Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) has pledged to pass a bill in the Texas Senate during the next legislative session that would mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom of public schools and colleges. This follows Louisiana’s recent requirement for the same display in their own public institutions.
Patrick took to social platform X to express his disapproval of Texas state House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) for his decision to kill a state Senate bill. The bill would have mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in schools. Despite this setback, Patrick remained determined to reintroduce the bill in the future.
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On X, Patrick expressed his support for SB 1515, stating that it will revive the tradition of acknowledging America’s heritage and emphasize the significance of the Ten Commandments as a fundamental aspect of American and Texas law.
In the previous legislative session, the Texas Senate approved S.B. 1515, a bill that mandated all public elementary and secondary schools in Texas to exhibit the Ten Commandments. As the state Senate’s president, Patrick was the lieutenant governor at that time.
During the previous session, the bill effortlessly passed through the state’s Senate, with Democrats condemning it for being an affront to non-Christian Texans.
The bill received a favorable vote from a House committee, but unfortunately, it was not presented to the state House floor, ultimately preventing it from being passed.
Patrick pointed the finger at Phelan for the incident, as the two have been engaged in a feud since Phelan presided over the House impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton earlier this year. Patrick and Paxton both supported a primary challenger against Phelan.
On X, Patrick expressed his disappointment that Texas missed the opportunity to become the first state in the country to reintroduce the 10 Commandments in schools. According to Patrick, the bill was stalled in committee for a month by Speaker Dade Phelan, which resulted in its failure to secure a vote on the floor. Patrick believes that Texas could and should have taken the lead in this matter, but unfortunately, it missed out on the chance to do so.
“He added that Dade Phelan’s disregard for putting the Ten Commandments back into our schools was inexcusable and unacceptable.”
Every odd year, the Texas Legislature holds regular sessions that last for approximately five months. This implies that the Ten Commandments legislation may be brought up during the Legislature’s session next summer, unless the governor calls for a special session earlier.
Similar bills have been under consideration in the past by Oklahoma and Utah.
Louisiana made headlines this week as it became the first state in the US to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in all classrooms, starting from the upcoming academic year. According to the legislation passed in Louisiana, the Ten Commandments are deemed a crucial document for both the state and national government.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups, such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State, firmly believe that the aforementioned law is unconstitutional. They argue that the law violates the safeguards against government-imposed religion.
In a recent post on Truth Social, former President Trump expressed his admiration for Louisiana’s decision to have the Ten Commandments displayed in public and private schools, among other places. He specifically stated that he loves the idea and supports its implementation.
Despite numerous requests for comment on the matter, both the White House and the Department of Education have remained silent. President Biden has also not made any public statements regarding this issue.
