Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 14, 1990 TAG: 9006140006
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Rep. Robert W. Kastenmeier, D-Wis., complained, "It's unseemly that we're rushing to judgment" as the proposed amendment whisked though the House Constitutional and Civil Rights Subcommittee.
Supporters of the amendment called the flag a symbol of "all that America stands for" and deserving of special protection, while critics said that the plan would "mutilate the Bill of Rights" and the entire issue smacked of election-year politics.
Both sides said if the House were to vote Wednesday on the amendment it would be close. The proposal would have to win two-thirds majorities in both houses and approval by 38 state legislatures to take effect.
Wednesday's subcommittee session relaunched, in a fiery burst of congressional rhetoric, the proposed amendment that was set aside last year as Congress passed the statute overturned by the Supreme Court on Monday.
The House panel voted 5-3 to send the measure to the full Judiciary Committee with an "adverse" recommendation - a symbolic dark cloud that will have no effect on its chances of eventually being adopted.
The three Republicans on the subcommittee, all of whom favor the amendment, voted no on the roll call because they wanted a "favorable" recommendation.
"You don't see that very often," said panel chairman Don Edwards, D-Calif., an outspoken critic of the plan.
President Bush passed up a chance to restate the vigorous support of an amendment that he voiced on Monday - after the court ruling - and again on Tuesday. But his wife Barbara endorsed his views on the subject, saying "You're darn right, I'm always with the president."
At the House subcommittee, supporters and critics alike said the final decision would be made on the House floor, most likely before lawmakers go on recess at the end of the month and perhaps much sooner.
by CNB