Don't give Iowa tax dollars to schools that discriminate, LGBTQ advocates say

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Iowa tax dollars could go to schools that deny admission to gay and lesbian students if lawmakers move forward with legislation allowing education savings accounts for K-12 students, according to LGBTQ advocates. Iowa lawmakers are considering Senate Study Bill 3206, which would allow students enrolling in private schools to be eligible for about $4,000 a year in state money. Proponents of the school …

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Congress blocks DeVos agenda in spending bill

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Some significant proposals championed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and President Donald Trump were rejected in the $1.3 trillion spending bill that’s making its way through Congress. DeVos and Trump proposed a budget that would have cut the Education Department’s budget by $3.6 billion and funneled more than $1 billion toward private school vouchers and …

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Supreme Court Warily Eyes California Law Involving Abortion and Free Speech

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A California law that requires “crisis pregnancy centers” to provide information about abortion met a skeptical reception at Supreme Court arguments on Tuesday. The centers, which are often affiliated with religious groups, seek to persuade women to carry their pregnancies to term or to offer their offspring for adoption. The law requires centers licensed by the state …

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After Intense GOP Pushback, U.S. Navy Rejects Humanist Chaplain’s Application

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Despite a recommendation from the Navy Chaplain Appointment and Retention Eligibility Advisory Board, the Navy has denied the application of Jason Heap to become the military’s first Humanist chaplain. Heap is certainly qualified to serve as a chaplain — or, if you’d prefer to think of it, a counselor — to the non-religious members of any branch …

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Tennessee lawmakers pass bill requiring public schools to post ‘In God We Trust’ motto

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A bill requiring Tennessee schools to prominently display the national “In God We Trust” motto is headed to the governor for his signature. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, overwhelmingly passed the state House on Monday with 81 of the 99 members voting in favor of it. Before the vote, the Republican lawmaker spoke from the …

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Good News! Congress’ Latest Spending Bill Won’t Repeal the Johnson Amendment

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Another bullet has been dodged. Once again, Donald Trump will fail in his effort to repeal the Johnson Amendment. For more than a year now, Trump has promised the Religious Right that he would sign a repeal of the rule forbidding places of worship from endorsing political candidates if they want to keep their tax exempt status. …

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Abortion rates go down when countries make it legal: report

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Abortion rates have fallen over the past 25 years, even as more countries have made the procedure legal and easier to get, according to a new report released Tuesday. Countries with the most restrictive abortion laws also have the highest rates of abortion, the study by the Guttmacher Institutefound. Easier access to birth control drives down …

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IL Grade School Promotes Creationism at Event Run by District Leader’s Church

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Back in January, students at Central Grade School in Effingham, Illinois were treated to an in-school presentation about dinosaurs. It was organized by Effingham Community School Board President Jeff Michael and put on — unbeknownst to the kids — by Christ’s Church, where Michael serves as pastor. The problem occurred later on. As kids left the room, …

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Controversy Swirls as Lawmakers Eye Campaign Finance Changes

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Lawmakers continue to debate major changes to political money regulations as part of a year-end spending package, despite opposition from numerous congressional Democrats and campaign finance watchdog groups. Even with congressional primaries already underway, the proposals could play out in the November midterm elections if enacted, campaign finance experts on both sides of the debate …

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Civil Rights Chief At HHS Defends The Right To Refuse Care On Religious Grounds

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Critics of Roger Severino, director of the Office for Civil Rights at HHS, worry Severino’s efforts on behalf of some health workers will reduce women’s access to reproductive health services and could aggravate discrimination against transgender people. When Roger Severino tells his story, discrimination is at its heart. “I did experience discrimination as a child. …

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