After nearly two hours of debate Wednesday morning that included appeals to the founding fathers and the old timers at Hardee's, a brief bit of singing and Republicans and Democrats hurling scripture at each other, an attempt to override Gov. Bill Haslam's veto of legislation making the Bible the state's official book failed in the state House.
After originally passing the House with 55 votes, the bill only got 43 this time around, falling short of the majority needed to override Haslam's veto.
Haslam announced last week that he was vetoing the bill because he believed it violated the state and federal constitutions. He also agreed with critics of the bill on both sides of the aisle who have said that to place the Bible alongside official state symbols like the raccoon is to trivialize the scriptures.
Debate on the House floor Wednesday was long and often loud, with lawmakers on both sides of the debate — several of whom have a background in preaching — breaking into sermon-esque tones.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Jerry Sexton — a Republican from Bean Station — was among several legislators who told the House that their grandchildren or God himself would one day ask them about the issue.
"You will be remembered for how you voted," Sexton said.
Rep. Roger Kane, R-Knoxville, appealed to a different but no less hallowed constituency. He told colleagues that he had polled the old timers at his local Hardee's and found they were opposed to the bill. Rep. Ron Travis, R-Dayton, also took his cue from an outside group. He said his mother's Bible class was at the Capitol for a tour yesterday, and they don't believe the Bible should be the state book. He voted against overriding the governor's veto.
By the end, the debate included references to the Old and New testaments, the apostle Peter's regrettable decision to take a sword to the ear of a centurion, King Nebuchadnezzar, Andrew Jackson's coming eviction from the face of the $20 bill and Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver singing the opening verse of Amy Grant's "Thy Word."
After all that, Haslam's veto — his fourth as governor — stands.
