Intro: House legislation heard by the House Local Govenrment Committee Wednesday, would protect schools from legal backlash if they choose to use traditional holiday names.
Jessica Miller has more from the State Capitol. Confusion was sparked after Missouri State University took down a Christmas tree, fearing it was insensitive to other religions.
Governor Matt Blunt was a known opponent of MSU's decision, and shortly after his statements, the university reversed its decision. The appropriate terminology has not been specified...until now. House Speaker Pro Tem and member of the Local Government Committee Bryan Pratt says taking the pressure off public schools will help alleviate the confusion. The committee has yet to vote on the bill. Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Jessica Miller.
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Intro: A bill heard by the Missouri House Local Government committee would allow public schools to breath easy about using traditional names for holidays. Jessica Miller has more from the State Capitol. RunTime: The bill sponsored by Republican Representative Mike Cunningham would require state agencies, public schools, and universities to use the traditional name for any holiday they choose to observe. House Speaker pro tem and member of the Local Government Committee Bryan Pratt says the bill puts public schools at ease during a holiday season. The bill accompanies Governor Blunt's views on Holiday terminology and supporters agree it is a good idea for public schools to have a guideline to protect them against legal opposition. Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Jessica Miller.
Actuality: PRATT2.WAV
Run Time: 00:12
Description: If they use the word Christmas, are they going to be sued or criticized? Are bad things going to happen? What this bill does is take the bill of the local school, and I'll take the heat for a local school being allowed to say "Christmas."
OutCue:
Actuality: PRATT1.WAV
Run Time: 00:17
Description: What this bill does is allows people to say the word Christmas, the word Hanukkah, the word Kwanzaa, at your schools and not be punished for it. The geneses of this bill is to allow schools to have some comfort in using a holidays name during an actual holiday.
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