Capitol-monuments plan gains approval

In a 27-5 vote, the Senate approved legislation establishing that before any requests for new Capitol-grounds monuments can be considered, they must first receive the approval of the Legislature.

House Bill 1273 by Rep. Kim Hammer, R- Benton, would require lawmakers’ approval before such requests can be considered by the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission. Current law requires the General Assembly to approve monuments either before or after the commission has its say.

The bill also states that the commission can’t consider removing a monument unless it’s first approved by lawmakers. Current law does not give the Legislature a role in that decision.

Hammer’s bill comes as a Ten Commandments monument has resulted in requests for a satanic monument and a wall for atheists. Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, and Hammer had sponsored Act 1231 of 2015, which requires the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission to permit a Ten Commandments monument on the Capitol grounds. The monument is in storage awaiting placement.