WHEREAS:

President Bush has proposed a "charitable choice" initiative that would loosen federal guidelines and regulations to allow religious organizations to receive federal taxpayer dollars to provide social services; and

WHEREAS:

Similar charitable choice proposals are being offered in state legislatures; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME supports and values the good work of religious organizations, but believes that government should protect religious freedom by keeping government out of religion and religion out of government; and

WHEREAS:

Charitable choice will lead to government-funded employment discrimination based on religious tenets and teachings and to proselytizing of people seeking government assistance; and

WHEREAS:

Charitable choice will exempt employees of houses of worship who provide federal taxpayer services from federal laws giving workers the right to organize and bargain collectively and from laws enabling them to receive unemployment benefits when they become unemployed; and

WHEREAS:

Charitable choice will give houses of worship special preference in applying for federal funds and pit religious, secular non-profit and public agencies against each other for scarce federal social service, job training, and housing funds; and

WHEREAS:

Some versions of charitable choice would give government agencies unilateral authority to privatize government programs by converting social services grant programs into individual vouchers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME strongly opposes charitable choice, and calls on Congress to reject any proposals to adopt charitable choice; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will work at the state level to oppose state charitable choice legislation as well.

SUBMITTED BY:

Paula Dorsey, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 426, Council 48
Richard W. Abelson, Executive Director and Delegate
AFSCME Council 48
Wisconsin