Vote prevents debate on Bible class bill

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Vote prevents debate on Bible class bill

By John Davis, The Montgomery Adveritzer (Montgomery, Alabama), February 20,2006

The Alabama House, with Republicans leading the way, killed a bill Tuesday that would have established a course on the Bible in the state's public schools.

Democrats, including Speaker Seth Hammett, D-Andalusia, and Majority Leader Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill sponsored the legislation. "Majority does not rule in this state now," Guin said after the 49-42 vote.

In Alabama, three-fifths of voting lawmakers must agree before either the House or Senate can take up a bill unrelated to the budget.

Because the education and General Fund budgets are generally taken up late in the legislative session, most laws are passed under "budget isolation resolutions" -- resolutions that are typically a "matter of courtesy," according to Guin.

That was not the case Tuesday.

Minority Leader Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said cooperation between Republicans and Democrats in the House is "healthy for the people of Alabama."

According to Rep. Dick Brewbaker, R-Montgomery, Guin's bill died because he wouldn't work with Republicans.

"That bill could have passed if the sponsor had been willing to negotiate on the bill," he said, noting that Republicans did not want a textbook listed in the measure.

Guin's Bible course bill called for the textbook "The Bible and its Influence," published by BLP Publishing, to be used in classrooms.

GOP members said they didn't want to legislate curriculum and took issue with specific parts of "The Bible and Its Influence," a book being pushed nationwide by the nonprofit Bible Literacy Project Inc.

Senate action

Meanwhile, the Senate passed voluntary sentencing standards endorsed by Gov. Bob Riley and the Alabama Sentencing Commission, along with two other bills in the governor's nine-bill sentencing reform package.

The House already passed its version of the bill that offers guidelines for sentencing for 26 of the most common felonies in Alabama. Proponents say it will lead to more uniform sentencing across the state and will reduce Alabama's growing prison population.

The upper chamber also sent the House a bill to correct language in the Alabama Code that eliminated some theft crimes. A 2004 mistake by Alabama legislators took out the language that said it was a crime to steal property valued between $1,000 and $2,500, what had been second-degree theft.

The Senate also passed its version of a bill to include out-of-state DUI convictions in sentencing standards for DUI crimes in Alabama.

Riley bills

Riley and Republican Attorney General Troy King announced two bills to tighten Alabama's gambling laws.

A proposed constitutional amendment would eliminate electronic devices such as bingo would have to go before a statewide vote.

Riley and King also are calling for massively increased fines for those who break Alabama's gaming laws. Federally sanctioned gambling, as on recognized tribal lands, would not be affected.

Riley said he's still deciding who will sponsor the legislation.

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