House votes to gut Establishment Clause

[Eugene]

House OKs Bill on Religious Expression

By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

(09-26) 16:24 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

House Republicans, carrying out their election-year values agenda,
on Tuesday pushed through legislation cutting off financial awards
for lawsuits successfully filed against expressions of religion such
as Christmas displays on government grounds.

The bill, passed 244-173, denies the awarding of attorney's fees or
monetary damages to a party that wins a court case based on the
establishment clause in the Constitution that is used to argue
a separation of church and state.

There is no companion Senate bill and little chance the Senate would
consider it in the waning days of this session, but the House vote
was a reminder to the GOP's conservative base that their issues are
not being ignored.

-snip-

"This bill would make it more difficult for ordinary Americans to defend
their religious freedom against intrusion by government," said Rep.
Chet Edwards, D-Texas. "There's nothing benign about this bill."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/09/26/national/w162444D92.DTL

[Erika]

1. This is a big worry of our country?

Christmas displays? The GOP gets sillier, and more pandering to a theocratic base, each day.

[lvx35]

2. Don't forget the words of the Establisment Clause is while reading this:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

It helps to really hear the words to understand the full ramifications.

[w4rma]

3. Is this bill even Constitutional? (nt)

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Throwing bones to the rabid base.