Intro: The Missouri House gave first-round approval to a constitutional amendment that would require government agencies, including schools, to allow voluntary prayer in their facilities.
RunTime:0:58 Reed Erickson reports from Jefferson City. The House gave preliminary approval to a bill that Western Missouri Representative Mike McGhee says will make sure that schools allow non-disruptive prayer.
The measure includes language requiring all state sponsored schools display a copy of the Bill of Rights in a conspicuous place.
St. Louis County Republican Jim Lembke says he wants to make sure that the right to pray freely is protected.
But on the other side critics say this is simply election year politics. The opposition says the U.S. Constitution already protects religious freedom. If it clears the legislature it would need voter approval before it would become part of the state constitution.
At the Capitol, I'm Reed Erickson.
OutCue: SOC
Intro: The House gave preliminary approval to a resolution that would require all public schools post a copy of the Bill of Rights.
Actuality: PRAYER1C.WAV
Run Time: 00:13
Description: We do have the right to pray in public places. And it can not be infringed. I think we can't make it any clearer than to put this before the people, the voters of Missouri.
The bill still faces final house vote before it is sent to the senate.
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