New Steps to Save Christian Colleges in California
July 6, 2016
Dear Friends,
I need to update you on the latest developments in the
battle to stop SB 1146, the bill attempting to prohibit Christian colleges and
universities from living out their faith.
I also need to share with you an important new strategy that will take
our efforts to the next level.
It is very frustrating that this bill is still advancing in the state legislature.
The people of the state of California still have the time and the power to stop this irreligious monstrosity.
First, an update:
last Thursday, three members of our legal team went to the State Capitol
to voice opposition to SB 1146. Despite
another strong turnout from citizens in opposition, the Assembly Judiciary
Committee voted the bill through on a largely party-line vote—though some
members did not even vote!
Members of the California MassResistance team also attended the hearing to speak out against SB 1146.
Just before the hearing, our team stormed Ricardo Lara's office and demanded that he pull the bill. Based on the latest analysis, Lara has significantly altered the legislation, but the revisions do not go far enough.
SB 1146 should be tossed out entirely.
The Legislature is now on break for approximately the next
month. When they return, SB 1146 has
another hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. We need to take advantage of the crucial
month ahead to double our efforts and impact to stop this breathtaking attempt
to seize the reins of our religious institutions.
Our next target is this committee. We are calling all the members of this committee to reject this terrible bill.
Your phone calls have been terrific! But it’s clear we need to adapt our strategy
based on what we’ve been hearing. One of
the things we’ve heard from Capitol insiders is that Legislators are paying the
most attention to calls from their own district, and much less to callers from
other parts of the state or nation.
Exactly. That is why are stepping up our efforts, going into the districts of each of the members. All of these candidates are up for re-election, and we are reaching out to their challengers to ensure that they know what is going on.
Challengers are already using SB 1146 to their own advantage to put pressure on the incumbent assemblymembers.
We’ve also realized that phone calls are not enough. We need citizens—and especially those who
will be the most impacted or have influence in their communities—to request
personal meetings with their Assembly members while they are back in their home
districts. These politicians need to
meet families who have benefited from Christian education, and families who
will be directly harmed if they approve this bill. It’s quite possible they will refuse to meet
with you. But we absolutely must make this
effort. If you are able to schedule a
meeting with your Assembly member, we can help with pointers.
We scheduled a meeting with Ricardo Lara's staff on June 29th, and yet the staff refused to show up.
Yes, the legislators are cowards, but they need to know that they are our servants, not our masters.
Here, in short order, are the steps we need to take:
1. If you
don’t know who represents you in the Assembly, find out
at:http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov
Believe me, we are informing everyone who is paying attention to contact their legislators, and helping them to know whom to contact.
2. If you
already know who represents you in the Assembly but need their phone numbers,
the full Assembly membership is listed at
http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers.
During July, we recommend calling your local, district office numbers.
Good points!
3. Politely
voice your opposition to SB 1146, let them know you live in their district, ask
what your Assembly member is doing to stop this outrageous attack on religious
institutions, and request a meeting with them to explain the impacts of this
bill.
Excellent!
4. Forward
this e-mail to your family and friends.
Absolutely!
5. Express
your opposition to SB 1146 via social media to raise awareness.
Many Californians still have no idea that the Legislature is
carrying out the most brazen attack we have ever seen to force religious institutions
to adhere to government propaganda. Many
legislators are appallingly unfamiliar with the colleges they are seeking to
coerce. During this month of July, let’s
change that!
This is a watershed moment in California, and it deserves
our utmost energy and resource. If the
State can get its hands on our religious colleges and universities, you can be
assured that our Christian K-12 schools will be next.
Running the Race,
Brad Dacus, Esq.
Founder and President, Pacific Justice Institute
Let's make this happen!
Contact your legislators.
Tell them to vote NO on SB 1146!
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