AP: House protects Pledge, destroys Constitution

From ajc.com: "The House, citing the nation's religious origins, voted Wednesday to protect the Pledge of Allegiance from federal judges who might try to stop schoolchildren and others from reciting it because of the phrase 'under God.'

The legislation, a priority of social conservatives, passed 260-167. All of Georgia's House members supported the bill, except for Democrats John Lewis of Atlanta, who voted no, and Cynthia McKinney of DeKalb County, who did not vote.

The bill now goes to the Senate where its future is uncertain.

'We should not and cannot rewrite history to ignore our spiritual heritage,' said Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.). 'It surrounds us. It cries out for our country to honor God.'

Opponents said the legislation, which would bar federal courts from ruling on the constitutional validity of the pledge, would undercut judicial independence and would deny access to federal courts to religious minorities seeking to defend their rights.

'We are making an all-out assault on the Constitution of the United States. ...' said Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

The pledge bill would deny jurisdiction to federal courts, and appellate jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, to decide questions pertaining to the interpretation or constitutionality of the pledge. State courts could still decide whether the pledge is valid within a state."