The Best Free Speech Around
April 26th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
“The purpose of the bill is to protect the freedom of speech. That’s what it does.”
So Republican Rep. Charlie Howard of Sugar Land defended his bill last night on the House floor – by invoking our dearly held First Amendment rights. The House leadership then attempted to pass the “free-speech” bill — aimed at making sure public schools provide forums to let students espouse their faith — by, um, limiting speech.
Republican Rep. Warren Chisum of Pampa motioned to limit the amendments to those already present on the speaker’s desk – a rare stab at curtailing the amendment process. “We could stay here all night, and these amendments could grow and grow and grow and grow,” he said. “You probably already know how you’re going to vote on this bill… We need to limit those frivolous amendments.” Twenty-five members signed the petition to do so.
Democratic Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco pointed out the irony: “For goodness gracious folks, this is a bill about free speech… We don’t shut down the debate because we don’t like the debate. We don’t shut down the debate because it’s an uncomfortable debate.”
The motion to limit the amendments failed narrowly on a vote of 70-65. Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) moved to have the 25 names on the petition read aloud. The chair, after much resistance and another House vote, conceded, and the names were read.
Only one amendment had been adopted by that point, an offering from by Rep. Yvonne Davis (D-Dallas), that would ensure that public forums of religious speech in schools would not turn into a “venue to promote discrimination” on the basis of sex, race, sexual preference or religious beliefs.
That was too much for Rep. Wayne Christian (R-Center). He opposed the amendment, because, by his logic, limiting speech about sexual preference is discriminating against Christianity.
Facing a palpably edgy House, Howard postponed his bill until Monday, when the House will again debate — or not debate — free speech.
April 30th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
[…] freedom of religious expression in public schools bill passed this afternoon, facing a somewhat tamer reception in the House this time around. Still opponents did put up a fight, offering up a number […]