Contact: Michele Combs, Christian Coalition, 202-479-6900

WASHINGTON, June 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Yesterday, just one week shy of Independence Day, the U.S. Senate, by a vote of 66 to 34, failed to approve sending the proposed Flag Protection Amendment to the states for ratification.  In doing so, the Senate missed yet another opportunity to align itself with the vast majority of the American people, as well as to allow the states to have a chance to debate an important issue.

Christian Coalition of America President Roberta Combs expressed her disappointment with the Senate, saying, “With the vast majority of state legislatures having passed resolutions in favor of the Flag Amendment, and sixty-six senators in favor, it should have occurred to at least one of the other thirty-four to have a few doubts about their own infallibility and trust the states to make the right decision.  Unfortunately, too many senators don’t have such doubts about themselves.”

“Our flag is a national monument, and to suggest that desecrating it should be protected speech doesn’t make any more sense than suggesting that people be allowed to spray paint graffiti on Mount Rushmore, the Lincoln Memorial or Congress itself”, Combs said.  “Senators need to understand that it is not their job to take a paternalistic attitude and prevent the states from having an opportunity to decide what is important enough to be included in our Constitution.”