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September 7, 2001/Elul 19, 5761, Vol. 53, No.48
Congress to tackle religious legislation
SHARON SAMBER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
A year after Sen. Joseph Lieberman made news by being the first Jew to be nominated to a major party's presidential ticket, attention again is focused on the Democratic senator from Connecticut - but for a different reason.
Lieberman is expected to lead the legislative effort in the Senate for an initiative that would allow federal money to go to religious groups that provide social services.
It remains to be seen whether Lieberman will base his proposal for the faith-based initiative on the House bill - which passed in July but met with much opposition from most Jewish groups - or will take a new tack.
"All eyes are on Joe Lieberman and what his proposal will be," said Michael Lieberman, Washington counsel for the Anti-Defamation League.
The Democratic leadership in the Senate has indicated that it is unlikely that faith-based legislation will be a priority this fall, or will make it onto the list of "must-pass" legislation. Yet the faith-based initiative is the item likely to grab headlines, and the most attention from Jewish groups, as Congress returns this week from its August recess.
In addition to the faith-based issue, Jewish groups are watching the effects of the recent tax cut and a slowed economy, especially whether lawmakers looking to effect budget cuts will trim programs that Jewish groups consider important.
The Bush administration likely will push to appropriate funds for the faith-based initiative - but as part of its attempt to keep spending levels moderate, it probably will try to spread current levels of faith-based funding around, rather than increasing the total pot of money for the initiative.
The part of the faith-based initiative known as charitable choice will continue to be scrutinized by Jewish groups.
First passed as part of the 1996 welfare reform legislation, charitable choice allows religious institutions to bid for government social service contracts.
Many Jewish leaders fear that an expanded partnership between the government and faith-based institutions could break down the constitutional wall separating church and state, infringe on religious liberties and imply toleration of employment discrimination.
Orthodox groups, however, agree with the administration's assessment, bolstered by a recent White House report, that faith-based groups have been excluded from federal funding and that efforts must be made to level the playing field.
The prospect of the Bush's administration charitable choice provisions being enacted suffered recently with the resignation of John DiIulio Jr., the director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, who was respected in the Jewish community.
ADL and other Jewish groups will be tracking efforts to advance the initiative through the regulatory process - rather than legislation - which is seen as the administration's preferred way to proceed. That would allow the Bush administration to put the initiative into practice without public scrutiny or lawmaker approval.
As always, federal government spending for social service programs is a priority for many Jewish groups.
The United Jewish Communities, the central fund-raising and social services agency for the Jewish community, will be looking to maintain current funding levels for programs it supports.
The UJC is hopeful that funding for Medicare and Medicaid programs, social service block grants, aid for refugees and long-term care programs will stay the same. However, money simply is not available for new initiatives, such as UJC's push for funds to create new retirement communities.
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