By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Lawmakers in the Alabama House have rejected a bill that would have allowed public high schools to offer a course on the Bible. Specifically, the course would have explored the Bible's literary and historical significance. House Majority Leader Representative Ken Guin sponsored the bill, and he had support from House Speaker Seth Hammett. But House Republicans opposed the bill because it named a specific textbook to be used in teaching the class. Lawmakers took a vote to bring the bill up for debate, but the effort failed 49 to 42. Fifty-six votes were needed to open debate. The vote fell mostly along party lines. Forty-nine Democrats voted "yes" -- 39 Republicans and three Democrats voted against it.