Day 12 - January 31, 2013 - Senators Ruff, Stosch, Wagner & Watkins
Thank you, friends, for joining me in this "5 Minutes a Day" campaign. Tomorrow will be our last day of sending e-mails. Hang in there!
Senators Ruff, Stosch, Wagner & Watkins are the other four Republicans who voted to "re-commit" HB1 to the Senate Education and Health Committee. Apart from that, I don't know much about them. I do know, however, that the Republican Party professes a commitment to the protection of human life. For that reason, I think we should contact them with the same message that we sent to Senator Norment yesterday.
Dear Senator,
I was deeply disappointed to learn of your vote last session to "re-commit" House Bill 1--the quintessential "life at conception" bill--to the Senate Education and Health Committee. As you know, that Committee held a full and lengthy hearing on the bill in which both sides had ample opportunity to present their arguments. I was told that every "question" raised about the bill was, in fact, answered during the hearing. At the end of the hearing, the Committee voted (8-7) to report the bill to the Senate floor for an up or down vote.
Under these circumstances, it appears that your vote to send the bill back to the Committee was nothing less than a manipulation of the legislative process. This bill was vetted through all the proper channels, and it therefore should have received a full, recorded vote on its substance (not just on the motion to send it back to the Committee).
I understand that many politicians have determined that it is time to "move on" from divisive issues such as abortion. But please know that I and countless other Virginians recognize this as a human rights issue. We will not "move on" until the laws of our Commonwealth recognize that life begins at conception and provide basic legal protections for every member of the human family from conception until natural death. In our view, any legislator who is not willing to work to secure the unalienable right to life should not be entrusted with the incredible responsibility of lawmaking.
I hope that you will re-examine your position on this measure, and I am praying toward this end.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Senator Ruff's e-mail address: district15@senate.virginia.gov.
Senator Stosch's e-mail address: district12@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Wagner's e-mail address: district07@senate.virginia.gov
Senator Watkins' e-mail address: district10@senate.virginia.gov
Please pray for these men.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 11
Day 11 - January 30, 2013 - Speaking Truth to Power
Senator Tommy Norment (a Republican from the Williamsburg area) is the Senate Majority Leader. He led the charge in "re-committing" House Bill 1 back to the Education and Health Committee mere hours after a full hearing resulted in the Committee's reporting the bill for a recorded floor vote of the full Senate.
While Senator Norment told reporters that he thought there were "questions" about the bill that needed further consideration, the fact is that every "question" raised about the bill was definitively answered. Furthermore, Senator Norment has refused my offers to meet personally with him at a time and place of his choosing to answer any legal "questions" to his satisfaction.
If a man's heart is set against the recognition, for purposes of Virginia law, that human life begins at conception, there is probably little we can do to change that. But we know the One who can and does change hearts. And beyond that, I believe it is our duty, as Christians, to "speak truth to power" by letting Senator Norment know that we disapprove of his standing in the way of efforts to lay a foundation for the protection of human life in the womb.
Are you with me?
Dear Senator Norment,
I was deeply disappointed to learn of your vote last session to "re-commit" House Bill 1--the quintessential "life at conception" bill--to the Senate Education and Health Committee. As you know, that Committee held a full and lengthy hearing on the bill in which both sides had ample opportunity to present their arguments. I was told that every "question" raised about the bill was, in fact, answered during the hearing. At the end of the hearing, the Committee voted (8-7) to report the bill to the Senate floor for an up or down vote.
Under these circumstances, it appears that your vote to send the bill back to the Committee was nothing less than a manipulation of the legislative process. This bill was vetted through all the proper channels, and it therefore should have received a full, recorded vote on its substance (not just on the motion to send it back to the Committee).
I understand that many politicians have determined that it is time to "move on" from divisive issues such as abortion. But please know that I and countless other Virginians recognize this as a human rights issue. We will not "move on" until the laws of our Commonwealth recognize that life begins at conception and provide basic legal protections for every member of the human family from conception until natural death. In our view, any legislator who is not willing to work to secure the unalienable right to life should not be entrusted with the incredible responsibility of lawmaking.
I hope that you will re-examine your position on this measure, and I am praying toward this end.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Senator Norment's e-mail address: district03@senate.virginia.gov.
Please pray for Senator Norment.
Senator Tommy Norment (a Republican from the Williamsburg area) is the Senate Majority Leader. He led the charge in "re-committing" House Bill 1 back to the Education and Health Committee mere hours after a full hearing resulted in the Committee's reporting the bill for a recorded floor vote of the full Senate.
While Senator Norment told reporters that he thought there were "questions" about the bill that needed further consideration, the fact is that every "question" raised about the bill was definitively answered. Furthermore, Senator Norment has refused my offers to meet personally with him at a time and place of his choosing to answer any legal "questions" to his satisfaction.
If a man's heart is set against the recognition, for purposes of Virginia law, that human life begins at conception, there is probably little we can do to change that. But we know the One who can and does change hearts. And beyond that, I believe it is our duty, as Christians, to "speak truth to power" by letting Senator Norment know that we disapprove of his standing in the way of efforts to lay a foundation for the protection of human life in the womb.
Are you with me?
Dear Senator Norment,
I was deeply disappointed to learn of your vote last session to "re-commit" House Bill 1--the quintessential "life at conception" bill--to the Senate Education and Health Committee. As you know, that Committee held a full and lengthy hearing on the bill in which both sides had ample opportunity to present their arguments. I was told that every "question" raised about the bill was, in fact, answered during the hearing. At the end of the hearing, the Committee voted (8-7) to report the bill to the Senate floor for an up or down vote.
Under these circumstances, it appears that your vote to send the bill back to the Committee was nothing less than a manipulation of the legislative process. This bill was vetted through all the proper channels, and it therefore should have received a full, recorded vote on its substance (not just on the motion to send it back to the Committee).
I understand that many politicians have determined that it is time to "move on" from divisive issues such as abortion. But please know that I and countless other Virginians recognize this as a human rights issue. We will not "move on" until the laws of our Commonwealth recognize that life begins at conception and provide basic legal protections for every member of the human family from conception until natural death. In our view, any legislator who is not willing to work to secure the unalienable right to life should not be entrusted with the incredible responsibility of lawmaking.
I hope that you will re-examine your position on this measure, and I am praying toward this end.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Senator Norment's e-mail address: district03@senate.virginia.gov.
Please pray for Senator Norment.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 10
Day 10 - January 29, 2013 - Preparations...
Friends, so far we have been sending our notes to Senators who have, at some point or another, voted for the protection of human life. These have been easy, haven't they?
Today, let's ask God to prepare our hearts to "Speak Truth to Power." Tomorrow we will send a firm message to the Republicans who have teamed up with "pro-choice" legislators to defeat pro-life goals.
Let's also ask God to prepare their hearts to receive this message. And let's pray that any public official who would sacrifice the cause of life on the altar of political ambition would lose his or office.
Friends, so far we have been sending our notes to Senators who have, at some point or another, voted for the protection of human life. These have been easy, haven't they?
Today, let's ask God to prepare our hearts to "Speak Truth to Power." Tomorrow we will send a firm message to the Republicans who have teamed up with "pro-choice" legislators to defeat pro-life goals.
Let's also ask God to prepare their hearts to receive this message. And let's pray that any public official who would sacrifice the cause of life on the altar of political ambition would lose his or office.
Monday, January 28, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 9
Day 9 - January 28, 2013 - Senator Harry Blevins
Friends, thank you for hanging in there with me and (I hope!) sending e-mails to these Senators who have been entrusted with the high duty of lawmaking. I believe that we are planting seeds that will, at some point, bear fruit. Just a few more days to go...
If you read Day 7, you will recall that the Senate Education and Health Committee, which hears all abortion-related bills in the Senate, is comprised of 8 Republicans and 7 Democrats. The 7 Democrats reliably vote against any measure that would provide greater protection for pre-born human life. 7 of the Republicans consistently vote for these measures, leaving one Republican "swing vote" in the middle. Meet Senator Blevins.
In the meetings I have had with Senator Blevins, he has always insisted that he will not decide (or at least not announce) his position on pro-life legislation before the Committee hearing. I can respect this decision, and I have spent my time with him simply offering to answer any questions he might have about House Bill 1 (the quintessential life-at-conception bill). When HB1 was heard in Committee last year, many, many questions were raised, and I believe each one was answered definitively by either Delegate Bob Marshall (the bill's patron) or myself. This, I believe, is why Senator Blevins voted for the measure, and it was reported to the floor.
Mere hours later, when Republican leaders teamed up with Democrats to spring a rarely-used procedural maneuver to send the bill right back to the Committee for "further study," Senator Blevins voted with the leadership to send back the bill he had just voted to report! I don't know what his reasons were, and he has since refused my requests for a meeting.
Let's reach out to Senator Blevins today.
Dear Senator Blevins,
I understand that you have sent mixed signals about your support for a bill that would recognize, for purposes of Virginia law, that human life begins at conception. As a Virginian who believes that it is imperative for our laws to recognize this basic scientific fact, I implore you to take a strong, consistent stand on this matter. While many elected officials choose daily to bow to pressures of party leaders or the political climate on a host of issues, this is one issue that is too fundamental to admit compromise. I am praying for you today--that you would have great courage to pursue principle over politics.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Senator Blevins' e-mail address: district14@senate.virginia.gov
Please pray for Senator Blevins, that he would take a stand against those who would use him as a pawn for their own political purposes.
Friends, thank you for hanging in there with me and (I hope!) sending e-mails to these Senators who have been entrusted with the high duty of lawmaking. I believe that we are planting seeds that will, at some point, bear fruit. Just a few more days to go...
If you read Day 7, you will recall that the Senate Education and Health Committee, which hears all abortion-related bills in the Senate, is comprised of 8 Republicans and 7 Democrats. The 7 Democrats reliably vote against any measure that would provide greater protection for pre-born human life. 7 of the Republicans consistently vote for these measures, leaving one Republican "swing vote" in the middle. Meet Senator Blevins.
In the meetings I have had with Senator Blevins, he has always insisted that he will not decide (or at least not announce) his position on pro-life legislation before the Committee hearing. I can respect this decision, and I have spent my time with him simply offering to answer any questions he might have about House Bill 1 (the quintessential life-at-conception bill). When HB1 was heard in Committee last year, many, many questions were raised, and I believe each one was answered definitively by either Delegate Bob Marshall (the bill's patron) or myself. This, I believe, is why Senator Blevins voted for the measure, and it was reported to the floor.
Mere hours later, when Republican leaders teamed up with Democrats to spring a rarely-used procedural maneuver to send the bill right back to the Committee for "further study," Senator Blevins voted with the leadership to send back the bill he had just voted to report! I don't know what his reasons were, and he has since refused my requests for a meeting.
Let's reach out to Senator Blevins today.
Dear Senator Blevins,
I understand that you have sent mixed signals about your support for a bill that would recognize, for purposes of Virginia law, that human life begins at conception. As a Virginian who believes that it is imperative for our laws to recognize this basic scientific fact, I implore you to take a strong, consistent stand on this matter. While many elected officials choose daily to bow to pressures of party leaders or the political climate on a host of issues, this is one issue that is too fundamental to admit compromise. I am praying for you today--that you would have great courage to pursue principle over politics.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Senator Blevins' e-mail address: district14@senate.virginia.gov
Please pray for Senator Blevins, that he would take a stand against those who would use him as a pawn for their own political purposes.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 8
Day 8 - January 27, 2013 - A Day of Rest
I am so thankful for the Sabbath! As we pause from our labors today, reflect on these verses from Psalm 22:
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.
For the kingdom is the Lord's and He rules over the nations.
All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.
What hope we have!
I am so thankful for the Sabbath! As we pause from our labors today, reflect on these verses from Psalm 22:
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.
For the kingdom is the Lord's and He rules over the nations.
All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.
What hope we have!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 7
Day 7 - January 26, 2013 - Senator Steve Martin
Senator Martin is running for Lieutenant Governor. He is currently the Chairman of the Education and Health Committee--the Senate Committee that hears all abortion-related legislation and determines whether or not to report it to the Senate floor for a recorded vote. The Committee is comprised of 8 Republicans (including Senator Martin) and 7 Democrats. While the 7 Democrats consistently vote against measures to protect life in the womb or restrict funding for abortion, one of the 8 Republicans is an uncertain swing vote. This means that we are never assured of the outcome of legislation that goes before the Committee, and that the hearings are tough--sometimes even vicious.
Last year, when I testified before the Ed & Health Committee in support of House Bill 1 (the quintessential "life begins at conception" bill), the hearing room was literally overflowing with people. Many of them were there for Planned Parenthood's "lobby day." Those who could not squeeze into the room waited in a queue outside for a turn to enter the fray. After the Committee surprised us by voting to report HB1 to the floor following a grueling debate, I was accosted by two Planned Parenthood supporters who hurled insults at me and assured me that if I had a daughter, someday she would be ashamed of what I had just done.
Senator Martin is not only charged with presiding over these heated, highly emotional debates; he also faces the pressures of a "moderate" Republican leadership in the Senate--a leadership that, unfortunately, does not share our convictions that the battle to protect human life must be waged whatever the political conditions. This is the leadership that teamed up with Senate Democrats to "recommit" HB1 right back to the Committee for "further consideration" (mere hours after its passage in the Committee) instead of allowing the Senate to vote on it.
Many of us were disappointed that Senator Martin chose not to call a special meeting of the Committee last fall to again report HB1, which would have then required the full Senate vote that could have made the bill law. Because he was not assured of the Republican swing vote on the Committee, Senator Martin chose not to incur the wrath of the party leaders by holding the hearing. But Senator Martin is not solely at fault, here. Unfortunately, the biggest "pro-life" organizations in Virginia chose not to encourage him to hold the hearing. I won't speculate as to their reasons.
Let's reach out to Senator Martin today.
Dear Senator Martin,
Thank you for consistently voting for measures that would restore the sanctity of human life in Virginia. I realize that you face fierce opposition in these efforts, even within your own party. I want to encourage you to stand firm against those who would cause you to "grow weary in doing good." It is important to me and my family that the laws of Virginia recognize that human life begins at conception, and that every human being—from conception until natural death—has basic human rights.
I am looking for a Lieutenant Governor who will not only "support" the cause of life, but who will lead it. I am praying specifically for you today, that God would give you great courage to work toward this end. Thank you.
Senator Martin is running for Lieutenant Governor. He is currently the Chairman of the Education and Health Committee--the Senate Committee that hears all abortion-related legislation and determines whether or not to report it to the Senate floor for a recorded vote. The Committee is comprised of 8 Republicans (including Senator Martin) and 7 Democrats. While the 7 Democrats consistently vote against measures to protect life in the womb or restrict funding for abortion, one of the 8 Republicans is an uncertain swing vote. This means that we are never assured of the outcome of legislation that goes before the Committee, and that the hearings are tough--sometimes even vicious.
Last year, when I testified before the Ed & Health Committee in support of House Bill 1 (the quintessential "life begins at conception" bill), the hearing room was literally overflowing with people. Many of them were there for Planned Parenthood's "lobby day." Those who could not squeeze into the room waited in a queue outside for a turn to enter the fray. After the Committee surprised us by voting to report HB1 to the floor following a grueling debate, I was accosted by two Planned Parenthood supporters who hurled insults at me and assured me that if I had a daughter, someday she would be ashamed of what I had just done.
Senator Martin is not only charged with presiding over these heated, highly emotional debates; he also faces the pressures of a "moderate" Republican leadership in the Senate--a leadership that, unfortunately, does not share our convictions that the battle to protect human life must be waged whatever the political conditions. This is the leadership that teamed up with Senate Democrats to "recommit" HB1 right back to the Committee for "further consideration" (mere hours after its passage in the Committee) instead of allowing the Senate to vote on it.
Many of us were disappointed that Senator Martin chose not to call a special meeting of the Committee last fall to again report HB1, which would have then required the full Senate vote that could have made the bill law. Because he was not assured of the Republican swing vote on the Committee, Senator Martin chose not to incur the wrath of the party leaders by holding the hearing. But Senator Martin is not solely at fault, here. Unfortunately, the biggest "pro-life" organizations in Virginia chose not to encourage him to hold the hearing. I won't speculate as to their reasons.
Let's reach out to Senator Martin today.
Dear Senator Martin,
Thank you for consistently voting for measures that would restore the sanctity of human life in Virginia. I realize that you face fierce opposition in these efforts, even within your own party. I want to encourage you to stand firm against those who would cause you to "grow weary in doing good." It is important to me and my family that the laws of Virginia recognize that human life begins at conception, and that every human being—from conception until natural death—has basic human rights.
I am looking for a Lieutenant Governor who will not only "support" the cause of life, but who will lead it. I am praying specifically for you today, that God would give you great courage to work toward this end. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your name].
Senator Martin's e-mail address: district11@senate.virginia.gov
Please take a moment to pray for Senator Martin.
Friday, January 25, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 6
Day 6 - January 25, 2013 - Senator Tom Garrett
Senator Garrett is a relatively new Senator--this is his second year in office. He has already demonstrated a willingness to sponsor life-protective legislation, and we should encourage him to do so. Our voices must be the counterpoint to the resistance he will face--is facing--from Republican party leaders who would prefer to just leave this issue alone. We must remind him that this is a human rights issue, a truth and justice issue, that cannot be left alone for a moment.
Dear Senator Garrett,
Thank you for your willingness to use your office to sponsor legislation that would restore the sanctity of human life in our Commonwealth. It is important to me and my family that the laws of Virginia recognize that human life begins at conception, and that every human being—from conception until natural death—has basic human rights. I am aware that there are some Republican Senate leaders who would prefer to ignore this issue, but because it is a human rights issue, it cannot be ignored. I am praying specifically for you today, that God would give you great courage to stand for the cause of life. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Here is Senator Garrett’s e-mail address: district22@senate.virginia.gov
Please pray for Senator Garrett.
Senator Garrett is a relatively new Senator--this is his second year in office. He has already demonstrated a willingness to sponsor life-protective legislation, and we should encourage him to do so. Our voices must be the counterpoint to the resistance he will face--is facing--from Republican party leaders who would prefer to just leave this issue alone. We must remind him that this is a human rights issue, a truth and justice issue, that cannot be left alone for a moment.
Dear Senator Garrett,
Thank you for your willingness to use your office to sponsor legislation that would restore the sanctity of human life in our Commonwealth. It is important to me and my family that the laws of Virginia recognize that human life begins at conception, and that every human being—from conception until natural death—has basic human rights. I am aware that there are some Republican Senate leaders who would prefer to ignore this issue, but because it is a human rights issue, it cannot be ignored. I am praying specifically for you today, that God would give you great courage to stand for the cause of life. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Here is Senator Garrett’s e-mail address: district22@senate.virginia.gov
Please pray for Senator Garrett.
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