Welcome to the final week of the state legislative session. Today will most likely see the final vote in the House on the anti-evolution bill, so keep an eye on the bill’s page to find out the end result. I don’t anticipate any surprises there.
What’s happened so far: The Senate’s deceptively named “academic freedom†bill (SB 2692) sailed through its committee hearings and floor vote. Despite spirited debate and opposition from Senate democrats, the bill was still easily approved and shipped over to the House. Meanwhile, the House’s bill (HB1483) started off as a carbon copy of the Senate one. But once it hit the Schools and Learning committee, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Hays, offered a complete revision. The longer original bill was swapped out for a single sentence to be inserted in law, requiring a “critical analysis†of evolution. As in the Senate, House democrats were vocal against the bill, regardless of form. The bill reached the full House, but since the Senate bill had already been approved and was now before the House, Rep. Hays did a little bill juggling. He formally dumped his bill and instead took up the Senate bill, but then stripped the Senate bill content and replaced it with his House bill single line text (House page for the Senate bill). From my outsider, novice point of view that was a strange move. House democrats were able to successfully tweak Hays’ bill by adding the word scientific to the sentence. That bill is now up for its final vote in the House.
Future moves: First, the House has to vote on the bill. Barring any earth-shattering surprises, the bill should be approved. That creates a dilemma. The approved Senate version is completely different from the House version. The two will then have to be reconciled. It should be noted that when the Senate bill was voted on, its sponsor, Sen. Storms, offered a last-minute amendment to change the bill text to match the shorter House version. That attempt failed. As far as working out the differences in the two bills, the St. Petersburg Times education blog noted: “Key senators have indicated they did not expect to take up the measure again if it drastically differs from their already approved bill.†In a more colorful statement, a Herald Tribune article 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.’â€
Something to be afraid of: A common refrain of the bill sponsors is why are people afraid of critical analysis of evolution? If it’s such a rock solid theory, then schools should welcome the critical analysis. What do you have to fear? Here’s a shocking admission for you: we are afraid. But it’s not fear of a good, scientific examination. That’s not what folks like Hays are offering. We are afraid of manufactured controversy and unscientific ideas being presented in a science class where students who have never been exposed to the smelly crap of “creation science,†or “intelligent design†could be confused and misled into believing there is something wrong with the science in their textbooks. The purpose of this so-called critical analysis is to sow doubt where there is no legitimate, scientific doubt. As was seen in Dover, Pa., this critical analysis is dressed up to look like science, when it is actually nothing more than a Trojan horse, completely devoid of anything resembling real science. Unfortunately, it took an expensive federal court case to bring the nonsense there to a stop.
What will happen by the end of the week? I have no idea. I guess we’ll find out together.
The fear is well founded. Because the evolutionary theory has many weaknessess. It is only a theory and to use that mindset in an individuals thinking cause more harm than good. One example among many:
Through the idea of evolution, doctors readily removed tonsils from individuals. They thought that these were non functional remainders of the evolutionary process in the human race. We are now finding out that because of the removal of tonsils the risk of breast cancer in women have dramatically increased and prostate cancer in men. So much for the evolutionary process helping the medical field. Its because of the evolutionary mentality much cancer is the result and in the politcal realm the removal of certain species of man. (Hitler’s program)
Ok Robert, tell us a weakness. Keep in mind that scientists never claim to know everything. Also, no more doctors for you, OK? and don’t give your children any vaccines either.
Don’t forget only penicillin when you get a bacterial infection, hope you don’t get MRSA
Tonsillectomy was done at least as far back as Roman times. Tonsils have a reputation for becoming infected. People also wondered about organic structures lacking evident use long ago.
Go to senate video now!
I had no information to offer in my own humble blog beyond that which is presented here at this excellent site — indeed, far less! — but I did say this:
“THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK of the Florida legislature’s current session, and they still have a lot to wrap up during these last few days. We imagine it’s a dizzying whirl of last-minute lobbying, fund-raising, deal-making, drinking, whoring, speech-making, press-pandering, and bribe-taking.”
Hey, why not tell it like it is?
A lot of people still want to debate –
http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Video%20Broadcasts&Submenu=8&Tab=session
(If there are any legislators watching – please bring up the Nature of Science section of the standards. Critical analysis already provided for there. )
Also, that this bill’s prototype was written by the DI.
Hays says this bill REQUIRES critical analysis but does not know of any. Shouldn’t the teachers be made aware of the critical analysis that they will be required to teach?
I will try and answer you all.
SScott, there is no actual link or demonstration of man evolving out of mud by mutation or adaptation. Why is it not happenning now ? Why cannot it be shown in the lab ? Because it can’t. To make the leap that this is how species came into existance makes for a good firy tale but thats it.
Green earth, penecillin was evolved ? It proves evolution ? Another leap.
Pete, tonsil removal is a result of a mindset that is parallel to the Darwinian mindset – that it was a usless mass. You prove the point.
Robert-
many bacterial species have developed resistance to antibiotics, meaning they evolved, so if you “don’t believe” in evolution, as you have made clear, do not take any medications next time you are sick, for that matter, don’t go to the doctor at all, since you don’t “believe” or appreciate modern science and medicine
Hmmmmm … the Governor is present in the House during this debate.
The Governor is there watching the debate.
I wonder who asked him to visit?
Green earth – its a big leap to extrapolate that to human beings.
I just gave AN example of evolution, since you keep saying you cannot see it happen, this can and has been observed
The bill passed 71-43
Hoorah !!!!
It’s a huge leap to extrapolate observed evolution in bacteria to human beings. After all, human beings have genes based on DNA while bacteria have…
No, wait, hold on. See, human beings reproduce and have mutations while bacteria…
No, wait, I can do this. Human beings are subject to environmental pressures while bacteria…
Uh…
Look, just accept on faith that it’s a HUGE leap to extrapolate the observed fact that evolution applies to every life form on earth so that it should apply to humans as well.
Ahhh, how I love sarcastic wit!
Yes especially if its dim. LOL
Today at 5 PM, the Senate (Senator Storms) refused to consider the House version of the bill – Sen. Storms’ motion was effectively not to accept the House changes, so the Senate is done. That means, I think, that the only action left is for the House to try to accommodate the Senate’s desired version if this bad bill is to pass.