News roundup

Before I get to the news accounts, here is notice that the House bill should get its second reading on Friday. Keep in mind that second reading means that the bill can be amended and debated, but there is no vote. That has to wait until the third reading. Time is ticking. The end of the legislative session is getting closer. Will the third reading get on the calendar before the end of session, which is May 2? If it does, will there then be time to reconcile the house version with the senate version? Some of the below news accounts say that things don’t look good (which means that things do look good for us who are opposed to these bills). Will the house bill be amended during the second reading to match the senate bill? Quotes from Hays in the news stories make it sound like he doesn’t like that idea. And judging by the torpedoing of Storms’ last minute amendment, it looks like the senate doesn’t like Hays’ bill.

Make sure you call as many Representatives as you can.

Herald Tribune has some real good quotes that are worth a chuckle: Evolution bills in jeopardy as session nears end

TALLAHASSEE — A proposed law allowing teachers and students to question the scientific theory of evolution is in jeopardy. The Senate narrowly passed its version Wednesday, but rejected an amendment that would have brought it in line with the House version — and compromise may not be possible before the annual lawmaking session ends next week.

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Hays said he planned to ask his colleagues in the House to vote on his version early next week, leaving just a few days after that to forge a compromise that could be approved by both chambers. “We’re not going to just get something in,” Hays said. “We want to get something right.”

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, said she has not given up on passing some version of the evolution bill, but that she had hoped to avoid the last-minute bouncing between the chambers. “Certainly we’re running out of time,” Storms said.

Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, who voted for the evolution bill and spoke in favor of it, was more blunt about the shrinking time frame. He said Hays “must be hitting the sauce if he thinks he’s going to send the bill back here.”

Orlando Sentinel: Senate OKs bill to offer ‘options’ to evolution

TALLAHASSEE – An “academic freedom” bill that opponents claim will open the door to teaching religious-based theories of creation squeaked through the state Senate on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay Online: Senate Approves Evolution Bill

To sponsor Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, the bill would allow for freedom of speech and critical thinking: There are increasing numbers of scientists who don’t buy Darwin’s theory of natural selection, she has said. Critics of Storms’ bill, however, say that most of those skeptics have religious reasons for questioning evolution and those religious beliefs do not belong in science classrooms.

St. Petersburg Times: Legislative roundup: Sen. Storms evolution bill moves on

A Tampa Bay Republican’s controversial evolution bill squeaked out of the Florida Senate Wednesday, overcoming the defection of five Republicans who say Sen. Ronda Storms’ proposal ushers religion into public classrooms. The vote was 21-17, with Republicans Jim King, Evelyn Lynn, Paula Dockery, Mike Bennett and Dennis Jones joining Democrats in voting against the “Evolution Academic Freedom Act” (SB 2692).

Palm Beach Post: Florida Senate OKs ban on penalties for teachers who challenge evolution

Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller objected that questioning evolution in schools sends the wrong message to the scientific community in an era when the state is spending millions of dollars luring bio-tech institutes like Scripps to set up shop here. “I submit to you in 2008 it is embarrassing for us to be debating evolution,” said Geller, D-Cooper City.

Florida Baptist Witness: Senate passes evolution academic freedom bill, 21-17

Noting that scientific advancements have come from those who were willing to ask that question, Webster said of teachers and students, “Can’t we ask that question?” Speaking to his colleagues, Webster said, “Maybe King David was right … when he looked up and said, the heavens declare the glory of God.”

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Storms also read portions of a three-page e-mail from Wayne Gerber, a Pinellas County science teacher, who noted a biology textbook currently in use in his school includes erroneous information about evolution that remains in the book because it supports evolutionary theory. “Note, there’s no reference to religion here,” Storms told her colleagues. “This is just a scientific basis for objecting to evolution.”

No, Storms, Mr. Gerber didn’t overtly talk about religion. But his talking points you read to the Senate are straight out of the creationist literature and were arguments dismissed long ago by the scientific community as unscientific and blatantly dishonest. A quick search on the Internet and through Pinellas County school sites doesn’t turn up Gerber’s name, but there were several school sites that don’t list the faculty. Unfortunately, most senators listening to Storms don’t know enough about the subject to realize the creationist roots of the tired old talking points. Your own colleague, Webster, couldn’t help but bring God into this, could he?

WJHG: Evolution Vote

The legislation must still clear the state House and the Governor’s Desk. Governor Charlie Crist avoided questions about the bill. He told reporters he would wait to see if legislation made it through the chambers before he weighed in on the topic.

The Ledger: Fla. Senate Passes Evolution Challenge Bill

Some advocates say intelligent design is “scientific,” but a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled it’s a religious theory. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, has steadfastly refused to say whether she believes creationism and intelligent design are scientific and would be allowed to be taught under her bill. Her only response has been to cite provisions in the bill saying it would not require religious alternatives to be taught.