After being defeated three times in the past, an amendment that would make it illegal to burn the U.S. flag, is ready to go to the Senate for a fourth time.

Last week, the House voted 305-124, more than the two-thirds needed to send the bill to the Senate, in favor of the bill, marking the third time in four years the amendment passed the House.

Local political experts and politicians disagree on whether the amendment would be a benefit to the American public.

Steffen Schmidt, professor of political science, said he doubts the bill will make any more progress than it has in the past.

“There aren’t enough votes in the Senate for this to pass,” he said.

Schmidt says he doesn’t understand why the government is pushing for this when there are more pressing issues on hand.

“I’m not sure that most Americans feel that this is time well spent,” he said.

State Rep. Cecelia Burnett (D-Ames), said she thinks passing this law would be an infringement on the American right to free speech.

“I think this is an attack on First Amendment rights in terms of free speech,” she said. “The Constitution is set up to protect the rights of everybody, but we have to accept everyone’s viewpoint.”

State Rep. Teresa Garman (R-Ames), a supporter of the bill, is opposed to flag burning. She sees a need to protect the flag with a Constitutional amendment.

“We have plenty other ways to demonstrate [our beliefs],” she said. “I just don’t think we ought to burn the flag.”

Schmidt said the main issue at hand is where the line is drawn..

“If you go to the mall, you’ll find bras and underwear and socks that have the American flag on it,” he said. “How in the world are we going to enforce that?”

Schmidt said he believes that America’s forefathers would think this bill is tightening-up on American civil liberties.

“I’m not comfortable at all with the government telling people what they can and can’t do,” he said.

Defeat is considered likely in the Senate, although the vote is expected to be close. In 1995, the amendment fell three votes short of approval in the Senate. In 1997, Senate leaders did not bring the proposal to the floor because of a lack of votes for the proposal.

Because of the close proximity of the Fourth of July, Schmidt feels the bill was strategically brought up when people are more likely to pay attention to the flag.

“Nothing is ever a coincidence,” he said.