Sam Hirsch, a partner at the Washington Office of Jenner & Block LLP, who participated in briefing the Texas case and one of the prior Pennsylvania cases as well, explained the history of the Texas redistricting and the issues presented. The 2000 census gave Texas entitlement to two additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, but a politically divided state government could not agree on a redistricting map. The federal district court therefore determined the map, which was reviewed and affirmed on appeal. But in the 2002 election, the Republicans gathered control of the Texas House and Senate and the Governorship. In 2003 they replaced the approved redistricting with their own new plan.

The new law makes it a felony to perform any abortion except in a case of a pregnant woman’s life being in jeopardy - that is, every abortion that is not necessary to save the life of the mother is now illegal in South Dakota. After signing the bill, Gov. Rounds said that it was the right thing to do. “In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society. The sponsors and supporters of this bill believe that abortion is wrong because unborn children are the most vulnerable and most helpless persons in our society. I agree with them.”

According to the Children’s Defense Fund, more than 27,000 children live in poverty in South Dakota; 18,000 have no health insurance; two-thirds of fourth graders perform below grade level in math and reading. We might ask why there is no legislation to improve the lives of children already living in South Dakota. Why do legislators revere the fetus yet ignore the plight of the child once born?

The State Government Committee voted 15-13 in favor of sending it to the full State House for consideration. All of the committee's 12 Democrats along with one Republican voted against it.

Memorandum

To: Members of the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee
From: The Jewish Social Policy Action Network
Date: March 14, 2005

Re: Opposition to House Bill 2381 (the "Marriage Protection Amendment")

The Jewish Social Policy Action Network is an organization of American Jews who seek, among other things, to advance equality and opportunity for all women and men in our pluralistic democracy and to protect the constitutional liberties and civil rights of Jews, other minorities, and the weak in our society. In our third year of activity, JSPAN has sought to distinguish itself as a progressive voice for the Jewish community in the Delaware Valley area.

To discriminate or not to discriminate, that is the question being put to the Pennsylvania legislature in House Bill 2381, a proposed amendment to the Commonwealth Constitution that reads in substantive part:

The decision to determine if gay marriage violates Jewish halachah will be delayed until a regular meeting in December. The Committee, which represents 1,600 Conservative rabbis, is currently considering four proposals, two of which would maintain the ban on homosexual relations.

The Committee designated the decision a takanah, a revision as opposed to a reinterpritation of Jewish law. Consequently, the decision will require 80% approval from the 25-member rabbinic panel to pass, an event that has not occured in at least twenty years. The four proposals on how to proceed on the gay marriage and ordination questions were sent back to the authors for "extensive revisions" in preparation for the December vote.

Click here to view a list of other articles on the Conservative movement's decision.