Apr 13, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
“The Arkansas legislature has overridden Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s veto of legislation that would prohibit ‘sex-reassignment’ surgery or hormone treatment to minors afflicted with gender confusion, moving swiftly after the governor’s rejection of the law.” You can read more HERE.
In response to this news, Julaine Appling, President of Wisconsin Family Council, commented, “It’s sad we need legislation to stop medical professionals from performing or prescribing life-altering, irreversible surgeries and/or hormone therapies for minors. We urge parents to talk to their pre-teens and teens about this issue, reinforcing that God loves them and doesn’t make mistakes when He creates us male or female.”
If you struggle to find the right words to help your child understand and navigate transgender issues from a Biblical perspective “The Parent Resource Guide” was written with you in mind!
It is a carefully researched resource providing parents with practical ways to address the transgender issue with their children. Grab your free copy HERE.
Apr 8, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
Madison, WI – Wisconsin Family Action PAC (WFA PAC), the state’s only conservative pro-family PAC, endorsed Judge Shelley Grogan for Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II, John Jagler for State Senate District 13, and Elijah Behnke for State Assembly District 89, prior to yesterday’s Spring Nonpartisan General Election. Each of these candidates prevailed in his/her respective races.
WFA PAC director Julaine Appling commented, “We are proud to have endorsed these candidates and congratulate them on their victories and their hard-fought campaigns. Judge Grogan will be an excellent addition to the Court of Appeals. She clearly understands the role of the judiciary and promises to exercise judicial restraint, while putting into practice her textualist interpretation of the Constitution.
Read full press release HERE.
Mar 31, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
On Wednesday, March 31, 2021, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Governor Tony Ever’s illegal mask mandate.
“The 4-3 ruling was issued in a 78-page decision Wednesday morning.
Republican lawmakers filed suit in October on the mandate.
They said the governor did not have the authority to extend the state’s public health emergency beyond 60 days without approval from the legislature.
The majority of justices agreed.”
Read more HERE
Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling says, “This long-awaited decision by the state’s high court is encouraging. The rule of law must be respected, most especially in a crisis. The judicial branch has exercised its appropriate authority to check the power of the executive branch. Governor Evers will now need to work within the lawful limits of his authority.”
Mar 17, 2021 | Legislation, News, Wisconsin Family Voice
The US Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing today, March 17, 2021 at 9am CT on the so-called Equality Act. This bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the federal civil rights law. It has no religious exemption and in fact poses a real threat to religious freedom. The bill would give special rights and protections to those in the LGBTQ plus communities and put in the crosshairs those who believe in Biblical marriage and family and God’s creative distinctly binary order of male and female. The bill passed earlier this month in the U.S. House.
Now is the time for citizens to tell Wisconsin US Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin to vote AGAINST this proposal. Contact information for the senators is below or you can go to senate.gov. Being good stewards of the government God has given us includes letting elected officials know our opinion on important issues.
NOTE: Go to our new Action Center to shoot off an email now!
Here are some TALKING POINTS from Heritage Foundation:
- This legislation does not create equality. Equality cannot be created for one group by taking rights away from another. This bill targets people of religious faith, erodes protections for women, and would take children away from parents who refuse radical hormone therapies.
- The Equality Act endangers women and girls. By recognizing an individuals “chosen gender” instead of his or her “biological sex,” this legislation would force more women and girls to share bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, and sleeping facilities with biological males who choose to identify as female.
- The Equality Act would allow biological males who identify as female to compete in and likely dominate women’s sports. Not only does this undercut the sport, but it hurts women who depend on college sports and scholarships to obtain educational and career aspirations.
- Parents’ would lose the right to decide the best medical care for a child suffering with gender dysphoria and would be stripped of custody of their children. Already, courts have sided with transgender clinics against parents who refused radical hormone therapies for their children.
- This legislation makes it harder for organizations and charities with faith-based values to operate and exist. This negatively impacts all underserved communities, including children, minorities, the unemployed, and the homeless.
- The 100,000+ American children in need of adoption each year would be hurt by H.R. 5. The numerous faith-based adoption agencies that serve these vulnerable children would be forced to either close down or violate sincerely held religious beliefs.
- Employers and businesses would face more regulation and lawsuits. Businesses with 15 or more employees would be forced to provide medical insurance for “gender transitions”, use preferred pronouns or face litigation, and open any single-sex space to both sexes including bathrooms and locker rooms.
- Free speech must be protected and preserved. H.R. 5 would silence thought and debate on important issues facing our nation, such as gender, marriage, and faith.
- Provides legal support for a radical school curriculum, teaching sexual preferences and transgender theory to elementary and pre-K children. In states where this curriculum is currently being taught, it is integrated into all subjects, and parents cannot opt their children out.
Mar 10, 2021 | Legislation, News, Wisconsin Family Voice
For the third consecutive session, Republican legislators have introduced a bill to completely eliminate the waiting period after a divorce before a remarriage. Currently, the waiting period after a divorce in our state is six months—and that’s for good reason. It’s not capricious or arbitrary. It’s prudent, especially when minor children are concerned.
Even the best divorces, whatever that may mean, take their toll on the man and woman and certainly on children as the confused and conflicted innocent victims. Some time between the dissolution of one marriage before another allows for cooling off and healing, for sorting through important details, for serious premarital counseling, and certainly for helping minor children adjust to yet another living arrangement.
Read the rest of this week’s Wisconsin Family Connection radio commentary regarding this issue HERE.
WFA president, Julaine Appling, testified on your behalf against this bill.
Photo credit: Micah Pearce
Mar 10, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
As the COVID vaccine distribution ramps up in Wisconsin and across the country, many pro-life individuals are asking whether the newly and quickly produced vaccines utilize abortion-derived cell lines in their testing and/or in their development and production. The most comprehensive and reliable information on that issue is from the respected pro-life research group The Charlotte Lozier Institute which has a regularly updated chart showing this information on the currently available vaccines. SEE CHART BELOW.
It’s unfortunate that in addition to everything else, we need to deal with this moral aspect of this vaccine or any vaccine for that matter. We urge everyone to get as educated as possible on the vaccines so they can make a knowledgeable decision about which of the vaccines, if any, they would consider taking. This decision has moral as well as health implications.
[googlepdf url=”https://wifamilyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/VACCINE-CHART.pdf” download=”Download” ]
Mar 9, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
Last week representatives from Choose Life Wisconsin (CLW) issued another round of funds from the sale of the “Choose Life Wisconsin” license plates. A total of $21,500 was delivered by Julaine Appling, president of CLW/Wisconsin Family Action and Dan Miller, vice president of CLW/state director of Pro Life Wisconsin to Wisconsin’s woman-helping, life-saving pregnancy resources—for a total of $122,000 since the inception of this pro-life plate. The effort began years ago as a cooperative project of Wisconsin Family Action and Pro-Life Wisconsin. $25 from the sale of each plate will go to Choose Life Wisconsin, an independent not-for-profit corporation.
If you don’t already have a Choose Life Wisconsin license plate, click here to learn how to order yours TODAY!
Choose Life Wisconsin, Inc. seeks to help Wisconsin’s valuable Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC) continue their lifesaving work in The Badger State. From pregnancy counseling to providing free ultrasounds for expectant mothers, to assisting mothers with adoption, Wisconsin’s PRCs every day provide critical services that must be sustained. Choose Life Wisconsin’s mission is to help these vital organizations flourish.
CLW/WFA president Julaine Appling presents Choose Life Wisconsin proceeds check to Care Net Milwaukee director, Rachel Schweppes.
One of our stops was at The Crossing of Manitowoc where Julaine Appling presented their Executive Director, Belinda Esquinas with a check from your Choose Life Wisconsin license plates.
Choose Life Wisconsin had the honor of stopping in at Women’s Care Center where Julaine Appling presented a check to their manager, Hollie Landazuri.
Mar 8, 2021 | News
Last week, WFA president Julaine Appling participated in a press conference to announce the introduction of a bill that would stop biological males from being able to participate in women’s/girls’ athletic teams or events. This Protect Women’s Sports bill is authored by Rep. Barb Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc, Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls), Rep. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton), Rep. Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield) and Sen. Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls). The bill is currently circulating for co-sponsors. Watch the press conference below. Julaine speaks at 6 minutes into the conference.
Mar 4, 2021 | Legislation, News, Wisconsin Family Voice
On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, Julaine participated in a press conference to announce the introduction of a bill that would stop biological males from being able to participate in women’s/girls’ athletic teams or events. This Protect Women’s Sports bill is authored by Rep. Barb Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc, Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls), Rep. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton), Rep. Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield) and Sen. Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls). The bill is currently circulating for co-sponsors. (Appling speaks at 6 minutes into the conference.)
Feb 24, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
After two years of liberal lawsuits, the Supreme Court will finally decide if the Trump administration’s “Protect Life Rule” can stand.
From Family Research Council:
“There isn’t a single pro-lifer in America who wouldn’t love to see Planned Parenthood completely defunded. But without both sides of Congress firmly in the hands of conservatives, former President Donald Trump did the next best thing. He chipped away at the forced partnership between taxpayers and the abortion industry with the most powerful weapon in his executive tool box: HHS regulations. It took months of hard work, but the “Protect Life Rule” became a reality. Now, two years of liberal lawsuits later, the Supreme Court will finally decide if the policy can stand.”
READ MORE HERE
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Pray that the Supreme Court will allow the “Protect Life Rule” to stand.
Pray for the unborn—that they are given every opportunity to come into this world.
Pray for our amazing pregnancy resource centers both in Wisconsin and across the nation.
Pray for mothers who are contemplating abortion—that their hearts would be softened and their minds changed.
Pray for abortion to be abolished.
Encourage others to pray!
Feb 24, 2021 | Legislation, News, Wisconsin Family Voice
This week it has been “all hands on deck” as conservatives across the nation rallied AGAINST the so-called Equality Act (we call it the UNEquality Act) in a virtual event on Tuesday and opened the email (and snail mail) floodgates to elected officials’ offices with strong opposition to this bill. Since the US House of Representatives is expected to take a vote on this dangerous act TODAY, we are getting this information out to you early enough to get one last email sent off to your legislator through our easy-as-1-2-3 Action Center. CLICK HERE NOW to send your email off in less than 15 seconds!
We don’t have time to waste (we know you don’t, either) so here is the slimmed-down version of the “Equality Act” and a link to the action you can quickly take this morning before the vote is taken in the House. CLICK HERE NOW to ensure your legislator gets your email THIS MORNING before the vote!
What is the “Equality Act?”
“On Wednesday March 13 (2019), Nancy Pelosi introduced the so-called Equality Act, a bill that would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes under federal civil rights law.
How could Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) laws affect you? GREAT question and we have an answer! CLICK HERE for a comprehensive look at the danger of this bill.
WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE ⇒ CLICK HERE and shoot a preformatted email (that you can completely change and personalize–and we encourage you to do that!) off to your member of Congress asking him/her to vote AGAINST the “Equality Act.”That’s it! Just as we promised, this Action Alert is quick and to the point! Thank you for weighing in on this critical issue that could put America’s children, businesses, families, adoption centers and so much more in danger.
Click HERE to watch yesterday’s virtual rally.
Feb 17, 2021 | Election Central, Wisconsin Family Voice
The following Wisconsin Family Action Political Action Committee (PAC) endorsed candidates won their races in this week’s Spring Primary Election. They will face off against their opponents during the Spring General Election on Tuesday, April 6.
John Jagler, Senate District 13 (Special election to replace the seat of former Senate Majority Leader Republican Scott Fitzgerald who left the seat after being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.)
Elijah Behnke, Assembly District 89 (Special election to replace longtime representative John Nygren who left office on December 2, 2020.)
Daniel Degner, Fond du lac City Council
Thank you to all who voted in this important primary election.
The Spring General Election will be held on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Mark your calendars and let others know how important their voices are at the polls!
Feb 11, 2021 | Legislation, Wisconsin Family Voice
This testimony may be viewed on WisEye HERE starting at 3:22:00.
TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 30
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021
JULAINE K. APPLING, PRESIDENT
Thank you, Chairman Testin and committee members, for the opportunity to testify on Senate Bill 286. Wisconsin Family Action opposes this bill. We acknowledge the stated intent of the authors, but we believe the problems that come with this proposal far outweigh the good intentions.
?
First, let me clarify our organizational position on contraceptives in general. We do not take a position on whether or not a married couple should use contraception, unless a contraceptive method can result in the destruction of the fertilized egg, which generally happens because a contraceptive drug or device often prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterine wall. We have never promoted contraception for unmarried persons because that position is inconsistent with our belief that what is in the best interest of unmarried individuals is to remain sexually abstinent until marriage and faithful to their spouse when they do marry.
Allowing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense contraception, at least to some degree, promotes unmarried individuals engaging in sexual activity. The argument that these individuals will get contraceptives somewhere, and it may as well be from a pharmacist who can’t perform an abortion, rings hollow. Pharmacies often are much more convenient in location and hours than are other places where contraceptives might be obtained, increasing the likelihood that more women will turn to pharmacists for their prescriptions. Should the contraception fail, and studies show it surely does at times, and a woman becomes pregnant, that the woman received the contraception from a pharmacist rather than from an organization that performs abortions will not deter the woman from having an abortion if that is what she is determined to do.
I think it is also important to note that this proposed change in the scope of practice for pharmacists is not about health-care. Contraception is not health care. Contraception is about the personal choices and decisions of individual women, typically made under the advice and guidance of a doctor because of the potency of the pharmaceuticals involved. To talk in terms of this being about women’s health care is, at a minimum, disingenuous.
In addition, some contraceptives are known to cause a pre-implantation chemical abortion, as I referenced earlier. Scientifically, we know life begins at conception. Contraceptives that make it impossible for this newly conceived human being to implant in the uterine wall destroy the human being in the earliest stages of development.
Further, we are concerned about the well-being of the individual woman seeking the contraception. The bill provides that the person must complete “a self-assessment questionnaire and undergo a blood pressure screening.” Based on this very limited information, most of which is self-reporting, the pharmacist must determine whether it is safe to prescribe a contraceptive for a given individual. The presumption is, of course, that the individual is accurately reporting his/her medical situation historically and currently. Inaccurate medical information could be dangerous, even in some instances fatal.
This same law is in effect in Colorado, and the self-assessment questionnaire that state uses is available online, as is the Summary Chart of U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (copy attached). That chart makes it clear a significant number of medical conditions pose a “theoretical or proven risk” or even an “unacceptable health risk” for contraceptives. If the individual has an undisclosed condition that dictates that contraceptives should not be used and the pharmacist, in good faith, prescribes and dispenses some form of contraception, the individual’s health is at a minimum compromised.
Should this burden rest on a pharmacist who is severely limited in what he or she can learn about the real health of the individual seeking the contraception? Blood pressure is only one measure of one’s health; it is certainly not something physicians typically rely on in isolation (or even in conjunction with a self-administered assessment) to determine one’s overall health or the appropriateness of a certain prescription. Pharmacists cannot do further diagnostic testing or assessments.
Additionally, what is to prevent a woman who has a severe reaction to the prescribed and dispensed contraception from suing the pharmacist and/or the pharmacy? The language of the bill does not address the liability of the pharmacist or the pharmacy, which presumably would have some culpability since the pharmacist is acting in his/her official capacity as an employee of the pharmacy. Last session during a public hearing, a committee member asked a testifying pharmacist about liability. The pharmacist speaking in support of the proposal said, “We don’t know about liability.” When I followed up with my testimony and addressed this issue, a committee member responded to me by saying, “You know we frequently pass bills where we don’t know who is liable.” I suggested that perhaps this is not the wisest course of action for the state legislature, particularly in this instance and especially in the ultra-litigious society in which we live.
We also oppose this bill because it puts pharmacists who may have religious or conscience objections to prescribing contraception in general and in particular contraception that is known to be abortifacient, in a difficult position. We currently have no specific statutory protection for the religious or conscience rights of pharmacists. While the bill does not force any pharmacy to take part in this prescription-writing authority, it’s safe to say many will. Imagine a pharmacist working for a pharmacy that decides to do this and thereby requires its pharmacists to either write prescriptions for contraception or face disciplinary action, which could even involve dismissal.
For these reasons, we urge this committee to oppose this bill that is not in the best interest of those seeking contraception or in the best interest of the pharmacists.
Thank you for your attention and thoughtful consideration of our position on this proposal.
Supporting documents:
1. Summary Chart of U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use
2. Hormonal Contraceptive Self-Screening Questionnaire
Feb 11, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
Larry Flynt, the man who built his empire on what even the New York Times calls “raunchy publications” died earlier this week. Flynt pushed all the boundaries on so-called legal pornography, winning court cases that caused some to say he was a “free speech hero.” But feminists and Christians, in a moment of rare agreement, didn’t see him that way. To feminists, he was a man who objectified women in the worst of ways. To Christians, he blatantly defied God’s standards for human sexuality and thereby harmed people and society in general.
Flynt laid the groundwork for the tidal wave of pornography we are currently experiencing thanks largely to the Internet.. As Christians, we want human flourishing—in other words, we want a society where the laws are truly in the best interest of people. Nothing about obscenity and pornography encourages human flourishing. Rather it hurts individuals and destroys relationships, especially marriages. Christians should avoid it at all costs.
Feb 8, 2021 | Legislation, News, Wisconsin Family Voice
Rep. Joel Kitchens of Sturgeon Bay and Sen. Mary Felzkowski of Irma and Sen. Kathy Bernier of Chippewa Falls have once again introduced a bill that would allow Wisconsin pharmacists to write prescriptions for certain contraceptives.
Currently, pharmacists in Wisconsin cannot write prescriptions. However, if these authors and the other Republican state legislators who are cosponsoring this bill have their way, that would change. If this bill, Senate Bill 30, passes, pharmacists would be able to write prescriptions for certain contraceptive drugs and patches for women eighteen and over who have filled out a self-assessment questionnaire and have undergone a blood pressure screening provided by the pharmacist. After the prescription is issued, the pharmacist would be required to report the prescription to the patient’s primary care practitioner.
READ MORE HERE
This is the second time Republicans have rushed to sponsor this bill. Last session the Assembly passed the proposal, but it died in the Senate. Supporters argue women need more access to contraception. Opponents allege access isn’t a problem. What concerns them, however, is the well-being of the woman with no doctor involved prior to the prescription being written and issued. Wisconsin Family Action opposes the bill.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Call your legislator and weigh in on this issue as soon as possible. Find your legislator and his/her contact information HERE.
Share this information with your family, friends and neighbors and ask them to do the same.
Commit to praying for your legislators on a regular basis.
Feb 8, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
Universal vaccine talk sounds like something out of George Orwell’s
1984. Calling the development of the COVID-19 vaccine “Operation Warp Speed” doesn’t help, in our opinion. It’s all surreal, but it’s the reality in which we live as we continue to deal with this virus.
Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is available, talk of mandating the vaccine has been swirling—from the federal level right down to the state and local levels. Individuals are scrambling to get informed so that they can make a knowledgeable decision for themselves about whether to have the vaccine or not. Parents are looking for help as they consider what they want to do for themselves and their children.
Read the transcript to get the rest of this week’s Wisconsin Family Connection radio commentary during which Julaine Appling discusses “Vaccines & Our Rights” HERE or listen HERE
Feb 2, 2021 | Election Central, Voter Guides, Wisconsin Family Voice
Early in-person absentee voting begins today for the Spring Primary election coming up on February 16. The only statewide race is for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
A candidate comparison for Superintendent of DPI may be found HERE.
Office hours vary by municipality. Some municipal offices may not offer additional in-person absentee hours Please contact your municipal clerk for absentee voting hours.
To request an absentee ballot on MyVote.wi.gov click here. You must provide a photo ID with your absentee ballot request, more information on photo ID can be found here.
February 11, 2021 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Regular and Permanent Overseas Voters- If you are a regular or a Permanent Overseas Voters, your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 11, 2021.
February 12, 2021 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Indefinitely Confined- If a voter is indefinitely confined your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 12, 2021.
February 2, 2021, possibly through February 14, 2021 –Deadline for In-Person Absentee- Voters can possibly request and vote an absentee ballot in-person in their municipal clerk’s office through February 14, 2021. Office hours vary by municipality. Some municipal offices may not offer additional in-person absentee hours Please contact your municipal clerk for absentee voting hours.
Jan 28, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
Last week President Biden said prior to signing an executive order, “ Let’s be clear: Transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time. There is no room for compromise when it comes to basic human rights.” He then proceeded to fulfill a campaign promise of reinstating the Obama-Biden guidance that Trump revoked and restored “transgender students’ access to sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms based on their gender identity. He will direct his Department of Education to vigorously enforce and investigate violations of transgender students’ civil rights.
Parents with children in public schools need to be aware of this change, but they also need to realize there is no federal law and no court decision that mandates that school districts make this their policy. None. Unfortunately, Biden is using the threat of removing federal funding from schools that don’t cooperate with his dangerous policy so most schools will just go along with it no matter the harm to students.
Related to this issue, be sure to click HERE to read “President Biden Has Promised to Pass the Equality Act—Here’s How That Threatens Your Freedoms” from Alliance Defending Freedom.
Jan 28, 2021 | Legislation, Wisconsin Family Voice
Last week, a public hearing was held in the Senate’s Committee on Human Services, Children and Families for the following bills:
Senate Bill 4 – Deals with prohibiting certain state and/or local officials from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine
Senate Bill 5 – Deals with prohibiting employers from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment
Senate Bill 7 – Deals with prohibiting local health officers from closing or prohibiting gatherings in places of worship during the coronavirus crisis
Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling testified in support of all three bills. Appling’s testimony on the vaccine-related bills focused on the right of individuals to determine for themselves whether they take the vaccine or not and reminded legislators that the state constitution clearly protects the right of conscience. On the bill related to closing churches, Appling noted that the law requires that churches be treated the same as other essential services, which some local officials had not done. The bills are scheduled to be voted on in the full Senate today.
Julaine Appling gave an update after lending her testimony at this public hearing. Watch the video HERE. For a full update on these bills and related legislative matters, listen to yesterday’s Home Front program HERE.
Jan 20, 2021 | Wisconsin Family Voice
UPDATED: 1/20/2021
Brief Recap
Important Update
What You Can Do
The Reality
Last week we alerted you to a bill that was in the State Senate related to COVID-19 issues. The purpose of this article is to provide you with an update and also to alert you to a public hearing that will be held this Thursday, January 21, 2021, in the state capitol on several stand-alone bills that will be mentioned below.
BRIEF RECAP
Earlier this month the State Assembly passed Assembly 1 (with one amendment), a bill related to COVID-19 matters in Wisconsin. Included in the Assembly bill was language that would have done the following:
1) Prohibited employers and state (primarily the Department of Health Services) and/or local health officials from mandating that a person receive a COVID-19 vaccine. (Please note: nothing in the bill would have mandated the vaccine. The provisions were about STOPPING, FORBIDDING any such mandates.)
2) Prohibited the state Department of Health Services and/or local health officials from closing or prohibiting gatherings in places of worship.
3) Limited the amount of time a public school can close down in-person instruction.**
**We alerted you to items 1) and 2) above, but not 3).
When the senate received the bill, senate leadership stripped out the language related to items 1-3 above. We asked you to call your senator and ask them not to pass the bill unless the above provisions were included. We know you did as we requested, but the Senate proceeded to pass the bill as amended and returned it to the Assembly for what is called “concurrence,” meaning the Assembly has to agree with what the Senate has given them. To date, the Assembly has not met for that vote. The vote in the senate was 30-2–with only one Republican and one Democrat voting against it.
IMPORTANT UPDATE
The Senate did not believe Gov. Evers would pass the Assembly version, but senate leadership believed everyone could agree that businesses, organizations, churches, etc., needed protection from people suing them because they caught COVID while on their property or at one of their events. Senate leadership got assurance from Governor Evers that he would sign a bill that focused primarily on this liability protection—and that’s what the Senate stuck with. However, Senate leadership immediately after the vote said they were not yet done with the issue and would be doing “stand-alone” (single issue) bills on several more COVID-related matters very soon. Wisconsin Family Action received assurances that this was true and that items 1) and 2) above would be among those bills.
Within a day, bills related to all three of the above-noted issues were being circulated for co-sponsors. And late yesterday, we learned that a public hearing is scheduled for all of those bills:
Senate Bill 4 – Deals with prohibiting certain state and/or local officials from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine
Senate Bill 5 – Deals with prohibiting employers from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine
Senate Bill 6 – Deals with limiting the amount of time a public school can close down in-person instruction
Senate Bill 7 – Deals with prohibiting local health officers from closing or prohibiting gatherings in places of worship
These bills are currently in the Senate’s Committee on Human Services, Children and Families, chaired by Senator André Jacque (R-DePere). The hearing will be held in Room 201 Southeast in the State Capitol beginning at 12 noon this Thursday, January 21. The overflow room for the hearing will be Room 300 Southeast. Senator Jacque is the author of Senate Bills 4, 5, and 7. The hearing notice is available HERE. Typically the bills are taken up in the order in which they are listed on the hearing notice, although the Chairman can at his/her discretion change the order.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Plan to attend the hearing and speak if at all possible. This is especially important for pastors and ministry leaders who are concerned about the reach of the state and/or local officials interfering with their church’s operation and ministry. Prepare written testimony if you are going to speak. Plan to bring 10 copies of your testimony with you. Helpful information regarding testifying at a public hearing is available HERE.
- If you can’t attend the hearing but want to let the committee members know your opinion on the bills and how you want them to vote, send them an email. You can email all 5 committee members by clicking HERE. You can also call the committee members:
Chairman Sen Andrè Jacque – 608-266-3512
Vice-Chair Sen Joan Ballweg – 608-266-0751
Sen Eric Wimberger – 608-266-5670
Sen. LaTonya Johnson – 608-266-2500
Sen Melissa Agard – 608-266-9170
- If you are not a pastor or ministry leader, be sure to forward this email to your pastor and let him know about the bill related to churches and the hearing on Thursday.
- If you are interested in watching the hearing, visit wiseye.org and click on “Live” or scroll down to a listing of the broadcasts for that day.
- Share this page/info with friends and family members who may be interested in these issues/bills.
- Pray! Last in the list but certainly not last or least in importance.
THE REALITY
Some have asked us why anyone should care about these bills, let alone work to get them passed in the state legislature, because it’s pretty much a given that the governor will veto them. That’s a legitimate question for sure. Our response to this is that, first, it’s always right to do right. These bills aren’t perfect. We wish they weren’t restricted to COVID-19; we think they should be broader in their scope and more general in their application. But in this situation, these bills certainly do what they need to do for the current crisis. Second, once the bills land on the governor’s desk, it’s all on him. He will have to answer to the public for why he wants to invade personal privacy and violate people’s conscience, medical decisions, and religious beliefs by allowing officials and employers to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine. He’s the one who will have to explain why he thinks churches should be considered “non-essential” in this crisis but abortion facilities and liquor stores are considered “essential.” Let him tell parents that he’s just fine with schools be shuttered indefinitely for in-person instruction. These bills will put Governor Evers clearly on the record–and that’s very important as we head into another election cycle. He’s up for re-election in 2022.
Many thanks for engaging in your government! Your voice matters regardless of who is in office at any level of government. Good citizenship requires we engage even when we don’t think we will “win.” God calls us to faithfulness–faithfulness to the truth and to our duty–not to victory. We are grateful for you!
THANK YOU–AND AN UPDATE!
Yesterday we sent out two rush emails when we learned about the State Senate going to the floor in just hours to vote on a bill that did not include language on at least two important issues–language that had been included in the Assembly version of the bill, AB 1. The two issues were 1) limiting the authority of the state (in particular the Department of Health Services) and/or local health officials from closing places of worship and/or limiting capacity during COVID-19, and 2) prohibiting employers, the Department of Health Services, and local health authorities from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine.
We urged you to contact your state senator immediately and ask them to vote no on the Senate’s version of the bill because these two issues were not included. We know you did as we asked, because we have heard from numerous senate offices saying their phones were very busy yesterday! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Those calls are so very important! One strategic senate office told me this morning that while their phones were very busy yesterday, they found the callers to be extremely polite. In fact, the staffer told me the callers were nice and courteous. This staffer was incredibly impressed. In case you don’t think how you speak to a legislator matters, well, here’s proof that it does. Thank you for calling and thank you for doing so with grace and civility. You have definitely made a difference. It is so true that for Christians, we must think bigger, look higher and expect more–of ourselves especially!
All that said, the Senate yesterday passed the Substitute Amendment to Assembly Bill 1 WITHOUT amending it to put back in the language related to the two issues I’ve noted: vaccine mandate and protections for places of worship. The measure passed with just two senators objecting: Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) and Senator Chris Larsen (D-Milwaukee). I knew when all but 1 Democrat supported this measure what had happened. The Senate had made a calculation that the governor would veto the bill as passed by the Assembly. Senate members especially wanted liability protections for businesses, schools, churches, etc. so that people cannot sue them for getting COVID because they were in their place of business or at an event sponsored by the entity. That liability protection was the central part of the Senate Substitute Amendment, and Senate leadership had received word that the Governor would sign that bill. As a result, the senate made the decision to pass the bill as they had amended it. Now it goes back to the Assembly for final concurrence and then to the governor for signing.
So what about our very real concerns for not having the vaccine mandated and making sure places of worship aren’t forced to close or to limit capacity?
As you can imagine, I was talking to senators yesterday about this. Immediately after the vote, I talked with a senator who said our concerns were going to be put into stand-alone bills and that these bills would be in circulation soon. I can confirm that this is true–and will give you the specifics as soon as the information is made public. The bills will need a significant number of co-sponsors, and we will be asking for your help to make that happen. Then, once they are introduced and assigned bill numbers and committees, public hearings will happen. We will let you know about those as well. The bills use the exact same language as what was in the Assembly’s original bill.
I’m encouraged by all this. I’m heartened that the new senate leadership, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and Senate President Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield), are listening to constituents and to us as an organization. We definitely need to hold our elected officials accountable, and I can assure you we will do everything we can to see that these standalone bills pass and go to the governor, even though he may and likely will veto them. I say let him veto them; November 2022 will be here faster than any of us realize (that’s when we elect a new governor).
In the meantime, I urge you to stay informed and involved. We will keep you updated on these bills and many others (some pro-life bills are already in the works) as we go through this legislative session. Your voice is unbelievably important. Elected officials do listen. I can’t say for sure that we wouldn’t be talking about standalone bills for the vaccine mandate and protections for places of worship if we hadn’t put some pressure on senators, but your calls definitely made sure they will be a reality.
Jan 11, 2021 | Press Releases, Wisconsin Family Voice
This past June in the aftermath of another national incident, we issued a statement based on Micah 6:8—
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
During the months and weeks leading up to the fall election, we especially encouraged Christians to follow the principles in II Chronicles 7:14—
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Today, we stand by these Scriptural injunctions and implore Christians in our home state and across the country to be circumspect, wise, prudent and prayerful as we respond both publicly and privately to the events that took place in our nation’s capital (and capitol) last week.
We do not condone violence or destruction of property during any protest or rally. We urge Christians to turn to the Word of God for clarity on civil disobedience. We encourage pastors to instruct their people and families to discuss these matters with their children, especially school-aged children who will be hearing these historic events regularly discussed and debated in their classrooms and beyond.
As for what now? We continue living as Christians—those who name the name of Christ and are His ambassadors—and we seek to live according to His principles and precepts. We share the Gospel; we pray for revival and for our state and nation; we raise strong, godly families; and we continue to be salt and light in the midst of this trying time, remembering the light never shines more brightly than when it is the darkest. We keep being good stewards of the government God has given us by being informed and involved citizens, and we worship the God who designed human government, recognizing He is truly God and is in control. May God give us great grace in the days ahead.
Dec 21, 2020 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
Written by David Prentice, Ph.D., Tara Sander Lee, Ph.D. for the Charlotte Lozier Institute:
Most COVID-19 Vaccines Do Not Use Fetal Cells for Production; Several Used Abortion-Derived Cell Lines in Testing; Experts Urge All Vaccine Developers to Use Noncontroversial Alternatives
Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) has published a new chart (see below) detailing whether the eight leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates supported by Operation Warp Speed are produced or tested using cells derived from abortions. The vaccine candidates evaluated are those produced by Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, Sanofi/GSK, Inovio, and Merck.
CLI’s analysis found that a majority of vaccine candidates did not use abortion-derived cell lines in their production. Several used abortion-derived cell lines in laboratory testing, or their use in testing could not be determined.
Accurate information about the development and production of COVID-19 vaccines is essential, especially because many proposed candidates use newer molecular technologies for production of a viral vaccine. CLI’s analysis utilizes data from the primary scientific literature when available, along with data from clinical trial documents, reputable vaccine tracking websites, and published commercial information.
It remains to be seen which vaccines will be approved for emergency use and how soon they will be available to patients. CLI will continue to provide the public with access to timely and accurate information so that individuals and families can weigh all factors – including secular science and religious traditions – and make vaccine decisions in line with their conscience.
[googlepdf url=”https://wifamilyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/12.04.20-warp-speed-vaccines.pdf” download=”Download” ]
Dec 10, 2020 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
ELECTION FRAUD HEARING: Tomorrow, December 11, 2020, the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections and the Senate Committee on Elections, Ethics and Rural Issues will hold a joint public hearing regarding allegations of election fraud in Wisconsin. Testimony will be heard only from people who have been invited to speak. Seating is very limited because of COVID restrictions. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. and is scheduled to end at 6 p.m. An overflow room and the rotunda in the capitol will be available once the main hearing room is full. The hearing room is 412 East in the capitol. You don’t have to go to Madison to listen to the hearing, however. Wisconsin Eye will carry the hearing LIVE. You can access it by clicking HERE.
Dec 9, 2020 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
Judge Amy Coney Barrett was on the proverbial “hot seat” in the US Senate Judiciary Committee for four days during the hearing to confirm her as an associate justice on the US Supreme Court. She had been the target of vitriol and even ridiculous statements and questions from liberals on the committee. Through it all, this wife and mother of seven, who is by everyone’s account a brilliant legal mind and excellent jurist, conducted herself with confidence without arrogance, dignity without defiance, and grace without groveling. We believed Judge Barrett would welcome receiving some encouragement from thousands of Wisconsin citizens who appreciate who she is and what she believes about the rule of law and the role of the courts. And so did you!
A campaign was launched by our organization to send a letter to Justice Barrett to let her know Wisconsin was thinking of and praying for her. Hundreds of you signed on to the letter and added your own personal notes. It was truly heartwarming to witness the outpouring of love and kindness towards Justice Barrett!
On October 21, 2020, we made a trip to our local post office to send off pages and pages containing all of these beautiful expressions of gratitude, commitments to prayer and more. Your words touched the heart of Justice Barrett who responded just this week with a personal letter!
WFA president Julaine Appling said, “Justice Barrett continues to show us she is a classy and gracious person. I must admit; getting a letter from a sitting US Supreme Court justice is a first for me. We are glad we took time to do this thank you to Justice Barrett and are certainly grateful for her kind acknowledgement. We wanted to be sure we shared her letter so those who signed could see Justice Barrett received the card and signatures and appreciated them. Thank you to all of you who participated!”
[googlepdf url=”https://wifamilyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DOC120820-12082020144913.pdf” download=”Download” ]
Once again, thank you to all who participated in this effort. “Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thess. 5:11 (NKJV)
Dec 8, 2020 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
How do those on the Left determine right from wrong? Since Marx, they’ve relied on a formula based on status, skin color, and wealth. But is that the way to reach a moral conclusion? Dennis Prager uses Israel and the United States to provide an illuminating perspective on this question.
Watch the video from Dennis Prager of PragerU HERE.
Dec 8, 2020 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
From WPR:
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin was in federal court Monday challenging three state abortion restrictions that the organization believes unconstitutionally limits access to care.
If successful, the lawsuit would broaden the ability to have an abortion in Wisconsin, particularly in rural areas of the state, where the procedure is not available.
Planned Parenthood provides abortion care at three of its 21 locations in Wisconsin: Madison; Milwaukee; and Sheboygan.
Tanya Atkinson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, said deciding to start a family, delay becoming a parent, or end a pregnancy are personal decisions.
“It’s our responsibility, and we are always looking for ways to ensure people have access to the health care they need,” Atkinson said. “Part of that means that if we prevail in this lawsuit, we could expand (abortion) access to other parts of the state.”
The lawsuit was filed in January 2019 and challenges several Republican-backed state laws, including one that allows only doctors to perform abortions. The group argues advance practice nurses, including nurse practitioners and midwives, should be able to perform abortions.
…
Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action, a pro-life organization based in Madison, said claims that women don’t have access to abortions are untrue.
“We believe this is a dangerous road for the state to go down,” Appling said. “Medical abortion is not without risk. If Planned Parenthood prevails, and they open up all of their sites to do these, women will suffer from that, and certainly their unborn children will be killed because of the courts.”
READ MORE HERE
Nov 30, 2020 | Projects, Wisconsin Family Voice
TOUR ARRIVING IN MADISON, WI ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2021
Every year, an average of 130,094 babies die in the Midwest because of the tragedy of abortion.
Sometimes, numbers like this are incomprehensible and we don’t truly take in the enormity of this loss.
That’s why this year Wisconsin Family Council is a proud co-sponsor (along with Pro-life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Right to Life, and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference) of the March for Life of Chicago’s Moving the Movement Tour, which is helping to collect 130,094 diapers for pregnancy resource centers across the Midwest.
Together, we can make a very real difference in the lives of babies and their mothers.
You’re invited to bring diapers of any size (we want to help babies throughout their first year) to any of the stops on the March for Life tour. Bring 1 pack or bring 3; each and every one will be a gift to those who receive it!
If you can’t attend in person, there is an easy option to donate diapers online!
This is a simple, yet powerful, way to witness to the gift of life and to serve families who need our help. Join us by SAVING THE DATE to drop off your diapers in Madison, WI, on Saturday, January 2, 2021.
Register by clicking HERE and you’ll receive updates on logistics, speakers, and more in the coming weeks.
This will be an exciting, strong, pro-life event, that is also safe and will follow guidelines from civil authorities.
CLICK HERE to learn more or to donate diapers securely online.
We’ll share more information on time and location as we get closer!
Nov 24, 2020 | Election Central, Election CTA, News, Wisconsin Family Voice
We’ve had a number of people ask what they can do to help with the US Senate run-offs in Georgia on January 5.
Background
Typically, no state can have both US Senators up for election in the same year. However, due to a death, Georgia had to have both a regular race for one US Senate seat and a special election for the other US Senate seat, both held earlier this month.
Georgia election law requires that to win a race, a candidate must get at least 50% of the vote. In both US Senate races, no candidate received 50% or more of the vote, forcing a run-off, where the top 2 vote getters in both races face off in an election scheduled for Tuesday, January 5.
Who Are the Candidates?
Incumbent Republican David Perdue is facing Democrat challenger Jon Ossoff in one of the US Senate races, and incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler is squaring off against Democrat Raphael Warnock.
Why are these run-off elections important?
The Republicans currently hold a slight majority in the US Senate. If the Democrats win these races in Georgia, that majority is gone; and the US Senate will be split 50-50. If Joe Biden becomes president, then Kamala Harris as vice-president becomes the tie-breaking vote in the US Senate.
Ideas for what you can do to help in Georgia?
- Pray that conservative, pro-life, pro-family, pro-freedom candidates prevail.
- Engage with MyFaithVotes, which is coordinating several options for people living outside of Georgia who want to help get-out-the-vote for these runoff elections. More information is available HERE.
- Give financially. Our sister organization in Georgia is working hard to turn out the vote and to make sure people are fully educated on the candidates and the critical issues. Secure online donations can be given HERE.
Thanks for remaining engaged as our nation continues to sort through this contentious election. Be assured that we are monitoring the Wisconsin recount and any lawsuits that may be filed here regarding the presidential election. We remind ourselves regularly that even in this, our great God is truly in control. We remain informed and involved, mindful of John Quincy Adams’ sage words: “Duty is ours; results are God’s.”
Nov 18, 2020 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
The Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of the Susan B Anthony List, has been tracking COVID-19 vaccine research and development. One concern regarding the ethical assessment of viral vaccines is the potential use of abortion-derived cell lines in the development, production or testing of a vaccine. In a recent update, available HERE, the researchers verify that a number of vaccine developers are using such cell lines. The Lozier Institute hopes by providing accurate data, recipients can make well-informed decisions regarding any vaccine choices.
WFA president, Julaine Appling, says, “Moderna Virus vaccine is very much in the news right now touting a nearly ninety-five percent effective rate. Lozier institute shows this vaccine did not use abortion-derived cells lines in the development or production but some tests have used such cell lines. Pro-life citizens need to know this information as we move closer and closer to an available vaccine. Ethics really do matter.”
Nov 9, 2020 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
You can now find Wisconsin Family Action on Parler @WIFamilyAction
