09 March 2011

Texas bill tries to protect intelligent design

Texas Freedom Network and the National Center for Science Education are reporting on a house bill in Texas that would prohibit universities and colleges from discriminating against someone doing research in intelligent design.

I predict it will not become law.

For one thing, it doesn’t save any money. And right now, trying to cope with the state budget shortfall is far more on the minds of legislators. Or at least, it should be.

The bill is also poorly worded in some ways. It refers to the “development of organisms,” which I think is supposed to mean evolution, but more correctly means growth (ontogeny).

It is disturbing, however, in that it continues the trend of the Texas legislature (which cries “limited government” at nearly every turn) attempting to micro-manage universities. That is more worrying that this specific bill, because it is more likely to become reality.

1 comment:

elprofe said...

The micromanaging has only just begun. See The Burka Blog for Governor Perry's latest steps towards direct state government control of Texas' Tier One universities: http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/?p=9489