Democratic Leaders May Frontload Legislative Session
The New York State Legislature is considering a change to its legislative calendar that could have a major impact on public policy. In recent years, the state legislative session has typically run from January until mid-to-late-June. Following the passage of the annual budget at the end of March, the legislators take a break during part…
Regional Briefings Return
Whether we are ready for it or not, autumn officially begins on September 23, 2019. Friends of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF) and our affiliate organization, New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation (NYFRF), know that the fall is a season when NYFRF holds regional special events to connect with our supporters, inform voters about key…
State Gambling Study Is ‘Too Late’
Earlier this year, the New York State Gaming Commission solicited proposals to conduct a study of the gambling industry in the Empire State. The proposed study would evaluate the existing casinos in New York, assess the potential consequences of issuing new casino licenses, and consider the potential market for online gambling and for expanded sports…
Preliminary Injunctions In Vaccination Cases Denied
In recent days, two legal challenges to New York’s new vaccine law met with major setbacks. After New York repealed the religious exemption to its child vaccination requirements this year, lawsuits were filed in state and federal court by parents’ groups. According to the Albany Times Union, six parents sued in federal court on the…
Conflicting Transgender Cases Call For Clarity
Two recent federal court decisions regarding “transgender” issues demonstrate the great need for clarity in American public policy regarding sex and gender identity. Last month, a federal judge in Alaska ruled in favor of a Christian shelter for battered women that had been accused of discriminating against a “transgender” individual. In January 2018, Hope Center…
NYCF’s September Prayer Needs
During the month of September, 2019, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms covets the prayers of our friends and supporters in the following areas: That the fall events held by our affiliate organization, New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation, will be well-attended and edifying; That the Lord will continue to bless our efforts to renovate our ministry…
Parental Rights Play Second Fiddle To School’s Transgender Agenda
Earlier this month, a man named Jay Keck published a disturbing article in USA Today concerning his daughter’s struggle with gender dysphoria. The article highlights the role of school personnel in his daughter’s confusion. According to Mr. Keck, his daughter—who is on the autism spectrum—displayed no signs of gender dysphoria in her childhood. As a…
State Waives Military Marriage License Fees
A recently-signed bill will make it a little bit easier for active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces to get married. On August 20, 2019, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed Bill S.3756-Mayer/A.55-Buchwald into law as Chapter 177 of the Laws of 2019. The new law waives the state’s portion of the marriage license fee for…
State Accepting Comment Regarding Substantial Equivalency Regulations
Proposed regulations that have been issued by the New York State Education Department threaten the continued existence of Christian schools here in the Empire State. According to Section 3204 of the Education Law, “[i]nstruction given to a minor elsewhere than at a public school shall be at least substantially equivalent” to the instruction that student…
NYC Schools Adopt New Gender Inclusion Guidelines
The effort to institutionalize a warped view of gender that conflicts with both faith and science has, unfortunately, moved forward in New York City schools. According to the Brooklyn Eagle, the New York City Department of Education has adopted new “gender inclusion” guidelines for the upcoming school year. Here are the highlights (or lowlights): Outside…
Movement On Maternal Mortality
On August 1, 2019, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that created a maternal mortality review board. According to the Albany Times Union, Bill S.1819-Rivera/A.3276-Joyner implements a recommendation made by a task force that studied maternal deaths in New York. The maternal mortality review board will be responsible for studying each death that occurs during childbirth…
Leftists Plan Leap Year Lurch
Between the Abortion Act, the Bathroom Bill, and the raft of other radical bills that passed in Albany this year, you might think that the political left would be satisfied with its efforts and ease up a bit next year. You would be wrong. Instead, progressives are looking to lurch our state even further left…
Troubling Visitation Measure Awaits Governor’s Action
Last week, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to express concern about a bill that may soon reach his desk. Bill S.4203-A-Savino/A.2199-A-Joyner was passed by each house of the Legislature in June of this year. This bill would give courts the authority to grant biological parents continued contact with their children…
Attorney General James Pushes Pot And Paid Surrogacy Proposals
Recently, the State of Politics blog reported on an interview with New York Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James. According to the blog, Attorney General James “counts her first year in office as a success, racking up legislative victories for bills her office sought that limit the president’s pardon power, tighten regulations for data breaches and…
NYCF Files Friend-Of-The-Court-Brief In Parental Rights Case
At New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, our primary work involves working with elected officials to influence the shaping of public policy. Occasionally, however, we have the opportunity to influence court proceedings as well. Several weeks ago, we requested permission to file an amicus brief (also known as a friend-of-the-court brief) to the Supreme Court of…
NYCF’s July 2019 Prayer And Praise Report
New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms asks our brothers and sisters in Christ to remember the following thanksgivings and petitions in their prayers during the month of July. We praise and thank the Lord for preventing the legalization of physician-assisted suicide, paid surrogacy, and recreational marijuana in New York in 2019; We ask the Lord to…