Potential Senate vacancy legislation

To save taxpayers millions of dollars on a special election in the event of a future mid-term U.S. Senate vacancy, the Senate passed a bill to let the governor to fill the seat by appointment.

Senate Bill 959, which would move the special election for the U.S. Senate seat to the next regularly scheduled statewide general election.

To be eligible to be appointed by the governor, an individual must have been a registered Oklahoma voter in the same party as the previous member for at least the last five years. The appointee would not be eligible to run for the vacancy in the special election or regular election.

‘In God We Trust” motto is affirmed

“In God We Trust” has been the United States’ national motto since it was adopted by Congress in 1956 and on U.S. currency since the Civil War.  It has been part of America’s national vocabulary since its founding.  Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, authored Senate Bill 815 to ensure counties and municipalities can continue displaying it if they want. The measure passed the full Senate 41-5.

“While the phrase wasn’t officially adopted by Congress to be used on our paper currency until 1957, it first appeared on the two-cent piece in 1864,” Bullard said. “The United States of America was founded on Christian principles, which is evident in the fact that God is mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, other government documents and historic buildings. The Declaration of Independence establishes God as the grantor of freedom and government as the protector of that liberty.”