Senators Cropsey, Patterson, Birkholz, Hammerstrom, Garcia, Bishop, Kuipers, Van Woerkom, Sikkema, Sanborn, McManus, George, Toy, Gilbert, Goschka, Hardiman, Allen, Stamas, Jelinek, Cassis and Brown offered the following concurrent resolution:

            Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 29.

            A concurrent resolution to express our strong disappointment with the September 14, 2005, federal District Court ruling that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in a public school is unconstitutional.

            Whereas, The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag is once again under assault by those who fail to appreciate its unifying themes of liberty, unity, and faith. For a nation of immigrants and their descendents, pledging loyalty to the ideals that the American flag represents is a pillar of strength for a diverse nation; and

            Whereas, Only last year, the United States Supreme Court dismissed a case brought before the courts on the grounds that the plaintiff lacked standing to sue. The same man who launched the assault on our Pledge of Allegiance that failed in 2004 has pursued his attempts to remove "under God" from the pledge; and

            Whereas, In this latest case, United States District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the reference to one nation "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance violates schoolchildren's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God." That this clear expression of patriotism is being interpreted by this court as an issue of religious freedom is outrageous; and

            Whereas, It is our hope that this ruling will be reversed by the federal courts. The Pledge of Allegiance must remain a unifying pledge of freedom for a nation built on citizens from the four corners of our globe who found refuge on our shores. Our pledge to the United States flag is a valuable symbol of our freedom and our schoolchildren deserve the right to this expression of loyalty that has served our nation well for over fifty years; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we express our strong disappointment with the September 14, 2005, federal District Court ruling that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in a public school is unconstitutional; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Ninth United States Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States Supreme Court, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and Governor Jennifer Granholm.