Got it. It’s still early here in the Left Coast. Happy Leftovers Day!
Mike Huckabee has been my friend and strong ally for over 23 years. Long
before his involvement in politics, he was a defender of the unborn, a
promoter of character in our schools, and stalwart champion for traditional
values. In the political arena, as the Governor of Arkansas, he was
successful in fighting for those same values. His compassion for people,
his command of the issues, his faith in God, and his genuine desire to work
with people on both sides of the aisle are a rare find in the politics of
today. I believe his years of tireless service to all the people of
Arkansas and his vision for the future make Mike Huckabee an excellent
choice for President of the United States.
*The following is a list of conservative accomplishments directly outlined
by Jerry Cox during Mike huckabee¹s tenure as governor.
³1. Banning Same-Sex Marriage: Arkansas became one of the first states in
the nation to pass a state law that defines marriage as the union of a man
and a woman. Through the leadership of pro-family legislators and with the
backing of the governor and his staff, Family Council took the lead in the
successful passage of this law. Later, Family Council strengthened
Arkansas¹ pro-marriage position by securing a state constitutional amendment
banning same-sex marriage.
2. Banning Partial-Birth Abortions: Arkansas was one of the first states
in the nation to ban partial-birth abortions. Family Council worked for the
better part of an entire legislative session to secure passage of this
pro-life legislation. Even though this law was later struck down in federal
court, it solidified public opinion against this especially gruesome form of
abortion.
3. Reducing Unwed Births: During the years when Bill Clinton was governor
of Arkansas, Arkansas became known as a state where contraceptives were
dispensed thorough health clinics located in public schools. Governor
Huckabee established the Governor¹s Steering Committee on Abstinence
Education and asked Family Council staff attorney, Martha Adcock, to chair
the committee. Each year, this committee awards over $1 million in state
and federal funds to local groups that are teaching abstinence. State
funding for contraceptives in schools has been discontinued. For the first
time, Arkansas¹ unwed birth rate is declining.
4. Passing Covenant Marriage Legislation: Arkansas has one of the highest
divorce rates in the nation. In response to this, Arkansas became the third
state in the nation to pass a covenant marriage law. This new law enables
couples to obtain a covenant marriage license that requires pre-marriage
counseling and makes it more difficult for them to obtain a divorce.
Governor Huckabee and his staff led the effort to pass this legislation and
Family Council was pleased to assist them.
5. Informed Consent Abortion Law: Family Council and other pro-family
organizations worked 10 years to secure passage of a law requiring doctors
to inform women about the risks and alternatives to abortion and wait until
the next day before performing the abortion. Governor Huckabee testified
before legislative committees as far back as when he was lieutenant
governor. We celebrated the culmination of a ten-year struggle when
Governor Huckabee signed the bill into law in 2001.
6. Supporting Home Schooling: When Mike Huckabee became governor, Arkansas
had one of the worst home school laws in the nation. A joint effort between
the governor, Family Council, other home school leaders, and the Arkansas
Department of Education, helped secure the passage of much better home
school legislation. The number of Arkansas children enrolled in home
schooling has tripled since Mike Huckabee became governor.
7. Internet Safety in Public Schools and Libraries: Family Council and
conservative lawmakers initiated a successful effort to require public
schools to install Internet filters on their computers that are connected to
the Internet. In addition, Arkansas law requires all public libraries to
implement a policy to ensure that people are not able to access
inappropriate material on library computers. Governor Huckabee and his staff
assisted with the passage of this legislation.
8. Hosting Conferences on the Family: Recognizing the importance of strong
families, Governor Huckabee sponsored three conferences on the Family.
Family Council partnered with the governor and his staff to bring nationally
recognized experts to Arkansas to address ways to strengthen families.
9. Passage of the Fetal Protection Act: The tragic deaths of unborn
children, some just days away from safe delivery, prompted the passage of a
law that enables murder charges to be filed against anyone who assaults the
mother of an unborn child causing the death of her baby. Governor Huckabee
and his staff led the effort to pass this law and Family Council was pleased
to assist them.
10. Safe Haven Act to Protect Newborns: The deaths of abandoned newborns
motivated Family Council to address the issue through the successful passage
of legislation allowing mothers to anonymously drop off their newborn baby
at a police station or hospital rather than abandoning the child to die.
Governor Huckabee supported this legislation and signed it into law.
11. Parental Consent for Abortions: Since 1989, Arkansas doctors have been
required to notify at least one parent before performing an abortion on a
minor. In 2005, Family Council worked for the successful passage of a law
requiring parental consent before a doctor can perform an abortion on a
minor. Governor Huckabee and his staff assisted with the passage of this
legislation.
12. Covenant Marriage Celebration: In 2005, Family Council assisted the
Governor¹s office and FamilyLife in promoting a covenant marriage
celebration in Little Rock. The event was attended by over 6,000 people,
many of whom converted their marriage to a covenant marriage.
13. Banning Physician-Assisted Suicide: The legalization of
physician-assisted suicide in Oregon prompted the passage of an Arkansas law
banning the practice in our state. Family Council and our Physician¹s
Resource Council division worked with supportive legislators and the
governor¹s office to pass this law.
14. Banning Human Cloning: Arkansas became the second state in the nation
to ban the cloning of human beings, including the cloning of human embryos.
The Arkansas Physicians Resource Council division of Family Council worked
with the governor¹s office to secure passage of this legislation.
15. Affirming the Rights of the Terminally Ill: Family Council worked with
the governor and supportive legislators to enact legislation that empowers
terminally ill patients to overrule doctor¹s orders that food and water be
withheld as long as they are able to request it.
16. Choose Life License Plate: Passage of the Choose Life specialty
license plate has generated thousands of dollars for adoption agencies and
crisis pregnancy centers across the state of Arkansas. Family Council
assisted Arkansas Right to Life with the passage of this legislation.
17. Repealing Outcomes-Based Education: When Mike Huckabee became
governor, outcomes-based education was a primary emphasis with the Arkansas
Department of Education. The governor and his staff led an effort in 1997
to move Arkansas away from an outcomes-based education philosophy. This,
coupled with changes at the Arkansas Department of Education and on the
State Board of Education, moved Arkansas public schools toward a more
traditional system.
18. Stronger DWI Legislation: The Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council,
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and Family Council worked with the governor¹s
office to secure passage of legislation that lowers the legal limit for DWI
from .10 to .08 percent blood alcohol content.
19. Good Appointments to State Boards and Commissions: The governor is
responsible for appointing citizens to serve on over 300 state boards and
commissions. These boards and commissions affect virtually every area of
life in Arkansas. Family Council has been pleased to assist the governor¹s
office by recommending qualified individuals to serve on them.
20. Endorsement of the Arkansas Marriage Amendment: When the effort to
pass a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage needed
endorsement from Arkansas leaders, Governor Mike Huckabee was the first one
to publicly voice his support. Eventually a bi-partisan group of elected
officials and ministers from across the state supported the measure.
21. Office of Family Policy: Governor Huckabee became the first governor
in the history of Arkansas to establish an Office of Family Policy. Staffed
by individuals who support traditional values, this office set a pro-family
tone for all of state government. They enabled the governor to lead the way
in passing pro-family legislation and establishing pro-family policies
throughout state government. Early on in his administration, Governor
Huckabee issued an order to all state agencies requiring them to evaluate
their policies and programs to be certain that they were doing no harm to
the family.
22. A Great Working Relationship With Family Council: One of the first
things Mike Huckabee did when be became governor of Arkansas was to
communicate to his entire cabinet and to the heads of all state agencies
that he considered Family Council to be a friend and that they were to, as
much as possible, work with me and my staff. This set the tone for a great
working relationship that enabled us to work with just about everyone in
state government.
Jerry Cox is president of the Arkansas Family Council. He served on the
Pulaski County Quorum Court and he is the past director of Unborn Child
Amendment Committee. He is a former classroom teacher. Jerry and his
family live in Little Rock, Arkansas.