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This is just too good.

In a May 27 article for Evolution News and Views, Casey Luskin wrote a superb article describing the May 26 events that occurred in the Louisiana State Senate Education Committee. The comments by Dr. Wade Warren from Louisiana College were exceptional.

“Yesterday the Louisiana State Senate Education Committee voted 5-1 to kill SB 70, a bill intended to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act (LSEA). The LSEA was originally adopted in 2008 by an overwhelming bipartisan majority (Louisiana House: 93-4; Senate: 36-0). It is the first Academic Freedom law passed in the nation to protect public school teachers who teach students to think critically (read: scientifically) on controversial scientific topics like Darwinian evolution.

Before voting down SB 70 the Committee heard testimony from both sides. Predictably, opponents of the LSEA who wanted it repealed repeatedly talked about “creationism,” “creationism,” and also “creationism.” LSEA-critics didn’t quote from the law, and completely ignored the fact that the law prohibits any advancement of religion in the science classroom.

Those who supported the LSEA and opposed its appeal included Louisiana College biology professor Wade Warren, who explained why we should allow students to learn about both the evidence for and against evolution:

We should teach students about the standard pro-Darwin evolutionary viewpoint. But we should also expose them to credible scientific views that dissent from that position. I am just one of many such scientists who hold such a skeptical viewpoint. But isn’t that what science is about: encouraging students to think skeptically, and not dogmatically? The LSEA will help our state produce young scientists who understand science, and know how to think critically and use innovation to solve the problems currently facing our society. But without the Science Education Act, many teachers will be afraid to cover controversial scientific topics in an objective manner, out of fear of the same kind of attacks on academic freedom I have experienced in my own career.
Dr. Warren also presented to the committee a letter signed by 15 Ph.D. scientists which explained that even though a group of vocal Nobel Laureates had opposed the LSEA and supported its repeal, they were refusing to acknowledge the intent of the LSEA:

Vocal activists who oppose the LSEA are seeking to confuse the issue, since the LSEA is not about creationism. In fact, when a group of Nobel Laureates recently signed a letter calling for the repeal of the LSEA, it is noteworthy that their letter refused to quote from the law itself and instead harped upon the distraction of “creationism.” The truth is that LSEA does not permit teaching for or against any religious viewpoint.
[...]

If science educators follow the approach of LSEA-critics, science education will become science indoctrination. The few scientists who are pressuring you to repeal the LSEA do not understand the law, or are purposefully misconstruing the law, and do not speak for many scientists who support open and objective inquiry. True objectivity in science education demands that the LSEA remain in force. Louisiana should be proud that it is leading the way in science education.

Louisiana isn’t just leading the way in science education, but also in business. Some LSEA-opponents claimed the law would somehow harm the business climate in Louisiana by causing science and industry to leave the state. Against this ominous prophecy, Stafford Olivia Palmieri from Governor Jindal’s office spoke in support of the LSEA, noting that Louisiana’s economy has done much better than most of the United States in recent years since the LSEA was passed.

To illustrate her point, Palmieri read into the record praise for Louisiana’s business climate over the past couple years, as Louisiana recently received an award from Business Facilities magazine, as reported by BusinessReport.com:

“The diversity and growth potential of Louisiana’s top projects in both high-tech and traditional manufacturing, as well as healthy total investments, overall job creation and innovative incentives, made Louisiana a clear winner of our annual ‘State of the Year’ Award,” says Business Facilities Editor-in-chief Jack Rogers.
Prominent Louisiana legal voices also came to defend the LSEA. Judge Darrell White (Retired) read to the Committee a letter from Southern University law professor Michelle Ghetti explaining that the LSEA is completely constitutional. Professor Ghetti advised that the language and intent behind the LSEA are both above reproach, and thus should not be repealed on constitutional grounds. Another pro-LSEA speaker explained that there have been no lawsuits over the law.

There’s a good reason why there have been no lawsuits over the LSEA: despite their public rhetoric and talking points, even Louisiana Darwin lobbyists know in their heart of hearts that the plain language of the law does not protect the teaching of religion. Thus, it is noteworthy that the critics of the LSEA could not bring themselves to quote from the actual law itself during the hearing.

Perhaps you can read better than the Nobel Prize winners who opposed the LSEA: In the language from the law below, can you spot where the LSEA allows religion to march into the science classroom? From the law itself:

This Section shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion.
Indeed, when pressed, not a single opponent of the LSEA could point to any instance of religion coming into the classroom under the LSEA.

Some LSEA-critics didn’t even seem to understand the law. When one LSEA-opponent was asked if she was aware that the law mandates that “A teacher shall teach the material presented in the standard textbook supplied by the school system,” she replied that she was unaware the law made such a requirement.

Finally, the other talking point that LSEA critics repeated was the claim that “There is no controversy and nothing credible against evolution to present in science class.” This claim is unfortunate not just because it’s untrue, but because it stifles the academic freedom of teachers who want to expose students to multiple credible scientific viewpoints on evolution.

Ironically, when LSEA-critics denigrate those scientists and educators who doubt Darwinian evolution, they show exactly why academic freedom legislation is needed to protect the free speech rights of those who would express dissenting viewpoints. As Professor Wade Warren testified:

There are many other credible Ph.D. scientists, including biologists, who share my views. In fact, multiple professional biologists have testified in favor of this law in the past. Yet Darwinian biologists refuse to admit this fact. Let me give you a short anecdote from the Louisiana House Education Committee hearing on the LSEA.

After watching their pro-LSEA scientific peers testify about scientific problems with evolution, one anti-LSEA LSU biologist still had the audacity to testify before the House Education Committee that “there is no controversy among professional biologists about fact of evolution”. When one representative asked him, “Did you hear the testimony of the other professors we had here that were speaking before this committee?,” he fumbled in response. So please let me state plainly to you what is going on here: Some Darwinian activists have an agenda to impose censorship on students by bluffing that there is no scientific controversy over neo-Darwinian evolution.

LSEA critics are living proof why we need the law, because they refuse to admit that there is a scientific debate one evolution, and instead denigrate and deny the existence of those who are scientific skeptics of neo-Darwinism.

Thankfully, Louisiana legislators saw through the talking points of the Louisiana Darwin lobby and realized that the LSEA is necessary to protect sound science education.

http://www.evolutionnews.org/2011/05/science_law_and_economics_come046871.html

This is crunch time at the Louisiana state legislature. Bills that are not heard this week must resort to difficult parliamentary manipulations and many good, godly legislators are acutely aware of such.

This week there is an important hearing occurs in the House Ways and Means committee. Up for a discussion is the modifying of tax exemption for churches and nonprofits in New Orleans. HB 463, HB 473, and HB 484 are a package of bills that establish a procedure for charging ad valorem taxes on church and nonprofit property. There is “exclusive use” language in the bill but the big question is unanswered. Who determines what “exclusive use” looks like?

I know this is for New Orleans, but once the camel’s nose gets under the tent, it creates all kinds of havoc for others. The best choice is for the state or municipality not to determine what the purpose of a church’s ministry looks like. They would be well served to leave the Constitutionally guaranteed exemption in place and allow our churches and nonprofits to fulfill their mission goals as creatively has they see fit.

Several other important bills are up for discussion this week including HB 636 by Hoffmann “Signs of Hope” in the Senate Health and Welfare and HB 588 by Rep. Hoffmann, positive modifications to the textbook adoption process in the House Education.

While this is week is packed with plenty of legislative activity, next week is already loaded too. There are some important bills including Rep. LaBruzzo’s personhood bill scheduled for floor discussion on Monday, June 6. This bill is simple. It legally identifies the conceived child as a person. There are problems with this bill. While we are all about saving every life, this prolife bill is like the long touchdown pass to the end zone. There are some great risks. The challenge is that those opposed to the prolife movement are excited for the bill’s passage because they believe the courts will strike it and along with it other regulatory measures. Consequently, it sets us back rather than moving forward. Pray our legislators are wise and prudent.

This is captures the petition of my heart today:

“O Lord of Grace,
The world is before me this day,
and I am weak and fearful,
but I look to You for strength;
If I venture forth alone I stumble and fall,
but on the beloved’s arms I am firm as the eternal hills;
If left to the treachery of my heart I shall shame Your name,
but if enlightened, guided, upheld by Your spirit,
I shall bring You glory.”
(Vision, p 157)

One of the realities of working with public policies issues is that significant things happen quickly and there great danger with the seeming obscure.

On Monday, May 23rd
The House Civil Law Committee held public testimony for HB 288. The purpose of this bill was to allow two people who are not married to each other adopt a child jointly. On the surface it sounds rather innocuous. However, the primary proponent for this bill is the homosexual community.

The emotional testimony in committee centered around homosexual partners where one partner is the legal parent of a child and wants to add the other partner as a “second parent” on the child’s birth certificate. Oh my, how sin can complicate things.

For example, one testimony said that she and her partner were together for 19 years and then after 10 years decided to have children via sperm donation. Following the birth of these two children (the birth mom would be the legal parent), the two women separated. There was physical violence involved and the birth mom was jailed. The witness was devastated because she did not have a legal right to custody of the children. The witness wept through her very emotional testimony and her pain was clearly evident.

Let us be clear and loving here, scenarios such as this clearly illustrate that children suffer due to the choices made by adults, in this case, the birth mother who chose to conceive children via sperm donation, purposefully denying the children their birth father. My own written testimony stated that adoption laws are for the purpose of protecting children and must not be used for social engineering experiments.

How many times do we have to hear that the definition of the family is changing and it serves the children to adapt to the new and evolving parenting models? God’s design for the family and for child rearing is the union of one man and woman. Anything else falls short of God’s standard. We know that in our fallen world, marriages fail and people fall short. We live in a broken world with far too many victims. But in the case of unmarried persons adopting jointly, the state has no business in “normalizing” those who are attempting to humanistically re-write the definition of family. In 2004, 78% of Louisiana voters agreed with a constitutional amendment. The committee killed the bill by not allowing it to go any further.

Also, HCR54 by Rep. Hoffmann memorializes Congress to defund Planned Parenthood passed the House 72-20. Voting against the resolution: Anders, Badon, A., , Bishop, Brossett, Burrell, Dixon, Franklin, Gallot, Hardy, Honore, Jackson, G., Jackson, M., Jones, R., LaFonta, Leger, Moreno, Norton, Smith, P., Stiaes, Thierry

On Tuesday, May 24th
The House Health and Welfare Committee heard the substitute bill for HB 587 by Rep. John LaBruzzo which would directly challenge Roe vs Wade by prohibiting all abortions in Louisiana. This is the aim of prolifers. We’d love to be the first abortion free state.

The strategy of LaBruzzo’s bill is that this act would invite a lawsuit which could go all the way up to the Supreme Court, forcing them to revisit some of the arguments about when life begins and the 10th amendment right of states to prohibit abortion. The room was packed, mostly with supporters of the bill, but also with Planned Parenthood people in pink shirts. Sitting with Rep. Labruzzo to present the bill was Rebecca Kiessling, an attorney from Michigan and herself a survivor of abortion after her mother was the victim of rape.

Proponents of the bill argued passionately for the civil rights of unborn children. There was plenty of great testimony on the humanity and personhood of the baby. Planned Parenthood repeated the same old worn out excuses about why killing yet-to-be-born should be legal.

There are problems that must be resolved with this bill. There are some serious questions about the strategy of challenging Roe vs Wade at this time, given the current makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court. While the bill moved out of committee, it has some very troubled waters ahead because the strategy is questioned by honest prolife advocates. Using LaBruzzo’s analogy, is this the time to take the gamble and throw the long ball to the endzone? My heart says, “Yes.” My brain and experience says, “Not yet.”

The House and Government Committee heard HB 277 by Rep. Patrick Williams that places a privately funded monument of the Ten Commandments on capitol grounds along with other historical icons. This bill has part of its origin with pastor Mike Holloway of Cook Baptist Church, Ruston. Mike believes that since the Supreme Court ruled the Texas monument constitutional, then Louisiana should have the foundation of our law, the Ten Commandments represented too. There was some discussion about why other contributing foundation icons were not included but Rep. Williams superbly maintained the focus of the bill and it passed out of committee.
House Floor

Think about this . . .
“Be happy in Him, O my heart, and in nothing but God, for whatever a man trusts in, from that he expects happiness.” (Valley, p. 153)

The apostle Paul wrote the pragmatic solution, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2-3

Impress on my mind:
-the shortness of time
-the work to be engaged in
-the account to be rendered
-the nearness of eternity
-the fearfulness sin of despising the Spirit.
(Vision, 150)

“May I never give my Lord rest until Christ is the pulse of my heart; the spokesman of my lips, the lamp of my feet.” (Vision, p. 150)

This year’s legislature is grappling incredible issues. Part of the tension is the need to reduce the size of government and its obligations. But special interests want to protect their slice of the pie.

Many times the issue is not about money but power. Ultimately, we know that our God holds the power in heaven and earth. So when when push comes to shove on issues, I join with a host of Louisiana Baptists who say, “We choose the Lord over man.”

Today is a really busy day. Starting at 9 am there are several committee hearings of note.

1. The House Health and Welfare Committee takes up a “Personhood Bill” HB 587. This bill is may be considered “unnecessary” by some who rely on the Supreme Court decision of 1973 as their benchmark. But medical science is quickly eroding “Roe” and when it is overturned, states need to hold up the standard of what constitutes a person. This bill also says aloud that Louisiana is a culture of people who believe that life is precious from the womb to the tomb.

2. Senator Mount of Lake Charles has authored a bill to consolidate the state boards overseeing the Psychologists and Licensed Professional Counselors, SB 226. This appears on the surface to be a cost saving measure but the concern rests with the who will determine the context for assessment, diagnosis and treatment. What worldview will prevail? Will there be liberty to expresses our biblical world view? Our LBC Children’s Home operates the Granberry Counseling Center and they have some very legitimate concerns.

3.SCR 16 by Senator Walsworth is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate and Government Affairs Committee. This resolution encourages the legislature with private funding to erect a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the state capitol. Surely, with so many iconic symbols present, the very foundation of our state and national laws could be represented.

Also, for today on the House floor the Representatives are discussing two items of moral and social interest:

HCR 54 by Rep. Hoffmann – Memorializes congress to defund and appropriate no future funding to Planned Parenthood.

HCR 12 CHILDREN – Provides with respect to childhood addiction to pornography.

Last week note–Louisiana Baptist despise bullying. We believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect. Bullying has become a plague for our educational institutions and the legislature has responded with statutes to assist local school districts with establishment of protocols. However, HB 112, the bullying bill, that was discussed last week in committee, is not yet scheduled for House floor debate.

The subject of this bill has been hijacked by the Gay and Lesbian lobby by creating special classes of persons who are often victims of bullying. But if you create special classes the list never stops. One of the named classes is “sexual orientation.” Louisiana law does not define sexual orientation. Although an amendment by Representative Edwards failed to garner enough votes in committee, surely it will prevail on the floor.

During the testimony, the lobbyist brought to the table an 11-yr-old to testify that he was bullied because he was gay. The more important question overlooked in the committee was “WHO told this boy he was gay?” And if he has been a participant is homosexual activity, who did this to this boy? Has an offense of deep depravity occurred?

There are some good things in HB 112, but as long as the Gay and Lesbian lobby push this bill, it is destined for the trash heap.
Perhaps the majority of the legislators will amend this bill.

Pray for your elected representatives and senators. Many of them are good and godly people. The vast majority cherish your intercession.

As I prepared for a very busy day at the Louisiana State Legislature, I know that my heart must be tuned to the Master’s and the only way to get there is to pray and seek His face.

“Grant me more and more . . .
-to prize the privilege of prayer,
-to come to You as a sin soiled sinner,
-to find pardon in You,
-to converse with You;

To know You in prayer as
-the path in which my feet tread,
-the latch upon the door of my lips,
-the light that shines through my eyes,
-the music of my ears,
-the marrow of my understanding,
-the strength of my will,
-the power of my affection,
-the sweetness of my memory.

May the matter of my prayer be always wise, humble, submissive, obedient, Scriptural, Christ-like.

Give me unwavering faith that supplications are never in vain,
that if I seem not to obtain my petitions,
I shall have larger, richer answers,
surpassing all that I ask or think.”
(Valley of Vision, p 149)

At the end of Tuesday,
HB 420, an expansion of gambling, passed out of the House Commerce. Proponents claim that it is simply a bill to correct some procedures in collection. The question that remains unanswered is “Does this measure have the potential to expand the number of gamblers in the state of Louisiana?”

SB 74, a lottery expansion bill that would provide a mechanism for the Lottery Commission to collect donations for charity, namely the Cancer Society. This is such a bad idea that the author chose to have the measure deferred.

Today

The House Health and Welfare Committee has several measures under consideration:
HB 379 deals with the remains of aborted children. Shall the remains be treated with human dignity or as medical waste?

HCR 54 requests that the US Congress defund Planned Parenthood. This organization receives over a million dollars annually in Louisiana. While the organization in Louisiana claims it does not do any abortions, they oppose every measure that restricts abortions or relates to the sanctity of life.

Thursday
To be heard on the House floor, HB 636 by Representative Hoffman provides for signs to be posted in abortion facilities advising women that they cannot be coerced and that options exist. Pray for passage.