The ACLU gets paid by us, the taxpayers.

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{EXCERPT} INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 2, 2007) - The leader of the nation’s
largest wartime veterans' organization today applauded Sen. Sam
Brownback (R-Kan) for reintroducing the Veterans’ Memorials, Boy
Scouts, Public Seals and Other Expressions of Religion Protection Act
of 2007 (S. 415) in the U.S. Senate, a measure that would stop the
award of taxpayer dollars in legal fees to groups filing lawsuits
against veterans’ memorials and public displays of religion.

“Legal attacks against veterans’ memorials that display religious
symbols must not be rewarded by judges reaching into taxpayer pockets
to enlarge the coffers of organizations such as the ACLU to encourage
more lawsuits against our traditions and memorials,” said American
Legion National Commander Paul A. Morin.

The Veterans’ Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals and Other
Expressions of Religion Protection Act of 2007 would amend U.S.
statutes to eliminate the chilling effect on the constitutionally
protected expression of religion by state and local officials that
results from the threat that potential litigants may seek damages and
attorney's fees. A similar measure passed overwhelmingly in the House
last year but the Senate version was not brought up for a vote prior
to the adjournment of the 109th Congress.

Most Americans are unaware that activist groups, such as the ACLU,
recover hundreds of thousands of dollars from state and local
governments each year based on a provision of the 1976 Civil Rights
Attorney’s Fees Awards Act, which was intended to assist
underprivileged plaintiffs in obtaining legal representation in civil
rights cases.

Some of these cases include lawsuits against veterans’ memorials, the
Boy Scouts of America, the public display of the Ten Commandments and
other symbols of America’s religious heritage. Last year in a
testimony to the Senate, Rees Lloyd, former ACLU attorney and
Department of California District 21 Commander, provided these
examples of ACLU awards of taxpayer money: Approximately $950,000 in
attorney’s fees was awarded to the ACLU in a settlement with the City
of San Diego in its lawsuit to drive the Boy Scouts out of Balboa
Park.

In the Judge Roy Moore Ten Commandments case, the ACLU received
$500,000. In a recent "Intelligent Design" case against a school
board, the ACLU received $2,000,000 in attorney’s fees by order of a
judge--although the law firm that represented the ACLU informed the
court and public that it had acted pro bono and waived any attorney’s
fees; these fees were pure profit to the ACLU.

“If the ACLU feels it has to bring lawsuits that most Americans abhor,
it should at least have the decency not to assess these to the
taxpayers to make a profit,” Morin said.

“It is not fair for taxpayers to pay the legal bills for groups like
the ACLU,” said Brownback. “Currently many towns comply with the
demands of the ACLU rather than risk going to trial and paying
hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to the ACLU if they
lose the case.

Brownback is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is the
ranking member on the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights
and Property Rights.

“The American Legion will do everything in its power to educate the
public about this abusive practice and why this law must be passed,”
Morin said.

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Media Contacts: Ramona Joyce, 202/263-2982; Cell, 202-445-1161 or Joe
March, (317) 630-1253; Cell (317) 748-1926. This text and a
high-resolution photo of Cmdr. Morin can be downloaded at
Veterans Largest Service Organization - The American Legion
http://www.legion. org

[Snowden]

I had no idea that our tax payment supported the ACLU, and I am very glad to see a bill making it illegal. Half a million dollars here and half a million there to take away some things those few people don't approve of. Nearly a million dollars to chase the Boy Scouts out of one county; the Scouts being one of the most worthwhile organizations ever to be created for develoopment of character; and our tax money paying nearly a million dollars to kick it out of one county. How many counties, nationwide, can this organization and stupid judges drive it from?

This does have to be changed, and I'm glad to see something being done about it.

Three cheers for the American Legion for fighting for our continued freedom of religion!