Senator Sykes Pleased by Passage of State Questions 751 and 755

State Sen. Anthony Sykes (R - Dist 24 Moore/Duncan) said he was extremely pleased by the overwhelming support voters gave for a Constitutional amendment to make English the state’s official language and a second Constitutional amendment to ban Oklahoma courts from considering international or Sharia law when making decisions. 

Sykes, was the Senate author of legislation placing the two questions before voters.

“I’m extremely pleased that both questions were not only approved, but passed by overwhelming margins,” Sykes said. 

“Yesterday’s awesome support of these two state questions reflects the values and ideals so important to citizens in every part of Oklahoma.”

State Question 751 is a Constitutional amendment that requires all official state actions to be conducted in English, protecting Oklahoma from costly legal actions seeking to force the state to provide services in multiple languages. It received the highest percentage of approval of the nine state questions passed.

State Question 755 is a Constitutional amendment forbidding Oklahoma courts from using foreign or Sharia law as a basis for any legal decisions. Sharia is Islamic law based on the Quran and is used to govern such countries as Iran.

“Certainly each of these measures had critics, but the crushing margins by which these Constitutional amendments passed shows without a doubt that those critics are deeply out of touch with the values and views of Oklahomans, just as Washington D.C. is out of touch with America,” Sykes said.

Sykes serves as Majority Whip and represents Cleveland, Grady, McClain and Stephens Counties

Oklahoma Higher Education is Anti-Second Amendment

The true story how Oklahoma Higher Education kill HB 3354 'Oklahoma Open Carry' and other Second Amendment bills in the Second Session of the Fifty Second Oklahoma Legislature, with the help of the OU Lobbyist Chad Alexander and Danny Hilliard.

Oklahoma State Rep. Rex Duncan talking about SQ 755 (outlawing shariah law)

Oklahoma State Rep.
Rex Duncan
talking about
SQ 755
(outlawing shariah law in Oklahoma)

The only opposition to this
at this time is
Razi Hashmi,
executive director of CAIR-Oklahoma

To find out more about Oklahoma State Senator Anthony Sykes, who is running for re-election

To find out more about Oklahoma State Rep. Rex Duncan, who by the way is running for District Attorney in District 10 (Osage and Pawnee County)

VOTER FRAUD PENALITIES MAY INCREASE!

Hat Tip to Steve Fair

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

VOTER FRAUD PENALITIES MAY INCREASE!
by Steve Fair

Mickey Mouse, the Disney creation born in 1928, will not be able to register to vote in Oklahoma if a bill by House Speaker Chris Benge, (R-Tulsa) and Senate Pro Temp Glenn Coffee, (R-OKC) gets through the State House and is signed by the Governor. The bill seeks to deter election and voter registration fraud. Senate Bill #1921 passed the Senate by a vote of 33-10 back on March 9th. Last week, the bill passed out of the House Public Safety Committee by a vote of 6-1 and goes to the full House. It is expected to pass the House by a wide margin. It remains to be seen if the Governor will sign the legislation. He vetoed a Voter ID bill back in April 2009.

SB 1921 would increase the maximum punishment for felony violations of Oklahoma election law from fines of $5,000 to $50,000. It would increase the jail time from two years to five years imprisonment.

"We have seen in recent years groups inflating the voter registration rolls with the likes of Mickey Mouse to the benefit of certain candidates," said Benge, R-Tulsa. "It is our duty to ensure the people of Oklahoma trust our election outcomes."

The measure also adds fraudulent use of an absentee and making a false application to an absentee ballot a felony. It would also make it a felony to knowingly collect or submit voter registration forms that contain false information.

"Clearly the current law was not enough to deter ACORN and groups like it from committing voter fraud. Our hope is that this legislation and stricter penalties will help restore voter confidence in our democratic system," said Rep. Rex Duncan, (R-Sand Spring) who presented the bill in committee. "Free and fair elections are the backbone of our democracy, and it is important that those who would deliberately and purposely sabotage the voting process be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Duncan concluded.

Oklahoma’s colorful political history is littered with scandals. Most Oklahomans remember the County Commissioner scandal of the 1980s, which had over 200 people indicted/convicted, and the recent McMahan/Stipe/Phipps scandal, but few remember a voter fraud scandal that rocked Oklahoma in the early 80s?

Back in 1983, then Oklahoma State House Speaker Dan Draper and House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon- both Democrats- were convicted of vote fraud. The convictions were later overturned, but it did force Draper to leave office. Draper and Fitzgibbon were accused of mailing illegal absentee ballots in an effort to get Draper’s dad elected to the legislature.

Debates over election fraud are not new. They have been a staple of discussions about elections and democracy in the United States for more than a century. But in recent years, issues of fraud and voting integrity have increasingly come to the forefront of public policy discussions over the health of America’s democracy. With the consistently low voter turnout rates and obstacles to citizen participation motivated various efforts to increase voter registration and turnout—efforts that in turn raised questions about voting integrity. Critics of some reforms—such as Oregon starting mail-in voting, the loosening of guidelines for absentee ballot use, and, most notably, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (also known as NVRA or the “motor voter” law)—have charged that these reforms increase the potential for voter fraud. Other frequently proposed reforms, such as Election Day Registration, continue to be criticized on the same grounds. Implemented with the pretense they will make voter registration more convenient, they also make it easier to commit voter fraud.

Benge and Coffee have the right idea- punish those who cheat in elections by increasing the fines and jail time, but they need to take another run at Voter ID. When he vetoed the ID bill in April, Governor Henry said, “At a time when it is difficult to attract more than half of the registered voters to the polls at any given election, we must make voting easier and more convenient for registered voters, not more difficult and confusing.” How is it confusing for a voter to have to show an ID to vote? It has never been easier to cast your vote. Most elections have early in person absentee balloting which has expanded the hours to vote by twenty hours. Twenty! Mickey Mouse said, “Arithmetic is being able to count up to twenty without taking off your shoes.”

Walt Disney famously said about his creation, “When people laugh at Mickey Mouse, it’s because he’s so human; and that is the secret of his popularity.” But he’s not human and while Mickey may be popular, if Senate bill #1921 gets signed into law, Mr. Mouse won’t be voting in Oklahoma elections because those that got him on the voter rolls will be in jail.

Protecting 2nd Amendment Rights Moves to House Floor

A bill that would forbid employers from asking a potential employee if they own a firearm passed out of committee this week.

The legislation, House Bill 1025, is in response to President Barack Obama asking potential cabinet members if they owned or possessed a firearm, and if so, for its registration information on their background application.

Rep. Rex Duncan, author of the bill, criticized Obama’s question as an infringement on Second Amendment rights and wants to make sure no Oklahoma employers, both public and private, are allowed to ask a similar question on a job application.

“I was deeply offended by President Obama’s question,” said Duncan, R-Sand Springs. “I think Oklahoma employers are smarter than to ask a question like that as a term of employment, but this legislation will make sure.”

“It is inappropriate for any employer to exploit an employment application to determine a person's job eligibility or to breach their privacy and constitutional rights,” said Chris W. Cox, the executive director of the National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action. “Gun owners and hunters are grateful for the leadership of Representative Duncan for his efforts to preserve their privacy and Second Amendment rights.”

The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee this week and will next be heard for a full vote on the House floor.

Speaker Announces House Committee Assignments

Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge today announced committee assignments for the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions.

“This is obviously going to be a challenging session given our economic outlook, but I believe the members of the House are up to the job and look forward to beginning committee work in January,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “We have a very diverse membership with a wide range of experience and insight that will prove invaluable as we develop new policies and the state budget.”

The committee assignments for the
Oklahoma House of Representatives
are as follows:

Appropriations & Budget
Ken Miller, Chair
Scott Martin, Vice-Chair
Jeff Hickman
Lee Denney
Guy Liebmann
Doug Cox
Ron Peters
Dale DeWitt
Randy Terrill
Weldon Watson
Mike Jackson
John Auffet
John Carey
Joe Dorman
Larry Glenn
Chuck Hoskin
Danny Morgan

Human Services
Pam Peterson, Chair
Wade Rousselot, Vice-Chair
Weldon Watson
Fred Jordan
Mike Reynolds
Sally Kern
Mark McCullough
Jason Nelson
Al McAffrey
Mike Shelton
Ben Sherrer

Government Modernization
Jason Murphey, Chair
David Derby, Vice-Chair
George Faught
Scott Martin
T.W. Shannon
Leslie Osborn
Bill Nations
Anastasia Pittman
Seneca Scott

Higher Education & Career Tech
Todd Thomsen, Chair
Bill Nations, Vice-Chair
Lee Denney
Harold Wright
Skye McNiel
Marian Cooksey
David Dank
Sally Kern
Lewis Moore
Mike Brown
Rebecca Hamilton
Anastasia Pittman
Jabar Shumate

General Government
Lisa Billy, Chair
Dennis Johnson, Vice Chair
Scott Martin
Mike Christian
Sue Tibbs
Charlie Joyner
Phil Richardson
Wallace Collins
Larry Glenn
Jeannie McDaniel
Jerry Shoemake

Energy & Utility Regulation
Mike Thompson, Chair
Weldon Watson, Vice-Chair
Shane Jett
Marian Cooksey
Dennis Johnson
John Trebilcock
Ron Peters
John Enns
Steve Martin
Colby Schwartz
Gus Blackwell
Dan Kirby
Mike Sanders
Mike Jackson
Paul Wesselhoft
Neil Brannon
Wes Hilliard
Steve Kouplen
Lucky Lamons
Jerry McPeak
Danny Morgan
Eric Proctor
Wade Rousselot
Ben Sherrer
Purcy Walker

Wildlife
Phil Richardson, Chair
R.C. Pruett, Vice Chair
Mike Sanders
Earl Sears
Dale DeWitt
Jeff Hickman
Skye McNiel
Fred Jordan
Terry Harrison
Brian Renegar
Glen Bud Smithson

Public Health
John Trebilcock, Chair
David Derby, Vice-Chair
Charlie Joyner
Lisa Billy
Colby Schwartz
Ron Peters
Jason Nelson
Pam Peterson
Mike Ritze
Pat Ownbey
Randy Terrill
Corey Holland
Lee Denney
Ed Cannaday
Larry Glenn
Rebecca Hamilton
Terry Harrison
Wes Hilliard
Ryan Kiesel
Jeannie McDaniel
Seneca Scott

Administrative Rules and
Agency Oversight
John Wright, Chair
George Faught, Vice-Chair
Dan Kirby
Mike Reynolds
Earl Sears
Steve Martin
Jason Murphey
John Auffet
Mike Brown
Samson Buck
Joe Dorman

Veterans & Military Affairs
Gary Banz, Chair
John Carey, Vice-Chair
Ann Coody
Paul Wesselhoft
Rex Duncan
Don Armes
Randy McDaniel
Mike Christian
Neil Brannon
Chuck Hoskin
Scott Inman
Paul Roan

Judiciary
Rex Duncan, Chair
Fred Jordan, Vice-Chair
Mark McCullough
Daniel Sullivan
Jason Nelson
Randy Terrill
Marian Cooksey
Scott Inman
Ryan Kiesel
Lucky Lamons
Richard Morrissette

Transportation
T.W. Shannon, Chair
Charlie Joyner, Vice-Chair
John Wright
Mike Christian
Eddie Fields
Gary Banz
Charles Ortega
Ken Luttrell
Al McAffrey
Ryan McMullen
Eric Proctor

Public Safety
Sue Tibbs, Chair
Steve Martin, Vice-Chair
Mark McCullough
Jason Murphey
Randy McDaniel
Leslie Osborn
Todd Thomsen
Mike Ritze
Wallace Collins
Chuck Hoskin
Paul Roan
Glen Bud Smithson

Agriculture & Rural Development
Don Armes, Chair
John Enns, Vice-Chair
Eddie Fields
Dale DeWitt
Leslie Osborn
Charles Ortega
Mike Sanders
Phil Richardson
Harold Wright
Dennis Bailey
Steve Kouplen
Ryan McMullen
R.C. Pruett
Brian Renegar

Common Education
Ann Coody, Chair
Sally Kern, Vice-Chair
David Dank
Tad Jones
Earl Sears
Doug Cox
Daniel Sullivan
Gus Blackwell
Samson Buck
Ed Cannaday
Joe Dorman
Jeannie McDaniel
Jabar Shumate

Rules
Gus Blackwell, Chair
Mike Jackson, Vice-Chair
Tad Jones
John Trebilcock
Mike Thompson
Guy Liebmann
Charles Key
Joe Dorman
Richard Morrissette
Cory Williams
Jerry Shoemake

Business & Economic Development
Daniel Sullivan, Chair
Randy McDaniel, Vice-Chair
George Faught
Pat Ownbey
Lewis Moore
Charles Key
Skye McNiel
Ron Peters
Guy Liebmann
John Auffet
John Carey
Danny Morgan
Mike Shelton
Jabar Shumate

International Relations & Tourism
Shane Jett, Chair
Purcy Walker, Vice-Chair
Jeff Hickman
Doug Cox
Corey Holland
John Wright
Todd Thomsen
Gary Banz
Dennis Bailey
Ken Luttrell
Jerry McPeak
Cory Williams

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Revenue & Taxation
Jeff Hickman, Chair
Neil Brannon, Vice-Chair
Randy McDaniel
Dan Kirby
Tad Jones
John Trebilcock
Pat Ownbey
Weldon Watson
Jerry McPeak
R.C. Pruett
Ben Sherrer

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Education
Lee Denney, Chair
Earl Sears, Vice-Chair
Sally Kern
Todd Thomsen
Ann Coody
Harold Wright
David Derby
Corey Holland
Eddie Fields
Ed Cannaday
Wes Hilliard
Jeannie McDaniel
Bill Nations
Jabar Shumate

Appropriations Subcommittee on
General Government & Transportation
Guy Liebmann, Chair
Colby Schwartz, Vice-Chair
Gary Banz
Mike Thompson
T.W. Shannon
Shane Jett
Mike Jackson
Steve Martin
Mike Reynolds
Mike Brown
Steve Kouplen
Ken Luttrell
Ryan McMullen
Eric Proctor

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Public Health & Social Services
Doug Cox, Chair
Paul Wesselhoft, Vice-Chair
Mike Ritze
Lisa Billy
John Enns
Charlie Joyner
Gus Blackwell
George Faught
Samson Buck
Rebecca Hamilton
Lucky Lamons
Anastasia Pittman
Mike Shelton

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Human Services
Ron Peters, Chair
Marian Cooksey, Vice-Chair
Pam Peterson
David Dank
Dennis Johnson
John Wright
Sue Tibbs
Charles Ortega
Dennis Bailey
Wallace Collins
Al McAffrey
Wade Rousselot
Cory Williams

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Natural Resources &
Regulatory Services
Dale DeWitt, Chair
Skye McNiel, Vice-Chair
Phil Richardson
Jason Murphey
Don Armes
Lewis Moore
Leslie Osborn
Charles Key
Terry Harrison
Brain Renegar
Seneca Scott
Jerry Shoemake
Purcy Walker

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Public Safety & Judiciary
Randy Terrill, Chair
Mark McCullough, Vice-Chair
Mike Christian
Rex Duncan
Mike Sanders
Fred Jordan
Daniel Sullivan
Jason Nelson
Scott Inman
Ryan Kiesel
Richard Morrissette
Paul Roan
Glen Bud Smithson

Under Proposed Law Obama's Gun Question Would Be Banned

Sand Springs Rep. Rex Duncan wants to make it unlawful for private or public employers to ask job applicants if they own a firearm, a move aimed directly at President-elect Obama's transition team questionnaire that seeks such information.

House Bill 1025 reads:

It shall be unlawful for any private employer doing business in this state to ask any applicant for employment information about whether the applicant owns or possesses a firearm. Any private employer who violates the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

B. All public employers and public officials within this state shall be prohibited from asking any applicant for employment information about whether the applicant owns or possesses a firearm. Any public employer or public official who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be deemed to be acting outside the scope of their employment and shall therefor be barred from seeking statutory immunity from any exemption or provision of The Governmental Tort Claims Act.

Obama's questionnaire seeks information about gun ownership and seeks to determine the applicant's degree of involvement with firearms. The question has been criticized by gun rights activists and organizations, including the National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, and others.

Meet-n-Greet reception in support of Dan Newberry

You are cordially invited to a Meet-n-Greet reception in support of
Dan Newberry

with special guest
U.S. Senator
Tom Coburn, M.D.

Also Attending:
Congressman John Sullivan
Senate Co-President
Glenn Coffee
Senator Mike Mazzei
Senator Brian Bingman
Representative Rex Duncan

Thursday, October 23, 2008
5:30 p.m.


Chastain’s Cafe
122 N. Main Street
Sand Springs, OK


Please RSVP to Claudia at (918) 830-7834
or email claudia@dannewberry.com

U.S. Senator Tom Coburn is not soliciting contributions from prohibited federal sources (corporations, labor unions, federal contractors or foreign nationals lacking permanent resident status) or in excess of federal contribution limits of $2,300 per election per individual.

Omnibus Specialty Tag Bill Clears House

Legislation dealing with a wide range of specialty license tags was approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives today.

House Bill 3353, by state Rep. Randy Terrill, creates and
modifies several state specialty car tags. The provisions of the bill were created by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

"For efficiency reasons, we took several individual specialty tag bills and rolled them into one measure," said Terrill, a Moore Republican who chairs the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee.

"After an exhaustive examination, we felt these were
the best proposals submitted this year and worthy of
further consideration. I appreciate the hard work and
cooperation of all the legislators involved."

The legislation creates several new specialty tags,
including the Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation
Enduring Freedom Veteran License Plates that would
be available to any honorably discharged or current
member of the United States Armed Forces who served
in those conflicts.

That provision was authored by state Reps. Randy
McDaniel (R-Edmond), John Auffet (D-Stilwell) and
Wallace Collins (a Norman Democrat whose district
includes the Veterans Center).

"We should support and encourage all the brave young
men and women who make great sacrifices to serve
our country overseas during a time of war," McDaniel
said.

"All American soldiers who put themselves in harm's
way deserve recognition for their sacrifice and service."

McDaniel, who served in the Oklahoma Army National
Guard for 11 years, noted the state already issues
special military tags for veterans of other wars.

House Bill 3353 also creates the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation License Plate. The bill requires
that $20 of the $35 generated from license fees for
each diabetes plate be deposited in the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation License Plate
Revolving Fund to pay for treatment research efforts.

State Rep. Lucky Lamons, a Tulsa Democrat and
former police officer, is author of the diabetes plate
provision as well as language creating a Tulsa Police
Department Memorial License Plate. The bill requires
that $20 of the tag fee for the police plate be deposited
in the Tulsa Police Department Memorial License Plate
Revolving Fund.

A provision authored by state Rep. Eric Proctor would
create In God We Trust License Plates that will be
designed in consultation with the Oklahoma Family
Policy Council.

"Our nation was founded on the principles of
religious freedom and this plate will give
Oklahomans the opportunity to acknowledge
the historical foundations of our country,"
said Proctor, D-Tulsa.

A provision authored by Terrill will create a
Department of Corrections License Plate that
earmarks $20 from each plate fee for the
Oklahoma Correctional Employees Memorial
Foundation.

"Our corrections employees endure a harsh and often
dangerous work environment for relatively little pay,"
Terrill said. "It is appropriate that the state create a
funding mechanism to memorialize DOC employees
who have been injured or killed in the line of duty."

State Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, authored a
provision creating an Armed Forces Veterans
Motorcycle License Plate. The plates will be issued
to any current member or honorably discharged
member of the United States Armed Forces.

Duncan is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National
Guard and Battalion Commander of the 2/189th
Regiment, a Regional Training Institute in Oklahoma
City.

In addition to creating new license plates, House Bill
3353 also amends law affecting several existing specialty plates.

For example, the bill abolishes the Northern Cherokee
Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory License Plate.

"The Northern Cherokee Nation plate was creating a
lot of confusion because its design is similar to
legitimate tribal tags and because there is no official
federally recognized tribe by that name," said state
Rep. Ben Sherrer, D-Pryor Creek. "It was time to get
rid of it."

The bill also restricts the issuance of Civil Emergency
Management License Plates to only individuals
providing proof of their involvement in the state civil
emergency management system.

"There have been cases in recent years where people
have impersonated emergency responders at the scene
of a tragedy," said state Rep. Ken Luttrell, a Ponca City
Democrat who authored that provision.

"That's unacceptable and we hope to reduce that
activity by ensuring only true emergency responders
can obtain one of these specialty plates."

House Bill 3353 also expands the issuance of Gold
Star License Plates to include the spouses of members
of the United States Armed Forces killed during a war.
State Rep. George Faught, a Muskogee Republican who
authored that provision, noted that the Gold Star plate
is currently issued only to parents of a soldier killed in
action.

Another provision authored by state Rep. Jerry
Shoemake, D-Morris, would allow university police
officers to obtain Police Officer License Plates.

House Bill 3353 passed the Oklahoma House of
Representatives today and now proceeds to the state
Senate.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071023_1__OKLAH11081


More legislators turn down copies of the Quran

By World Capitol Bureau
10/23/2007 12:23 PM
Last Modified: 10/23/2007 1:08 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Six lawmakers in the 101-member House of Representatives have joined Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, in refusing a copy of the Quran.

The holy book of the Muslim religion was offered as a centennial gift by the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council.

Duncan refused a copy saying that "Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology.

Allison Moore of Tulsa, who converted to the Muslim faith more than a decade ago, said Tuesday that the lawmaker is taking out of context what the Quran says.

"We do not condone suicide bombers any more than the Christians."

According to the governor's council, other Republican representatives declining a copy of the Quran are David Derby of Owasso, Guy Liebmann of Oklahoma City, Scott Martin of Norman, Mark McCullough of Sapulpa, Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City, and Susan Winchester of Chickasha.

Rep. Duncan Objects to 'Centennial' Copy Of Quran


State Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, has written other legislators in objecting to being sent a "Centennial" copy of the Quran, compliments of the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council.

Duncan wrote his fellow legislators Monday that he is refusing a copy of the Quran because, ''Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology.''

Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour, a Muslim, chairwoman of the governor's council, said she received a call from Duncan wondering whether state money was used to buy the books.

''Members of the Oklahoma Muslim community paid for copies of the Quran,'' she said. ''We are not trying to force anything on anyone. This is a peaceful, thoughtful project to introduce ourselves to leaders.''