April8
By: Naomi Michaelis
In one episode of the popular political drama “The West Wing”, fictional President Josiah Bartlet managed to address one of the most difficult issues that this country faces on a regular basis- the separation between Church and State. The episode, Take This Sabbath Day, addresses the morality of the death penalty. President Bartlet needed to make one of the most difficult decisions, to spare the life of a man who committed murder, or to execute him. The question that members of the executive branch face is whether to execute someone, which is legal, or to put their own morals and religious beliefs ahead of a court ruling.
President Bartlet had been looking for a reason to commute the sentence that people would accept that was not related to religion. He spoke to a Quaker, a Jew (who had spoken with his Rabbi), and the Pope, but understood that he must respect the decision of the courts unless there is reasonable doubt. He also understood that people would not accept a Catholic president commuting a sentence because of his personal religion. The rules of Catholicism, Judaism, and Quakerism gave President Bartlet reasons to want to commute the sentence. However, when it came down to it, the ruling by the judges ruled over the moral and religious conscience of President Bartlet.
With a country full of diversity, it is important for the courts to be able to fulfill their roles rather than a president take his religion and apply it to a situation. If presidents use their religion to support their political beliefs they would be allowing religion to take over the country and would ultimately lead to the creation of a national religion, which would go against the First Amendment. Simon Cruz, the character in question, was found guilty of murder, and the president chose to stand firm on his belief on separation of powers. In the end, he recognized the importance of keeping his own personal religion out of politics, an important precedent for future presidents
Posted in: Current Issue, Featured, National
April27
By: Naomi Michaelis
You have been elected with 51.7% of the vote in your district, what do you do now?
Congressman John Adler
Since arriving in Washington, DC, freshman Congressman John Adler (NJ-3) has been assigned to the House Committee on Financial Services and Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee’s subcommittees for Capital Markets, Domestic Monetary Policy, and Oversight and Investigations as well as the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and will serve on the subcommittees for Economic Opportunity and Oversight and Investigations. In the three short months since being sworn in, Congressman Adler has sponsored H.R. 746 that would help veterans and seniors. It would provide $500 tax rebate to retired or unemployed veteran and seniors who are not covered under the tax rebate provided by the stimulus package. The bill has been referred to the Veterans Affair Committee, subcommittee on Health, and the House Ways and Means committee where it waits for a hearing to be held.
In addition to H.R. 746, Congressman Adler has introduced with Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., (NJ-6) The Flexibility in Rebuilding American Fisheries Act of 2009. This bill addresses some of the concerns created under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which was originally passed in 1976 and was amended in 1996 and reauthorized in 2006. This bill would create flexibility in the timeline created by the Magnuson-Stevens Act for the ending of overfishing in areas labeled as overfished to allow for the rebuilding of the fishery. Therefore, areas that are showing improvement will be given an opportunity to adjust the timeline to minimize economic harm on fishing communities such as those that exists along the Jersey Shore.
Congressman Adler has also shown that he understands the importance of listening to his constituents. He has obtained more than $6 million from the economic recovery package for Burlington and ocean counties to be used for energy efficiency and conservation projects, which will also help with job creation. Finally, he wants to meet with constituents directly at times and locations that are more convenient for them through his Congress at Your Corner program. He has made numerous visits back to his district to meet with constituents to discuss what is on their minds.
Posted in: National, New Jersey
