Sen. Jim DeMint’s (R-SC) amendment to remove religious discrimination from the Pelosi-Reid-Obama Debt Act of 2009 has failed by a vote of 43-54. The bill currently bans renovation money from going to schools that permit religious groups to meet on campus.

By the way, the DeMint amendment wasn’t without its Democratic supporters. Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), an often-speculated choice of Obama’s for vice president, voted in favor of allowing religious schools to receive funding. The shameless Arlen Specter (R-PA) voted against the measure and then switched his vote to “Aye” before the end of the roll.