Hamilton, legislators question legality of self-induced abortions in Oklahoma

These are legislators with depth of conviction and principle when it comes to protecting the preborn.

Hamilton questions legality of self-induced abortions in Oklahoma 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, has requested that Attorney General John O’Connor provide an official legal opinion related to self-induced abortions. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade earlier this year, a letter sent in October urged the state’s chief legal and law enforcement official to answer whether or not at-home abortions are a crime in Oklahoma.

Legislative Republicans comment on tax credits and 'woke' ideology

Legislative Republicans Comment on Tax Credits and Woke Ideology

OKLAHOMA CITY – Various legislators have signed onto the below statement, authored by Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, expressing their concerns about ideology that could be brought by Project Ocean on Oklahoma taxpayer's dime. 

Gov. Stitt signs bill allowing lawsuits against those performing or abetting abortions, starting at conception

While the headlines might scream that this bill bans abortion, it really doesn't. It's another smoke-and-mirrors piece of legislation that actually falls short of abolishing abortion in Oklahoma.

Legislature approves bill allowing for civil lawsuits against those performing or abetting abortions

While the headlines might scream that this bill bans abortion, it really doesn't. It's another smoke-and-mirrors piece of legislation that falls short of abolishing abortion in Oklahoma. It has plenty of exceptions (one being "an abortion performed at the behest of federal agencies, contractors, or employees that are carrying out duties under federal law, if a prohibition on that abortion would violate the doctrines of preemption or intergovernmental immunity"... which sounds really bizarre). It furthermore abdicates the express duty of the state government to uphold justice and defend life, and exempts those who seek out murderers-for-hire.

One bright spot is that it does recognize life as beginning at fertilization, rather than something like a heartbeat or pain.

House Approves Abortion Civil Liability Bill

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, the Oklahoma House of Representatives approved House Bill 4327 as amended by the Oklahoma Senate.

HB4327, authored by Rep. Wendi Stearman, R-Collinsville, in the House and Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, in the Senate, provides civil liability for anyone performing or abetting an abortion in Oklahoma.

National School Boards Association compared parents to terrorists; 17 states have left, but not Oklahoma

AS OTHERS EXIT, OSSBA MAINTAINS NSBA TIES

by Ray Carter, Director, Center for Independent Journalism

A majority of state school boards associations have publicly distanced themselves from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) after the national group compared parents to terrorists, and 17 state associations have withdrawn from the NSBA.

But the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) is not among them, and the organization continues its policy of public silence regarding the controversy even as state lawmakers may be poised to require parental approval for schools funds to go, directly or indirectly, to the NSBA.

In a public letter issued to the Biden administration on Sept. 29, NSBA officials declared that opponents of Critical Race Theory and mask mandates represented “an immediate threat” that included “threats of violence and acts of intimidation,” and said “the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes.”

“NSBA believes immediate assistance is required to protect our students, school board members, and educators who are susceptible to acts of violence affecting interstate commerce because of threats to their districts, families, and personal safety,” the letter stated. “As our school boards continue coronavirus recovery operations within their respective districts, they are also persevering against other challenges that could impede this progress in a number of communities. Coupled with attacks against school board members and educators for approving policies for masks to protect the health and safety of students and school employees, many public school officials are also facing physical threats because of propaganda purporting the false inclusion of critical race theory within classroom instruction and curricula.”

The NSBA letter specifically cited only a handful of examples of alleged extremism nationwide. Most fell far short of terrorism and often amounted to little more than verbal disruption.

The NSBA letter said such incidents justified investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Secret Service and its National Threat Assessment Center.

Shortly thereafter, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memorandum announcing that he was ordering the FBI to meet with state and local officials to develop “strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff.”

The fallout from the incident has been nationwide as numerous state school boards associations have fled from any association with the NSBA.

Parents Defending Education has maintained a list of state school boards associations that have denounced the NSBA’s actions. That list has grown to include 27 states that have distanced themselves from the NSBA’s letter: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Seventeen state associations have further demonstrated their displeasure by withdrawing from the NSBA. That group includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Stearman files bill to stem outside influences on Oklahoma schools

Stearman Files Bill to Stem Outside Influences on Oklahoma Schools

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Wendi Stearman, R-Collinsville, has filed House Bill 2980, the "Keep Our Money in Oklahoma Act," which aims to protect the parents, children and taxpayers of Oklahoma's public school system from outside influences that do not reflect the Oklahoma Standard.

In September, the National School Board Association (NSBA), of which the Oklahoma State School Board Association (OSSBA) is a member, sent a letter to President Joe Biden requesting federal assistance at local school board meetings. In this letter, the NSBA declared concerned parents and taxpayers as "domestic terrorists." Therefore, under HB2980, schools within the Oklahoma public school system would not be able to use state appropriated funds to pay any membership dues to any organization that is owned or operated outside of Oklahoma. Further, they would not be allowed to use any taxpayer money to pay dues or membership to any organization that is a member of a national organization without the voters' approval.

"Oklahoma taxpayers should not be forced to fund organizations that seek to silence parents," Stearman said. "A transparent system in which families  determine where their tax money is spent will benefit both the children and their education."  

HB2980 would further require that school districts publish the criteria, finances and reports of an entity in which the district holds membership.

Election Day: Voting Tips and Picks

Election Day: it has finally arrived. 

Voters all across the state are now heading to the polls to decide the future direction of their communities, state, and nation. This post will cover some information and recommendations that may be helpful with your voting plans. 

Find your Polling Place and view a Sample Ballot

Live Oklahoma election results (after 7pm)

Michael Bates: election information and recommendations

Charlie Meadows/OCPAC endorsements and recommendations

Endorsements by the Tulsa Beacon

No candidate is perfect. Vote for the candidate that will advance the most good and prevent the most evil (that's generally the Republican). The Democratic Party platform is literally full of and a celebration of things God hates. If I don't specifically mention a race, default to giving the Republican candidate your vote.

Here are some comments of mine on a few select races:

President: Donald Trump and Mike Pence (Republican). I was a Never Trumper in 2016. I looked at Donald Trump and did not trust him. His behavior was (and still is, to a large degree) repulsive, and he clearly did not (and still does not) exhibit character that demonstrates true Biblical conversion. I did not believe that he would follow through on his pledged conservative policies, and so I cast a protest vote for a third party candidate.

I am happy to have been wrong on many of my misgivings about Trump. While I still cringe at many of his behaviors and wish that he would just behave, he has largely followed through on his 2016 campaign pledges. No president has done more to advance the cause of the unborn. His administration has championed religious liberty. His administration generally did a fantastic job on the economy. His foreign policy, especially as it relates to the Middle East and North Korea, has produced results that few could have dreamed of. His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been better than he's given credit for, mainly due to his tendency to trip his own progress up with stupid actions and statements.