Rep. George Faught Supports Veto-Override Special Session

Rep. George Faught Supports Veto-Override Special Session 

Petition for Special Session would give chance to stop US 69 Bypass

MUSKOGEE, OK –  State Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee) today announced his support of a legislative petition authored by State Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) that calls for a special session devoted to overriding vetoes issued by Gov. Mary Fallin.

Article V, Section 27A of the Oklahoma Constitution allows for the legislature to call themselves into special session and set the guidelines for it without the Governor’s input. Dahm’s petition would allow for the special session to take up overrides of Gov. Fallin’s vetoes from this current legislative term (2017-2018) and allow for the legislature to re-author and pass any legislation that Fallin has vetoed during her term, going back all the way to the 2011 legislative session.

“This would give us the opportunity to fix all the mistakes Mary Fallin has made and messed us up over the last eight years,” Sen. Dahm said in his announcement of the petition.

One measure important to the Muskogee area that would be eligible to be heard in a veto-override special session would be SB86, the bill that would stop the proposed U.S. 69 Bypass of Muskogee. SB86 required ODOT to perform an economic impact study before any planned bypass around a community is placed on the Transportation 8 year Plan, and required ODOT to present the study to the municipality and get them to approve it before beginning a bypass construction project. Authored by State Sen. Kim David (R-Porter) and Rep. George Faught and co-authored by other area legislators, SB86 passed the House by a vote of 62 to 27 and the Senate by a vote of 32 to 11.

“A veto override special session would give Muskogee another chance at stopping the U.S. 69 Bypass, and give input and protections to communities in the U.S. 69 corridor and across the state from future bypass projects,” said Rep. George Faught.

Another bill that could be brought up for a veto override is HB1552, an important government transparency and accountability measure authored by Rep. George Faught. HB1552 would have brought much-needed reforms to the state’s regulatory process. It would reform the administrative rules process by restoring legislative control over government regulations, thus strengthening transparency and accountability and reining in unelected bureaucrats. HB1552 passed the House by a vote of 71 to 23 and the Senate by a vote of 43 to 0.

“Gov. Fallin has failed Oklahoma citizens by vetoing legislation that is important to the Muskogee area and the state as a whole. This veto-override special session would give us a chance to correct those problems, advance Oklahoma in a positive direction, and protect citizens from government overreach,” said Rep. Faught.

Other potential measures that could be voted on would be overrides of pro-life, pro-gun, and government reform bills vetoed by Gov. Fallin.

“Citizens can go to OKLegislature.gov to find out who their legislator is and how to contact them. I urge Muskogee area residents to call their legislators and ask them to sign Sen. Dahm’s veto-override special session petition, and give us another chance at stopping the U.S. 69 bypass, as well as pass other important policy measures that would affect Oklahoma citizens and businesses,” said Rep. Faught.

Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee) represents House District 14, which covers portions of eastern Muskogee and western Cherokee counties, including the communities of Muskogee, Fort Gibson, Braggs, and Webbers Falls. He chairs the General Government Oversight and Accountability committee.

Dahm slams 'Liberal Governor' Fallin's veto of Constitutional Carry bill

Nathan Dahm Denounces Liberal Governor Mary Fallin's VETO of Constitutional Carry

"As a proven conservative, this veto will not deter me in my fight to defend the 2nd Amendment." 

Broken Arrow, OK -- Conservative Republican candidate for Congress Nathan Dahm today decried Governor Mary Fallin's veto of Senate Bill 1212, known as Constitutional Carry.

"It is disappointing but not surprising that Governor Fallin, like so many other RINO “campaign conservatives” would willingly violate her campaign promises and her oath to the Constitution when it furthers her liberal agenda," said Dahm, R - Broken Arrow. "The Constitution clearly reads that "the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Nathan Dahm, a long time champion of 2nd Amendment rights, sponsored the measure which would have made Oklahoma the 14th Constitutional Carry state.

"Every law-abiding Oklahoman should be afforded the right to defend themselves without having to pay the government to do so. As a proven conservative, this veto will not deter me in my fight to defend the 2nd Amendment."

Nathan Dahm is a current Oklahoma State Senator and conservative Republican candidate for Congress in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District. To learn more about Nathan, visit www.NathanDahm.com.

Blogger's note: yes, Mary Fallin can no longer lay claim to the 'conservative' title. Her record in the last few years has been one of vetoing major pro-life and pro-gun bills, vetoing government reform measures, and pushing for the most massive tax hikes ever proposed in Oklahoma history. She's no conservative, at least any more.

Fallin vetoes 'Constitutional Carry', signs adoption bill

Governor Fallin announced her action on two controversial measures passed in the final week of the legislative session. The first was SB 1212, the "Constitutional Carry" bill that would have removed the requirement to pay for a license and take a class in order to exercise your constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Fallin vetoed the measure. SB 1212 passed the House by a vote of 59 to 28, and the Senate by a vote of 33 to 9.

The second was SB 1140, a measure that would protect the religious freedom of non-profit groups to facilitate adoptions consistent with their faith. LGBT extremists had been pressuring the Governor to veto the bill, but she [surprisingly to me] actually came through and signed it. SB 1140 passed the House by a vote of 56 to 21, and the Senate by a vote of 33 to 7.

Here are her press releases announced the actions she took:

Governor May Fallin Vetoes Senate Bill 1212

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today vetoed Senate Bill 1212, which would have eliminated the requirement to complete a short firearms safety and training course from a certified instructor and demonstrate competency with a pistol before carrying a gun in public. The governor issued the following statement:

“Oklahoma is a state that respects the Second Amendment. As governor, I have signed both concealed-carry and open-carry legislation. I support the right to bear arms and own a pistol, a rifle, and a shotgun.

“Oklahomans believe that law-abiding individuals should be able to defend themselves. I believe the firearms requirement we current have in state law are few and reasonable. Senate Bill 1212 eliminates the training requirements for persons carrying a firearms in Oklahoma. It reduces the level of the background check necessary to carry a gun.

“SB 1212 eliminates the current ability of Oklahoma law enforcement to distinguish between those carrying guns who have been trained and vetted, and those who have not.

“Again, I believe the firearms laws we currently have in place are effective, appropriate and minimal, and serve to reassure our citizens that people who are carrying handguns in this state are qualified to do so.”

Governor Mary Fallin Signs Senate Bill 1140

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed Senate Bill 1140, which to the extent allowed by federal law, no private child-placing agency shall be required to perform, assist, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any placement of a child for foster care or adoption when the proposed placement would violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies. The governor issued the following statement:

“After many hours of consideration and investigation of Oklahoma’s current practice, I note the aggressive efforts that have been made since I have been governor and the substantial progress made in finding more temporary and permanent placements for deserving children, reducing by 21 percent the number of children in state custody. This improvement is due in large part to the successful public-private partnership of more than 50 agencies, some of which are faith-based.

“Under Senate Bill 1140, the state will not be in any way restricting current practice allowing LGBTQ individuals and couples fostering or adopting. It does not ban same-sex adoption or foster care in Oklahoma. Instead, the bill will help continue Oklahoma’s successful placement of children with a broad array of loving families and basically maintain the status quo by setting forth in statute practices which have successfully worked for the best interest of Oklahoma children. I also note that the bill mirrors very similar legislation in Virginia, which has been on the books since 2012 without any court challenges. Since then, five additional states have passed similar legislation. Kansas also has a similar bill before its governor.

“SB 1140 allows faith-based agencies that contract with Oklahoma to continue to operate in accordance with their beliefs. In a day and time when diversity is becoming a core value to society because it will lead to more options, we should recognize its value for serving Oklahoma also because it leads to more options for loving homes to serve Oklahoma children. Other states that have declined the protection to faith-based agencies have seen these agencies close their doors, leaving less options for successful placement of children who need loving parents.

“Finally, I remain committed to preserving the rights of all Oklahomans who are eligible and want to be considered for parenting. Therefore, I plan to direct the Department of Human Services, by executive order, to immediately publish a list of Oklahoma adoption and foster agencies on its website who are willing to serve everyone who meets the Department of Human Services criteria for being a foster or adoptive parent.”

Dahm praises passage of Constitutional Carry

Senator Nathan Dahm Praises Oklahoma Legislature's Passage of Constitutional Carry Legislation

Law-abiding Oklahomans will be able to defend themselves without the burden of a required government-issued license.

Tulsa, OK - Nathan Dahm [Friday] praised the Oklahoma Legislature's passage of Senate Bill 1212 known as Constitutional Carry.

"The passage of Constitutional Carry is a momentous occasion for 2nd Amendment protections in the state of Oklahoma," said Dahm, R - Broken Arrow. "There is not another Constitutional right that requires people to get training and licensing in order to exercise that right. Now, law-abiding Oklahomans will be able to defend themselves without the burden of a required government-issued license."

If signed into law, firearms would remain prohibited in schools and government buildings, among other places where weapons are not allowed. With the passage of this law, Oklahoma would be the 14th state to enact Constitutional Carry legislation.

"As a long-time champion of 2nd Amendment rights, I was proud to secure the rights of every law-abiding Oklahoman. Constitutional carry simply guarantees the fundamental rights laid out in the 2nd Amendment alongside our other constitutional freedoms."

Senate Bill 1212 now awaits the signature of Governor Fallin.

Nathan Dahm is a current Oklahoma State Senator and conservative Republican candidate for Congress in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District. To learn more about Nathan, visit www.NathanDahm.com.

Senate passes Constitutional Carry

In a late session last night, the Oklahoma State Senate passed SB1212 (aka Constitutional Carry) by a vote of 33 to 9. Republican Senators Ervin Yen and Tom Dugger joined seven Democrats in opposition.

The bill would allow those adults who are 21 and older (or military personnel who are 18 and older) to legally carry firearms without a license, fully exercising their constitutional rights without having to pay to do so. 12 other states already allow for this.

Constitutional Carry Bill Clears State House

Constitutional Carry Bill Clears House

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, issued the following statement today following the House passage of Senate Bill 1212. The measure allows any person at least 21 years of age or a person who is at least 18 years of age and in the military to carry a firearm concealed or unconcealed if the person is not otherwise disqualified from the possession or purchase of a firearm. The amendment excludes persons convicted of certain crimes from carrying a firearm. Roberts is the House author of the legislation, which passed the chamber with a vote of 59-28. It now goes back to the Senate to accept House amendments.

“The right for law-abiding citizens to openly carry firearms already exists in the United States Constitution – it’s called the Second Amendment. It’s time we put a stop to bureaucratic roadblocks that infringe on these rights and instead codify a citizen’s ability to carry a firearm. Oklahoma prides itself on being a state that values individual freedoms, yet we’ve put red tape between people and their basic rights. With today’s House passage of Senate Bill 1212, we’re one step closer to rectifying that problem. I’m thankful for my colleagues’ support.”