Louisiana state senators have rejected a bid to display the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the state capitol in Baton Rouge.

The proposal had called for a display up to six feet tall and four feet wide. It would have been placed somewhere among the historic buildings at the capitol complex.

The senators said the threat of a lawsuit was too high and the costs of such litigation would be too expensive.

A Senate committee voted 5-2 against a House-backed proposal in favor of the display after senators noted similar monuments have drawn legal challenges around the country.

The bill said private groups would pay for the monument but it didn't include any provision for the cost of a lawsuit.

"It's going to walk us right into litigation," said Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, a lawyer.