Jul 30, 2020 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
On Thursday afternoon, Governor Evers issued declared another statewide Public Health Emergency (Executive Order #82) that begins on Saturday, August 1 and continues through September 28. He also issued Emergency Order #1 which mandates “face coverings” (aka, “masks”) statewide.
While the Order does include a number of exemptions or exceptions (such as, you don’t have to wear a mask when eating, drinking or sleeping. Yes, these are specifically delineated in the order), the order raises questions about whether, for instance, churches and private schools have the right to exercise autonomy in this matter.
We have been in contact with constitutional attorneys who tell us it will take some time to completely assess the Order and to determine if a lawsuit is warranted and if so to get it filed, etc. One major legal question is whether the Governor even has the authority to issue a second 60-day Public Health Emergency for the same issue (COVID-19 in this instance).
Meanwhile, while the attorneys deliberate regarding a possible legal challenge, the state legislature does have a way to stop the Governor’s Order. The law that gives the Governor authority to issue a Public Health Emergency (Chapter 323…) states that the implementation of the order can be stopped by the Governor issuing another Order or by the state legislature passing a Joint Resolution.
Thursday afternoon, State Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) issued a press release in which he said the Governor’s Order was “illegal and unnecessary” and called for a special legislative session to stop the Order.
We believe this legislative approach is the best option to quickly counter the Governor’s newest edict. We are asking that you AS SOON AS POSSIBLE make 3 phone calls to help make this special legislative session and a joint resolution:
You can find contact information for your elected officials HERE (just put your address in the area at the top right of the page).
We know this is a confusing and challenging time for everyone. We are hoping our state legislators will step up and do the right thing in this instance and act as a “check and balance” to the executive branch. Wearing a mask should not be forced on everyone; the government can make recommendations, but ordering mask wearing and imposing a fine for not doing so is a breach of our individual freedoms and just may also encroach on our religious freedom as well. This is yet another powerful reminder that ELECTIONS HAVE VERY REAL CONSEQUENCES. Remember that as you vote this fall!
Jul 16, 2020 | Election Central, Election CTA, Wisconsin Family Voice
ELECTION DAY 2020 is coming! There’s so much at stake for our country in November. We can’t afford to go backward—and by promising to vote and then making sure you do you are taking an important step in making sure we can continue moving forward.
CLICK HERE NOW to solidify your commitment to VOTE on November 3, 2020. Then be a friend and share this pledge with your family, friends, neighbors, church leadership and community! Join with thousands of Wisconsin citizens in pledging to be part of the solution, not part of the problem!
Mar 19, 2020 | Wisconsin Family Voice
On Monday, March 16, Wisconsin Family Council (WFC) and DaySpring Church hosted, for the first time ever, the Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate Forum at DaySpring Church in Pewaukee. Candidates invited were Justice Daniel Kelly and Jill Karofsky. Karofsky did not attend the forum and did not respond to any of our invitation efforts.
On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Wisconsin has a critical Supreme Court election. As part of our organization’s attempt to do our best to engage with Wisconsin families about issues of great importance in The Badger State, we provided this candidate forum so you, as a voter, could take advantage of this opportunity to hear the candidates’ views on the role of the court, the upcoming election, their qualifications and more. Due to precautions stemming from the Coronavirus and in consideration of the Governor’s request that there be no events with over 50 people gathered (at that time), we were not able to allow the general public to attend this event. Instead, we made it available via our Facebook as a “live” event and our media host, VCY America, aired the event live via radio and also video recorded the Candidate Forum to be watched at your convenience HERE.
We extend our gratitude to our panelists, Daniel Reehoff of DaySpring Church and Jim Schneider, Executive Director of VCY America, as well as our media host, VCY America. We also thank Justice Daniel Kelly for his attendance and time spent discussing his judicial philosophy and responding to numerous questions from our panelists. Justice Kelly’s wife Elisa accompanied him to the forum.
Photo, left to right: Julaine Appling, Jim Schneider, Daniel Reehoff, Justice Daniel Kelly
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: If you missed the forum, you may simply CLICK HERE and watch at your convenience.
May 16, 2016 | News
2016 | May 16 Wisconsin conservatives move against counties issuing domestic partnerships to opposite-sex couples
May 16, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Wisconsin Family Action calls on Attorney General to stop the lawlessness
Madison – Last Friday, Milwaukee County Clerk Joe Czarnezki and Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell announced they are now issuing domestic partnership registrations to opposite-sex couples, in direct violation of existing state law.
In 2009, Governor Doyle and the state legislature enacted as a part of the state’s budget a statewide, same-sex-only domestic partnership registry that in many ways mimics marriage. Chapter 770 of the state statutes clearly includes the requirement that the two persons involved in this domestic partnership must be “members of the same sex” S.770.05 (5).
“It is unbelievable that these arrogant county clerks think they can just ignore the law and do what they want,” said Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action (WFA). “This is an amazing overreach of power. They are simply taking matters into their own hands and saying the State Constitution and any other binding law doesn’t matter. County clerks have absolutely no authority to unilaterally make law. None whatsoever.”
Wisconsin Family Action has fought against this registry from the time it was proposed. WFA sued alleging the registry violated the Marriage Protection Amendment passed by nearly 60% of the people in 2006. The case went to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, where WFA lost in 2013. At no point in these protracted legal proceedings was there anything in any court opinion, including in the Supreme Court’s ruling, indicating that the registry had to include opposite-sex couples. Likewise, the state legislature has not taken any action whatsoever regarding this registry.
Since last June, WFA has repeatedly asked elected officials, from the Governor down, to dissolve this domestic partnership registry, arguing that in light of the US Supreme Court in June 2015 legalizing same-sex marriage, the registry was no longer needed and was in fact discriminatory against heterosexual couples. Other than State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac), no official was inclined to take action.
Appling continued, “This registry was in retaliation against the marriage amendment. Proponents said it wasn’t ‘fair’ that same-sex couples couldn’t get benefits. The liberal progressives wrote and passed this law to try to erode marriage—and now liberals are trying to take it a step further with no legal authority again using the ‘fair’ argument. Clearly, making marriage utterly meaningless is their endgame. And clearly they will stop at nothing to get what they want—including ignoring the law. We are calling on Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel to issue an immediate injunction against this lawlessness.”
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide, not-for-profit organization actively strengthening, preserving
and promoting marriage, family, life and liberty in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
May 13, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Madison – Today President Obama formalized what he has been threatening for several weeks. Through a letter from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Education (DOE), every public school district in the country has been at least implicitly threatened with loss of federal funding if they don’t provide for transgendered students’ unfettered, unquestioned access to the restrooms and changing rooms of their choice.
Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action, commented, “President Obama has once again overstepped his authority. The administration cannot unilaterally decide to change the meaning of the word sex as used in Title IX. Congress, which established Title IX 44 years ago, and the Courts, have never defined sex to include ‘gender orientation.’ Regardless of what he thinks, President Obama is not a king. He doesn’t get to change the law and issue decrees based on his whims and wishes. That’s not how America works.
“This issue is about the privacy, safety and dignity of all students. With his edict today, President Obama has essentially put a price tag on the privacy and safety of students—especially female students. He’s threatened to withhold federal funding if schools don’t conform to his extreme political agenda that includes allowing males in the girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms and girls in the boys’ facilities. This puts the privacy rights, safety and well-being of all students at risk. And what about girls who have been sexually assaulted? This decree says their fears are meaningless and should not be considered. At a time when our society is decrying campus and date rape and rails against a so-called ‘war on women,’ you would think the government wouldn’t be interested in putting these women in situations that could easily re-traumatize them.”
Wisconsin Family Action asserts that today’s mandate is completely unnecessary. Common-sense accommodations are called for, not a blatant usurpation of the right of states and local school districts that takes an extreme and dangerous approach.
Wisconsin Family Action calls on all Wisconsin elected officials and public school administrators to stand against this most recent dictate from President Obama and his administration. Wisconsin schools must reject this extreme political agenda foisted on our state and our schools by an out-of-control federal government and take reasonable measures to safeguard the privacy rights and safety of all students.
Appling noted, “North Carolina has led the way on this issue and has stood firm; we need to follow their lead.”
Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide, not-for-profit organization actively strengthening, preserving
and promoting marriage, family, life and liberty in Wisconsin.
Online Copy Available here.
May 9, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Wisconsin Family Action stands with Gov. McCrory
Madison – Today, North Carolina, under the leadership of Governor Pat McCrory (R), responded full-force to the Obama Administration’s bullying regarding the state’s recently enacted, common-sense law (H.B. 2) that protects the bodily privacy and safety of its citizens, especially women and girls. The state filed a lawsuit today alleging that the federal government has overstepped its bounds with this “baseless and blatant overreach” in threatening to withhold millions of federal dollars to the state if the state doesn’t comply with its interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling commented, “Led by President Obama, this administration continues its pattern of capriciously circumventing Congress and making law with its outrageous and egregious declarations. This time the Department of Justice is the hammer. Fortunately for all of us, North Carolina has a courageous governor in Pat McCrory—a governor who refuses to be bullied by an out-of-control federal government.
“This issue isn’t just in North Carolina. It’s right here in Wisconsin in various municipalities and in our public schools. Representative Jesse Kremer and Senator Steve Nass authored a bill this last session to address this issue in our public schools. Unfortunately, the bill died in committee. But Rep. Kremer has made it clear, he’s coming back next session with a similar bill that will protect the bodily privacy of students in our public schools.”
The May 4 letter from the Department of Justice to Governor McCrory alleges that H.B. 2 is discriminatory. The letter references federal Title IX education programs and funding as it relates to the University of North Carolina, which is a veiled threat of stopping the millions of dollars in Title IX funding to UNC. H.B. 2 requires, among other things, that all state employees use the restrooms and changing facilities that correspond to their biological sex as stated on their birth certificates. Title IX is generally interpreted in light of how Title VII is interpreted.
“The net result of the Obama Administration’s action will be the rewriting of Title IX without authority and thereby forcing Obama’s ‘bathroom agenda’ in schools across the country, including in Wisconsin. This is constitutionally wrong, and it is definitely not in the best interest of students. Wisconsin Family Action stands firmly with Governor McCrory against the Department of Justice’s bullying,” Appling stated.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide, not-for-profit organization actively strengthening, preserving
and promoting marriage, family, life and liberty in Wisconsin.
Apr 11, 2016 | News
2016 | March 31 Wisconsin pro-life advocate hits Trump over comments about punishing women who have abortions
Apr 11, 2016 | News
2016 | April 5 Ted Cruz and Pastors Smite Donald Trump in Wisconsin
Apr 11, 2016 | News
2016 | April 6 Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Benefits From Cruz Victory
Apr 11, 2016 | News
2016 | April 10 Wisconsin’s establishment Republicans mobilized to score key wins
Apr 6, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Madison, WI – Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC (WFA PAC) released the following statement from WFA PAC director Julaine Appling, regarding Ted Cruz winning Wisconsin’s Republican Presidential Primary yesterday. (more…)
Mar 22, 2016 | News
2016 | March 22 Wisconsin’s Attorney General to Appeal Abortion Law to Supreme Court
Mar 16, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Madison, WI – Wisconsin Family Action Federal PAC (WFA PAC) announced today that it has endorsed Ted Cruz for president.
Following is a statement from WFA PAC director, Julaine Appling:
“WFA PAC is pleased to endorse US Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for president. We believe Sen. Cruz has the character, the temperament and the right values to lead America. He has proven throughout his career and during the campaign that he understands the importance of strengthening, preserving and promoting in this country natural marriage and family, the sanctity of human life and constitutionally-provided religious freedom. Read more here.
Feb 18, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Bills redirect taxp
ayer dollars away from state’s largest abortion provider
Madison – “We couldn’t agree with Governor Walker more,” said Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action. “As he noted at today’s billing signing, every taxpayer in Wisconsin, whether or not they are pro-life, should be pleased that with the signing of these bills millions of their hard-earned tax dollars will stop being used inefficiently and wastefully. And we would add, even fraudulently.”
Today, at a beautiful pregnancy resource center, Life’s Connection in Waukesha, Governor Scott Walker signed two bills into law, Assembly Bill 310 and Senate Bill 238. Assembly Bill 310 redirects federal Title X funds away from organizations that provide abortions and to other qualified health centers in the state. For the last 35 years, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has been the sole recipient of this money.
Read more here.
Feb 17, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Wisconsin Family Action and its national family policy alliance say questions remain for Donald Trump.
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action, along with CitizenLink and its national alliance of nearly 40 state-based family policy councils representing millions of Evangelicals nationwide, today released an open letter to presidential candidate Donald Trump calling on him to answer direct questions on his policy positions.
Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action, said, “Time is ticking. We want Mr. Trump to clear up his contradictory record on issues tens of thousands of Wisconsin citizens care about. We have invited Mr. Trump several times to join our Presidential Candidate Teleconference Series. He has yet to accept, leaving our constituents wondering.”
Read more here.
Feb 11, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Madison – “Stopping waste, fraud and abuse has been a hallmark of the state legislature recently, and today the Assembly stepped up once again to protect Wisconsin taxpayers from these misuses of their hard-earned tax dollars,” said Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action.
This afternoon the State Assembly passed a bill (SB 238) requiring certain family-planning organizations, including Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, to bill the state and its tax payers the actual acquisition cost of prescription drugs it purchases and dispenses through a Medicaid drug program, plus these organizations can bill for a defined dispensing fee. The bill passed on a 61-35 vote along party lines.
Read more here.
Feb 8, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Madison – Last week 34 US Senators and 140 Members of the US House of Representatives submitted a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the right of states to pass laws regarding protecting the health and well-being of women seeking an abortion. Among those senators and members of the House are Wisconsin’s US Senator Ron Johnson (R) and US House of Representatives members Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-CD 1), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-CD 5), Glenn Grothman (R-CD 6), Sean Duffy (R-CD 7) and Reid Ribble (R-CD 8). The case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, is scheduled for oral arguments on Wednesday, March 2, before the US Supreme Court. The Court will likely issue an opinion in this case by the end of June.
Read more here.
Jan 28, 2016 | News, Press Releases
Madison – “I can declare that a dog is a cat and that doesn’t change the truth or the reality—even if I dress the dog up like a cat. It’s still a dog,” declared Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling in a public hearing yesterday.
The Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations held a hearing Wednesday on a bill, Assembly Bill 800, that goes to great lengths to try to convince people that gambling is not gambling. The bill blatantly declares that Daily Fantast Sports (DFS) is not gambling and creates a means to legalize the games and regulate them, ostensibly for “consumer protection” reasons.
Read more here.
Jan 5, 2016 | News
2016 | January 5 Wisconsin “anti-abortion” advocates urge action on fetal tissue, Planned Parenthood bills
Jan 4, 2016 | News
2016 | January 4 Pro-life groups renew push for Wisconsin fetal tissue ban (AUDIO)
Jan 4, 2016 | News
2016 | January 4 TV Stations Censor Pro-Life Commercial Exposing Sales of Aborted Baby Body Parts
Jan 4, 2016 | News
2016 | January 4 Group launches ads calling for vote on fetal research bill
Aug 20, 2015 | News
2015 | August 19 State Lawmakers Target Fetal Tissue Research
Aug 10, 2015 | Contact Officials, News
In response to strong outrage elicited by the recent undercover sting videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of body parts from aborted children and the gruesome dissection of children in Planned Parenthood laboratories, Wisconsin’s pro-life champion Rep. André Jacque (R-De Pere) authored three new bills that ban the sale/transfer of baby body parts AND defund Planned Parenthood.
View the videos HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE–(Warning: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC)
NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN!
THIS TUESDAY, 8/10/2015, AT 10 A.M. is a PUBLIC HEARING at the WI State Capitol!
Attend the hearing and let your voice for the unborn be HEARD – INFO BELOW:
Assembly
PUBLIC HEARING
Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety
The committee will hold a public hearing on the following items at the time specified below:
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
10:00 AM
225 Northwest
Assembly Bill 305
Relating to: sale and use of fetal body parts and providing a criminal penalty.
By Representatives Jacque, Kleefisch, Brandtjen, Allen, August, Bernier, Born, R. Brooks, Craig, Czaja, Edming, Gannon, Heaton, Horlacher, Hutton, Jarchow, Katsma, Kerkman, Knudson, Kooyenga, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, T. Larson, Macco, Murphy, Neylon, A. Ott, J. Ott, Petersen, Quinn, Rohrkaste, Schraa, Skowronski, Spiros, Steffen, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Tranel, Vorpagel and Ripp; cosponsored by Senators Stroebel, Lazich, LeMahieu, Moulton, Nass, Roth, Tiffany, Gudex and Kapenga.
There are 12 members on the Criminal Justice Committee. If you are able to bring 12 copies of your statement with you to turn in at the hearing, each member will receive a copy to read after the hearing.
CAN’T ATTEND THE HEARING?
SEND A QUICK EMAIL to your legislators asking them to support these 3 pro-life bills. It’s EASY! We’ve already done the work for you! Click HERE.
TWEET out your thoughts using hashtag #DEFUNDPPWI this week!
If you have any questions, need assistance, or have never attended a public hearing before and would like guidance, contact our office at 608-268-5074 or (toll free) 866-849-2536.
Jul 30, 2015 | News
From the desk of Julaine Appling, WFA president:
By now you have probably seen or heard about the horrifying videos from the Center for Medical Progress, catching top abortionists in Planned Parenthood callously discussing the harvesting and selling aborted baby body parts. (more…)
Jun 19, 2015 | News, SCOTUS & Marriage 2015
Though marriage hangs in the balance in
America’s highest court, we have reason to hope!
Your gift now will protect your family AND religious freedom
(more…)
May 1, 2015 | SCOTUS & Marriage 2015
- Marriage by Design, Alliance Defending Freedom, 2015 – “The #1 action for churches and faith-based ministries to take now that the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether same-sex marriage is required by the constitution.”
- Suggested Language for Church By-Laws, Alliance Defending Freedom, 2015 – “Suggestions to strengthen the by-laws of a church to ensure the broadest possible protections of church autonomy.”
Apr 28, 2015 | News, Press Releases, SCOTUS & Marriage 2015
MADISON – This morning the US Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in four cases related to the definition of marriage. The now-consolidated cases come from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, covering Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. The high court decided to hear these cases after the 6th Circuit became the first circuit court in the country ruling that states do have the right to determine for themselves what marriage will be and have a compelling interest to restrict marriage to one man and one woman. Read more…
Apr 10, 2015 | News
2015 | March 5 Expanding school vouchers sparks lively debate
