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Public Expression of Religion Act [UPDATED]
On Thursday, the House Constitution Subcommittee held a hearing on HR 2679, the Public Expression of Religion Act, which would disallow plaintiffs from seeking damages and attorney's fees in instances in which state or local governments have violated the Constitution's ban on establishing religion. A list of the 46 co-sponsors is here.
Over the weekend, I watched the webcast of the hearing, so you don't have to (that's just the kind of guy I am).
Lots of links and quotes at my post at Blog from the Capital, the blog of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, but for a striking exchange, here's committee member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) talking with American Jewish Congress cousel, Marc Stern. [My transcription]
Nadler: Under this bill, what would stop a recalcitrant governing authority in a local government from violating a federal court order?
Stern: Nothing....It is an open invitation for people to defy the Constitution in the interest of political convenience at their will. More here.
[UPDATE: The House GOP plans a vote on PERA this summer.] |
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