Gov. Chris Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna released a statement Wednesday explaining the state’s policy on holiday displays in the capitol building, where current displays include a holiday tree, a Christian nativity scene and an atheist poster celebrating the winter solstice and denouncing religion.

The statement comes on the heels of the governor’s office being flooded with hundreds of calls after the atheist display received considerable newspaper ink, and was further fanned by conservative television and radio talk show host Bill O’Reilly, who had invited local blogger David Goldstein and local attorney Anne Bremner on his top-rated cable show Tuesday to discuss the issue. O’Reilly later urged his audience to call Gregoire and voice their displeasure.

Then comes Wednesday, the phone calls, and the statement. See it below.

"Last year, after a federal lawsuit was filed against the state of Washington by the Alliance Defense Fund, the state’s Department of General Administration set forth a policy allowing individuals or groups to sponsor a display regardless of that individual’s or group’s views.

"The Legislative Building belongs to all citizens of Washington state, and houses the state Legislature, as well as the offices of several state-elected executives, including the governor. The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution’s First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of non-believers."