Six months into the Obama Administration, the Senate is still considering nominees to fill vacancies in the Justice and State departments. In addition, Senate hearings will begin on July 13 for the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor.
Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court has been meeting with various senators. Senate Republicans sharpened their rhetorical attack on Sotomayor raising concerns about her extensive work for a Latino advocacy group, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, now known as LatinoJustice PRLDEF. According to Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), this organization is "clearly outside the mainstream of [the] American approach to matters" and "has taken some very shocking positions with respect to terrorism." Sotomayor worked with this public interest legal organization between 1980-1992 serving as a member and president of its board of directors. Any nominee to the High Court should be guaranteed a thorough and thoughtful examination, and the American people deserve full and responsible hearings so that the nominee's record and views are fully aired. This is the priority rather than rushing a nominee who will serve a life time term through the confirmation
Harold Koh, the outgoing dean of Yale Law School, was confirmed by the Senate to be the top lawyer at the State Department. Koh has drawn opposition from conservative groups who allege that he has supported applying international law in U.S. courts. Based on his writings and statements, many conservatives think that Koh aims to use international and foreign law to deprive Americans of our rights as American citizens. There is also concern that Koh favors treaties and United Nations conferences that undermine American sovereignty.
Kevin Jennings, founder of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), was appointed by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to be Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. GLSEN is the chief national group promoting policies to force affirmation of homosexuality in schools, beginning in kindergarten. GLSEN once sponsored a conference at Tufts University that was advertised to "youth only ages 14 to 21." Three homosexual activists employed by the Massachusetts Departments of Health and Education led a youth workshop titled "What They Didn't Tell You about Queer Sex & Sexuality in Health Class." We can only assume, given his past, that Jennings will steer grant money toward programs like those offered by GLSEN that put a homosexual agenda ahead of the rights of parents and the safety of students.
David Hamilton, former fundraiser for the controversial liberal group ACORN and nominee to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, has been reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a party 12-7 vote. Judge Hamilton has been surprisingly hostile to religious freedom, life, and basic public safety. In two of his most controversial cases, first striking Jesus' name from public prayers in the Indiana legislature and later abolishing abortion waiting periods, his decisions were immediately overturned. In the case of Indiana 's sectarian prayers, Hinrichs v. Bosma, Hamilton wrote that it was unconstitutional to pray in Jesus' name but entirely acceptable to pray in Allah's. The 2005 suit was significant enough that FRC filed an amicus brief.
Dawn Johnsen is a law professor at Indiana University who has been nominated to run the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice. Social conservatives have objected to Johnsen, who as head of the Office of Legal Counsel would be the president's top adviser on matters before the Supreme Court. She has also been under fire from conservatives for her criticism of the Office of Legal Counsel's conduct under the Bush administration and for her past work for abortion rights groups such as holding the position of Legal Director for the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (renamed NARAL Pro-Choice America). Dawn Johnsen opposes granting a fetus rights as an entity independent from the pregnant woman. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved her nomination after a contentious hearing, but then-ranking Member Arlen Specter opted to pass on voting on the nomination in committee. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has admitted that the 60 votes necessary to confirm Dawn Johnsen are not there.
Hate Crimes legislation passed in the House in early May. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, H.R. 1913, has now moved to the Senate for consideration under the title, "The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009," S.909. The enactment of so-called "hate crimes" legislation is a long stated objective of the homosexual agenda. H.R. 1913 or its Senate counterpart, S. 909, would establish a new FEDERAL offense for so-called "hate crimes" and add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as protected classes. It will mandate a separate federal criminal prosecution for state offenses. Adding "sexual orientation" to thought crimes legislation gives one set of crime victims a higher level of protection than it gives to others. All people deserve to be protected from crime, and equal protection under the law means equal protection for ALL. In a hearing on this legislation last Congress, Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) admitted that under the legislation pastors could be arrested for hate crimes based on what they teach and preach, which is certainly a violation of free speech and an example of unfair treatment under the law.
Health Care debate is heating up as Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Chris Dodd due to Sen. Ted Kennedy's illness, have begun circulating their plans for a massive health care overhaul. The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is set to mark up the "Affordable Health Choices Act" in early July. Of particular concern are the provisions for "reproductive health services," which is code language for federally funded abortion. Following the markup the bill will come before the Senate Finance Committee, and then the full Senate will vote on the legislation. The current proposal includes a government-run program that will make coverage more expensive and could also force more than 100 million Americans out of the health care coverage they currently receive. Democrats are now seeking ways to pay for this estimated $1.2 trillion health care overhaul in the face of mounting trillion dollar deficits. Additionally, this plan represents an unprecedented reach of a federal entitlement program into the nation's middle class. An alternative plan for health care reform is being circulated by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK).
State Department Reauthorization, H.R. 2410, has moved to the Senate and been referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. This bill authorizes $18 billion in fiscal 2010 for the State Department, U.N. peacekeeping and other diplomatic programs and attempts to create an Office for Global Women's Issues, which has the potential to be a global abortion clearinghouse at the State Department. H.R. 2410 would also fund same-sex domestic partnership benefits for Foreign Service Officers and require the assistant secretary for democracy, human rights and labor to track violence or criminalization based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. H.R. 2410 passed the House by a vote of 235-187.
