WASHINGTON — The House took a break from battles over economic policy and returned to a clash from the culture war.
With overwhelming bipartisan support, the Republican-led chamber voted 396-9 Tuesday to reaffirm “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States and encourage the motto’s display in all public schools and buildings.
Colorado’s delegation voted in favor.
The move inevitably reopened a debate over separation of church and state. It drew praise from Christian conservatives who see an effort to withdraw references to God from the public sphere.
“Whereas if religion and morality are taken out of the marketplace of ideas, the very freedom on which the United States was founded cannot be secured,” read the resolution, introduced by Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va.
Critics saw the vote as unnecessary, more of an attempt to gin up support from the GOP base.
Tribune Co. Washington Bureau
