Urgent church/state separation action item

[madfloridian]

Renee in Ohio just posted this. It needs the attention of those who care about this matter.

Action alert from Americans United for Separation of Church and State

"I just received the following action alert from the local chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Please share this with others. I am *so* freaking sick and tired of these people and their unrelenting efforts to do sneaky stuff like this when they think no one is looking.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to debate legislation which would undermine a critical enforcement mechanism that has safeguarded rights and liberties of Americans for more than a century. The Public Expression of Religion Act (H.R. 2679) would gut the longstanding availability of plaintiffs in Establishment Clause cases – and only those cases – to gain their attorneys fees and costs when they prevail in court.

More here:
http://capwiz.com/au/issues/alert/?alertid=9007716

[ktowntennesseedem]

1. K & R

[lvx35]

2. What?!?

Does this bill actually say what I think it does?

The Public Expression of Religion Act (H.R. 2679) would gut the longstanding availability of plaintiffs in Establishment Clause cases – and only those cases – to gain their attorneys fees and costs when they prevail in court.

So if you sue the government over the Establisment Clause the attorney's can't recover fees? But ONLY suits on that clause of the first ammendment that separates church and state???

[madfloridian]

3. I am still trying to absorb it.

Renee is pretty much on top of it, so I took her word it was serious.

You are right, that is what it sounds like. It would discourage attorneys if they can't get fees.

[MindPilot]

4. Yep! The christers are calling it the "ACLU Defunding Bill".

Call your reps--not that it will do any good--but you can at least annoy the office staff.

[lvx35]

5. That's exactly what I thought.

In other words, if somebody violates the constitution and puts a giant crucifix on top of the white house, and the ACLU sues, spending millions of dollars in simply getting the government to obey the law and take it down, than ACLU pays for it out of pocket...In other words, criminals pay for the reprecussions of their crimes (including legal fees) UNLESS they violate the separation of chruch and state, in which case the people who bring suit against them pay for their crimes.