|
In a letter
notifying top state lawmakers of his intent to veto the
legislation, Governor Bill Haslam, himself a Christian, said the
proposal violated religious freedoms enshrined in both the U.S.
Constitution and the Tennessee Constitution.
"My personal feeling is that this bill trivializes the Bible,
which I believe is sacred text," Haslam, a Republican, wrote.
The veto comes a week after the state Senate voted to make the
Bible the state's official book. That vote followed the state
House's approval last year.
Haslam, who won re-election in 2014, faced mounting pressure
from civil libertarian and non-theistic groups to stop the
measure from becoming law.
Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil
Liberties Union of Tennessee, praised the decision, saying
elected officials should not "use their official positions to
favor one religious belief over another."
Had Haslam signed the bill, Tennessee would have become the
first U.S. state to designate the Bible as its official state
book.
The lawmakers who sponsored the measure vowed to hold a vote
that would overrule Haslam's veto. A simple majority in each
legislative chamber would overrule his decision.
"According to polling, 62 percent of all Tennesseans favor
making the Holy Bible the state book in order to recognize its
significance from a historical, economic and cultural
standpoint," the House sponsor, Representative Jerry Sexton,
said.
"Senator (Steve) Southerland and I are prepared to move forward
with a veto override and we plan to do exactly that."
(Reporting by Tim Ghianni in Nashville; Editing by Eric M.
Johnson and Leslie Adler)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
