Friday, March 31, 2000
Patton to sign bill on commandments
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FRANKFORT — Gov. Paul Patton said Thursday he is likely to sign legislation that would allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed in schools and on the state Capitol grounds.
There had been speculation among General Assembly members that Mr. Patton would veto the legislation that urges public schools to post the commandments in classrooms and requires installation of a large monument to the commandments next to the Floral Clock on the statehouse grounds.
But while Mr. Patton said he has not made his final decision, he is “inclined” to sign the measure into law.
“Clearly when something of a public policy of that nature passes with a strong majority I would be inclined to not try to overrule the judgment of the General Assembly,” Mr. Patton said Thursday.
“I've got 10 days to make that decision, but I can't imagine that I would not sign it,” he said.
The bill passed the Senate Wednesday 33-2. It barely passed the House earlier in the session.
Reminded of the slim victory, Mr. Patton said he had not followed the issue that closely.
“I haven't really studied it, so I don't really know what it passed by,” he said. “That has not been my highest priority, if you happen to notice.”
The American Civil Liberties Union has said it will go to court to challenge the law.
“Our belief is that the monument would represent government's promotion of religion, which is forbidden by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States,” Jeff Vessels, executive director of the ACLU in Kentucky, said Wednesday.
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