IT'S VETS VS ACLU

The Oswego County American Legion is joining the national legion to take on the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

At issue, the legion said in a press release, is a legal loophole that allows the ACLU to collect tax money for attorney's fees after it files suit against the use of religious symbols.

Missions of dollars in taxes are collected in court-ordered attorney's fees, the legion said.

The American Legion's Oswego County commander, David Potter, said a bill now in Congress will prevent the ACLU from collecting such fees.

The bill - PERA-H.R. 2679 - is called the Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005.

Potter said he is urging people to call Congressman John McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, to support the bill.

Potter said he believes passage of the bill will discourage frivolous lawsuits by the ACLU .

“Unless we are successful, no religious symbol will be safe, including the crosses and Stars of David that mark the final resting place of our World War II heroes at Normandy,” he said in the release.

The awarding of attorney's fees was mandated by the 1976 Civil Rights Attorney's Fee Awards Act.

Thomas L. Bock, national commander of the American legion, said in the press release the act was “needed” but eventually abused.

“When out-of-court settlements are more cost-effective than the judicial process, then the system is clearly broken,” he said.

“Each time the threat of outrageous attorney fee awards by courts drives an out-of-court decision, lady Justice receives another black eye and justice is defiled,” Potter added.

Potter said the American Legion has not had problems with the ACLU in Oswego County. “We're more of a conservative area and we have no cemeteries or federal monuments around to draw attention,” he said.