Alabama Governor Wants to Remove Racist Language

After two efforts to remove racist language concerning education from Alabama's 1901 Constitution, Gov. Robert Bentley says he's more determined than ever to see the racist language removed.

The amendment to remove the language concerning poll taxes and requiring black and white students to attend separate schools was defeated Tuesday.

Bentley said he would prefer an amendment that only addresses the racist language. He said he is concerned that deleting a 1956 amendment concerning the right to an education would cause Alabama residents to worry that lawmakers would approve a tax increase to pay for it. Legislators have said the amendment would have to be worded carefully to avoid the difficulties that have doomed two efforts to remove the language in the past decade.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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