NASHVILLE – The Holy Bible will have to survive on its own merits after an effort to override Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s veto of a bill making the text the official book of Tennessee government failed Wednesday in the Tennessee House.
Efforts by Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, the bill’s sponsor and a former Baptist minister, to override Haslam’s veto received only 43 of the required 50 votes needed to overturn the governor’s action.
Fifty representatives – a majority in the 99-member chamber – voted to sustain the governor’s veto. Four others abstained.
The lengthy fight over the bill consumed nearly two hours of lawmakers’ time as they furiously worked to adjourn their annual session on Wednesday. Unlike any number of bills here, proponents and opponents were well versed on this measure, citing various Bible passages as the representatives sought to support differing positions.
Haslam last week vetoed the bill, citing constitutional concerns and warnings that it “trivializes” what he personally believes is a “sacred text” by placing it among state symbols such as a .50-caliber sniper rifle, the box turtle and the honey bee.