CAPITOL LETTERS

It's the national motto of the U.S., appears on all the nation's currency and soon it will be displayed prominently in the Texas Senate chamber. Senators unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday to place the words "In God We Trust" on the message board at the front of the Senate chamber.

Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, said the motto "sends a message to everyone who comes in this chamber." He also noted that senators may appreciate the words in the "long days ahead" in the current session, which ends in late May. Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, a co-sponsor of the resolution, asked senators to remember the phrase as they vote on important issues affecting all Texans this year. "We don't want to get too caught up in symbolic issues," he said.

After the session, the four words will be etched in gold letters on the frieze above the Senate rostrum. House members approved a similar resolution for placement of the motto in their chamber last week.