minx Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 ammendment news home | top | world | intl | natl | op | pol | govt | business | tech | sci | entertain | sports | health | odd | sources Presidential • Cabinet • Congress • Supreme Crt • Other US Govt House Approves Flag-Burning Amendment Email this Story Jun 22, 3:08 PM (ET) By LAURIE KELLMAN WASHINGTON (AP) - The House on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to ban desecration of the American flag, a measure that for the first time stands a chance of passing the Senate as well. By a 286-130 vote - eight more than needed - House members approved the amendment after a debate over whether such a ban would uphold or run afoul of the Constitution's free-speech protections. Approval of two-thirds of the lawmakers present was required to send the bill on to the Senate, where activists on both sides say it stands the best chance of passage in years. If the amendment is approved in that chamber by a two-thirds vote, it would then move to the states for ratification. Supporters said the measure reflected patriotism that deepened after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and they accused detractors of being out of touch with public sentiment. "Ask the men and women who stood on top of the (World) Trade Center," said Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif. "Ask them and they will tell you: pass this amendment." But Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said, "If the flag needs protection at all, it needs protection from members of Congress who value the symbol more than the freedoms that the flag represents." The measure was designed to overturn a 1989 decision by the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 that flag burning was a protected free-speech right. That ruling threw out a 1968 federal statute and flag-protection laws in 48 states. The law was a response to anti-Vietnam war protesters setting fire to the American flag at their demonstrations. The proposed one-line amendment to the Constitution reads, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." For the language to be added to the Constitution, it must be approved not only by two-thirds of each chamber but also by 38 states within seven years. Each time the proposed amendment has come to the House floor, it has reached the required two-thirds majority. But the measure has always died in the Senate, falling short of the 67 votes needed. The last time the Senate took up the amendment was in 2000, when it failed 63-37. But last year's elections gave Republicans a four-seat pickup in the Senate, and now proponents and critics alike say the amendment stands within a vote or two of reaching the two-thirds requirement in that chamber. By most counts, 65 current senators have voted for or said they intend to support the amendment, two shy of the crucial tally. More than a quarter of current senators were not members of that chamber during the last vote. The Senate is expected to consider the measure after the July 4th holiday. Quote
archenemy Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 Isn't porn also protected under free speech? Quote
Cobra_Commander Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 that's "speach", you ignorant baboon. you need to eat more! Quote
Cobra_Commander Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 oh. well carry on then. it is speach after all, and it is free. Quote
mec Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 Are you talking about about eating peaches? Is that written in the constitution?? Quote
cj001f Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 Are you talking about about eating peaches? Is that written in the constitution?? Peaches for me? Peaches for free? Quote
Dechristo Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 Speach = SPutum + pEACH It's the fluid that drips from your chin when eating a ripe peach. Also, used colloquially in conversation of cunnilingus. Quote
Dechristo Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 An absorbant towel and tongue condom are the only protections for these types of speach Quote
Dechristo Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 y'all can kiss my arse. Bravo! Speach! SPEACH! Quote
minx Posted June 22, 2005 Author Posted June 22, 2005 y'all can kiss my arse. Bravo! Speach! SPEACH! i em so onered dat ewe wont mi to speach. i dunt half eenything too sae thow Quote
Dechristo Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 Sae wut chew lighk... yore freedum uv speach iz pro techted un der tha Merrycans with diss a bill ittys ack. Quote
minx Posted June 22, 2005 Author Posted June 22, 2005 Sae wut chew lighk... yore freedum uv speach iz pro techted un der tha Merrycans with diss a bill ittys ack. i am not surprised to find out that YOU know that. Quote
Cobra_Commander Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 I call sarcasm. gee ya think? I call sarcasm. Quote
minx Posted June 22, 2005 Author Posted June 22, 2005 I call sarcasm. gee ya think? now you are just being sarcastic. and.....? your point is? Quote
Dechristo Posted June 22, 2005 Posted June 22, 2005 I call sarcasm. gee ya think? now you are just being sarcastic. and.....? your point is? Under my hat. Quote
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