American Values Agenda

The American Values Agenda, with "measures rang[ing] from legislation that would 'protect the Pledge of Allegiance from attacks by activist federal judges seeking to rule it unconstitutional' to a constitutional amendment 'declaring marriage to be between a man and a woman'," was announced June 27, 2006, by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

In a statement released by his office, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) said: "Through this agenda, we will work to protect the faith of our people, the sanctity of life and freedoms outlined by our founding fathers." 

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) "told CNN's Deirdre Walsh that Republican leaders decided on the 10 legislative items after meeting with about two dozen outside groups in February as well as receiving input from the House GOP's 'Values Action Team' headed by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pennsylvania)." 

However, John Stanton wrote June 6, 2006, for Roll Call:


 * "With only a few months left on the legislative calendar, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has decided to abandon any efforts at bipartisanship in favor of using his chamber to hold a series of highly partisan, mostly symbolic votes on conservative causes, including amendments banning gay marriage and flag burning, and fully repealing the estate tax."

The Agenda
The GOP American Values Agenda includes:


 * Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (BATFE) Reform, H.R. 5092 (sponsored by Rep. Howard Coble (R-North Carolina))
 * Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act, H.R. 5013 (sponsored by Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-Louisiana)); "Prohibits governments from using federal funds to confiscate guns from law-abiding citizens during emergencies."
 * Federal Marriage Amendment, H.J. Res 88 (sponsored by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colorado))
 * Freedom to Display the American Flag Act, H.R. 42 (sponsored by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, (R-Maryland); "would bar covenantal associations like homeowner and condominium groups from restricting residents from flying the American flag — or restricting the flag size or where and how flags can be placed."
 * Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005, H.R. 1357 (sponsored by Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Florida)); would ban human cloning, i.e. stem cell research.
 * Internet Gambling Prohibition (co-sponsored by Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa) and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia)); "The measure would also update the Wire Act of 1961 to prohibit Internet gambling specifically." )
 * Permanent Tax Relief for Families: "Likely series of votes on the child tax credit, marriage penalty relief, tax incentives for adoption, and other priorities for American citizens."
 * Pledge Protection Act, H.R. 2389 (sponsored by Rep. Todd Akin, R-Missouri "in response to atheist Michael Newdow's unsuccessful court challenge to strike the words 'under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance. The act would remove the Pledge from the jurisdiction of the federal courts — and relieve federal judges from hearing constitutional challenges on the issue." )
 * Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005, H.R. 2679 (sponsored by Rep. John Hostettler, (R-Indiana))
 * Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2005 H.R. 356 (sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey)); "would require some women seeking abortion to be told the procedure can cause fetal pain."

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Alliance Defense Fund
 * Alliance for Marriage
 * court-stripping
 * David Safavian
 * eLottery Inc.
 * Federal Marriage Amendment
 * Flag burning amendment
 * Gaming-Related Legislation: eLottery Inc. and the DeLay, Abramoff, Reed Connection
 * Jon Kyl
 * same-sex marriage
 * traditional family values
 * values voters

2004-2005

 * Josephine Hearn, "Quietly, the right shapes its agenda", The Hill, October 5, 2004.
 * Susan Ferrechio, "Conservative Agenda Moving, However Slowly," CQ Today (Republican Main Street Partnership), June 27, 2005.

2006

 * Rick Klein, "GOP narrowing its congressional agenda. Focus is on pleasing base ahead of elections," Boston Globe, May 10, 2006.
 * John Stanton, "Get Ready for a Senate Kabuki Show," Roll Call, June 6, 2006. Subscription required.
 * Pete Winn, "Congress Takes Up 'American Values Agenda'," CitizenLink/Focus on the Family, June 27, 2006.
 * David Espo, "House GOP to Focus on Abortion, Guns," Associated Press (ABC News), June 27, 2006.
 * "Speaker Hastert Statement on the House Republican American Values Agenda," U.S. Newswire, June 27, 2006.
 * Statement: "House GOP Leaders Launch American Values Agenda," Office of House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), June 27, 2006.
 * Mark Preston, "House GOP promotes its 'American Values Agenda'," CNN, June 28, 2006.
 * "Dobson Applauds 'American Values Agenda': House Leadership Demonstrates Courage, While GOP Senators Lag Behind," U.S. Newswire, June 28, 2006.
 * Charles Babington, "Senate Rejects Flag Desecration Amendment," Washington Post, June 28, 2006.
 * "'American Values Agenda' off to a rocky start," Think Progress, June 28, 2006.
 * "Dems say Judiciary Chair breaks rules, closes meeting after losing vote," The Raw Story, June 28, 2006.
 * Editorial: "Let the silly season begin," Boston Herald, June 29, 2006.
 * "Front Burner, Back Burner. Congress Talks Hot Button Issues, No Action On Immigration, Gas Prices," CBS Evening News, June 29, 2006.
 * Jody Brown, "Pro-Family Groups Applaud GOP's 'Values Agenda'. But House-Led Initiative Stumbles Out of the Gate," Agape Press, June 29, 2006.
 * Steve Jordahl, "American Values Agenda Looks Promising for Conservatives," Family News in Focus/Focus on the Family, June 29, 2006.
 * Tim Grieve, "The 'American Values Agenda'," Salon "War Room", June 29, 2006.
 * "The 'American Values Agenda' can't get out of the starting blocs," The Carpetbagger Report, June 29, 2006.
 * Pete Winn, "Congress, Attorneys Scramble to Defend Historic Symbols of Faith," CitizenLink/Focus on the Family, June 30, 2006.
 * Michael Collins, "Playing games in Congress," The Cincinnati Post, July 1, 2006.
 * Pepper Ballard, "Bartlett proposes bill to keep U.S. flag flying," The Herald-Mail Online (MD-PA-WV), July 2, 2006.
 * "Our View: Pander-monium. Congress is angling for votes, not solving problems," SpokesmanReview.com, July 3, 2006.
 * Kate Phillips, "Interest Groups Lining Up to Lobby on Web Gambling," New York Times, July 4, 2006.
 * Susan Milligan, "Tax cuts losing force as rallying cry on the Hill. Lawmakers say constituents wary of deficit, help for rich," Boston Globe, July 5, 2006.
 * Paul M. Weyrich, "The 'Values Summit' Series - Legislative Opportunities," The Conservative Voice, July 6, 2006.
 * Edward Epstein, "GOP polishes up agenda catering to conservative base," San Francisco Chronicle, July 7, 2006.
 * Lisa Mascaro, "Congress may fold casinos' bid. GOP sees ban of Internet gaming as winning ticket," Las Vegas Sun, July 7, 2006.
 * Lee Russ, Op-Ed: "Duck! Here comes the 'American Values Agenda'," Watching the Watchers, July 8, 2006.
 * Carl Hulse, "G.O.P. Agenda in House Has Moderates Unhappy," New York Times, July 8, 2006.
 * Laurie Kellman, "Republican Priorities Stalled in Congress," Associated Press (Forbes), July 9, 2006.
 * Todd Milbourn, "Online gambling booms as laws try to catch up," Sacramento Bee (CA), July 9, 2006.
 * "Eye On Gambling (EOG.com): Independence Day Has A Hollow Ring As Online Gambling Faces Extinction," PRWeb, July 9, 2006.
 * "GOP 'values' agenda stumbles," Washington Times, July 10, 2006.
 * Nancy Zuckerbrod, "Online wagering under attack in Congress," Associated Press (tulsaworld.com), July 10, 2006: "Other critics complain that the bill doesn't cover all forms of gambling. They point to exemptions they say would allow online lotteries and Internet betting on horse racing to flourish while cracking down on other kinds of sports betting, casino games and card games like poker." (emphasis added)
 * John Aloysius Farrell, "Rove: Bush to veto DeGette bill," Denver Post, July 10, 2006: "Bush will likely cast the first veto of his presidency if the Senate, as expected, passes legislation to expand federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, White House aide Karl Rove said today" ... "legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, and Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del."
 * Scott Helman, "Gay-marriage opponents get SJC go-ahead. Amendment effort is constitutional" (in Massachusetts), Boston Globe, July 11, 2006.
 * John Aravosis, "GOP to pass pro-gambling bill this week that gives Jack Abramoff what he's been lobbying for," AMERICAblog, July 11, 2006.
 * "Dodos in Kansas," The Loom/ScienceBlogs.com, July 13, 2006.
 * Judd Legum, "Expert Cited By Embryonic Stem Cell Opponents Grossly Distorts Research," Think Progress, July 15, 2006.
 * Jim Abrams, "House Rejects Gay Marriage Ban Amendment," Associated Press (1010 WINS), July 18, 2006.
 * Charles Babington, "Senate Passes Stem Cell Bill; Bush Vows Veto," Washington Post, July 19, 2006.