House Passes Faith-Based Job Bill
The Bush Administration scored a victory for faith-based discrimination yesterday. In a party-line vote Wednesday, the House approved changes to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, a law that "provides funds for training and vocational rehabilitation programs for adults and dislocated workers, as well as activities for low-income youth."
Under current law, religious groups that receive federal money for job-training programs must obey civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in hiring or firing.
This requirement is removed under the proposed amendment.
The House on Wednesday approved a job-training bill that would allow faith-based organizations receiving federal funds to consider a person's religious beliefs in making employment decisions.
Passage of the bill, on a largely party-line vote of 224-200, came a day after President Bush (news - web sites) told a group of religious leaders that he would attempt to institute the faith-based employment policies through an executive order if Congress did not approve them this year.
In a statement Wednesday supporting the bill, the White House said, "Receipt of federal funds should not be conditioned on a faith-based organization's giving up a part of its religious identity and mission."
This bill amounts to government-sponsored discrimination. It now goes to the Senate.
During debate on the amendment, Rep. James P. McGovern (D-Mass.) said the provision allowing consideration of religious beliefs was equivalent to "turning the clock back on civil rights." "Faith-based institutions should be required to adhere to basic civil rights laws," McGovern said.
"This provision is offensive, it is ugly, it is wrong, and beyond that, Mr. Speaker, I believe it is unconstitutional. It is important that we oppose discrimination at every turn," he said.
Amen.
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