MICHIGAN - October 22 - U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D.-Mich.) has changed his proposed legislation that would have given several acres of Coast Guard property in Cheboygan, Mich. to the Cornerstone Christian School free of charge, after constitutional law scholars pointed out the land transfer would violate the First Amendment separation between church and state.

After Michigan Messenger first reported on this issue in August, Americans United for Separation of Church and State contacted Stupak's office and informed it that the legislation as written was unconstitutional.

Last week, Stupak wrote to the group saying that he was changing the bill to require that the property be sold to the school at fair market value as required by the law.

The original bill language proposed that the land would be transferred to the private Christian school "without consideration," meaning that the land would be given to the school without compensation.

As Peter Irons, a professor emeritus of law at the University of California at San Diego, told the Michigan Messenger in August, "Rep. Stupak's bill would allow the government to provide a 'gift' to a religious group of property that is owned by all taxpayers, including those with no religious faith.  This is precisely the kind of religious preference the Constitution forbids and the Supreme Court has ruled against in numerous cases."

Stupak's religious ties have recently garnered attention.  The Michigan Messenger reported in recent month's about Stupak's membership in the shadowy Christian group that calls itself variously "The Family" or "The Fellowship."  Stupak lives at The Family's now-infamous C Street house on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

For more information, or to speak to Michigan Messenger's Editor following this story, Ed Brayton, please contact Hanaa Rifaey at 313.915.0154.