February 3, 2017

For Immediate Release…

Legislative District 26 Democrats support maintaining the separation of government and religion.   Local Democrats passed a resolution last night to oppose Washington House Bill HB-1178 and Senate Joint Resolution SJR-8205.

The bill, if enacted into state law, would allow religious observances on public (government) property.  The resolution proposes removing language from the Washington Constitution that would allow churches and religious groups to apply for state funds.

LD26 Democrats met at their monthly membership meeting at the Givens Center in Port Orchard to draft the resolution opposing HB-1178 and SJR-8205.

Joseph Labrum of Port Orchard offered the resolution.  He stated that the state of Washington would be granting special privileges to religious organizations that are not allowed by the federal constitution.

Anyone who has attended high school knows that students are susceptible to social pressure, both from their teachers and coaches and from their classmates. When a coach, a role model and an authority figure, holds public prayer at school events, the social pressure to join in can be overwhelming.  Many students participate even when doing so is not consistent with their own beliefs. The Constitution prohibits public schools from putting that sort of pressure on schoolchildren.

Freedom of religion and belief guarantees that we can freely choose our beliefs because the government cannot compel us to fund or follow a specific faith, or any faith.  This is true even where religious organizations propose to use public funds for good outcomes.

The citation for HB-1178 is “the protection of the rights of religious exercise and conscience from government discrimination act.”

The text for SJR-8205 removes the phrase “No  public  money  or  property shall  be  appropriated  for  or  applied  to  any  religious  worship, exercise   or   instruction,   or   the   support   of   any   religious establishment.”

Tags:

Joseph Kennedy, Bremerton High School, football prayer, public moneys

Issues:

School prayer, government aid to religious activities

Contact:  Dan Ransom, PE; Secretary
(509) 330-6398
k7mm@arrl.net

John Kelly, Chair
johnpatkelly@aol.com

Our February 2017 general membership meeting is Thursday, February 2, 2017 at the Givens Community Center, 1026 Sidney Rd, Port Orchard  98366. Our social time begins at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting called to order at 7 p.m. We will be forming into committee groups and creating plans for the upcoming year.

Our Pierce Vice Chair Cecilia Hardy resigned recently—we are sad to see her go and we wish her well.  The Executive Board appointed Rick Offner as Interim Vice Chair and elections for this position will be held during our March meeting.

Bylaws Chair George Robison has submitted a draft proposal for bylaws changes, and you can view these by clicking here. You can find them alternately by navigating to “Meetings” and then to “Meeting Minutes”.  We will vote on these proposed changes during our March meeting.

Please view our February 2017 meeting agenda!

We hope to see you at our February meeting, and bring a friend!

During the Washington State Democrats Central Committee meeting held at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia on January 28th, 2017, new party officers were elected. Congratulations to all!

Chair: Tina Podlodowski
Vice Chair: Joe Pakootas
Secretary: Rob Dolan
Treasurer: Habib Habib