Somewhere, I had read a story about how the certificates that accompany flags that have been flown over the capitol were banned from having religious expressions on them. I learned that there is an Architect of the Capitol whose job it is "the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, which includes the Capitol, the congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress buildings, the Supreme Court building, the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Capitol Power Plant, and other facilities." They also, apparently, prepare the certificates.Turns out that it is Mike Turner who discovered that the phrase 'under God' was being omitted from certificates that requested the Pledge of Allegiance. The policy has been in place since 2003, apparently. The good news is that Rep. Turner has started a drive to get the policy overturned and has the support of 137 House members who signed a letter to Speaker Pelosi on the issue.
Reps. Dave Hobson {R-Springfield), Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland), and Jim Jordan(R-Urbana) have all signed on. The lone Democrat to sign the letter so far is Rep. Mike McIntyre of North Carolina.
