WASHINGTON UPDATE 11/12/2014

November 12, 2014link Cleveland Cavalier about First Amendment Rights Coming soon to a city near you: Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s totalitarian tactics! Pastors and churches beware: leaders in Cleveland, Ohio obviously didn’t learn anything from the controversy in Texas, or they might have reconsidered their latest “transgender-inclusion bathroom and locker room ordinance.” Starting today, the city is kicking off a round of meetings on the special rights measure that, like Houston’s and others’, would give locals the right to use any facility they want regardless of their biological sex. “We have to get out of the mindset that someone is going into the bathroom to attack,” one city leader said in response to very real fears that the rule would be an open invitation to sexual predators. Adding to the drama (and outrage), Cleveland has a shocking way of enforcing the policy: a $1,000 fine to any person or business who restricts restrooms to one gender. “So if a woman is alone in a business and sees some guy follow her into the restroom -- and you know this will start to happen -- and she screams and makes a huge fuss to draw attention to the male invading her privacy, SHE is the one who will get slapped with a $1000 fine?” wrote one author. “How about a privacy-respecting business owner who listens to his or her female customers? Or the grandmas who stand at the door of the public pools -- with pitchforks, perhaps -- to keep pedophiles out of the showers with their eight-year-old granddaughters?” Still, the bill’s sponsor insisted, this is “common sense legislation.” “We’re in the 21st century, and it would allow Clevelanders to feel comfortable in their own environment and to use facilities that they’re most comfortable with.” Exactly which Clevelanders is he talking about? The 99% of locals who would have to forfeit their personal safety and First Amendment rights to comply? Or the less than 1% of sexually confused people who are dictating “morality” to the rest? For Cleveland’s leaders to pursue this encroachment on Ohioans’ rights after the uprising in Houston is shockingly bad politics. And if the local population is as engaged as our friends at Citizens for Community Values is encouraging them to be, it will end with shockingly bad results as well. Hill Gets Its Lame Ducks in a Row… Hundreds of concession speeches have been made since last week’s elections -- but don’t waste your time waiting on the Democratic Party’s. If Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) comments are any indication, the Left isn’t conceding a thing about the walloping liberals took at the hands of unhappy voters. In an almost comical interview, the House Minority Leader still can’t come to grips with America’s rejection and insists that last Tuesday’s losses were in no way a referendum on her party. “I do not believe what happened the other night is a ‘wave,’” Pelosi said. “There was no wave of approval for the Republicans. I wish them congratulations, they won the election, but there was no wave of approval for anybody. There was an ebbing, an ebb tide, for us.” Like President Obama, the California Congresswoman is drowning in her own delusion. The two sides might disagree on what to call last week’s results, but the message was clear: Americans are tired of the failed policies of the Obama administration. But that doesn’t mean the GOP has a free pass. Last week’s results were a warning to every Republican in Congress that the majority of voters who took the time to engage in the political process want limited government that honors the Constitution. If anyone understands that, it’s the class of freshmen members streaming into the Capitol for orientation. In trailers across the House and Senate courtyards, last week’s winners are setting up shop for a crash course in Hill life. Fortunately, one lesson they’ve already learned is what voters want. Let’s hope that rubs off on the current members, who are buckling down for a busy few weeks of tying up loose ends. As we know from past years, liberals are famous for kicking explosive issues into the lame-duck sessions when accountability is at its lowest. And if past lame-duck sessions are any indication (see: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and START Treaty), conservatives will be scrambling to block an onslaught of bad bills that bitter Democrats try to leave as parting gifts for the new Congress. If the election won’t keep the President’s party in check, maybe their favorability rating (or lack thereof) will. At 36%, the public’s approval of the current majority is the lowest since Gallup starting asking the question! No doubt that would dip even lower if Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and company tried to use the lame duck to squeeze unpopular bills through the chamber before the clock runs out on the Democrats’ majority. FRC will be watching to make sure the legislative calendar isn’t stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey with radical judges, key nominations, and bad bills like ENDA. With the government’s funding set to expire in December, we’ll push members to pass a responsible stopgap measure (that includes pro-life policy provisions) until the new leaders arrive in January. Congress should also exercise its oversight of D.C. and respond to the legalization of marijuana, the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act, and a Council vote that stripped protections for local religious schools. Last but not least, it’s critical that Congress keeps the heat on the Pentagon in the Defense bill to clarify the protections for religious expression and speech. If conservatives can do that, then America might just survive one more Senate session under Democratic control. Golden State Tarnished by Abortion Demand We don’t call our network of pastors “Watchmen” for nothing! In California, Pastor Jack Hibbs is acting as exactly that in the wake of California’s stunning abortion mandate. At Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, Pastor Jack is sounding the alarm about the health care exchange and its order for all people -- religious or not -- to fund abortion through the local insurance exchange. Instead of exempting churches and others with strong religious convictions, California is strong-arming them into financing the dark business of abortion. “I felt violated,” Pastor Jack told reporters. “I felt forced. I love America, and I love American history, and I have a lot of invested interest in defending the unborn. I see the Constitution under attack, and I see my religious freedom under attack.” But if you think Pastor Hibbs will stand by and do nothing, then you don’t know Jack. Together with six other churches across California, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills is suing the state for violating the law banning taxpayer coercion on abortion. “We will take this to the point of being jailed, if necessary, being arrested, if necessary,” Pastor Hibbs vowed. “I cannot violate my biblical worldview. Once I have to do that, I no longer live in the United States our founding fathers gave me.” Like us, Pastor Jack knows that all it takes is a faithful remnant to wake up the church. And that is exactly what that Watchman is trying to do -- wake up slumbering Christians. Hats off to our friends for standing for truth -- and giving others the courage to do the same! ** Don’t miss what FRC’s Arina Grossu had to say in a compelling CNN interview on India’s brutal sterilization stampede. Also, check out our own Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin giving his take on the Navy Seal responsible for carrying out the attack against Osama bin Laden here. Tony Perkins' Washington Update is written with the aid of FRC senior writers.