The measure would have removed churches and other houses of worship from the list of places where concealed handguns are banned in Arkansas. Only churches and bars are on that list.

The House approved the measure earlier this month. The Senate Judiciary Committee stalled the bill on a voice vote Wednesday.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Beverly Pyle, R-Cedarville, told the panel after the vote that she may try again with the proposal.

“This is not a gun question, it is a question of religious freedom,” Pyle said.

Gov. Mike Beebe has said he’d sign the bill if it made it to his desk.

I believe that churches concerned about having armed protection should consider using law enforcement or other trained protective services. As I mentioned in a conversation earlier, this legislation appears to be a knee jerk reaction to a number of church shootings last year. I have more to say on the subject and will probably add those thoughts to the comments.

This quarter is the first of the U.S. Mint’s 2009 District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program.  The Mint will issue other coins for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.   According to the U.S. Mint, “The image of George Washington as seen on the obverse of the 50 State Quarters® coins will remain unchanged. The reverse of each quarter will be distinctly different with images emblematic of the District of Columbia and each of the territories.”

The residents of the District of Columbia chose the Ellington design from more than 300 others.  The District of Columbia Quarter Design Advisory Committee select three concepts for the quarter and allowed the public to select their favorite between Duke Ellington; Benjamin Banneker, the astronomer, mathematician, and surveyor; and Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist.

For more information, see CNN’s coverage or the U.S. Mint.

Since the torch has been passed from Bush to Obama, I decided to follow the three branches of the US government on Twitter.

Executive Branch:

The White House http://twitter.com/thewhitehouse

Legislative Branch:

The House of Representatives http://twitter.com/HouseFloor
The Senate http://twitter.com/SenateFloor

Judicial Branch:

The US Supreme Court http://twitter.com/USSupremeCourt

Obviously not a part of the three branches but for the bonus or extra credit, I’m following the US National Debt, too. http://twitter.com/NationalDebt

Update: These accounts are not the official government entities and the Twitter profiles have been updated to reinforce this fact.

9:00 a.m. VIPs begin arriving
- Former Presidents
- Governors
- Members of the House of Representatives
- United States Senators
- Cabinet designees
9:45 a.m. Platform seating begins
11:03 a.m. Former Presidents announced and seated
11:12 a.m. Biden family announced and seated
11:14 a.m. Obama family announced and seated
11:16 a.m. Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Cheney announced and seated
11:18 a.m. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden announced and seated
11:20 a.m. President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney announced and seated
11:22 a.m. Vice President-elect Joe Biden announced and seated
11:25 a.m. President-elect Barack Obama is announced and seated
11:30 a.m. Senator Feinstein delivers opening remarks
11:34 a.m. Senator Feinstein introduces Pastor Rick Warren
11:35 a.m. Invocation by Pastor Rick Warren
11:37 a.m. Senator Feinstein introduces Aretha Franklin
11:38 a.m. Aretha Franklin “My Country Tis of Thee”
11:42 a.m. Senator Feinstein introduces Senator Bennett
11:44 a.m. Senator Bennett introduces Associate Justice Stevens
11:46 a.m. Vice Presidential Oath administered by Associate Justice Stevens
11:47 a.m. Senator Feinstein introduces performers
11:48 a.m. Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, Gabriela Montero, Itzhak Perlman “Air and Simple Gifts” composed by John Williams
11:53 a.m. Senator Feinstein introduces Chief Justice Roberts
11:54 a.m. Chief Justice and President-elect Barack Obama move to podium
11:56 a.m. The Presidential oath is administered.
11:57 a.m. Herald Trumpets perform 4 “Ruffles and Flourishes” and the U.S. Marine Corp
Band plays “Hail to the Chief.” Twenty one gun salute.
11:58 a.m. Senator Feinstein introduces the President
12:01 p.m. Inaugural address
12:21 p.m. Senator Feinstein introduces poet Elizabeth Alexander
12:27 p.m. Benediction given by Reverend Joseph Lowery
12:31 p.m. Presidential party departs from platform
12:32 p.m. Departure ceremony
12:36 p.m. President and Mrs. Bush depart from the East plaza in helicopter
12:52 p.m. President’s Room signing ceremony
1:05 p.m. Statuary Hall luncheon
2:32 p.m. Review of the troops
2:36 p.m. President and Mrs. Obama, and Vice President and Dr. Biden leaves with parade

via Recordnet.com: Inauguration schedule.