Council to Consider Displaying 'In God We Trust'

The national motto of the United States might soon have a place at . The  on Monday will consider a proposal to display the motto "In God We Trust" at the local government's main building on Stuart Ranch Road. Mayor Pro Tem Lou La Monte and Council member Pamela Conley Ulich placed the proposal on the agenda.

"I don't think it would cause any harm," La Monte told Malibu Patch. "We're talking about something that is printed on our money. We talk about it every time we say the Pledge of Allegiance. It is definitely something that is qualified to be discussed."

La Monte said he was approached by Conley Ulich about placing the item on the agenda because she was passionate about the issue following the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of a nonbinding measure last month to "reaffirm" that "In God We Trust" is the national motto .

The measure passed 396-9. President Obama criticized the vote after it was taken.

"In the House of Representatives, what have you guys been doing, John?" said Obama in a Washington D.C. area speech, referring to Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio). "You've been debating a commemorative coin for baseball. You've had legislation reaffirming that 'In God We Trust' is our motto. That's not putting people back to work. I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work."

The four-word phrase became the nation's official motto in 1956. It began appearing on coins nearly a century earlier and was put on paper money starting in 1957.

The staff report  for the council agenda item includes information from the organization In God We Trust ~ America, which has a mission statement, "to promote patriotism by encouraging elected officials to legally display our national motto 'In God We trust' in every city, county and state chamber in America."

The organization's website  says it is has gotten "yes votes"  from the governments of 267 cities and counties in the United States.

La Monte said he expects to hear various opinions from public speakers at the meeting on Monday. An active parishioner at , La Monte said he understands why some people might be opposed to the proposal.

"The concept is religious freedom," La Monte said. "I completely believe everybody has a right to support or oppose. I'd like to get the discussion out in public. If Congress felt that strongly about it, that they voted to reaffirm the motto, then it is something worth discussing in Malibu."