Christian Coalition's 2009 Legislative Agenda - Corporate Christians Perverting The Gospel In 2009

[TomCADem]

If you are a real Christian, and by that, I mean actually read the bible and know that has very, very few actual references to the unborn, but many, many references to our obligations to help the poor and less fortunate, then you will probably be sickened to read the Christian Coalition's 2009 Legislative Agenda.

Tax cuts? Domestic oil drilling? Opposing healthcare reform? What Bible are they reading? The one with the gospel of Milton Friedmann?

http://www.cc.org/print/1546

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2009 Legislative Agenda
Christian Coalition's Agenda for the 111th Congress

Preventing Passage of the "Freedom of Choice Act"

Barack Obama promised Planned Parenthood that he would sign FOCA, and we have to take him at his word and work to prevent its passage. FOCA would actually abolish such federal laws as the ban on the abominable practice of partial-birth abortion, in addition to voiding hundreds of state and local laws and regulations on abortion. It is the most radical piece of pro-abortion legislation ever proposed in our country.

It will be a top priority of the Christian Coalition of America to stop the “Freedom of Choice Act” and continue our fight to defend the unborn. Click here <1> and join our campaign to “Stop FOCA” today.

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Oppose liberal judicial nominees
We support the nomination and confirmation of judges that will uphold and apply the Constitution as it was originally written by our Founding Fathers – not seek to re-write it to their own ideological ends, or make law from the bench.

Christian Coalition will be monitoring all of the judicial nominations sent to the United States Senate by President Obama. We will be happy to support nominees that abide by a philosophy of applying the original understanding of our Constitution. And we will stand in firm opposition to the confirmation of all who do not.

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Protect the Defense of Marriage Act
It seems that everywhere you look, the traditional definition of marriage is under attack as liberals seek to radically redefine an institution that has existed for thousands of years. In recent years it has come under attack by left-wing judges who have sought to redefine marriage by judicial decree. And now, Barack Obama has indicated that he favors repealing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

The Defense of Marriage Act is a federal law that prohibits the federal government from treating “same sex” relationships as marriage, and prevents states from being required to give legal recognition to gay marriages performed in other states.

Christian Coalition will aggressively oppose any efforts to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. Click here <2> and join our campaign to defend marriage today.

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Oppose any Re-introduction of the "Fairness Doctrine"
Christian Coalition will fight to prevent any re-introduction of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" from taking effect, (whether in the form of Congressional legislation or government regulation).

The "Fairness Doctrine" – which would have the practical effect of forcing radio and TV stations to broadcast an equal amount of time for liberal programs to match that of each conservative program – was abolished in the 1980’s by former President Ronald Reagan.

If it is allowed to come back, it would effectively end conservative talk-radio and put Christian television programming at risk. Click here <3> to join our Save Talk Radio campaign to oppose the "Fairness Doctrine".

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Oppose Expansion of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
With so many promising new developments in the area of adult stem-cell research, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for the government to continue to allow – much less expand – funding for research and destruction of embryonic stem-cells. Despite this fact, the Obama administration and the Democrat leadership in Congress have made plain that they will attempt to do just that.

Christian Coalition will work to defeat any measures that expand embryonic stem-cell research and spotlight all members of Congress who support using taxpayer dollars for this abominable practice.

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Energy Independence and Reform
America's economic growth, national security and the health of our environment are all intertwined with our country's energy policies - and we need a better plan. We can better ensure our national security, strengthen our economy and protect our environment at the same time by developing American energy resources and investing in clean, renewable energy technologies that create American jobs.

In other words, we need an all-American "all of the above" approach to our energy needs. A solution that allows for the development of American resources to lower our gas prices, but also recognizes we must work towards a much more diversified energy future.

Delays increase the negative impact that climate related issues may have on the world's poor, who have less resources to cope with the impact of changing climate. Even as we work to reduce emissions, we need to be leaders in helping the most vulnerable deal with dwindling supplies of clean water, coastal flooding, and prolonged drought and famine. We believe that we have a scriptural obligation to care for what Matthew 25:40 refers to as "the least of these". As a result, helping the world's poor adapt to these circumstances, and preventing such circumstances where possible, with the introduction of new technologies, is a responsibility we should be willing to bear.

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Defend the 2001 Tax Cuts
Christian Coalition worked to help former President Bush pass legislation that lowered federal taxes for virtually every family in America by a total of $1.3 trillion, (a bill which passed by a large bipartisan margin in the 107th Congress).

Unfortunately, the tax cuts are set to expire in 2010. Christian Coalition will work to defend those tax cuts and protect the income of America’s family’s from rising taxes under Barack Obama’s administration.

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Oppose Nationalization of Health Care
With a new Democrat in the White House and a larger Democrat majority in Congress, many liberals can’t wait to push for nationalization of our nation’s health care system. Such a program would put government in control of another huge chunk of the American economy, not to mention give bureaucrats a place between you and your doctor. And make doctors beholden to the government, not their patients.

Even countries with nationalized systems such as Germany, Sweden and Australia have begun establishing some free-market alternatives to their government run programs, as the problems with these programs have become more obvious.

We believe doctors should have the flexibility to practice medicine according to the needs of their patients, not government mandates. We don’t believe government has a track record of success Americans can trust to run a quality health care system. The solutions to our health care problems lies with more patient and consumer control, not more government control.

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Protecting Religious Programming
As government seeks to modernize the laws and regulations concerning America’s telecommunications industry, it is important the needs of religious programmers are not left out of the discussion.

The issue of protecting religious television programming includes the important issue of "Multicast/Equal Access". 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.

We believe it is important that this programming continue to be offered to all television subscribers, and passing such legislation will go a long way to preventing discrimination against religious broadcasters.

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Prevent Discrimination on the Internet by Passing "Net Neutrality"
"Net Neutrality" is an issue that is extremely important to America's grassroots organizations and those who want to ensure that cable and phone companies don’t discriminate against groups like Christian Coalition of America.

Without this legislation, cable and telephone monopolies will begin dividing the Internet into a "fast track" and "slow track." Given that many people and groups at the grassroots level cannot afford additional fees, they will be relegated to the “slow track” – which will mean their websites and emails will load and be delivered slowly. And this means fewer visitors and decreased effectiveness in an increasingly digitized world.

Even worse, if a board member on an Internet Service Provider (cable/telephone monopoly) doesn’t care for the content of certain website or their emails, they would simply be able to block them entirely from service. We cannot allow cable/telephone monopolies to control the Internet and its content.

Christian Coalition activists need to encourage Congress to pass "Net Neutrality" to prevent such discrimination. Click here <4> and join our campaign to defend net neutrality.

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Ending religious discrimination against Christians in the military
Even though a federal court during October 2006 dismissed gadfly Mikey Weinstein's infamous lawsuit which accused the United States military of promoting Christianity, he filed yet a new lawsuit less than two months later, wasting American taxpayer dollars yet again. He is trying to force the Pentagon into wasting more time to check into his allegations. Undoubtedly, another federal court judge will strike down his latest exercise in futility and harassment of Christians in the United States military.

Christian Coalition of America will fight to ensure that evangelical Christian military chaplains and other personnel are not discriminated against as they have been during the past number of decades. In the closing weeks of the 109th Congress, Republican congressional leaders got involved in this culture war and forced the Navy and the Air Force to repeal regulations the two services had adopted earlier this year which forbade military chaplains from praying in the name of Jesus during military functions other than worship services. The provision agreed to on September 25, 2006 by the House and Senate conferees debating the final Defense Authorization bill rolls back the current Air Force and Navy regulations which had overturned 200+ years of tradition allowing military chaplains to pray in the name of Jesus and according to their faith requirements. The Air Force had adopted restrictive guidelines on February 9, 2006 and the Navy had adopted similar restrictive guidelines on February 21, 2006. The Air Force and Navy had surrendered to atheist activists and left-wing Members of Congress in adopting these ill-advised regulations.

According to the September 25, 2006 agreement signed by the House and Senate conferees, the Secretary of the Air Force must reinstate the policy that was set forth in Air Force Directive 52-1 dated 1 July 1999 and the Secretary of the Navy must reinstate the policy set forth in Secretary of Navy Instruction 1730.7B dated October 12, 2000.

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