Bill for Ten Commandments momument at Capitol clears Senate

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal will now decide whether to place a monument of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the Georgia Capitol.
 
Channel 2's Lori Geary was at the state Capitol where the state senate gave the bill calling for that monument final passage Wednesday. 
 
This bill passed the Senate 40-10.
 
If you walk the halls of the state Capitol, on the first floor you'll see a display of the Ten Commandments along with other historical documents. 
 
The bill calls not only for a monument of the Ten Commandments, but also a part of the Declaration of Independence and the Georgia Constitution paid for with private funds. 
 
Some Democrats said they had to vote no because they say the bill would not survive a constitutional challenge because of the issue of separation of church and state.
 
"The state doesn't necessarily need to endorse private individuals and their expenditure of money in supporting their own religion," said state Sen. Steven Henson.
 
The bill now heads to the governor's desk. If he signs it into law, a special committee would decide where to exactly to place the monument.

WSBTV