“Justice, Justice Shalt Thou Pursue…”
Deuteronomy
Chapter 16, verse 20

Through its activities, the JCRC works to serve as a voice and advocate for the
Dallas Jewish community’s commitment to intergroup harmony, social justice
and adequate health and human services. The JCRC reaches out to the general
community to build understanding and cooperation between religious, racial and
ethnic groups.

SOCIAL ACTION/PUBLIC POLICY COMMISSION

Political Activity by 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organizations

http://www.e-guana.net/organizations/org/jcpa.pdf

http://www.irs.gov/eo

King and the Jews (4/30/08)
By Clarence B. Jones/The los Angeles Times
King and the Jews (downloadable file)

Why not use the immigration tools Congress already passed? (4/14/08)
By Lamar Smith/The Dallas Morning News
Why not use the immigration tools Congress already passed (downloadable file)

Ghost Voting must end in Capitol (4/9/08)
Editorial/The Dallas Morning News
Ghost Voting Must End in Capitol (downloadable file)

Ten Commandments Back in Court (4/8/08)
Editorial/The Los Angeles Times
Ten Commandments Back in Court (downloadable file)

A Foolish Immigration Purge (3/27/08)
Editorial/The New York Times
A Foolish Immigration Purge (downloadable file)

JCRC LETTER REGARDING POLITICAL ACTIVITY BY TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS (February 2008)
JCRC Letter Regarding Political Activity (downloadable file)

POLITICS AND THE PULPIT 2008:
A Guide to the Internal Revenue Code Restrictions on the Political Activity of Religious Organizations
http://pewforum.org/newassets/misc/politics_and_the_pulpit_2008.pdf
By The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

New Medicaid rules punish kids, states (3/6/08)
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/445808.html
Editorial/The Miami Herald

Border Insecurity (3/4/08)
Editorial/The New York Times
Border Insecurity (downloadable file)

Rethinking Help For Children (2/29/08)
Editorial/The New York Times
Rethinking Help For Children (downloadable file)

By 2050, 19 percent of U.S. will have immigrated here (2/12/08)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/nation/stories/MYSA021208.01A.immigrationpopulation.37ae7b8.html
by Hernan Rozemberg/The San Antonio Express-News

State Senate assignments don’t cover all bases (2/1/08)
Editorial/The Dallas Morning News
State Senate assignments don't cover all bases (downloadable file)

It’s Time that the State Investigates Cases that Resulted in DNA-Evidence Exoneration (1/29/08)
By Wallace Jefferson/The Dallas Morning News
It's Time that the State Investigates Cases... (downloadable file)

Washington Leaderboard: How our Senators and North Texas Reps did in 2007 (1/20/08)
Editorial/The Dallas Morning News
How our Senators and North Texas Reps did in 2007 (downloadable file)

It Took a Partnership (1/15/08)
By Joseph A. Califano, Jr./The Washington Post
It Took a Partnership (downloadable file)

Immigration is Not Black and White (1/7/08)
By Tamar Jacoby/The Dallas Morning News
Immigration is Not Black and White (downloadable file)

No Insurance, Poor Health (1/3/08)
Editorial/The New York Times
No Insurance, poor Health (downloadable file)

The Right Road to America (12/16/07)
Amy Chua/The Washington Post
The Right Road to America (downloadable file)

The Fence Must Go Up (12/12/07)
Editorial/The Dallas Morning News
The Fence Must Go up (downloadable file)

Applause for passage of Prop 11 on recorded votes (11/7/07)
Editorial/The Dallas Morning News
Applause for passage of Prop 11 on recorded votes (downloadable file)

Bush Vetoes Health Measure (10/4/07)
By Michael Abramowitz and Jonathan Weisman/The Washington Post
Bush Vetoes Health Measure (downloadable file)

Get Congress Out of the Classroom (10/3/07)
By Diane Ravitch/The New York Times
Get Congress Out of the Classroom (downloadable file)

In Jews, Indian-Americans See a Role Model in Activism (10/2/07)
By Neela Banerjee/The New York Times
In Jews, Indian-Americans See a Role Model in Activism (downloadable file)

Children’s Health Check (10/1/07)
Editorial/The Washington Post
Children's Health Check (downloadable file)

Leppert, Hunt Debate Merits of Trinity River Plan (9/26/07)
By Bruce Tomaso/The Dallas Morning News
Leppert, Hunt Debate Merits of Trinity River Plan (downloadable file)

To Protect our Children, We Must Better Fund CHIP (9/3/07)
By Barbara Mosacchio & Julia Easley/The Dallas Morning News
To protect our Children, We Must Better Fund CHIP (downloadable file)

Death Penalty Deserves Interim Study (9/2/07)
Editorial/The Dallas Morning News
Death Penalty Deserves Interim Study (downloadable file)

Watch the Lawsuits Pouring In (8/27/07)
By Kathy Miller/The Dallas Morning News
Watch the Lawsuits Pouring In (downloadable file)

Stiff-Arming Children’s Health (8/26/07)
Editorial/The New York Times
Stiff-Arming Children's Health (downloadable file)

An Immoral Philosophy (7/30/07)
By Paul Krugman/The New York Times
An Immoral Philosophy (downloadable file)

The Capitol Energy Crisis (6/24/07)
By Thomas L. Friedman/The New York Times
The capitol Energy Crisis (downloadable file)

Mr. Bush’s Stem Cell Diversion (6/21/07)
Editorial/The New York Times
Mr. Bush's Stem Cell Diversion (downloadable file)

Why Protect Shady Gun Dealers? (6/17/07)
Editorial/The New York Times
Why Protect Shady Gun Dealers? (downloadable file)

House OKs Gun Bill Tied to VA. Tech (6/13/07)
Associated Press/MSNBC.com
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19209310

Immigration Bill Provisions Gain Wide Support in Poll (5/25/07)
By Julia Preston and Marjorie Connelly/The New York Times
Immigration Bill Provisions Gain Wide Support in Poll (downloadable file)

A Short American Life (5/21/07)
By Nicholas D. Kristof/The New York Times
A Short American Life (downloadable file)

Young, Ill and Uninsured (5/19/07)
By Bob Herbert/The New York Times
Young, III and Uninsured (downloadable file)

House Votes to Expand Hate-Crime Protection (5/4/07)
By David Stout/The New York Times
House Votes to Expand Hate-Crime Protection (downloadable file)

The Silence of Politicians (4/19/07)
Editorial/The New York Times
The Silence of Politicians (downloadable file)

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – “I Have a Dream”
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/38.htm

In Search of Heschel’s Legacy (1/12/07)
By Ben Harris/JTA
In Search of Heschel's Legacy (downloadable file)

WHAT'S NEW FOR THE 80TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE?

Victory for Open Government: Victory for Texas (5/26/07)
Editorial/The Dallas Morning News
Victory for Open Government: Victory for Texas (downloadable file)

Governor Gave Pen a Workout – Here’s What He Did (6/1/6/07)
The Austin American-Statesman
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/06/16/16govsider.html

Poll: Texans Not Lock-Step Religious (6/13/07)
By Christy Hope/The Dallas Morning News
Poll: Texans Not Lock-Step Religious (downloadable file)

CHIP Enrollment Drops for 4th Straight Month (6/8/07)
Associated Press/The Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/07/legislature/4875173.html

Perry Signs Compromise Border Security Bill (6/7/07)                       
By Lynn Brezosky/Austin American-Statesman
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/06/07/7border.html

Successful  80th Texas Session of the Texas Legislature Comes to a Close (6/4/07)
The Chamber Report/Greater Dallas Chamber
http://news.dallaschamber.org/e_article000829877.cfm?x=b9H1rtD,b6K0fsT2

Bill Seeks to Define Boundaries for Religion in Schools (6/2/07)
By Jeffrey Weiss/The Dallas Morning News
Bill Seeks to Define Boundaries for Religion in Schools (downloadable file)

Sudan Divestment Legislation Heads to the Governor’s Desk (5/16/07)
Sudan Divestment Legislation Heads to the Governor's Desk (downloadable file)

House Passes Sudan Divestment Legislation (5/16/07)
Associated Press/News 8 Austin
http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=184310

House to Take Up Senate Water Bill (5/16/07)
By Emily Ramshaw/The Dallas Morning News
House to Take Up Senate Water Bill (downloadable file)

Cities Act on Immigration (5/16/07)
By David McLemore and Dianne Solis/The Dallas Morning News
Cities Act on Immigration (downloadable file)

House Panel Approves Medicaid-Overhaul Bill (5/15/07)
By Robert T. Garrett/The Dallas Morning News
House Panel Approves Medicaid-Overhaul Bill (downloadable file)

Senate OKs Longer End-of-Life Care (5/15/07)
By Emily Ramshaw/The Dallas Morning News
Senate OK's Longer End-of-Life Care (downloadable file)

Bills That Bring Religion to Public Schools Miss the Bigger Picture (5/6/07)
By Roy Maynard/Tyler Morning Telegraph
http://www.tylerpaper.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007705050330

House OKs Bill Giving Schools Option of Bible Classes (5/9/07)
By Emily Ramshaw/The Dallas Morning News
House OK's Bill Giving Schools Option of Bible Classes (downloadable file)

Senate OKs Broad Plan to Record Votes (5/4/07)
By Terrence Stutz/The Dallas Morning News
Senate OK's Broad Plan to Record Votes (downloadable file)

CHIP Enrollment Drops by 17,000 this Month (5/4/07)
By Robert T. Garrett/The Dallas Morning News
CHIP Enrollment Drops by 17,000 this Month (downloadable file)

Border-Security Bill Back to Panel (5/4/07)
By Karen Brooks/The Dallas Morning News
Border-Security Bill Back to Panel (downloadable file)

House Approves Bill Requiring State to Verify Voters’ Citizenship (5/2/07)
By Karen Brooks/The Dallas Morning News
House Approves Bill Requiring State to Verify Voters' Citizenship (downloadable file)

Perry: Concealed Guns Should be Allowed Everywhere (5/1/07)
By Christy Hoppe/The Dallas Morning News
Perry: Concealed Guns Should be Allowed Everywhere (downloadable file)

Jessica’s Law Approved in Senate (4/25/07)
By Emily Ramshaw/The Dallas Morning News
Jessica's Law Approved in Senate (downloadable file)

Senate OKs Foster Care Bill; CPS Shortage Cited (4/24/07)
By Robert T. Garrett/The Dallas Morning News
Senate OKs Foster Care Bill; CPS Shortage Cited (downloadable file)

Senate Endorses Innocence Panel (4/24/07)
By Terrence Stutz/The Dallas Morning News
Senate Endorses Innocence Panel (downloadable file)

Lawmakers Plan to Put More Religion in Your Life (4/22/07)
By Karen Brooks/The Dallas Morning News
Lawmakers Plan to Put More Religion in Your Life (downloadable file)

       House OKs Amendment Requiring Recorded Votes (4/18/07)
       By Karen Brooks/The Dallas Morning News
       House OKs Amendment Requiring Recorded Votes (downloadable file)

       Medicaid Reform, Health Initiatives Pass in Senate (4/18/07)
       By Robert T. Garrett/The Dallas Morning News
       Medicaid Reform, Health Initiatives Pass in Senate (downloadable file)

House Votes to Expand CHIP (4/4/07)
By Robert T. Garrett/The Dallas Morning News
House Votes to Expand CHIP (downloadable file)

Legislators Vow Clean-Air Effort (4/4/07)
By Christy Hoppe/The Dallas Morning News
Legislators Vow Clean-Air Effort (downloadable file)


New Faces to N. Texas Delegation to Capitol (1/9/07)
The Dallas Morning News
New Faces to N. Texas Delegation to Capitol (downloadable file)

“Sunshine Law”
Want to know how your State Representative or Senator voted on an
issue important to you and your community? Currently that information
is not available as recorded votes are not taken on all substantive votes in
the Texas Legislature. Texas remains one of only nine states that do not
require its representatives and senators to record at least some of their
votes. As a result, legislators can hide their moves.

An initiative known as the “Sunshine Law” calls to amend the TexasConstitution
and require Texas Legislators to record all votes. Across the state over 150
organizations and individuals, including State Representatives and Senators,
have signed on to the “Sunshine Law” initiative. Many Jewish organizations and
religious institutions across the Greater Dallas area have signed on to this cause.
Click here to view those organizations and institutions which have signed
on to this cause:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories
/123004dnediRecVotes.c27c.html

The Dallas Morning News has been covering the “Sunshine Law” in depth by
running editorials in the paper approximately two times a month. Please let us
add your organization’s name to the list. If your organization is interested in
signing on to this initiative, please contact the JCRC. The JCRC will ensure that
your organization’s name is added to the list.

Additional resources on the “Sunshine Law”:

Let the Sun Shine: Texas Legislature needs to record votes (9/22/04)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/longterm/stories
/033003dnedivote1.6dd03.html
Editorial/The Dallas Morning News

Let the Sun Shine: A Resolution for Recorded Votes (9/9/04)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/longterm/stories/
121703dnedirecordedresolution.afdbf11c.html
Editorial/The Dallas Morning News

EDUCATION AND CHURCH/STATE

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CIVIL LIIBERTIES AND SECURITY

FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

MEL GIBSON'S "THE PASSION"

INTERNET RESOURCES

CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL

ARCHIVE OF SOCIAL ACTION/PUBLIC POLICY ARTICLES

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Dallas does not necessarily endorse any political viewpoints expressed
in any advertised programs, articles or editorial pieces that appear on this Web site.