House Passes Public Expression Of Religion Act: 244 to 173Well, we are half way there! Now the legislation needs to pass the Senate. This will be more difficult to do, so we continue to need all of the support we can get. The roll call is in from the House and its not good news for the ACLU! The bill, H.R. 2679, would deny legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses to be taken from taxpayers and put into the pockets of groups like the ACLU when they successfully sue against references to God and religion in public settings, has passed by a vote of 244-173! This is good news, but it isn’t the end of the battle. The legislation still needs to pass the Senate and for that to happen we will need all the support we can get. Keep contacting your Senators and let them know you support it!
Americans United for Seperation of Church and State are quite upset!
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said the House leadership is obsessed with playing to powerful Religious Right lobbying groups that have been pressing for the legislation.
“This bill is a sop to the Religious Right, but even worse a dangerous attack on the First Amendment,” Lynn said. “The House leadership is openly hostile to federal courts for upholding church-state separation and this bill reflects that motivation. The bill seeks to slam the courthouse doors on citizens who challenge government-sponsored religious activities. It is a repugnant affront to the civil rights of all Americans.”
No it doesn’t…it seeks to level the playing field so the ACLU cannot intimidate small towns and cash-strapped schools are not beholden to the anti-American, extra-constitutional ACLU agenda.
Heh! I’m sure the ACLU will be condemning this as well…any minute!
Here is the final vote results. There were six Republicans that voted nay. Make notes.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll480.xml
