By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — A House resolution to congratulate President Obama on his election received the endorsement Friday of a legislative panel that previously rejected the tribute.

The House Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs gave a “do pass” recommendation to House Resolution 1003 by Rep. Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff. The measure would congratulate Obama on “breaking the race barrier to become the first African American to claim the country’s highest office.”

The committee soundly rejected the resolution last week —  11 votes against to six votes for — after Reps. Dan Greenberg, R-Little Rock, and Ed Garner, R-Maumelle, questioned a reference to the U.S. as “a nation founded by slave owners.”

Flowers later amended to resolution to remove that phrase and replace it with “a country whose history includes the shame of slavery.”

She told the committee Friday she had changed the wording to satisfy “members of the committee that found it to be unpalatable.”

The panel endorsed the resolution in a voice vote. No “no” votes were heard.

The measure advances to the full House. One House member said Friday he plans to vote against it.

“We didn’t congratulate President Bush. We didn’t congratulate President Reagan,” said Rep. Frank Glidewell, R-Fort Smith.