February 20, 2007

Around Wisconsin
... State of marriage in Wisconsin
... Governor presents 2007-2009 executive budget
... Summer intern positions available in state senator's office

Around the Nation
... Non-traditional design for new $1 presidential coin
... Texas legislature working to override governor's HPV vaccine mandate
... Gay activist group to protest Christian colleges' moral codes

Around Wisconsin Family Council
... FRI-WI in the media
... Updated list of legislation FRI-WI is following
... Controversy arises from FRI-WI's comments on breastfeeding bill
... FRI-WI partners with Foundation for a Great Marriage for strengthening marriage program

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Around Wisconsin
... State of marriage in Wisconsin
The twincities.com Pioneer Press recently published a Wisconsin marriage quiz. The answers may surprise you.

... Governor presents 2007-2009 executive budget
Governor Doyle has presented his 1,757-page 2007-2009 budget to the state legislature. It increases the income threshold for eligibility for family planning services under the Family Planning Waiver to 200% of poverty level and extends coverage under the program to men ages 15-44. The Governor proposes domestic partnership benefits for state employees and nearly $2 million each year for family planning services. Call the legislative toll-free hotline at 1-800-362-9472 to express your opinion on these items.

... Summer intern positions available in state senator's office
Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) has internships available for this summer. Anyone wishing to apply should contact Jolene Churchill in Sen. Grothman's office (1-800-662-1227) or email Sen.Grothman@legis.wisconsin.gov. These are unpaid positions; however, the experience would be valuable for anyone interested in finding out first hand how the legislature and legislative process works.

Around the Nation
... Non-traditional design for new $1 presidential coin
The United States Mint is issuing $1 coins featuring the images of the nation's presidents in the order of their service, beginning with Presidents George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 2007. The reverse side of the coin features the Statue of Liberty. The word liberty is not on the face coin, as it has traditionally been with all other coinage. The mint mark, year of minting, the words "E Pluribus Unum" and "In God We Trust," inscriptions historically on the face of the coin, are now inscribed on the edge of the coin and require a magnifying glass to read.

... Texas legislature working to override governor's HPV vaccine mandate
This coming Monday the Texas legislature will hold a hearing on HB 1098, a bill that would rescind Governor Perry's executive order mandating vaccination by Gardasil, a Merck product, against four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) and make parents the sole decision-makers regarding vaccines for their daughters. The controversy generated by the Texas governor's executive order that bypassed the legislature has brought to light facts about the safety and effectiveness of Gardasil that were previously not widely known.

... Gay activist group to protest Christian colleges' moral codes
Two groups from Soulforce, a gay activist group, will target 32 Christian colleges between March 8 and April 26 to protest the colleges' stand that God intends a physical relationship between a man and a woman to be only in the context of a marriage. Read more... (Wheaton College Provost Stanton Jones' response to Soulforce's arguments last year)

Around Wisconsin Family Council
... FRI-WI in the media

... Updated list of legislation FRI-WI is following

... Controversy arises from FRI-WI's comments on breastfeeding bill
On February 9 The Badger Herald published an article on a bill that permits breastfeeding in public and fines up to $200 anyone who bothers a breastfeeding mother. The article misquoted FRI-WI CEO Julaine Appling, who questioned the legislation. On February 20 The Badger Herald published the following clarification: "A Feb. 9 article, "Risser: Allow breastfeeding," should have made clear that Julaine Appling, executive director [sic] of the Family Research Institute of Wisconsin, is a proponent of breastfeeding, even public breastfeeding, but is concerned with legislation that allows for non-discreet public breastfeeding." FRI-WI submitted a response to a February 15 Wisconsin State Journal column by Susan Lampert-Smith that used The Badger Herald article to attack Appling.

... FRI-WI partners with Foundation for a Great Marriage for strengthening marriage program
On Thursday, February 15, 2007, The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin co-sponsored with Foundation for a Great Marriage, a marriage strengthening program. The luncheon event was held at Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ in Milwaukee. Pastor Jeff Meyers and Pastor LeRoy Sullivan from Kansas City spoke to a group of 60 pastors and Christian leaders about how pastors in both inner-city and suburban churches can partner together to strengthen the institution of marriage, as well as individual marriages. Pastors Meyers and Sullivan have been largely responsible for a 53% reduction in the number of divorces in Kansas City over the last 10 years. FRI-WI and Foundation for a Great Marriage will continue providing such programs over the next year. A DVD of the 2/15/07 program will be available soon. Contact Hariah Hutkowski in the FRI-WI office (888-378-7395) to reserve a copy.

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