Earlier this year, third grader Olivia McConnell wrote to her state representatives with a request: South Carolina didn’t have an official state fossil, so could the Wooly Mammoth claim that title?

… Olivia gave her reasons: 1. One of the first discoveries of a vertebrae fossil in North America was on an S.C. plantation when slaves dug up wooly mammoth teeth from a swamp in 1725. 2. All but seven states have an official state fossil. 3. “Fossils tell us about our past.” “Please work on this for me,” McConnell wrote to [Rep. Robert] Ridgeway, signing her letter, “Your friend, Olivia.”

Ridgeway and Sen. Kevin Johnson saw no reason to object so they introduced legislation in their respective houses to make it happen.

The bill (as it was passed in the House last month) would amend the 1976 code on state emblems to include the Columbian Mammoth as the state fossil:

Whereas, giant mammoths used to roam South Carolina; and Whereas, scientists have identified the fossils of about six hundred and fifty species of vertebrates in South Carolina to date; and Whereas, it has been recognized that fossilized mammoth teeth were discovered in a swamp in South Carolina in 1725; and Whereas, this discovery has been credited as the first scientific identification of a North American vertebrate fossil. Now, therefore, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: SECTION 1. Article 9, Chapter 1, Title 1 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding: “Section 1-1-712A. The Columbian Mammoth is designated as the official State Fossil of South Carolina.” SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

A cute story all around, right? The House bill passed easily on a 94-3 vote and moved on to the Senate… where it encountered an obstacle:

Sen. Kevin Bryant of Anderson had proposed amending the bill to include a passage from the book of Genesis in the Bible explaining the creation of life.

Because, as we all know, fossils mixed with Jesus make Ken Ham cry…

(Bryant is a born-again Christian who has no problem proclaiming his Jesus-lovin’ views on his personal website. Surprise!)

Bryant’s objection began a ridiculous chain reaction:

… Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell ruled the amendment was out of order because it introduced a new subject… [then Sen. Mike] Fair placed an objection to the bill, halting its progress. … Fair said he objected to the bill because he is hoping to talk to some senators who have an objection on one of his bills. “I was going to see how serious they are about getting that bill passed,” he said.

In short, an eight-year-old’s suggested bill to make the Wooly Mammoth South Carolina’s official state fossil was interrupted by one Christian’s attempt to inject the Bible into it… and is now being held up by another Christian senator.

He claims the dismissal of the biblical amendment has nothing to do with it, but that’s hard to believe. Just last month, Sen. Mike Fair, whose district includes Bob Jones University, blocked the state from adopting new education standards regarding evolution because he wanted to “teach the controversy” instead. And it wasn’t the first time he had tried to inject Intelligent Design into the public schools.

So, for now, the Wooly Mammoth isn’t the official state fossil because two Bible-thumpers are standing in the way.

It sounds like the other senators are frustrated, too:

The announcement over the objection was met with groans by senators.

I’ll let you know if Fair and Bryant eventually back down.

(Top image via Shutterstock. Thanks to John for the link)



