Conservative spotlight: Len Munsil

Part of the network of independent state policy groups begun by Focus on the Family, the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP) pursues a pro-family agenda in what many consider a Goldwateresque conservative state, but which CAP President and General Counsel Len Munsil says has a more "libertarian strain."

Before CAP was founded, "The legislature had not been pro-life," he said. "The Republican leadership had declared a moratorium on considering abortion legislation because it was so divisive within the party." Though there is still no pro-life majority in the state legislature, "we have recently had parental notification passed, a partialbirth abortion ban, and abortion clinic regulation. We had some deaths in abortion clinics in Arizona.

The last of those measures might actually not be invalidated by the federal courts. On August 17, "overturning a lower court ruling, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found South Carolina's abortion clinic regulations constitutional in a 2 to 1 decision," CAP has noted. Said Cathi Herrod, an attorney who worked on Arizona's law and legislative counsel for the center, "This is excellent news for Arizona women. We are encouraged and expect Arizona's abortion clinic regulations to be upheld."

The center said: "The decision emphasizes the legitimacy of the state's interest in protecting women's health, rejecting plaintiffs' arguments that the regulations were simply designed to harass abortion providers. The South Carolina regulations require that any clinic or physician performing five or more abortions per month be licensed and meet prescribed standards for patient safety, sanitary conditions, and medical competence. Similarly, Arizona's laws require doctor's offices and clinics that perform five or more firsttrimester abortions in a month, or any second- or third-trimester abortions, to comply with Department of Health Services regulations."

Noted Denise Burke, staff counsel for Americans United for Life (AUL), in a CAP statement, "Veterinarians are regulated more than most abortion providers, and women suffer the consequences. States have a right to ensure that women receive safe, competent medical care, and that is exactly what these abortion clinic regulations do."

A nonprofit group founded in 1995, CAP favors school choice, home-schooling rights, covenant marriage, right to life of unborn children, and keeping pornography away from children. "We work on tax and fiscal issues as well, but the Goldwater Institute focuses on those," Munsil said. "The center was formed to deal primarily with cultural issues." CAP has garnered praise from pro-family Arizona politicians, such as Arizona Speaker of the House Jeff Groscost, who said; "We weren't getting anywhere on the pro-family agenda until the Center for Arizona Policy showed up. Since then, we've had a series of major victories."

"As part of a 50-state partnership associated with Focus on the Family, the center works to: 1. Provide quality research and factual information to policy-makers on vital issues affecting the family. 2. Equip concerned citizens and churches to be persuasive advocates for the family. 3. Be a voice for the family by communicating truth through the media" says the group's mission statement.

"The main thing we're doing right now is providing voter information on where candidates stand on the issues," Munsil said, "particularly on pro-family issues. We are mailing.voter guides and distribute information in churches. I do a church bulletin insert on public policy issues."

In the long run, however, CAP recognizes that the fight goes far beyond politics. "Our long-term perspective is winning back the culture," he said. "In the conservative movement, we often think if we have the right President, the right Congress, the right governor, everything will be fine."

Arizona is the only state after pioneer Louisiana to adopt a covenant marriage law, which allows couples to choose a legal option that makes divorce more difficult and requires counseling before a divorce is granted. "We were able to get it passed with one vote," Munsil said. "Arizona is in the top 10 in divorce rates in the nation. It's such a growing area, and people leave behind their support structures when they move here. Divorce is the ultimate act of selfishness. It's saying that I am more important than my children."

Barring court interference, Arizona is currently safe from same-sex marriage. "I actually drafted a law [prohibiting it] in '96 before the national debate began," said Munsil. "It passed 50 to 5 in the house back then. I'm not sure it would get that margin today."

CAP may be reached at 11000 N. Scottsdale Road #120, Scottsdale AZ 85254 (480-922-3101; fax: 480-922-9785; e-mail: annelle@cenazpol.org; website: www.cenazpolorg.).

Copyright Human Events Publishing, Inc. Sep 1, 2000
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