Sen. Lieberman Speaks at United Jewish Communities Conference
WASHINGTON – Connecticut Senator Joseph I. Lieberman quoted Ecclesiastes 7:8 at the United Jewish Communities General Assembly in Washington, DC yesterday during a panel discussion about faith-based initiative legislation. “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
Lieberman spoke to a group of 250 people on the last day of the five-day conference about the need for more Faith-Based Initiatives. He said he supported tax deductions for those who donate to charities but should be careful “to be careful to respect the Consitution and concerns of many citizens.”
Lieberman co-sponsored the Savings Opportunity and Charitable Giving Act of 2001, which would provide tax deductions for people who donate to charities. Lieberman said that he would like to pass legislation that expands charitable choice, which allows taxpayers to donate to religious organizations.
In 2000 Lieberman and Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) formed the Congressional Empowerment Caucus, a bipartisan group of House and Senate members to improve poverty with the help of federal efforts as well as private and faith-based organizations.
Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew, was the first Jewish-American to be nominated for the Vice Presidential candidacy in the 2000 election.
Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) also spoke at the conference and said that the Community Solutions Act of 2001, the House counterpart to the Senate bill, is insufficient and infringes on the civil rights. According to Nadler, the tax incentive provision of the bill amounts to a couple of dollars.
Nadler, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said he also against the “charitable choice” provision of the House bill. He said that allocating public funds to organizations that practice religious discrimination breaks the wall between church and state.
Nadler also said that allocating federal aid to religious organizations could cause tension between religious groups. He said that more mainstream religious groups would receive more funding than less popular religions like the Wiccans or the Nation of Islam.
U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge spoke at the conference on Monday night about the role of Israel will play in the fight against terrorism. He said, “since Sept. 11, we have much to do and much to learn. We can look to Israel to help.”
Nearly 4,000 delegates, including 700 students, attended the United Jewish Communities General Assembly, the largest annual gathering of Jewish communal and community leaders from North America and Israel.
“We know that faith can be a great and enduring source of values-a powerful inspiration to live a good life. And we know many faith-based and charitable and service organizations are capitalizing on this potential and helping to rekindle and transform lives,” said Lieberman.
