{"id":558,"date":"2008-04-24T08:46:28","date_gmt":"2008-04-24T12:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.flascience.org\/wp\/?p=558"},"modified":"2008-08-31T16:18:35","modified_gmt":"2008-08-31T20:18:35","slug":"news-roundup-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=558","title":{"rendered":"News roundup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before I get to the news accounts, here is notice that the House bill should get its second reading<\/a> on Friday. Keep in mind that second reading means that the bill can be amended and debated, but there is no vote. That has to wait until the third reading. Time is ticking. The end of the legislative session is getting closer. Will the third reading get on the calendar before the end of session, which is May 2? If it does, will there then be time to reconcile the house version with the senate version? Some of the below news accounts say that things don’t look good (which means that things do look good for us who are opposed to these bills). Will the house bill be amended during the second reading to match the senate bill? Quotes from Hays in the news stories make it sound like he doesn’t like that idea. And judging by the torpedoing of Storms’ last minute amendment, it looks like the senate doesn’t like Hays’ bill.<\/p>\n

Make sure you call as many Representatives<\/a> as you can.<\/p>\n

Herald Tribune has some real good quotes that are worth a chuckle: Evolution bills in jeopardy as session nears end<\/a><\/p>\n

TALLAHASSEE \u00e2\u20ac\u201d A proposed law allowing teachers and students to question the scientific theory of evolution is in jeopardy. The Senate narrowly passed its version Wednesday, but rejected an amendment that would have brought it in line with the House version — and compromise may not be possible before the annual lawmaking session ends next week.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

Hays said he planned to ask his colleagues in the House to vote on his version early next week, leaving just a few days after that to forge a compromise that could be approved by both chambers. “We’re not going to just get something in,” Hays said. “We want to get something right.”<\/p>\n

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, said she has not given up on passing some version of the evolution bill, but that she had hoped to avoid the last-minute bouncing between the chambers. “Certainly we’re running out of time,” Storms said.<\/p>\n

Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, who voted for the evolution bill and spoke in favor of it, was more blunt about the shrinking time frame. He said Hays “must be hitting the sauce if he thinks he’s going to send the bill back here.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Orlando Sentinel: Senate OKs bill to offer ‘options’ to evolution<\/a><\/p>\n

TALLAHASSEE – An “academic freedom” bill that opponents claim will open the door to teaching religious-based theories of creation squeaked through the state Senate on Wednesday.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tampa Bay Online: Senate Approves Evolution Bill<\/a><\/p>\n

To sponsor Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, the bill would allow for freedom of speech and critical thinking: There are increasing numbers of scientists who don’t buy Darwin’s theory of natural selection, she has said. Critics of Storms’ bill, however, say that most of those skeptics have religious reasons for questioning evolution and those religious beliefs do not belong in science classrooms.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

St. Petersburg Times: Legislative roundup: Sen. Storms evolution bill moves on<\/a><\/p>\n

A Tampa Bay Republican’s controversial evolution bill squeaked out of the Florida Senate Wednesday, overcoming the defection of five Republicans who say Sen. Ronda Storms’ proposal ushers religion into public classrooms. The vote was 21-17, with Republicans Jim King, Evelyn Lynn, Paula Dockery, Mike Bennett and Dennis Jones joining Democrats in voting against the “Evolution Academic Freedom Act” (SB 2692).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Palm Beach Post: Florida Senate OKs ban on penalties for teachers who challenge evolution<\/a><\/p>\n

Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller objected that questioning evolution in schools sends the wrong message to the scientific community in an era when the state is spending millions of dollars luring bio-tech institutes like Scripps to set up shop here. “I submit to you in 2008 it is embarrassing for us to be debating evolution,” said Geller, D-Cooper City.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Florida Baptist Witness: Senate passes evolution academic freedom bill, 21-17<\/a><\/p>\n

Noting that scientific advancements have come from those who were willing to ask that question, Webster said of teachers and students, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t we ask that question?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Speaking to his colleagues, Webster said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Maybe King David was right \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 when he looked up and said, the heavens declare the glory of God.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

Storms also read portions of a three-page e-mail from Wayne Gerber, a Pinellas County science teacher, who noted a biology textbook currently in use in his school includes erroneous information about evolution that remains in the book because it supports evolutionary theory. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Note, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no reference to religion here,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Storms told her colleagues. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is just a scientific basis for objecting to evolution.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

No, Storms, Mr. Gerber didn’t overtly talk about religion. But his talking points you read to the Senate are straight out of the creationist literature and were arguments dismissed long ago by the scientific community as unscientific and blatantly dishonest. A quick search on the Internet and through Pinellas County school sites doesn’t turn up Gerber’s name, but there were several school sites that don’t list the faculty. Unfortunately, most senators listening to Storms don’t know enough about the subject to realize the creationist roots of the tired old talking points. Your own colleague, Webster, couldn’t help but bring God into this, could he?<\/p>\n

WJHG: Evolution Vote<\/a><\/p>\n

The legislation must still clear the state House and the Governor\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Desk. Governor Charlie Crist avoided questions about the bill. He told reporters he would wait to see if legislation made it through the chambers before he weighed in on the topic.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Ledger: Fla. Senate Passes Evolution Challenge Bill<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Some advocates say intelligent design is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153scientific,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d but a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a religious theory. The bill\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sponsor, Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, has steadfastly refused to say whether she believes creationism and intelligent design are scientific and would be allowed to be taught under her bill. Her only response has been to cite provisions in the bill saying it would not require religious alternatives to be taught.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Before I get to the news accounts, here is notice that the House bill should get its second reading on Friday. Keep in mind that second reading means that the bill can be amended and debated, but there is no … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcZNLl-90","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":496,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=496","url_meta":{"origin":558,"position":0},"title":"Tracking the bills","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"May 2, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a summary\/tracking post that was updated throughout the Florida legislative session concerning two anti-evolution bills that were introduced in the Senate and House. Fortunately, the bills never made it into law in 2008. STATE SENATE SB 2692 Teaching Chemical and Biological Evolution; Cites act as the \"Academic Freedom\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08"","block_context":{"text":"\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":548,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=548","url_meta":{"origin":558,"position":1},"title":"Both bills on 2nd reading","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"April 16, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm trying to sort out the legislative process. Once both of the deceptively-named \"academic freedom\" bills were approved by their committees I started feeling very confused. I think I have a handle on it now, though. In the House, the HB1483 was up for its second reading today. Here's the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08"","block_context":{"text":"\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":561,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=561","url_meta":{"origin":558,"position":2},"title":"Yet more amendment action","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"April 25, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"UPDATE III: I think they are on the final amendment to 7135 here at 12:03 p.m. So, hopefully, the anti-evolution bill will be up in a few minutes. UPDATE II: Bill 7135 has a ton of amendments, making it take more than an hour to work through. We're still waiting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08"","block_context":{"text":"\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":556,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=556","url_meta":{"origin":558,"position":3},"title":"Senate Bill today?","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"April 23, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"UPDATE III: SB2692 is up now at 10:52 a.m. UPDATE II: Session has started. Senate president just said that they don't like strikeall amendments on the floor, but strikealls that are done to conform to the House version are generally OK. So, my guess is that Storms' anti-evolution bill strikeall\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08"","block_context":{"text":"\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":568,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=568","url_meta":{"origin":558,"position":4},"title":"Fate of the bills","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"April 29, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"What will happen with the differing versions of the deceptively named \"academic freedom\" bills now? (The two pages we need to keep an eye on are this one (House) and this one (Senate).)\u00c2\u00a0 The Senate and House approved very different versions of the bill, and each bill sponsor seems convinced\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08"","block_context":{"text":"\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":551,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=551","url_meta":{"origin":558,"position":5},"title":"Trying to keep my lunch down","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"April 17, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"I had an interesting time during lunch today. I watched Senator Storms stand before the Senate to defend her deceptively named \u00e2\u20ac\u0153academic freedom\u00e2\u20ac\u009d bill around noontime. I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get to see the whole thing, but what I did see was train wreck fascinating. First there was the matter of Senators\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08"","block_context":{"text":"\"Academic Freedom\" bills '08","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=558"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}