Tennessee House Failed to Override Governor's Veto on Bible as Official State Book

Tennessee
Tennessee house of representatives fell short of votes (43-50) to overturn Governor's veto on the Bible bill. |

Tennessee did not get enough votes in House of Representatives yesterday to override Governor's veto to make Bible the official book of the state, based on its historical significance.

Governor Bill Haslam said, "If we believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, then we shouldn't be recognizing it only as a book of historical and economic significance. If we are recognizing the Bible as a sacred text, then we are violating the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Tennessee by designating it as the official state book."

Supporters had argued that the bill would signify historic and economic impact of the Bible in Tennessee, and was not an endorsement of religion.

The opponents had claimed that it would trivialize the Bible by placing it along with other state symbols.

Bill's sponsor Rep. Jerry Sexton (R-Bean Station), is also a former Baptist minister told reporters that voting presented a difficult choice for his colleagues.

"It wasn't the vote that I wanted," Sexton said. "It had a strong uphill climb, but I believe that we came further and I believe that we made history here in Tennessee."

The House was supposed to get 50 votes to override the veto, but only managed to get 43.

"We can put it all over the billboards of any corner in Tennessee, but if it is not in your heart we are doing nothing but mocking God," said Democratic Rep. Johnny Shaw, a Baptist pastor.

There were previous attempts to approve the bill, but failed to pass through. This time, the debate on the bill stretched long during all the sessions, with several references to Bible.

After Haslam vetoed the bill, some of the representatives were not willing to override the will of governor. Six Republicans and five Democrats who had voted to make Bible the official book of the state, did not do so again after Haslam's veto.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and Freedom from Religion Foundation welcomed the outcome, but conservative group Liberty Counsel was in favor of the bill, and had offered legal help to state in case it got sued.

After taking office in 2011, this is the fourth time Haslam has vetoed a bill.

"The Bible is either the inspired Word of God or it's not," he said. "We shouldn't honor it for one reason when it's really for another."