OKLAHOMA CITY — Separation of church and state does not and cannot exist in the United States, the lawmaker carrying a bill that would require that “In God We Trust” be “prominently” displayed in all state-owned buildings told an Oklahoma House of Representatives committee on Tuesday.
“Our government is based on the idea that our inalienable rights are granted to us by our creator,” said Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon. “It is impossible to separate church from state. And our founders said we should not do that, actually.”
The proof, he said, was on the money in everyone’s pockets and purses.
Steagall was presenting House Bill 3817, by Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, to the House Rules Committee. The bill specifies that the “placement and size of (each) display shall be in keeping with the placement and size of the display of the national motto in the United States Capitol Visitor Center.”
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That display is 4 feet high and 70 feet wide. It was installed about 10 years ago.
State Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City, who briefly sparred with Steagall, said he has “a real problem with us adopting things that put God front and center in our government when the reality is the God I serve wants to be front and center in my life, not on my buildings.”
According to reports, the push to display “In God We Trust” on as many government buildings as possible is driven largely by WallBuilders, an evangelical group whose founder, Oral Roberts University graduate David Barton, argued that the religious liberties of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution apply only to Christians and possibly Jews and Muslims.
Historians say the founders disagreed widely on religion and government. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the phrase to which Steagall referred, also coined the phrase “separation of church and state” and was one of its staunchest supporters.
“In God We Trust” did not become the national motto until 1956, although it has appeared on most U.S. coins since the Civil War. “E Pluribus Unum” — “Out of many, one” — also appears on all U.S. coinage. It was first used on coins in 1795, having been incorporated into the national seal in 1782, thus predating even the Constitution.
HB 3817 advanced from the committee on a 5-2 vote and moves to the House floor. It was one of dozens heard Tuesday as lawmakers worked to meet Thursday’s deadline for getting House bills out of committee.
The Public Health Committee advanced bills that would make it easier for parents to bypass required vaccinations for their children and harder to remove the dying from life support.
HB 4133, presented by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, would require schools to make sure parents know how to file for exemptions from mandatory vaccinations.
Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, a registered advanced practice nurse, called it “hypocrisy” for the Public Health Committee to promote legislation that might cause children not to be vaccinated, but the measure passed anyway — with the stipulation that in its final form information given to parents would also include the advantages of vaccination.
HB 2588, by Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Pawhuska, would require court approval to take someone off life support unless they have an advance directive.
Not advancing was HB 3898, by Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston. It would have doubled the cap on the Grand River Dam Authority’s debt limit and OK’d the GRDA headquarters’ move from Vinita to near Chouteau in exchange for a 10% cut in the state-owned utility’s net revenue.
The bill failed on a 13-13 vote, but a Senate version of the bill cleared committee last week.
Bills proposed for 2020 in Oklahoma
What bills are still alive for Oklahoma's 2020 legislative session?
Senate Bill 600 by Rep. Gary Stanislawski
The measure would break up the state's two largest school districts — Tulsa Public Schools and Oklahoma City Public Schools — by mandating that districts with enrollment over 30,000 be divided into two or more districts upon a public vote. The measure narrowly passed the Senate Appropriations committee Feb. 26.
Abortion bills
SB 1721 (Unborn Person Equality Act) - not heard in committee
SB 1728 (Unborn Person Wrongful Death) - passed on Senate floor (amended, deals with personal and professional liability)
SB 1786 (precludes doctors from performing abortions upon penalty of license revocation) - not heard in committee
HB 4116 (makes abortion a felony punishable by 40-50 years) - not heard in committee
HB 2900 (makes abortion murder) - not heard in committee
House Bill 3548 by Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa
The bill sought to prohibit imprisonment of defendants for nonpayment of fines, costs, fees and assessments. - not heard in committee
Teacher pay
Three measures address compensation increases for Oklahoma teachers: SB1357, SB1406 (bonuses) and SB1617 (special ed). Only the last measure passed out of a committee; the other two were not heard.
Firearms
SB1398 and HB2796 would allow lawmakers to carry guns in the Capitol. Neither were heard in committee.
Other bills addressing firearms: SB1401, SB1567 (concealed carry license holders would be able to carry on public campuses), HB2781 (explicit Second Amendment protections). HB2781 failed in committee. The other two were not heard.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow
Would make 2020 the Year of the Bible in Oklahoma. It passed a committee vote.
Medical marijuana - restrictions, expansions
SB1257 would restrict billboard advertising for medical marijuana. - not heard in committee
HB3533 would restrict medical marijuana use in outdoor seating areas or standalone bars. - not heard in committee
SB1228 would expand patient application discounts to disabled veterans/hospice patients/those with terminal diseases. - not heard in committee
SB1248 would permit pharmacies to apply for dispensary licenses upon the federal government removing cannabis from the federal controlled drug schedule. It passed a committee vote.
HB3474 would eliminate the statutory cap on cannabis waste license holders. It passed a committee vote.
Medical marijuana
House Bill 3957 would permit dispensaries to produce and sell cannabis pre-rolls without a processor license. It passed a committee vote.
HB3960 clarifies definitions for driving under the influence of cannabis. - not heard in commitee
Medical marijuana - more changes proposed
Signs for Fellowship Congregational Church and Dr. Z Leaf marijuana dispensary are seen on Harvard Avenue. House Bill 2779 (amended) and Senate Bill 1245 would keep new dispensaries from being opened within 300 feet of a church or school, but would not affect dispensaries already conducting business near churches.
SB1519 would let municipalities call a vote to keep medical marijuana out. - not heard in committee
SB1520 would up the application fee for medical marijuana business licenses to $10,000 from $2,500. - not heard in committee
SB1469 would require workers compensation coverage and $1 million in limited liability insurance for all medical marijuana businesses. - not heard in committee
Senate Joint Resolution 26 by Sen. Rob Standridge
Would limit pay raises for lawmakers based upon an average percentage increase over the past 10 years for full-time state employees. Not heard in committee.
Senate Bill 1097 by Sen. J.J. Dossett, D-Owasso
Would require most students wishing to enroll in virtual public education to do so through a full-time virtual program offered in their home district, if such a program exists. Not heard in committee.
Related: Virtual school offerings through Tulsa-area districts
SB 1154 by Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee
Would require Open Records Act requests to be fulfilled within 30 days, with an option for a 30-day extension. - not heard in committee
Senate Bill 1202 by Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee
The measure would require sex offenders who are ordered by a court outside Oklahoma to register as such to also register in Oklahoma, to be tracked by the Department of Corrections. It passed a committee vote.
SB1264 by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow
The measure, now with a House co-author, seeks to eliminate formal or informal traffic citation quotas. It passed a committee vote.
SB 1877 by Sen. Kim David, R-Porter
The measure would mandate state buildings to have a lactation room and offer break time for state employees who need to express milk. It passed a committee vote.
HB 2777 by Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow
A proposed law seeks to give local law enforcement more power in investigating thefts of packages and documents regardless of the value. It passed out of a House committee. File photo
House Joint Resolution 1027 by Rep. John Pfeiffer
The measure would change the signature requirement for initiative or referendum petitions by striking the clause tying that figure to the past gubernatorial election turnout. It passed a committee vote.
HB2791 and Senate Bill 1303
The House bill would amend the current car seat law to require kids under 14 be buckled in the back seat. Oklahoma is the only state without a law requiring minors to wear seat belts in the back seat, AAA Oklahoma has said.
SB1303 requires those 17 years old and younger to wear a seat belt when in the back seat. It passed a Senate vote and will be considered in the House.
HB2809 by Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-OKC
Would allow local boards of education to develop a line of revenue by selling school bus advertising (with content restrictions). - not heard in committee
HB 3046 by Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton
The measure would prohibit “substantial burden” on people’s free exercise of religion, including school policies that ban graduating students from wearing tribal regalia such as eagle feathers at commencement due to religious beliefs. It passed a committee vote.
HB3067 by Rep. Lundy Kiger, R-Poteau
Would require commercial poultry operations to install groundwater monitoring wells, with testing every four months, to mitigate problems with waste and other chemicals. It was not heard in committee.
Poultry houses are pictured here near Leach.
HB3515 by Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa
Its final version would have created a misdemeanor for officers who do not activate recording devices during interactions with the public.
The measure failed in committee Feb. 20.
HB3351 by Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar
Would allow local school boards to partner with nursing homes to create internship programs for high school seniors to help them get work experience or volunteer hours. - not heard in committee
HB3321 by Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle
Would expand eligibility for Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarships to students with at least one incarcerated parent. The state of Oklahoma funds private school scholarships for students with disabilities through the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program for Children with Disabilities. The voucher program was named for the daughter of former Gov. Brad Henry. - not heard in committee
Oklahoma's legislative session begins Monday. Here's a look at lawmakers from the Tulsa area, plus contact information.
Court dog retires after 10 years of helping child victims
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District Attorney's office celebrates the dog at a ceremony Tuesday. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
Randy Krehbiel
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Randy Krehbiel
Tulsa World Staff Writer
