Story Archive

Set in Stone

A bill stalled in the North Carolina State Senate after Republicans forced an amendment. The bill was to make the Columbian Mammoth the “Official State Fossil”. The amendment inserted language to give God “credit” for the fossil; the bill had passed the House two months before without such language. “I think it’s an appropriate time to acknowledge the creator,” said Sen. Kevin Bryant about his amendment. When his addition of a Biblical verse was ruled out of order, Sen. Mike Fair filed an objection, effectively killing the bill, which was sponsored by a House Democrat. Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler says the senate got “a lot” of “unfriendly” email over the matter (example: “Please stop making our state look like backwards hillbillies who believe in fairy tales. Keep your religious views out of the government.”). Fair was informed that an 8-year-old schoolgirl was behind the bill, so he withdrew his objection and it passed 35–0. (RC/Greenville News) ...I thought North Carolina’s State Senators were already widely acknowledged as the Official State Fossil.