Truth." Only this time the question is, "Will the real Christian Coalition please stand up?"
Some legislators expressed surprise when the new chairman of the Christian Coalition of Alabama, Randy Brinson, spoke out recently in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize electronic bingo machines at greyhound race tracks in Mobile and Birmingham.
The confusion grew when former Christian Coalition leaders sent out letters opposing the bill and separating themselves from the current organization.
"I see a lot of confusion over the two groups. I see them as two ships going in different directions," said Rep. David Grimes, R-Montgomery.
The confusion stems from last year when former state president John Giles and other Christian Coalition leaders split from the national organization and named their group Christian Action Alabama. National Christian Coalition officials in December named Brinson their state chairman.
Giles said the split was because the national group had "turned to the left" and changed its priorities. Brinson said the split was more the result of a dispute over how Giles' group was handling a voter guide the organization distributed through churches before elections.
Brinson is a Montgomery physician and founder of Redeem the Vote, a group based in Montgomery that urges young people of faith to vote.
Differences between the two groups became apparent earlier this month when Brinson spoke before a House committee in favor of the bill that would legalize the electronic bingo machines at the two tracks. Before that day was over, Giles and Christian Action chairman Bob Russell had sent out memos blasting the bingo bill and criticizing Brinson's position.
Brinson said he favors the bill because it would shutdown illegal electronic gaming machines across the state and confine gambling to the state's four greyhound tracks. The electronic bingo machines are already legal at tracks in Greene and Macon counties.
Brinson later said the Christian Coalition does not approve of gambling in any form.
"We are aware of the tremendous social costs of gambling," Brinson said. But he said he believes the bill, by Rep. Marcel Black, D-Tuscumbia, would stop the spread of gambling by shutting down electronic gaming machines in gas stations, convenience stores and other locations. "If we sit idly by and don't do anything these machines will spread across the state."
Giles said the split over the bingo bill shows the fundamental differences between the organization he once headed and the current Christian Coalition.
"Anytime anyone uses the name of Christ in their organization and runs afoul of the conventional principal of a pro family organization it brings about a great bit of concern," said Giles, who has gone into private business, but is still a member of the board of Christian Action Alabama.
"Every pro family group opposes the bingo bill except one, and it's not a pro family group anymore. It's one man and a name," Giles said of Brinson and the Christian Coalition.
The sponsor of the bill, Black, said it's not unusual for there to be groups with the same or similar names and differing beliefs, pointing out that there are organizations with the word "Democrat" in their name all along the political spectrum. But Black said he believes his bill will stop the spread of gambling and he wasn't surprised when the Christian Coalition endorsed it.
"I gave them a copy of it and we talked about it. The other group never talked to me," Black said, referring to Christian Action.
One conservative Christian in the Legislature, Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, said he believes the split has caused confusion among some Christians.
"I think what's happening is that the average person who's not plugged into the daily media doesn't understand why the Christian Coalition has endorsed gambling. I've had to explain to people that it's under new leadership and the conservatives have formed another organization.
Brinson said his group has not become liberal or pro gambling, but is being proactive to stop the spread of gambling.
"The confusion is because Mr. Giles has spread lies about our position and what we are trying to do," Brinson said. He said under Giles' leadership the Christian Coalition had limited its debate to two issues "taxes and gambling."
"Those are not the only issues Christians need to be involved with," Brinson said.
Giles said his organization has worked to make it clear that they are Christian Action Alabama and not the Christian Coalition.
"His whole thing has been that he doesn't want to create confusion out there. He has become the culprit of creating confusion," Giles said of Brinson.
Senator targets payday loan interest rates
By Jamie Kizzire
March 26, 2007 Montgomery Advertiser
A state senator, with support from the chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party and the Christian Coalition of Alabama, said Tuesday he is introducing a bill to reduce the interest that payday lenders can charge.
But an industry spokesman said the bill is essentially a ban on a business crucial to people living paycheck to paycheck.
Sen. Bradley Byrne, R-Fairhope, said his bill would put the regulation of this industry under the state's Small Loan Act, which bans loaning money at more than 36 percent annual interest. Byrne said this would be much lower than the rate of 17.5 percent, or $17.50, charged on each $100 borrowed, which he said can end up being 300 to 400 percent in annual interest.
"The people who are taking out this loan are among the most economically vulnerable in our state," Byrne said at a news conference.
He said in many cases, the people taking out these loans have no choice because they desperately need money to get car repairs, pay bills or deal with emergency expenses. He said the business has a "valid place in our economy" but that 36 percent annually, is "a pretty fair rate of return."
An industry spokesman said Byrne's example isn't accurate because Alabama law doesn't allow the 17.5 percent to accumulate over a year. He also said the industry would not be able to make a profit if the bill becomes law.
"It is essentially a ban" on the industry, said Steven Schlein, a spokesman for the Community Financial Services Association, an industry group in Washington.
Byrne said his example is accurate because it shows how much higher the interest is on these loans when compared to traditional loans at a bank.
The bill would repeal 2003 legislation that removed the industry from the Small Loan Act. Byrne said at that time, the legislation was seen as a way to better regulate the industry, but a 2005 Alabama Supreme Court decision said the 2003 legislation freed the industry from regulations governing traditional lenders.
Byrne, who said he expected bipartisan support for the bill, was joined by Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham.
"This disproportionately affects a lot of people Democrats represent across the state," Turnham said.
The bill has also been endorsed by the Christian Coalition of Alabama.
Christian group moves toward bipartisanship
By Jaime Kizzire
March 11, 2007 Montgomery Advertiser
Randy Brinson hopes people saw a different Christian Coalition of Alabama on Tuesday.
The president of the organization attended a news conference where state Sen. Bradley Byrne, R-Fairhope, discussed his bill to regulate the payday loan industry. They were joined by Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham.
Brinson said the bipartisan display is something he's worked on since joining the group in December. "I asked 'where are the things where we can find consensus on issues?' " Brinson said.
The group has a history of being in the middle of heated political issues in the state.
Some critics have said the organization was backed by special interests such as out-of-state gambling interests when it opposed former Gov. Don Siegelman's lottery initiative. It's a claim that's repeatedly been denied.
Others accused their voter guide of being politically motivated and not giving candidates an opportunity to fully explain themselves.
Brinson said he was concerned about the group being viewed as "an instrument of only one party."
That's why he's including broader issues such as regulating the payday loan industry to prevent families from being trapped in debt.
The group also is looking at issues such as the environment, health care and even nutrition and fitness.
"We're going to find things that make a day-to-day difference in the lives of people in Alabama," he said.
And what does Brinson's predecessor think of his efforts?
"It's very noble of him to do that, but it's not a new direction," said John Giles.
Giles said he received bipartisan support on issues such as the Unborn Child Protection Act and a state amendment defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman.
Giles, who was the face of the Christian Coalition of Alabama for eight years, has been busy since leaving the organization.
He's now a board member for another conservative group, Christian Action Alabama.
It was created after the coalition's national organization strayed from "core tenets" by focusing on issues such as the minimum wage and net neutrality, Giles said.
He briefly served as Christian Action's president but left to pursue other employment opportunities. Christian Action is developing criteria for a president they hope to name by mid-July.
And while he won't be on the front lines as Christian Action Alabama's president, Giles will be heading up Giles Building & Loan, his new commercial real estate lending business.
So far, Giles said he's enjoying the new business and plans to eventually offer residential loans.
"I haven't even really started and the phone is ringing off the hook," he said.
Restrict these loan practices
Monday, March 12, 2007
REGULATING PAYDAY loans under the state's Small Loans Act, as Sen. Bradley Byrne of Montrose wants to do, would be a good step toward protecting low-income citizens from predatory lenders.
Indeed, legislators should go even further.
Sen. Byrne introduced a bill that would bring payday loans under the regulations of the Alabama Small Loans Act. That would limit the interest charged by the companies to 36 percent a year.
Since 2003, payday loan companies have been allowed to charge 17.5 percent interest per transaction. In practice, that amounts to an outrageous annual interest rate of 300 percent to 400 percent, depending on the amount of the original loan.
The typical payday loan is less than $200 and is to be repaid within a few weeks. Under loan company practices, borrowers who want more time to repay a loan must pay an additional 17.5 percent every two weeks.
Granted, payday loan companies assume a considerable risk by lending money to low-income people who are in financial trouble. But their exposure is limited.
It's encouraging that both the Alabama Democratic Party and the Christian Coalition of Alabama have endorsed Sen. Byrne's bill. With broad support, the Legislature shouldn't hesitate to pass the proposed legislation. Indeed, social justice demands that it be passed to prevent payday loan companies from exploiting vulnerable families.
Legislators also could limit consumers to only one payday loan within a 60-day period. They could prohibit payday loan companies from taking an interest in a customer's personal property, and could restrict the companies' dealings with members of the military.
Legislators opened the state to predatory loan practices by legalizing the payday loan business four years ago. Now, they need to step in to protect consumers from the companies' worst practices.
Latest news
|
|
