Two state lawmakers said Friday they are willing to put their confrontation earlier this week behind them.
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, and Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, had what Terrill termed “a thoroughly heated exchange” Wednesday after Anderson forwarded calls to his state Capitol office to Terrill’s office. Anderson said Terrill flooded his district with so-called “robocalls” in favor of Terrill’s legislation to make English the official language of Oklahoma.
Anderson told the Tulsa World in a story published Friday that Terrill tried to pick a fight with him later Wednesday, using words to the effect, “I’ll whip your ass.”
Terrill denied he was trying to fight Anderson, but said it was “cowardly” for Anderson to forward all his telephone calls to Terrill’s office.
Both men said Friday they had talked Thursday and put the dispute behind them.
Anderson said they met Thursday and shook hands. He said he also sent a bouquet of flowers to Terrill’s assistant, Martha Perry, because of the burden the extra phone calls placed on her.
“In my opinion, the hatchet’s been buried,” he said.
Terrill said Friday he told Anderson he thought the flowers were “a nice and appropriate gesture.”
“I also told him as far as I was concerned, we were good to go,” Terrill said.
Terrill, though, was unhappy with the timing of the Tulsa World story, which he called “sensationalized,” and still disputed Anderson’s version of events.
He also said the “robocalls” did not come from him, but came from a member of the organization U.S. English, which was founded in 1983 and has a goal of making English the official language of the United States.
Anderson said his office at the Capitol was flooded with the calls from places as far away as Washington, D.C. He said his office phone system was overloaded and couldn’t be used, so as a practical joke he forwarded the calls to Terrill’s office.
Terrill said one of calls forwarded to him was from Anderson’s wife. He said he complained to her about Anderson’s behavior.
After Anderson forwarded his calls, Terrill sent out an e-mail press release to media outlets across the state, accusing Anderson of “cowardice” for not responding to his constituents.
The e-mail said: “This is the most unbelievably cowardly act by an elected official that I have ever seen. Apparently, Senator Anderson is receiving so many calls from his constituents urging him to support an Official English law that he is now trying to avoid them by forwarding calls to me. Senator Anderson is turning his back on his constituents. The voters of Senate District 19 deserve better.
“It’s inconceivable that any public official would treat his own constituents this way unless Senator Anderson is truly working with the Senate Democratic leadership to block or kill consideration of Official English in the state Senate this week.”
Anderson said Wednesday he was surprised at Terrill’s message.
“I disagree with Mr. Terrill’s comment. I believe I have always been very receptive to my constituents’ concerns and will continue to be,” he said.
The bill to make English the official state language was sent to a conference committee Wednesday and appears dead for the session. Anderson voted with his fellow Republicans in favor of the issue.
Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, who sponsored Terrill’s bill in the Senate, predicted Friday things would calm down between Terrill and Anderson.
Laughlin said the confrontation was “a little unusual, but those things happen in the heat of battle.”
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