House bill targets repro rights while boosting vouchers & church politicking
Americans United blog
House approved a spending bill that will limit reproductive rights while boosting school vouchers and church politicking
Jul 8, 2016 by Simon Brown in Wall of Separation
The U.S. House of Representatives passed an important appropriations bill (H.R. 5485) yesterday that will help fund the federal government for the next year. Tucked into this legislation are three troubling provisions that would weaken church-state separation and harm true religious liberty.
Some members of Congress are working to limit true religious freedom.
Discrimination Against Women in the Name of Religion: In 2014, the District of Columbia adopted a law called the “Reproductive Non-Discrimination Amendment Act.” This measure prohibits discrimination against employees and their dependents based on their reproductive choices – including their decision to use birth control. -snip-
The DC Private School Voucher Program: More than 10 years ago Congress imposed a federally funded private school voucher on the people of the District of Columbia. That program was set to expire this year, but this appropriations bill (which is supposed to fund programs not create them) would extend the program another five years. -snip- But the program also has serious oversight and quality control problems, and doesn’t improve academic achievement. But facts haven’t gotten in the way of those pushing for the bill to be reauthorized.
Partisan Politicking: The bill also contains a provision that will make it easier for houses of worship to get away with pulpit politicking. -snip- Over the years, however, the IRS has failed to vigorously enforce this provision. That is in part thanks to a lawsuit challenging agency rules about which official is supposed to sign off on church audits. A provision in H.R. 5485 would limit the ability to authorize these audits to only the IRS Commissioner. -snip-
More:
https://support.au.org/page.redir?target=https%3a%2f%2fwww.au.org%2fblogs%2fwall-of-separation%2finappropriate-appropriations-us-house-approves-spending-bill-that-limits&srcid=17517&srctid=1&erid=6682157&trid=a41da062-b399-43aa-a415-dc0c4d3a637a
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