Should schools have to
display 'In God We Trust'?
Pennies, nickels, dimes
and quarters all bear the national motto, "In God We Trust."
Virginia schools will, too, if Delegate Robert G. Marshall, R-Manassas,
has his way.
Marshall proposed that
the national motto be posted in Virginia public schools as an "expression
of hope" in response to the recent terrorist attacks on America.
He said the motto provides
a "common identity of Americans" and "reinforces citizens
and unites nations." It's much better, he said, than Virginia's
current motto: "Sic Semper Tyrannis, " meaning "Thus
Always to Tyrants."
"For one," Marshall
said, "it's in Latin -- and who speaks Latin anymore?"
>>> Read the full
story by Holly Clark.
U.S. Capitol: Bush promises
end to terrorism, recession
President Bush gave his
state of the Union address Tuesday evening and promised to end the
country's recession while continuing to fight the war on terrorism.
"We will prevail in
the war," Bush said standing before Congress and national television,
"and we will defeat the recession."
Bush entered the House
with support from both Republicans and Democrats and said the state
of the country has never been stronger.
The Democrats showed unity
on the war but were against some of the GOP plans on health care and
Social Security.
"Make no mistake about
it," House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt said of the terrorists,
"we are going to hunt you down and make you pay." He also
said there was a difference of opinions on how to handle the recession
and other economic issues.
>>> Get the full
recap from the Charlottesville Daily
Progress and other Virginia newspapers.
Gov. Warner hints he would
support tax-hike election
Gov. Mark R. Warner hinted
yesterday that he would support a referendum asking Virginia voters
whether they want to raise the state sales tax by half a cent, the
Richmond Times-Dispatch
reported.
The governor would face
some opposition in getting legislative approval of such a referendum.
The General Assembly is debating whether to let Hampton Roads and
Northern Virginia vote to raise local taxes to fund transportation
and education.
Speaker S. Vance Wilkins
Jr., R-Amherst, opposes the regional votes and does not know if a
statewide election would be any better.
Wilkins said that he does
not think that taxes should be raised at this time and that the assembly
should "bite the bullet one way or the other." He said that
he believes that the tax increases should be decided by the Legislature,
not by referendums.
House votes to continue
reciting Virginia flag salute
In a close vote yesterday,
the Virginia House of Delegates agreed to keep its daily recitation
of the Salute to the Flag of Virginia, the Richmond
Times-Dispatch reported.
The House voted 50-48 after
emotional discussion from people on both sides of the aisle.
Debate about the salute
started after a report that it was written by the Virginia division
of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. This caused black legislators
to question the salute. They said the context in which it was written
raised the specter of slavery and segregation.
"It is not we versus
they," said Delegate Mary T. Christian, D-Hampton, "not
black versus white. It is not Republican versus Democrat. It is a
response to human feeling and human emotions."
Delegate Clifton A. Woodrum,
D-Roanoke believes that if the flag salute is offending some members,
then it is not serving its purpose.
After long deliberation,
the legislators agreed to retain the salute. They said they feel they
are ready to move on to new things this session.
