A Florida House Committee voted 12-5 today in favor of a bill that would allow public school students to deliver "inspirational messages" during assemblies.

Democrats fighting the proposal warned the measure would at least ensnare school districts in lengthy and costly lawsuits over any policy they adopted.

Critics also said the legislation could make students from minority religions feel especially uncomfortable. Religious views at odds with those of some students could spark deep divisions, they warned.

Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida ACLU, later blistered the measure as "unnecessary, divisive and unconstitutional.

Is there really a difference between school endorsement of prayer and its promotion of "inspirational messages?" We will likely find out. Now out of committee, the bill is likely to become law according to the Palm Beach Post. A legal challenge can't be far behind.