A proposal to change Tennessee’s state constitution to recognize God as “our creator and savior” died quietly in the House Finance Committee on Monday.
HJR71, sponsored by Republican Rep. Micah Van Huss of Gray, would have added this sentence to the state constitution: “We recognize that our liberties do not come from governments, but from Almighty God, our Creator and Savior.”
The Times-Free Press reports it was one of four proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution getting the ax.
Finance Committee Chairman Charles Sargent, R-Franklin, explained that with lawmakers hoping to adjourn in the next few days there was not enough time to give the measures the required three readings on the House and then the Senate floors.
…A second resolution, HJR 525 from Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, would have amended the state Constituition to prohibit lawmakers from ever imposing a state property tax. The state currently does not have one. (Note: But the constitution specifically authorizes such a levy.)
Another one that sought to give state lawmakers the sole authority to determine whether they were adequately funding public education had previously been acknowledged by its sponsor, Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, as dead.
The other proposal dealt with local governments’ ability to grant tax relief programs for some homeowners.