President's Report – Post-Election November 27, 2016

On this Giving Tuesday consider this. 

Election night was a night to remember. As the returns came in, the networks, including Fox News Decision Desk, were slow to call the states for Trump. Due to some other reporting sources who had accurate intel, we had a 30-minute lead on knowing which states were going for Trump before the networks and the AP announced. And then, as we approached midnight, all went quiet. There was no definitive intel on the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. And then at 2:45 in the morning it broke loose with the announcement by the AP that Mr. Trump had become the 45th President of the United States.

Rick Santorum broke news on our weekly radio program News in Focus, a week before the Election, with his prediction that Pennsylvania was going for Trump. Rick was on the ground in Pennsylvania stumping for Trump. As a former congressman and U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, that's a pretty credible prediction. Republicans have not taken the State of Pennsylvania since Reagan in 1984.

There was so much at stake in this election. Religious liberties, defense of the unborn, the federal courts, national defense, energy independence, and our standard of living with health care and wages were all at stake. Was America going to continue down the path of globalism and socialism or make an about-face? It appears that conservatives have a lot to be thankful for.

The early appointments by President-elect Trump are very encouraging, starting with Vice-President elect Mike Pence to head up the transition team, and then the following appointments of Senator Jeff Sessions to be A.G., Ben Carson to head up HUD, Ken Blackwell to help with the domestic transition team, Betsy DeVos to head up the Dept of Education (a proponent of school choice and a conservative), Nikki Haley as U.N. Ambassador, and KT McFarland as Deputy National Security Advisor. So far, Mr. Trump is stacking his administration with sound conservatives. This bodes well with his promises for the Supreme Court.

The hard left is not giving up easy, as evidenced by the protests in the aftermath of the election and now an effort by Green Party candidate Jill Stein to run recounts in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, obviously funded by the Clinton campaign operatives, i.e. George Soros and others, she has raised more money in the last ten days for the effort than she did the entire campaign season. That is why we have urged people to continue to pray. Some electoral voters in some states have received death threats. The radical left knows what this election means, and some on their side have lost all reason in their response to the election results. We must continue to seek the Lord for his guidance for our country as we celebrate this great victory.

Closer to home, we would like to congratulate OCA Board Member Ron Koehler for his election night victory in winning his seat for Summit County Council. Also, Lisa Woods, who heads up MCFAN, won the state school board seat for District 5. Lisa is a strong conservative, and will serve us well on the state school board.

Lame duck legislative push for the Pastors Protection Act, H.B. 286 – This past week, we have been in discussions with the bill's sponsor, Rep. Vitale, and legal counsel Richard Mast from Liberty Counsel. The bill received a hearing and an amendment action on November 22nd. It is scheduled for a hearing on November 29th, and it is rumored that the bill may pass out of committee and on to the House floor. We will keep you updated on further developments.

D-Day Landing Prayer Project (WWII Memorial Prayer Act) S 1044 - UPDATE
An initiative of the Ohio Christian Alliance

This design layout depicts the draft design of the prayer's placement as approved by the Fine Arts Commission.

On Thursday, November 17th, we were in attendance at a hearing held by the Commission on Fine Arts in Washington, D.C. concerning the architectural design and placement of FDR's D-Day Prayer at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. Site selection was approved last year in October for the area just outside the Atlantic Arch in an area designated as "Circle of Remembrance." Originally part of the WWII Memorial Monument and grounds, the site is currently rustic and undeveloped.
The architectural design calls for granite flooring and benches to be constructed to complete the development of the Circle of Remembrance in conjunction with the WWII Memorial. FDR's prayer will be included as part of the Circle of Remembrance enhancement. The prayer will be placed on a granite tabletop on four bronze plaques, with the entire text of the prayer included. The 545-word prayer will be a permanent addition to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The prayer's placement will not be paid for by tax dollars, but by citizen contributors like you and me. The projected cost of the project is $600,000. Contributions earmarked for this project can be made to the Ohio Christian Alliance Ed Fund for a tax deductible donation. By making your contribution today, you will be helping to make history. Proceeds earmarked for the D-Day Prayer go for the construction of the project. We are hoping that construction begins in April of 2017 with a dedication date in the fall of 2017. We rejoice in the great accomplishment that God has granted us in adding the D-Day Landing Prayer as a permanent addition to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Your financial support is needed to continue our work in Columbus at the Statehouse and in Washington, D.C. Contributions to the OCA Ed Fund are tax-deductible. Contributions to Ohio Christian Alliance are not tax deductible due to lobbying efforts. Thank you for your ongoing support. With this election, our work is just beginning.

Sincerely,

Chris Long    

President, Ohio Christian Alliance                                                               

Ron Koehler, Esq., Secretary

Mike Radebaugh, Treasurer