Protecting Parents in the Northeast
Picture: ParentalRights.org’s Michael Ramey meets with Maine Reps. Espling (right) and Sampson
[Sent 3/21/17]
Last week I was privileged to attend the Homeschoolers of Maine conference in Rockport. While there, I was able not only to share the important work of ParentalRights.org with hundreds of concerned home educators, but also to meet with Maine lawmakers who are championing pro-parent legislation in Augusta.
Rep. Espling reached out to ParentalRights.org several months ago and received a copy of our model legislation to use as a starting point for a bill in Maine (HB 335). Then, as the session got started, Rep. Sampson reached out as well. We were then able to connect the two and look forward to continuing to work with this passionate team that is leading the way for parents in the northeast corner of the country.
HOME also allowed me to present a workshop on parental rights as a last-minute fill-in for a speaker unable to attend. With little time to prepare, I pulled out a presentation I last made in Pennsylvania in August that details the history of parental rights through the Supreme Court. (Read more about the Maine trip.)
Perhaps it was fitting, then, to return to the office this morning and find that Rep. Tallman has also just introduced parental rights legislation in Pennsylvania like that presented in Maine. Tallman’s HB 855, which also follows our model language, would establish in statute that parental rights are fundamental, and that they can only be overridden to serve a compelling state interest by the least restrictive means – the standard known as “strict scrutiny” review.
We will keep you posted as these bills continue their path through their respective legislatures in Maine and Pennsylvania.
In addition, if you live in either of these states and have a personal story of how your parental rights have been infringed, I would ask you to please send a brief email of your account to stories@parentalrights.org and use the subject line of Maine Stories or Pennsylvania Stories (as appropriate). We will forward these stories to the lawmakers there who may be able to use them as they champion these bills.
If you have friends in either of these states who value their right to make the decisions they know are best for their children, why not forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up with us using the sign-up link here? That way we can inform them as these bills progress so they can lend their voices to those of other parental rights champions in their states. For that matter, why not enlist your friends in any state? Then they will be part of the solution when the legislative battle reaches their backyard.
This weekend was a real encouragement to me. I am excited by all we can do in the months ahead as we work together for the cause of families. Thank you for standing with us!
Sincerely,
Michael Ramey
Director of Communications & Research
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Maine Trip Report by Michael Ramey, ParentalRights.org
March 20, 2017
Last week, I was privileged to attend the Homeschoolers of Maine conference in Rockport. While there I was able not only to share the important work of ParentalRights.org with hundreds of concerned home educators, but also to meet with Maine lawmakers who are championing pro-parent legislation in Augusta.
State Representatives Ellie Espling and Heidi Sampson took time out to visit the conference on Friday afternoon. While they were there, the three of us presented updates on the status of parental rights and our efforts in the legislature. Then we met together with a couple of local organizations to discuss the challenges we may face and how to overcome them as we champion these parental rights bills this session.
Rep. Espling reached out to ParentalRights.org several months ago and received a copy of our model legislation to use as a starting point for a bill in Maine (HB 335). Then, as the session got started, Rep. Sampson reached out as well. When I offered to put her in touch with a lawmaker who was already working on parental rights, she was excited (but not really surprised) to learn that the sponsor was already a dear friend. Together, these ladies are a passionate team leading the way for parents in the northeast corner of the country.
HOME also allowed me to present a workshop on parental rights as a last-minute fill-in for a speaker unable to attend. With little time to prepare, I pulled out a presentation I last made in Pennsylvania in August that details the history of parental rights through the Supreme Court.