OKLAHOMA CITY (April 25, 2006) - Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives approved legislation today that would give state support to counties that display the Ten Commandments on public property.
Senate Bill 1878, by state Sen. Harry Coates (R-Seminole) and state Rep. Kevin Calvey, would allow the state Attorney General to defend counties from lawsuits challenging public display of the Ten Commandments.
"The Ten Commandments has been one of the most important foundations of civilized law for centuries, but a few zealots want that information suppressed because of religious bigotry," said Calvey, R-Del City. "Senate Bill 1878 simply ensures that fringe groups filing lawsuits aren't allowed to restrict the free speech rights of all Oklahomans."
Provisions of Senate Bill 1878 developed by state Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, would allow county commissioners to approve the display of the Ten Commandments on county property after having been advised by the Office of the District Attorney or the Office of the Attorney General how to do so in a constitutional manner, and would allow the state Attorney General to defend counties from lawsuits challenging such a display.
The legislation also allows money from the state's General Revenue Fund to go to district attorneys to cover the costs of defending legal challenges to displays of the Ten Commandments on public property when the Attorney General declines to provide the legal defense.
Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in July that public displays highlighting the historical significance of the Ten Commandments are permitted under the Constitution, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit last fall against Haskell County officials who voted to display a Ten Commandments monument created with private funds on the lawn of the county courthouse in Stigler.
More than seven in 10 Americans approve of displaying the Ten Commandments in public places, revealed a poll conducted by the Pew Forum in 2004.
Senate Bill 1878 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 88-7 vote on Tuesday. The bill will now return to the Oklahoma Senate (where it previously passed 45-1) and is expected to be assigned to a conference committee.
