Church-state battle heads to the ballot (FL)

[struggle4progress]

Posted on Thu, Mar. 27, 2008
BY MARY ELLEN KLAS AND MARC CAPUTO
[e-mail]

TALLAHASSEE -- ... On a 17-7 vote, the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission placed on the November ballot an amendment to replace the state Constitution's wide-ranging ''no-aid'' to religion provision with the following wording: ``Individuals or entities may not be barred from participating in public programs because of religion.'' ...

''Because millions of dollars of public programs are at risk, we have to take action,'' said commission member Patricia Levesque, sponsor of the amendment .... Levesque works for a Bush education foundation ...

Commission member Les Miller, a Baptist deacon and former state senator, disagreed with Levesque ...

A Baptist minister and a rabbi also argued against the measure, saying they value the church-state protections and don't want them tampered with ...

http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/471730.html