Tennessee governor vetoes law making Bible state’s official book

Bill Haslam said the proposal violated religious freedoms enshrined in constitution

The governor of Tennessee has vetoed legislation that would have made the Bible the state’s official book, saying it would violate the US constitution, but lawmakers vowed to hold a vote to overrule his decision.

In a letter notifying top state lawmakers of his intention to veto the legislation, governor Bill Haslam, himself a Christian, said the proposal violated religious freedoms enshrined in both the US constitution and the Tennessee constitution.

“My personal feeling is that this bill trivialises the Bible, which I believe is sacred text,” Mr Haslam, a Republican, wrote.

The veto comes a week after the state Senate voted to make the Bible the state’s official book. That vote followed the state House’s approval last year. Mr Haslam, who was re-elected in 2014, faced pressure from civil libertarian and non-theistic groups to stop the measure becoming law.

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Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, praised Mr Haslam’s move.

– (Reuters)