How Speaker Mike Johnson’s plans for a Christian law school unraveled
Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican congressman from Louisiana, attempted to create a Christian law school in the state that would adhere to a conservative interpretation of the Bible funded by public tax dollars. The plan caused an uproar among civil rights organizations, education experts, and state officials who opposed it because of its potential violation of the separation of church and state.
Johnson initially proposed and co-sponsored a bill that would have granted $1.2 million in state funds to the school. The school was to be part of a larger initiative to increase the number of attorneys in rural and underserved areas of Louisiana.
However, Johnson encountered several stumbling blocks in his plans for the school. First, he was sued by civil rights organizations and the American Bar Association, who argued that the school was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Furthermore, the state’s higher education board rejected the idea of using public funds for a religious school, as it would contravene the state’s constitution, which mandates a separation of church and state.
In addition, Johnson’s plans for the school were further hindered by a report issued by an independent consulting firm, which determined that the school was not likely to become financially stable without additional funds from private donors. Furthermore, the report indicated that the school would likely face significant resistance from other schools in the area that could potentially compete for the same students.
Ultimately, Mike Johnson dropped his plans for the Christian law school after his proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by the Louisiana legislature and courts. His ambitious attempt to bring a conservative Christian school to the state never materialized.