House Committee Defeats Pledge of Allegiance Bill

Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee defeated by a 15-15 vote the Pledge Protection Act (H.R. 2389) that would have removed federal court jurisdiction to hear challenges to the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. One Republican, U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis of South Carolina, voted with 14 Democrats to defeat the proposal that had been strongly backed by conservative religious groups concerned about challenges to the phrase "under God" in the Pledge. Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued a press release calling the defeat a tremendous victory.