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Which path will the Court choose?
On Wednesday, February 27, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that will settle the fate of a nearly 100-year-old cross-shaped war memorial in Maryland. The Court also has an opportunity to clarify or change the legal standard to be applied in other...
Testimony on HB 175 – The Gambling Expansion Bill
Testimony HighlightsVideo highlights of attorney Stan Cave's Feb. 13, 2019 testimony before the House Licensing, Occupations, & Admin Regs Committee concerning HB 175 (as filed). Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 and leave this message...
Gambling expansion is bad policy! – CALL!
The legislative efforts to expand gambling are now coming from some Republicans. Phone calls are the best tool to stop them. HB 175 is posted for passage in the Kentucky House. Stan Cave, attorney for The Family Foundation, who testified against HB175 (as filed)...
Casinos are here without authorization – CALL!
There are only two ways left to stop them: 1) Gov. Bevin can do it; and 2) The Family Foundation’s 8-year-and-counting court case. The only way to stop the six casinos that have come to Kentucky with their slot-like “historical racing” machines is to have one of the...
Cannabis must be fully researched – CALL!
House Concurrent Resolution 5 (HCR 5) calls on the FDA to properly study cannabis, just like it does all other medications. ALL of the herbs and grasses of the field, and ALL of the shrubs and trees have been given to man to use and develop for his benefit. Cannabis...
Louisiana law case could be the tipping point
The case deals with abortion so it could give some indication where the Court, now with Kavanuagh and Gorsuch, wants to go. Much has been debated about what the US Supreme Court will do with the abortion case coming out of Louisiana. The measure on trial, known as Act...
HB175 not constitutional
LEXINGTON, KY — An attorney for The Family Foundation told a House committee today that the so-called sports wagering bill was neither constitutional, nor was it only a sports wagering bill. Stan Cave, attorney for the group, said the bill, HB 175, was "an attempt by...
Leaders’ Letter
The Leaders' Letter for the Timely and Orderly Confirmation of Judicial Nominees was delivered to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and U.S. Senate Judiciary Chairman Graham on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. Copies were also delivered to the Republican Members...
The 2019 General Assembly: OPPORTUNITY!
Difficult issues are facing our Senators and Representatives, so they will need ALL the help they can get! (So, be sure to make your calls.) Here's the "Bad News” for the 2019 General Assembly Session: There are 32 brand new Representatives in the State House of...
Which path will the Court choose?
On Wednesday, February 27, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that will settle the fate of a nearly 100-year-old cross-shaped war memorial in Maryland. The Court also has an opportunity to clarify or change the legal standard to be applied in other...
Testimony on HB 175 – The Gambling Expansion Bill
Testimony HighlightsVideo highlights of attorney Stan Cave's Feb. 13, 2019 testimony before the House Licensing, Occupations, & Admin Regs Committee concerning HB 175 (as filed). Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 and leave this message...
Gambling expansion is bad policy! – CALL!
The legislative efforts to expand gambling are now coming from some Republicans. Phone calls are the best tool to stop them. HB 175 is posted for passage in the Kentucky House. Stan Cave, attorney for The Family Foundation, who testified against HB175 (as filed)...
Casinos are here without authorization – CALL!
There are only two ways left to stop them: 1) Gov. Bevin can do it; and 2) The Family Foundation’s 8-year-and-counting court case. The only way to stop the six casinos that have come to Kentucky with their slot-like “historical racing” machines is to have one of the...
Cannabis must be fully researched – CALL!
House Concurrent Resolution 5 (HCR 5) calls on the FDA to properly study cannabis, just like it does all other medications. ALL of the herbs and grasses of the field, and ALL of the shrubs and trees have been given to man to use and develop for his benefit. Cannabis...
Louisiana law case could be the tipping point
The case deals with abortion so it could give some indication where the Court, now with Kavanuagh and Gorsuch, wants to go. Much has been debated about what the US Supreme Court will do with the abortion case coming out of Louisiana. The measure on trial, known as Act...
HB175 not constitutional
LEXINGTON, KY — An attorney for The Family Foundation told a House committee today that the so-called sports wagering bill was neither constitutional, nor was it only a sports wagering bill. Stan Cave, attorney for the group, said the bill, HB 175, was "an attempt by...
Leaders’ Letter
The Leaders' Letter for the Timely and Orderly Confirmation of Judicial Nominees was delivered to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and U.S. Senate Judiciary Chairman Graham on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. Copies were also delivered to the Republican Members...
The 2019 General Assembly: OPPORTUNITY!
Difficult issues are facing our Senators and Representatives, so they will need ALL the help they can get! (So, be sure to make your calls.) Here's the "Bad News” for the 2019 General Assembly Session: There are 32 brand new Representatives in the State House of...
Which path will the Court choose?
On Wednesday, February 27, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that will settle the fate of a nearly 100-year-old cross-shaped war memorial in Maryland. The Court also has an opportunity to clarify or change the legal standard to be applied in other...
Testimony on HB 175 – The Gambling Expansion Bill
Testimony HighlightsVideo highlights of attorney Stan Cave's Feb. 13, 2019 testimony before the House Licensing, Occupations, & Admin Regs Committee concerning HB 175 (as filed). Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 and leave this message...
Gambling expansion is bad policy! – CALL!
The legislative efforts to expand gambling are now coming from some Republicans. Phone calls are the best tool to stop them. HB 175 is posted for passage in the Kentucky House. Stan Cave, attorney for The Family Foundation, who testified against HB175 (as filed)...
Casinos are here without authorization – CALL!
There are only two ways left to stop them: 1) Gov. Bevin can do it; and 2) The Family Foundation’s 8-year-and-counting court case. The only way to stop the six casinos that have come to Kentucky with their slot-like “historical racing” machines is to have one of the...
Cannabis must be fully researched – CALL!
House Concurrent Resolution 5 (HCR 5) calls on the FDA to properly study cannabis, just like it does all other medications. ALL of the herbs and grasses of the field, and ALL of the shrubs and trees have been given to man to use and develop for his benefit. Cannabis...
Louisiana law case could be the tipping point
The case deals with abortion so it could give some indication where the Court, now with Kavanuagh and Gorsuch, wants to go. Much has been debated about what the US Supreme Court will do with the abortion case coming out of Louisiana. The measure on trial, known as Act...
HB175 not constitutional
LEXINGTON, KY — An attorney for The Family Foundation told a House committee today that the so-called sports wagering bill was neither constitutional, nor was it only a sports wagering bill. Stan Cave, attorney for the group, said the bill, HB 175, was "an attempt by...
Leaders’ Letter
The Leaders' Letter for the Timely and Orderly Confirmation of Judicial Nominees was delivered to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and U.S. Senate Judiciary Chairman Graham on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. Copies were also delivered to the Republican Members...
The 2019 General Assembly: OPPORTUNITY!
Difficult issues are facing our Senators and Representatives, so they will need ALL the help they can get! (So, be sure to make your calls.) Here's the "Bad News” for the 2019 General Assembly Session: There are 32 brand new Representatives in the State House of...
Older Posts
Legislators need your encouragement. Make YOUR toll-free call (one call on each)
Call 1-800-372-7181 Call the toll-free Legislative Message Line and leave these messages. It is very easy. You will not have to speak to your legislator(s) – simply leave a message with the receptionist for “all legislators in (your) county.” Double your impact by...
How A Bill Becomes A Law
A law begins its journey toward enactment when it is introduced as a bill. It can be introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, but it must be approved by both in order to be sent to the Governor for his signature, at which point it becomes law....
They believe “It’s time for us to do something . . .”
The plight of “looking after widows and orphans in their distress” caused this couple to step out . . . and now, step into Kentucky. When contemporary Christian singer Matthew West wrote “Do Something,” he probably didn’t envision Special Assistants for...
HC Resolution 5: Best path forward – CALL!
Keep the good (medications) and eliminate the bad (contaminants, hallucinogens, etc.) In other words, do the RESEARCH FIRST! Kentucky legislators are preparing for what will likely be a hot debate over a plant. Two bills to legalize marijuana and a resolution to...
Gambling is bad public policy! – Please CALL!
The efforts to expand gambling are coming from two directions: The Legislature, and the Executive Branch (using the courts). The gambling industry, using its wealth and influence, is attacking Kentucky on two fronts in order to expand its grip on the finances of...
Legislators of Faith
A very significant gathering! A very significant time! By Kent Ostrander, Executive Director of The Family Foundation Perhaps one of the most encouraging events that has taken place in my 30 years of work in the legislature, took place on Saturday, Dec. 1. On that...
Kentucky Marriage Movement: A Fruitful 2018!
By Greg Williams, Director of the Kentucky Marriage Movement Looking back on 2018, I am pleased to see the Kentucky Marriage Movement (KMM) continue to grow in every way. KMM facilitated events for 13 churches and expanded the Love and Lordship series with Lexington...
Casinos are here but no one knows how or why
Opinion: In 2010 Gov. Beshear and the gambling industry set a course to manipulate the judicial system and bypass the legislature. By Martin Cothran, Senior Policy Analyst for The Family Foundation For twenty-five years, Kentucky has been debating the issue of...
Kennedy & problems with same-sex marriage
The Obergefell decision began a collision course with other rights that Kentuckians, and all Americans, have always cherished. Casting the deciding vote and writing for the Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kennedy decided that the “limitation...
As I See It… Two Inconvenient Truths
Kentuckians now await Judge Joseph McKinley’s decision on live dismemberment of the unborn. His decision may be a year away. By Joyce Ostrander, Policy Analyst for The Family Foundation Testimony in the November 2018 trial of Kentucky’s newest abortion statute...
The federal judiciary continues to move right
The transformation of the federal judiciary moves forward with Trump and McConnell working diligently hand-in-hand. As President Trump’s second year in office comes to a close, one of his greatest accomplishments has been the lifetime appointments of federal judges....
Court left the Assembly out, so slots are coming
After more than eight years of manipulations by the gambling industry, a judge ruled in their favor. But an appeal has been filed! The transformation of the federal judiciary moves forward with Trump and McConnell working diligently hand-in-hand. On Oct. 24, Franklin...
Marijuana from a Healthcare Provider Perspective
With some states legalizing “medical marijuana” and some states even legalizing “recreational marijuana,” health practitioners are having to increase their knowledge of the complications arising from marijuana use by their patients. “Medical marijuana” in these states...
Marijuana? Let’s do the research first – CALL!
Get the good, helpful chemicals out of the plant with none of the bad chemicals that do harm. In other words, do the research! There is a large battle looming in Kentucky that will be centered around the question of whether marijuana should be a legal substance. Right...
The gambling industry is working now – CALL!
Watch for a number of bills to be offered in the 2019 Session. It will be sold as a “revenue-raiser,” so watch their guile. The gambling industry is at it once again in its attempt to put down roots in Kentucky. Besides the eight-year-long court case where they are...
The Nov. 6 message? EVERY vote counts!
Consider these facts: six House seats were decided by 50 votes or less. There were six House races that were decided by 50 votes or less, including one race that was decided by ONE VOTE. House District 13: Incumbent D.J. Johnson (R) was defeated by Jim Glenn (D), the...
Nov. 6 was a good election day for the family
Many of those who were elected ran with pro-life and pro-family campaigns, suggesting good things for the 2019 Session. From a “pro-family” perspective, the Nov. 6 election and its impact on the Kentucky General Assembly should turn out to be a major step forward....
Kentucky mixes blue & red
Republican-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate were racing forward with their conservative agenda – passing seven bills in the first five days of the 2017 Session. The speed is not the same in 2018 for a number of reasons. Among the bills passed early...
Don’t trust those who covet YOUR money
Opinion: The gambling industry weasels it’s way into the most favorable position. It’s very good at sleight-of-hand. By Martin Cothran, Senior Policy Analyst for The Family Foundation The gambling industry has made regular attempts to buy its way into Kentucky. Its...
Trail Life USA: A new option for boys, parents
“. . . that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God . . .” In the midst of the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) shifting image and decline in membership, Trail Life USA has emerged with...
The state pension issue IS important, but . . .
Some are using our significant crisis as a political weapon rather than truly working to find the solution. The 600-pound gorilla in the room this Fall is the question of state pensions. Clearly, just as bread has two sides, there are naturally two sides in this...
Consider these 2017-18 victories when you vote:
The list of successfully passed pro-family legislation over the last two years is a reason for which every family can be proud. Major changes in how the General Assembly responds to the will and values of everyday Kentuckians has come into play. Simply consider the...
Trump continues to move federal courts right
He’s just doing what he promised to do when he campaigned for office in 2016. (It’s actually quite refreshing.) According to U.S. Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY), “The most important thing the Senate is involved in is the personnel business” and “most...
Showdown: Unborn Child Dismemberment Ban
House Bill 454 is one of nine bills in the nation that limits this particularly barbaric abortion procedure. November 13 marks the start of a multi-day courtroom showdown between the Commonwealth and abortion advocates. The judge must decide whether to uphold the...
“Kentucky Family Values” is a Super PAC; It is NOT a “family values” group.
Caution: It’s just a Political Action Committee whose “values” are to elect Democrats. Its name is misleading. Since the 2010 Supreme Court campaign finance decision, new groups have emerged on Kentucky’s political scene. Often referred to as Super Political Action...
See this unique, nonpartisan Survey
Listed side-by-side, candidates respond in their own words. The Kentucky Candidate Information Survey’s website has something for every Kentuckian. It’s an excellent resource for the busy citizen who desires to be an informed voter. Find the resources and info you...
ALL should give direction for state & nation
Kentuckians are rooted in traditional values and are grounded in common sense. Clearly, America needs those virtues now. The phrase “elections have consequences” is often bandied about during election cycles in order to get voters inclined to vote one way or another....
Sports betting: Another proposed boondoggle
Opinion: Why do government officials not recognize that their duty is to the people of Kentucky, not the gambling industry lobbyists? By Martin Cothran, Senior Policy Analyst For The Family Foundation One of the state lawmakers pushing a bill to legalize sports...
Tonya Moreland selected “KY Mother of the Year”
Wife of The Family Foundation policy analyst named “Kentucky Mother of the Year” and honored in Washington, D.C. Tonya Moreland, wife of The Family Foundation policy analyst David Moreland, was recently honored as the 2018 Kentucky Mother of the Year. She received the...
OPERATION JERICHO: Voices speaking out!!!
Being “salt and light” is about being diligent and not being afraid to let your voice be heard. Join us with “Operation Jericho.” The history of the Biblically recorded battle of Jericho underscores that a miracle of tremendous importance and a number of dimensions...
Justice Kennedy delivers his swan song in June at the end of the U.S. Supreme Court term
Kennedy’s final actions make it clear that, in his mind, government MAY NOT compel speech. In include a trio of cases, and powerful concurring opinion, Kennedy takes his stand on the First Amendment and the speech it protects. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M....
Trump nominates Kavanaugh to Supreme Court
Seventy-two of Kennedy’s former law clerks: Kavanaugh “would be a fair-minded and conscientious successor to Justice Kennedy.” President Trump, who has already impacted the U.S. Supreme Court with one appointment since taking office, now has the opportunity to shift...
Trump is transforming the federal court system
For decades, the federal court system has been over-run with liberal appointees, but Trump is quickly bringing back some balance. President Trump and the U.S. Senate (led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell R-KY) continue to build upon their record-breaking...
Unborn Child Dismemberment Ban goes to court
House Bill 454, sponsored by Rep. Addia Wuchner, is one of the strongest bills in the nation that limits an abortion procedure. With a trial date set for Nov. 13-17, Gov. Bevin’s legal team finds itself once again facing off with the ACLU and Kentucky’s last remaining...
Instant Racing Court Case: Still waiting . . . !
In April, the Judge said he would decide “in a few weeks”; It’s now September, the machines are still operating, and no decision. It’s more than a little frustrating . . . We’ve labored for just over eight years in the court case to determine whether these historical...
Nov. 6 election is CRITICAL for state, nation
Kentuckians can only do their part in the Commonwealth, but the new state/national trajectories will either be reversed or affirmed. It is almost a cliché to suggest that the upcoming General Election is the “most important” in decades. Citizens hear that almost every...
Happy Birthday, Justice Ginsburg!
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg celebrated her 85th birthday last month on March 15. This August she will celebrate her 25th anniversary of service on the U.S. Supreme Court. Clearly, some point out that her 25 years of service have actually been a disservice to the plain...
The manipulation of government
By Martin Cothran, Senior Policy Analyst for The Family Foundation If there was a legal effort to blur the lines between the three branches of government (and between the government and the governed) and that threatened the governmental system of checks and balances,...
Pregnancy Centers honored by GA resolution and rally
House Concurrent Resolution 152, honoring Pregnancy Help Centers for their life saving work, passed the 2018 General Assembly and was signed by Gov. Bevin on April 2. Over 50 Pregnancy Help Centers (PHCs) operate in Kentucky, 37 of which are Care Net affiliates. These...
Congress and the Life Issue: Fact from Fiction
Editor’s Note: U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican, has served the 6th Congressional District for just over 5 years. He regards himself as a pro-life legislator and was eager to clarify what has been happening with the life issue in Washington during the last two years....
BAD NEWS: The federal court system is gradually changing what the words “sex” and “gender” mean
The federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, with jurisdiction over Kentucky, has ruled that Title VII’s prohibition against “sex” discrimination “protects transgender persons because… transgender or transitioning status constitutes an inherently gender nonconforming...
“Cakeshop” decision will likely be monumental
By the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, an important case addressing the intersection of our nation’s foundational right to religious liberty and the Court’s newly recognized right to...
GOOD NEWS: Trump transforming court system
President Trump appointed a total of 23 judges to the federal judiciary during his first year, leading some to claim it was his greatest success and to already speculate that it will be a legacy of his since judges are appointed for life. Those appointments included a...
House Bills 326 and 372 were losses this year
House Bill 326 protected student privacy and House Bill 372 addressed religious liberty but both met the same fate – they were lost in the tumult of the pension and budget battles . . . but both could have and should have passed because they represent part of the...
Gambling expansion goes down . . . AGAIN!
Editor’s Note: The gambling industry has been trying to bring casino-style gambling into the state (through the legislature) for decades because of the massive volume of money to be gained (the losses of patrons). However, for the last eight years it’s tried though...
Senate Bill 112: Ban on Telehealth Chemical Abortions
Sen. Ralph Alvarado SB112 was designed to expand health care across Kentucky by using the Internet for doctor-patient interaction. The bill required the Cabinet to regulate telehealth in the Commonwealth. However, an amendment to the bill specifically prohibited...
House Concurrent Resolution HCR 34: Responsible Marijuana Research
Rep. Danny Bentley HCR 34 actually delayed marijuana legalization, urging instead the expedited research and appropriate approval of marijuana derivatives for medical use. Bill sponsor Dr. Bentley, a PhD, registered pharmacist and university faculty member explained...
Senate Resolution – SR 170 Defending Dignity
Sen. David Givens This simple resolution recognized the connections between pornography, the objectification of women, and sex trafficking. It asserted that a public health crisis created by pornography exists, that obscenity plays a role in objectifying women, and...
Senate Bill 71: Abstinence Inclusion in Public School Sex Education
Sen. Stephen Meredith This bill required that if a public school has a Sex Education program, “abstinence from sexual activity before marriage” must be included in the program as the only guarantee against pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Opponents of this...
House Bill 1: Adoption and Foster Care Reform
Rep. David Meade In response to years of requests by citizens, legislators and professionals that the Adoption and Foster Care system in Kentucky be improved, the 2017 General Assembly created an adoption task force to review those systems. In December, the task force...
House Concurrent Resolution – HCR 93: Internet Trafficking
Rep. Donna Mayfield This concurring resolution urged Congress to close the loophole in the Federal Communications Decency Act (FCDA) that gave immunity to online sites, such as “Backpage.com,” that knowingly and recklessly advertise sex to connect their “customers”...
House Concurrent Resolution – HCR 152: Honoring Pregnancy Help Centers
Rep. Robert Benvenuti This concurring resolution commended pregnancy help centers for their services (that are provided free of charge and at no cost to the taxpayer) to vulnerable women, men and their families who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy. This...
House Bill 454: Banning Dismemberment Abortion
Rep. Addia Wuchner This bill prohibits an abortion on a pregnant woman that will result in the dismemberment, bodily crushing, or human vivisection of the unborn child when the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 11 weeks or greater, except in the...
2018 Session: Many successes, a few losses
This year’s legislative agenda created a very unusual Session of the General Assembly—one that could have repercussions for the long-term future of the Commonwealth. The BIG issue was pension reform, which stressed legislators with the challenge of keeping their...
Archive of Printed Editions
(2013-2017)