AJCongress Voices
Its Dissent

Leaders of the American Jewish
Congress were in town this week for
the usual briefings by Washington
bigwigs and a round of lobbying that
emphasized religious freedom issues.
David Harris, Washington repre-
sentative for the group, said that the
Tuesday lobbying blitz focused on
issues such as school vouchers and the
group's strong opposition to the "reli-
gious freedom" amendment to the
Constitution, which would open the
door to school prayer and public
funding of parochial institutions.
The so-called Istook amendment,
named after lead sponsor Rep. Ernest
Jim Istook, R-Okla., is now scheduled
to come to the House floor in early
June. Jewish activists say it probably
won't get the required two-thirds
majority to pass — but worry that
even a simple majority "yes" vote will
encourage new school prayer legisla-
tion.
"That's probably the driving issue
of this convention," Mr. Harris said.
"Our people realize we're only weeks
away from a historic vote in the
House; there's a real sense of
urgency."

Historic vote is
only weeks away.

At the White House, the group
also pressed for a presidential veto of
the "Parent and Student Savings
Account Plus Act," which recently
passed the Senate; a similar measure
cleared the House last year. -That bill,
sponsored by Sen. Paul Coverdell, R-
Ga., and Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-
N.J., will provide tax breaks for par-
ents who put aside money to cover
their children's educational needs.
The AJ Congress lobbyists also
spoke out against a new flurry of
school voucher legislation. Last week,
the House passed a measure authoriz-
ing a voucher program in the District
of Columbia public schools.
The vote was hailed by the
Orthodox Union and Agudath Israel
of America, but the AJ Congress,
the Anti-Defamation League, the
American Jewish Committee and
the Religious Action Center of
Reform Judaism are now pressing
for a veto.

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