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Last night HB 2147, which provides an abortion funding opt-out for ObamaCare, and patroned by Delegate Ben Cline (R-24, Rockbridge), barely made it out of a House sub-committee on a 6-5 vote. It next goes to the full House Commerce and Labor Committee Thursday afternoon.

Please contact members today and ask them to vote to report HB 2147.

HB 2147 was introduced as a preemptive measure to ensure that Virginia taxpayers are not forced to subsidize abortion in ObamaCare’s mandated state-run health insurance exchanges. If Virginia’s constitutional challenge is ultimately not successful, and ObamaCare gets fully enacted, Virginia could potentially offer taxpayer funded elective abortion coverage through its insurance exchange. Pro-family citizens opposed to abortion would be mandated to fund this unethical destruction of human life.

Anticipating this problem, there is a clause in the federal health care law that allows states to opt out of abortion funding in their statewide exchanges.  More than 30 states have either passed or are introducing opt-out legislation regarding the coverage of abortion in these exchanges, while Pennsylvania and Maryland are offering this coverage.

Even so, debate was hot last night in subcommittee (see video below). NARAL’s representative claimed in her testimony that “this bill is the ultimate example of government intrusion into private contracts.” If excluding taxpayer dollars from funding elective abortion is “the ultimate” in government intrusion, what exactly is ObamaCare? Others argued that this bill is premature, since a health care exchange has not been set up yet in Virginia — exactly why we (and those 30 states) must be proactive, not reactive, in preventing the funding of the destruction of human life.

HB 2147 is on the docket for the House Commerce and Labor committee meeting this Thursday afternoon. Committee members need to hear today from their constituents on the importance of this bill!

Delegate Cline makes the case: Virginia must be prepared not to spend taxpayers’ money on elective abortion.

Hearing is sometimes not believing, which is good when NARAL presents testimony.

After two weeks of delays, one of the most important committee votes of the 2011 General Assembly will take place Friday morning in the House Privileges and Elections Committee. Members will consider a constitutional amendment to safeguard your property rights from the power of eminent domain by state and local government and utilities. It is the last chance the committee has to approve the resolution if it is to meet the “crossover” deadline and pass it to the Senate. If there is no constitutional amendment passed this session, the earliest chance Virginians will have to vote on one will be November 2014.

It is urgent that you contact committee members to support this vitally important issue. Better still if one is your delegate. Click here for links to their contact information.

There are two identical resolutions before the committee: HJ 647, patroned by Delegate Rob Bell (R-58, Charlottesville) and/or HJ 693, patroned by Delegate Johnny Joannou (D-79, Portsmouth). This has been a long and difficult process, with a lot of work behind the scenes, but little to show for it so far, fighting off the big utilities as well as local governments who use your tax dollars to lobby against your rights. Friday, however, is our chance to move the ball forward for constitutional protections, limited government and economic and personal liberty.

Eminent domain is one of the most powerful and intimidating tools government has to increase its size, expand its reach into our lives and limit our freedoms. Without constitutional protections, you only borrow your property until the government takes it for whatever reason it determines. Without property rights, we don’t have secure homes for our families, the liberty to practice our faith, or the opportunity for economic advancement.

The fact is, ever since the deplorable Kelo decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, local and state governments have had eyes bigger than their stomachs for homes, farms and small businesses to feed their economic development schemes and pork barrel projects. Worse, sometimes they take private property and turn it over to another private entity. In one heinous case in Hampton, the city took private property for a pittance, and then sold it to a developer for millions while the original owner saw none of the extra money.

The Kelo decision was in 2005. The General Assembly has kept us waiting long enough to secure our constitutional rights to private property. Now, tell them the waiting is over!

The annual Pastors For Family Values Day at the Capitol is tomorrow and a large number of pastors from around Virginia have pre-registered, but it’s not too late to attend. Pastors will hear speakers, get briefings on current legislation from The Family Foundation staff, meet with legislators, attend committee hearings, see floor debates and enjoy a complimentary lunch. If you are a pastor click here to register or call 804-343-0100; or, if you think your pastor would be interested, please forward this link to him. 

Martin Brown, Commissioner for the Virginia Department of Social Services, is the event’s keynote speaker. He has held several high profile positions in state government and had a key role in promoting Virginia’s historic welfare reform under then-Governor George Allen. He also has had a successful business career, including serving as president of Providence Management Group, Inc.; and is a former executive director of The Family Foundation.

In addition, Pastor Dan Inghram, of National Capitol Bible Church, and Justin McClure, youth pastor at Beaverdam Baptist Church, will share outreach strategies for public school students, so youth and children’s pastors are invited as well.