Report from Washington

June 8, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC - As parents around the globe become increasingly outspoken in their opposition to the anti-family, anti-father policies of the world's governments, we in Washington have not been idle. Here is a quick note to let you know what we have been up to.

Last weekend I spoke in Atlanta before the Libertarian Party National Convention. The theme was the government's attack on fathers and families and why the Libertarian Party could benefit by adopting a platform on the family that recognizes and opposes this onslaught, which is being ignored and even abetted by the two major parties. I called for shared parenting, consideration of several different proposals for making marriage an enforceable contract, and federal legislation to protect the constitutional rights of parents against arbitrary government action against them and their children. The invitation to speak at the conference was arranged largely by William Wagener, who also videotaped it. We hope that tape will be available on the internet soon.

ACFC Executive Director Mike McCormick and I have also been working with groups in Washington to create a coalition to initiate new action on behalf of families. Among efforts is the development of federal legislation to preserve the rights of parents against arbitrary action by the government at all levels. We are working on revising the Parents' Rights and Responsibilities Act (PRRA) of 1995 to make it a law that will preserve the constitutional rights of all parents not to have their children interfered with or taken away, even when there is a divorce or separation. I will explain more about this bill, our proposed revisions, and its implications in a later missive. For now I will just say that among its merits is that it would protect the parent-child bond from the federal level, without actually involving the federal government in family law. It would also serve as a lightening rod to mobilize a broad-based pro-family coalition with non-custodial parents working side-by-side with mainstream political groups whose aim is to preserve the family, reform the judiciary, and roll-back the power of government generally. More soon.

Iowa's shared parenting legislation, recently signed by Gov. Thomas Vilsack, may have national implications. Aside from setting a good example for other states, Iowa is important in national family politics. The bill passed the Iowa Senate unanimously, whereas the Democrats had previous had a party line against it. The bill was signed by Democratic Governor Thomas Vilsack, who had previously vetoed it and who is being tipped as a possible running mate for John Kerry. Further, Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley is reputed by many to be the most pro-family member of the US Senate. He was the original lead sponsor of the PRRA (see above), and getting him to sponsor a modified version could be highly advantageous in getting it passed.

Finally, our ability to continue this work depends on the time and resources we can devote to it. I am still a part-time president but we hope this will change as the membership of ACFC grows. If you have not done so already, please join ACFC and get your friends, associates, and others to do so. Also please affiliate your group to ACFC or start a group if you have not done so already. Mike McCormick will soon be sending out information on how to do so.