10TH AMENDMENT: State House passes bill affirming states' rights koco.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from koco.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Credit Serge Melki
Oklahoma House Republicans passed a bill on Thursday to give the legislature power to determine whether federal actions are constitutional.
House Bill 1236 says lawmakers would refer a determination on whether a presidential order, federal rule or congressional action is constitutional to the state attorney general, but if their office doesn t act on that determination, the legislature can declare the action unconstitutional by a simple majority vote.
Rep. Andy Fugate (D-Del City) said he supports reviews of executive orders, but the bill goes too far. I think it’s appropriate for this body to ask the attorney general to challenge federal actions that we believe are unconstitutional, but I cannot support the blatantly unconstitutional concept of having a legislative body assume the powers of the judiciary to determine whether or not something is constitutional, Fugate said.
The bills have been lauded by Governor Kevin Stitt and criticized by public school advocates.
House Bill 2074 would allow students to transfer at any point during the school year. Now, they’re limited to specific windows.
“Parents must maintain the ability to consider another public school if they find their child’s needs are not being met at their current school,” said Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) of HB2074.
House Bill 2078 would limit the number of years used in the state’s funding formula. Proponents say the move will keep public dollars with students and opponents say it will strip money from schools that have lost enrollment.
Oklahoma City Representative Chris Kannady, who wrote the bill, said it would put every county health department on the same page, but those opposed said it is an overreach.
House Bill 2504 would take away a city appointment to the Tulsa and OKC health boards and replace that person with a state health commissioner appointee.
The director would then be required to discuss actions with the state health commissioner and ban local rules from being more strict than state guidelines.
It would also allow the state health commissioner to force a vote to remove the local director.
Critics said this is an obvious way to overstep and centralize power, give political appointees control, and undermine residents health and safety.
House Committee Advances Bill To Limit Tulsa, OKC Health Departments thebulltulsa.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thebulltulsa.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.