By Stephen P. Hayford

It has been a wild ride in Albany in recent months.  At times, this year’s legislative session felt like a shootout at the OK Corral.  For some, it was reminiscent of a well-known western movie: “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”  “The Good” consisted of the legislative victories that God has given New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF) and its allies.  “The Bad” consisted of damaging legislation which, despite the best efforts of pro-life and pro-family organizations, was passed this year.  “The Ugly” is the uncertainty that remains in regard to many ungodly bills that could still become law in 2010.

The Good

Several anti-life and anti-family bills that were considered this year did not become law.  This is cause for great thanksgiving.

The Reproductive Health Act (S5808/A11484)

 As of this writing, the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) has not been brought to a vote in either house of the New York State Legislature.  NYCF and others have been fighting against this appallingly evil abortion bill (called “an abortion industry bailout” by some) ever since it was first introduced by disgraced former Governor Eliot Spitzer in 2007.  The RHA would, if passed, make abortion a fundamental right in New York and would make abortion even more common in a state that already ends the lives of approximately 120,000 unborn babies each year.

In late June of this year, rumors began spreading that the abortion industry had the votes to get the RHA passed in the New York State Senate.  At about the same time, a companion bill was introduced in the Assembly with 41 co-sponsors.  NYCF responded to this threat by forming and spearheading a Coalition for Reproductive Life that was joined by nine other pro-life organizations in New York.  Together with its pro-life allies, and with the many concerned Christians who contacted their legislators to express opposition to the RHA, NYCF worked day and night to fend off this legislation.

Let us thank God for blessing those efforts and preventing a vote upon the RHA.  Let us also ask for His mercy on our state and an end to the shedding of innocent blood here and across our nation.

The Bathroom Bill (S2406A/A5701A)

 On June 8, 2010, the Bathroom Bill—also known as the Gender Expression Nondiscrimination Act (GENDA)—was defeated by a 12-11 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee.  This bill, which has passed the New York State Assembly several times, would define cross-dressing and transsexual behavior as protected civil rights categories like race, sex, and religion.  Evidently, advocates of homosexual and transgendered behavior were so confident that the bill would pass in committee that many of their leaders neglected to even attend the June 8 committee meeting.  NYCF was a leading opponent of the Bathroom Bill and worked tirelessly for its defeat.  The defeat of this bill in committee makes it very unlikely that the bill will come to the Senate floor in 2010.  This is a great victory.

Joint State Income Tax Returns for Same-Sex Partners (A11479A)

 Openly homosexual Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell (D-Manhattan) introduced legislation that would allow same-sex couples with marriage licenses from other states or nations to file joint income tax returns in New York.  The O’Donnell proposal includes language stating that the terms “husband,” “wife,” and “spouse” would be applicable to same-sex partners with marriage licenses from other places.  When this language appeared in one of Governor David Paterson’s budget bills, NYCF worked with Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) to have the language removed.  Sen. Diaz showed tremendous character by refusing to vote for this language in spite of hostility and opposition from other Democrats.

Miscellaneous Legislation

 Other anti-life and anti-family bills that did not become law this year, included:  Same-sex “marriage;” mandatory HPV vaccines for sixth graders; STD treatment for minors without parental approval; the Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act (making morning-after pills accessible to minors without doctors’ prescriptions or parental consent); medical marijuana; advanced directives regarding the storage of frozen human embryos (passed Assembly but not Senate); the Healthy Teens Act (passed Assembly but not Senate); and a bill to make grant monies available to groups that “provide services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender senior populations.”

The Bad

No-Fault Divorce (S3890/A9753)

Despite the best efforts of NYCF and other pro-family groups, the New York State Legislature has taken steps to make divorces quicker and easier to obtain—even if one of the spouses wishes to remain married.  No-fault divorce legislation has passed both the Senate and the Assembly, and has been sent to Governor Paterson; the Governor is expected to sign the bills into law.

Dignity for All Students Act (S1987B/A3661C)

Joint adoption by unmarried couples (S1523/A5652)

 Both the Assembly and the Senate have passed legislation that expressly allows unmarried intimate partners—including same-sex partners—to jointly adopt children.  The practice of joint adoption by same-sex partners has previously been allowed in New York courts, but it will now be enshrined in New York’s state statutes upon the anticipated signature of Governor David Paterson.

Bereavement leave for same-sex partners (S6177/A2563)

 Both Houses of the Legislature have passed legislation that requires employers to extend same-sex partners the same bereavement leave extended to married couples.  While Christians ought to extend grace and compassion to individuals who are experiencing grief and loss, it is morally wrong for the State of New York to force employers to treat employees’ same-sex partnerships in the same way that they treat employees’ marriages.  The state should have remained silent on this issue and allowed employers the freedom to decide for themselves how to handle the question of bereavement leave for employees with same-sex partners.  Governor David Paterson is expected to sign this bill into law.

Taxpayer funding of abortion

 Approximately forty percent (40%) of abortions performed in New York State are funded by your tax dollars through New York’s Medicaid program.  If Medicaid funding for abortion were to cease in New York (as it recently did in the State of Virginia due to the efforts of pro-life Governor Bob McDonnell), tens of thousands of innocent lives would be saved.  NYCF and other pro-life allies have sought to end the reprehensible practice of taxpayer funding of abortion for many years, but so far have been unsuccessful.

Pro-life and pro-family legislation

 Due to anti-life and anti-family leadership in both Houses of the Legislature and in the Governor’s Mansion, none of the bills on NYCF’s pro-life and pro-family agenda became law in 2010.  While several individual Democrats have bravely cast pro-life and pro-family votes in spite of opposition from their colleagues, the Democratic leadership in New York remains steadfastly supportive of abortion and sexual immorality.

The Ugly

 As stated above, “The Ugly” consists of the uncertainty that remains in regard to many ungodly bills that have been proposed in New York this year.  The reason for the uncertainty is that as of this writing, the New York State Senate has not yet completed its work on the travesty known as the New York State Budget (which was due on April 1, 2010).  While the 2010 legislative session was scheduled to end on June 21, 2010, both Houses of the Legislature were in town until the first of July, and the Senate (if not the full Legislature) will likely return to Albany in the not-too-distant future to address unresolved budgetary issues.  When the Senate returns, there is continued danger that bad bills that have been blocked thus far in 2010 could become law.  In particular, there is concern about proposed campaign finance reform legislation that would place burdensome and unnecessary restrictions on organizations like NYCF (S8081/A11350).  Christians should remember that our continued prayers, efforts, and vigilance are necessary to prevent the “Good News” from turning into “Bad News” the next time the Legislature comes to Albany.

The legislative battles of 2010 are not yet over.  Please keep Rev. McGuire and the rest of the NYCF ministry team in your prayers as they continue to fight the good fight here in the Empire State.