One of our clandestine operatives — code named “OO” — sent us a memo suggesting that the Oklahoma legislature has passed a joint resolution placing a proposed amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution on the ballot. The amendment — if passed — would prohibit the state’s acceptance of certain federal education funds.
That struck us as rather remarkable, because the Oklahoma state legislature doesn’t convene until 04 February, and it will remain in session until 31 May. So we went looking.
The legislature’s website has a page for Senate Joint Resolution 7 (or SJR7). It’s authored by Senator David Holt. According to the information at the page for SJR7, it’s scheduled for a first reading in the Senate on 04 February.
Here’s a link for the text of SJR7. The operative part of it says:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 54TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law, the following proposed amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution by adding a new Section 9 to Article XIII to read as follows:
Section 9. The State of Oklahoma shall not accept any federal education funds for elementary and secondary education which require the state to implement a federal education program or achieve standards established by the federal government as a condition of receiving federal education funds. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the state from accepting block grants, funds provided by Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended, funds provided by the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 or funds provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The rest of the resolution discusses how the proposal will appear on the ballot. The way we read this thing, if it passes, Oklahoma can still accept federal money for free lunches and other goodies, but they won’t accept any money that is conditioned on being told what to teach or how to teach it.
This isn’t, strictly speaking, a creationism measure, although it certainly could have that effect if federal standards mandate teaching evolution in science class. But it could also have the effect of rejecting federal mandates regarding global warming or — gasp! — sex education.
It’s literally a federalism provision, and says, in effect, that Oklahoma is responsible for funding its state school system and deciding what it will (and won’t) teach, and they don’t want the feds telling them what to do. If this thing passes and the state goes full bore for creationism, that’s another matter, but constitutionally speaking, there’s nothing wrong with the resolution as written. However, providing in the same resolution that they’ll accept federal funds for other school goodies seems a bit hypocritical.
Anyway, our clandestine operative may have jumped the gun just a little bit. This thing hasn’t had a chance to pass either house yet, but it’s definitely something to watch.
Copyright © 2013. The Sensuous Curmudgeon. All rights reserved.
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Another example of a state action that’s not directly impacting the controversy, but could potentially affect it — Gov.-Elect Mike Pence of Indiana, according to an AP story in yesterday’s Lafayette, Ind. Journal & Courrier, is going to make tort “reform” a priority. Pence is declining to release details of his agenda before his swearing in Monday, but Sen. Mike Delph (Theocrat-Carmel) has filed Pence’s proposal to make those on the losing end of civil lawsuits to pay all of the legal costs.
So, if this “reform” passes, those challenging, say, Indiana’s voucher law will have to have deep pockets. Said voucher law sends state money to religious schools where creationism is taught, and has been in effect for two school years now.
Of course, there is no way for us to know Pence’s motives. However, he is definitely a Theocrat.
@ESG: Wait, a theocrat from Carmel? Why, I’m shocked… SHOCKED, I tell you! I would have thought that anyone from Carmel would be too busy trying to find new and creative ways to waste tax dollars on building art deco government buildings and $90 million dollar football stadiums for the local high school (full disclosure: I’m a graduate of that high school…) You have to understand that Carmel is unofficially called “The Golden Ghetto of Indiana”, and it’s for a good reason. The city is home to many of the big names of Indiana. For example, the Irsays and many of the Colts players make their home there. So the place tends to have a government that is long on money and short on common sense. Also tends to have politicians who have, well, too much time on their hands.
Delph is also concerned that Barack Obama is not actually a US citizen, so much so that he
wasted everyone’s time byintroduced a bill to require any candidate for President to produce a birth certificate. (No discussion of who would decide of such a certificate was legit, and Delph apparently can’t tell. But let’s continue…) And, of course, he was a co-sponsor on one of Kruse’s last attempts to introduce “creation science” into the classroom.Sorry for the sidetrack from OK to IN. But I had to vent…
Just wondering: are there any federal monies now that require states to teach a federally-determined curriculum? And does that curriculum contain anything on evolution or global warming or accurate US history?
Or are these wise legislators just protecting their constituents against an imaginary boogeyman (who also will probably require that Sharia law be enforced)?
If the proposed amendment is adopted, Oklahoma would be shooting itself in the foot.
The proposal states,“The State of Oklahoma shall not accept any federal education funds … which require the state to… achieve standards established by the federal government as a condition of receiving federal education funds.”
It leaves no room for accepting funds when the standards to be achieved are so basic that the schools would have no problem reaching them.
It’s like they’re saying, “In OK, we’re ok with our kids being illiterate. So stick it in yer ear, Feds!”
It would be nice to see some minimal federal standards for education. These so-called “patriots” seem to be little dismayed that our students are being rapidly outdistanced by kids in asia. JFK, who saw to it that we passed the Soviets after coming to the space race from behind, must be absolutely whirling in his grave.