Alabama lawmakers could vote on posting Ten Commandments in schools

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — State Sen. Keith Kelley (R-Anniston) said the U.S. was founded upon the Ten Commandments given in the Old Testament, and he wants to make sure that history is told. There are some people, however, who largely disagree.

Kelley’s bill would require the Ten Commandments to be put in common areas — like hallways or entrances — of schools. Kelley said they used to be taught not too long ago in schools.

“You talk to a lot of people, they don’t really have the true foundation of what our country was founded on,” Kelley said. “There’s a certain amount of accountability and responsibility that each one of us has, and I think it goes to that accountability.”

Kelley said schools wouldn’t have to pay for it, as some groups have volunteered to pay for it. He said the Alabama State Board of Education would be required to make the materials available.

A similar law laying that foundation was signed in Louisiana and blocked by a federal judge. Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) said it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars.

“That bothers me,” Daniels said. “We’re focusing on things that are going to take away and litigation that we’re clearly going to lose and cost the state of Alabama hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions of dollars.”

The Rev. Julie Conrady, president of the Interfaith Alliance of Central Alabama, said that’s not the only cost. Conrady said it violates religious freedom.

“If we’re talking about our Jewish friends, they would say posting them in English is not even appropriate,” Conrady said. “When we talk about when we get to translating that text into English is when you start making actual theological claims.”

But Kelley said it’s not about theological claims, it’s about honoring the history of the law and the U.S.

“Well, this is just saying ‘don’t steal something’ and ‘don’t kill somebody,'” Kelley said. “You respect other people’s rights. You respect differing opinions. You respect different processes.”

A House and a Senate version has passed out of committee in both chambers. Counting Tuesday, there are nine legislative days left in the session for lawmakers to vote on this bill.