FL in the news : Florida Senate Judiciary approves repeal of church state separation

[Lost-in-FL]

http://www.examiner.com/humanism-freethought-in-tampa-bay/florida-senate-judiciary-approves-repeal-of-church-state-separation


The Senate Judiciary committee approved a bill that would effectively tear down the separation of church and state in Florida. On a party line vote of 5 to 2, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved SRJ 1218 - the Religious Freedom bill and sent it on to the Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs. Members of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) in Florida have mobilized against the passage of this bill and it’s companion H 1471 where it is scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow.

SJR 1218, which was sponsored by Sen. Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) and endorsed by the entire Republican caucus, would delete a constitutional provision that bars Florida from spending public revenues on sectarian religious organizations. Supporters of the bill claim that prohibiting government from funding religious groups discriminates against religious groups.



:argh: What's next? Religious institutions are people too?

[glowing]

1. And I'm sure they would support public funds for a school assoc. w/ a mosque?

Yeah right.. More public funds into private hands.. greedy bastards.

[ixion]

2. The irony of so-called "religious groups" whining because they can't ursurp money

from the government to fund and implement their theocratic dreams of discriminating against anyone who isn't in their religion is so ludicrous it's avant garde'.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Will the Feds strike down that law if it passes, that is the question.

If the state has a problem with the law of "discrimination" it should have gone to court over it.

Back in the days when the country upheld the rule of law, and adhered to the Constitution more than it does now, the normal course of events would be that the Federal courts would strike down the unconstitutional state laws.
Now, I am not too sure.

[hootinholler]

16. These days I wouldn't expect them to

Since I think vouchers to religious schools have been upheld, but I'm not sure on that and don't have time to research it right now.

-Hoot

[think]

4. Screw the constitution we're Republicans....

The constitution is just a rag we clean our guns with...

[lonestarnot]

5. So the taliban is taking over FL and nobody has drawn their weapon?

[bear425]

8. It's the Florida Taliban that has the weapons. n/t

[lonestarnot]

14. I see. Well we have other types of weapons.

[skepticscott]

6. Well, what they hate to acknowledge is

that the Constitution discriminates against religious groups, whether they like it or not. It prohibits government endorsement or support of specific religions, religious activities or religion in general, but does not impose the same restrictions on government involvement in science, the arts, or education. Religion is singled out to be separated from government, for reasons that the framers understood all too well, but which are forgotten or ignored by the fundamentalist troglodytes in control of the Republican party.

[femrap]

7. So let's tax the Religionous Groups!

How can they get $$$ and not be part of the tax system???

I know....repugnants don't understand logic. Wastes of human flesh.

[TheKentuckian]

10. That part is easy, they don't believe any institution should pay taxes.

and that individuals should support private institutions to provide the "commons" by paying fees. I suppose military adventures and crotch sniffing should be funded by regressive sales taxes and police state shakedowns of private, individual behaviors.

[femrap]

12. Let's all move to VT

and secede from this fascist union.

I wish Canada would buy my state....Dumfukistan (the former state of Ohio).

[CanonRay]

9. Where is the House Un-American Activities Committee when you need them?

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Pandering to their voters.

Wouldn't the ACLU be able to knock this one out of the park?

[Snoutport]

13. I hope all you DUers are sharing these stories with your middle fo the road friends.

[barbtries]

15. good GAWD

what the HELL is this country coming to.

[ddeclue]

17. Wackadoodledoo!

[BR_Parkway]

18. Oh, when the mosques apply for that state money - heads are going to explode

Could be a fun show to watch. Not sure how a legislative move can nullify an entire Constitutional provision - it seems like they'd be a lot harder to change than that, but that may be more the product of what a reporter left out of a story too

[WinkyDink]

19. Gotta love it when Republicans pervert Liberal policies.