Rand Paul: “I am pleased to support, and cosponsor, the Pledge Protection Act (H.R. 2028), which restricts federal court…”

“I am pleased to support, and cosponsor, the Pledge Protection Act (H.R. 2028), which restricts federal court jurisdiction over the question of whether the phrase ``under God'' should be included in the pledge of allegiance. Local schools should determine for themselves whether or not students should say ``under God'' in the pledge. The case finding it is a violation of the First Amendment to include the words ``under God'' in the pledge is yet another example of federal judges abusing their power by usurping state and local governments' authority over matters such as education. Congress has the constitutional authority to rein in the federal court's jurisdiction and the duty to preserve the states' republican forms of governments. Since government by the federal judiciary undermines the states' republican governments, Congress has a duty to rein in rogue federal judges. I am pleased to see Congress exercise its authority to protect the states from an out-of-control judiciary.”