California Right to Life Advocates

On July 9, 2008, 11th Assembly district legislator, Mark DeSaulnier, (D), held a Town Hall meeting in a local Concord Church. The meeting entitled “What Does California’s Budget Deficit Mean To You?” was originally planned to be conducted in a Catholic Church. However, the pastor cancelled the meeting upon learning from parishioners that this was a political meeting and that this man has a 100%. abortion approval rating from Planned Parenthood, The meeting was held, instead, in a nearby Lutheran church.

Apparently someone forgot to tell DeSaulnier about the switch. At one point during his presentation he made reference to the faith of his Irish/Catholic mother and how pleased he was to be “back in this church.” At another point he turned to the altar and made a Sign of the Cross. Either a hectic campaign schedule caused a lapse in his memory as to where he was or, more likely his presentation was so thoroughly memorized that he couldn’t stop himself. Whatever the reason, this unpardonable behavior drew gasps even from the audience of mainly tax addicted county and non-profit employees.

DeSaulnier’s actions were not accidental. They were intended to have a powerful impression on those watching the taped Contra Costa County Cable TV showing. The goal was to make it appear that DeSaulnier and Aides for Senator Tom Torlakson,(D), Craig Cheslog and Assemblywoman Loni Hancock,(D), Jessie Buendia, (both also with 100% Planned Parenthood ratings) and big-government agendas were acceptable to the Catholic Church. It might well also impress any Latinos watching the program.

Contra Costa Times Political commentator, Dan Borenstein, hosted the program and at times, through questioning the presenters, actually controlled the direction of the talks. Borenstein informed the audience that Assembly member Guy Houston,(R), had declined the invitation to appear. A chair with his name on it sat empty. It would have been nice for the one and only local Republican elected official to have been there to give a more balanced presentation, but he certainly would have been outnumbered and would probably have been make the scapegoat for the awful budget crisis as presented by the afore mentioned tax hungry crowd.

From the angle of the camera it was impossible to determine how many people were actually present, but from the questions asked by audience members it was not hard to determine that it was mostly directors and members of non-profit organizations and community activists. Of the seven or so questions asked at least 5 carried the same refrain: “We’ve done everything you’ve told us to do and it hasn’t worked. Please tell us, Assemblyman DeSaulnier, what we can do now to get more funds and services”. Even one angelic looking nine year old girl sweetly lisped into the microphone that it (budget cuts to health care services) was “unfair to the elderly. What could she do, she was only a child?” Torlakson’s Aide, Craig Cheslog, suggested that she write her concerns to the Contra Costa Times.

Two other members of the audience attempted to ask relevant questions. One wanted to know why, since the state was paying out millions of dollars to the stem cell research people, there was no money set aside to pay for urgent needs? Why don’t the people have a greater say in budget negotiations?

DeSaulnier told her that: “We had to start off in good faith offering cuts somewhere.” He also spoke at length about the initiative process and that it had been an initiative that approved the stem cell research funding.

The other woman wanted to know why the cuts in the budget were directed to the most needy, did any of the three state employees on the panel have any ideas about what other areas could be reduced instead?

DeSaulnier made a pitch, at that point, for Senator Sheila Kuehl’s Universal Health Insurance Coverage - Single Payer. He said that that would solve the problem of cutting funds to the poor and needy. And, then he reiterated his main theme of supporting the progressive tax upon the wealthy. He also, at one point, made a slight reference to “find[ing] ways to comfortably tax ourselves by deciding what are our fundamental choices, what type of state do we want to live in?

His second theme was blaming the Republicans for the situation the state budget is in. He put it this way: The Republicans are being told by their constituents in their gerrymandered (and wealthy) districts that they don’t want to pay more taxes. “Republicans are just trying to save their offices”, he declared rather smugly. He then made a pitch for re-districting.

Much was made by the three officials there of the importance of doing away with the burdensome 2/3rds vote on funding and taxing issues. It only takes, DeSaulnier said, 6 Assembly Republicans and two senators to switch to the Democrat side in voting to remove that super majority requirement. At that point a woman got up waving sample texts and addresses and meeting dates for people to contact their elected officials.

Mark DeSaulnier. This is the man who, most likely, will be the Senator for Contra Costa County, replacing Tom Torlakson. The Democrats are putting everything they have into the local Assembly 15th district race campaign to replace the outgoing Republican with Planned Parenthood endorsed Joan Buchanan. The Republican Candidate, Abram Wilson, declares himself pro life and pro family. A Republican loss will mean that there is no representation for conservative, Christian and Bill of Rights people in the entire San Francisco Bay Area.

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Planned Parenthood ousted.
Legislation. Moving the legislators
Know your Education System

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The City of Vallejo dis-invites Planned Parenthood to the festivities.

Earlier this week it was learned, due to the watchful eyes of American Life League, that the City of Vallejo, Ca. was planning a children’s Health Fair for 5th Grade and younger children and their families, August 2, at the Children’s Wonderland Park; and that Planned Parenthood (sponsored by Kaiser, Vallejo) would be there distributing its products and propaganda.

Different groups began contacting Vallejo residents alerting them and asking that they contact the Greater Vallejo Recreation Dept and request that Planned Parenthood be dis-invited since its presence was inappropriate for the age group for whom the festivities were planned.

Thanks be to God the Recreation Department was inundated with calls both from within the city and from surrounding areas. As a consequence a meeting was held and dis-inviting PP was approved. The Greater Vallejo Recreation Department deserves a thank you. That’s the good news.

Another group will take the place of Planned Parenthood - Baby First Five. The Coordinator for the event assures residents that they will only be distributing newborn layettes and information about providing assistance to mothers with newborn babies. That’s the not so good news.

Baby First Five (also known as Welcome Home Baby) is a program within the parent group First Five which is the Prop 10 Tobacco Tax funded program created by Rob Reiner to encourage government intervention into families and placing toddlers, age 1-5 in government run day care centers and pre-schools.

Both First Five Solano and Planned Parenthood are members of the usual public/private partnership activities of community based organizations and government agencies. They need an ever expanding assistance dependent membership to survive. Distributing layettes may be worthwhile but it is also a way to gain access to people, addresses and homes during which time birth control programs, etc can be distributed.

So, the day has been saved. The year is another matter. It is felt by the Vallejo residents with whom I spoke that the City employees know quite well what the situation and associations are, but are relying on the residents not to know that. There is a large community of pro life people in Vallejo perhaps this event will draw them all together for future events.

A 40 Days of Prayer is being planned for Vallejo by this community of people. Perhaps this Children’s Fair was a gift sent from God to organize and galvanize the residents of Vallejo.

Please pray for the young families and teenagers of Vallejo that the resident pro lifers will be given an opportunity to inform and educate the City officials and employees on the subtle anti-life agenda.
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LEGISLATION.

The Governor recently signed two dastardly bills - AB 2010 by Mark DeSaulnier and SB 1770 by Alex Padilla. AB 2010 authorizes the opening of satellite clinics without inspections. This bill received its final Senate floor vote with only 5 “not voting.” This means that even Tom McClintock voted for it.

SB 1770, The re-authorization of the California FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) received its final Assembly floor approval on a partisan vote - all Democrats. The Budget is coming up fast for debate, the placing of amendments and passage or failure. Annually certain Republican legislators have gotten up on the floor of their house to submit one bill in a package of pro life bills. This has become very perfunctory and quickly dispatched by the Democrat leader who says “I move to table these bills” the vote is taken the tabling occurs and so on their move to other topics.

HOWEVER: This year we want to try a more aggressive approach to this process. All the Republicans usually vote to move these bills but some Democrats are needed to either cross over and vote with the Republicans or they should be encouraged just to not vote. The number required hinges on “those present and voting.” The legislators who submit this packet of bills known as A Woman’s Right to Know packet should be contacted and encouraged to do more than just submit the bill and sit down. I don’t have their names yet, but let you know when I do. Certain Democrats have been identified as approachable and may be receptive to considering a “Yes” vote on this Woman’s Right to Know packet.

IF THESE SENATORS RESIDE IN YOUR DISTRICT PLEASE BEGIN CALLING THEM NOW. CALL NOW, CALL OFTEN. GET FRIENDS AND CHURCH MEMBERS TO CALL.

You may call their Sacramento office or their district office, both numbers are provided. All of these legislators claim to be Catholic.

Lou Correa - Santa Ana. (926) 651-4034 or (714)705-1580. He has only a 60% positive rating by Planned Parenthood. Denise Ducheny - Chula Vista. (916) 651-4040 or (619)409-7690. 80% PP rating. Dean Flores - Bakersfield. (916)651-4016 or (661) 395-2620. 80% rating Mike Machado - Stockton. (916) 651-4005 or (209) 948-7930 80% rating. Ron Calderon - Montebello. (916) 651-4030 or (323) 890-2790. 100% rating. Ellen Corbett - San Leandro. (916) 651-4010 or (510) 413-5960. 100% (her staff is also Catholic) Edward Vincent - Inglewood. (916) 651-4025 or (310) 412-0393. 50% rating Tom Torlakson - Concord. (916) 651-4007 or (925) 602-6593. 100% rating.

Once this budget session is over we will begin on a concerted year long plan of action.
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Tip of the month – Parent Power "Understand Your School System" – from Parent Power!! By Jim Sedlak

Before you can begin to explore what is going on in your schools and how to get any offensive programs corrected, you must understand how your school system works. Although there are some variations in school operation in different parts of the country, the following outline will give you the basis from which to operate. Minor variations in local districts can be quickly uncovered and you can then alter your approach accordingly. There are nine parts that make up the structure that represents a great many school districts in the United States; here we look at the first four:

1. The Federal Government – The federal government of the United States does not exert any real control over the day-to-day operation of your schools. Although there is a Secretary of Education at the federal level, the Secretary essentially develops strategies for education. It is the Secretary’s job to establish the strategic direction for education; to advocate particular programs of study; and to secure Congressional funding, which will help achieve these long term strategies. With the monies so provided, there are courses and books developed which are made available to the states for use in their schools. The federal government does not run any schools (other than those for government employees such as those on military bases or the Service Academies).

1. The State Legislature – The authority to run the public school system in your state comes from your state legislature. It is at this state level that laws are passed which establish what type of educational system you will have and how local school systems are to be structured. It is possible for the state legislature to dictate what can or cannot be taught in the schools. The state of Utah, for example, currently outlaws the teaching of “pregnancy prevention” in any public schools. The state of New Jersey, on the other hand, has long required sex education for grades K through 12. Planned Parenthood is well aware of the power of state legislatures and has a campaign to get K-12 sex education, as well as school based clinics, mandated by the legislatures of every state in the country.

1. The Board of Regents – In most states, the state legislature has established a committee of people to oversee the operation of the school system. This committee is normally called the Board of Regents. Since the state legislature is not in session full time, the Regents are charged with setting the educational policy for the state and advising the legislature on the appropriate funding and expenditures for the school system. The Regents cannot act contrary to state regulations, but are generally given a wide leeway in their activities. The Regents meet on a periodic bases (usually monthly) to set policy and approve the actions proposed by the state department of education.

1. The State Education Department (SED) – The SED is established by the legislature and its employees are employees of the state. Their purpose is to implement the policies of the Board of Regents and provide a full time staff to assist the school districts of the state. They also handle any citizen complaints against the school districts.

The SED is headed by a Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner has powers as established by the legislature. He/she is a full time employee and is assisted by a full time staff.

It is apparent that Planned Parenthood has worked hard to get people who support its philosophies onto the staff of the SED. This is readily identifiable in New York for example, where it is obvious that the SED has its own agenda and is often at odds with the New York State Board of Regents. In a struggle over a mandatory AIDS education program, the SED advocated a program in line with Planned Parenthood philosophies, while the Board of Regents supported a program more in tune with the parents of the state. The Regents refused to yield, with the result that Planned Parenthood now refers to the New York AIDS education program as one of which it disapproves.

Next month: The Local School Board, Superintendent, Principals and Staff, Teachers and PTO.

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