Henry Vetoes Religious Viewpoints Act

Governor Henry today vetoed a controversial measure to protect religion in schools.

Henry vetoed House Bill 2633, called the "Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act," by Senator James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City.

The bill states that "students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Homework and classroom assignments shall be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school district. Students shall not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work."

Henry said students are already allowed to express their faith through voluntary prayer and other activities. He said the legislation is well-intended, but vague and "may trigger a number of unintended consequences that actually impede rather than enhance such expression."

Schools could be forced to provide equal time to fringe groups that masquerade as religions and advocate behaviors such as hate speech.

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Rape Law Loophole Closed

A loophole that has allowed some rapists to avoid harsh penalties would be corrected under a bill passed by the Legislature that is now on Governor Henry's desk for action.

Among other things, Senate Bill 1992 amended Oklahoma's first-degree rape law to include cases where rape occurs when "the victim is intoxicated by a narcotic or anesthetic agent" or cases where "the victim is at the time unconscious."

"This legislation will make it easier to subject rapists to the full punishment allowed under the law," said Rep. Pam Peterson, Tulsa Republican who authored the proposal. "Unfortunately, we've already seen one case where an accused rapist was able to exploit this loophole. We don't want any rapist to ever evade justice on a technicality."

The legislation was proposed after Olayinka Osifeso, a former St. Francis Hospital nurse, was accused of raping a drugged patient at the hospital but could not face a first-degree rape charge because state law only permitted a second-degree charge in those cases.

Another recent incident in the town of Coyle illustrates the need for the new law, Peterson said. According to news reports, a teenage girl in that town recently attended a party and was given a drink she now believes contained a "date rape" drug. After passing out, the girl says she was raped and woke up with six men in the room. Coyle police are reportedly investigating the crime and believe two men may have committed the alleged rape while four others were aware of it. James Willie Chupp, a 24-year old Coyle man, has been charged only with second-degree rape by intoxication.

Peterson said Senator James Williamson (R-Tulsa) was a key player in the process and helped find legislation that could be amended to include the rape language. Rep. Randy Terrill, Moore Republican who authored the bill, was also active in the effort.

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Williamson: Henry Trip Doesn't Pass The Smell Test

By Jerry Bohnen, NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ It doesn't pass the smell test. That's what Tulsa Republican State Senator James Williamson says after learning of the Brazilian fishing trip taken this week by Governor Brad Henry who traveled with his trial lawyer friends.

"I'm shocked that he would do it under any circumstances," said Williamson, the author of the tort reform bill vetoed by the Governor five months ago. "But it's doubling shocking after him vetoing this legislation not too many months ago."

Williamson said the trip to the Amazon along with nearly two dozen trial lawyers and a member of the State's Judicial Nominating Commission shows the Governor is not neutral on the issue and that, "he is totally on the side of trial lawyers."

Governor Henry waited until the last day to legally veto the measure and did it on a Saturday when few reporters were around to record the move. A spokesman for the governor said Henry and his chief of staff Gerald Adams had paid for their portion of the trip but it didn't set well with Williamson.

"Whether he's paying his own way or what, for him to be vacationing with the leaders of the Trial Lawyers Association just tends to show that he is way too close to that organization. He should be trying to be impartial," added Williamson. "He should show impartiality in this issue and there's a standard of trying to avoid even the appearance of impropriety."

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Immigration Law Authors Say It Is Working

The Tulsa World's Mick Hinton has a story that comes on the heels of yesterday's report that Tulsa elementary school officials have noticed Hispanic students leaving: Architects of the state's tough new immigration law said reports that Hispanic children are leaving Tulsa Public Schools indicates that the legislation is working.

"Obviously, if we are talking about people who are not here legally under immigration laws, then the law is having its exact intended effect," Rep. Randy Terrill said Friday.

"Certainly, I have heard the chatter that there are people particularly in northeastern Oklahoma and the Panhandle who are leaving, but we don't have any real evidence," added Terrill, R-Moore.

Senator James Williamson, the Senate author of the bill, said, "The whole purpose of the law was to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in Oklahoma because it is costing taxpayers a lot of money to educate them. (Read all of Hinton's story here.)

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Veto Proof? Senate Approves Anti-Abortion Bill

The Senate has approved and sent to Governor Brad Henry a controversial abortion measure.

Senate Bill 139 by Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, passed by a 34-14 vote in what appears to be a veto-proof margin.

The bill bans the use of public money for abortions except to save the life of a woman or in cases of rape or incest.

The governor vetoed a similar measure that didn't contain those exceptions. The Senate sustained his veto twice. Senators Charlie Laster, D-Shawnee; Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City; and Nancy Riley, D-Sand Springs, voted earlier to sustain the veto but today voted for the new bill.

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Veto Override Attempt Fails Again, 3rd Try Likely

On Wednesday the evenly divided Oklahoma Senate again fell one short of the 32 votes needed to override Governor Brad Henry's veto of SB 714, a pro-life bill that would prohibit state funds, facilities, and employees from being used to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother.

The bill's author, Senator James A. Williamson of Tulsa, said he will continue the effort to ban state funding for abortions: "I will continue the effort to override the governor as long as I believe there is a realistic chance to change someone's mind," Williamson said. "Our fight on behalf of unborn Oklahomans to enact the protections contained in SB 714 will continue," Williamson said.

Senate Bill 714 is a pro-life bill that prohibits the use of state funds, facilities, and employees to perform abortions. It also requires abortionists to file paperwork with the state showing they are following laws requiring informed consent of patients and the notification of minors' parents before abortions are performed.

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Immigration Reform Package Goes To Henry

An Oklahoma immigration reform measure called perhaps the most meaningful in the nation is on its way to the governor's desk after passage by the House Tuesday. House Bill 1804 passed by a vote of 84 to 14. The bill also has the support of two national immigration reform advocacy groups, and has been called the single most significant step that any state has taken, and one of the nation's toughest anti-illegal immigration laws.

House Speaker Lance Cargill said that, given the governor's silence on the issue of illegal immigration so far this legislative session, he hoped the governor would not attempt last-minute stalling tactics to stop reform and protect the status quo.

"Given the governor's recent pattern of vetoing needed reforms this year, I think there's real concern about whether he will sign this bill. I call on him to sign this legislation without delay," said Cargill.

"For too long, our nation and our state have looked the other way and ignored a growing illegal immigration crisis," said Rep. Randy Terrill (R-Moore), author of HB 1804. "Oklahoma's working families should not be forced to subsidize illegal immigration. With passage of House Bill 1804, we will end that burden on our citizens."

"We were forced to take action at the state level because of the total lack of action by the federal government on this issue," said Senator Jim Williamson (R-Tulsa), who authored the legislation in the Senate."We listened to all interested parties in putting this bill together. This bill reaches our bottom-line goal of protecting jobs for working Oklahomans."

Terrill said that some House Democrats disingenuously attempted to delay HB 1804 on Tuesday by debating or voting against Senate amendments to the reform legislation. "A 'no' vote on the Senate amendments is basically equivalent to a no vote on the entire effort to offer immigration reform," said Terrill. "Some House Democrats were merely trying to spin a bad vote today. They tried to argue that Senate amendments to the bill 'watered it down.' But we know those who opposed this bill aren't for immigration reform."

Terrill said that House Bill 1804, the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007, is a landmark first step to offer immigration reform for Oklahoma. The bill is part of the House Republican majority's legislative agenda, and has now passed both chambers of the Legislature by overwhelming bipartisan margins.

Key elements of the bill focus on determining work eligibility. The measure also contains provisions to ensure taxpayer-supported benefits are made available to American citizens and legal immigrants only. The bill also gives state and local law enforcement officials the power to enforce federal immigration law, as well as restricting access by illegal aliens to driver's licenses and ID cards.

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Senate 'Pro-life' Veto Override Attempt Fails

The evenly divided Oklahoma Senate today fell a vote short of the 32 votes needed to override Governor Brad Henry’s veto of a pro-life bill after Democrat Senator Charles Laster (pictured) of Shawnee flip-flopped by voting against an override motion after voting 3 previous times in favor of the legislation this session, once in committee and twice on the Senate floor.

But Senate Bill 714’s author, Senator James A. Williamson of Tulsa, said he will press on with future attempts to override Henry’s veto.

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Henry Vetoes Abortion-Restricting Senate Bill 714

Governor Brad Henry today vetoed Senate Bill 714, a measure advocated by those who are pro-life.

Proponents of the bill said it would get state government out of the abortion business by restricting abortions in state-owned facilities or by state employees.

“I am stunned and shocked by Governor Henry’s veto of this bipartisan legislation. Now that he has been re-elected, we’re starting to see the real Brad Henry – and we’re seeing that he is neither a moderate nor is he bipartisan,” said Senator James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa, author of SB 714.

House Speaker Lance Cargill issued the following statement: "It's especially sad that on a day when the U.S. Supreme Court is advancing the cause of life, Oklahoma is moving backwards thanks to the Governor. I don't think the Governor's actions today are in line with the beliefs of most Oklahomans, who value the sanctity of life and are in favor of stronger protections. But we can take heart in the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision is a victory for efforts to protect the unborn. The idea that taxpayer dollars could be used to perform abortions is terrible. Most Oklahomans oppose it and I am very disappointed that our Governor supports it."

Said Henry: “This was a very difficult decision to make, as there are good people of strong convictions and reasonable arguments on both sides of this bill. Nevertheless, after closely reviewing the legislation and meeting with both its supporters and opponents, I have vetoed SB 714 because I believe it ultimately does more harm than good. I do not issue this veto lightly. I believe every abortion is a tragedy, and I have a strong record of support for commonsense, reasonable restrictions on abortion. Although I have no doubt SB 714 is well-intentioned, I have grave concerns that its inadvertent consequences would prove disastrous.

“First and foremost, the measure is flawed in that it does not include exemptions for cases of incest and rape. That means many victims of rape or incest would have no option but to carry a fetus to term, no matter how horrific and violent the circumstances.

“In addition, I share the concerns of a majority of medical experts who believe this bill would severely compromise health care in our state by placing undue restrictions on the sacred relationship between doctor and patient. Under this measure, a woman may have no option but to carry to term a fetus with a fatal birth defect. There are a number of fatal birth defects in which there is no chance of survival, and yet SB 714 would add to a family’s suffering and medical costs by forcing a woman to carry that fetus to term.

“Although designed to simply prohibit taxpayer-funded abortions, in reality the bill reaches much further, impacting most community hospitals in the state and severely compromising the quality and availability of medical care.

“Furthermore, because of its flaws, it was questionable whether this legislation could withstand the legal challenges that would have awaited it. For instance, the bill disproportionately impacts health care options for low-income women and families.

“This is an emotional, highly charged issue. Sadly, some people will distort and mischaracterize this veto for political ends, but I believe the unintended consequences of this bill would do more harm than good.”

Lisa Billy: 'He tried to make me feel like some uneducated 'hick' because I didn't want to kill my child."

"The governor's veto means some doctors will continue to receive state payments when they pressure women into aborting healthy babies,"said Rep. Lisa Billy, R-Purcell. "Oklahoma government should not be in the abortion business in the first place, and the unintended consequence of that policy can be devastating for women." Billy noted that a doctor at an Oklahoma City state-funded hospital tried to talk her into aborting her son, Nahinli, when she was 22 weeks pregnant. The reason: The doctor claimed her son had "potential" to have Down Syndrome. "He tried to make me feel like some uneducated 'hick' because I didn't want to kill my child," Billy said. "It was a horrible experience."

She ignored the doctor's advice and her healthy son does not have Down Syndrome: "I was pressured to abort my child on little more than a doctor's whim," Billy said. "Nahinli is living proof that medical officials can be wrong - dramatically and irrevocably wrong. To provide those officials with state funding to perform abortions means more women could face the same terrible situation I did and healthy babies may be killed because some doctor wants to play God at taxpayer expense."

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