AMENDMENT ON FLAG PASSES HOUSE VOTE

A constitutional amendment to protect the American flag from desecration passed the House Wednesday, 312-120.

Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, sponsored the amendment.

He said, "In excess of 80 percent of the American public support protection for the flag. It shouldn't be desecrated."

Emerson said the amendment allows states to pass laws banning desecration of the flag.]

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law in 1989 banning desecration of flag. The court said the law infringed on the First Amendment and its guarantee of free speech.

Emerson said the court's decision was wrong.

"We have other exceptions to the First Amendment -- pornography and other exceptions -- and we should have sanctity for the flag," he said.

Emerson said he has supported the flag amendment for the past several years, adding that the flag represented basic American principles.

A spokesman from Emerson's office said the opposition is from a bipartisan group opposed to amending the U.S. Constitution for a flag-protection amendment.

The amendment now goes to the Senate, where Emerson hopes it will be taken up before the August break.