House Votes to Keep Pledge from Federal Judges
July 19, 2006

The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to protect the Pledge of Allegiance from federal judges, and all regional congressional lawmakers voted for the measure.

“Today the people from my state of Tennessee would listen to this debate … and say, ‘please let common sense and logic win the day and prevail, versus legal mumbo-jumbo,’” said Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., during a brief speech on the House floor in advance of the vote.

The bill, which passed 260-167, prevents federal courts from deciding issues that challenge the constitutionality of the pledge. But it does not bar state courts from making pledge rulings.

Republicans crafted the legislation after a federal appeals court ruling in 2002 stated that the pledge as worded is unconstitutional if recited in public schools.

Democrats accused Republicans of bringing the issue up to gain votes in an election year.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said there are more pressing matters that demand the House’s attention, such as the need to raise the minimum wage.

“Instead we have this freak show … of the rollout of distractions and divisions that is unworthy of this House, unworthy of the American people, and certainly does not honor the vision of our Founding Fathers, the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, or the aspirations of our children,” she said.

But several Tennessee and Georgia lawmakers who voted for the measure recalled how they used to recite the pledge daily as students.

“I don’t think it has hurt anybody,” said Rep. John Duncan, R-Tenn. "It sends a good message that there is a higher power out there."