Buttars’ anti-evolution Bill SB 96 is dead! Victory!

I didn’t expect the House to do it, but they came through. They killed the Bill! The Salt Lake Tribune records its death.

The evolution bill is no more.
The Utah House of Representatives voted 46-28 to kill SB96, which cast doubt on the teaching of evolution.
"There are a number of influential legislators who believe you evolved from an ape. I didn't," said Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, who sponsored the bill.
He said it was "doubtful" that he would try a similar bill in the future.
The bill would have required a teacher to say the state does not endorse evolution and that the controversial theory is not a proven fact before teaching Charles Darwin's ideas.
SB96's deep religious roots fostered outspoken support among some, such as Rep. LaVar Christensen, and just as fervent opposition from others, like Rep. Stephen Urquhart.
Urquhart, a St. George Republican, first amended the bill, stripping any reference to 'origins of species." The gutted bill simply read: "The State Board of Education shall establish curriculum requirements relating to scientific instruction."
Urquhart opposed Buttars' bill because he doesn't feel that science conflicts with religion and said it was misleading to single out one theory as unproven.
The House voted down the gutted SB96 to stop the Senate from having the ability to revive the issue.

The NCSE, and Panda’s Thumb also mention the defeat.

Now I can really enjoy the rest of my vacation here in Sedona. See you all later in the blogosphere.

Another poll

Yup! The Deseret News has done another poll, and it looks like things are improving a little for those of us opposing this bill. Now only 55% of Utahns want this bill. That’s down from the 66% in the last one.



Funny thing about this anti-evolution bill – it does more evolving than we do. Carol Lear points this out, and notes that it’s still a stupid bill.

The bill also still comes from a "poisoned well" of legislative intent based on religious beliefs, said Carol Lear, director of school law and legislation for the State Office of Education.

"This is just an evolution . . . from the earlier bill found unconstitutional several times. It isn't sanitized because it's substituted and resubstituted and amended and re-amended," she said.

Email war!

When it rains – it pours!

It seems the folks over at DefCon America are making a frontal assault on SB 96, by trying to crush it with the sheer weight of their emails. Rebecca Walsh over at the Salt Lake Tribune’s Planet Legislature brought out this story:

Backlash

Most lawmakers don't like to be bombarded with emails -- unless, of course, they agree with the writers' sentiments.

But when your legislator doesn't, watch out. Some contrarian lawmakers will vote a certain way just to spite you.

That's what Rep. Brad Dee says he will do in response to a barrage of more than 220,000 emails -- most from out of state -- opposing legislation that would change how teachers talk about evolution.

Teri Sandiford, a stay-at-home mom from Wake Forest, North Carolina, wrote urging the Washington Terrace Republican to vote against SB96. "Our children need schools that teach science, not religious ideology, as they prepare for the challenges of a new century," she wrote. "Please uphold scientific integrity in Utah's schools."

Sandiford and other members of DefCon America, a grassroots organization focused on separation of church and state and limiting the power of the religious right, apparently shut down the House of Representatives' computer server with their chain emails.

But Dee, who was tired of getting the copycat letters, picked one and responded: "I will vote for this bill only because of all the mass emails I have received from your group. Thanks for helping me to make my decision."

Consider it playing defense. After getting more than 17,000 emails -- all worded virtually identically -- House computer techs shut down the server Wednesday morning to block the attack. Another 204,000 emails were sent but not forwarded to lawmakers.

Sandiford, upset by Dee's "childish and petulant" response, forwarded the exchange to The Tribune. She was unaware of the problems her email and others caused. "Whether you agree with the letter I wrote or not, I think you can agree that Rep. Dee's response isn't a thoughtful, considered, adult response."

And sending 220,000 emails is?

Comedy!

BTW, Rep. Brad Dee shouldn’t be so touchy over his flooded inbox – at least he isn’t being condemned to hell like those of us who oppose this bill are.

Our legislature is failing

With this bill having passed the House Education Committee, it is looking like the only thing that has a real chance of stopping this bill from becoming law is Governor Huntsman’s veto.

Bagley draws it like he sees it:



Also in the Salt Lake Tribune, Duane Jeffery, teacher of integrative biology at BYU, and nine other scientists in Utah colleges and universities, as well as the state paleontologist, signed the following opinion published yesterday. One point they mention that I have not written on much here, I think is important to note:

… if developments reportedly appearing in other states (Georgia, Pennsylvania, Kansas) were to happen in Utah, our scientific and economic futures could be compromised. Top-flight scientists and research organizations (and their funds and accomplishments) are reluctant to come to states where science is treated with suspicion and where their children would not receive a high-quality education. Rather, they are attracted to states where science is valued and viewed with openness and public support.

They could have gone on to mention that several others, like myself, who aren’t as tech minded and who resent the religious stereotyping and judgment that goes along with these kind of “developments”, also might think twice about this place. I think it kind of sad that several Senators, Gayle Ruzicka and her eagle chicks consider it a “family value” to condemn other Christians and accuse them of atheism. They really should stop imitating the Pharisees in that respect.

"It's a good bill. Just vote for it."

I can smell the baloney wafting off the capital all the way out here in Sugarhouse. The stench is incredible. The quote above from Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem, reminds me of another similar situation (the serpent told Eve, “It’s good for you, and useful. Just eat it.”)

There are a few articles out today concerning the House Education Committee’s vote yesterday to pass the ‘Origins of Life’ bill on to the House floor where I am sure it will easily pass. Here are a couple of the highlights I noted, first, despite efforts to keep the discussion off religion, the Deseret News quotes Carol Lear calling it like she sees it in this bill’s inexorable march to a courtroom,

… Education Office attorney Carol Lear fears the bill opens the door to religious discussion in science classes.

"Proponents of the bill want to make sure there's an opportunity for intelligent design or creationism . . . to have some moment in the classroom. I think (this bill) certainly allows for that. One of the questions is, does it require it," said Lear, director of school law and legislation for the State Office of Education.

"This discussion has been so involved with people's religious points of view . . . (that) it becomes a discussion about legislation with a religious viewpoint," she said. "The court in reviewing that gets to look at the whole discussion, even how people perceive the discussion, and you can't just say . . . King's X, this isn't about religion."

Also, in the Daily Herald it mentions that Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, who is one of those who voted against the bill yesterday as saying,

… she was worried literature and history topics would be at risk if the Legislature were allowed to establish the curriculum requirements on biology.

"I think we're heading down the wrong track here, and it's a dangerous one," she said.

Some might think she is being a little alarmist, but I don’t think her fears are unfounded, nor off the mark. Take a look at what’s happening just over the border in Colorado. Parents out in Bennett are declaring music teacher Tresa Waggoner something evil for showing their children a “satanic video” that “glorifies Satan” and traumatizing them. Some are demanding that she be fired. I just loved what this one parent, that the Denver Post quoted, had to say,

"Any adult with common sense would not think that video was appropriate for a young person to see. I'm not sure it's appropriate for a high school student," said Robby Warner, a mother of two children who saw the video.

What kind of unadulterated Satanic evil, something so unrighteous, could warrant such scorn? This…



Hand puppets that sing opera and go to hell! The music teacher Mrs. Waggoner found this piece of wholesome goodness in her own elementary school’s music room.

What would our Utah legislature do with this, especially with religiously motivated pressure groups knowing that they can have their way with them?

It has been indisputably proven…

Ya know, I believe I am not dreaming, but I hope I am, or at least I wish I was, but I am next to certain that I am not dreaming right now. As a matter of fact, I think I can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I am not dreaming right now. But to indisputably prove it, even to myself, that I cannot do, no matter how many times I pinch myself.

But there is one thing I think I can do… I can indisputably prove that our Representatives cannot make a more worthless nor ridiculous bill than the one they made to substitute SB96 and passed to the House floor.

Read it for yourselves, here is SB96 Second Substitute for your review:

53A-13-101.7. Curriculum and policy on instruction relating to the origins of life.
(1) In order to encourage students to critically analyze scientific instruction regarding the origins of life and the origins of species, to consider differing scientific viewpoints, and to form their own opinions, the Legislature desires to avoid the perception that any scientific theory, hypothesis, or instruction regarding the origins of life, or the origins of species has been indisputably proven, or that the state endorses any one theory or hypothesis.
(2) The State Board of Education shall establish curriculum requirements, consistent with Subsection (1), relating to scientific instruction of students on the origins of life and the origins of species.
(3) The curriculum requirements described in Subsection (2) shall require that if scientific instruction is given to students regarding the origins of life, or the origins of species, then that instruction shall stress that no scientific theory, hypothesis, or instruction regarding the origins of life or the origins of species has been indisputably proven.
(4) The State Board of Education shall:
(a) make rules, pursuant to Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to fulfill the requirements of this section; and
(b) ensure that all policies and positions of the State Board of Education relating to scientific instruction regarding the origins of life or the origins of species:
(i) do not endorse any particular theory or hypothesis; and
(ii) stress that no scientific theory, hypothesis, or instruction regarding the origins of life or the origins of species has been indisputably proven.

I wish I was dreaming. Comedy!

SB96 rescheduled for Wednesday

The House Education Committee was scheduled consideration SB96 this morning, but I see it has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 8th, at 2:00 pm. I imagine it’s because Buttars is not out of the hospital yet.

Despite my dislike for the bills he tries passing, I do hope he is getting better.

SB96 in Slate

I noticed the word is spreading. Slate also mentioned the NYTimes article to the rest of the world. Here is William Saletan’s comment, with an interesting question:

Opponents of evolution are meeting unexpected resistance in Utah. The state senate narrowly passed a bill requiring teachers to tell students that scientists disagree about the origins of life, but some key Republican lawmakers are fighting it. Supporters' views: 1) If some scientists dispute evolution, we should say so. 2) The bill isn't religious; it just about "not overstepping what we know." Opponents' views: 1) God has no problem with science. 2) Mixing faith and science will corrupt faith. 3) Mormons, being a minority, should beware religious majoritarianism. 4) Mormons, believing in progress and spiritual transcendence, have no problem reconciling a higher future with a lower past. Question: If creationists are telling kids to respect dissent regardless of its evidentiary merits, aren't they the new soft-headed pluralists?

New York Times article

The New York Times had an article out this Sunday in regards to our haggling over evolution here in Utah.

Here are a few quotes of worth:

Advocacy groups who follow the battle over the teaching of evolution nationally say that what happens here could be important beyond state borders.

''It's being watched very closely because of the very conservative nature of the state,'' said the Rev. Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, based in Washington. ''If the legislation is rejected in Utah, it would be a very strong signal that the issue should be avoided elsewhere.''

And if we pass it, we will be the laughingstock of the nation.

Further down the article,

… one important supporter of the bill, state Rep. Margaret Dayton, a Republican and chairwoman of the House Education Committee, said her convictions had been underlined in recent days. ''A number of scientists have been in touch with me, and I can verify that not all scientists agree,'' Dayton said.

I wonder what “scientists” she has been talking to. But what does it matter now, the House Education Committee is determining things as I write this. They are discussing SB96 this morning.

The real effect of SB96: It’s a religion test

I have mentioned this topic briefly before, but I thought I would mention it again since the bill will be going before the House Education Committee in a few days.

But first, I would like to introduce you all to Kim, she’s a “very concerned student” over at West Hills Middle School, who posted a comment over on the Senate Site the other day (comment #95). It’s nice to see a Utah public school student speak up about a bill that more or less directly affects them. It’s nice to see them learn about and participate in the political process. And I think her comment is really choice for the context of this bill.

Here is her comment in full:

I want to thank Chris Butters for standing up for all of us who do believe in God and do what to have that truth taught in public schools. I go to a public school and I wish that I could have the same rights as the atheists by having my beliefs also taught. I also want to say something to Governor Huntsman, I DO believe Butters is fighting for a good cause, if I am not mistaken you are Mormon. I believe that you have a certain obligation to your church and to your God to stand up for the things that are in this bill. As a Mormon, I believe that you are suppose to take this opportunity and try to help our Great state of Utah find some truth, some light in the dark world of Science!

Beautiful, isn’t it. I felt sorry for her. It brought a tear to my eye. She’s such a victim. She doesn’t have the same rights as atheists apparently do, to shove her beliefs down other people’s throats. It’s your “obligation to your church and to your God” to promote this bill. Obviously those who don’t promote this bill should either have the veracity of their religion seriously questioned or they are just atheist scum.

The primary effects of this bill have little to do with its effects on science education in the state. Honestly, this bill won’t even dent the reality of evolution teaching as real science, nor do I believe that any students will actually “convert” either way to one side or the other because the state of Utah can’t make up its mind. No, the primary effect of this bill if it were to pass is to let the fanatics out of the closet. It justifies them. It gives them permission to condemn others with different beliefs. How does it do this? Creationism and ID as “scientific theories” cannot be separated from their “biblical” roots that also include religious condemnation for all those who don’t believe.

But we don’t have to wait for this bill to become law for it to have this effect, it’s already here. Just the mere presence of it draws out the divisiveness. This war in Iraq, and Buttars’ other bill on gay clubs (SB97), are having similar effects. Some people are actually dropping out of church because they are being condemned for their lack of support for these political issues. That condemnation is real.

When I hear my local senator tell folks that the theory of evolution is just atheist teaching, and that only atheists would bother to stand against the “truth” that’s in this bill, I feel like sharing a little with my elected representative right on back - Hey, peace to you, buddy! [flipping you the bird with love] (But that wouldn’t be very Christ like of me now would it. So I’ll just forgive him.)

Anyway, religious divisiveness, that’s the only real effect this bill will have.

Waiting…

While you wait for the House Education Committee to review SB96 (which they received yesterday) here is some light reading for you. Think of these as the magazine selection you might have in a dentists waiting room before you go see him and that drill.



For some good background on the bigger picture in which Buttars’ bill fits into, here is the Event Transcript of Edward J. Larson’s discussion “The Biology Wars: The Religion, Science and Education Controversy”, from December of last year, put on by The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

The Seattle Weekly has a brief article this week on the Discovery Institutes creation of the Intelligent Design Movement.

Here is Sen. Chris Buttars opinion letter in USA Today, August 8, 2005. (Please note: this letter has nothing to do with Buttars campaign to eliminate God from his bill.)