Bible bill in question

The Alabama Senate Education Committee recently cleared a bill that would allow Bible literature to be taught as an elective in public schools across the state.

The committee voted 4-2 to allow the bill on the regular order calendar in the Senate.

The two no votes came from Sens. Bradley Byrne, R-Fairhope, and Jimmy Holley, D-Elba.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bill Preuitt, D-Talladega, met strong opposition from many Republicans in the Senate.

Two versions of the bill are available now, with one in the Senate and another in the House. House Bill 58 has met opposition because it specifies a specific publishing company for the textbook.

Sen. Ted Little, D-Auburn, said the legislation in the Senate recommends the textbook, but it does not limit the class to the “The Bible and Its Influence” textbook.

“I’ve looked at the textbook, and I think it has good merit,” Little said. “It’s not trying to teach the Bible as religion, but how it has affected people’s lives and history.”

“I do not have problems as it has been introduced,” Little added.

He noted once again that the class is an elective for students, and the book is not directed toward forcing religion.

Tim Howe, executive director of the Alabama Republican Party, explained the two key reasons for the generally statewide Republican opposition.

“It set forth the requirement that you use a specific textbook,” Howe said. “It is not the Legislature’s job to determine which textbooks we use in schools. There’s a textbook committee on the state Board of Education for that.”

“Second, the text itself was highly questionable, as evidenced by the fact that it was supported by several liberal groups,” Howe said, listing specific groups such as the ACLU and Freedom Forum.

“I think this is a transparent attempt by the Democrats to try to expand their political base,” Howe said. “I think most Alabamians will see straight through it.”

Olivia Turner, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama, said she was unaware of any such endorsement by the ACLU.

“We haven’t made any official comment about the bill at all,” Turner said. “It’s amusing to me. We have done nothing. I can tell you officially that we have taken no position on this pending legislation.”

“Our opposition is not to having Bible literacy taught in schools,” said Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn. “Some things in the book cause a problem with some people, but with me, that wasn’t the main thing. For me, it’s a matter of poor public policy.”

Hubbard said his sole opposition is that it is not responsibility of the Legislature to put into code of law a specific textbook and publishing company.

“It circumvents the textbook committee and ... usurps the power and authority of the state Board of Education,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard added that he would support a bill that would create a Bible literacy class if the textbook decision were left to the textbook committee on the Board of Education.

One of the biggest outside contributors for the legislation is Randy Brinson, chair of Redeem the Vote, which is a faith-based organization aimed at encouraging young adults to vote.

About two months ago, Brinson spoke at an Auburn University College Republicans meeting, encouraging the members to support this particular Bible literacy bill. He explained that the selected textbook looks at the Bible and how it has influenced cultures, art, literature and music throughout history.

Brinson said he hoped for bipartisan support on the bill, and honestly did not understand why so many Republicans would oppose it. He is a conservative Republican.