Flag Amendment Goes to Committee

WASHINGTON — Reluctant Democrats pushed a constitutional amendment against flag burning past its first congressional hurdle Wednesday, just two days after the Supreme Court threw out the federal flag-protection law.

Rep. Robert W. Kastenmeier (D-Wis.) said: “It’s unseemly that we’re rushing to judgment” as the proposed amendment whisked though the House constitutional and civil rights subcommittee.

The panel voted, 5 to 3, to send the measure to the full Judiciary Committee with an “adverse” recommendation--a symbolic dark cloud that should not affect its chances of being adopted.