HR 4411: Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act

Please Support the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act -- HR 4411

The Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, H.R. 4411, sponsored by Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and Jim Leach, R-Iowa, would cut off credit-card payments to illegal Internet-gambling sites -- most of which are offshore -- and give the Justice Department increased ability to prosecute illegal wagering.The House passed it July 11 on a 317-93 vote. It's now in the Senate.Chad Hills, analyst for gambling research and policy for Focus on the Family Action, called it a "fantastic development."

"The bill, in essence, says we will not allow this 'bullet train' to crash into millions of American homes with Internet access," Hills told CitizenLink. "Basically, without it, we could have a casino in every house in America, if Internet casinos can legally operate online."

In recent years, Hills said, gambling on the Internet has exploded. "It's the fastest-growing segment of the worldwide gambling industry," he explained. "Today it's a $12 billion industry -- with half of that estimated to come from the U.S. We're talking about tremendous growth."
Indeed, the growth in online betting has reached such levels that five major sports leagues -- Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association -- sent a letter to Congress lending their support to the bill. "It just goes to show that this piece of legislation has broad support, not just (among) pro-family groups, but also among major-league professional sports," Brian Newell, government affairs assistant with the Family Research Council, told Family News in Focus.

Hills said it's important that supporters speak up. "I encourage people to contact their senators to get behind this legislation," Hills said. "We need to do something about online gambling, and this bill will be a major step forward."

S. 3696: Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act

Please support the Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act - S. 3696

The Veterans' Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals, and Other Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act of 2006 would prevent groups such as the ACLU from collecting attorneys' fees in cases involving religious expression.

S. 403 The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act

Please support S. 403 The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act.

The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act would make it illegal for someone to transport an underage pregnant girl out of state for an abortion in order to circumvent parental-consent or notification laws in her home state.

Please vote to pass S. 403, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, as amended by the House.

-- S. 403 supports parents rights

-- S. 403 would involve parents in the daughter's pregnancy decisions

-- S. 403 would thwart men who are sexually abusing underage girls and who then seek to take them out of state for an abortion to cover up their crimes

HR235: Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration

Please support H.R. 235, the "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act."

Churches and houses of worship should be free to take strong positions on moral issues for the sake of our nation's spiritual and moral health. Any issue can be made political. Houses of worship should not be censored just because a moral issue becomes of political consequence.

The Internal Revenue Service should not have effective censorship power over religious speech by wielding the power to deny tax-exempt status to a church.

We urge you to strongly support H.R. 235, the "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act."

FX: Letter to sponsors of 'Always Sunny...'

Email sent to Autotrader, Big Lots, Wagner Spray Tech, and Coin Star

Bluntly put, the FX Network airs the filthiest and most offensive content on cable television...and AutoTrader.com has been identified as the primary advertising sponsor of their program "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

Are you aware that included in the episodes your company advertised on, the "GD" and the "s" words were used 52 times in a single hour? If this wasn't enough, it contained another 45 offensive profanities.

Always Sunny averaged a hard profanity every 38 seconds! For example, in the one-hour, the show used God's name in vain 23 times, the "s" word 29 times, and 45 other profanities.

Other companies have already put the FX Network on their "blackout" list due to the graphic and offensive content of its programs like "Nip/Tuck," "The Shield," "Rescue Me," and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

I strongly encourage your company to join them in a show of support for our children by refusing to advertise on FX Network.

I look forward to hearing from you very soon regarding my request.

HI-SB3101Early Learning Task Force

Please vote against Senate Bill 3101. Creating the Early Learning Task Force would only waste taxpayermoney.

Most studies have shown that any educational gains arelost by the 3rd grade. Additionally, recent studiesfound attendance at preschool programs, even for shortperiods of time, hindered young children's socialskills.

The 2005 Stanford University/University of Californiaresearch study reported, “We find that attendance inpreschool centers, even for short periods of time eachweek, hinders the rate at which young children developsocial skills and display the motivation to engageclassroom tasks, as reported by their kindergartenteachers.” This lack of development of social skillsinvolved three specific areas: “children’sexternalizing behaviors (such as, aggression,bullying,acting up), interpersonal skills (such as, sharing andcooperation), and self control in engaging classroomtasks.”

Please find attached a document listing 32 referencesto reports that lead to the conclusion that young fare better when cared for by parents instead of being"institutionalized".

HI-HB3237 Office of Early Learning

Please vote against House Bill 3237. Creating the Office of Early Learning would only waste taxpayermoney.

Most studies have shown that any educational gains arelost by the 3rd grade. Additionally, recent studies found attendance at preschool programs, even for shortperiods of time, hindered young children's social skills.

The 2005 Stanford University/University of Californiaresearch study reported, “We find that attendance inpreschool centers, even for short periods of time eachweek, hinders the rate at which young children developsocial skills and display the motivation to engageclassroom tasks, as reported by their kindergartenteachers.” This lack of development of social skillsinvolved three specific areas: “children’sexternalizing behaviors (such as, aggression,bullying,acting up), interpersonal skills (such as, sharing andcooperation), and self control in engaging classroomtasks.”

Please find attached a document listing 32 referencesto reports that lead to the conclusion that young farebetter when cared for by parents instead of being"institutionalized".

Thank you.
A concerned voter and taxpayer