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| Date: From: Subject: | 6/12/2006 12:56:11 PM Home School Legal Defense Association New York--Please Continue to Call on Religious Freedom for Homeschoolers |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== June 12, 2006 New York--Please Continue to Call on Religious Freedom for Homeschoolers Dear HSLDA members and friends: As we shared with you last week, there is an opportunity in New York to strengthen religious freedom and pass a bill that should be able to be used as a "religious exemption" for homeschool families who are homeschooling because of their religious beliefs and convictions. However, time is running out and we need you to continue calling to get a Republican to sponsor Assembly Bill 10870, the Free Exercise of Religion bill, in the Senate. While the Assembly is likely to pass this legislation shortly, the Senate does not have a similar bill. Since the bill is sponsored in the Assembly by Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, the bill must be sponsored by a Republican in the Republican-controlled Senate to pass. The New York legislature is only in session for two more weeks so your calls are vital. Please call and email your Republican state Senator and urge him or her to support the Free Exercise of Religion bill. Action Requested 1) If your state Senator is listed below, please call and email them with this message in your own words: "I am a constituent in your district. Please support religious freedom in New York and sponsor the Free Exercise of Religion Bill. This bill has been introduced in the Assembly as bill number 10870. Please ensure that New York will protect religious freedom and prohibit restricting the free exercise of religion unless it is essential to a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means possible." Do not identify yourself as a homeschool parent; instead you can simply identify yourself as a taxpaying citizen concerned about religious freedom in New York. Republican Senators Senator James S. Alesi 55th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Monroe Phone: 518-455-2015 E-Mail: alesi@senate.state.ny.us Senator Michael A.L. Balboni 7th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Nassau Phone: 518-455-2471 E-Mail: balboni@senate.state.ny.us Senator John J. Bonacic 42nd Senatorial District Counties: Delaware, Sullivan, parts of Orange and Ulster Phone: 518-455-3181 E-Mail: bonacic@senate.state.ny.us Senator Joseph L. Bruno (Majority Leader) 43rd Senatorial District Counties: Rensselaer, part of Saratoga Phone: 518-455-3191 E-Mail: bruno@senate.state.ny.us Senator John A. DeFrancisco 50th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Onondaga Phone: 518-455-3511 E-Mail: jdefranc@senate.state.ny.us Senator Hugh T. Farley 44th Senatorial District Counties: Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, and part of Saratoga Phone: 518-455-2181 E-Mail: farley@senate.state.ny.us Senator John J. Flanagan 2nd Senatorial District Counties: Part of Suffolk Phone: 518-455-2071 E-Mail: flanagan@senate.state.ny.us Senator Charles J., Jr. Fuschillo 8th Senatorial District Counties: Parts of Nassau and Suffolk Phone: 518-455-3341 E-Mail: fuschill@senate.state.ny.us Senator Martin J. Golden 22nd Senatorial District Counties: Part of Kings Phone: 518-455-2730 E-Mail: golden@senate.state.ny.us Senator Kemp Hannon 6th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Nassau Phone: 518-455-2200 E-Mail: hannon@senate.state.ny.us Senator Owen H. Johnson 4th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Suffolk Phone: 518-455-3411 E-Mail: ojohnson@senate.state.ny.us Senator William J., Jr. Larkin 39th Senatorial District Counties: Parts of Orange and Ulster Phone: 518-455-2770 E-Mail: larkin@senate.state.ny.us Senator Kenneth P. LaValle 1st Senatorial District Counties: Part of Suffolk Phone: 518-455-3121 E-Mail: lavalle@senate.state.ny.us Senator Vincent L., III Leibell 40th Senatorial District Counties: Putnam, parts of Dutchess (eastern) and Westchester (northern) Phone: 518-455-3111 E-Mail: leibell@senate.state.ny.us Senator Thomas W. Libous 52nd, R-C Senatorial District Counties: Broome, Tioga, part of Chenango Phone: 518-455-2677 E-Mail: senator@senatorlibous.com Senator Elizabeth O'C. Little 45th Senatorial District Counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren, Washington Phone: 518-455-2811 E-Mail: little@senate.state.ny.us Senator Serphin R. Maltese 15th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Queens Phone: 518-455-3281 E-Mail: maltese@senate.state.ny.us Senator Carl L. Marcellino 5th Senatorial District Counties: Parts of Nassau and Suffolk Phone: 518-455-2390 E-Mail: marcelli@senate.state.ny.us Senator John J. Marchi 24th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Richmond Phone: 518-455-3215 E-Mail: marchi@senate.state.ny.us Senator George D. Maziarz 62nd Senatorial District Counties: Orleans, parts of Monroe, Niagara Phone: 518-455-2024 E-Mail: maziarz@senate.state.ny.us Senator Raymond A. Meier 47th Senatorial District Counties: Lewis, parts of Oneida and St. Lawrence Phone: 518-455-3334 E-Mail: meier@senate.state.ny.us Senator Thomas P. Morahan 38th Senatorial District Counties: Rockland and part of Orange Phone: 518-455-3261 E-Mail: morahan@senate.state.ny.us Senator Michael F. Nozzolio 54th Senatorial District Counties: Seneca, Wayne parts of Cayuga, Monroe, Ontario, Tompkins Phone: 518-455-2366 E-Mail: nozzolio@senate.state.ny.us Senator Frank Padavan 11th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Queens Phone: 518-455-3381 E-Mail: padavan@senate.state.ny.us Senator Mary Lou Rath 61st Senatorial District Counties: Genesee and part of Erie Phone: 518-455-3161 E-Mail: rath@senate.state.ny.us Senator Joseph E. Robach 56th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Monroe Phone: 518-455-2909 E-Mail: robach@senate.state.ny.us Senator Stephen M. Saland 41st Senatorial District Counties: Columbia, part of Dutchess Phone: 518-455-2411 E-Mail: saland@senate.state.ny.us Senator James L. Seward 51st Senatorial District Counties: Cortland, Greene, Herkimer, Otsego, Schoharie, parts of Chenango, Tompkins Phone: 518-455-3131 E-Mail: seward@senate.state.ny.us Senator Dean G. Skelos 9th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Nassau Phone: 518-455-3171 E-Mail: skelos@senate.state.ny.us Senator Nicholas A. Spano 35th Senatorial District Counties: Part of Westchester Phone: 518-455-2231 E-Mail: spano@senate.state.ny.us Senator Caesar Trunzo 3rd Senatorial District Counties: Part of Suffolk Phone: 518-455-2111 E-Mail: trunzo@senate.state.ny.us Senator Dale M. Volker 59th Senatorial District Counties: Wyoming, Parts of Erie, Livingston, Ontario Phone: 518-455-3471 E-Mail: volker@senate.state.ny.us Senator George H., Jr. Winner 53rd Senatorial District Counties: Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates, part of Tompkins Phone: 518-455-2091 E-Mail: winner@senate.state.ny.us Senator James W. Wright 48th Senatorial District Counties: Jefferson, Oswego and part of St. Lawrence Phone: 518-455-2346 E-Mail: wright@senate.state.ny.us Senator Catharine M. Young 57th Senatorial District Counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, part of Livingston Phone: 518-455-3563 E-Mail: cyoung@senate.state.ny.us If you do not know who you state Senator is or what district you live in please enter your ZIP code on HSLDA's legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox . You do no need to call unless your Senator is listed above. Background On June 25, 1997, by a 6-3 majority, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in The City of Boerne v. Flores that the 1993 federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was unconstitutional. By doing this, the Court gave the lowest level of protection to religious liberty--one of the foundational freedoms of homeschooling. Under this minimal standard, the state can override a homeschooler's or other citizen's right to freely exercise his religious beliefs merely by proving that its regulation is "reasonable." Since nearly all state regulations can be determined to be "reasonable," Christians will lose. Since the devastating U.S. Supreme Court Boerne decision, state and federal courts across the country have diminished religious freedom in many ways. For example: > The longstanding practice of pastor-laity confidentiality has been repeatedly violated; > A Catholic hospital was denied accreditation for refusing to teach abortion techniques; > There have been conflicts with zoning ordinances, such as the forced termination of a church ministry to the homeless because it was located on the second floor of a building with no elevator; and > A church was prohibited from feeding more than 50 people per day. Passage of Assembly Bill 10870 will raise the standard of protection for religious freedom in New York for individuals, homeschool parents, churches, and all who desire to freely exercise their religious beliefs. If passed, the New York RFRA will restore the high standard of protection for religious liberty previously guaranteed in the federal RFRA and earlier Supreme Court decisions. Under the New York RFRA, if an individual's religious belief is in conflict with a state regulation, the state will have to prove, with evidence, that its regulation is essential to fulfill a compelling state interest and is the least restrictive means of doing so. If the state fails to carry the burden, the regulation must give way to the individual's religious freedom. Restoring this level of protection for religious freedom will simply "even the playing field." For more detailed information on Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, visit our website at: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=3095 . Don't let one decision by the U.S. Supreme Court denigrate this priceless inalienable right. Urge your state senator now to restore protection for religious liberty in New York by sponsoring Assembly Bill 10870! Sincerely, Thomas J. Schmidt HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Is customer service an art or a science? For us, good customer service is both an art and a science -it should appeal to our members and be effective. Consider what our members say about us: The freedom HSLDA allows me to have as I homeschool is wonderful! They handle the law and I get to dedicate the time to my daughter. - National City, CA HSLDA members since 1993, our membership is just as important to us as our children's curriculum. Thank you HSLDA for all you do on our behalf! - West Valley, NY More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1941 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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