By By Sean Fraser Mar 16, 2012 in Politics Tallahassee - This voting season, Florida voters will have to decide on Amendment 8, an amendment to the Florida Constitution which would allow state benefits to be given to religious organizations. There shall be no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting or penalizing the free exercise thereof. Religious freedom shall not justify practices inconsistent with public morals, peace or safety. No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution. This amendment is often referred to as the Blaine's intentions with the amendment are clear. He did not want to see public tax revenue used to aid any religious organizations. This would strengthen the wall separating church and state and coincide with the U.S. Constitution's establishment clause. While discriminating against a person for their religious beliefs is a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, using this clause as a key to open the door for religious organizations to receive state tax revenue seems underhanded and shady. It allows the government to hide behind religious freedom while giving tax dollars to organizations that not all Florida residents are supportive of. While the language of the proposed amendment seems not to discriminate between religions, it does not address those who do not have a religion. A In July 2011, the Florida Education Association, along with the presidents of the Florida School Board Association and the Florida Association of School Administrators, filed a lawsuit to block the amendment from appearing on the ballot, citing that it was a way to legalize state tuition vouchers for private and religious schools. As a result, the amendment was struck off the ballot by a The language was edited and resubmitted by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, and was accepted as Amendment 8. The FEA and its fellow plaintiffs were right. This amendment would allow religious schools to receive aid from the state, even though they are mostly funded by tuition and donations. How much more money do these schools need? The money that could potentially go to these schools could go to much less funded public schools instead. The first half of the proposal is rather beneficial, save for the "or entity" part. Individual persons should not be denied state aid on the basis of religion, but the religious "entities" already have a well established stream of income and should not be included. If religious organizations want to receive state aid, they should have to do what every other person or entity has to do: pay taxes. Religious tax exemptions must be revoked if religious entities want a piece of Florida's state aid pie. To collect from a treasury without helping to replace it is a form of theft, and this amendment would not only condone theft, but force non-believers to help fund the very institutions they abhor. In this religion-fueled election year, there are many issues to consider. The Republican right continues its ultra-conservative religious onslaught on homosexual's and women's rights while not adhering to the very values they allegedly champion in their personal lives. Amendment 8 is just another one of those issues which will allow religious institutions to hide behind religious freedom to break one of their own commandments. The amendment would change the text of Section 3: Religious Freedom in the Florida Constitution, which currently reads:This amendment is often referred to as the Blaine Amendment , named after James G. Blaine, a former House of Representatives Speaker. Blaine proposed the amendment to be added to the U.S. Constitution, but it failed in the Senate after being overwhelmingly successful in the House. However, states began adopting the amendment and currently 37 states' constitutions contain it.Blaine's intentions with the amendment are clear. He did not want to see public tax revenue used to aid any religious organizations. This would strengthen the wall separating church and state and coincide with the U.S. Constitution's establishment clause. Amendment 8 would add the statement "No individual or entity may be discriminated against or barred from receiving funding on the basis of religious identity or belief" to the article, but also delete the "No revenue of the state..." clause.While discriminating against a person for their religious beliefs is a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, using this clause as a key to open the door for religious organizations to receive state tax revenue seems underhanded and shady. It allows the government to hide behind religious freedom while giving tax dollars to organizations that not all Florida residents are supportive of.While the language of the proposed amendment seems not to discriminate between religions, it does not address those who do not have a religion. A survey done in 2008 by the American Religious Identification Survey found that 14 percent of Floridians were atheist or agnostic. It seems unfair for 14 percent of citizens who pay their taxes to have them go to institutions that do not coincide with their beliefs. The proposal also does not state whether secular groups will be eligible for the same aid.In July 2011, the Florida Education Association, along with the presidents of the Florida School Board Association and the Florida Association of School Administrators, filed a lawsuit to block the amendment from appearing on the ballot, citing that it was a way to legalize state tuition vouchers for private and religious schools. As a result, the amendment was struck off the ballot by a December 2011 ruling by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis.The language was edited and resubmitted by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, and was accepted as Amendment 8.The FEA and its fellow plaintiffs were right. This amendment would allow religious schools to receive aid from the state, even though they are mostly funded by tuition and donations. How much more money do these schools need? The money that could potentially go to these schools could go to much less funded public schools instead.The first half of the proposal is rather beneficial, save for the "or entity" part. Individual persons should not be denied state aid on the basis of religion, but the religious "entities" already have a well established stream of income and should not be included. If religious organizations want to receive state aid, they should have to do what every other person or entity has to do: pay taxes. Religious tax exemptions must be revoked if religious entities want a piece of Florida's state aid pie. To collect from a treasury without helping to replace it is a form of theft, and this amendment would not only condone theft, but force non-believers to help fund the very institutions they abhor.In this religion-fueled election year, there are many issues to consider. The Republican right continues its ultra-conservative religious onslaught on homosexual's and women's rights while not adhering to the very values they allegedly champion in their personal lives. Amendment 8 is just another one of those issues which will allow religious institutions to hide behind religious freedom to break one of their own commandments. This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com More about Florida, Voting, Amendments, state constitution, Religion More news from Florida Voting Amendments state constitution Religion Taxes religious institutio...