Posted on 12/02/2016 11:12:08 AM PST by george76
Senate Republicans have agreed to a deal that strips an amendment protecting religious freedom for faith-based organizations from a defense spending bill, making the measure more favorable to signature by outgoing resident Barack Obama.
Obama threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) if the bill included the Russell Amendment, which applies religious freedom exemptions to federal grants and contracts. The NDAA is an annual piece of legislation that addresses Department of Defense budget and expenditures.
The Russell Amendment restated current United States law via the First Amendment. The measure would have protected, for example, faith groups that run adoption facilities and hold beliefs in traditional marriage from being refused federal grants and contracts because of those beliefs.
...
The Russell Amendment was designed to protect the hiring practices of faith-based organizations that provide critical services to soldiers in war zones, refugees, victims of human and sex trafficking, and veterans, among others. These religious charities are often the best—sometimes the only—groups willing to provide these services.
The Russell Amendment protects religious providers who partner with the government from being forced to hire those who do not share their religious beliefs, a right that other religious employers have enjoyed without controversy for more than half a century.
...
Obama would interpret existing religious protections narrowly in order to make religious groups bend to the LGBT agenda. As seen in the administration’s education and health care mandates on gender identity, in practice, this means requiring employee bathrooms and showers meant for women be opened to biological men who self-identify as female regardless of people’s religious beliefs on the matter. The administration’s proven lack of respect for religious freedom when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity policies is more than enough reason to keep the Russell Amendment.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
This can be easily undone by the next incoming legislature.
But will they?
This means Trump gets to pass this, as he has promised to do
It can wait until January 20th. If not, blame 0.
Damn Republicans!
The RUSSELL AMENDMENT should become the RUSSELL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BILL.
I am OK with stripping this out of the Defense bill . . . so long as every stupid thing added to other bills is never put there in the first place.
We have funded tons of stupid stuff (this wasn’t stupid though) through adding irrelevant riders to Aviation bills, highway bills, etc.
Drain the Swamp!
Surely you Jest. Let him veto it then if they still feel compelled to pass it so be it.
Truth is you have a lot of Republicans that agree with this else if they had principals they wouldn't be sending legislation to him that they oppose.
these Senate Republicans better grow some backbone beginning in January. And why did they even send this to Obama, why not wait 7 weeks?
The Russell Amendment protects religious providers who partner with the government from being forced to hire those who do not share their religious beliefs
Just shut it down until the 20th of January. Not one more Obama Hostage a Dollar!
Not one more Obama Hostage Dollar!
I hate auto correct from Apple
Typical yellow bellied GOPe
There is absolutely nothing that would have prevented republicans from agreeing to this 40 days ago.
Except an upcoming election when then would have outed themselves.
Geez, Obama’s out the door in a little more than 40 days and they’re still surrendering to him?
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