"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" - Dr. Edmund Burke
Kentucky Family

The Tragedy of Bullying

A Hopkinsville high school student has tragically taken her own life. Her death is attributed to having been bullied.

In moments like these, it is hard to discuss such a tragedy without it becoming politicized.

Unfortunately, cutting through highly-charged emotion is a necessary process when voices arise seeking to take advantage of a tragic situation. Inevitably, anti-bullying crusaders will use this tragic event to cull political leverage.

HB 336 is a bill in this year’s legislature that wants to address bullying. What anti-bullying individuals fail to address is that Kentucky passed a strong anti-bullying law in 2008 that calls on all students to be entitled to a safe educational atmosphere. It also requires schools to have a documented discipline code and reporting standards for when students are bullied. It also defines what constitutes intimidation and harassment.

The real intent of the new bill, HB 336,is to place distinguishing characteristics such as homosexuality and transgenderism into Kentucky law for the very first time. The bill reads:

Motivated by a student’s actual or perceived race; color; religion; national origin; ancestry or ethnicity; sexual orientation; physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability; gender; gender identity and expression; or other distinguishing personal characteristic; 

We wish that advocates of the “Bullying Bill” would advertise truthfully in why they support HB 336. It’s not because there isn’t a bullying bill. There is. Advocates for the bullying bill are trying to enforce rigid speech codes and ensconce homosexual and transgender politics in our public schools. It you think homosexual politics is something that our schools should address, then support this bill. If you believe that schools are designed to educate and create environments of respect, civility, and kindness, then you shouldn’t support HB 336.

The article which brought attention to the death of Miranda Campbell has some revealing insights. According to the article,

Choice (the school’s principal) said the school has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. Anyone who encounters or witnesses bullying is encouraged to notify a teacher or staff member.

According to disciplinary guidelines from Christian County Public Schools, students engaged in bullying or harassment are subject to disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion. The guidelines also state that within 24 hours of receiving a serious allegation of bullying or harassment, district personnel attempt to notify the parents of both accused students and student victims in a case.

Choice didn’t know of any instances where Miranda was bullied by other students at the school.

By the principal’s own admission, there was already a bullying process in place—a “zero tolerance” policy, in fact. Why was Miranda Campbell then bullied? Because students did not follow the existing bullying rules. Why else? Because teachers did not adequately address the bullying that had been going on. If the bill from 2008 were enforced and problems addressed, the actions against Miranda Campbell should never have intensified as they did.

What is our response to this tragedy? The Family Foundation again affirms that no student—overweight, pimpled, spectacled, gay, Muslim or Christian—ought to be bullied.  Every student is entitled equal protection under the law. Every student can be protected under the law without pandering to specific characteristics. “Treat others as you wish to be treated” is an optimal rule to end bullying.

There is no conditional clause. It’s not “treat others as you wish to be treated unless that person is _____.” You fill in the blank.

This tragedy is not an act of aggression against the gay community. It’s an act of aggression against a person whose identity comes from God, not her particular sub-culture. Miranda Campbell should never have been bullied. We only wish that the current law would have been enforced.

When children are bullied, these instances show us that laws need to be enforced, not politicized.

 

PRESS RELEASE: “Is the gambling bill in trouble in committee?” asks family group

For Immediate Release
February 16, 2012
Contact: Martin Cothran
Phone: (859) 329-1919

LEXINGTON, KY—The Family Foundation said today that not only has Gov. Steve Beshear’s gambling bill lost majority support in the State Senate, but it may be in trouble in the committee to which it was assigned. “The support for this bill is crumbling so fast, it may not even make it out of committee,” said Martin Cothran, senior policy analyst for the group.

“The governor just got finished launching his casino bill, and in less than 24 hours it was already starting to look like the Voyage of the Damned.”

Cothran said even though the Senate State and Local Government Committee, where SB 151 has been assigned, is the most pro-gambling committee in the Senate, the governor’s bill is now hanging on by only one vote. “The bottom is falling out of the expanded gambling effort,” he said. “If this bill is in danger in this committee, then it’s even deader than we thought, and we thought it was pretty dead.”

Cothran noted that the bill, which the governor had weeks to get right, seems to have gotten it all wrong. “This was the best chance anyone has ever had to pass a casino bill,” he said. “And the governor blew it.”

Kentucky’s “Failed” Gambling Amendment: Day 3

Twenty years ago the topic of casinos at the race tracks was first placed before the legislature. In the last eleven years nine bills have actually been filed. Politicians now say that the issue needs to be decided “once and for all by the people.” Since we actually have a representative form of government, and not a referendum form like Maine and other states, it seems that Kentuckians have decided this issue “once and for all” eight times previously through our representatives. Only the foolish believe that if the casinos are defeated that they will go away. “Once and for all” means until next year.

The sponsor said “At the end of the day, I trust the people of Kentucky.” (Gregory A. Hall, “Gov. Steve Beshear unveils gambling amendment,: The Courier-Journal, February 15, 2012) The real question is whether the people can trust the legislators. They are asking for a blank check worth hundreds of millions, to be disbursed however they see fit. We can be sure it will not be directed toward the unglamorous task of closing the budget gap (which is quite adjustable) or funding the state retirement program.

This amendment is welfare for the wealthy. The horse tracks in Kentucky are the playthings of the very wealthy. The tracks are an investment that they hope will pay off immensely. Since the legislature has already given several tax breaks as consolation prizes when the tracks lost the casino issue, the tracks can count on a low 28-35% tax rate. No 50% rate like Illinois or 55% rate like Pennsylvania, just a bargain rate. Kentucky would be sold cheaply if this succeeds.

There is little recognition of the social costs. Except for the increased welfare costs and lost revenues from closed businesses in the casino neighborhoods, the cost of casinos is absorbed by families whose members gamble. Poverty will increase in a poverty stricken state.

Section 2 of the bill, which contains the amendment wording, includes the grocery list of admirable causes on which to spend the money, including the aid to the wealthy track owners and an indirect trickle (comparatively) for horse owners and breeders.

If our legislators let us down, and pass this, it will not be the people who decide, but the DOLLARS.

Written by Ivan Zabilka, Research Consultant to The Family Foundation

Press Release: Majority of senators against “favors for fat cats”

For Immediate Release
February 15, 2012
Contact: Martin Cothran

Phone: (859) 329-1919

LEXINGTON, KY—The Family Foundation announced today that there is now majority opposition in the State Senate to the governor’s expanded gambling effort. ”After yesterday’s announcement by State Sen. Dan Seum that he is opposed to Gov. Steve Beshear’s gambling bill,” said Martin Cothran, the group’s spokesman, ”our count now shows majority opposition to the Governor’s plan of favors for fat cats.”

“Lawmakers are already voting on the governor’s gambling bill—with their feet.”

The bill needs 23 votes from among the 38 senators because it is a constitutional amendment. Cothran said the bill now has 18 votes at best, with 19 senators opposed or not in favor.

Cothran said the announcement of the specifics of the Governor’s legislation has only resulted in a loss of support. The bill parcels out five casino licenses for horse racing tracks and two licenses for stand-alone casinos. “The more lawmakers consider the wisdom of giving the governor’s campaign contributors the equivalent of orchestra seats in the state’s Constitution, the less they seem to support the idea.”

Cothran noted that the bill only had eight senate co-sponsors, and that only ten senators bothered to show up for yesterday’s press conference announcing the bill, SB 151. “If the governor has the 23 votes he’s claiming, where were they yesterday?”

Casino bill an “abuse of the State Constitution” says anti-slots group

For Immediate Release
February 14, 2012
Contact: Martin Cothran

Phone: (859) 329-1919

LEXINGTON, KY—The Family Foundation called the Governor’s casino bill an “abuse of the State Constitution” and said it was “not the bill Kentuckians were promised.” The comments came in response to today’s filing of the Governor’s casino gambling bill.

“This bill is an attempt by wealthy horse track owners and casino interests to buy their way into the Constitution like box seats at a ball game,” said Martin Cothran, spokesman for the group.

Cothran called the attempt to write a wealthy industry into the Constitution “unprecedented.” “This state has never amended its Constitution to favor one industry like this. This bill writes political favors for the Governor’s campaign contributors into the very words of the Constitution. The Constitution shouldn’t be used by politicians to reward their wealthy friends.”

Cothran also pointed out that the people of Kentucky were promised that the money lost by gamblers at slot machines would go to education, health care, public safety, and local government. “But this bill doesn’t include any of that. There are favors for fat cats, but no specific provisions for public programs. It just shows what money, power, and influence can accomplish.”

His group thinks the bill has little chance of passage in the State Senate, where Cothran said the bill has been steadily losing support over the last four weeks.

Gambling rally an “occupation of Capitol Rotunda by the 1 percent”

For Immediate Release
February 9, 2012
Contact: Martin Cothran

Phone: (859) 329-1919

LEXINGTON, KY—The Family Foundation called today’s press conference by business and education groups in support of gambling legislation “an occupation of the Capitol Rotunda by the 1 percent.” The group also said the organizations holding the pep rally all had a financial interest in expanded gambling. It also said that the effort was too little, too late to resurrect legislation it says has been dead for weeks.

Martin Cothran, spokesman for the group, said that groups that are supposed to represent business interests and organizations that pretend to support education were “throwing their constituencies under the bus.” “The only businesses this will help are casino corporations and wealthy horse track owners,” he said. “Small business will be victimized by casinos that suck all the economic oxygen out of local economies.”

Cothran pointed to the absence of lawmakers at the event as further evidence that the bill lacks support in the General Assembly. “Where were the 23 senators the Governor claims support his bill? We didn’t see them today. We counted at most two lawmakers. If that isn’t a vote of no confidence, then we don’t know what is.” Cothran added that the other thing missing at the rally was an actual bill. “We’re not entirely clear on what they were there to support,” he said. “There is no bill.”

Cothran said the bill would already have been introduced if expanded gambling advocates had the support they claimed to have. “The Governor keeps making excuses. He attacks the Senate President and he points to the filing deadline as complications for his legislation. The only reason the Governor hasn’t introduced a bill is because he doesn’t have the votes.”

Press Release: Family advocacy group assails Prop 8 decision

For Immediate Release
February 7, 2012
Contact: Martin Cothran

Phone: (859) 329-1919

 

LEXINGTON, KY—The advocacy group that pushed for Kentucky’s Marriage Amendment in 2004 which defined marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman responded to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision today overturning California’s similar Proposition 8.

“If this decision were to stand,” said Martin Cothran spokesman for the group, “it will show that we are a nation of judges, and not a nation of laws. In too many cases, judges have become political weather vanes, whose decisions are determined more by where they think the political winds are blowing than what our Constitution actually says.”

Cothran criticized the ruling for being the most recent example of judicial activism. “When our courts become political battlegrounds where policy is decided—rather than where laws are interpreted—they become corrupted. When our courts demean themselves by deciding issues on the basis of political expediency, the American people cease to trust them to fairly decide issues of justice. And when that happens, our whole system of government is undermined.”

Cothran said his organization was optimistic about the U. S. Supreme Court overturning the decision by the 9th Circuit, partly because 9th Circuit decisions are commonly overruled by the nation’s high court.

PRESS RELEASE: Group says Beshear “lacks confidence in his own legislation,” challenges Governor to “stop playing politics”and file the gambling bill

For Immediate Release
February 6, 2012
Contact: Martin Cothran
Phone: (859) 329-1919

LEXINGTON, KY–The Family Foundation said today that Gov. Steve Beshear’s decision not to file his proposed constitutional amendment to expand gambling until after the filing deadline for legislative candidates indicated that he had serious doubts about support for it among Kentuckians. The Family Foundation opposes the legislation and claims the Governor does not have legislative support to pass the bill.

Cothran pointed to claims from the Governor and wealthy gambling interests that Kentuckians supported the legislation by a wide margin, as well as to the Governor’s claim that he had the votes in the Senate to pass the bill and asked why, if these things were true, there was any reason for Beshear to wait to file the bill.

“If Kentuckians overwhelmingly support this bill and if he really has 23 votes in the State Senate to the extent the Governor claims,” asked Martin Cothran, spokesman for the group, “then why does he have to wait until after the filing deadline to introduce it? He obviously lacks confidence in his own legislation.”

“The Governor needs to stop playing politics with this issue and introduce his legislation,” said Cothran. “How can you blame other people for the failure of your own legislation, as this Governor has done, when you don’t even have the courage to file your bill?”

Cothran said last week that the Governor was bluffing. “This is just further proof that the Governor and his wealthy casino supporters don’t have the support they claim.”

PRESS RELEASE: Family Foundation files open records requests with Governor’s office, State Police

For Immediate Release
February 1, 2012
Contact: Martin Cothran
Phone: (859) 329-1919

LEXINGTON, KY–The Family Foundation today filed open records requests with the office of the Governor and the Kentucky State Police asking about meetings and correspondence between the Governor’s office and casino interests in the formulation of a constitutional amendment to expand gambling in the state.

“We think there should be full disclosure about the individuals and the wealthy corporations who may have been involved in the attempt to rewrite Kentucky’s Constitution,” said Martin Cothran, spokesman for the group.

Cothran said he thought many Kentuckians would find it disturbing if it turned out that wealthy horse tracks and casino corporations were heavily involved in changing the Constitution in a way in which they stood to financially benefit. “People don’t want their laws written in smoke-filled back rooms by millionaire businessmen whose names they don’t even know,” he said. “This process needs to be out in the open.”

Governor trying to “shift blame” on doomed gambling measure

For Immediate Release
January 31, 2012
Contact: Martin Cothran
Phone: (859) 329-1919

Governor trying to “shift blame” on doomed gambling measure

LEXINGTON, KY–”The Governor is trying to shift blame from his own inept handling of the now doomed gambling bill so that he can blame it on someone else,” said Martin Cothran in response to Beshear’s comments today accusing Senate President David Williams of “intimidation.” Beshear is trying to blame David Williams for the demise of the constitutional amendment to expand gambling, said Cothran, “but the fault lies squarely with the Governor.”

Cothran said the Governor’s delaying tactics are what has ultimately doomed the legislation. “He said he would have a bill out three weeks ago. Instead, he keeps delaying. He originally said he would have it out in early January. Now we’re into February. He keeps saying ‘next week’ and ‘in a few days.’ He’s done this so many times now that lawmakers are having a hard time taking him seriously.”

“This is the longest drum roll we have ever seen,” said Cothran.

The group said Beshear would not be alienating Senate President David Williams unless he had already given up on his own bill. “You don’t insult the head of the chamber you’re counting on to pass your bill unless you have already given up on it yourself,” said Cothran. “If there was any doubt that the gambling bill was already dead, his comments today should have settled it.”