– September 12, 2006
American Atheists Action Alert – Update
BILL TO PUNISH FIRST AMENDMENT LITIGATION CLEARS COMMITTEE, READY FOR
HOUSE VOTE!
http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-09-sep-2006.html

The House Judiciary Committee has passed the so-called “Public
Expression of Religion Act.” The measure is ready for a vote by the
U.S. House of Representatives. Congress needs to hear from you now!

The bill, H.R. 2679, introduced by Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) would
amend a section of the United States Code and eliminate attorney fees
in legal cases where government violated the constitutional separation
of church and state. PERA is part of a battery of proposed legislative
items dubbed “The American Values Agenda.” This includes measure to
protect “unborn children,” ban cloning and penalize legal challenges to
violations of the First Amendment’s establishment clause

Hostettler and supporters of H.R. 2679 claim that attorneys working
for organizations that defend the First Amendment and challenge
unconstitutional governmental practices in respect to religion are
enriching themselves and even violating the rights of believers. The
American Legion has launched a national campaign to support PERA, and
is calling for “a ground swell of public demand on lawmakers” to pass
the bill immediately. A “guide” to PERA issued by this group states:
“There simply is no reasonable basis to support the profiteering in
attorney fee awards ordered by judges in these (Establishment Clause)
cases. The very threat of such fees has made elected bodies, large and
small, surrender to … demands to secularly cleanse the public square.”

- September 12, 2006
American Atheists Action Alert - Update
BILL TO PUNISH FIRST AMENDMENT LITIGATION CLEARS COMMITTEE, READY FOR
HOUSE VOTE!
http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-09-sep-2006.html

The House Judiciary Committee has passed the so-called "Public
Expression of Religion Act." The measure is ready for a vote by the
U.S. House of Representatives. Congress needs to hear from you now!

The bill, H.R. 2679, introduced by Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) would
amend a section of the United States Code and eliminate attorney fees
in legal cases where government violated the constitutional separation
of church and state. PERA is part of a battery of proposed legislative
items dubbed "The American Values Agenda." This includes measure to
protect "unborn children," ban cloning and penalize legal challenges to
violations of the First Amendment's establishment clause

Hostettler and supporters of H.R. 2679 claim that attorneys working
for organizations that defend the First Amendment and challenge
unconstitutional governmental practices in respect to religion are
enriching themselves and even violating the rights of believers. The
American Legion has launched a national campaign to support PERA, and
is calling for "a ground swell of public demand on lawmakers" to pass
the bill immediately. A "guide" to PERA issued by this group states:
"There simply is no reasonable basis to support the profiteering in
attorney fee awards ordered by judges in these (Establishment Clause)
cases. The very threat of such fees has made elected bodies, large and
small, surrender to ... demands to secularly cleanse the public square."

The House Judiciary Committee recently held a little-publicized,
one-day hearing on the "Public Expression of Religion Act." Only one of
the four experts invited to give testimony spoke out against the
legislation. American Atheists expects the committee to vote shortly on
PERA. The measure could then move to the full House for a floor vote
within the next two to three weeks. Congressional representatives need
to hear from us now regarding this dangerous, unconstitutional measure!
PERA is About Government Promotion of Religion, Not "EXPRESSION OF
RELIGION"

American Atheists President Ellen Johnson says that the Hostettler
measure "is not for the benefit of the taxpayer, but for government and
religious leaders who insist on eroding the wall of separation between
church and state."

"They know, as do we, that most attorneys are simply unable to work on
long-term, complex litigation if they don't receive some compensatory
fee," Johnson noted. "We're not talking about donating a few free hours
'to the cause.' These cases require an enormous amount of time and
effort."

Governments are often quite willing to squander taxpayer funds in order
to defend their unconstitutional practices. The Hostettler bill
conveniently ignores this fact.

"Whether it is school prayer or defending a religious monument in the
public square, state and local governments are frequently very
short-sighted and belligerent when caught doing something that violates
the First Amendment," said Johnson. "If the Legion and Rep. Hostettler
really wish to save all of us some money, they should work to stop
unconstitutional practices that promote religion."
Congress Needs to Hear From Us Now to Stop the PERA

Once Again, Atheists, freethinkers, Humanists and other non-believers
must speak out and tell our elected representatives in Washington, DC
that we oppose legislation aimed at eroding the separation of church
and state - bills like the "Public Expression of Religion Act"!

* PERA lowers the penalty bar when government is caught in flagrant
violation of the Establishment Clause.
* The bill penalizes attorneys and organizations that defend the
separation of church and state, but does nothing to prevent political
leaders from draining the public treasury to defend unconstitutional
practices in court.
* This legislation has nothing whatsoever to do with legitimate
religious expression. It is all about government sponsorship and
promotion of religion.
* Contact your congressional representative now!
* Check out our "Tips on Contacting Congress" Page
* Be sure to ask for a written response to your concerns. Make your
letters, faxes and e-mail concise and to-the-point. Be polite. Be sure
to sign your communique.
* Share you letter and any responses you receive and we will post
them on this web site
* Spread this Action Alert! If you are in an Atheist/freethought
group, consider posting this message to your newsletter, web site and
e-mail lists. Urge others to circulate this Alert, too!


(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights
for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and
addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

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Larry Mundinger (aa#451) American Atheists Internet Representative
<irep @ atheists.org> <http://www.atheists.org/>
<http://www.americanatheist.org/> <http://www.atheistviewpoint.tv/>