House blocks legal fees in church-state cases.

In an apparent election-year move to please the Religious Right, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill designed to discourage citizens from challenging government-sponsored religious activities.

In late September, on a largely party-line 244-173 vote, the House approved the so-called "Public Expression of Religion Act." H.R. 2679 would deny legal fees and out-of-pocket expenses to plaintiffs who win lawsuits under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which bars government from promoting religion.

The bill was pushed by House allies of the Religious Right who have long derided federal court decisions upholding church-state separation.

The American Legion, one of the bill's staunchest supporters, also argued that Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union are on a mission to remove crosses and other religious symbols from the headstones and markers at the national cemeteries.

Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn said the Legion is spreading bogus information.

"There is no such campaign," Lynn said in a press statement about the House's action. "In reality, this bill is a broad attempt to stop all kinds of challenges to government-sponsored religious activities. If enacted, it would bar recovery of legal fees and related expenses in an array of conflicts ranging from forcing children to recite prayers in schools to taxpayer funding of religious education."

Representatives blasted the measure for seeking to stifle First Amendment rights.

During House debate, Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) said there is "nothing benign about this bill. This bill makes it more difficult to enforce the First Amendment to the Constitution and the very words thereof designed to protect the religious freedom of every American."

Lynn said Americans United would continue to oppose the bill, urging the Senate to derail it.