The DC: SCOTUS rules states cannot ban public funding for religious schools, and... 🎖️ Time to take Confederate names off army bases?

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The Supreme Court has ruled that states violate the Constitution if they prevent religious schools from receiving some state benefits that are available to other schools.

SCOTUS' 5-4 ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue struck down a decision by the Montana Supreme Court prohibiting the use of state scholarships at religious schools. The case concerned a program created by the Montana Legislature that gave tax credits to those who donate to organizations that award scholarships for private school tuition. 

In an effort to apply a provision of the Montana Constitution prohibiting government aid to schools controlled by religious groups, the state’s Dept. of Revenue established “Rule 1” which banned the use of the program’s scholarships at religious schools over the objections of the Montana Attorney General, who argued it likely violated the U.S. Constitution. 

Three mothers who were blocked by Rule 1 from using scholarship funds for their children’s tuition at Stillwater Christian School sued the Dept. of Revenue in state court. The Montana Supreme Court held that the program aided religious schools in violation of the Montana Constitution, and held that violation required the invalidation of the entire program.

In Tuesday’s ruling, SCOTUS held that Montana’s application of the no-aid rule discriminated against religious schools and the families whose children attend or hope to attend them in violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. Constitution. It effectively restores the status quo that was established by the Montana Legislature before the Montana Supreme Court’s error of federal law.

How do you feel about the Supreme Court’s ruling?

On the Radar

Renaming Military Assets Named After Confederates

The Senate is considering the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 this week, and it includes a plan for removing names and other displays commemorating the Confederate States of America from military installations.

The plan was offered and adopted as one of 229 bipartisan amendments to the NDAA, which passed the Senate Armed Services Committee on a bipartisan 25-2 vote. If enacted, the plan may result in the renaming of 10 Army bases named after former Confederates and one Navy ship.

The Army bases were established during the pre-World War I to World War II period, in the midst of the Jim Crow era when some Civil War veterans were still living. The names were chosen to honor veterans who lived in the vicinity of the newly-established base and curry favor with local populations, and as part of the post-Civil War reunification that sought to recognize that former Confederates were still Americans.

All 10 of the installations in question are located in states that were part of the Confederacy.

Are you in favor of renaming military assets named after Confederates?

Under the Radar

Unemployment Stabilized or Improved in 47 States in May

After the precipitous increase in unemployment as states locked down their economies to prevent the spread of coronavirus in March and April, the unexpected drop in unemployment seen in May’s jobs report showed that the economic picture may be stabilizing or beginning to improve.

While the May unemployment rate was below double digits in 17 states, it was still very high in some. The states with the three highest unemployment rates in May were Nevada (25.3%), Hawaii (22.6%), and Michigan (21.2%). This chart from USAFacts shows the unemployment rate in each state in May:

Check out more charts here, then join the conversation:

How do you feel about the future employment outlook in your state ?

For a politics-free guide to how to protect you and your loved ones from corona, click on over to our Coronavirus Info Center.

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And, in the End…

It's U.S. Postage Stamp Day.

What's your favorite stamp or collection? Here's mine from 1999:

If you're lucky enough to experience the brood IX cicadas, I'm jealous of your ears,

—Josh Herman

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