February 3, 1999

Bush commends Burgin,
pushes RFRA and more
___AUSTIN--Texas Baptist legend Tillie Burgin got a special mention by Gov. George W. Bush in his State of the State address Jan. 27, when he called her by name as a "drill sergeant in the army of compassion."
___Burgin, a former Southern Baptist missionary to Korea, founded Mission Arlington as a ministry of that city's First Baptist Church.
___"Tillie is living proof of the importance of freeing people to put their faith into action," Bush said, using the occasion to call for support of a Texas version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
___On the issue of student vouchers, however, the governor used his speech to express support for a position at odds with the one held by the Texax Christian Life Commission and many Texas Baptists.
___Messengers to the 1998 BGCT in Houston passed a resolution opposing any voucher plan that would funnel pubic funds into private parochial schools.
___However, the governor outlined positions on other initiatives that reflect the CLC's legislative priorities:
___ Supporting bills calling for parental consent or parental notification for minors seeking abortions.
___ Creating a more strict definition of drunk driving.
___ Cracking down on illegal gambling machines known as eight-liners.
___ Increasing child care funding for low-income mothers.
___ Increasing funding for Child Protective Services to hire 380 new caseworkers.
___
___
___

---

Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!