A proposed state constitutional amendment that would repeal Florida’s ban on using public dollars for religious funding such as school vouchers is advancing in the Legislature.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the measure (SJR 1218) on Tuesday. A similar proposal is moving through the House.
Sen. Thad Altman, a Rockledge Republican who is sponsoring the amendment, said it would eliminate discrimination.
An appellate court cited the ban in ruling a voucher program that let students from failing public schools attend private schools at taxpayer expense was unconstitutional.
The Florida Supreme Court, though, did not rule on that issue but struck down the voucher program on other constitutional grounds.
The high court removed a similar repeal from the ballot in 2008 because its summary failed to accurately describe the amendment.
(Source: Miami Herald)
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5 Responses
what madness! how much money goes to jewish religious funding? probably less than 10% of what is spent on cleaning staff in the black (white) house in one week
infact definately less than the scanners that look for liquid in airports
And last of all isnt this ban completely racist? “religios finances”?
Maybe when I was in school I read a different Constitution of the US then you, there is a clear delineation of Separation Church (Yeshiva) and State. How could Florida override the Federal Constitution, they can’t..
While I have paid my fair share of tuition over the years, I am strongly opposed to “state” financing of yeshivas and Kolleim,
Torahtotty, since your’e so well versed in the constitution, can you please cite which section in the constitution says ANYTHING about separation of church and state?
The Separation Of Church and State
The phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear anywhere in the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson wrote that the 1st Amendment erected a “wall of separation” between the church and the state (James Madison said it “drew a line,” but it is Jefferson’s term that sticks with us today). The phrase is commonly thought to mean that the government should not establish, support, or otherwise involve itself in any religion. The Religion Topic Page addresses this issue in much greater detail.
Thanks to Pat Roche for the idea.
#1 The comment about the black house is inappropriate. YWN Should remove the post. Racsit comments should have no place on a frum site. #3 The first ammendment otherwise known as the establishment clause forbids the government from establishing religion. This is the basis for the separation of Church and State.