forget the Constitution, who needs it?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Monday that ordinary taxpayers cannot challenge a White House initiative that helps religious charities get a share of federal money. The 5-4 decision blocks a lawsuit by a group of atheists and agnostics against eight Bush administration officials including the head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

Conflict of interest, Justices who were appointed by President Bush and people who disagree with the ‘religious’ values and ‘beliefs’ of the justices, excellent!

The taxpayers’ group, the Freedom From Religion Foundation Inc., objected to government conferences in which administration officials encourage religious charities to apply for federal grants. Taxpayers in the case ‘’set out a parade of horribles that they claim could occur” unless the court stopped the Bush administration initiative, wrote Justice Samuel Alito. ”Of course, none of these things has happened.”

”In the unlikely event that any of these executive actions did take place, Congress could quickly step in,” Alito added.

What planet is he living on? Congress would step in to aid individual tax payers who are being treated unfairly by the White House? Is this for real, did he really use that as a reason to deny this case?

Historically, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of taxpayers having the right to challenge government when it promotes religion through its initiatives

The justices’ decision revolved around a 1968 Supreme Court ruling that enabled taxpayers to challenge government programs that promote religion.

The 1968 decision involved the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which financed teaching and instructional materials in religious schools in low-income areas.

”This case falls outside” the narrow exception allowing such cases to proceed, Alito wrote.

Anyone with half a brain have anything to say on this?

In dissent, Justice David Souter said that the court should have allowed the taxpayer challenge to proceed.

The majority ”closes the door on these taxpayers because the executive branch, and not the legislative branch, caused their injury,” wrote Souter. ”I see no basis for this distinction.”

What a sad, sad day…

Read the rest of the article, Supreme Court decides our constitution is only worth standing up for when it supports their policy beliefs: Tax Payers cannot challenge White House on initiative to encourage religious organizations to apply for federal money.

Fred Soto is an Attorney and Entrepreneur from the Silicon Valley.
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