Washington Wire
March 13, 2000

Vol. 2, No. 1

Congress has reconvened and legislative business has resumed in the shadow of the 2000 election campaign.  It is unclear how this political season will affect our efforts to pass our top legislative initiatives through Congress; only time will tell whether it is a great help or hindrance.

Preparations are also underway for the JCPA convention, which will take place in Baltimore at month’s end.  While many of our suggestions with regard to policy statements of this umbrella group have been accepted, we expect to debate JCPA’s policy positions on RLPA and state secular assistance (textbooks, transportation, etc.) for parochial schools.

Recipients of Washington Wire are invited to two important upcoming OU/IPA events.  On March 16, the OU/IPA will sponsor an evening forum in Washington, on the subject of “The Jewish Vote in 2000” with William Kristol (editor of The Weekly Standard) and Mark Mellman (a leading Democratic pollster).  Please call 202-857-2770 for details.

On April 4, the IPA will be sponsoring two events in New York City.  From noon to 5:30pm, we will co-sponsor (with the Beth Din of America) a Continuing Legal Education seminar at the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue.  The event will feature a luncheon address by N.Y. Attorney General Elliott Spitzer and a series of sessions of interest to Orthodox attorneys.  Presenters will include Rabbis Gedalia Schwartz and Mordechai Willig as well as Marc Stern, Nat Lewin and Suzanne Stone.  From 6-8pm on April 4 (also at the S&P) the IPA will hold its annual Forum on Halakha & Public Policy – this year’s topic is “Issues at Life’s End; Assisted Suicide and Pain Management in Law & Policy.”  The featured presenter will be Rabbi J. David Bleich and a panel of legal, medical and policy experts will discuss this complex and important topic.  Please call 212-613-8123 for further details and to make reservations.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Religious Accommodation Bill to be Introduced in House

Later this month, one of the OU/IPA’s top legislative priorities – the Workplace Religious Freedom Act – will be introduced in the House of Representatives.  After much work behind the scenes, we are finally assembling a bipartisan group of co-sponsors.  As you know, “WRFA” will require employers to accommodate the religious observances of their employees as long as providing such accommodations will not impose an “undue hardship” upon the employer.  We expect Reps. Asa Hutchinson  (R-AK) and Jerry Nadler (D-NY) to lead this effort in the House.  We have also been working to increase our number of co-sponsors in the Senate to improve the bill’s chances.  Any help you can render in talking to members of either chamber that you know would be most helpful.

Push for Religious Liberty Legislation Continues

Efforts to pass the Religious Liberty Protection Act continue behind the scenes.  Unfortunately, efforts to reach a compromise with Senator Kennedy’s office that would assuage civil rights concerns and allow the bill to move to the floor have failed.  We continue to work with Senator Hatch’s office to map out strategy for this important legislation.

Marriage Penalty Passes House

Inasmuch as the Orthodox community can be properly characterized as ‘family oriented,’ we have spent some time encouraging Congress to repair the tax code’s unfair treatment of married couples. According to the Treasury Department, approximately 25 million families pay higher income taxes because of marriage.  The families that suffer this unequal treatment are lower to middle income families, with two working parents; the higher-earner of which makes between $20,000 and $75,000 per year.  The House passed a broad measure to address this issue – one that entails a number of provisions that would give tax relief to many Americans beyond those who merely suffer this unfair treatment.  The Senate is expected to pass a more modest measure; the President has proposed an even more modest one.  The IPA has not taken a position on specific approaches to this issue, but voiced the importance of ensuring that public policy does not penalize marriage. 

Secular Textbook Funding in Maryland

Maryland Governor Parris Glendening’s proposed FY2001 Budget included $6 million for state funding of secular textbooks for private and parochial school students.  The OU/IPA is actively involved in advocacy on behalf of this funding, a first in Maryland.  As part of this effort we have met with members of the Washington Post Editorial Board and have been in regular contact with Maryland Rabbis and school administrators.  Maryland residents should contact their state senators and delegates to urge their support for this important legislation.

JUDICIARY UPDATE

The OU/IPA is involved in a number of court cases as a friend of the court.  We joined with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit challenging a ruling which struck down special zoning consideration for houses of worship that wished to build a religious school on their privately owned property.  We are currently preparing a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in connection with its review of the New Jersey Supreme Court’s decision in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (held: the Boy Scouts could not dismiss a gay scoutmaster).

WASHINGTON INTERNSHIP UPDATE

Preparations for the 2000 OU/IPA Washington Internship program are well underway.  We have received applications from a strong group of candidates and have begun confirming placements in congressional offices.  If you have contact with Members of Congress in the coming month please mention the internship program and inquire about the possibility of securing a placement in their office.  For more information on the internship program contact Josh Sussman in our office.