Posted on 11/23/2004 8:24:56 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Sen. Bill Nelson sought to reassure Boy Scout leaders that they will continue to get some help from the military in the wake of a legal settlement barring direct Pentagon sponsorship. Nelson told the Scout organizers not to worry that all links between the two organizations will be severed. "For any concerns that you have, I just want you to relax because it's just not going to happen," he said.
The Florida Democrat said he is confident Congress would maintain Defense Department assistance. That includes allowing Scout troop meetings on bases and let military personnel lead Scout activities without having to take leave time.
He met Monday with Scout leaders from eight counties in the Florida Panhandle and three in Alabama to discuss a Pentagon agreement that partly settles claims by the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU contends the government has engaged in religious discrimination by supporting a group requiring its members to believe in God.
Nelson is planning similar conferences across Florida. The Pentagon has agreed to warn military officials around the world against directly sponsoring Boy Scout troops.
The Pentagon said it has long had a rule against sponsorship of non-federal organizations and denied the rule had been violated. But it agreed to send a message to posts worldwide warning them not to sponsor troops or other such groups.
The rule does not prevent service members from leading Scout troops unofficially on their own time, and Scouts will still be able to hold meetings on areas of military bases where civilian organizations are allowed to hold events.
The partial settlement does not resolve other ACLU claims involving government spending that benefits the Boy Scouts, such as money used to prepare a Virginia military base for the Boy Scout Jamboree and grants used by state and local governments to benefit the Boy Scouts, ACLU attorney Adam Schwartz said earlier this month.
Nelson has introduced a resolution urging the Defense Department to continue supporting the Boy Scouts, including spending for national and world jamborees. A similar measure is in the House.
If the resolutions are insufficient, Nelson said he would amend the Defense Department's annual spending authorization bill to make supporting the Scouts a matter of law.
"We're not going to let well-intentioned people... take something that is so fundamental from our operation as a society and rip that apart," Nelson said.
This has got to be one of the saddest statements I have ever seen. I wonder if the ACLU feels they are actually contributing to the country in a positive way by blackmailing the Pentagon to abandon the boys of this country? How do these "lawyers" sleep at night?
When it takes a Democrat to step up and get a necessary job done while the Republicans stand by and do nothing is exasperating.
If the resolutions are insufficient, Nelson said he would amend the Defense Department's annual spending authorization bill to make supporting the Scouts a matter of law.
If he follows through, something more is still needed; something like H.R. 5306, which I believe languishes in the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.
A BILL
To prohibit the use of Federal funds to discriminate against the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of beliefs promoted by that organization or that organization's constitutionally protected expression of beliefs or exercise of associational rights, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Scouts Honor Act'.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS.
No Federal funds may be used (including use for the payment of salaries)--
(1) to discriminate against, investigate, or deny or withdraw access to public property for, the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of beliefs promoted by that organization or that organization's constitutionally protected expression of beliefs or exercise of associational rights; or
(2) to compel the Boy Scouts of America to employ, enroll, or accept as a member or volunteer an individual whose sexual orientation, sexual behavior, religious beliefs, or absence of religious beliefs is determined by the Boy Scouts of America to be inconsistent with the organization's policies, programs, morals, or mission.
Contact your Representative. Tell em to get that bill out of committee, now!
All that cash must make for a comfortable mattress...
Well, quite frankly, I couldn't care less what party a person calls himself a member of if he/she does the "right" thing.
I'd much rather be represented by Zell Miller than by Olympia Snowe.
Nelson is up for re-election in 2004. He is the last Democrat standing senator. This is about face time in the media for the Democrat senator.
These scumbags never do "the right thing" - - they only pretend to in order to con people.
This show by Nelson is pure image control - - the first volley in the new Democrat "red state" strategy.
And the GOP better get back to work and not let them get away with it.
So you think that bill above should be opposed?
Nelson is up for re-election in 2006.
He was on WFLA 540(Orlando) radio talk show last next fighting for the Boy Scouts. The Republicans are missing in action again when it comes to defending domestic issues.
Sen. Nelson is former U.S. Army, NASA astronaut, and a damn good U.S. Senator. He would make a good president
Nelson is up for re-election in 2006.
He was on WFLA 540(Orlando) radio talk show last next fighting for the Boy Scouts. The Republicans are missing in action again when it comes to defending domestic issues.
Sen. Nelson is former U.S. Army, NASA astronaut, and a damn good U.S. Senator. He would make a good president
ops (Last week) sorry
The latter has gotten little publicity, but is as important, if not more important, than the former.
Nelson has introduced a resolution urging the Defense Department to continue supporting the Boy Scouts, including spending for national and world jamborees. A similar measure is in the House. If the resolutions are insufficient, Nelson said he would amend the Defense Department's annual spending authorization bill to make supporting the Scouts a matter of law.
Shades of the equal access Hatch amendment to the "No Child Left Behind" act. It'll still be challengable on a Constutitional basis, but it will keep the BSA's opponents from inflicting the "death of a thousand cuts" in this fashion on the BSA.
"It'll still be challengable on a Constutitional basis"
Funny how it wasn't a problem when Kerry was going to 'bring his faith into the Oval Office'...
Why the He!! is a dem out in front on this?
Where is Rumsfeld? Where is Frist? Where is Hastert? Where is the President?!
You mean Nelson's lame "resolution"?
Wake up - - Nelson has a lifetime ACU rating of 17. He is against tax cuts and for taxpayer-funded abortions, just for starters. The guy's a scumbag and this Boy Scout stuff is just a show for him. Don't tell me you're buying it?
Nelson has a lifetime ACU rating of 17. He is AGAINST tax cuts and FOR taxpayer-funded abortions, just for starters. The guy's a scumbag.
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