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From: dougp@ISM780.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Tax Relief for Churches--ARRRRG
Message-ID: <37300003@ISM780.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 11-Oct-85 16:43:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: ISM780.37300003
Posted: Fri Oct 11 16:43:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 14-Oct-85 05:13:18 EDT
Lines: 58
Nf-ID: #N:ISM780:37300003:000:2979
Nf-From: ISM780!dougp    Oct 11 16:43:00 1985


The following comes from some pagan friends of mine in San Diego.  I've
included the text of a newsletter they're putting out (with their permission)
here in case anyone's interested...

This summer the U. S. House of Represenatatives initiated and passed
HR 3036, an Act making appropriations for the Treasury Department,
Postal Service, Executive Office of the President, and certain Independent
Agencies for the fiscal year ending 30 September 1986.  This bill was then
passed to the Senate.

On 26 September 1985, Senator Jesse Helms introduced amendment #705 from
the floor.  The text of the amendment is as follows:
   "No funds appropriated under this Act shall be used to grant, maintain,
    or allow tax exemptions to any cult, organization, or other group that
    has as a purpose, or that has any interest in, the promoting of
    satanism or witchcraft: Provided, that for the purposes of this section,
    "satanism" is defined as the worship of Satan or the powers of evil and
    "witchcraft" is defined as the use of powers derived from evil spirits,
    the use of sorcery, or the use of supernatural powers with malicious
    intent."
(this text can be found in the most recent printing of the bill as in the
Congressional Record for 26 September 1985 on p.S12171.  Discussion of the
amendment follows on pp.S12171-12174; 12178-12179)

Amendment #705 was passed by the Senate without a roll-call vote being
taken.  HR 3036 was passed as a whole with a vote of 88-6 later on the
same day.  A House-Senate Conference Committee must meet to reconcile
the versions of the Bill.  For this amendment to become law, the
reconciled Bill needs to be passed by the House and the Senate and be
signed by the President.  It is the opinion of the ACLU that the best
chance to defeat this amendment will be in the House-Senate committee.

Senate conferees have been chosen and are as follows:
  James Abdnor (?-SD)           Mark Hatfield (D-OR)
  John Stennis (?-MISS)         Dennis DeConcini (?-AZ)
  Mack Mattingly (?-GA)         Paul Laxalt (R-NV)

As of 7 October 85 House conferees have not been chosen nor have any
meetings been scheduled, but some or all of the members of the Subcommittee
of the Treasury are likely to be included.  They are as follows
  Edward Roybal (D-CA)          Joseph Addabbo (D-NY)
  Daniel Akaka (D-HA)           Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
  Sidney Yates (D-IL)           Jamie Whitten (D-MISS)
  Ronald Coleman (D-TX)         Joe Skeen (R-NM)
  Bill Lowery (R-CA)            Frank Wolf (R-VA)
  Sylvio Conte (R-MASS)

The phone number for conference committee members is the Capitol Switchboard:
  (202) 224-3121
(For updates on the bill ask for bill status or appropriations office)

Western Union will send 20-word Public Opinion message telegrams for $4.45
and bill your telephone # if you call (800) 325-6000.

Addresses are:
	House Office Building           Senate Office Building
	Washington, D. C.  20510        Washington, D. C.  20515