The House Education Policy Committee pushed through a bill Wednesday to allow school systems to educate students on "traditional winter celebrations" and display Nativity scenes as long as they also display a "secular" symbol, such as Santa Claus or a reindeer.

Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, said he introduced the bill "to fight political correctness."

"We're so politically correct now, everyone's afraid to say 'Merry Christmas.' You're saying 'Happy Holidays' and there's a 'holiday tree' instead of a Christmas tree," Butler said while summing up the bill.

Rep. Phil Williams, R-Huntsville, said the bill creates confusion because there is nothing that stops schools from currently putting up Christmas displays or holiday symbols from other religions.

"I believe you can do all this today. I believe you can wish someone Happy Chanukkah or Merry Christmas today ... You can talks about baby Jesus in the manger today, so why the bill?" Williams said.

Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, pointed out that the bill would also allow Islamic displays, and suggested that most of her colleagues might object to that.

"I just want to keep in mind that Islam is a religion, too, and that I would bet you every penny I have that if there was an Islamic display in a public school we would be passing a law to restrict it," she said. "But that's a religious belief, so we would allow Islamic celebrations."

The committee approved the bill in a voice vote. The next step is for the full House to consider it.