Following a 224-to 203 roll-call vote, the House "rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to allow organized prayer in the schools, public financing of religious activities and religious symbols on government property. The vote was 61 short of the two-thirds majority required for passing constitutional amendments. Voting 'yes' were 27 Democrats and 197 Republicans. Voting 'no' were 174 Democrats, 28 Republicans and 1 independent" (The New York Times, June 6, 1998). Voting 'yes' among Virginia House members were 1 Democrat, Virgil Goode, and all 5 Republicans. Voting 'no' among Virginia House members were the remaining 5 Democrats.

"Students may already pray, read the Bible and engage in religious speech at school as long as they do so in a reasonable time, place and manner, without disrupting other students. The measure drew the active opposition of religious groups from across the denominational spectrum, including Catholics, Jews, Presbyterians, Seventh-day Adventists and Muslims. They said the measure was unnecessary, would coerce religious minorities into conforming with the majority and would upend nearly 300 years of religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment" (Katharine Q. Seelye, The New York Times, June 5, 1998).

"This amendment strips the individual of his or her rights to pick his or her own prayer or to practice his or her own religion without having to subject their beliefs to the manipulation and interference of an arrogant majority,' said Representative Bobby Scott, Democrat of Virginia" (Katharine Q. Seelye, The New York Times, June 5, 1998).

"Members of Congress present on the House floor for opening prayer on the three days preceding the vote: 18, 8, 18" (Time Magazine, June 15, 1998) -- recalling President James Madison's criticism about chaplains selected by Congress and paid for by public funds, whose daily devotions were 'already degenerating into a scanty attendance, and a tiresome formality' (quoted by John T. Noonan, Jr., The Lustre of Our Country, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998, p. 85).

On the next day, following a 216 to 204 roll-call vote, the House "approved a Republican-sponsored plan to cut domestic spending by an additional $101 billion through 2003 and trim taxes by an equal amount. Voting 'yes' were 3 Democrats and 213 Republicans. Voting 'no' were 194 Democrats, 9 Republicans and 1 independent" (The New York Times, June 6, 1998). Voting 'yes' among Virginia House members were 1 Democrat, Virgil Goode, and all 5 Republicans. Voting 'no' among Virginia House members were the remaining 5 Democrats.

On June 18th, members of the House of Representatives took a roll call vote "to give tax breaks to families that save for school expenses including tuition at private schools. President Clinton promised a veto" (AP-Washington, The Daily Progress, June 19, 1998).

"The 225-197 vote was mostly along party lines and the margin narrow enough to indicate a veto would stand. The Senate is expected to pass the same bill. Regardless of the final outcome, the measure gives Republicans a way to deliver an education message this midterm election year that stresses parental control of education spending and teacher accountability" (AP-Washington, The Daily Progress, June 19, 1998).