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Friday, June 27, 2008
City of Boise With $479 Million Budget, Comes After Swindell and Fischer for $10,000
As told to TVCNews 
Boise, Idaho - The City of Boise has placed a lien against all real and personal property belonging to Brandi Swindell and Bryan Fischer to collect a federal court judgment against them for $10,131, in connection with their effort to protect the public display of a Ten Commandments monument in Boise's Julia Davis Park.
The June 23 letter says the city of Boise has taken action to place "an automatic lien against all real and personal property under your individual names."
According to a letter received from the Boise City Attorney's Office, "This Judgment will remain on your credit record until the debt is paid in full." And if it is not resolved by July 15, the city says, "[W]e will proceed against you to collect the amounts due, plus interests and costs."
Here are a few ways you can help:
You can send donations to help Bryan and Brandy with the legal fee by making your checks to Keep the Commandments Coalition and mailing to: P.O. Box 140031, Boise, ID 83714.
. You can write a letter to the editor - Click here to submit your letter.
. You can contact the Mayor and the City of Boise to respectfully voice your opinion at: (208) 384-4422.
Click here to read today's issue of the Idaho Statesman includes an article about this issue.
For more information, contact Bryan Fischer via their web site Idaho Values Alliance
Tuesday June 24, 2008
Treasure Valley Christian News now doing business as 'Intermountain Christian News'
By Rev. Anthony Harper, Ph.D., Publisher
Boise, Idaho - Treasure Valley Christian News is now doing business as ‘Intermountain Christian News’ in order to serve more people in the ‘Intermountain’ region of southern Idaho, eastern Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. With our new name and expansion into these areas, we will be encouraging more people on how to have a relationship with the Biblical JESUS and get connected to a local Bible believing church.
We serve Christian churches by promoting their testimonies, events and resources to the various communities in the ‘Intermountain’ region. To promote your Christian event for FREE in our ‘Upcoming Events’ section of our paper, click here.
We can’t do our newspaper without your help. You are invited to partner with us in our ministry as a prayer and financial sponsor. To make your tax deductible donation online, click here.
For more information on how you can help, contact me at our office headquarters in Boise, Idaho at (208) 377-3568, via E-mail at: drharper@afo.net and check out our web site at: www.imcnews.org .
Thank you for your prayers as we continue to seek GOD’s direction on how to serve Him better in this ‘Intermountain’ region for the glory of JESUS our Beautiful SAVIOR and KING!
Monday March 31, 2008
Supreme Court agrees to hear historic Ten Commandments case.
As told to TVCNews
 Boise, Idaho - The Case, Pleasant Grove v. Summum, will determine if government bodies can exclude certain monuments and displays from public forums like parks and municipal buildings.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that government bodies cannot exclude displays from the public square.
Pictured above: Ten Commandment monument supporters Monday, March 31, in JuliaDavisPark where the monument used to be.
If the city of Pleasant Grove were to win this case, the Ten Commandments could be returned back to Julia Davis Park. The reason would be that Rev. Fred Phelps' threats of lawsuit will no longer apply because the City of Boise would be able to determine without threat of lawsuit what displays were in the park.
Brandi Swindell, co-director of the Keep the Commandments Coalition, comments, "We applaud the United States Supreme Court for taking the historic case. The Keep the Commandments Coalition always maintained the City of Boise and the parks and recreation department had the authority to determine what kind of displays and monuments can be in public parks. If we win the case, which will be argued this fall, it will pave the way to the Ten Commandments to be returned back to it's home in Julia Davis park."
For more information call Elysse Barrett at 208.890.0086 or Brandi Swindell 208.867.1307 or www.brandiswindell.org
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
By Bryan Fischer, Executive Director, Idaho Values Alliance
ELECTION SPECIAL: A GREAT NIGHT FOR PRO-FAMILY CONSERVATIVES
From the top of the ballot to the bottom, there were 30 contested races in yesterday's GOP primary. In fantastic news for the pro-family movement in Idaho, solid social conservatives won 23 of them.
Idaho Supreme Court
In a huge win, strict constructionist Joel Horton (right) appears to have turned back a challenge from activist candidate John Bradbury for a seat on the Idaho Supreme Court, although Horton's victory was by the narrowest of margins, 194 votes out of 149,000 votes cast.
Bradbury ran a well-funded and effective campaign, but Horton's win indicates that Idahoans still want jurists who show judicial restraint. When we look at what California's Supreme Court did two weeks ago to the institution of marriage, it would be hard to overestimate the importance of this win for the rule of law.
Federal races
Bill Sali thumped challenger Matt Salisbury 60%-40%, despite a huge influx of crossover Democrats. A sign of just how many Dems jumped ship to make mischief in the Republican primary: Salisbury actually got more votes than Sali's November opponent, Walt Minnick, the Democrat running unopposed in his primary.
Jim Risch, as expected, won the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate handily over a largely undistinguished field, and Mike Simpson trounced token opposition for the House seat from the 2nd CD.
Idaho's presidential primary exposed more of the weakness of John McCain's candidacy, as he barely polled 70% in the Gem State despite being the party's presumptive nominee. Ron Paul grabbed 24% of the Idaho primary vote, which to my knowledge is his highest vote percentage in any primary this year.
The effort of Ron Paul backers to win committee precinct positions to become delegates to the state convention next month showed mixed results. Their ability to impact convention dynamics remains unknown at this point.
State legislative races
Despite several significant disappointments, the news from races for seats in the Idaho statehouse is very good.
In unfortunate news, incumbent Curtis Bowers lost to establishment Republican Pat Takasugi in a District 10 House race despite running an energetic and effective campaign. Bowers would have become an increasingly effective pro-family lawmaker had he been returned to office, and we can hope this is not his last foray into electoral politics.
Crossover voting may have had some impact on this race, as Bowers was told  to his face by a number of Democrats that they intended to vote against him in the primary.
Clayton Cramer, inspired by incumbent Sen. Tim Corder's sponsorship of what would have been a disastrous sexual orientation and gender identity bill, could not pull off an upset in District 22. And freshmen pro-family legislator John Vander Woude lost to a challenger for his House seat in District 21.
But on the whole the results were extremely encouraging for social conservatives. Sen. Russ Fulcher fought off a well-funded assault and emerged with a 52%-48% victory for his District 21 seat, in a classic come-from-behind win. When I went to bed at 3 a.m. last night, Fulcher was trailing, but by this morning when the final vote tally was in, he was a winner.
Cliff Bayer fought off a vigorous challenge for his House seat, also in District 21. Fulcher and Bayer have been steady, effective, and well-liked advocates for the family and for life, and were largely responsible for shepherding the increase in the grocery tax credit through the legislature this year, which, when fully implemented, will represent the largest tax reduction in Idaho history..
Steve Thayn, unfairly hammered by the old media for his work on last year's Family Task Force, fought off two challengers to win the GOP nomination for a House seat in District 11. Thayn is slowly changing the way legislators think about public policy issues, turning their attention to the impact of legislation on the family and turning their attention from intervention to prevention. Thayn consistently but patiently challenges the assumption often made at the statehouse that every social problem requires a government program.
Sen. Shirley McKague, a staunch conservative representing District 20, fought off a challenge from moderate and current Representative Mark Snodgrass. McKague is a conservative by deep conviction and principle, and has an unblemished voting record on social issues. This result not only preserves a  solid conservative presence in the November race, but removes a moderate voice, especially on issues of education reform, from the legislature.
Christ Troupis, aided by boots-on-the-ground help from volunteers from the Keep the Commandments Coalition, grateful for his help in their battle to preserve a Ten Commandments monument in Julia Davis Park, squeaked by well-funded challenger Dennis Warren. His margin, with 100% of the precincts reporting, is just 21 votes out of over 2,300 cast.
Chuck Winder, who received the endorsement of Idaho Chooses Life in his race, won over incumbent Stan Bastian and challenger Saundra McDavid to win the GOP nomination for Senate in District 14.
These primary victories, by Fulcher, McKague, Troupis and Winder, hold out promise that the Idaho Senate may become more friendly to the interests of the family and a conservative social agenda in general. Over the last several years, any number of good pro-family bills have been stalled in the Senate after sailing through the House.
Other victories of special note: Tom Loertscher, a reliable pro-life and pro-family voice in the House, fought off three challengers to win the GOP nomination for his seat in District 31. Conservative challenger Judy Boyle unseated moderate incumbent Diana Thomas in a House race in District 9, and Rep. Mike Moyle easily fended off a last-minute challenge from Nancy Merrill in District 14.
Other social conservatives who won contested primaries last night, with the district they represent in parentheses: Eric Anderson (1), Mike Jorgenson (3), Phil Hart (3), Carlos Bilbao (11), Bob Schaefer (12), Steve Kren (13), Elizabeth Hodge (16), Julie Ellsworth (18), Joe Palmer (20), Bart Davis (33), and Lenore Hardy Barrett (35).
Thursday May 1, 2008
National Day of Prayer
By Dr. Anthony Harper, TVCNews Publisher
 Boise, Idaho - The theme for this years’ National Day of Prayer is ‘Prayer! America’s Strength & Shield’ (an integral part of ‘The Global Day of Prayer’ May 1-11). Our prayer events in Boise, Idaho at the Boise City Hall and at Boise Valley Christian Communion Church were a humbling experience. We sought GOD’s will for our lives and our nation in these troubled times, recognizing that only a personal relationship with JESUS our SAVIOR is our solution for peace. Now, more than ever, is our faith and family under attack by those who wish to silence our Christian voice.
The seven points of prayer for our Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family were:
1. Pray for our leaders, as well as judges in our courts. Ask GOD to grant them wisdom.
2. Pray for Divine protection and guidance for our armed forces. Intercede for military chaplains and loved ones at home.
3. Pray for truth and morality to be presented.
4. Pray that GOD will raise up His ambassadors in the workplace.
5. Pray for safe, morally sound instruction and wholesome environments.
6. Pray for unity and boldness in proclaiming GOD’s Word.
7. Pray that families will follow Godly principles.
The most important prayer that we as individuals and as a nation can offer, is to acknowledge and trust in CHRIST JESUS as our only personal SAVIOR from sin before we can have true hope and eternal life. The following scripture describes what must be done: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” KJV 2 Chronicles 7:14.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3: 16 (KJV)
To volunteer for next year’s National Day of Prayer or for more information, call Mary Ellen Stewart in Boise at (208) 375-6628 and view the web site: www.ndptf.org.
Monday March 31, 2008
Supreme Court agrees to hear historic Ten Commandments case.
As told to TVCNews
Boise, Idaho - The Case, Pleasant Grove v. Summum, will determine if government bodies can exclude certain monuments and displays from public forums like parks and municipal buildings.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that government bodies cannot exclude displays from the public square.
Pictured above: Ten Commandment monument supporters Monday, March 31, in JuliaDavisPark where the monument used to be.
If the city of Pleasant Grove were to win this case, the Ten Commandments could be returned back to Julia Davis Park. The reason would be that Rev. Fred Phelps' threats of lawsuit will no longer apply because the City of Boise would be able to determine without threat of lawsuit what displays were in the park.
Brandi Swindell, co-director of the Keep the Commandments Coalition, comments, "We applaud the United States Supreme Court for taking the historic case. The Keep the Commandments Coalition always maintained the City of Boise and the parks and recreation department had the authority to determine what kind of displays and monuments can be in public parks. If we win the case, which will be argued this fall, it will pave the way to the Ten Commandments to be returned back to it's home in Julia Davis park."
For more information call Elysse Barrett at 208.890.0086 or Brandi Swindell 208.867.1307 or www.brandiswindell.org
Friday March 26, 2008
Coercion Bill Passes Senate Committee
By Bryan Fischer, Executive Director, Idaho Values Alliance
 Boise, Idaho - On an 8-1 voice vote (Sen. Kate Kelly, a Democrat from Boise, was the lone "No" vote), the Senate State Affairs Committee sent the anti-coercion bill (H654) to the full Senate floor this morning.
This bill will protect Idaho's women from being coerced into having abortions against their will through the threat or actual infliction of physical injury. Supporters are optimistic that the bill will pass the Senate, as it passed the House yesterday on a 55-11 vote, with only Republican - Tom Trail of Moscow - voting against it.
The bill was crafted by Idaho Chooses Life (ICL) and its executive director, David Ripley, and ably sponsored by Rep. Bob Nonini of Coeur d'Alene (pictured above).
Ripley testified that this bill is likely to be the first in the nation to codify criminal penalties for coerced abortions, and thus represents groundbreaking legislation. As Rep. Nonini pointed out yesterday, there are dozens of protections in law for a woman's right to choose an abortion, but none to protect her right not to choose one.
The ICL's legal counsel, Christ Troupis (an announced candidate for the state senate in Boise's District 16) also testified, demonstrating the clear constitutionality of the bill.
I gave testimony on behalf of all of us in the IVA, presenting research that shows that a sobering 64% of all abortions involve some kind of coercion. In addition, medical journals have published findings that reveal that pregnant women are at an elevated risk of physical assault, and, astonishingly, that homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant women.
In addition, Jason Herring of Idaho Right to Life and Julie Lynde of The Cornerstone Institute also gave persuasive testimony.
No organizations - not Planned Parenthood, not the ACLU, not the Idaho Women's Network - testified against this bill, perhaps recognizing that to oppose this bill is essentially to support allowing the use of physical force to coerce a woman into making a medical decision that may harm her for the rest of her life and will end the life of her baby.
Friday March 11, 2008
Big Win For Idaho Families: Porn Books Pulled Off Nampa Library Shelves (Edited by Rev. Anthony Harper, TVCNews Publisher)
By Bryan Fischer, Executive Director, Idaho Values Alliance
 Boise, Idaho - The Nampa Library Board yesterday voted 3-2 to pull two books off library shelves and sequester them in the library director's office, a move which will make the library safer for Nampa families and their children.
Kudos to Randy Jackson, the Nampa father who filed the complaint, to Nampa Mayor Tom Dale, who has appointed family-friendly members to the library board, and to library board member Bruce Skaug, who was the lone board member to vote for removal of this book in 2006, and who made the motion to sequester the book yesterday.
As Mr. Jackson said, "This is a huge victory for our community." And, we might add, a huge victory for all Idaho families who care about the moral climate of the Gem State.
IVA Joins Call For Boycott Of High Schools Who Sponsor "Day Of Silence"
(Edited by Rev. Anthony Harper, TVCNews Publisher)
By Bryan Fischer, Executive Director, Idaho Values Alliance
 Boise, Idaho - One of the leading homosexual advocacy groups in the nation, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), sponsors the "Day of Silence" every April 25 to pressure high school students into accepting homosexuality, lesbianism and transgenderism as normal alternatives to heterosexuality.
In addition, it tries to convince students that homosexuality is innate and that anyone who disagrees with that view is by definition a homophobe and a bigot.
Although billed simply as an effort to promote tolerance, it in reality is an effort to indoctrinate secondary school students and promote intolerance of traditional standards of human sexuality.
The IVA is joining with many other pro-family groups across the country to challenge parents to keep their students home on that day if their school sponsors or announces this event.
Since school reimbursements are driven by Average Daily Attendance (ADA), schools will pay a price for promoting acceptance of behavior with such evident health risks. (Incomes to Idaho schools and teachers is not based on what students learn but on how many student fannies are occupying school seats every day.)
Said Buddy Smith of the American Family Association, "'Day of Silence' is about coercing students to repudiate traditional morality. It's time for Christian parents to draw the line - if your children will be exposed to this DOS propaganda in their school, then keep them home for the day."
The two Idaho schools currently listed by GLSEN as participating schools: Moscow High School and Idaho Falls High School.
We've heard from parents who indicate that Emmett High School is also participating, although its administration has yet to disclose whether it has okayed the event, and both Centennial and Meridian high schools have appeared previously on the GLSEN list.
If your children attend any one of these schools, please politely contact the school administration and ask them what the school's plans are for the "Day of Silence." (Some schools appear on the list because students put them there without the knowledge of school administrators.) If the school is cooperating in any way with this homosexual propaganda push, inform them that your student and students from other likeminded families will boycott school on that day.
Please contact us and keep us informed regarding what you find.
Action Alert: Dangerous "Discrimination" Bill Before Senate Committee By Bryan Fischer, Executive Director, Idaho Values Alliance
January 21, 2008
 Boise, Idaho - The Idaho Human Rights Commission (note: "Human Rights" is a code word for the homosexual, feminist and secular fundamentalist agenda) is sponsoring a dangerous amendment (S1283) to Idaho's existing discrimination statute. The amendment proposes that plaintiffs receive an award of attorney's fees if they prevail.
Conveniently for the left, the amendment does not propose that defendants be awarded attorney's fees if they prevail against frivolous and unwarranted discrimination lawsuits.
Thus, the proposed amendment is unjust on its face, and a violation of the principle that all should stand equal before the bar of justice. Under this amendment, defendants will be exposed to risks that plaintiffs do not have to face.
Left-leaning groups such as the ACLU have padded their coffers - often at taxpayer expense - by winning huge attorney's fee awards in politically correct discrimination suits, often handed to them by activist judges who have made the courts unpredictable and turned them into tools of social re-engineering rather than true social justice.
If this amendment passes, it will encourage frivolous and thinly justified discrimination suits against corporations with deep pockets and against government entities which will simply dig into taxpayer wallets for the money to pay the awards.
It will create the likelihood that discrimination suits will no longer be in pursuit of justice but will be fishing expeditions for activist organizations trolling for a huge payday for themselves and their lawyers. It's a trial lawyers' dream, and a nightmare for everyone else.
Further, many businesses will be intimidated into capitulating to the far left agenda simply in order to avoid the huge financial risk involved in a potential discrimination lawsuit.
Consequently, the freedom of employers to select a workforce of their own choosing will be compromised, and they will find themselves making decisions based not on what is best for the work they are trying to do, but based on how they can minimize exposure to activist lawsuits.
And so the values of the secular left will be advanced by threat and intimidation and what amounts to legal extortion.
The existing statute (Idaho code, section 67-5908) is adequate to provide remedies against genuine discrimination. It provides for full restitution for actual damages (including lost wages and benefits) for a victim of unlawful discrimination, and allows for punitive damages of up to $1,000 for each willful violation.
You may email all the members of the Senate State Affairs committee, which will consider this bill this week, by clicking on the E-mail link below. Tell them that existing state law is sufficient to serve as a remedy for genuine discrimination, that the amendment is unjust because it exposes defendants to risks plaintiffs do not have to face, and that you have a legitimate concern that the amendment will simply be used as a tool to advance the agenda of the secular left.
mnjorgenson@senate.idaho.gov
Need For Anti-Coercion Bill Made Plain At March For Life Rally
By Bryan Fischer, Executive Director, Idaho Values Alliance
January 21, 2008 (click here or on picture below to download video clip)
 Boise, Idaho - Hundreds turned out Saturday January 19th in support of the Constitution's guarantee of the right to life of the unborn. This truly is the ultimate civil rights issue of our day.
My good friend Brandi Swindell, founder of Generation Life, was the keynote speaker. She invited two young women to tell their abortion stories, and one brave young woman, Kelly, told a powerful and heartbreaking story of how her own family coerced her into an abortion she did not want.
Both of her parents relentlessly pressured her, her mother threatening to throw her out of the house and her father - who lives out of state - threatening to disown her. She was virtually kidnapped and forced to get an abortion before she was allowed to get on a plane and return home from a visit with her father.
Unbelievably, her father contacted one of Kelly's acquaintances in an effort to persuade the friend to punch Kelly in the stomach to trigger a miscarriage.
As David Ripley of Idaho Choose Life points out, while we have many provisions in state law protecting a woman's right to have an abortion, we have virtually no protection for her right not to have one. It's time for that to change.
For more information on this issue, view the following web sites:
Right To Life of Idaho
http://www.rtli.org
Idaho Chooses Life
http://idahochooseslife.org
Bradi Swindell, Stanton Health Care
http://www.stantonhealthcare.org
January 11, 2008
Planned Parenthood Nampa Clinic Closed
By Bryan Fischer, Executive Director,
Idaho Values Alliance
 Boise, Idaho - Good news on the pro-life front: the Nampa Planned Parenthood clinic has closed, its last day December 8.
The "40 Days for Life" prayer campaign, held last fall on-site in front of the Boise Planned Parenthood clinic, had as its goal bringing abortion to an end in local communities and in America. Every pro-life Idahoan can be grateful that there is one less location dispensing the dangerous Planned Parenthood message.
Organizers, including the IVA, are making plans for another "40 Days for Life" prayer vigil next fall.
Other Local Christian News Sources:
Idaho Values Alliance
Idaho Chooses Life
Biblical Worldview Learning Center
Keep The Commandments Idaho
We need volunteer Treasure Valley Christian News reporters. To submit your news story, please call our office in Boise at (208) 377-3568 or E-mail y
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