Legislation Made Simple

Join co-hosts Patty Decraene and Jane Robbins as they help you become more aware of how the Georgia legislature operates and what is happening under the Gold Dome.

Dr. Quentin Van Meter, Atlanta pediatric endocrinologist and past-president of the American College of Pediatricians


In part 1 of our discussion with Dr. Quentin Van Meter, he told us the history of transgender ideology and why it’s medically unsound. In this episode, he expands on the severe problems that can result from medical interventions to “affirm” a child’s confusion about his sex. He also gives advice about what parents can do if confronted with this situation.

Resources

Dr. Quentin Van Meter, Atlanta pediatric endocrinologist and past-president of the American College of Pediatricians


Dr. Van Meter explains the origin and history of the “transgender” phenomenon and outlines the medical risks – physical and psychological – of “gender-affirming treatment” for children and teens who identify as transgender. He relates why the American College of Pediatricians has labeled use of puberty blockers, wrong-sex hormones, and surgeries for these young people as “child abuse.”

Resources

A wrap-up report on the legislative session that ended March 29, 2023


We discuss the bills that passed (some protections for trans-identifying youth, a ban on mandatory Covid vaccinations) and those that failed (expanded gambling, school vouchers, and massive mental-health overhaul). We also preview the 2024 session to predict what issues might be revisited. We encourage listeners to use the off-season to get to know their legislators.

Resources

A look at shenanigans as the end of the session approaches


Learn about legislative high jinks that are running rampant as the legislature moves into the last few days of the session. We discuss shenanigans to revive a sports-betting bill, passage of a compromise bill to partially protect kids from the transgender industry, poorly understood “mental health” legislation, and state and local education issues. We also discuss how a Senate-House dispute over an unrelated bill affecting hospital construction may hold up some bills we’ve spotlighted in the Senate so they don’t pass before the end of the term (midnight on March 29, 2023).

Resources

A look at bills still in the running as the legislative session winds down.


We discuss shenanigans with gambling bills, compromises on protecting kids from the transgender industry, poorly understood “mental health” legislation, and local education issues.

Resources

A look at bills that made it through the Georgia House or Senate


Join us as we analyze the results of Crossover Day, Monday, March 6, 2023 (the day by which a bill must be passed by one chamber, the House or the Senate, to be considered this session by the other). Find out which of the bills that we’ve been following made it through the House or Senate. Learn what happens to those bills that didn’t make it through; could they reappear?

Resources

Updates on bills across several categories


Listen in as we plunge into the maelstrom of bills and hearings at the Georgia Capitol as we approach Crossover Day on Monday, March 6 (the day by which a bill must be passed by one chamber, the House or the Senate, to be considered this session by the other chamber). Get the latest updates on the status of bills from several categories: gambling, education, public health, medical interventions on trans-identifying minors, and religious freedom.

Status of bills from several categories


We take a look into the maelstrom of bills and hearings at the Georgia Capitol and update the status of bills from several categories: gambling, education, public health, medical interventions on trans-identifying minors, and religious freedom. Things change on a daily if not hourly basis, so we’ll be posting a spreadsheet to keep you up to date. In the meantime, go to legis.ga.gov for information.

Mary Clauson, Catholic parent activist


This week’s episode featured Part Two of our conversation with Catholic parent activist Mary Clauson. Following up on last week’s discussion of radical sex education and school obscenity, Mary explained the problems with school - based clinics and the overall “therapeutic” model of education – which treats children as patients rather than students. She also highlighted some good legislation pending in the Georgia State Senate (protecting children’s well - being and parental rights). Finally, she offered practical advice on what parents can do to protect their kids in schools.

Resources

Mary Clauson, Catholic parent activist


Working with Protect Student Health Georgia, Catholic parent activist Mary Clauson educates families and policymakers about the various threats our children are facing in schools. In this part one of a two-part interview, she focuses on several bills currently pending in the Georgia House of Representatives, including one that would cement radical “comprehensive” sex education, and on obscenity in school instructional materials.

Resources

Dr. John Kindt, nationally-known expert on the economic effects of gambling


We continue our discussion of legalizing gambling in Georgia by talking with Dr. John Kindt. A frequent witness before both Congress and committees in the Georgia legislature, Dr. Kindt is a nationally-known expert on the economic effects of gambling. He explains what happens to local and state economies – and to the political environment at state capitols – when gambling enterprises such as casinos and horseracing are instituted.

Resources

Mike Griffin, Public Affairs Representative of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board


The Church teaches that “games of chance” are not inherently sinful, but gambling becomes a sin when it interferes with an individual’s responsibilities and his right relationship to God. Mike Griffin, the Public Affairs Representative of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board (GBMB), has monitored the debate over casinos, horse-racing, and sports betting, and he explains the status of the law in Georgia and how it might change. He also explains why the GBMB opposes the expansion of gambling – based on increased addiction, family breakdowns, and crime, for example. Mike shares that, so far, David (people of faith) has prevailed over Goliath (the lavishly-funded gambling industry). But the gambling industry is determined to win, and Mike wants all Georgians to be educated and involved!

Resources

Guest Frank Mulcahy from the Archdiocese of Atlanta


As executive director of the Catholic Conference of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Diocese of Savannah, Frank Mulcahy is the voice of Catholics at the Georgia legislature. In our discussion with him, he explains how he and the Catholic Conference determine the issues to be focused on each session, what those issues will be this year, and major policy triumphs – many in the pro-life arena – over the past several years. He also shares how Catholics can keep up with legislative events, both state and federal, through the Archdiocesan website, Georgia Catholic Conference.

A look at the Heartbeat Law in Georgia


In our second episode of Legislation Made Simple, we discuss the status of pro-life legal protections in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization last June. By overturning Roe v. Wade, Dobbs sent the abortion issue back to the states to regulate the procedure as they see fit. In Georgia, that means the Heartbeat Law (prohibiting abortion when the baby has a detectable heartbeat) is back in effect, pending efforts by pro-abortion forces to have it struck down. We also discuss exactly how the Heartbeat Law operates – clarifying the wild claims of its opponents – and what challenges remain for the legislature.

Resources

An overview of the legislative process in Georgia


The first Legislation Made Simple show lays out the background of the legislative process in Georgia, in preparation for coming weekly discussions of specific issues being debated at the Georgia Capitol. In this background show we discuss how the Georgia legislature operates; how a bill gets enacted (or defeated) via the committee process; who runs the House of Representatives and the Senate; who runs the committees; what kinds of powers are exercised by those leadership officials and by the Governor; and the parliamentary tactics that can be used – for better or worse! – to resuscitate a “dead” bill.

We also discuss how average citizens can affect the process by meeting with their representatives/senators, attending and even testifying at committee hearings, and generating public support for their preferred position. And they can pray for everyone involved!

Previous
Next
Legislation Made Simple

Click on episode title from list to start listening.