Limit holy books for Pa. lawmakers?
HARRISBURG - A state senator from western Pennsylvania is calling for a ban on Bibles, of sorts. Sen. John N. Wozniak (D., Cambria) yesterday urged leaders to end the practice of buying Bibles and Torahs for each senator to use when sworn into office at the start of each term.
HARRISBURG - A state senator from western Pennsylvania is calling for a ban on Bibles, of sorts.
Sen. John N. Wozniak (D., Cambria) yesterday urged leaders to end the practice of buying Bibles and Torahs for each senator to use when sworn into office at the start of each term.
Instead, Wozniak said, only new members should get a one-time-only book of scripture courtesy of the taxpayers.
Wozniak sent a letter to Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph B. Scarnati III (R., Jefferson) asking for the policy change.
The move comes two weeks after The Inquirer first reported that House and Senate leaders bought 220 holy books at a total price tag of $13,700 this year. Legislative leaders defended the practice, arguing that it was in keeping with longstanding tradition in Harrisburg.
"There are times when adherence to tradition is simply being stubborn and insensitive to the people we serve," Wozniak said. "There is difficult work to be done, and these controversies and distractions are not needed."
