Dear Editor,
A new effort has arisen in the Pro-Life movement. Focus on the Family is currently planning an event in Times Square involving thousands who will gather on Saturday, May 4, to view a live 4-D ultrasound of a baby inside the womb. For those of us unable to attend, there are plans to live stream this occasion on their website at www.focusonthefamily.com. In addition, Focus on the Family is also collecting names on an online petition, called a Declaration for Life, which is featured on their website. A copy of the finished product will be given to both the U.S. Congress and the White House.
In addition to the above, there is a longstanding effort from the National Pro-Life Alliance to gather support for a national Life at Conception Act, currently S.159 or H.R. 616, through an online petition at http://prolifealliance.com/. To read the text of both S.159 and H.R.616, search "Life at Conception Act of 2019" at govinfo.gov
 Thank you,
Isaiah Williams

We Cannot Stand Idly by While Idaho’s Constitution is Attacked
Guest Editorial By: Rep. Priscilla Giddings/R-White Bird
When Idaho’s founders drafted our state’s Constitution, they went to great pains not to forget the source of their authority—the people. While Idaho is set up like most other republican forms of government with three co-equal branches, it also provides a system of checks and balances by the people through the initiative process granted by the Constitution.
By constitutional mandate, the men and women of Idaho have been equal partners in our government for more than a century. Article III, Section I of our Constitution (entitled “Legislative Power”) reserves to the people the power to pass legislation through the citizen initiative process. That power, which resides in every one of us, is under attack in the Idaho State Legislature. 
Senate Bill 1159, which narrowly passed the Senate 18-17, would essentially repeal our constitutional right to bring citizen initiatives. A thorough analysis of S1159 and other ballot initiative states shows that Idaho would have the most restrictive initiative laws in the nation. The legislation increases the signature requirement from 6% of registered voters to 10%, and from 18 of 35 legislative districts to 32 of 35. Furthermore, the time to gather signatures would be cut from 18 months to 6 months. Given the deadline to turn in signatures by April 30th, petitioners would have to gather signatures during Idaho’s brutal snow months. Nothing suppresses voter engagement like a foot of snow in January.
The legislation also creates a double standard between the people and the legislature. While I agree with Senate Bill 1159’s requirement that sponsors provide voters with a fiscal note, the legislation requires the fiscal impact statement be prepared by Idaho’s Division of Financial Management (DFM) in less than 10 days. Legislators are not required to use DFM for their own legislation, so why would we tie the hands of Idahoans? The Medicaid Expansion initiative took months to get estimates on how much it might cost and a private company provided the information that DFM used. Citizens would not have that same luxury. 
In more than a century, less than three-dozen citizen initiatives have made the ballot. Of those, only 15 have succeeded. By no means have Idahoans abused their constitutional power in this respect. Idaho is one of the few states where legislators can overturn a bad initiative. So, why are a few dozen legislators taking such drastic actions to chip away at Idaho’s Constitutional Republic, degrade our system of checks and balances, and drastically shift power away from the people in favor of the legislature? By removing the grassroots’ ability to “petition the government for a redress of grievances,” as is every American’s First Amendment right, Senate Bill 1159 only serves to erode the public’s trust in our state government. For these reasons, and many more, I cannot support it.
Unfortunately, Senate Bill 1159 will likely pass through the House (by the time you read this, it may have already done so) and land on Governor Little’s desk. That is why I, and every Idahoan who values our history, our heritage and our Constitution, are calling on Governor Little to have the strength and courage to veto this unnecessary and destructive legislation. We cannot sit idly by and watch a century’s worth of Constitutional power pass from the people of Idaho to a handful of lawmakers.
Our Founders would not, and could not, tolerate such overreach.     

Redneck Review!
No. 205 - 4/1/2019
Well, the clock is still ticking!  And whatever is going to happen sometime in the future is  one week closer!  That much we all know!  But... whether those ticks will result in a happy ending, or with a sudden new tragic event that leaves us shocked and stunned, only more time will tell!  But do not look here for the answer! The next stunning event could happen next week, or maybe 50 or 100 years or more from today!
But make no mistake!  Conditions today like those discussed last week in our country and in the world around us do send a clear message that a day of reckoning could well be on the horizon!  So the big question is, as asked in the last paragraph of Review 204, can a single individual do anything to impact the future?
Well, the answer given here is a resounding YES!  In past articles here,  examples have been given of single individuals who have impacted dramatically events around them. History is full of leaders who have altered the future in positive ways. Also recognized, is the unsung hero behind the scene who is often just as much or even more responsible for the good that is achieved. March Madness NCAA ball games just this past week provide many examples
of the impact single individuals can have on outcomes around them. So the point is, efforts by individuals can and do have a profound impact on the world we live in! In fact, it is safe to say that every individual life in some way forever changes the world that is lived in!
So what can the average individual do about the conditions we see in the news every day? Very simple really!  Each of us can make a little more effort to steer our old world in a more desirable direction!  Prayer for starters!  Several times one finds in the Bible statements made by our Lord like this:  "Ask anything in my name, and I will give it to you!"  And pray with faith! For it is also found there that prayer "with sufficient faith" can "move mountains into the sea." So why not each of us resolve to increase our prayer life just a bit, especially during the rest of the remaining days of the Christian celebration of Lent? 
And what about each of us making an increased  effort to do something a little bit extra? Maybe attending an extra church service, or go early for extra prayer ahead of the regular time?  Maybe read a book like Matthew Kelly's THE BIGGEST LIE IN THE WORLD, where he discusses HOLY MOMENTS!  And what would that be?  Just a tiny deliberate attempt now and then to go out of our way to pay a compliment to someone! Or bite one's lip to cut off an unkind remark? Or nip gossip in the bud! Maybe donate a care package to someone in need, or drop an extra can of food off at a food bank! Maybe go out of the way greeting every person in a very friendly and sincere way? Mr. Kelly claims the world would change for the better if the 75% of us who claim to be Christian in this country would put a bit more effort into recognizing the dignity of those around us, and act accordingly!  We would indeed "Change the World!"
The bottom line is, each of us must reject the growing attitude that the world owes us a living, or that we live in is a "Dog eat dog" scramble for wealth obtained by slighting our neighbor! We need to accept everyone as a child of God, and praise those whose extra talent or effort makes it easier for all the rest of us to live in peace and plenty! And recognize that wealth legitimately earned is a measure of an individual's contribution to society!
At the same time, we need to draw a sharp line identifying those who would destroy us and support the measures needed to protect us from them.  To do anything else is suicidal, and we owe it to our country and our neighbors to do our part not to let this happen!
Jake Wren

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