Blaine Amendment | Video

Jessica Roose | 3/18/2013

North Dakotans won`t get the opportunity to remove wording from the constitution in what`s called a Blaine Amendment, prohibiting the state from giving funds to religious based schools.

Supporters of the resolution say the wording in the amendment is bigoted in nature and should be removed.

Opponents claim it`s just a way to allow for lawmakers to pass a bill in future sessions to give money to private schools.

"When you give public money raised from people of many religions to particular religious groups, you are helping to establish that religion and that we are meant to separate," said Rep. Eliot Glassheim (D) Grand Forks.

"First of all, nothing in our constitution either allows nor prohibits support of non public schools or private schools. It simply prohibits support of sectarian schools. It`s very different," said Rep. Kim Koppelman (R) West Fargo.

The final tally on the vote was a tie, which was not enough to get the issue on the ballot.

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