Daily Archives: January 30, 2009

Wesley Smith writes on Second Hand Smoke: “When the FDA approved Geron’s application to conduct human trials of their embryonic stem cell treatment for acute spinal cord injury, some noted that it might be political, coming as it did within …

NRTW: “Flanked by union bosses at a White House ceremony, Obama said “Welcome back to the White House” and announced sweeping measures which give his Secretary of Labor the power to blackball non-union contractors targeted by union organizers . . …

Confirm Them: “As reported by our friend Curt Levey, Arlen Specter is now pushing (http://www.committeeforjustice.com/blog/2009/01/specter-to-obama-renomin…) President Obama to renominate up to three Bush judicial nominees: Paul Diamond, Glen Conrad or Peter Keisler . . . “

Post-Bulletin: Zumbro Falls is trying to close a new adult business because it lacks the proper city permits. The Pussycat Cabaret could reopen in a new location after the city writes a new ordinance and if the business gets the …

“On Tuesday, January 27, 2009, suit was filed in Miami on behalf of Shanice Denise Osbourne, an infant girl who was murdered in July, 2006 . . . ”

The Baptist Press: “The Texas State Board of Education voted to remove language that required students to examine the strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories including evolution, but the board also added amendments calling for students to evaluate key components …

Two lesbians, who are legally “married” in Canada, have filed a complaint against Dr. Kamelia Elias . . . alleging she discriminated against them for suggesting they find a physician who has experience with homosexuals . . .

The NY Daily News: “A lawsuit over the city’s sex industry dragged on for eight years before finally going to trial – allowing a glut of porn shops and peep shows to open in Sunset Park . . . “

AP: “Michael Steele was elected Republican National Committee chairman on Friday, defeating the incumbent party chief and three other challengers over six rounds of voting to become the first black to lead the GOP . . . ” This post …

Ben Smith writes on Politico: I noted earlier today that one of the candidates for chairman of the Republican National Committee, Saul Anuzis, had circulated news of gay support for one of his rivals, Michael Steele, to a prominent social …

The Citizen: “The attempt by Kelly Rogers to open his Starship Adult Novelties and Gifts location at Thomas Crossroads evolved to another level earlier this week when Coweta commissioners in a called meeting adopted ordinances on sexually-oriented businesses and obscenity. …

CNSNews: “Republican senators who oppose the $819 billion economic stimulus plan passed in the House Wednesday declined to say whether they personally would lead a filibuster to try to stop the legislation in the Senate. But they said a filibuster …

AP: University of Wisconsin medical officials say they do not plan to make a profit by performing late-term abortions even though an internal document lists increased revenue as one benefit . . . UW officials confirmed the plan only after …

ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND January 30, 2009 What’s Left of the Constitution? Abortion and Rights of Conscience Watch the video at www.telladf.org/left “What’s Left of the Constitution?” is a periodic news digest featuring Alliance Defense Fund legal analysis of proposals, policies, …

Milford Daily News: “Town officials have succeeded in getting a lawsuit by Showtime Entertainment moved to federal court, where they say they will defend their decision to deny the business an adult entertainment license . . . “

Ohio Star Beacon: Village Council has tightened its laws governing adult-only entertainment businesses.Council passed an ordinance in early January, restricting adult businesses within the village, including bookstores and motion picture theaters that may want to open in the village . …

WorldNetDaily: A State Department employee has filed a lawsuit today in federal court against newly sworn-in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claiming she is constitutionally ineligible to serve. Judicial Watch, a public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, …

WCAX.com contains this report and update indicating that one civil union bill has been put on hold temporarily and that competing marriage bills will be heard on on February 5, 2009.

“Activists following the Obama proposal said it could become controversial within the gay community if Congress refuses to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, but moves ahead with legislation providing marriage-related rights only for civil unions and domestic partnerships . . .”

Citizen Link: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched an online petition to express its outrage after conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh attacked the president’s liberal policies . . . Mike Johnson, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, …

GLAD: “The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has revised its policy on changing gender markers on Massachusetts drivers’ licenses to more accurately reflect the experience of transition for transgender people . . . “

Flagg K. Youngblood has this commentary in the Washington Times. He writes: . . . President Obama’s nominee for solicitor general, Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan, believes the military should be barred from campus. In fact, she fought all …

AP: . . . The pope says that granting too many annulments on the grounds of “psychological incapacity” risks giving people the pessimistic impression that marriage is almost impossible . . . According to Vatican statistics, the Holy See estimated …

Gallup: “An analysis of more than 350,000 interviews conducted by Gallup in 2008 finds Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas to be the most religious states in the nation. Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts are the least …

Fox News: An influential Senate Democrat said Friday that it’s unclear whether President Obama’s $819 economic stimulus bill will win enough support to pass in the Senate. “I don’t even know how many Democrats will vote for it, as it …

The Religion Clause Blog reports: “Councilwoman Jacquelyn Thompson originally urged that the city declare Feb. 12 to be Darwin Day in Whitehall. After objections were raised, she modified her proposal to declare February as “Science Month” in honor of both …

We welcome comments on the Alliance Alert and we do post opposing opinions.  But, comments should offer insight(s) that further discussion and are relevant to the topic at hand. Comments should also include proper grammar and spelling. Comments that lack …

The Religion Clause Blog reports that the newly enacted Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 does affect religious discrimination claims brought pursuant to Title VII: The law amends Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (as well as …

LifeNews: “During the Bush administration, President Bush displayed his concern for both mother and unborn child by putting an administrative rule in place allowing states to cover unborn children in the SCHIP program. On Thursday, the Senate rejected an amendment …

The Providence Journal: “U.S. District Judge William E. Smith on Wednesday upheld Anthony Joseph Vono’s right to keep a billboard on top of a building at 101 Poe St., off northbound Route 95 near the Route 195 split. Smith found …

The International Herald Tribune: “An Australian man accused of throwing his 4-year-old daughter from a bridge, horrifying commuters caught in rush hour traffic, was a devoted father who had just reached a shared custody arrangement with his estranged wife, his …

http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4815 ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ADVISORY January 30, 2009 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF attorney available to media after rally against stealth Wis. abortion plan Pro-life rally at Univ. of Wisconsin urges …

365Gay.com reports on the ongoing custody battle involving Lisa Miller and her former lesbian partner Janet Jenkins. Miller has been fighting court ordered visitation with Jenkins: . . . And Cohen warned Miller, the 6- year-old child’s birth mother, that …

So, according to the person third in line for the presidency, spending money on contraception is a good economic stimulus . . . And you thought Aldous Huxley was writing science fiction. Welcome to the Brave New World.

One News Now: “Medical professionals who don’t want to perform abortions or fill prescriptions that are contrary to their religious or ethical beliefs now have some help . . . A federal law called 45 CFR Part 88 is already …

The National Law Journal: “Young attorneys are often led to the field of law because of a seductive proposition: You can do anything with a law degree. Unfortunately, a law degree does not even guarantee an opportunity in law, let …

Washington Post: “The Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation yesterday to provide health insurance to 11 million low-income children, a bill that would for the first time spend federal money to cover children and pregnant women who are legal immigrants . . …

AP: “Republicans are looking for a national party chairman to lead a GOP rebirth after losing control of Congress and the White House in back-to-back elections . . . “

A federal judge today denied a request to keep the names of donors to California’s marriage amendment secret, saying the public has a right to know who’s giving money to state ballot measures.