The Christian Coalition has set its agenda for 2006:
1. "Multicast/Must-carry" Legislation to Prevent Discrimination Against Religious Broadcasters
Without a "Multicast/Must-carry" law, the cable and satellite companies would probably not add new Christian channels and the influence of current Christian channels will be diluted.
2. Getting votes to Confirm President Bush’s Judicial Nominations, including Judge Samuel A. Alito and to Confirm any Additional Supreme Court and Circuit Court Nominees.
3. Making Permanent the 2001-2003 Federal Tax Cuts
The Christian Coalition is supporting efforts in the 109th Congress to finally make permanent the tax cuts passed during the years 2001 and 2003 including the increase in the child tax credits and the elimination of the marriage penalty tax.
4. Passing the "Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act"
The bill would require abortion providers to notify women who want an abortion 20 weeks after fertilization that the evidence suggests their unborn child feels pain and they have the option to obtain anesthesia for their unborn child in order to reduce or eliminate pain.
5. Passing in U.S. Senate Congressman Fred Upton's "Broadcasting Decency Enforcement Act" Passed by U.S. House 389-38 Advocating $500,000/incident & License Revocations/Senator Brownback Has Similar Bill in Senate
6. Support Legislation Stopping Religious Discrimination Against Christians in the Military
Christian military chaplains are being told to use general terms when they pray publicly, and to not mention the name of Jesus.
7. Passing the "Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act" ("Child Custody Protection Act") in the House and Senate (i.e. protecting parental notification rights for abortions on minors)
8. Passing Congressman Walter Jones’ "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act," H.R. 235
This bill will liberate clergy from the muzzle imposed by the absolute ban on all speech that may be regarded as "political" and thereby enable them to speak out on all vital and moral and political questions of the day. The IRS is currently after a liberal church in Pasadena, California.
9. Passing in the U.S. Senate Congressman Hostettler’s Legislation Which Passed in House 242-182 Protecting 10 Commandments in Response to Infamous Supreme Court Decision in January 2005
The legislation would prohibit use of funds to enforce judgment of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana's ruling.
10. Passing Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s “Holly’s Law" and Senator Jim DeMint’s bill to Take the Abortion Pill, RU 486, Which has Caused at Least 5 Women's Deaths, Off the Market Until There is an Investigation
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Jessica Clark is a writer, editor and researcher, with more than 15 years of experience spanning commercial, educational, independent and public media production. Currently she is the Research Director for American University’s Center for Social Media. She also writes a monthly column for PBS’ MediaShift on new directions in public media. She is the author, with Tracy Van Slyke, of Beyond the Echo Chamber: Reshaping Politics Through Networked Progressive Media (2010, New Press).
