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Michigan House Passes Unconstitutional Hate Speech Bills

On Tuesday, June 20th the House passed HB 4474 and 4475, making it a felony to make someone feel intimidated or "frightened" based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, among other civil rights categories. This is a blatant violation of the Free Speech and Free Exercise of Religion clauses of the First Amendment. As Americans, we treasure due process of law. These bills set up a scenario that violates due process thanks to their vague definitions—you won't know what speech or conduct is considered lawful or unlawful! Despite our best efforts to inform and educate legislators, these bills will now go on to the Senate. Bills outlawing institutional desecration also passed. Click here to read more.

Pictured above is CTV-PAC endorsed Rep. Fink speaking against HB 4474 this past Tuesday before voting nay.

You can help! Click the button below to find your senator. Tell them why they should vote NO on HB 4474.

"Conversion Therapy" Ban Passes House

On June 14th, HB 4616 and 4617 passed the House. These bills would prevent care providers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with their minor patients apart from simply affirming them. Proponents say it bans "conversion therapy." In reality, it comes dangerously close to infringing on the First Amendment rights of mental health professionals, preventing them from providing care that takes into account all aspects of a minor patient's mental health. The bills now go on to the Senate. Click here to read more.

You can help! Click the button below to find your senator. Tell them why they should vote NO on HB 4616.

New Bills Hurt Students & Teachers—Unions Take Power Away From School Districts

House Bills 4233, 4354-4357, and 4820 passed the House on Tuesday. They now go on to the Senate. These bills give significant power to teachers unions, removing power from school district administration. Requirements for compensation based on job performance and student growth would be repealed. Public schools would be allowed to use taxpayer dollars to help unions collect fees from employees.

CTV agrees with the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators and the Michigan Association of School Boards who oppose two important provisions of the bills—teacher placement and discipline/discharge. School administrators know that putting the right teachers with the right classrooms is critical to student success. These bills also seek to remove restrictions on bargaining issues such as performance evaluation systems and discipline policies for teachers. This means teachers—not administrators or local districts—will control how teaching effectiveness is assessed.

Regarding this legislation, CTV-PAC endorsed Rep. Matt Hall said, "These radical bills will let union bosses run roughshod over our public schools – undermining our most effective teachers, robbing Michigan students of the quality education they deserve, and keeping parents in the dark about their kids’ schooling." Click here to read more.

Do you disagree with these power grabs by unions? Let your senator know!

Upcoming Supreme Court Decisions Could Impact Religious Liberty

Six impending Supreme Court decisions could be a deciding factor for religious liberty and justice in the United States. Affirmative action—the process of discriminating based on race for university applicants—might be done away with. President Biden's student debt forgiveness plan has been challenged. Religious freedoms could be upheld in a case between the US Postal Service and a Christian mail carrier who refused to work on Sundays. A Colorado web designer refused to create websites for homosexual weddings due to her religious convictions, leading to a conflict with the state's Anti-Discrimination Act. All this and more are being deliberated by the nine members of the Supreme Court right now. Rulings are expected to be delivered in late June or early July. Click here to read more.