Vitter removes his creationism amendment

From the Congressional Record for 17 October 2007, page [Page: S12980]:

Mr. VITTER. Madam President, I rise today to discuss a project I sponsored in the fiscal year 2008 Labor, Health, Human Services and Education appropriations bill. The project, which would develop a plan to promote better science-based education in Ouachita Parish by the Louisiana Family Forum, has raised concerns among some that its intention was to mandate and push creationism within the public schools. That is clearly not and never was the intent of the project, nor would it have been its effect. However, to avoid more hysterics, I would like to move the $100,000 recommended for this project by the subcommittee when the bill goes to conference committee to another Louisiana priority project funded in this bill.

Mr. HARKIN. Madam President, I appreciate the sentiments by the Senator from Louisiana and accept this proposal to move the funding for this project to other priority projects for the State of Louisiana in the bill when it goes to conference committee.

Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I concur with my colleague and will agree to move these funds in conference committee.

The “hysterics” Senator Vitter refers to probably refers to the efforts of many organizations to have the earmark removed. Read more about those efforts here.. Be sure to read the PDF of the letter that was sent to Senators. I'd hardly call it hysterical, but I'm delighted it got the earmark removed.

UPDATE: More information is available at the NCSE webiste.