Oklahoma State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-5774
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 13, 2009
Oklahoma Sovereignty Resolution Clears Senate
(For digital audio, go to www.oksenate.gov and select “News”)
State Sen. Randy Brogdon said he was “elated” after the Senate joined the House in approving House Concurrent Resolution 1028, asserting Oklahoma’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. An earlier legislative attempt by Brogdon to stop the federal government from overstepping its bounds was vetoed by Gov. Brad Henry.
“HCR 1028 will not have to go to the governor—and with its passage today, it will go to straight to President Obama and Congress. We are telling them loud and clear to end all federal mandates that are beyond the scope of powers specifically outlined in the constitution,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso.
Brogdon said under the U.S. Constitution, Congress does have the right to regulate trade, mint money and maintain a navy.
“These functions are clearly outlined and should be handled by the federal government, but the Washington politicians have gone too far. They use the promise of money, or the threats of withholding it, to coerce states into giving up their sovereignty,” Brogdon said.
Brogdon said numerous federal laws, including the Patriot Act, No Child Left Behind and federal homeland security requirements are examples of how the federal government has overstepped its powers. He said the federal stimulus program is a particularly alarming example.
“People think, great, this is free money, but I assure you it is not free. We’re creating debt that will impact our children, grandchildren and probably even their grandchildren. Frankly we may never be able to pay off this debt. Furthermore, there are strings attached to these funds,” Brogdon said. “I can assure you, the federal government does not have the authority to dictate Oklahoma’s budget, but that’s exactly what they’re attempting to do.”
-END-
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Update On Oklahoma Claiming Sovereignty
House bypasses governor’s veto to claim Oklahoma’s sovereignty
Buzz up!BY MICHAEL MCNUTT
Published: May 5, 2009
Although Gov. Brad Henry vetoed similar legislation 10 days earlier, House members Monday again approved a resolution claiming Oklahoma’s sovereignty.
Unlike House Joint Resolution 1003, House Concurrent Resolution 1028 does not need the governor’s approval.
The House passed the measure 73-22. It now goes to the Senate.
"We’re going to get it done one way or the other,” said the resolutions’ author, Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City.
"I think our governor is out of step.”
House Democrats objected, saying the issue already had been taken up and had been vetoed, but House Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, ruled the veto is not final action.
Key said he expects HCR 1028 will pass in the Senate. HJR 1003 earlier passed the House 83-18 and won approval in the Senate 29-18.
Henry vetoed HJR 1003 because he said it suggested, among other things, that Oklahoma should return federal tax dollars.
Key said HCR 1028, which, if passed, would be sent to Democratic President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress, would not jeopardize federal funds but would tell Congress to "get back into their proper constitutional role.” The resolution states the federal government should "cease and desist” mandates that are beyond the scope of its powers.
Key said many federal laws violate the 10th Amendment, which says powers not delegated to the U.S. government "are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” The Constitution lists about 20 duties required of the U.S. government, he said.
Congress should not be providing bailouts to financial institutions and automakers, he said.
"We give all this money to all these different entities, including automakers, and now they’re talking about, ‘Well maybe it’s better to let them go bankrupt,’” Key said. "Well, maybe we should have let them go bankrupt before we gave them the money.”
Buzz up!BY MICHAEL MCNUTT
Published: May 5, 2009
Although Gov. Brad Henry vetoed similar legislation 10 days earlier, House members Monday again approved a resolution claiming Oklahoma’s sovereignty.
Unlike House Joint Resolution 1003, House Concurrent Resolution 1028 does not need the governor’s approval.
The House passed the measure 73-22. It now goes to the Senate.
"We’re going to get it done one way or the other,” said the resolutions’ author, Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City.
"I think our governor is out of step.”
House Democrats objected, saying the issue already had been taken up and had been vetoed, but House Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, ruled the veto is not final action.
Key said he expects HCR 1028 will pass in the Senate. HJR 1003 earlier passed the House 83-18 and won approval in the Senate 29-18.
Henry vetoed HJR 1003 because he said it suggested, among other things, that Oklahoma should return federal tax dollars.
Key said HCR 1028, which, if passed, would be sent to Democratic President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress, would not jeopardize federal funds but would tell Congress to "get back into their proper constitutional role.” The resolution states the federal government should "cease and desist” mandates that are beyond the scope of its powers.
Key said many federal laws violate the 10th Amendment, which says powers not delegated to the U.S. government "are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” The Constitution lists about 20 duties required of the U.S. government, he said.
Congress should not be providing bailouts to financial institutions and automakers, he said.
"We give all this money to all these different entities, including automakers, and now they’re talking about, ‘Well maybe it’s better to let them go bankrupt,’” Key said. "Well, maybe we should have let them go bankrupt before we gave them the money.”
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