Religious Earmarks on the Rise

Critics Worry That Federal Funds Are Subsidizing Evangelism

• By John Stanton
• Roll Call Staff
• Oct. 31, 2007, Midnight

When Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) pulled a controversial $100,000 earmark two weeks ago for a state organization promoting creationist theories, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and other groups hailed it as a significant step in maintaining the traditional divisions between the government and religious organizations.