I was particularly pleased with footnote 8 in the majority opinion that pointed out that Washington provides greater free exercise protection than the federal constitution. Conceptually, this resonates with the argument that there an important connection or equilibrium in interpreting the religion clauses such that the rigorous enforcement of one reinforces and justifies the rigorous enforcement of the other. Pragmatically, it supports the rhetorical argument that a state that uses the play in the joints it is allowed to impose more restrictions on the funding of religious institutions and activities than the federal constitution requires ought to provide comparably greater protection to religious institutions and activities on the free exercise side of the constitutional equation as well.

Alan Brownstein
UC Davis

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