Indiana's Bid to Join the Bible Belt

[mactbone]

Senate OKs posting 'In God We Trust'

February 5, 2003

Public schools would be required to display a national motto, "In God We Trust," in a conspicuous place near the main entrance of each building if legislation the Indiana Senate passed 44-6 on Tuesday becomes law.

Senate Bill 532, authored by Sen. Johnny Nugent, R-Lawrenceburg, also requires the Indiana attorney general to defend the state against any litigation arising from the bill. Nationally, this effort is being pushed by the American Family Association.

The Indiana Civil Liberties Union has successfully challenged similar efforts, including legislation to erect a 7-foot-high, 11,500-pound limestone slab posting the Ten Commandments on the Statehouse lawn. The ICLU argued that the monument was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

"If there is no secular purpose, it is unconstitutional," Sen. Anita Bowser, D-Michigan City, warned colleagues during Tuesday's debate on the pending bill.

But advocates, including Senate President Pro Tempore Robert D. Garton, R-Columbus, say it is a national motto, and it should be taught.

"What is wrong with teaching schoolchildren about a national motto, regardless of whether they believe in Allah or whatever?" Garton said.

"In God We Trust" is one of two national mottoes. The other -- "E Pluribus Unum," meaning "out of many, one" -- is not part of the Senate bill.

Here is the official government info. on Bill 532

I can't find the article now but a member of the Senate basically said that they didn't expect the House to pass it. Still, whether this becomes law or not shouldn't be an issue - it never should have been propsed let alone passed with that kind of majority.

[Sikander]

I agree with you, but what you are seeing there is a bunch of empty posturing in order to gain votes. The senators know that the law is going nowhere (like the flag burning amendment etc.), so they can pat a constituency on the back with little chance of outraging another constituency, which will only likely happen if for some reason the thing passes into law and is upheld.

[mactbone]

Unfortunately, this Governor has already shown a willingness to encourage this sort of a thing.

March 14, 2000
O'Bannon signs Denbo's Ten Commandments bill into law
INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana has become the first state in the country to enact a law that will enable officials to display the Ten Commandments on school and government property, thanks to legislation authored by State Rep. Jerry Denbo (D-French Lick) that was approved today by Gov. Frank O'Bannon.
House Enrolled Act 1180 gives local officials the right to include the Commandments as part of an exhibit displaying documents of historical significance. Denbo, whose efforts to secure passage of the bill this year garnered him national attention, said the governor's action sends a clear message to Americans.

"We are showing that Indiana will be in the forefront of getting our country back to the principles originally set forth by our founding fathers," Denbo said. "I feel we have strayed from those concepts, and this law will enable us to re-affirm our commitment to the best model of conduct that I can imagine for guiding our everyday lives."

Denbo said he believes that giving local officials the option of posting the Commandments will help avoid any concerns over the constitutionality of his measure.

"They simply have the right to include the Ten Commandments as part of a display that would include such things as the Bill of Rights and the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions," the legislator said. "I am a strong believer in giving local people the ability to determine whether or not they want to enact policies, and the legislation simply assures those rights."

The legislation was among the most controversial considered during the 2000 session, and Denbo was the subject of media coverage from New York to Los Angeles.

"I believe this matter has received so much attention because Americans are eager to re-affirm their beliefs in the values embodied in the Ten Commandments," Denbo said. "Some people thought I was taking a bold stand when I recited the Commandments during my closing statements when the bill was up for final consideration in the House, but you cannot argue against the wisdom contained in those ten rules.

"I am very proud that Indiana has taken the lead on this, and I am pleased to have played a role in seeing this legislation become law," he concluded.

From http://www.in.gov/legislative/hdpr/R62_03142000.html

[mactbone]

So, sho has an updated map of the Bible Belt? Or maybe a 'potential' map with Indiana included?

[Clear Skies]

Hopefully the SCOTUS won't let this stand, but since the hard-right Reps are getting a majority...

[Inverse Icarus]

i read that as "India" for some reason, and that made the atricle a lot more interesting until i realized my error.

[Kropotkin]

It's quite disturbing that with the bad state of most public schools (and I'm guessing this applies to Indiana as well) the elected body of politicians waste their times on laws like this instead of dealing with the important issues to improve schools and other things more important than some slogan. It seems like it's more important to them to force their views and standpoints on the people that elected them rather than serving their employers.

[gunkulator]

Not only does this waste time, it wastes money since the ACLU will bring them to court and (rightly) win again.

Who really thinks any of this makes the slightest difference to schoolkids?

[Jon Shafer]

It's sad when someone/thing gives me a reason to praise the ACLU...

[Boris Godunov]

What's so bad about the ACLU? Don't like civil liberties?

[H Tower]

Yet more proof that Hoosiers suck.

The evidence continues to pile up....

[Ben Kenobi]

It's quite disturbing that with the bad state of most public schools (and I'm guessing this applies to Indiana as well) the elected body of politicians waste their times on laws like this instead of dealing with the important issues to improve schools and other things more important than some slogan. It seems like it's more important to them to force their views and standpoints on the people that elected them rather than serving their employers.

As a public school, their employer is the government.

Therefore, why this kerfluffle over a slogan? If it's a national slogan, than SCOTUS has no justification to strike such a bill down.

For such a tempest in a teapot, people seem to be getting their feathers ruffled.

[Sava]

We should ship these f*cking Republicans to Saudi Arabia and see if they like state-religion.

Another reason for me to say, "F8ck Indiana!"

[DinoDoc]

Seems like a pointless thing to do but I fail to see why people are so upset over it.

[Sava]

Some people actually enjoy and cherish freedom, DD. And freedom is the distance between church and state.