Tennessee Push to Make Bible Official Book Derailed

A move to make the Bible the official state book of Tennessee passed in the House, but not in the Senate.

The Senate voted down the measure Thursday in a  22-9 vote.

The legislation has divided Republicans in the state.

Bill sponsor Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown argued the Bible is an integral part of the state's history.

"The Bible has great historical and cultural significance in the state of Tennessee," The Tennessean quoted Southerland.
 
Others say, however, that the holy book is too sacred to be a state symbol.

"I am a Christian, but I am also a constitutionalist and a conservative. It would be fiscally irresponsible to put the state in a position to have to spend tax dollars defending a largely symbolic piece of legislation," Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, said in a statement.

"We don't need to put the Bible beside salamanders, tulip poplars and 'Rocky Top' in the Tennessee Blue Book to appreciate its importance to our state," he added.