Rep. Nadler blasts proposal to allow taxpayer funding FEMA $$ of churches

[sasha031]

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) on Wednesday “reluctantly” decried legislation that would allow taxpayer money to be used to rebuild or repair houses of worship following a natural disaster.

“The purpose of the bill is laudable,” he said on the House floor. “Unfortunately, it has real constitutional problems.”
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced the Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2013 following Hurricane Sandy. The bill would allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to issue direct grants of taxpayer funds to churches and other religious institutions. Currently, houses of worship are eligible for government loans following a disaster, as are other for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations.

Nadler said the legislation would violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution.

“Direct government funding of churches, synagogues, and mosques has always been held to be unconstitutional, and the decisions of the Supreme Court establishing that principle remain good law to this day,” he explained.

The bill was passed by a 354-72 vote.
Raw Story (http://s.tt/1zKZp)
this is so wrong, FEMA dollars should not be going to churches.

[rurallib]

1. really, if an act of god took the chirch out

I think they ought to talk to the god in question about getting rebuilt.

but seriously you are 100% right. Apparently 354 congress critters can't read the fucking constitution.

[sasha031]

3. Excellent point, looks like this got allot of Dem votes too

[malokvale77]

2. They're so against sending FEMA money to actual taxpayers,

but churches are not a problem? Go figure.

[datasuspect]

4. they need to take it up with God.

[Historic NY]

5. If I can't get historic restoration money, then they shouldn't get FEMA money....

I went through this last year....its a morass. How did they fix the National Cathedral???