*UPDATE* SJR 10 SJR 11 and HJR 1003 Tenth Amendment Resolutions +

Update-3/04/09

I think I need to clarify a couple of points.

Oklahoma has 2 Joint Resolutions moving through the legislature.

One is HJR 1003 by Rep.Charles Key.  He is the original author of this bill that was passed overwhelmingly in the House last year.  Unfortunately it died in committee before ever reaching the Senate so it was not passed into law.  This year he submitted HJR 1003, same bill.  It has advanced through the House of Representatives as of 2/18/09 and should be scheduled at any time to be heard in the Senate.  If it passes in the Senate-It will be law!   Representative Key crafted the bill so that  no approval is needed by the Governor.  The goal is ultimately to have the Senate use HJR 1003 as the final bill

BUT

SJR 10 by Senator Randy Brogdon, is also a Tenth Amendment Resolution.  I have noticed that some bills have “twins” or an extremely similar “sibling” working from the opposite chamber.  I suppose this is to increase the chances that an important piece of legislation will make it through the entire process and be adopted into law.  SJR 10 would have to be signed by the Governor.

Senator Brogdon and Representative Key are both Champions and we are extremely blessed to have two such staunch Constitutionalists working in our State Legislature.  I am also happy to say that from what I have seen I believe they are not alone.

Senate Vote on SJR 10 and SJR 11 3/04/09

I had the pleasure today of sitting with a number of other Constitutional advocates in the Oklahoma Senate gallery for the purpose of watching the proceedings as our Senators cast their votes on SJR 10 and SJR 11.  SJR 11 by Senator Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso) is a bill designed to rescind Oklahoma’s previous calls for a Constitutional Convention (put forth in the 70’s and one in the early 80’s if I am recalling correctly).  We have 32 states that have issued a call for a Con Con .   There are 32 states that have called for the Convention.  A minimum of 34 states must issue the request for a Constitutional Convention to be held and it is unclear as to whether or not a formal call to rescind will have any effect but Oklahoma and other states are trying to stave off the possibility by passing legislation such as SJR 11 which did pass the Senate today unanimously.    What is a Constitutional Convention and why should we worry about having one?

Tom DeWeese explains:

There has been only one Constitutional Convention in the history of the nation – that was in 1787. At the time, the nation was held together by the Articles of Confederation. The states were having a difficult time with commerce among themselves. So it was decided to hold a Constitutional Convention to simply discuss how interstate commerce might be better organized. As the delegates were selected, some were given specific orders by their states to discuss nothing else beyond the commerce issue.

However, as soon as the delegates arrived at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, they closed and locked the door, pulled down the shades and met in secret for a month. When they were finished, they had created an entirely new nation. We were very lucky that the convention was attended by men like Ben Franklin and James Madison. They produced the most magnificent document ever devised for the governance of man.

Today, we have Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Do you trust them to produce a document of such magnitude? Or would they at least take care of the present one? We live in an era when the Supreme Court looks to foreign laws to assure our own are worthy. We live in an era when many believe that the Constitution is out of date for our times. They are itching to get their hands on the old parchment. And as history has shown, they can do anything they want to it, including writing a completely new document.

SJR 10 also passed but unfortunately did not prove to be as wildly popular as SJR 11.  SJR 10 by Senator Randy Brogdon is the Senate version of HJR 1003 which is authored by Representative Charles Key.  Both measures are Joint Resolutions claiming Sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment.   It seems to be common practice for there to be very similar bills coming from the House and Senate at the same time and the purpose appears to be to give the measure every opportunity possible to pass.

Although Senator Brogdon did a great job explaining and defending this measure, it was subject to quite a lot of debate.  I will go over my notes and share with you the arguments that were offered against the Tenth Amendment Resolution later.  I would like to do the debate justice.  The bottom line is that although it passed, it was not by a wide margin.  Final count was 25 yea to 17 nay.  I am again disgusted that we have this many lawmakers who have difficulty saying yes to the Tenth Amendment which is established law.

Click Vote Tally

Click Senate Directory– Phone Numbers, room numbers, email for all State Senators

YEAS: 25

Aldridge, Coffee, Justice, Russell

Anderson, Crain, Lamb, Schulz

Barrington, Ford, Marlatt, Stanislawski

Bingman, Halligan, Myer, Sykes

Branan, Ivester, Newberry

Brogdon, Johnson, (M) Nichols

Brown, Jolley, Reynolds

NAYS: 17

Adelson, Easley, Leftwich, Wilson,

Ballenger, Garrison, Lerblance, Wyrick,

Burrage, Gumm, Paddack.

Corn, Johnson (C), Rice,

Crutchfield, Laster, Sparks,

EXCUSED: 6

Bass, Eason, Mc Mazzei

Coates, Ellis, Sweeden

NOT VOTING: 0

**A good story on SJR 10 that I missed.   2/17/09 from the Red Dirt Report**

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Previous Alert 3/3/09

OK-SAFE Action Alert SJR 10 & SJR 11, SB 483
Oklahoma’s SJR 10 Claiming sovereignty under the 10th
Amendment, and SJR 11 Rescinding applications to the U.S.
Congress to call a Constitutional Convention, both by
Senator Randy Brogdon, will be heard on the Senate floor
Wednesday, March 4, 2009!

Calls and emails needed ASAP – or show up at the OK Senate
for the floor vote.  [As of this writing the floor vote may
occur after lunch, at 1:30pm; to find out the actual time
call 1-405-524-0126 and ask for your Senator’s legislative
assistant.]

* SJR 10 reiterates the 10 Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and claims state’s rights. The 10th Amendment reads: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”  SJR 10 reads in part, “THAT this serve as Notice and Demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers.”

* SJR 11 calls for rescinding applications for a Federal Constitutional Convention.  A Federal Constitutional Convention would potentially allow the entire U.S. Constitution to be opened to amendment, including the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights.  Given today’s current altered worldview, opening the U.S. Constitution to a Constitutional Convention by the states creates the potential for great damage to be done, i.e.removing the right to free speech, the right to bear arms, and states’ rights under the 10th Amendment.

Please call and email your Oklahoma Senator and ask him to support SJR 10 & SJR 11. The OK Senate switchboard number is 1-405-524-0126 or 1-800-522-8502.
Other Concerning Issues/Bills to be Heard:

* SB 483 by Jolley et al of the Senate and Terrill of the House Public safety; directing Department of Public Safety to establish procedures to access computerized images. This bill contains the following very concerning language on page 4:

* 3.  The Commissioner of Public Safety is authorized toestablish procedures and enter into agreements with any other law enforcement agency of this state “or political subdivision of this state” for the purpose of providing “direct electronic access” to the photograph or image in computerized format of any person who has been issued a driver license or identification card by the Department of Public Safety.

* “Direct electronic access” is the problem – this is open-ended and would allow other agencies or entities direct access to the photo data collected by DPS, rather than by submitting a written request.  When applying for a driver’s license, a citizen believes he/she is dealing with one agency and one agency only – DPS. Other agencies or entities should submit written requests for photos or other personal data and not be given direct electronic access, over which, in reality, there is no control.

* The effort to allow other agencies direct electronic access to our driver’s license photo, and possibly other personal information, could make the driver’s license the ‘gateway’ to creating an international ID card.

Please call your Senator to express your concerns about SB 483. To find your OK State Senator click here:
http://www.capitolconnect.com/oklahoma/

OK-SAFE, Inc. thanks you for your prompt action on these
important issues.  Visit us at http://www.ok-safe.com for more
information on Legislative tracking and issues such as the
Real ID, biometrics, and data collection.