Dear Chopper22,

Thank you for contacting me (Senator Evan Bayh) regarding H.R. 2679, the Public _Expression of Religion Act of 2005. I appreciate your thoughts and concerns on this issue.

As you may know, H.R. 2679 was introduced in the House of Representatives on May 26, 2005. This legislation seeks to amend the Revised Statues of the United States . It would deny attorneys' fees in a civil action against state or local officials involving a violation of the Constitution's establishment of religion clause. In such a case the sole remedy would be a court ordered prohibition against a particular activity.

Currently, H.R. 2679 is before the House Committee on the Judiciary. While I am not a member of this body, I will be monitoring this issue closely. Please rest assured, should this or similar legislation come before the full Senate for consideration, I will keep your views in mind.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope the information I have provided is helpful. My website, bayh.senate.gov , can provide additional details about legislation and state projects, and you can also sign up to receive my monthly e-newsletter, The Bayh Bulletin , by clicking on the link at the top of my homepage. I value your input and hope you will continue to keep me informed of the issues important to you.

Office of Senator Evan Bayh
(202) 224-5623
Russell 463
Washington, D.C. 20510

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Americans United Blasts House For Passage Of Fee-Stripping Bill

AU's Lynn Says Measure Is 'A Repugnant Affront To The Civil Rights of All Americans'

The U.S. House of Representatives in full political mode approved a seriously flawed bill aimed at stopping citizens from challenging in court government-sponsored religious activities, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

In a largely partisan vote, the House today passed the so-called “Public Expression of Religion Act,” which would make it much more difficult for those seeking to uphold the First Amendment principle of church-state separation. The bill, H.R. 2679, would deny legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses to plaintiffs who win lawsuits under the Fist Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which bans the government from promoting religion. It passed by a vote of 244-173.

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.”

The supporters of the bill argued today that the measure is needed to scuttle legal challenges to religious displays on public property. Many of the bill’s supporters claimed that groups, such as Americans United, were on a campaign literally to remove crosses from cemeteries nationwide.

Lynn said that charge was scaremongering at its worst.

“There is no such campaign,” said Lynn. “In reality this bill is a broad attempt to stop all kinds of challenges to government-sponsored religious activities. If enacted, it would bar recovery of legal fees and related expenses in an array of conflicts ranging from forcing children to recite prayers in schools to taxpayer funding of religious education.”

Lynn said Americans United would continue its opposition to the bill, urging the Senate to scrap the measure.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006
www.au.org/site/News2

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Americans United Warns VA To Recognize Wiccans' Rights Or Face Litigation - www.au.org/site/News2

* Please get involved & write your state & local reps.

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