I’m trying to sort out the legislative process. Once both of the deceptively-named “academic freedom” bills were approved by their committees I started feeling very confused. I think I have a handle on it now, though.
In the House, the HB1483 was up for its second reading today. Here’s the schedule. Do a search for the bill number and you will find it on the second reading schedule. What does second reading mean? This chart shows that it is a time for possible amendments on the House floor. The Senate website glossary says the following concerning second readings:
Second Reading. After favorable reports by all committees of reference, the bill is available for placement on the calendar. When it is considered on the floor, it is read a second time. Debate occurs and amendments may be considered. If amendments are adopted, the bill is engrossed.
I assume that holds true for the House, too. Did any debate happen or amendments get proposed today? I have no idea. Keep an eye on the bill’s page and we’ll see.
In the Senate, SB2692 is on the Special Order Calendar for its second reading tomorrow. Open this calendar and do a search for 2692 and you’ll find its listing. Stop by the bill’s page to see if anything new happens. I have no idea if the session will be broadcast on the Internet, or when the bill might be discussed or if anything exciting will even happen.
After the second reading comes the third reading, which is when the final voting happens. I’ve been told that the Senate bill should be scheduled for the third reading sometime next week. I don’t know about the House bill.
I know many of you have been e-mailing and sending letters. That’s great, but all the e-mails and letters and basic phone calls are simply compiled as “for” or “against” numbers I’m told. Unfortunately, our opposition tends to win the numbers game. To be effective you need to call the lawmakers’ offices and ask to speak to a legislator’s aide that handles education matters. Try to take a step beyond the person who just answers phones. Even better, pay a visit to your local lawmaker’s office and speak with any upper level aides who will give you the time. Try to avoid just being another mark on the tally sheet and instead make a real point.
Remember, the points to make are: “lawsuit” and “trial lawyers” and “world’s laughingstock” and most importantly “it cost Dover, Pa. one million dollars.” We really do have science and the facts on our side. We do have a long, documented history of what academic freedom and critical analysis really mean for Hays and Storms. We know that both lawmakers have yet to produce any examples of nonreligious, legitimate, up-to-date scientific “critical analysis” that would pass muster in a public school science classroom.
Ask the very pointed question and demand an answer beyond just “thank you for your correspondence.” Ask: “Do you really want to support a bill that will very likely cost YOUR local school district tons of money?”
Demand an answer.
Heads up. Its a full fledged conspiracy. Who knew Ben Stein’s claim of a conspiracy had any truth to it.
Apparently the movie Expelled is just an appetizer for the “academic freedom” bills 🙁
“If ID is all worldview and no evidence, here’s something else to ponder. At an April 15 press conference for bloggers held at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., the movie’s producers said that they plan to use the movie as part of a campaign to roll out legislation in states—so-called “freedom bills”—that would forbid anyone from “punishing” teachers and professors who question “Darwinism.” Walt Ruloff noted that the science standards of about 26 states are currently in play and that Florida was likely to pass such a “freedom bill.””
— http://reason.com/news/show/125988.html
–“Ask: ‘Do you really want to support a bill that will very likely cost YOUR local school district tons of money?'”–
That’s using the threat of plaintiffs’ attorney fee awards to discourage government officials from doing things that the courts might find to be constitutional. That’s blackmail.
Also, if a school district gets sued, the local school board and not the state legislators will be blamed.
If local school boards are sued, they could save a hell of a lot of money by getting the judge to declare the evolution controversy to be non-justiciable — see
http://im-from-missouri.blogspot.com/2007/12/justiciability-of-scientific-questions.html
http://im-from-missouri.blogspot.com/2008/01/justiciability-of-scientific-questions.html
If the judge refuses to declare the evolution controversy to be non-justiciable, then the school board can save a lot of money by bailing out immediately.
I spoke with someone from my Representative’s office today, she recommended writing/calling Gov. Crist and asking him not to sign the bill. She said a few letters would not make an impression, but if there were many it would. SO- write to Crist and your reps! Tell them to vote NO!!!
Ben,
The producers of Expelled are also paranoid delusional, as anyone who believes in the Global Darwinist Conspiracyâ„¢ must be. Their plan from the beginning had nothing to do with “academic freedom” and everything to do with pushing creationism’s Trojan horse, ID, into public school science classrooms. So take it seriously, but also with a big grain of salt.
Lets look at just how “open” the DI and Larry and the IDiots really are. I posted this on the News Journal blog that DI-ist super star Lee Bowman visits.
http://blogs.news-journalonline.com/politics/2008/04/freedom_from_evolution.html
Larry, if your claim about alt theories etc and the DI being a real honest scientific are of research, why did the DI file a DMCA against ExtantDodo?
Are they really that afraid of two PhD students? What do they have to hide?
Time to own up to it Larry, the “academic freedom ” bills are nothing but Trojan Horses for fundie xtains to get their backwards thinking into schools.
I offer this to YOU Larry, since you know soo much, take them up on their challenge. Make a valid case, and I will honestly consider creationism. However, you must critique those videos they talk about and have the video posted on YOUTUBE and have it answered-or mentioned etc by ExtantDodo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwcJonq0vd4
My collaborator and I would like to issue a challenge to the creationists who continue to troll the comment pages on our videos:
We have posted 4 videos made by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute which cover topics in evolutionary biology. The challenge is really quite simple: construct a fully-cited critical analysis similar to those which we have made. The lectures were given to high school students; so, the excuse that they are “too complex” is not going to work.
It has been over a month. In that time, only one creationist even bothered to step forward and ask about the challenge. Were the HHMI videos too complicated afterall?
firemancarl Says:
–“Larry, if your claim about alt theories etc and the DI being a real honest scientific are of research, why did the DI file a DMCA against ExtantDodo?
Are they really that afraid of two PhD students? “–
I have no idea what in the hell you are talking about.
I had to make one more post before going to bed (sorry, it’s off topic) –
They stole the music too!! LMAO!!
Of course not Larry. You do however, support thier agenda. I think you would enjoy watching the ExtantDodo videos. Give ’em a try.
Very informative post. Excellent work!