A Dallas-area state representative has introduced legislation aimed at preventing anyone from discriminating against those who want to research intelligent design in Texas. Rep. Bill Zedler of Arlington sponsored House Bill HB2454 because he believes that colleges are keeping important research into the controversial theory from happening.

"It appears there is academic freedom to debate every issue other than this one," he said.

Calling it a "free speech issue," Zedler believes that those who want to study this particular theory do not have equal footing with other scientists.

"Some schools have a guy out there praising Hugo Chavez and nothing happens to him. You have others espousing communism and nothing happens," he explained. "Lo and behold, you talk about anything that might lead to intelligent design, I mean to tell you, [they] are gonna go after you."

Zedler claims that professors are being denied tenure and even losing their jobs because they want to spend university research dollars looking into the theory of intelligent design. When asked if he could cite specific examples, he was unable to, but said we could e-mail him for that information. At the time of posting, we had not received a response to our request for information in that regard.

For his part, Zedler says researchers should be able to "follow the evidence" regardless of where it leads. He believes no one should be discriminated against no matter what theory they put forth and he hopes HB2454 will prevent witch hunts against those who would want to study any theory.

"What this will do is basically put everybody on notice that somebody shouldn't have to be tarred and feathered [for this]," he said.

Zedler doesn't believe more left-leaning scientific research like whether homosexuality is a choice or part of genetic code is being discriminated against, but he claims the bill is necessary for legitimate research into intelligent design.