Members of an Oklahoma Senate panel criticized the costs of bringing the state’s drivers licenses into compliance with a federal anti-terrorism law before deciding to send the proposal to the floor for a final vote. Following more than one hour of discussion and debate, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 34-9 for the House-passed measure and sent it to the full Senate for consideration.
Category: Oklahoma Government
Okla. advances GOP bill requiring fathers’ consent for abortions
A legislative bill gaining momentum in Oklahoma could force women wanting to have an abortion to first obtain consent from the fathers of their fetuses. The so-called HB 1441 bill , authored by Republican Rep. Justin Humphrey, passed the state House Committee on Public Health on Tuesday, and is now up for a full House vote.
Oklahoma senators vote to confirm Betsy DeVos
The Senate has confirmed school choice activist Betsy DeVos as Education secretary, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a 50-50 tie. The Senate historian says it was the first time a vice president had to break a tie on a Cabinet nomination.
No answers found in Kansas skydivera s death in Oklahoma
The Federal Aviation Administration has been unable to determine why a Kansas woman became disconnected from her parachute and fell to her death in northern Oklahoma. Twenty-six-year-old Sheralynn Neff of North Newton, Kansas, had jumped with an instructor from 10,000 feet on July 24 and deployed her parachute at about 6,000 feet.
Oklahoma fans say president delivering on his promises
Missy Ligon of Yukon cheers for Donald Trump as Republican Party backers gathered on election night Main Event Entertainment in northwest Oklahoma City as election returns rolled in the presidential race against Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. [Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman Archives] President Donald Trump has his share of opponents, some of whom have taken to the streets in protest, including here in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma lawmaker accused of sexual harassment won’t testify
In this Jan. 3, 2017, file photo, Oklahoma state Rep. Dan Kirby, R-Tulsa, top, sits in the Oklahoma House in Oklahoma City. Kirby, who has been the subject of sexual harassment complaints, said Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, he will not testify before a special closed-door House committee looking into the allegations and the use of government funds to settle with one of his accusers.
Oklahoma Republican lawmaker abandons anti-abortion bathroom signs law
An Oklahoma Republican lawmaker on Friday abandoned a measure that required public bathrooms to display anti-abortion signs after an outcry from business leaders and health providers who said it would cost millions of dollars. Republican Sen. A.J. Griffin, who had sponsored the original bill passed by the Legislature, proposed an amendment that would require the signs only at abortion providers and would direct the state Department of Health to launch a social media campaign on how to avoid abortions.