VOLUME No: 62 Issue No:4

Washington, D.C. - June 25, 2004

DOJ Discusses Religious Freedom Case

According to Assistant Attorney General R. Alexander Acosta, “No student should be forced to choose between following her faith and enjoying the benefits of a public education”. Unfortunately, this was exactly the choice that twelve-year old Nashala Hearn had to face. Suspended from her Oklahoma school for wearing a hijab, a recent settlement has forced changes in the Muskogee public school district’s dress code. This dress code prohibited head coverings of any sort, on the pretense of preventing gang activity. However, the rule was strictly enforced against Hearn, who refused to take the hijab off as instructed. Despite numerous warnings from the principal of Benjamin Franklin Science Academy, and two subsequent suspensions, the student continued to assert her religious beliefs. Finally, the Virginia-based Rutherford Institute, a public interest civil rights group, filed suit on behalf of Hearn and the Department of Justice intervened on her behalf adding substantial support and profile to the case. Now, the Muskogee school district has agreed to modify its dress code to accommodate religious head coverings, as well as pay Hearn’s family an undisclosed amount of money.

Assistant AG Acosta subsequently commented in a June 23 meeting with Islamic Free Market Institute Foundation officials that the Department of Justice is on the lookout for similar cases and would like to get a “holding on this issue,” (in other words, get a court decision) so that a legal precedent is established. Attorney General John Ashcroft, also in attendance expressed his pleasure with the “work being done at the Civil Rights Division under the leadership of [Assistant AG Accosta].” He said that he was encouraged by the success of DOJ’s efforts in the Hern case to end this kind of anti-Muslim discrimination.

2004 Election Update

Former Rep. Cynthia McKinney is ready to win back her old district, the 4th District of Georgia. The district is strongly Democratic so the Democratic nominee looks certain to win the election. The current representative is Denise Majette who is leaving her spot to run for the Senate seat left open by retiring Senator Zell Miller (D). The primary is July 20th and even though state Senators Connie Stokes and Nadine Thomas, both African-American Democrats are expected to enter the race, McKinney has the name recognition to succeed.

In South Carolina, Rep. Jim DeMint defeated former Gov. David Beasley for the Republican senate nomination. DeMint won 59 percent to 41 percent. His opponent will be Democratic state Education Superintendent Inez Tenembaum. They are competing for retiring Senator Fritz Hollings’s (D) seat. The race looks to favor DeMint because large numbers of South Carolinian Bush supporters are expected at the polls this November.

Some Democrats are opposing a renewal of the assault- weapons ban over concern it might cause them not to get re-elected. Most of these Democrats are from the south and include Rep. Charlie Stenholm and Rep. Max Sandlin, both from Texas, Rep. Rodney Alexander of Louisiana, and Rep. Rick Boucher of Virginia. The ban expires in September and its proponents want to get a bill passed quickly that would continue the ban. Democrats hope that the bill will pass because of support from northeast Republicans such as Connecticut Reps. Christopher Shays and Nancy Johnson, Rep. Jack Quinn of New York, and Rep. Mike Ferguson of New Jersey.

Hearing Planned to Discuss Minority Financial Access

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Mike Oxley (R-Ohio) has agreed to hold a hearing on minority groups’ access to financial services, jobs, and capital. The New America Alliance, a bipartisan group, concluded that minorities in America need greater access to capital in order to start and grow their businesses. Committee members said that the purpose of the hearing is not to develop legislation but many think it will help minorities by raising awareness among other lawmakers and financial service groups.

Senate Votes to Increase Fines for Indecency

The Senate approved a measure that would increase the cost of fines for radio and TV broadcasters that air indecent material. GOP Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas lead the effort in getting the legislation passed. The bill now increases maximum fines to $275,000 per indecent incident. The fines keep increasing for each incident until a maximum fine of $3 million a day is reached.


Federal Spending Continues to Rise

Recent research suggests that in calendar year 2004, federal spending rose 7.1 percent more than that in 2003. Although national income is accelerating at its fastest pace in over 20 years, government spending is growing at an even faster rate. It is estimated that working Americans must now work over 85 days per year each to pay for the increased federal spending. More government expenditure is a concern as it can restrain future economic growth and add to the federal deficit.