Political Roundup - Marriage Protection Act

News & Analysis

Franks Supports Passage of Marriage Protection Act

By Dennis Durband, Editor
July 22, 2004

Congressman Trent Franks (R-CD2) said Thursday's House passage of the Marriage Protection Act will help curb judicial activism and defend America's foundation -- the family. Designed to protect the federal Defense of Marriage Act, HR 3313 passed by a vote of 233-194.

“Our courts are given the sacred charge to defend the United States Constitution," Cong. Franks said. "Unfortunately, in many cases, the courts have become the Constitution’s greatest enemy. Courts have now made partial-birth abortion 'a constitutional right.' They have said it is 'unconstitutional' to protect a nine-year-old schoolgirl from Internet pornography or for her to pray a certain prayer in school or for her to voluntarily say her Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States using the words 'Under God.'”

By ignoring their constitutional role and usurping legislative power, Franks said the courts are violating their duty under the Constitution and undermining the rule of law itself, and negating everything the founding fathers and servicemen have died for.

"Now the courts are attacking the very foundational makeup of our country and any civil society -- the family itself," Franks said. "As the legislative body, we are the only body on earth that has the power to overcome this unjust, power-grabbing madness. Today’s action takes the first step toward enforcing judicial accountability and preserving the very cornerstone of American society.

9/11 Commission Report

Regarding the 9/11 report issued Thursday, Cong. Franks said: “I am more grateful than ever before that the War Against Terror fought by the United States is led by President Bush. The 9/11 Commission report clearly demonstrates that we have a president who has acted with urgency, wise deliberation and strength — in sharp contrast to the previous administration — related to terrorism and keeping America safe."

Stan Barnes, a Republican candidate for Congress in District 5 continues to fire political shells at incumbent Cong. Jeff Flake. In his Thursday news release, Barnes blasted Flake for for voting against a bill that President Bush pursued in order to counter biological, radiological or chemical attacks on U.S. citizens. The bill passed in the House of Representatives, 414-2, as just one other congressman joined Flake as a "nay" voter. In the Senate, the vote was 99-0, with John Kerry absent.

“With this latest vote, Mr. Flake once again demonstrated his disregard for protecting our nation from terrorists,” Barnes said. “He opposes Homeland Security measures, opposes efforts to counter biological and chemical weapons. What next? President Bush even outlined this initiative in his State of the Union Speech as a critical component of our War on Terror.”

Barnes pointed out that last month Flake voted against the Homeland Security legislation, another measure designed to protect Americans from domestic terrorism.

“There’s nothing principled about voting against this measure -- It’s just plain irresponsible," Barnes said. "When you have Kyl, McCain, Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, Hayworth, and Kolbe all voting ‘yes’ and Flake voting ‘no’, there’s something seriously wrong.”

State Rep. Clancy Jayne, distancing himself from conservatives, is actively campaigning in favor of Proposition 400/Transportation Extension and an accompanying tax increase for Maricopa County residents.

In a news release, Rep. Jayne wrote: "I invite and urge your to give this important measure your support by voting 'yes' on the extension of the half-cent transportation tax this November. Approving this tax is not only a matter of convenience, it is essential to our continued economic growth. Businesses and developers do not build homes where there are no roads or transportation systems. If we want our Valley to continue to grow both economically and in population, then the regional transportation plan must be approved. It will lay the groundwork for decades of
future growth and an improved quality of life for all Valley
residents. As one of its primary supporters at the Legislature, I enthusiastically endorse this historic proposal and look forward to giving it my vote.

Valley Conservatives are opposing Prop 400 because it will increase taxes and create a light rail system expected to have a major impact on taxpayers' wallets and a minor impact on relieving traffic congestion.

Congressman Rick Renzi (R-CD1) and members of the House Committee on Resources voted Thursday to approve two pieces of legislation that would correct deficiencies within the Endangered Species Act and encourage local community participation in the critical habitat designation process. H.R. 1662, and H.R. 2933 were both favorably reported from the Committee and now move to the full House for consideration.

The Endangered Species Data Quality Act of 2004, H. R. 1662, directs the Secretary of the Interior to give greater weight to scientific, empirical and commercial data that is field-tested or peer-reviewed in determining the status of an endangered or threatened species.

"The fundamental goal of this legislation is to ensure that sound and defensible science is used and peer-reviewed in all listing decisions," Renzi said.

These legislative acts are needed to prevent fraud. In the Northwest a couple years ago, federal officials planted lynx hair in a national forest in an attempt to make a fraudulent case for application of the Endangered Species Act. Arizona and other states have also been victimized in recent years by questionable habitat restrictions for owls.

The Critical Habitat Reform Act of 2003, H.R. 2933, aims to tighten and define the critical habitat designation process in order to reduce the amount of litigation by private interests against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to truly protect, conserve and recover the species in question. This bill also requires the FWS to evaluate local impact data when considering the designation of an area as critical habitat and limits this designation to the maximum extent "practicable, economically feasible and determinable."

"This bill gives private landowners, as well as, state and local governments more input and participation in the designation of endangered species and protects the federal government from frivolous and often unnecessary litigation which does not help to recover endangered species populations," Renzi said.

"For more than 30 years, our ranchers, farmers, miners and lumberjacks in rural Arizona have suffered at the expense of an often abused federal endangered species protection law. As a result, hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost, families forced to move, and once thriving rural communities are now threatened. These vital pieces of legislation will restore a balance to our species protection laws, by preserving our rich rural traditions and local economies and allowing both nature and man to coexist in harmony," Renzi concluded.

Cong. Franks and Congress appropriated $7.9 million Thursday for a Litchfield Road Underpass, which connects both sides of Luke Air Force Base. The Military Construction Appropriations Act, 2005, provides appropriations for military construction, family housing and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense. The funding was requested by Franks,

“Today’s action further strengthens Luke’s position as a secure and viable part of this nation’s present and future arsenal of freedom,” Franks said. “By providing effective traffic flow between different areas of the base with an underpass, two points of entry will be eliminated, reducing the number of guards necessary for entry security. This will also eliminate the need to construct two compliant gates, and will lessen the vulnerability to the base that results from having so many points of entry.”

The Litchfield Road Underpass is vital to the Luke AFB Antiterrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) requirements. Luke AFB is currently using nine entry locations, all of which are manned. Construction has begun to upgrade six gates, to meet AT/FP standards. The completion of the underpass will eliminate the need for two gates, and reduce both upgrade and Security Forces manning requirements.

“Trent Franks continues to demonstrate he can deliver for Luke Air Force Base,” said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter. “He understands the importance of force protection issues both at home and for our troops deployed overseas.”

The Gilbert Town Council met Thursday night to consider a request to accept the notorious Matricula Consular cards. Mayor Steve Berman has stated repeatedly that the city has no identification requirements that would require the use of the card.

Matricula Consular cards have been accepted by the city councils of several Arizona municipalities. The cards are not verifiable, are not recognized in Mexico and merely identify illegal alien status. The Gilbert Commission on Human Relations voted earlier this year to request acceptance of the cards by the council. A liberal commissioner said last spring that the reason for doing so was merely "symbolic," but the commission spent parts of three meetings -- spanning several months -- discussing the cards.