SLS 11RS-264 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 2 Regular Session, 2011 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 16 BY SENATOR WALSWORTH PUBLIC BUILDINGS/GROUNDS. Urges the Legislature of Louisiana to erect a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Louisiana State Capitol. A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1 To urge and request the Legislature of Louisiana to erect a Ten Commandments monument2 on the grounds of the State Capitol.3 WHEREAS, most American citizens have voiced strong sentiments that the Ten4 Commandments are historically important in nature because they provide a foundation for5 Western law; and6 WHEREAS, courts at all levels across the United States have ruled that the Ten7 Commandments are a basis for the development of Western legal codes and reflects closely8 what society and culture believe is the manner in which all people should conduct their lives;9 and10 WHEREAS, the Ten Commandments have provided an extraordinary influence upon11 the morals, ethics, ideas and the very ideal of a just society, where people live and obey the12 civil and criminal laws of this great nation; and13 WHEREAS, neighboring states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, have successfully14 fought efforts to ban the display of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of their state15 capitols by seeking legal relief from high courts, including the United States Supreme Court;16 and17 WHEREAS, there is currently pending legislation filed in the 2011 Regular Session18 SCR NO. 16 SLS 11RS-264 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 2 of the Legislature that would provide for installation of a Ten Commandments monument1 on the grounds of the state capitol using private funds under the direction of the2 commissioner of administration; and3 WHEREAS, the proposed monument would not exceed six feet in height by four feet4 in width by four feet in depth and would include a plaque that includes the text of "Context5 for Acknowledging America's Religious History", as set forth in R.S. 25:1283; and6 WHEREAS, the design, construction, placement, and maintenance of the proposed7 monument on the present grounds of the Louisiana State Capitol shall be without cost to the8 state.9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby10 urge and request its members to support plans and approve legislation that would provide11 for the commissioner of administration to direct efforts for a Ten Commandments monument12 to be designed, constructed, installed and maintained, at no cost to the state, on the grounds13 of the Louisiana State Capitol.14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the15 governor of Louisiana.16 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers. DIGEST Walsworth SCR No. Requests that a Ten Commandments monument be designed, constructed, installed and maintained on the grounds of the Louisiana State Capitol at no cost to the state.