Associated Press Published

Tomblin Vetoes 'In God We Trust bill'


Citing technical errors, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has vetoed a bill letting public entities accept private donations to display the phrase “In God We Trust” on their buildings.

The bill would have required the State Building Commission to develop guidelines for displaying the national motto and the POW-MIA flag.

In his veto message, the Democratic governor wrote that the commission hasn’t existed since 2000.

Tomblin has vetoed 14 bills for technical glitches this year. Lawmakers reworked and passed the other 13, and Tomblin has signed many of them.

The “In God We Trust” bill is the first technical veto lawmakers aren’t able to immediately fix, since the Republican-led Legislature is no longer in session.