MennoNet.com

I saw this on fb- anyone hear of this?

New York Democrats have declared WAR ON THE AMISH. Thanks to their unconstitutional attack on religion, they're now able to fine EACH unvaccinated Amish child $2,000 EVERY SINGLE DAY.
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The $118,000 bill is one day, not the cap. Three one-room schools alone already owe that much for 59 children, at $2,000 each.
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Health Commissioner Mary Bassett imposed it on December 15, 2022. She called the sum conservative because it assumed only one day out of compliance.
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Dygert Road was billed $52,000 for 26 children. Pleasant View was billed $46,000 for 23.
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Shady Lane was billed $20,000 for 10.
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Footnote 9 of the Second Circuit opinion records the state's view. Each day an unvaccinated student attends is a fresh violation and a fresh $2,000 fine.
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Another day for those 59 children is another $118,000. A 180-day year at that rate is about $21 million, and the families say they cannot pay the first bill.
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Joseph Miller, Jonas Smucker, and Ezra Wengerd run the schools. The schools sit in Clymer and Heuvelton, plus the Canajoharie settlement, and take no public money.
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They had a religious exemption for decades. On June 13, 2019, Democrats repealed it after measles spread through Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Rockland County.
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Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill. Governor Kathy Hochul left it in force.
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A parent may not excuse a child for faith.
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Senator James Skoufis said the exemption was made up and fake. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz called it utter garbage.
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Counsel Aaron Siri told the New York Post the families can pay only if the state takes their land. Some in the community have talked of leaving the state.
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The case is Miller versus McDonald. The Second Circuit ruled against them on June 30 in 2026.
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A Supreme Court petition was due around September 28.

Make sure EVERYONE sees this. If WE don't stand up for these incredible men and women - WHO WILL?!?!?!
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Where is the “my body my choice crowd now”? 

Valerie wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2026 7:53 pm I saw this on fb- anyone hear of this?

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7687&start=100

Valerie wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2026 7:53 pm

Make sure EVERYONE sees this.

Here's a slightly less dramatic analysis of the case, with longer paragraphs:
https://reason.com/2026/10/08/new-york- ... -for-help/

This will be interesting to watch. The Amish are getting crossfire from measles outbreak among orthodox Jewish schools. We faced this already, parents who object to vaccination homeschool. I would be a little surprised if the supreme court takes the case, but if they do, I would expect the Amish to win as that court has decided for religious freedom very consistently for two decades.

Legally speaking, the school itself is supposed to fine the parents, and then remit that to the state. In theory, the state could start filing liens against whatever entity the schools are for the unpaid fees.

It is amazing that NY State can't find something better to do than harass Amish people.

barnhart wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2026 10:31 pm This will be interesting to watch. The Amish are getting crossfire from measles outbreak among orthodox Jewish schools. We faced this already, parents who object to vaccination homeschool. I would be a little surprised if the supreme court takes the case, but if they do, I would expect the Amish to win as that court has decided for religious freedom very consistently for two decades.

The situation with the orthodox was present in my city as well. The approach was entirely different. The result was the mass clinic at the largest girls school. Gentle countering of the lies that had been spread in that community went a long way. It helped to have people that could gain a hearing. My wife was a part of that effort. Never figured out what they made of her.

Judas Maccabeus wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 12:04 pm

barnhart wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2026 10:31 pm This will be interesting to watch. The Amish are getting crossfire from measles outbreak among orthodox Jewish schools. We faced this already, parents who object to vaccination homeschool. I would be a little surprised if the supreme court takes the case, but if they do, I would expect the Amish to win as that court has decided for religious freedom very consistently for two decades.

The situation with the orthodox was present in my city as well. The approach was entirely different. The result was the mass clinic at the largest girls school. Gentle countering of the lies that had been spread in that community went a long way. It helped to have people that could gain a hearing. My wife was a part of that effort. Never figured out what they made of her.

I think the NYS position is that vaccination is not forced, but you cannot go to school without them. They also had some friction with the yeshivas over lack of basic content like math a history. We got sternly worded letters about making sure curriculum meets all NYS objectives and arranging a time for inspection. The school board scrabbled a little to find what might be missing but when we called set up the inspection, we were told we are under a different system since we offer regents testing for graduates. So no inspection for us.

barnhart wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 1:43 pm I think the NYS position is that vaccination is not forced, but you cannot go to school without them.

Interesting. Does NY State not have compulsory attendance laws?

They also had some friction with the yeshivas over lack of basic content like math a history. We got sternly worded letters about making sure curriculum meets all NYS objectives and arranging a time for inspection. The school board scrabbled a little to find what might be missing but when we called set up the inspection, we were told we are under a different system since we offer regents testing for graduates. So no inspection for us.

The state of NY really should find schools to harass other than Jewish and Amish ones; there are plenty of state-operated schools that are failing terribly at providing an education.

Valerie wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2026 7:53 pm I saw this on fb- anyone hear of this?

New York Democrats have declared WAR ON THE AMISH. Thanks to their unconstitutional attack on religion, they're now able to fine EACH unvaccinated Amish child $2,000 EVERY SINGLE DAY.
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Yes, I read about that situation in the internet, and it is very sad. Many Amish families decided to homeschool their children to avoid those exorbitant fines and with almost perfect timing a senator introduced an anti-homeschooling bill the situation in New York State is truly sad.

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press ... k-students

Valerie wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2026 7:53 pm
Where is the “my body my choice crowd now”?
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The crowd only shows up when a child wants to undergo irreversible gender-reassignment surgery or to murder defenseless babies in the womb

Thomas_muntzer wrote: ↑Tue Oct 13, 2026 5:43 pm Yes, I read about that situation in the internet, and it is very sad. Many Amish families decided to homeschool their children to avoid those exorbitant fines and with almost perfect timing a senator introduced an anti-homeschooling bill the situation in New York State is truly sad.

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press ... k-students

In what way is that bill anti-homeschooling? Do you think it would apply to any of the Amish that started homeschooling.

Chronic absenteeism has only worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2022-2023 school year, roughly one in three students in New York missed at least 10% of school days, equating to at least 18 days of school. For example, children who are chronically absent between preschool and second grade are far less likely to read on grade level by third grade.

So, first the state says “you aren’t allowed to come to school. Stay home.”

Then a few years later, they say “Boy, students aren’t coming to school!”