Some Pa. Lawmakers Seeking 'In God We Trust' In Every Public School
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Supporters rallied today in the Pennsylvania state capitol in favor of a bill that would require that "In God We Trust" –- the official national motto since 1956 -– be posted in all public schools in the Commonwealth.
The bill is sponsored by Pa. Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny County, in background of photo) and co-sponsored by Rep. Ronald Waters (D-Phila., at lectern).
Saccone dismisses critics of the measure.
"A small group -– many of which reside in the faith-hating media -– cling to the disingenuous argument that placing our national motto in schools is somehow proselytizing," he said today. "And I would say that, is it proselytizing for it to appear on our currency and our coins for the past 150 years?"
But Andy Hoover of the ACLU says his group will challenge the bill if it becomes law.
"The Supreme Court has been clear that any kind of religious speech in school that's endorsed by the school or state gets extra scrutiny under the First Amendment," Hoover tells KYW Newsradio .
A spokesman for the state House majority leader says he has no idea when the bill might come up for a vote.
