TALKING POINTS for Pennsylvania Convention of States (COS) Resolution

The Convention of States is more than a big solution - it's a constitutional solution. 

·        The federal government is out of control.  It is spending money and creating debt that our children and grandchildren will have to deal with by paying crushing levels of tax. Federal regulations are destroying huge portions of the economy, making it very difficult for young families to make ends meet. All 3 branches of the federal government usurp the Constitution, and no longer recognize any limitations on federal actions as set forth by the Framers and ratified by the original 13 states. Entitlement spending is increasing at a geometric rate, and at some point in the near future, it will be too late to take any action that will avert a social and fiscal collapse.

·        Fortunately, the Framers gave the citizens, through their state legislatures, the ability to amend the U.S. Constitution independent of any legislative action by the federal government.  This language is contained in Article V of the Constitution, and was included to address a situation where the federal government has become too tyrannical to fix itself.

·        At least thirty-four states must apply to Congress for a convention of the states per Article V in order for a convention to be called.  Delegates from the states would meet and discuss amendments referenced by the convention call.  Any amendments adopted in the convention would have to be ratified by at least 3/4ths of the states to become law.

·        In Pennsylvania, Representative Matt Gabler has introduced a resolution (House Resolution 63) calling for a convention of the states.  The resolution lists the topics that would be the agenda for the convention:  amendments intended to reduce the power and scope of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, and impose term limits on federal officials.  All House members are requested to join Rep. Gabler and co-sponsor HR 63.

·        In the PA Senate, Senator John Eichelberger has circulated a co-sponsor memorandum for a resolution calling for a convention of the states for the same topics as HR 63.  All Senate members are requested to join Sen. Eichelberger as co-sponsors of his resolution.

LOBBYING TIPS FOR FAMILIES

Lobbying, by definition, is the process of influencing public and government policy at all levels: federal, state, and local. It involves the advocacy of an interest that is affected, actually or potentially, by the decisions of government leaders. Individuals and interest groups alike can lobby governments, and governments can lobby each other. The practice of lobbying is considered so essential to the proper functioning of the U.S. government that it is specifically protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:  "Congress shall make no law... abridging... the right of the people peaceable... to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." [The Free Dictionary]

How do we effectively influence our government when we lobby? 

1.  Be polite, courteous and introduce every member of the family

            a.  Children - be ready to shake hands and say hello

            b.  Parents - remember your legislator may not have many opportunities to interact with                                    homeschool families so you are not just there to talk about one bill... 

                                      you are representing all homeschool families

2.  Be prepared to discuss key aspects on the Bill in two to three concise sound bites

            a.  Your time with the legislator will go quickly

            b.  Leave them with a few key points that they will remember and consider

3.  Be ready to explain how the Bill will help families

            a.  Personal stories and examples are an excellent way to compel action

            b.  Legislators need to understand the why; we want them to remember your                                            family and your story when they are ready to cast a vote

4.  Recognize potential objections to the Bill and be ready to alleviate concerns without                                                   being defensive or argumentative

            a.  Know the potential objections:

                        i.  Does the current legislation really need to be fixed?

                        ii.  Will this legislation hurt struggling schools?

                        iii.  In a time of tight budgets and deficits will this Bill raise costs?

            b.  Consider positive ways to address potential objections

                        i.  This Bill is a simple but important adjustment to the current law, not a                                                            fundamental change

                        ii.  This legislation does not impact statewide education in anyway, instead it 

                                  makes things easier and less burdensome for struggling school systems

                        iii.  This legislation will not raise education costs... (remember homeschooling 

                                   saves taxpayers money because it is not subsidized by public funds)

5.  Be prepared to present some key facts about homeschooling

            a.  There are over 2.4 million homeschool students in America

            b.  It is a growing trend across all income levels and ethnicities with an estimated                                                 growth rate as high as 8%

            c.  On average homeschool students score 15-30% higher on standardized tests                                         than public school students

            d.  Homeschool families are not dependent on tax money for education - homeschooling                         results in estimated cost savings to taxpayers of over $16 Billion

6.  Do not be discouraged or disappointed if you end up meeting with a Staff Member

            a.  It is very common for schedule and meeting changes to result in Legislators having to                                     designate a trusted Staffer to meet with you

            b.  Remember the Staffer is the eyes and ears of their Legislator - treat them with the 

                                     same respect and they convey the message

7.  We will be guests in a professional office building conducting the official business 

                        of our state.           

            a.  Noise and activity must be kept to a minimum. Closely supervise young children 

                     to make the most effective presentation possible and to facilitate conversation 

                               with our legislators or the staffers.

            b.  Out of respect for our officials and to leave a good impression, dress your best.

۞

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you

to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

THERE IS A Way to Fix It!

Many Americans are fed up with the federal government. Many of the presidential candidates are outsiders, not a part of the status quo in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, one person, no matter how well intentioned, will not be able to correct or change the direction of the federal government.  The federal government does not realize it is constrained by the Constitution and no longer respects or recognizes the separation of powers or the limits that were placed upon it by the Framers and the states. 

The federal bureaucracy continues to expand no matter which party is in power or who is elected. As a result, we have an $18 trillion debt ($18,000,000,000,000) that continues to grow. Our children and grandchildren may never be able to pay this off. This debt will harm their future. The federal government is expanding and imploding at the same time. 

To correct this problem, the Framers included in Article V in the Constitution, a process whereby the states can amend the Constitution independent of the federal government. This process involves all of the states sending a delegation to a convention to discuss potential amendments to the Constitution.  It is by this process that the States and the people (us) can re-establish Constitutional limits on the federal government.. 

A convention of states is not a radical change to our system of government. The application for a  convention  would simply state its purpose is to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, establish fiscal controls on the federal government, and establish term limits on federal officials. If any amendments are adopted at the convention, the States would then discuss and, if appropriate, ratify amendments to the Constitution. The Constitution stipulates that 38 states must ratify any amendment in order for it to become part of the Constitution. The federal government has no control over this process. 

One of the most important amendments would be term limits on Congress and the Supreme Court. By passing this, the Congress and Supreme Court would not forget who they are working for, us. 

An excellent book on this process was written by Mark Levin, entitled “The Liberty Amendments”. Please get involved by going to www.conventionofstates.com.

On Tuesday, September 8, we're assembling at the Capitol Rotunda at 10:00 AM, to pray and lobby our lawmakers to support Representative Gabler's House Resolution 63 and 

Senator Eichelberger's memorandum for the Senate version. 

Join us and learn about it here.

APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY - PARENTAL RIGHTS PROTECTION ACT

"We must always ask: Is government working to liberate and empower the individual? ... Or does it seek to compel, command and coerce people into submission and dependence?" said President Ronald Reagan. 

In the case of parental rights in America, the question is: Is government working to protect and empower parental rights? Or does it seek to command and coerce parents into submission and dependence? Is government working to protect the strength and diversity of the American family or are families to be stamped, like coins, with the same image? And, by what standard are they being ruled? Who will decide what the mold will be? When law imposes, by force, its systems, regulations, its educational standards, and its religion, on the people, the result is not empowerment and liberty, but forced submission and dependence.

FYI- Every state authorizes certain personnel- doctors, police, and social workers - to remove children from their parents’ care, without a warrant, a court order, or any proof of abuse or neglect often based on mere "suspicion".  In such an atmosphere, parents have no recourse, no legal protection. The law is not on the parents’ side. When parents face the power of a government intent on enforcing its big-government agenda, legal protection is needed. 

Government infringement into parental rights is evidenced in the case of Justina Pelletier. Doctors at two different hospital presented her parents with two different diagnoses. When her parents disagreed with the diagnosis of one hospital, that hospital accused the parents of medical neglect and demanded the state take custody of Justina. Fit parents, backed by the other fully-licensed teaching hospital, lost custody of their daughter over a diagnosis dispute, and did not get her home for nearly a year and a half. 

God has written on the hearts of all men that parents are to provide for the needs of their children. Infants are born helpless, without knowledge, and God has given children to their parents to raise and care for them until they are old enough to live independently. All parents, by the law of nature, are under obligation to direct the upbringing of their children. Parental responsibility is a trust from God for the good of the children. This trust from God is what puts authority into the hands of the parents. God has placed in parents the desire to love and care for their children. It is the God-given responsibility of parents to raise and educate their children.

However, there is confusion in the courts over the boundaries between family privacy and government interests. Justice Stevens has stated that a child's constitutional rights, represented by the term "the best interests of the child", may be overridden by the government, and allows that matters involving families be determined by the court according to the "best interests of the child." Justice Scalia, known for his conservative standards, has stated that parental rights are not enumerated in the Constitution. This places parental rights in danger because they are not explicitly protected by the Constitution. Any treaty can override them, including the international United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The legal standards used in parental rights cases are in confusion. The need for a clear legal standard for parental rights is obvious. The Pennsylvania ParentalRights Protection Act, now known as Pennsylvania House Bill 1512, sponsored by Representative Will Tallman, will provide that legal standard, as it will establish in law the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children. It will empower parents and protect the God-ordained obligation of parents to direct the upbringing of their children as they see fit.

Call the state legislators in your district today, and ask them to co-sponsor HB 1512, sponsored by Representative Tallman. If you're not sure who your lawmaker is, enter your address here and find out. Let's work together to get this bill passed. Make a loud noise for liberty.

Join us for CHAP HELP Day (Home Education Lobby Program) at the Main Rotunda of the Capitol on September 8, 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Learn more about it here and here.

Fall CHAP HELP Day: A Gathering to Lobby God and Lawmakers

Everyday, we seem to hear something shocking and surreal in the news. We’re overwhelmed by the sense of dread brought on by these happenings, and these current events also break our hearts. We're appalled by the atrocities being inflicted, not just on the unsuspecting, but on the innocent and the helpless. Nothing seems sacred or precious anymore. Nothing.

As followers of Christ familiar with His grace and mercy, we cringe knowing that our country has long deserved His punishment. We deserve God's judgment for allowing sin to creep into our private lives to the point that we've been rendered impotent. Sin has established strongholds in our families, our churches, and overrun our communities and society at large. How else could we co-exist with all the moral evils around us while claiming a relationship with a Holy God?

Knowing the gospel, we are keenly aware that our sinful state is a congenital condition. Christ died on the cross and rose again so that we would no longer live for ourselves but for God and others with His kingdom and eternity in view. God entrusted us with a charge to be salt and light but we haven't been faithful as we should be.

We are rife for punishment.

While pondering these things recently, I was reminded of wicked Nineveh. This is cause for hope. "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened." [Jonah 3:10] Picture the repentance and revival that went on by reading the short chapter, if not the book.

Are you at all curious about what God may do if He finds us humbling ourselves, praying and seeking His face - in the wickedness of our state?

Charles Grandison Finney, probably the greatest revival preacher there ever was said, "There are two kinds of means requisite to promote a revival: the one to influence men, the other to influence God. The truth is employed to influence men, and prayer to move God. When I speak of moving God, I do not mean that God's mind is changed by prayer, or that His disposition or character is changed. But prayer produces such a change in us it renders it consistent for God to do as it would not be consistent for Him to do otherwise. When a sinner repents, that state of feeling makes it proper for God to forgive him. God has always been ready to forgive him on that condition, so that when the sinner changes his feelings and repents, it requires no change of feeling in God to pardon him. It is the sinner's repentance that renders His forgiveness proper, and is the occasion of God's acting as He does."

The CHAP legislative team, acknowledging our own sense of incompetence and inadequacy to lead and change legislations that infringe on our private lives, invite you to assemble with us in Harrisburg, on Tuesday, September 8, at the Capitol's main rotunda, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Please share the CHAP HELP Day Event - our Home Education Lobby Program - by sharing this e-Newsletter and this link. Let's be an army of prayer warriors.  

Before lobbying our legislators’ offices like we've done in the past, we will focus on lobbying the God of Heaven first, Who alone understands our woes, and can change the hearts of men and women - our lawmakers, our judges, executive leaders, our church ministers, and our fathers and mothers. We will hear speakers, read from the Scriptures, and we will pray.

At the end, everyone is encouraged to meet with your local (or another) Representative and/or Senator and appeal to them concerning our rights and liberties as families and parents. We need many hands to help distribute copies of the DVD Overruled - to key lawmakers. We are working towards passing HB1512, an Act providing for parental rights protection; and HR63, a Concurrent Resolution petitioning the Congress of the United States to call a convention of states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the Federal Government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the Federal Government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress. [Short and longer clips from Overruled like this one can be viewed on Youtube.]

There are other details here.  

MEET OUR SPEAKERS:

Carolyn Conner is a long time homeschooler and homeschooling advocate. She and her husband Ron adopted six children whom they home educated, including two with special needs.  Always interested in current events and government, she became more involved in the political arena once her children finished their formal schooling. She uses her skills and talents to further socially conservative principles, especially related to life and end-of-life issues.  Carolyn is currently serving as a leader in politics, is active in her church where she directs the Women-to-Women outreach and has taught government, citizenship and elections classes at her local homeschool co-op.  She lives in the Lewisburg area with her husband, two 20-something children with Down Syndrome, and likes to travel to see her daughters and 15 grandchildren.

Steve Davies was born and raised in Houston, Texas, attended Texas A&M University, graduated with a BS degree in Nuclear Engineering. He worked in the electric utility industry for 36 years, and held a variety of positions related to environmental permitting, environmental compliance, new power plant development, human resources, government relations and asset management. His family moved from Houston to PA in 2000 for his job. He retired in 2013, and since 2014, he has been doing business development and marketing work for engineering and environmental consulting firms. He began working with the Convention of States in early 2014, and assumed the COS PA State Director position in July, 2014. He is married and has 3 children: one is out of college and recently married, and the other two are in college/grad school. They home-schooled all of their children from K thru 8^th grade.

David Miranda has worked most of his life in the technical sales profession, the last 13 years selling communications technology solutions to the healthcare industry. David and his wife Ann both came to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord in 1984 and 1985 respectively. Since then they have endeavored to follow the teachings of the Bible and to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. They began homeschooling their two children in 1999 and home schooled through high school. Today their children, Mark and Sarah, use their talents in music and cartooning to honor and serve their Savior, Jesus Christ. Together the family has served in Spanish ministry, nursing home ministry, and other ministries in the local church.   

David serves as National Grassroots Director for ParentalRights.org, the organization spearheading the effort to realize the Parental Rights Amendment (PRA) to the U.S. Constitution. He speaks in churches and other venues to raise awareness to the increasing erosion of parental rights that threatens the liberty of Christian parents to teach and train their children in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.

David’s objective is to move concerned Americans to actively support efforts to realize the PRA in order to stop the erosion of parental rights and provide the constitutional protection that will preserve time-honored parental rights in America.

Join the gathering if you can and if you can’t, please pray with us wherever you may be.

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made

for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful

and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."  ~I Timothy 2:1,2

Fall 2015 CHAP HELP Day Flier

Check our legislative blog’s June 22nd and August 27th postings for more information.

"IT TAKES A TEAM OF LAWYERS TO HASH IT ALL OUT"

That is how many groups and organizations feel about the new background check law. It's no wonder the General Assembly was bombarded with questions and complaints causing them to immediately introduce another bill to amend Act 153. The bad thing is House Bill 1276 passed too quickly to really solve the enormous amount of unintended consequences they never predicted.

And we regret that we did NOT get the exemption amendment we wanted. 
Remember that with Act 153, we were led to believe that co-ops led and taught by parents will be exempt. That was false information. It kept us from opposing the vote on the floor.

It's been a disheartening on-the-job experience learning about omnibus bills and Act 153 is such.

By definition from Duhaime's Law Dictionary, an Omnibus Bill is: "A draft law before a legislature which contains more than one substantive matter, or several minor matters which have been combined into one bill, ostensibly for the sake of convenience." Apparently, the strategy is to force the hands of the legislature to approve or defeat the whole legislative package. It can be packed with diverse issues and subjects but the goal is to pass it quickly by limiting the opportunity for debate and scrutiny. It's a disconcerting practice to be sure.

It only took a little over a month from the time the memorandum for the amendment went out until it was on the Governor's desk. Whether you feel impressed or frustrated, frankly it might take a while before we see the text of the new statute and the actual administrative. bureaucratic law with regard to its full application.

For now, know that the law - PA Act 153 of 2014 - has been amended and House Bill 1276 is now PA Act No. 15 of 2015. But what does it all mean? 


Looking at the final text of HB1276, I believe there is reason to suggest that homeschool co-ops may be exempt, but the legislature has assigned the details to the Department of Human Services. Some State Representatives are telling their constituents that Amendments to the Clearances Law (Act 153) excludes homeschool co-ops, but there is nothing written to show that.

Some changes are:

"Under the new law, volunteers must obtain the clearances if they have direct volunteer contact, meaning that they have care, supervision, guidance or control and routine interaction with children. Also, all employees and adult volunteers subject to the background check clearances will be required to recertify all of those clearances every five years, instead of every three years.

"The measure also makes a number of clarifications with respect to the cost, portability and recertification of the two main clearances – the Department of Human Services child abuse clearance and the State Police criminal background check. The two $10 fees are waived for volunteers and are reduced to $8 each for employees.

"Additionally, the deadline for new volunteers to obtain their clearances has been moved from July 1 to Aug. 25. All other deadlines remain the same: Dec. 31, 2015, for existing employees. For existing volunteers who never had needed clearances, deadline is July 1, 2016. New prospective employees must obtain them before starting employment.

"More information about Act 153 and the other new laws resulting from the child protection package are available at KeepKidsSafe.pa.gov.

CHAP maintains that while we appreciate the intent of the bill to protect children, children do not need to be protected from their parents. Parents do not need to be licensed by the state or have criminal background checks performed on them to meet together and to teach their children. Co-ops are usually just parents teaching their own children. These private, parent-organized groups should NOT have to get a license or conduct background checks in order to operate. It is still unclear whether a background check is needed for a family member or friend to watch your children, and who knows, maybe soon clearances might be required to parent your own child in your home!

Government bureaucracy is not worth putting your faith in. I recently learned about Rhonda, a fellow homeschooler, and her husband who both had gotten these clearances in order to host international students. As a result, they ended up being one of the 21.5 M to have their Social Security numbers stolen and someone used it to file their federal income tax electronically. She said, "It still hasn't been resolved! The IRS said it could be up to 180 days. It has affected our kid's college financial aid applications." Rhonda expressed in frustration, "Can you imagine? Forcing people to have background checks and then not protecting the personal information?"

DHS and CPS has power to make regulations that are also alarming.

CPS follows their own set of rules - often contrary to law on the books. They can wreak havoc in the lives of law abiding citizens and ignore cases like the recent Harrisburg murder due to neglect and under DHS "supervision".

We have cause to be extremely concerned about the definition of "perpetrator" which has "parent" as the first definition and the subliminal messaging there. In Scotland, law requires a social worker to be assigned to each family bringing home a new baby.

Dr. Brian Ray, in an article responding to claim that homeschooling is a hotbed of child abuse writes, "No research has found a correlation between homeschooling and child abuse, let alone a causal connection."

The biggest problem with this bill is the mandatory reporting - even by 14 year-olds. Everybody will be mandated to report anyone based on very slight reasons as outlined in the law and social workers will be required to investigate all reports. "Reasonable" suspicion is no longer the rule - just "suspicion".

If CPS visits your home, they will be able to question you regarding homeschooling if they see any school work laying around. It happened to this family here. This Maryland father was falsely accused of abuse and both their children were removed from their loving home. In Arkansas, the Stanley's 7 children were removed from their home because the parents administered mineral supplements. Medical kidnapping has become very common and will only worsen as vaccines are pushed and exemptions are removed, such as the very recent happenings in California. So we may wonder, what is next? Academic kidnapping? The Tutt family in Texas is already suffering that injustice too.

Given the neglect case that occurred in Harrisburg by the Children and Youth Services, and abuses in foster care, the thought of social workers monitoring Pennsylvania homeschool families bring alarm and an ache knowing CPS abuse and harassment will rise.

Praise be to God that even in uncertain times, we can be more than optimistic -- we can be hopeful. God is only a prayer away and He gave a clear mandate about which we can be confident about.

"After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles,

the officials and the rest of the people,

'Don’t be afraid of them.

Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome,

and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters,

your wives and your homes.'"

~ Nehemiah 4:14 (NIV)

Mark your calendars and plan to attend CHAP HELP Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. We will gather to encourage and pray - for one another and for our legislators. We will commit our state and our nation to our Almighty God who alone is able to deliver us. There will be guest speakers you don't want to miss. Details will be posted here.