Family Research Council's First President Headed Florida's DCF Until The Year Before George Rekers Was Paid $120,000

In 2002 then Florida Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Jerry Regier, another Family Research Council co-founder and a buddy of George Rekers, to head the Department of Children and Families, the very agency now at the center of controversy over Rekers' payment of $120,000 to testify in against allowing gay adoption. Shortly after Regier assumed the top post at DCF, the Miami Herald unearthed a 1989 article co-authored by Reiger and Rekers that made some outrageous claims.

In a 1989 essay entitled The Christian World View of the Family, Regier and co-author George Rekers railed against abortion and gay couples forming families, and emphasized that husbands have "final say in any family dispute.'' And the essay declares that ''biblical spanking'' that leads to "temporary and superficial bruises or welts do not constitute child abuse.'' The essay also said Christians should not marry non-Christians, that divorce is acceptable only when there is adultery or desertion and that wives should view working outside the home as ''bondage.'' The ''radical feminist movement,'' the essay adds, "has damaged the morale of many women and convinced men to relinquish their biblical authority in the home.'' Asked if the governor was aware of Regier's writings before they were raised by The Herald, Bush spokeswoman Katie Muniz said: "I have a simple answer. No.'' But, she added, "Mr. Regier has been an outstanding public servant for over a decade serving two presidents and a sitting governor. His record speaks for itself. Many of our nation's finest public servants past and present have been men and women of faith.''

Regier was the first president of FRC and prior to his 2002 DCF appointment by Jeb Bush, he ran for governor of Oklahoma. He left Florida's Department of Children and Families at the end of Bush's term in 2007. Now we need to find his fingerprints on those checks to George Rekers, even if they came a year after Regier left office. Why does the Family Research Council's co-founder and first president pal around with guys who hire male prostitutes? Call them and ask: 202/393-2100.