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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050922/ap_on_go_co/head_start_2

WASHINGTON - The House voted Thursday to let Head Start centers consider religion when hiring workers, overshadowing its moves to strengthen the preschool program's academics and finances.


The Republican-led House approved a bill that lets churches and other faith-based preschool centers hire only people who share their religion, yet still receive federal tax dollars.

Democrats blasted that idea as discriminatory.

Launched in the 1960s, the nearly $7 billion Head Start program provides comprehensive education to more than 900,000 poor children. Though credited for getting kids ready for school, Head Start has drawn scrutiny as cases of financial waste and questions about academic quality have surfaced nationwide.

Overall, the House bill would insert more competition into Head Start grants, require greater disclosure of how money is spent, and try to improve collaboration among educators in different grades. Yet on Thursday, the dispute over religion eroded the bipartisan support for Head Start's renewal.

The House passed the bill 231-184; only 23 Democrats voted for it.

GOP lawmakers, with backing from the White House, contend that preschool centers should not have to give up their religious autonomy in order to receive federal grants.

"This is about our children, and denying them exemplary services just because the organization happens to be a religious one is just cruel," said Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.

The Republican plan would, for example, let a Catholic church that provides Head Start services employ only Catholic child-care workers.

Democrats and Republicans offered different interpretations of whether the Constitution, federal law and court rulings protected — or prevented — federally aided centers from hiring based on religion.

"Congress should not be in the business of supporting state-sponsored discrimination," said Rep. Alcee Hastings (news, bio, voting record), D-Fla. Said Rep. Lynn Woolsey (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif.: "The (Republican) majority has decided to choose religious discrimination over what could have been a rare bipartisan agreement."

Rep. John Boehner (news, bio, voting record) of Ohio, the Republican chairman of the House education committee, said former
President Clinton signed four bills into law that allowed religiously based hiring. Boehner rejected appeals to withdraw the religion-based amendment. The House passed the amendment 220-196 along near party lines. Ten Democrats voted for it. That vote came before the final vote on the overall bill.

Without a change in law, Boehner said, "Faith-based organizations are forced to relinquish their protected rights to hire individuals who share their beliefs."

On academics, the bill would prod Head Start centers to work with school districts and teach to state academic standards or risk losing their federal money. That strategy of academic coordination helped win bipartisan support for the bill, very different from the last time.

By a single vote in 2003, the House passed a bill that would have let up to eight states apply for control over Head Start, drawing opposition from every Democrat. That experimental shift in power died when Congress didn't pass a Head Start law that year, and the new bill does not include the provision.

The bill would temporarily halt the federal test given to hundreds of thousands of 4-year-old and 5-year-old children in Head Start until a
National Academy of Sciences review is completed.

The
Government Accountability Office found this year that the test, called the National Reporting System, has numerous flaws. Rep. Ron Kind (news, bio, voting record), D-Wis., asked for the suspension and Boehner agreed, saying the test should not be given until Congress is assured its results are accurate.

The House bill, approved 48-0 by the chamber's education committee in May, would reauthorize the Head Start program through 2011. A similar measure in the Senate is pending.

 

[DarienA]

...God/Allah/Jehovah/Mother Nature/<insert supreme diety or master of weather name here> send another Hurricane, but can you aim a bit more...


<looks at Tropical Storm Philippe>

Hmm... that's got potential....

 

[sans_pants]

Is that really a big deal. I mean asking people if they share your churchs religion if they want to work there?


I dont see the outrage.

 

[DarienA]

Is that really a big deal. I mean asking people if they share your churchs religion if they want to work there?


I dont see the outrage.

No outrage, just bewilderment...and it makes me question religious folks supposed... "tolerance" of others... What does being a good preschool center worker have to do with what your religion is?

 

[sans_pants]

well it says faith based, so i assume they want someone that shares their views

 

[levious]

it's the "yet still receive federal tax dollars" bit.

 

[ManDudeChild]

Is that really a big deal. I mean asking people if they share your churchs religion if they want to work there?


I dont see the outrage.

Not to sound too harsh, but you're part of the problem with your country.

Spoiler

Disclaimer: In no way am I bashing America, or saying that it's the only country in the world with problems.

 

[DarienA]

well it says faith based, so i assume they want someone that shares their views

...which doesn't answer the question I posed... brilliant!

 

[Drinky Crow]

Geezus, Ievious, quit making my posts for me!

 

[littlewig]

Why are the churches and other faith based preschools getting money from the government in the first place?

I don't want my taxes going to retards who believe their children will be safer if they stick them with a wacko.

Yes, if you work at a preshool in a church, you're a wacko. (This is not the same as saying all people of faith are wackos)


Edit - Churches should be taxed, they make so money and we don't get any of it, learn to share greedy punks!

 

[levious]

Yes, if you work at a preshool in a church, you're a wacko. (This is not the same as saying all people of faith are wackos)

I'm sure your contributions have been greatly appreciated.

 

[DarienA]

Why are the churches and other faith based preschools getting money from the government in the first place?

I don't want my taxes going to retards who believe their children will be safer if they stick them with a wacko.

Yes, if you work at a preshool in a church, you're a wacko. (This is not the same as saying all people of faith are wackos)


Edit - Churches should be taxed, they make so money and we don't get any of it, learn to share greedy punks!

Another post today that has me wishing I was on the OTHER side of the argument...

 

[Triumph]

Is that really a big deal. I mean asking people if they share your churchs religion if they want to work there?


I dont see the outrage.

If they want to receive the money from the federal govt., they CAN NOT do this. Period.

 

[demon]

If they want to receive the money from the federal govt., they CAN NOT do this. Period.

I think you're wrong.

:-/

 

[Nerevar]

If they want to receive the money from the federal govt., they CAN NOT do this. Period.

This law seems to contradict this.

I would be interested to see those "activist librul judges" take this case up though.

 

[DonasaurusRex]

...apparently the churches dont realize that door swings both ways..one day the gov is going to come calling looking to cash in...or did they do that last election?

 

[Ghost-Dog]

Good. God Bless America. Fuck this tolerance bullshit.

 

[DarienA]

Good. God Bless America. Fuck this tolerance bullshit.

Wow you're 2-2 today...

 

[levious]

take your time, stay awhile.

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

I have nothing to add to the discussion but, you gotta love the google ads

 

[Triumph]

I think you're wrong.

:-/

Wait till my ACTIVIST JUDGE minions get their hands on this.

 

[Apharmd Battler]

it's the "yet still receive federal tax dollars" bit.

Exactly?! What happened to separation of church and state?! That's the thing that rubs me the wrong way. I'd think they'd be up in arms if someone suggested that only federal dollars from tax payers who share your religion could be allocated.

 

[Flynn]

Are we talking about just the teachers here, or does this law also apply to the janitors, maintenence men, cooks, etc. who have very little impact on teaching of beliefs?

 

[ManDudeChild]

I have nothing to add to the discussion but, you gotta love the google ads

HEY! I'm trying to eat lunch here.

 

[shoplifter]

Hooray for subsidized discrimination!

 

[Dan]

Are we talking about just the teachers here, or does this law also apply to the janitors, maintenence men, cooks, etc. who have very little impact on teaching of beliefs?

Info on the amendment

Approximately five percent of Head Start programs are operated by faith-based organizations. The Committee will propose an amendment to the School Readiness Act to provide consistent requirements for a religious organization with respect to the employment of individuals of a particular religion to perform work connected with activities for which they receive Head Start funding. This change will incorporate into Head Start the current exemption in hiring by religious organizations contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Currently under federal law, religious organizations may hire on a religious basis, and any federal legislation governing federal social service funds should continue to protect the rights of religious organizations to hire on a religious basis when they take part in federal social service efforts. However, the current Head Start act requires faith-based organizations to compromise their identity to compete for federal funds.

Sounds to me like it would apply to any job that the "faith-based organization" could remotely link to their Head Start program.