Monday, April 25, 2016

Oklahomans Will Vote On Repeal of Blaine Amendment

The Oklahoma legislature last Thursday gave final passage to SJR 72 (full text) (legislative history), referring to the voters of the state a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the state's Blaine Amendment.  The amendment would repeal Art. 2, Sec. 5 of the Oklahoma constitution that prohibits public funds or property from being used for sectarian or religious purposes. Legislative passage came in reaction to a state supreme court ruling last year that, in reliance on Art. 2, Sec. 5, ordered removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the statehouse grounds. As reported by The Oklahoman, an ACLU spokesman said that if the ballot measure passes, the ACLU would likely file a federal challenge to the Ten Commandments monument.