In the Public Square: Embryo Destruction and 1st Amendment Red Tape
- Apr 3, 2007 - comment
Taxpayer Dollars for Destruction
When senators return to Washington after their Easter recess, the Senate leadership plans a vote on legislation that would require expanded taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research. On April 10, the Senate will begin debate on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 (S. 5), which would direct federal funds toward research that necessitates killing human embryos. The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). There is reportedly strong support in the Senate for this bill.
Our fear is that some who favor this bill are willing to jump ethical boundaries that will ultimately utilize this research as a launching pad into human cloning.
If you believe taxpayers should not be required to fund research that kills unborn lives in their earliest stage, please tell your senators to oppose S. 5 and to instead support adult embryonic stem cell research, which has treated more than 70 human ailments.
More Red Tape, More First Amendment Restrictions
A potentially harmful House bill that could discourage private communication with the executive branch of government—similar to prospective grassroots lobbying legislation that targeted legislative branch communication—was reported out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in February and nears floor action.
The Executive Branch Reform Act (H.R. 984), sponsored by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Tom Davis (R-VA), would require most executive branch officials to track all “significant contacts”—including phone calls, voice mails, e-mails, letters, and faxes by anyone who expresses a particular view on an issue—and submit quarterly reports that would be made publicly available in a computerized, searchable format. Reports would include the date of contact, name of the individual contacting the official, and subject of the communication.
We are concerned the bill infringes on the First Amendment right to petition the government and would potentially prompt citizens to decline to share their opinions with the executive branch. Such regulations also would place an undue strain upon the government, creating needless paperwork at tremendous taxpayer expense.
If you are concerned that mandatory reporting by executive branch officials might infringe on your First Amendment rights, tell your congressman to oppose the Executive Branch Reform Act.
Further Learning
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