Jan 5, 2022 | News, Press Releases
WISCONSIN FAMILY ACTION JOINS 30 OTHER
STATE FAMILY POLICY COUNCILS
OPPOSING BIDEN’S EMPLOYER VACCINE MANDATE
MADISON, WI – Wisconsin Family Action, along with leaders and representatives from 29 other states, is part of a coalition of state family policy council organizations from across the country opposing the illegal Biden employee vaccine mandate by filing a legal amicus (friend of the court) brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of N.F.I.B. v. D.O.L, U.S., No. 21A244. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in court on this fast-tracked case this Friday, January 7.
Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action, issued the following statement:
“Wisconsin Family Action is honored to join 30 other state family policy organizations and leaders in filing a brief that highlights the threat to religious freedom, a critically important and foundational freedom, that is at risk with such a dangerous and rushed rule that sidesteps Congress and cuts out the American people. Today, more than ever, it is necessary that we stand up to and fight back when our religious freedom, as well as other freedoms, are attacked”.
The brief explains that “unelected and unaccountable administrative agencies” tend to be hostile to religious freedom by treating it as “an afterthought, an inconvenience that stands in the way of their desired policy.” Religious liberty is “a vital and enduring thread in the nation’s fabric.” Further, OSHA’s rulemaking not only circumvents the normal process for lawmaking through Congress, but also through state legislatures—and the states have a much better track record for safeguarding religious liberty.
For religious employers in particular, the brief states that OSHA’s rule amounts to “indirect coercion [that] contradicts fundamental religious autonomy principles.”
The case, brought by a union of states and business industry groups, challenges the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) nationwide vaccine-or-testing rule for U.S. businesses with 100 or more employees.
In addition to Wisconsin Family Action, 30 family policy organizations (representing entities from 29 other states and a national organization) signed on to the legal brief as amici curiae, including California Family Council, Family Institute of Connecticut, Delaware Family Policy Council, Florida Family Policy Council, Frontline Policy Council (Georgia), Idaho Family Policy Center, Indiana Family Institute, The Family Leader (Iowa), Kansas Family Voice, The Family Foundation (Kentucky), Louisiana Family Forum, Christian Civic League of Maine, Massachusetts Family Institute, Michigan Family Forum, Minnesota Family Council, Montana Family Foundation, Nebraska Family Alliance, Cornerstone Policy Research of New Hampshire, Family Policy Alliance of New Jersey, Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, North Carolina Family Policy Council, North Dakota Family Alliance, Center for Christian Virtue (Ohio), Pennsylvania Family Council, Palmetto Family Council (South Carolina),Texas Values, The Family Foundation (Virginia), Family Policy Institute of Washington, and Family Policy Alliance.
The legal amicus brief filed at the U. S. Supreme Court can be found here.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving, and promoting marriage, family, life, and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
Dec 3, 2021 | News, Press Releases
Federal Election Commission uses donor exposure tactics to silence nonprofits
MADISON, WI – Yesterday, through attorneys with the Institute for Free Speech and Michael D. Dean, LLC, Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) filed a federal lawsuit aimed at stopping a massive expansion of the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) donor disclosure mandates for nonprofit groups that advocate for the election or defeat of federal candidates.
WFA filed the lawsuit to protect its right to speak independently to the public about various federal candidates in future elections. In recent years, the FEC has suggested that federal law required a nonprofit who advocates for the election or defeat of a federal candidate and spends $250 or more to communicate their message, to publicly disclose the name and addresses of every person who gives the nonprofit as little as $200 in a calendar year.
“Wisconsin citizens who support our work should never have to worry that their personal information will be shared with the FEC, and thus be made publicly available. We know from personal experience that those who oppose our mission and our values are not above harassment and threats. This lawsuit is a preemptive measure to ensure our freedom of speech is protected and that our friends who financially support this organization are not subjected to disclosure or any acts of retaliation,” commented Julaine Appling, president of WFA.
“If the FEC’s interpretation of the law is correct, it’s unconstitutional. Americans have a right to support nonprofits without being reported to the Federal Election Commission or having their personal information plastered all over the internet. The First Amendment doesn’t allow the government to make such sweeping demands for sensitive information about our support for nonprofit causes,” said Don Daugherty, Senior Attorney at the Institute for Free Speech.
The case is Wisconsin Family Action v. Federal Election Commission in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Green Bay Division. The complaint is available HERE. The press release for Institute for Free Speech is available HERE.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
Dec 3, 2021 | News, Press Releases
MADISON, WI – Earlier this week, Governor Evers celebrated the launch of the first-ever online gambling/sports betting operation in Wisconsin at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Oneida Casino in Green Bay. Governor Evers amended the Oneida compact to allow online sports gambling in the Oneida Casinos earlier this year. Per Wisconsin law, the governor has unilateral ability to amend the gambling compacts with the Native American tribes.
Studies in the U.K., where sports betting has been legal for some time, have shown an explosive increase in teen gambling addiction. One study found more than 50% of 16-year olds had sports gambling apps on their phones before such betting was even legal there. “We know gambling operators target ads to the mostly likely segments of our population to wager; that audience is young males in their teens through early 30s,” said Julaine Appling, President of Wisconsin Family Action. “This is a vulnerable group whose cognitive ability to associate behavior with consequence is not fully developed which is exactly why they are so heavily targeted.”
The state of Michigan has set records in online gambling and sports wagering revenue just 10 months after going live. In that same time frame, the gambling addiction hotline saw a 33% increase in calls (over 2,000 more calls) in just one year. Analysts and recovery advocates have raised concerns about the lack of education and awareness campaigns directed at gambling addiction similar to ones that focus on drug and alcohol addictions.
It is expected that the remaining 10 tribes will line up to amend their compacts to allow for online sports betting, creating the largest expansion of gambling in Wisconsin history.
“Gambling is a zero sum game. It creates no new wealth, and little to no economic multipliers in the local economy. It’s a short-sighted revenue stream for government as eventually people play to extinction. The biggest winners will be the casinos and the government, all at the expense of Wisconsin citizens,” said Lorri Pickens, Executive Director of Citizens Against Expanded Gambling.
Wisconsin deserves better from its leaders. Governor Evers should always put Wisconsin citizens first.
Copy available online here.
Jun 17, 2021 | News, Press Releases
STATE ASSEMBLY PASSES FREEDOM & EQUALITY BILLS
Legislators recognize personal medical rights & fairness in athletic competitions
MADISON, WI – Yesterday the Wisconsin Assembly passed three important bills. These bills are now in the state Senate, and if passed there, will make it to the governor’s desk.
AB 299: This bill protects the rights of individuals to choose not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by banning businesses and government from requiring their customers and employees be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus or any of its variants. Wisconsin Family Action supports this bill and in the public hearing testified in favor, along with literally dozens of passionate Wisconsinites who are concerned about the erosion of their freedoms. AB 299 passed with 59 Republicans and 1 Democrat voting in favor, while 37 Democrats voted against.
AB 195 and AB 196: These are the Protecting Women’s Sports bills. They are designed to protect women and girls from having to compete against biological males in college and K-12 athletics. AB 195 protects women’s sports in UW System schools and technical training schools. AB 196 protects girls in K-12 public schools, as well as private schools participating in Wisconsin’s Parental Choice programs. Wisconsin Family Action supports these bills and testified in favor of both of them during the public hearing. Both AB 195 and AB 196 passed on strict party-line votes, 59-38, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against.
Wisconsin Family Action president, Julaine Appling, commented, ”We’d like to thank the authors, as well as the Assembly leadership, for moving these essential bills. The bill related to the vaccine issue is fundamentally about recognizing and protecting our right to make our own medical decisions and not being discriminated against because of our choice. The Protect Women’s Sports bills are about fundamental fairness for women athletes who should not be robbed of opportunities because biological males are allowed to compete on or in a girls’ or women’s team or competition. It’s encouraging to see so many legislators understand these ideas and act on them. We urge the Senate to do the same and give Governor Evers an opportunity to also protect our freedom and to ensure fairness for girls and women.”
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
Jun 3, 2021 | News, Press Releases
Pro-Family PAC Announces Endorsements for Assembly District 37 Special Election
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action Political Action Committee (WFA PAC) announced today that it has endorsed the following candidates for the special election for Assembly District 37. The primary for this election is Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
Cathy Houchin
Nick Krueger
Jennifer Meinhardt
William Penterman
Nathan Pollnow
Julaine Appling, WFA PAC Director, commented, “It’s always encouraging to have candidates who understand the importance of Wisconsin’s best natural resource—her families—and who are prepared to do all they can to strengthen, preserve and promote marriage, family, life and religious freedom, as well as the rule of law and a strong economy by supporting capitalism and free enterprise in our state. These candidates have been carefully vetted and have met a rigorous standard to earn our endorsement. We wish them all the best as they campaign hard between now and the primary and thank them for stepping up to enter public service.”
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC and Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Copy available online here.
Jun 3, 2021 | Legislation
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILLS 299, 303, 309, 316, & 347
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTION AND ETHICS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021
JULAINE K. APPLING, PRESIDENT
Read online here.
Thank you, Chairman Wichgers and committee members, for the opportunity to testify on Assembly Bills 299, 303, 309, 316, and 347. Wisconsin Family Action supports these bills that address a critical issue in our state. We are grateful for the authors who have taken the lead on these bills and for the co-sponsors who have stepped up to lend support.
At the outset, I want to be perfectly clear that we take no position on whether or not an individual should take the COVID-19 vaccine or any other vaccine for that matter. We are not in any way dismissive of the virus. Like virtually everyone in our state, we have been affected by its reach in our own families and organization. We are not making any kind of judgment in this testimony as to the efficacy of or the necessity for the vaccine. That is not the point or purpose of these bills.
The bills taken as grouping each do what we believe needs to be done: prohibit any effort by any entity to require any COVID-19 vaccination or to require proof of one having had said vaccine.
One issue we do have with any vaccine, including the COVID-19 vaccine, is whether or not the research and/or testing has involved the use of the cells or tissue or any body part of an aborted baby. And that reality does play into our position on these bills because people should be able to choose not to take a vaccine that in its development violates a person’s core, deep-seated beliefs and convictions. That choice should be protected—and we believe it is—by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and by Article I, Section 18 of our Wisconsin Constitution, which gives unequivocal protection to the right of conscience:
Article I, Section 18, Wisconsin Constitution
Freedom of worship; liberty of conscience; state religion; public funds. SECTION 18. [As amended Nov. 1982] The right of every person to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of conscience shall never be infringed; nor shall any person be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry, without consent; nor shall any control of, or interference with, the rights of conscience be permitted, or any preference be given by law to any religious establishments or modes of worship; nor shall any money be drawn from the treasury for the benefit of religious societies, or religious or theological seminaries. [1979 J.R. 36, 1981 J.R. 29, vote Nov. 1982] [emphasis added]
We believe deciding to take a vaccine is a personal matter, even a matter of conscience. Individuals might also involve a doctor in their decision, but even that choice is up to the individual. No vaccine should ever be forced on people, not even during a declared “emergency.” As you will hear today and as you know, vaccines are potent pharmaceuticals. Every vaccine has a risk-benefit associated with it, and people are entitled to determine for themselves whether they want to assume the risk for any benefit the vaccine may bring.
In a country where the rule of law is supposed to be at the heart of how we do government, we cannot set aside the Constitution, either the US Constitution or our state constitution, even during a health crisis. To the contrary, constitutions are meant to ensure protections even during the worst of times. Giving government officials at any level of government the authority to mandate a vaccine or proof of vaccination threatens the rights of individuals. These bills appropriately restrict that authority and ensure that the rule of law is respected.
When it comes to employers, we firmly believe employees do not forego their constitutional or legal rights when they sign on to work at a given company. Receiving a vaccine or having to provide proof of vaccination should not be a condition of employment. Consider the precedent that would be set if this prohibition does not happen or if such discrimination is permitted. Right now, COVID-19 is the virus we are fighting. Tomorrow it could be something different for which scientists develop a vaccine. We could have situations where a person would need to get multiple vaccines just to have a job. To not prohibit this vaccine mandate and having to provide proof of vaccination would put us on the proverbial slippery slope—which seems to always take us further and take us faster than we ever imagined.
For those who would say that Wisconsin has three vaccine exemption options and that should be sufficient to cover the current vaccine situation, thereby making these bills unnecessary, we respond that we have learned over the last year that once a state or local official declares an “emergency,” safeguards and options we thought were available can be quickly set aside, legally or not. We have no confidence that these exemptions apply in general, say, to an employee or to an individual citizen seeking service at a business, or that if they do apply more generally, that they would be upheld during a declared emergency. Simply put, we need these specific safeguards.
Frankly, our only concern with all of these bills, with the exception of AB 309, is that they are specific to the COVID-19 vaccine. We believe they should be more generally applicable so that we do not have to revisit this issue for any future health crisis we face in the state. AB 309 appropriately makes vaccination status non-specific so that we are not back here next year seeking similar protections from possible vaccination mandates and/or proof of such vaccination regarding another virus or disease.
Individuals and families are being asked to deal with a great deal right now. They should not have to be concerned that they will be violating a law if they decide not to take the COVID-19 vaccine and therefore have no proof of such vaccination, and they should not have to be concerned that their employment would be in jeopardy should they decline the vaccine. Enacting the measures included in these bills would ensure authority would not be abused, would uphold the rule of law, and would help families avoid additional stress. We urge this committee to pass these bills quickly and move them to the full Assembly where we hope they will receive swift passage.
Thank you for your attention and thoughtful consideration of our position on these bills.
May 27, 2021 | Legislation
Read testimony on AB 195 HERE.
Read Testimony on AB 196 HERE.
Read Testimony on SB 260 HERE.
Read Testimony on SB 261 HERE.
Read Testimony on SB 322 & SB 323 HERE.
May 26, 2021 | News
Today is going to be a busy day in Madison! Wisconsin Family Action will be testifying on 4 separate bills: AB195/SB323, AB196/SB 322, SB 260, and SB 261. More information about each bill is given below. Will you join us in prayer today as we and many others will testify and present the truth in our capitol today?
AB 195/SB 323 and AB 196/SB 322: These bills are the Protect Women’s Sports bills. The bills stop biological males from participating in girls’/women’s sports. AB 195/SB 323 prohibits this at the UW System schools and the technical training schools, both publicly funded institutions of higher learning. AB 196/SB322 does the same thing in Wisconsin’s public K-12 schools and private schools participating in a parental choice program.
We have hearings today in both the Senate and the Assembly on these bills.
SB 260: This bill would close loopholes in the law to make it clear that the UW Madison and the UW Medical College cannot have any kind of funding relationship with Planned Parenthood to train residents to do abortions or to provide UW doctors to Planned Parenthood to do abortions.
SB 261: This bill would add additional information that would need to be tracked and reported after an induced abortion is performed. The additional information includes reporting the sex of the baby if that can be visually determined and if there is any fetal anomaly. The bill would also require reporting the identity of the facility where the induced abortion takes place. The author of the bill, Senator Jacque, yesterday offered an amendment with a number of additional points of information that would need to be determined and reported.
The two pro-life bills will be heard in a Senate committee today.
Each of these bill is important to help protect our families here is Wisconsin. Please keep us in prayer today for knowledge and wisdom and please keep praying as these bills continue through the legislative process.
Apr 7, 2021 | News, Press Releases
Wisconsin Family Action PAC Congratulates Winning Endorsed Candidates
Pro-family, pro-life, pro-liberty candidates perform well
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.
“John Jagler and Elijah Behnke were in special elections, each of which had its own challenges. We know John Jagler; we’ve seen him and worked with him since he first was elected to the Assembly a number of years ago. Our full expectation is that John will continue to work hard to strengthen, preserve and promote our conservative values.
“Elijah Behnke is a newcomer, but brings great energy and common sense, in addition to solid conservative values and positions on the issues most important to us—all of which in some way relate to making sure Wisconsin’s best natural resource is strengthened—our families. Elijah understands that when our families are strong and independent, Wisconsin is also strong.
“ We look forward to good reports on the work of Appellate Judge Grogan and to working directly with Senator-elect John Jagler and Representative-elect Elijah Behnke to accomplish much that will advance the pro-life, pro-family, and pro-liberty values of tens of thousands of Wisconsin citizens.”
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Copy available online here.
Mar 11, 2021 | News, Press Releases
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action Political Action Committee (WFA PAC) announced today that it has endorsed the following candidates in the respective races for the spring nonpartisan general election on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
District II, Wisconsin Court of Appeals
Shelley Grogan
Senate District 13 (Special Election)
John Jagler
Assembly District 89 (Special Election)
Elijah Behnke
Fond du Lac City Council
Daniel Degner
WFA PAC endorses legislative and local official candidates who have either proven track records of strengthening, preserving, and promoting marriage, family, life, and religious freedom or who give strong evidence of doing that if they are elected. Judicial candidates must be Constitutional originalists (or textualists), show judicial restraint, reflect an appropriate judicial temperament, and eschew making law from the bench.
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Copy available online here.
Feb 11, 2021 | News, Press Releases
Pro-Family PAC Announces Spring Primary Election Endorsements
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action Political Action Committee (WFA PAC) announced today that it has endorsed the following candidates in the respective races for the spring nonpartisan primary election next week on Tuesday, February 16, 2021.
Senate District 13 (Special Election)
John Jagler
Don Pridemore
Assembly District 89 (Special Election)
Elijah Behnke
Fond du Lac City Council
Daniel Degner
WFA PAC carefully vets each candidate; candidates receiving WFA PAC’s endorsement have met a rigorous standard. WFA PAC endorses candidates who either have proven track records of strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious freedom or who give strong evidence of doing that if they are elected.
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC and Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Copy available online here.
Oct 27, 2020 | News, Press Releases
JUDGE AMY CONEY BARRETT BECOMES JUSTICE BARRETT
US Senate confirms President Trump’s conservative nominee to high court
MADISON, WI – On a 52-48 vote, yesterday evening the US Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, as an associate justice to the United States Supreme Court. The vote was along party lines with the notable exception of Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) who voted with the Democrats.
The following statement can be attributed to Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action:
“This is one of the good consequences of having a president who has been committed to conservative judicial appointments. Justice Barrett showed during her confirmation hearings that she is imminently qualified in judicial philosophy, temperament and character to serve on our nation’s highest court. I have no doubt that we will, as a nation, be well served for years to come by this wife and mother of seven who is a brilliant legal mind and has also had a distinguished legal career.
“The Supreme Court will be dealing with extremely important issues in the days ahead. Breaking the current possibility for a tie vote is critical. It is encouraging to know Justice Barrett is a true Constitutional originalist who is committed to the rule of law and knows the role of the court is to interpret the law, not make it. That bodes extremely well for any issue that comes before the court, including elections, abortion, marriage, health care, property rights, religious freedom or any other matter.
“While the liberals have called the process ‘illegitimate’ and accused the Senate Republicans of hijacking the system, the truth is the Constitution and even the Senate’s own rules have been followed. The president is president for the entire four years; not for just a portion of it. The Senate is elected to do its job all the time, including during election cycles. This process as it has played out since the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last month is a powerful and very timely reminder that elections really do have consequences.
“Wisconsin Family Action wishes Justice Barrett all the best as she begins serving on our Supreme Court.”
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
Oct 13, 2020 | News, Press Releases
Pro-Family PAC Issues Final Endorsements for Fall General Election
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action Political Action Committees (federal and state, WFA PAC) today released the complete list of candidates they have endorsed for the fall general election.
WFA Federal PAC
President US House of Representatives
Donald Trump Scott Fitzgerald – Congressional District 5
Glenn Grothman – Congressional District 6
Tom Tiffany – Congressional District 7
WFA State PAC
State Senate
Alciro Deacon – Senate District 6
Joan Ballweg – Senate District 14
Scott Barker – Senate District 16
Duey Stroebel – Senate District 20
Dan Kapanke – Senate District 32
State Assembly
Shae Sortwell – Assembly District 2 Michael Schraa – Assembly District 53
Ron Tusler – Assembly District 3 Rachael Cabral-Guevara – Assembly District 55
Rob Hutton – Assembly District 13 Dave Murphy – Assembly District 56
Joe Sanfelippo – Assembly District 15 Timothy Ramthun – Assembly District 59
Janel Brandtjen – Assembly District 22 Robert Brooks – Assembly District 60
Dan Knodl – Assembly District 24 Donna Rozar – Assembly District 69
Paul Tittl – Assembly District 25 Scott Soik – Assembly District 71
Terry Katsma – Assembly District 26 Chuck Wichgers – Assembly District 83
Cody Horlacher – Assembly District 33 Mike Kuglitsch – Assembly District 84
Barbara Dittrich – Assembly District 38 James Edming – Assembly District 87
Alex Dallman – Assembly District 41 Scott Allen – Assembly District 97
Jeremy Thiesfeldt – Assembly District 52
Julaine Appling, Director of WFA PAC, commented on the endorsements:
“Our PACs are looking for candidates who meet our rigorous criteria for endorsement—candidates with either proven track records of promoting and defending in every way marriage, family, life, and religious freedom, as well as our system of free enterprise, or those new candidates who are at least strongly ‘talking the talk’ on these issues. We believe this slate of candidates lives up to that standard. We urge voters in their districts to support them in every way during these final days before the election.”
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC; Leslie Harrison, Treasurer, and Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC; Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Sep 23, 2020 | News, Press Releases
PRESIDENT TRUMP STEPS UP AGAIN FOR LIFE
Says he will sign “born-alive” Executive Order
MADISON, WI – Earlier today President Trump via a previously recorded video for the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, said he would be signing an Executive Order that would ensure babies who somehow survive a grizzly abortion receive medical care just as do babies who are born in other circumstances.
Calling the order the “Born-Alive” Executive Order, the president declared “the eternal truth that every child, born and unborn, is made in the holy image of God” and vowed that he will “always defend the sacred right to life.”
Congress has tried several times to pass “born-alive” legislation, but the bill has never made it through both houses.
“Protecting life is always right regardless of when or where,” commented Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action. “President Trump has an extraordinary track record of matching his actions to his words on this foundational issue. As an organization dedicated to protecting the sanctity of human life, we are incredibly grateful for this pro-life announcement.
“What the president has said and the order he is going to sign stand in stark contrast to what Governor Evers did when he was presented a born-alive bill from our state legislature earlier this session. In less than 24 hours, the governor had vetoed that bill in full, showing a total disregard for human life. Elections really do have consequences—sometimes even life-and-death consequences.”
As of the publication of this release, the text of the order was not available to the public.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Aug 4, 2020 | Election Central, News, Press Releases, Wisconsin Family Voice
[googlepdf url=”https://wifamilyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WFAPAC_FED_andSTATE_PR_073020.pdf” download=”Copy Available Online Here” ]
Aug 3, 2020 | Election Central, News, Press Releases
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action Political Action Committee (WFA PAC) announced today that it has endorsed the following candidates in the respective races for the primary election next week on Tuesday, August 11. These candidates are in addition to those announced last week.
State Senate
Cherie Link – Senate District 10
Jim Engstrand – Senate District 28
State Assembly
Rachael Cabral-Guevara – Assembly District 55
Donna Rozar – Assembly District 69
Julaine Appling, Director of WFA PAC, commented on the endorsements:
“We are pleased to endorse these candidates. We have great confidence that they will each use their public office to strengthen, preserve and promote the core issues of marriage and family, the sanctity of human life and religious freedom, in addition to standing strong for limited government, responsible taxation and spending, educational freedom, and free enterprise. We urge voters in the respective districts to support these candidates in this primary and beyond. Wisconsin families will be well served by these citizens seeking to become statesmen and stateswomen.”
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC and Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
[googlepdf url=”https://wifamilyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WFAPAC_STATE_PR_080320.pdf” download=”Copy available online here.” ]
Jul 8, 2020 | News, Press Releases
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WINS AT US SUPREME COURT
Wisconsin Family Action responds to the decisions
MADISON, WI – The US Supreme Court has upheld religious freedom in every challenge brought against it this session, with two more victories today. Today’s rulings make it clear: The government cannot dictate hiring policies for religious entities, but it can provide for exemptions based on religious and conscientious objections.
The First Amendment indeed means the right to freely exercise one’s religion for both private religious schools and religious entities. That government cannot override that right for faith-based organizations.
In its ruling in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru St. James School v. Biel, the Court rejected the notion that Catholic schools must allow teachers who do not hold to the faith.
Justice Alito wrote the majority opinion, stating in part, “The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission.” In referencing a previous case, the justice writes, “What matters is what an employee does. Implicit in the Hosanna-Tabor decision was a recognition that educating young people in their faith, inculcating its teachings, and training them to live their faith are responsibilities that lie at the very core of a private religious school’s mission.”
The Court also upheld First Amendment rights in the second case today, Little Sisters of the Poor and Paul Home v Pennsylvania. The Court held that the government cannot force the nuns to take part in insurance coverage that includes contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs, in violation of violating their religious beliefs.
It is the second time The Little Sisters of the Poor have successfully defended their faith at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Justice Thomas wrote the opinion in which Alito agreed, “I would hold not only that it was appropriate for the Departments to consider RFRA [Religious Freedom Restoration Act], but also that the Departments were required by RFRA to create the religious exemption (or something very close to it). I would bring the Little Sisters’ legal odyssey to an end.”
Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action, commented, “The two opinions are lengthy and will take more time to fully digest and apply to Wisconsin law. But they send a very clear message: First Amendment protections of the exercise of religion are not only core to our country’s founding, but they remain relevant and crucial today in the face of much hostility.”
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
Jun 29, 2020 | News, Press Releases
MADISON, WI – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision that devalues women’s health and the lives of their unborn babies, disregards states’ rights, highlights bad judicial precedence and advances abortion.
In a 5-4 decision, the high court determined that Louisiana’s law that would require abortionists to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of where an abortion is being performed puts an “undue burden” on women seeking an abortion and is therefore unconstitutional.
Chief Justice John Roberts cast the deciding vote, joining the pro-abortion justices Kagan, Sotomayor, Ginsberg and Breyer, who wrote the majority opinion. Roberts wrote his own concurring opinion. Justices Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, and Gorsuch all dissented, at least in part.
Roberts largely based his decision on the stare decisis, which is the idea that previous court decisions dictate, in large part, the way the high court will determine current and future decisions. He opined that the Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstadt decision arising in Texas and decided in June 2016 dictated how the current case had to be decided. In Whole Women’s the Supreme Court ruled 5-3 that abortion restrictions Texas had enacted restricted access to abortion and put an “undue burden” on women seeking an abortion. Requiring admitting privileges was one of the restrictions in the Texas law.
Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling commented, “I find Roberts’ legal analysis and decision incredibly weak and quite frankly dangerous. As Roberts noted in his own concurrence, stare decisis is not ‘an inexorable command,’ Yet he inexorably and wrongly followed it in this decision.
“If the court somehow sees itself as duty-bound to this legal idea, then bad decisions will be and have been, in general, indefinitely perpetuated. Whole Women’s Health was a bad decision. Using it as the reason for another bad decision from the high court in this current case is not just lame but is downright dangerous to the health and safety of women.
“Louisiana passed this law with the well-being of women in mind. They had every right to do so, just as we did in Wisconsin when we passed enacted the same law in 2013. Planned Parenthood immediately challenged our law. As a result, it has never been enforced here; and now we know it likely never will be. The Supreme Court had a perfect opportunity to right a wrong. The Chief Justice chose to sabotage that effort. Americans deserve better from their high court.”
Wisconsin Family Council, the educational arm of Wisconsin Family Action, was part of a friend-of-the-court amicus in support of the State of Louisiana in this case (June Medical Services L.L.C. v. Gee).
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
May 21, 2020 | News, Press Releases
Pro-Family PAC Endorses Donald Trump for President
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action Federal Political Action Committee (WFA PAC) announced today that it has endorsed Donald Trump and his candidacy for the 2020 presidential election.
Julaine Appling, Director of WFA PAC, commented on the endorsement:
“During his first term in office, President Donald Trump has shown that his campaign promises were more than empty rhetoric. Time and again President Trump has taken action on issues of paramount importance to our organization and to the tens of thousands of Wisconsin citizens who engage with us.
“In his policies, President Trump has kept his promises to defend innocent human life; restore and respect religious freedom; promote school choice; befriend and defend Israel; cut taxes; improve the nation’s overall economic position; deregulate businesses; and in general make America great again both at home and abroad.
“Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, under President Trump’s leadership America enjoyed the highest median income, the lowest levels of unemployment, and the strongest economy ever recorded, lifting millions of Americans out of poverty. President Trump has a proven track record that has rebuilt the middle class, and we believe the continuance of these policies will provide the best path to recover from the aftermath of COVID-19.
“President Trump’s ability to get things done in Washington is unprecedented. He has fought for and stood up for marriage, family, the sanctity of human life, and religious freedom time and again. It is on the basis of his leadership and promises kept that Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC is proud to endorse President Trump in his re-election bid this fall.
“Regardless of who ends up running against President Trump, the contrast will be stark on these core issues. We want Wisconsin citizens to know early-on that we wholeheartedly endorse what this president has done on the issues of greatest concern to us. President Trump’s policies have shown an incredible regard for the nation’s most valuable natural resource—our families. No other viable presidential candidate has done or will do that.
“We urge Wisconsin citizens to join us in championing the policies of President Trump and ensuring he is given four more years to keep America great.”
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Copy Available Online HERE.
Feb 19, 2020 | News, Press Releases
Wisconsin Family Action PAC Congratulates Winning Endorsed Candidates
Kelly and Tiffany garner most votes across the board in Primaries
Madison, WI – Wisconsin Family Action PAC (WFA PAC), the state’s only conservative pro-family PAC, endorsed Justice Daniel Kelly for Wisconsin Supreme Court and State Senator Tom Tiffany for US House, District 7, in advance of yesterday’s primary election.
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. We urge conservative Wisconsin citizens to give these candidates not just their vote in the general election, but their time, energy and financial support over the next seven weeks.
“Justice Daniel Kelly is well positioned to go head to head with Judge Karofsky in the general election. Justice Kelly has everything we look for in a judge, especially for our state’s highest court. He has made it very clear and very public that his judicial philosophy is that the courts are not lawmakers; that’s the job of the legislature. The role of the judiciary, as Justice Kelly puts it, is to interpret the laws according to the clear language of state statutes and the Wisconsin Constitution and the US Constitution. Deciding a case based on a political or personal agenda is outside the purview of a justice.
“Tom Tiffany has served in our state legislature since 2010, both in the Assembly and currently in the Senate. Over those years, he has taken a number of tough votes involving our core issues of marriage, family, life and religious freedom. His voting record clearly shows he is reliably conservative in every sense of the word.”
Wisconsin voters who support upholding the rule of law should vote for Justice Kelly for Wisconsin Supreme Court, while Wisconsin voters who live in the 7th Congressional district and want conservative values taken to Washington, should vote for Tom Tiffany. The general election for Supreme Court will be held on April 7. The general special election for the 7th Congressional District is on May 12.
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC and Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Read online here.
Feb 18, 2020 | Press Releases, Wisconsin Family Voice
PARENTS BRING LAWSUIT AGAINST MADISON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Represented by Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, parents seek to protect their rights
MADISON, WI – Today a group of parents with children attending school in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) pushed back against the District’s unconstitutional overreach and usurpation of their rights as parents.
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) is representing fourteen parents from eight families in a lawsuit filed in Dane County. The lawsuit challenges MMSD policies that allow children as young as kindergarten to change their gender identity while at school without any parental notification, let alone consent. Beyond that, the policies require MMSD employees to keep from parents, even to the point of deceiving them, anything about the gender identity their child has chosen to display at school. While this case is specific to MMSD, the decision will have statewide implications.
Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action, commented: “These policies are wrong. They don’t just violate the constitutional rights of parents, which is certainly bad enough, but they are harmful to children. No school should have any policy that keeps parents in the dark about anything that concerns their children.
“For several years our organization has been alerting parents across the state to the possibility of these types of policies being formed and implemented in school districts in their communities. While Madison’s policy has come to the public’s attention, we believe parents should be contacting their local school boards to find out what policies, whether explicit or implicit, are being followed in their schools on this important issue of gender identity and parent notification and consent.
“We are grateful to these Madison parents and to WILL for taking this much-needed action. Parents don’t jettison their rights when they send their children to a public school. Protecting those rights is essential to the health and well-being of the children.”
The complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court is available HERE.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious liberty in Wisconsin.
Online version here.
Feb 17, 2020 | Capitol Connection Newsletter
2020 Winter Capitol Connection
Feb 13, 2020 | Election Central, Press Releases, Wisconsin Family Voice
Madison, WI – Wisconsin Family Action PAC (WFA PAC), the state’s only conservative pro-family PAC, announced today it has endorsed incumbent Justice Dan Kelly for a ten-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
WFA PAC director Julaine Appling, commented, “Justice Dan Kelly has everything we look for in a judge, especially for our state’s highest court. He has made it very clear and very public that his judicial philosophy is that the courts are not lawmakers; that’s the job of the legislature. The role of the judiciary, as Justice Kelly puts it, is to interpret the laws according to the clear language of state statutes and the Wisconsin Constitution and the US Constitution. Deciding a case based on a political or personal agenda is outside the purview of a justice.
“Justice Kelly well understands that the rule of law is not just a nice-sounding phrase but is a pillar of our form of government. Part of the rule of law is respecting the unique role of each branch of our government. He also has the judicial temperament, the legal background, and the character that make him the best qualified candidate for this position on our state’s Supreme Court.”
Two challengers are facing off against Justice Kelly in this race, with one making it clear that she will advocate for “social justice issues” and the other making his Hispanic heritage and the “diversity” he would bring to the court the centerpiece of his campaign. Both candidates have been backed by known liberal groups and individuals.
The primary election for this race will be on Tuesday, February 18, 2020. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the primary will move on to the general election on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
“We are proud to endorse Justice Kelly and urge citizens across the state to support him with their votes and influence. He’s exactly the kind of judge we need to keep on our State Supreme Court,” said Appling.
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Jan 23, 2020 | News, Press Releases, Wisconsin Family Voice
STATE ASSEMBLY PUTS ADULT DESIRES ABOVE BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN
Vote this week weakens institution of marriage & removes protective measure for children
MADISON, WI – This past Tuesday during its floor session, the Wisconsin State Assembly, under its Republican majority leadership, rammed through a bill that not only weakens the institution of marriage but puts children involved with a divorce at a much greater risk of confusion and trauma.
Assembly Bill 439, authored by Republicans Representative Cindi Duchow (Pewaukee) and Senator Alberta Darling (River Hills), completely eliminates the waiting period for remarriage after a divorce is finalized. Currently the waiting period is six (6) months and has been that for decades. The vote on the bill was done by a voice vote, which is quickly called for and accomplished by the gaveling of the speaker pro tem who is in charge of the session. Using a voice vote means individual representatives do not have an opportunity to record an identifiable “yes” or “no” vote on the bill, which essentially means no one can be held individually responsible or accountable.
Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action, responds to the vote.
“It was obvious from the moment this bill was introduced that Republican leadership was determined to pass it. In the public hearing I offered two very reasonable ideas for amendments: keep a waiting period of some sort for couples with minor children and rather than eliminate the waiting period entirely for everyone, reduce it to 3 months. The authors were not in any way interested in those ideas, nor was the committee chair.”
“Divorce, even in the best of circumstances, takes a toll on everyone involved. The adults need a cooling-off period and children definitely need some processing time before one or both parents launch into a new marriage. The state has a vested interested in marriage primarily because the state cares, or should care, a great deal about the next generation. Research, anecdotal evidence and common sense all show children are tremendously impacted when their parents divorce. They are at risk of negative outcomes in basically every area of their lives. When a remarriage happens, it’s another whole set of adjustments and realities children must deal with, like the total realization that their mom and dad are never going to get back together again, in addition to blended family challenges. Their world really is off kilter. A judicious waiting period helps protect children. The state Assembly just jettisoned that protection. Essentially, the Republican leadership forced a vote on its members that puts adult desires ahead of the well-being and best interest of children.
“Marriage as institution is weakened by this bill, as well. Statistics continue to show that second marriages are at a higher risk of divorce than are first marriages. Wisconsin already has the worst divorce laws in the country. With our “no-fault/no-contest” divorce laws, getting a divorce is as simple as telling a court you want one. Passing such a bill contributes to more second, third and beyond marriages that are more likely to dissolve than go the distance, thereby weakening the foundational institution of marriage. From an economic perspective, more divorces, means more taxpayer money spent on the high public costs associated with each divorce.
“I heard from a good number of legislators prior to the floor period that they were opposed to this bill, but unfortunately because of fear of repercussions, no one was willing to go to the mat on this bill and call for a roll-call vote. We can only hope the Senate will understand the truth about this bill and not force its members to vote against the best interests of children.”
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and religious liberty in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
Jan 21, 2020 | Election Central, Press Releases, Wisconsin Family Voice
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action Federal Political Action Committee (WFA PAC) announced today that it has endorsed Tom Tiffany and his candidacy for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District seat in the US House of Representatives.
Julaine Appling, Director of WFA PAC, commented, “Tom Tiffany has served in our state legislature since 2010, both in the Assembly and currently in the Senate. Over those years, he has taken a number of tough votes involving our core issues of marriage, family, life and religious freedom. His voting record clearly shows he is reliably conservative in every sense of the word.
“To receive WFA PAC’s endorsement, candidates have to meet stringent requirements, which Tom has done. He has shown that he understands that to lead Wisconsin and our nation properly and to ensure our future, our best natural resource—our families—must be strengthened and preserved. He is committed to doing that by working to, among other things, reduce government regulation, improve the business climate in order to encourage job creation, ensure families can make their own health-care choices, protect human life, and strengthen the institution of marriage. These are values WFA PAC shares with Tom and with thousands of Wisconsin citizens in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.
“We are pleased to endorse Tom Tiffany and encourage the citizens of the 7th Congressional District to support him in this special election. We have no doubt they will be well-served by him.”
The primary for this special election will be held on Tuesday, February 18, with the general election on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Copy available online here.
Oct 7, 2019 | Capitol Connection Newsletter
Oct 7, 2019 | Capitol Connection Newsletter
Aug 5, 2019 | News
Friday, August 2, 2019
You are receiving this email because according to our records you live in the city of Sheboygan. If that is not accurate, please let us know; and secondly, if you know someone who does live in the city of Sheboygan, please forward this email to them. Thank you!
We are sorry for the late notice on this, but we just today learned that the Sheboygan Common Council is going to be voting this coming Monday, August 5, on a proposal that will ban so-called “conversion therapy” for minors. Obviously, the intent has been to move this proposal quickly and quietly so as to not give citizens much time to respond. In a call made this morning to the City Clerk’s office inquiring why the agenda for the upcoming meeting wasn’t yet posted online, the clerk responded with, “Well, we only have to post the notice 24 hours in advance,” which in this case would be Sunday late afternoon. From my perspective, while that may be legal, it’s terrible governing, at a minimum.
The ordinance is essentially the same as the other community’s have passed. The idea is basically to stop anyone from offering real help and real hope to minors struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction or unwanted gender identity issues. The proposed ordinance would apply to any person, which in the actual wording means not just an individual but businesses, organizations and even churches. A “person” would be prohibited from offering counseling that is Christian or biblical–because the intent of such counseling would be contrary to what the new law would allow. As is typical with these ordinances, they allow and even encourage counseling that affirms and encourages same-sex attraction and gender “transgendering.” But any counseling of a minor that does not affirm and encourage a minor in these areas would be forbidden, including counseling by a pastor or ministry leader or a Christian counselor–if a fee is paid for such counseling. However, legal experts in this area have repeatedly told us that no one knows for sure what “for a fee” really means, making that murky language at best and certainly subject to litigation. Also like the others this proposal also has no religious exemption, which means, at a minimum, a Christian counselor who works for a counseling center that clearly charges a “fee” for services would be prohibited from offering true biblical counseling to a minor whose parents sought him/her out for help with unwanted same-sex attraction or unwanted gender-confusion.
This proposal is dangerous and unconstitutional. It trounces on parents’ rights and on religious freedom of counselors and ministry leaders. It is dangerous in that it encourages minors to continue on paths that will very often lead to heartache and even major health issues.
Now is the time for you to let your Sheboygan Common Council know your opinion of this proposal and how you want them to vote. We hope (and encourage) you to graciously but firmly urge your elected officials to oppose this proposal and vote no this coming Monday. Here is a link to find out who your alderman is and how to contact him/her (email or phone): http://www.sheboyganwi.gov/officials/common-council/. It’s important you know 5 of your 10 alderpersons, Sorenson, Felde, Ackley, Donohue and Savaglio, have co-sponsored this proposal. If the Council votes 5-5 on this issue, then your Mayor, Mike Vandersteen, would cast the deciding vote. So contacting Mayor Vandersteen is very important as well. The Mayor’s phone number is 920-459-3317. His email is mayor.vandersteen@sheboyganwi.gov.
It’s very important that you know if you want to speak at the meeting Monday evening, you must call and register with the clerk’s office by noon Monday, August 5. Public comments happen early in the meeting and speakers are asked to restrict their comments to no more than 5 minutes. The clerk’s phone number is 920-459-3361. We hope many will attend the meeting and that many will also speak.
The meeting is at 6 p.m., Monday, August 5, at the Sheboygan County Courthouse, 5th Floor, 615 N. 6th St., Sheboygan, WI.
In an article in yesterday’s Sheboygan Press, Alderperson Felde says this is a personal matter for her since she has “a child who identifies as a member of the LGBT community.” Alderperson Sorenson says, in the same article, those supporting the ordinance see it as a public health issue and that Sheboygan is “not going to tolerate child abuse.”
Friend, this is not a matter of public health and because one’s child identifies as LGBT does not mean this is good or right policy. For a sitting alderperson to maintain that not passing this ordinance means Sheboygan is tolerating child abuse is nothing but an open scare tactic, just as are the opening words in the ordinance, which says, “The City of Sheboygan is a welcoming community to all people, and does not accept bigotry and hate” (emphasis added). Officials want to be sure anyone who objects knows they are being labeled as hateful and bigoted. This is a shameless attempt to silence opposition to this very dangerous and wrong ordinance.
Three other important action steps you can take:
1) Share this email with others you know who live in the city of Shebogan and urge them to join you in contacting your local officials and getting the word out.
2) Check with your pastor to be sure he knows about this issue–and encourage him to contact all of the council members and the mayor. This is VERY important!
3) Plan to attend the council meeting on Monday–and encourage others to join you, including your pastor.
God bless you for anything you can do to stop this very bad proposal from moving forward in your city!
Jun 18, 2019 | News, Press Releases
WISCONSIN FAMILY ACTION RESPONDS TO JEWISH COMMUNITY
RELATION COUNCIL’S FLAG COMPARISON ALLEGATION
MADISON, WI –Yesterday the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation along with Diverse & Resilient (D&R) (a pro-LGBT organization) jointly released a statement falsely accusing Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) of comparing the so-called “Rainbow Pride” flag to a Nazi flag. This was in response to a press release in which the following question was asked regarding Governor Evers’ divisive and exclusive action:
“By ordering this flag to fly over the state capitol, Governor Evers is proclaiming one group of Wisconsin citizens as preferred over others. He may have the authority as governor to make this decision; but in our opinion, he made a blatantly bad decision. Would the Governor authorize the Christian flag to be flown over the capitol or a Nazi flag or any number of other flags representing all sorts of Wisconsin citizens and their beliefs?”
JCRC and D&R stated in their press release that they were “disappointed and outraged about Wisconsin Family Action’s comparison of the Pride flag with the Nazi flag.” WFA did not compare the “Pride” flag with the Nazi flag any more than it compared it to the Christian flag. That reference was clearly part of highlighting the reality that there are many citizen groups in this state that have beliefs and identities that could ask for the same special treatment to recognize them as the Governor has done with this “Pride” flag. Sadly, the use of “identity politics” is not a new strategy for those who want to use emotional manipulation to get people to react a certain way and come to a specific conclusion, even if the reaction and conclusion are based on inaccurate or untruthful information.
Wisconsin Family Council, our sister organization, has launched a petition that has, in only a few short days, garnered 6000+ signatures and continues to grow. Wisconsin’s citizens are exercising their voice in sending the message to Governor Evers that they don’t feel represented by this latest tactic and are asking him to take the “Pride flag” down.
Note: The JCRC of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation should not be mistaken for the Milwaukee Jewish Community (MJC). A call was placed yesterday to MJC who, in turn, informed us that statements placed by JCRC are not a reflection of their organization. According to the spokesperson, the JCRC “does not speak for us.”
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and liberty in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
Feb 27, 2019 | News, Press Releases
MADISON, WI – Today the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, chaired by Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), held a public hearing regarding the confirmation of Governor Evers’ nominee Andrea Palm as Secretary of the Department of Health Services (DHS).
As Secretary-designee, Ms. Palm has already hired Nicole Safar as Assistant Deputy Secretary of DHS. Ms. Safar is no stranger to state government as she has been lobbying on behalf of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin for over a decade.
Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling expressed concern about the direction DHS is going under the Evers administration. “DHS’s job according to its website is ‘protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin.’ Having Ms. Safar in a key leadership role in this agency indicates to me that DHS is going to be much more about special interests and political agendas than about the needs of Wisconsin citizens. Frankly, I share Senator Duey Stroebel’s concern as expressed in the press release he issued today about Ms. Palm and Ms. Safar looking for ways to work around laws in order to direct taxpayer funds to abortion groups such as Planned Parenthood.”
“This move, along with Governor Evers appointing Tanya Atkinson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, to his Health Advisory Board, bodes ominously for unborn children and their mothers. Abortion isn’t health care—for women or their unborn babies. It certainly doesn’t qualify as ‘protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin.’ As Senator Stroebel pointed out, Wisconsin and its citizens deserve better when it comes to the leadership at DHS.”
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving and promoting marriage, family, life and liberty in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
