A bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Kimberly Daniels, in which every school and administrative building in the state of Florida must prominently display the words “In God We Trust” is now moving through the state’s legislature, the Associated Press has reported.
Daniels told the AP that the bill would be a lesson to children about the national and state motto that’s printed on currency and included on the Florida state flag.
The AP reported that the bill received unanimous approval Tuesday from the House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee and that Democrats and Republicans alike were praising it.
“The nation was ‘built on God,’ and the bill is a great idea at a time when many young people aren’t going to church,” Democratic Rep. Larry Lee said. “We’re taking God out of everything.”
Republican Rep. Ralph Masullo said the passage of the bill should be a no-brainer.
“Students should know about the state’s history and, as part of that history, ‘we do trust in God,'” Massullo said.
Officially designated in 2006, the Florida state motto is the same as the national motto for the U.S., “In God We Trust.” Florida’s first state motto, “In God is our Trust,” was adopted by the Florida legislature as part of the state seal in 1868. {eoa}