Tennessee lawmakers are deeply divided over a proposal to make the Bible the state’s official book, leaving its fate in doubt after more than an hour of debate Tuesday morning.
The state House of Representatives was forced to suspend discussion after supporters of the proposal, House Bill 615, were unable to muster enough votes to cut off debate. Lawmakers could take the measure up again as soon as Wednesday.
The bill is part of a wave of such proposals, though none has advanced as far as Tennessee’s. The sponsor of one such measure in the Louisiana House of Representatives dropped it last year just before it was to come up for a vote. The idea has gained little traction in Mississippi.
In Tennessee, the state’s attorney general, Herbert Slatery, released an opinion Tuesday that stated the proposal violates both the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution. In fact, Slatery said, the state prohibition on government involvement in religion is actually stronger than at the federal level, barring not only the establishment of a church, but also preference for any “mode of worship.”
Several lawmakers warned of legal challenges if the proposal passes.
But support for the proposal has come from across the political aisle. The most passionate on Tuesday was a Democrat, Rep. John DeBerry of Memphis. He said Christians have become “too accommodating” toward people of other faiths, and the bill represents a chance for them to stick up for their beliefs.
“Won’t you stand for something? Stand for something, and stop falling for everything.”
DeBerry’s speech drew a standing ovation. But even some religiously conservative lawmakers are opposing the proposal.
Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) says it demeans the Bible and goes against the principles laid out by the nation and state’s founders.
“They knew better than to enter in the personal relationship with God with the portion of the laws that govern us.”
The measure appears to have the support of a majority of lawmakers. Fifty-seven are listed as co-sponsors, enough to get it passed in the House, but not enough to cut off debate. So far, they haven’t been able to bring about a final vote.
But if the House does approve it, the measure faces an equally fraught debate in the Senate. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) and Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) both oppose the legislation.
It would then go to Gov. Bill Haslam, who said Tuesday that he opposes it.
“I have concerns about it personally about whether it’s the right thing to do, and second of all, you have an attorney general’s opinion questioning the constitutionality of it,” he said. “It would be my hope that they’d vote against it.”
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