|
Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
For Immediate Release: March 7, 2016
Sen. Rob Standridge
Full Senate approves proposed state question on repealing
Oklahoma’s Blaine Amendment
The full Senate has approved legislation allowing Oklahoma voters
to decide whether to repeal Article II, Section 5 of the Oklahoma
Constitution, known as the “Blaine Amendment,” forbidding
the use of public monies or property for sectarian or religious
purposes. It was cited by the majority of the Oklahoma Supreme Courting
in a 2015 ruling that forced the removal of a Ten Commandments Monument
from the grounds of the Capitol.
Sen. Rob
Standridge, R-Norman, is the author of Senate Joint Resolution
72.
“The Blaine amendment represented an effort to suppress Catholic
education while allowing state funding of protestant-oriented schools.
Many Oklahomans felt the amendment never should have applied to
the Ten Commandments Monument case, and have expressed dismay such
a discriminatory provision was still in our constitution,”
Standridge said. “This measure will give the final say to
the citizens of our state.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman praised Monday’s
39 to 5 vote in favor of SJR 72.
“The court’s recent interpretation of the Blaine Amendment
could have much broader implications, including threatening millions
of dollars in state aid to hospitals, child care centers and schools
catering to children with special needs. It’s time for the
Blaine Amendment to be repealed from the Oklahoma Constitution.
I appreciate Senator Standridge’s efforts to secure passage
of SJR72 to allow Oklahomans to weigh in on this important issue.”
SJR 72 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
For more information, contact:
Sen. Standridge: (405) 521-5535
|
