Senators Disappointed By Lack of Senate Action on Pro-Family Bills

Committee Hearings Not Scheduled for Laci and Conner’s Bill, Covenant Marriage, Informed Consent, Marriage Penalty

Oklahoma families are getting the short end of the stick in the Oklahoma State Senate this year. Several pro-family bills will die this week in the Senate for lack of a committee hearing.

Among the bills not scheduled for a hearing in Thursday’s meeting of the Senate’s Health and Human Resources Committee is House Bill 1257, the “Laci and Conner Peterson” law.

“The Laci and Conner law simply makes it a separate crime to harm or kill an unborn child during the commission of a crime against the baby’s mother. Someone would need to have a really extreme view in order to oppose this bill, which is why it is so disappointing the chairman did not schedule the bill for a hearing,” said Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Moore, the Senate author of the bill.

Senate Health and Human Resources Chairman Bernest Cain, who militantly opposes pro-life legislation, also refused to schedule a hearing for House Bill 1543, the Women’s Right to Know and Family Protection Act. HB 1543 is co-authored by 28 senators – three more than necessary to pass on the Senate floor – including a majority of members on Cain’s own committee.

“HB 1543 would require abortionists to provide women with information regarding fetal development, the health risks of an abortion, and alternatives to abortion. It also requires parents to be notified before their minor daughter receives an abortion,” stated Sen. James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa, the bill’s author.

“Gov. Henry ignored my recent letter requesting his help to get HB 1543 passed through the Senate, and Sen. Cain refuses to hear it. It is sad that two of the Democrat party’s leaders are so opposed to letting the Senate work its will on this common sense, pro-life measure,” he stated.

Meanwhile, two other pro-family bills are likely dead for the session because they did not receive committee hearings on Tuesday.

House Bill 1256, a bill to eliminate the marriage penalty in the Oklahoma tax code, was not heard by Senate Finance Chairman Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, when his committee met Tuesday. Many married couples pay more taxes than they would if they were single and earning the same income.

“Apparently, Sen. Gumm supports the marriage penalty in Oklahoma, or he would have heard this bill. This is very disappointing because, if anything, we should be encouraging marriage in the tax code, not penalizing it,” said Williamson, the Senate author of HB 1256.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Laster, D-Shawnee, refused to hear House Bill 1561 Tuesday, authored by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond. HB 1561 would establish covenant marriage contracts in Oklahoma. Couples desiring to enter into a covenant marriage agreement would voluntarily engage in pre-marital counseling. Additionally, these couples would agree not to allow for a “no-fault” divorce to end their marriage.

“I find it very unfortunate that the will of at least 122 of 149 state legislators is being thwarted by just one person who dislikes the idea of allowing people to voluntarily enter into a stronger marriage. The covenant marriage bill simply allows for couples to hold themselves to a legally recognized contract which has a higher standard,” stated Jolley.

“This is a bipartisan bill that received 95 votes in the House and has 27 co-authors in the Senate – including a majority of the members of the Judiciary Committee. I am very disappointed that the Senate leadership did not allow HB 1561 to be heard in committee and to be given the fair treatment it rightfully deserves,” he said.

During his time as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, then-Sen. Brad Henry routinely killed covenant marriage bills.

Pro-family initiatives not receiving committee hearings in the Oklahoma Senate

HB 1257 – The Oklahoma Unborn Victim of Violence Act, a “Laci & Conner Peterson” law.
HB 1256 – Eliminate the marriage penalty in Oklahoma’s tax code.
HB 1258 – Establishes a criminal punishment for anyone other than a physician who distributes a pill to induce an abortion.
HB 1352 – Couples receive counseling prior to dissolution of marriage.
HB 1455 – Banning common law marriage in Oklahoma.
HB 1543 – Women’s Right to Know and the Family Protection Act.
HB 1561 – Establishes covenant marriage.