The Secular Coalition for America has been busy creating state groups.  It takes a lot of time and there was some worry that it would take focus off of the national level.  However, a lot of the battles are local and I fully support having a chapter in every state!

All of the hard work is starting to pay off.

Exciting news! This week we saw our first big win from our newly formed state chapters. Following an address by the Secular Coalition for Montana to the House Education Committee, the “Intelligent Design” bill was officially tabled–legislative speak for killing the bill. Labeled as support for “critical thinking,” HB183 was a stealth creationism and intelligent design bill which sought to teach theological arguments in the public schools science classroom. Similar legislation also failed this week in Colorado.

Oh, those silly christians.  The call indoctrination, “critical thinking”, Mr. Orwell would be proud!

It’s not every day we get to celebrate a win like this–but with the expansion of our state chapters, the day is coming that these types of successes will be common place across the country. The most egregious legislation is happening at the state level, which is why it’s so critically important for us to keep moving forward building the state chapters. For example, similar Intelligent Design legislation is currently still being considered in Oklahoma and Missouri and has already been passed in Louisiana and Tennessee.

The fundies sure are busy.  They can’t dumb down America fast enough.  Good job Montana!  I look forward to more and more state wins.

The Secular Coalition has been adding new and exciting plans every day for our Secular Summit and Lobby Day, including a freshly updated and greatly expanded schedule for the event. We’ve also confirmed several speakers including Michael Gamel-McCormick of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pension Committee for session “Science Education under Assault: Stopping Anti-Science Legislation in its Tracks” and Leslie Griffin, a Law Professor at UNLV, who will take part in the session on “Religious Liberty vs. Health and Safety.”  If you haven’t already, register NOW for Lobby Day — there is only one week left to secure the early bird rate!

Finally, The SCA is meeting with the White House Office of Personal Engagement this week to introduce them to the SCA and discuss possible attendance at the Secular Summit.  We have meetings set up with Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY), and Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN). This week we sent a letter to all Congressional offices urging them to cosponsor the Darwin Day resolution.

You can make a donation to the SCA here!