Bible Won't Be Tennessee's State Book

The Tennessee House of Representatives failed Wednesday to override Gov. Bill Haslam's veto of a bill that would have made the Bible the official state book.

The Republican governor made his veto decision last week based on constitutional concerns and concerns that the measure "trivializes" what he believes is a sacred text.

"I felt like it trivialized the Bible to put it on the same level with the state bird and insect and so many other things we have," Haslam said. "The Bible is either the inspired Word of God or it's not. We shouldn't honor it for one reason when it's really for another."

Lawmakers in both chambers had passed the bill despite a warning by the state's attorney general that it would violate both the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions, the latter of which states that "no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship."

Supporters of the bills said it was not a state endorsement of a religion but rather a way to honor the economic and historical impact of the Bible.

"It doesn't force anyone to read it, it doesn't force anyone to buy it, it doesn't force anyone to believe it," Rep. Jerry Sexton (R), a former Baptist minister, said. "It's simply symbolic."