RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β The North Carolina House has decided that it wants the Rev. Billy Graham to be honored with a statue on Capitol Hill in Washington.
The chamber approved a bill Thursday officially asking a congressional committee to approve placing a statue of the Charlotte-born evangelist inside the U.S. Capitol.
Each state has two statues in the Capitol building. Billy Graham’s likeness would replace the statue of former Gov. Charles Aycock, whose legacy has been tarnished by ties to North Carolina’s white supremacy movement.
The 96-year-old Graham, who now lives in western North Carolina, has been routinely near the top of national popularity lists.
The measure passed 71-28, with all of the negative votes cast by Democrats. Several were unhappy that the bill was brought to the floor without committee debate.
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%@AP Links
259-a-15-(State Rep. Verla Insko, D-N.C., in floor debate)-“regard. I do”-Democratic North Carolina state Representative Verla Insko says she’s voting against the measure because it didn’t go through committee. (16 Apr 2015)
< 256-a-14-(State Rep. John Blust, R-N.C., in floor debate)-“you could name”-Republican North Carolina state Representative John Blust says the Rev. Billy Graham’s statue should represent North Carolina in the U.S. Capitol. (16 Apr 2015) < 255-a-12-(State Rep. John Blust, R-N.C., in floor debate)-“in the world”-Republican North Carolina state Representative John Blust says the Rev. Billy Graham’s statue should be in the U.S. Capitol building. (16 Apr 2015) < 257-a-07-(State Rep. Charles Jeter, R-N.C., in floor debate)-“to President Obama”-Republican North Carolina state Representative Charles Jeter says the Rev. Billy Graham is unique among natives of North Carolina. (16 Apr 2015) <
