Watch the debate where 4 Republicans spoke against and 8 Democrats spoke in support of AB 665 (starts 1:25:26, ends 1:51:28)

When the 80-member California State Assembly returned from its 10-day, taxpayer-funded “Spring Recess,” the bill the Democrats made sure to pass was eliminating parental consent for “mental health counseling” for their own child.

I want to publicly commend the four Republicans who stood up to expose the wrong of this bill. They were James Gallagher, Joe Patterson, Devon Mathis, and Tom Lackey. Yet AB 665 still passed after twice as many Democrats stood up to essentially say children know better than parents.

See the updated analysis of AB 665 at our Legislation Center

Yet this blatantly anti-family bill could have lost more votes if all, or nearly all, of the Republicans had stood to say something. I wish more Republicans had stood up to say:

• “Why not allow children ages 11, 10, 9, 8, or 7 to consent?”
• “Under your bill, is there any way a parent can prevent their 12-year-old child from being removed and placed into a ‘residential shelter’?”
• “If a child independently consents to be placed in a ‘residential shelter,’ will the child’s parent be notified?”
• “What legal safeguards are there to prevent non-family adults manipulating or coercing children to ‘consent’?”
• “If parents are legally responsible for their own children, it’s wrong to separate their rights from their responsibility — this bill erases parents.”

It wasn’t just a failure that more Democrats spoke than Republicans, but that half of the 18-member Assembly Republican Caucus actually abstained on voting: Phillip Chen, Laurie Davies, Bill Essayli, Heath Flora, Josh Hoover, Jim Patterson, Kate Sanchez, Marie Waldron, and Greg Wallis. This is a significant lack of conviction!

PLEASE FOLLOW-UP WITH THE REPUBLICANS:

1. Thank the 4 Republicans who spoke for parents and against AB 655. Ask them to keep exposing the Democrats on the floor: James Gallagher (916-319-2003), Joe Patterson (916-319-2005), Devon Mathis (916-319-2033), and Tom Lackey (916-319-2034).

2. Call the 14 Republicans who were silent on AB 665. Tell them they need to speak up to expose anti-family bills (their voices are worth more than their votes): Juan Alanis (916-319-2022), Phillip Chen (916-319-2059), Megan Dahle (916-319-2001), Laurie Davies (916-319-2074), Diane Dixon (916-319-2072), Bill Essayli (916-319-2063), Vince Fong (916-319-2032), Heath Flora (916-319-2009), Josh Hoover (916-319-2007), Jim Patterson (916-319-2008), Kate Sanchez (916-319-2071), Tri Ta (916-319-2070), Marie Waldron (916-319-2075), and Greg Wallis (916-319-2047).

The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
Proverbs 4:19

He devises wickedness on his bed;
He sets himself in a way that is not good;
He does not abhor evil.
Psalm 36:4

There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 16:25