Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) has abandoned plans to transfer federal land to a religious institution without compensation, after church-state watchdog Americans United warned of constitutional concerns. From an AU press release:
Americans United…learned that Rep. Stupak will actively pursue an alternative approach… which is expected to be considered by the full House of Representatives later this week. Crafted by Stupak, the alternative proposal will ensure that the land will be sold at fair market value, rather than given to Cornerstone Christian School without compensation to the government.
In an Oct. 20 letter to Rep. Stupak, the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, said Americans United is “very pleased to learn from your letter and e-mail from your staff of the same date that you are not seeking to move H.R. 1291 forward because of the constitutional problems with the bill’s proposed land transfer.”
