Oct 12, 2007 - Illinois lawmakers voted to require students to observe a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.
By a 74-37 vote, the House set aside Gov. Blagojevich’s veto of the legislation, which he and others said promoted prayer in public schools.
The change, which takes effect immediately, builds upon a 1969 state law that granted teachers the option of a brief period of silence at the start of each school day. Now it will be a requirement.The Senate overrode Blagojevich’s veto last week. Seventy-one votes were necessary in the House to undo the governor’s veto Thursday.
Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood), the bill’s chief sponsor, denied he was promoting school prayer but instead said a moment of silence possibly could avert tragedies like the recent school shooting in Cleveland, where a troubled 14-year-old shot two students and two teachers before killing himself.The law originally passed during the spring legislative session, but Governor Rod Blagojevich vetoed it.
