Bible bill expected to pass Senate

Despite their opposition, the top leaders of the Senate anticipate a bill to make the Bible the official book of Tennessee to receive approval when it comes up for a vote on the chamber's floor.

"It’s fundamentally wrong. I think it’s sacrilegious," Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, said on Wednesday, adding that he believes there will be enough votes for the controversial bill to pass.

"I think people are concerned that their vote will be misconstrued," he said, while discussing his colleagues.

Norris opposed the bill last year and led the effort to send it to a committee, effectively killing the legislation for the year.

"All I know is that I hear Satan snickering. He loves this kind of mischief," Norris said last year. "You just dumb the good book down far enough to make it whatever it takes to make it a state symbol, and you're on your way to where he wants you."

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who also voiced opposition to the legislation last year, reiterated his stance on Wednesday.

"I still have some reservations about that. How far do we go with this? It’s still my personal book but is it trivializing it?" he said.

Ramsey said although he's spoken with the bill's sponsor, Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, he hasn't made up his mind on exactly how to vote.

"The last time I opposed it — I’m leaning toward that again. I just don’t think it’s something we need to be doing," Ramsey said, before admitting that the bill is likely to pass no matter how he or Norris vote.

Their comments come one day after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-1 in favor of the recently revived bill.

Tennessee Senate committee approves Bible bill

On Wednesday, Gov. Bill Haslam reiterated his concerns, citing constitutional questions, as well as "some personal reservations."

The governor would not say whether or not he would veto it in the event of the measure landing on his desk.

Haslam: Bible as official Tennessee book not 'respectful'

Haslam opposed the measure last year, saying it wasn't "very respectful."

Last year, Attorney General Herbert Slatery said the measure would violate separation of church and state provisions in the federal and state constitutions.

Reach Joel Ebert at 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.