DATE: Thursday, September 4, 1997           TAG: 9709040395

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Tony Wharton

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

COALITION NAMES 4 GOALS TO PUSH FOR IN CONGRESS

The Christian Coalition also identified four other legislative priorities last week:

Passage of the American Community Renewal Act, a package of measures intended to support inner-city projects and the faith-based charitable groups that work in inner-city areas.

The act would also extend a $2,500 grant to parents in inner-city areas for education and create ``empowerment zones.''

Some of the act's provisions have bipartisan support. Some empowerment zones already exist, and have a mixed record. The $2,500 grant is more controversial because critics consider it a potential attack on public schools.

Tax relief, in the form of lower tax rates across the board and better rates for married couples.

``The $500-per-child tax credit (just signed into law) was very important, but we also need to apply tax relief to someone who doesn't have children,'' said coalition director Randy Tate.

It's hard to criticize tax relief, and Clinton signed the last tax relief bill. But critics of tax cuts argue it's a political ploy, not meaningful reform. Multimillionaire Steve Forbes continues to call for a new flat tax.

A religious freedom amendment to the Constitution, meant to counter the effects of a Supreme Court decision this year striking down the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Despite the hubbub over this issue, so far the coalition isn't pushing it as hard as the other proposals.

The amendment would allow voluntary, student-led prayer in school and more participation for faith-based organizations.

The largest obstacle to the amendment is - the amendment. However much politicians may talk about it, they are often reluctant to actually pass a new amendment.

``We know it's going to be an uphill battle,'' Tate said. ``There hasn't been a vote on this issue. We're pushing hard to have a vote.''

Education savings accounts, or ``education IRA's'' to support home schooling and private school tuition.

This is a traditional goal of the coalition, and it has traditional opposition - Democrats who see it as an attack on the public schools.

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