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June 28, 2007

The Court swings right

Thanks a lot, Joe Lieberman...

The Supreme Court yesterday limited students' speech and shielded the White House faith-based program from legal challenge in 5-4 rulings that, along with a similar split in the campaign-finance case, pointed up the court's shift to the right.

President Bush's two appointees, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., wrote the main opinions in those decisions, including the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" free-speech case, as well as another ruling the administration and business groups had sought in an environmental case.

Here's the one that really pisses me off...

Alito wrote the court's opinion in Hein v. Freedom From Religion, saying that ordinary taxpayers could not challenge a White House initiative that helps religious charities get a share of federal money.

The decision blocks a lawsuit by a group of atheists and agnostics who object to government conferences in which administration officials encourage religious charities to apply for federal grants.

Bush called the decision "a substantial victory for efforts by Americans to more effectively aid our neighbors in need of help."

Alito said the taxpayers set out "a parade of horribles" that they contended could happen. None did, he wrote, and "in the unlikely event that any of these executive actions did take place, Congress could quickly step in."

In dissent, Souter said the court should have let the taxpayer challenge proceed. The majority "closes the door on these taxpayers because the executive branch, and not the legislative branch, caused their injury," he wrote. "I see no basis for this distinction."

REGARDLESS, Federal money should not be going to religious organizations, no matter how well intentioned.

Posted by mcblogger at June 28, 2007 02:50 PM

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Comments

That ticks me off too. I don't get how, if it's the legislative branch that spends the money through bills, the Bush administration executive branch can essentially legislate through an executive order how the money will be spent.
If the SCOTU won't let the public at large say how OUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT, then Congress ought to push back and stop Bush... because he's stepping into their arena.

Posted by: cof at June 28, 2007 03:40 PM

Thank you, Joe Lieberman? No, thank YOU, Ralph Nader!

Posted by: Mayor McSleaze at June 28, 2007 04:19 PM

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