November 6, is Election Day.  Houstonians will be voting on municipal leaders and a referendum on whether the City should be prohibited from offering same-sex domestic partner benefits to its employees. The referendum was added to the ballot due to a petition drive by Houstonians for Family Values.  Houston I.S.D. has 3 contested races.  (Questions to ask school board candidates are on our web site.)  All Texans may vote on 19 proposed amendments to the state constitution.  Early voting is Oct. 20 to Nov. 2.

The League of Women Voters of Houston will release voters’ guide on October 18.  It will be available at Houston public libraries and at the League’s office at 2650 Fountainview, Suite 328

• The House, for the first time, allowed the District of Columbia to use local funds to implement its 1992 domestic partnership law.  A proposal to prohibit funding, which was offered by Rep. Weldon “to protect the integrity of the institution of marriage,” was defeated by 194 to 226.  Reps. Brady, Culberson, DeLay, and Paul for the prohibition.  Bentsen, Green, Jackson-Lee, and Lampson voted against it.

• A measure to allow privately-funded abortions at overseas military hospitals lost by 199 to 217.  Bentsen, Green, Jackson-Lee, and Lampson voted aye.  Brady, Culberson, DeLay, and Paul voted no.

• The Bright-Line Act of 2001 (H.R. 2931) would amend the Internal Revenue Code to permit houses of worship and other religious organizations to spend up to 20% of their annual gross revenues on lobbying and political campaigns, with a limit of 5% on political spending.  Brady and DeLay are among the 9 cosponsors.

• This is akin to the Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act (H.R. 2357), which would let houses of worship engage in political campaigns if it is not a substantial part of their activities.  Both bills were referred to the Ways and Means Committee.

• The House voted down by 106-311 a proposed amendment to the Labor/HHS/Education appropriations bill, offered by Rep. Istook, to transfer $33 million from other programs to create an abstinence-only education program.  Brady, Culberson, DeLay, and Paul voted aye.  Bentsen, Green, Jackson-Lee, and Lampson voted no.

• Two Republicans who had planned to offer other amendments backed by religious right groups decided not to, apparently under pressure to pass a bipartisan bill.  One would have proposed taking federal funding away from public schools that distribute the “morning after” pill to minor girls.  Another sought to bar any private organization that offers chemical or surgical abortion from receiving Title X family planning funds. Both vowed to offer their amendments later.

• Some religious right groups have joined unlikely partners in calling for caution in the enactment of anti-terrorism legislation.  Eagle Forum, Free Congress Foundation, and Rutherford Institute are among over 100 groups that signed a statement issued by the ACLU urging Congress not to erode our civil liberties.