Loophole Slipped Into Measure

[kweerwolf]

Republican leaders quietly included in a sweeping defense spending bill a paragraph designed to pre-empt state and local anti-discrimination laws - a change that could make it easier for youth groups, notably the Boy Scouts, to bar gays and others from their functions.

The provision says that any state or town government that receives federal housing and community development funds cannot deny the scouts or other youth groups equal access to public meeting places.

Many House members, who approved the bill overwhelmingly Monday, said they were unaware of the language when they voted around 4 a.m. on a bill most had not read or even seen.

The entire Connecticut delegation supported the defense measure, and when some members learned Tuesday what they had endorsed, they were not pleased.

http://www.courant.com/hc-boyscouts1221.artdec21,0,5135867.story

[C_U_L8R]

1. Here comes Bush's

very own Hitler youth.

(is it fascism yet?)

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. The 10th Amnt., already worn to almost nothing, erodes away a bit more n/t

[sui generis]

3. this is one element of our legislative process I don't understand

Why is it that these kinds of measures can be "slipped in", disavowed later, and yet still retain the weight of law?

It is clear to me that if the measure was popular enough to merit a congressional vote it should have stood on its own.

I really did learn what being a boyscout was about and I have internalized those values, and those values are at odds with homophobia and religious discrimination.

Would a boyscout ask a little old lady if she's a lesbian or an atheist before helping her across the street?

These legislators never were boyscouts.

[xchrom]

4. indeed.

[Ian David]

6. Would a Boyscout sneak a hidden amendment into a bill? n/t

[SkiGuy]

5. A question about this

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it almost looks like they don't read the bill before they pass it?? Or was this snuck in. If it was snuck in, how could that be? Is this like that ANWR thing the repugs tried to slip in?

[kweerwolf]

7. You're probably right about them not reading it.

Remember the Congressman in Farenheit 9/11 who said that most Congress members hadn't read the Patriot Act (or, indeed, most other legislation) before they vote on it?

And, yes, it's exactly like what's going on with Ted Stevens and the ANWR drilling bill he attached to a military funding bill.

[SkiGuy]

8. I find it hard to believe this..

got by Pelosi though. (I love her more each and every day)
Speaking of Pelosi, any news on her request to have her emails declassified immediately?

[BR_Parkway]

9. What emails? I'm in scandal overload trying to keep up and missed

that one somewhere.

[SkiGuy]

10. DU link here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2000196

[SkiGuy]

11. Is there really a city in NC

called Blowing Rock??

[BR_Parkway]

12. 1 of the most visited on the Blue Ridge Parkway, old Indian legend about

the strong winds carrying the love struck brave from one Indian tribe back up to the mountain top after he despaired and threw himself off because he fell in love with the squaw from the opposing tribe and they couldn't be together.

Native American Romeo & Juliet if you will.

Quaint little village of about 1,200 people, we can walk to everything so got rid of one vehicle, it's great.

I know, perfectly named town for a gay couple.

[SkiGuy]

13. You said it, not me :)

But I was thinking more in the line as King George's favorite city to do his cocaine

[William769]

14. This will devastate me & my partner

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Scooter24]

15. So am I under the impression

that a gay youth group would have the same access to government or defense department facilities as the boy scouts? Hmmm???

"But in this case," she said, "he joined a unanimous Senate in saying that youth groups, including the Boy Scouts, should have equal access to -funded facilities."

[kevinbgoode]

16. I strongly believe that gays and other community groups

should immediately adopt clauses to their own little constitutions specifically coding that their organizations cannot...will not accept members whose beliefs require they promote discrimination against other members of the community. Then let the local christo-fascists start screaming that they are being treated unfairly because of their "religious" beliefs. . and politely explain that you are only regulating membership in the same manner as the Boy Scouts.

If the christo-fascists want to claim they are persecuted, then lets start giving them a taste of their own medicine.