Missouri House Bills

There are a lot of interesting bills in the Missouri State House.

Some Progressive blogs have already picked up on HCR 13. 

Resolves that voluntary prayer in public schools, religious displays on public property, and the recognition of a Christian God are not a coalition of church and state.

The Bill doesn’t exactly declare Christianity as the State’s official majority religion, as some claim, but, here’s a direct quote: “Whereas as elected officials we should protect the majority’s right to express their religious beliefs while showing respect for those who object.”  (Nothing is said whatsoever about the minority’s right to express their religious beliefs. I’m sure it was an oversight.)

Alternet is, however, correct in their analysis that the intent of the bill can’t possibly be to be passed.  There’s no way it would be.  Its intent is to draw responses that can be used in upcoming election campaigns.

There are a few other interesting bills on the list. 

HCR 5, for example declares Feb 6 to be Ronald Reagan Day. (oy).

HCR 28 ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment.  (Isn’t this an exercise in futility?  I thought there was a statute of limitations that had passed on it.)

HJR 39 proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a citizen’s first amendment right to pray on public property.  (Nothing in the bill contradicts current law.  No amendment is necessary.  But I would vote for it, just to guarantee it.  It emphasizes voluntary, non-disruptive, non-composed by the state, prayer in public schools.  Something the ACLU is on record of going to the courts to protect.

I also like the idea within the bill that requires the posting of the full text of the first amendment in every public school.

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