wfn.org | Political insiders share differing views at legislative briefing

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

March 28, 2001      News media contact: Joretta Purdue ·(202)
546-8722·Washington    10-71B{151}

NOTE: For coverage of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society's
meeting, see UMNS stories #149 and #150.

ARLINGTON, Va. (UMNS) - Hearing from and questioning three political
insiders was a highlight of the first United Methodist Legislative and
Public Policy Briefing.

About 250 United Methodists heard a congressman, a representative of the
White House office of public liaison and the policy director for the Senate
Democratic Leadership Committees in the final session of the March 24-26
briefing.

In recent years, an ecumenical briefing had been held in the spring to
acquaint grass-roots policy advocates throughout the country with issues
facing Congress and the White House. The briefings ended in 1999, when the
sponsor, Interfaith Impact for Justice and Peace, disbanded.

The United Methodist Board of Church and Society sponsored the recent
briefing as part of the spring meeting of its governing members. About 170
regional justice workers joined the board members in the briefing.

The political speakers had their own time slots in a 48-hour agenda that
highlighted network building; offered resources; and featured speakers on
gambling, children and poverty, the environment, the death penalty, campaign
finance reform and other topics. 

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) said he believes the supreme issue these
days is "the question of church-state separation" and the role of the church
in the life of the United States. A United Methodist, Edwards said he finds
it significant that religious freedom is the subject of the First Amendment
- the first topic to be addressed in the Bill of Rights.

Edwards remarked that too many regulations are being implemented outside the
usual channels - such as policy hearings -- in efforts by politicians to
look religious before voters. He cited prayer in the schools and a
requirement to post the Ten Commandments in every public school as two
examples. 

"I think we have a moral obligation to speak out for the separation of
church and state," he declared. "Charitable choice" - a term used to
describe the use of government funding in faith-based initiatives --
violates the concept of this separation, he said, and he hopes the Supreme
Court will eventually declare it unconstitutional. He also expressed the
expectation that competition for funds will cause divisiveness and
intolerance in the religious community.

Tim Goeglein, deputy director of the Office of Liaison at the White House,
said President Bush is a very devout Christian who recognizes that the
United States has a pluralistic society. There is widespread discrimination
against religious organizations as social service providers because they are
religious, he said.

He invited questions and comments, and was asked to carry several messages
to the president. Tell him "we are praying for him," one woman requested. An
environmental engineer from California objected to petroleum exploration in
the Alaskan wilderness, saying the state's power crisis is "not having
enough power plants" - not a lack of fuel.

Goeglein was asked what the president will do for people who rely on
services that will have to be cut if more money is to be made available for
faith-based programs. He also was asked to explain the president's recent
reversal on cutting carbon-dioxide emissions.

A woman at the briefing voiced support for moving the charitable
contribution on income taxes so it could be claimed by non-itemizers.
Another expressed concern that changes related to charitable choice could
"dilute the prophetic voice" of religious organizations. A man urged the
president to be careful in what he says about groups because "his words have
a profound effect."

In the end, Goeglein said that "obviously more disagreements than
agreements" were voiced, but that he would be "happy to convey the
sentiments that were expressed to me this morning."

Mark Patterson, staff director of the Senate Democratic Leadership
Committees, said there is a big difference between the two parties in the
way they want to deploy resources. "Maybe there is nothing wrong with a $2
trillion tax cut ... if you believe we have fulfilled our obligation
[toward] 13 million children who live in hunger," he said. He made the same
point about the needs of homeless people, people with HIV or cancer who are
not getting medical treatment, and others.

Patterson likened the accuracy of a 10-year budget projection to that of a
10-year weather forecast. The after-tax income of the top 1 percent of U.S.
citizens rose 110 percent in the last 20 years, but the after-tax income of
the lowest-income group decreased 10 percent in the same period, Patterson
said.

The political reality, he observed, is that the Democrats do not have the
votes to get their way in either house on everything they want, and
sometimes it appears they do not have the votes to get their way on
anything. He expressed optimism that Congress would provide some help for
states to address problems related to election equipment, but he appeared
pessimistic about chances for the passage of a "sustainable wage."

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