Washington Wire Vol. 2, No. 2 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Religious Accommodation Bill Introduced in House On
April 11, one of the OU/IPA’s top legislative priorities – the Workplace
Religious Freedom Act – was 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. Reps. Asa Hutchinson
(R-AK) and Jerry Nadler (D-NY) are leading this effort in the House.
We continue working to increase our number of co-sponsors in the
Senate and House to improve the bill’s chances.
This effort received a recent boost as well from The
Washington Post running an op ed essay of ours on this issue
- . Any help you can render in talking to members of either chamber that
you know to encourage them to co-sponsor this legislation would be
appreciated. 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 Senate Democrats 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 Relief Stalled in Senate 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 Senate took up the measure earlier this month, but a dispute
between Republicans and Democrats over exactly how to remedy this inequity
prevented any vote from being taken. The
House previously 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 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 and that couples
with one working spouse are treated as fairly as dual income couples. Assisted Suicide Ban Gets Senate Action
Efforts by the bipartisan group of senators to have that body take up the Pain Relief Promotion Act already passed by the House last year had been delayed through procedural maneuvers of the bill’s few opponents. Negotiations between proponents and opponents resulted in the Senate Judiciary Committee finally holding a hearing and mark up of the bill in late April. The Orthodox Union was represented at the hearing by Rabbi J. David Bleich who offered compelling testimony in support of the legislation. State Aid to
Parochial Schools The Washington Office has been involved in coordinating state efforts to support proposed initiatives that would benefit parochial school families. In Maryland, we worked successfully with our political allies to secure passage of a measure that will provide secular textbook subsidies for parochial schools. In Connecticut, a measure proposed by Governor Rowland to provide tuition tax credits is slated for action by the legislature this week. We have organized grassroots efforts in that state in support of this measure as well. JUDICIARY UPDATE We
await rulings in a number of cases of concern, including computer subsidies
for parochial schools (Mitchell v. Helms) and issues of freedom of
association (Boy Scouts v. Dale). WASHINGTON INTERNSHIP UPDATE Placements
for the 2000 OU/IPA Washington Internship program have been completed and we
are preparing to welcome this year’s class of interns to Washington next
month.
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