Then There Were Four

In the 2013 session of the Oklahoma Legislature, set to start on February 4th, there will be at least 4 Anti-UN measures aimed at restricting commerce with international organizations. 

For several weeks now, we have been reporting on Senate Bill 23, the proposed new state law that has been introduced by State Senator Patrick Anderson. SB23 would have the effect of restricting public commerce with UN agencies as well as any international NGO's that have been involved in any of the UN's conferences on environment and development.

Now, we know that there will be at least four anti-UN measures in the Oklahoma Legislature. They are:

Senate Bill 23
by Senator Patrick Anderson (R-Enid)
"...The State of Oklahoma and all political subdivisions thereof shall not enter into any agreement, expend any sum of money, or receive funds, contract services or give financial aid to or from any non-governmental or inter-governmental organization as defined in Agenda 21."

Senate Bill 53
by Senator Nathan Dahm (R - Broken Arrow)
"...The State of Oklahoma and all political subdivisions thereof shall not enter into any agreement, expend any sum of money, or receive funds, contract services or give financial aid to or from any non-governmental or inter-governmental organization as defined in Agenda 21."

Senate Joint Resolution 2
by Senator Josh Brecheen (R-Coalgate)
"Resolved... THAT the State of Oklahoma and all political subdivisions are prohibited from implementing programs of, expending any sum of money for, being a member of, receiving funding from, contracting services from, or giving financial or other forms of aid to Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), or any other organization promoting the implementation of the United Nations Agenda 21, sustainable development, or smart growth."

House Bill 1412
by Rep. Sally Kern (R-OKC)
"...The state and all political subdivisions of the state shall not enter into any agreement, expend any sum of money, receive funds contracting services or give financial aid to or from any nongovernmental or intergovernmental organizations accredited or enlisted by the United Nations."
(Not yet assigned to any committee)

It appears that all 3 Senate measures (SB23, SB53, and SJR2) will be assigned to the Senate Energy Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Cliff Branan, a commercial real estate broker in Oklahoma City. The co-chair of the committee is Sen. Bryce Marlatt, from Woodward, who lists his occupation as "Oil & Gas Services/ Real Estate."

Other members of the Senate Energy Committee are:

Senator Rick Brinkley ... Owasso
Senator Eddie Fields ... Wynona
Senator A J Griffin ... Guthrie
Senator Jim Halligan ... Stillwater
Senator Tom Ivester ... Sayre
Senator Constance Johnson ... Oklahoma City
Senator Rob Johnson ... Kingfisher
Senator Clark Jolley ... Edmond
Senator Ron Justice ... Chickasha
Senator Susan Paddack ... Ada
Senator Frank Simpson ... Springer
Senator Rob Standridge ... Blanchard
Senator Greg Treat ... Oklahoma City
Senator Charles Wyrick ... Fairland

The assignment of these bills to the Senate Energy Committee is regarded as a positive development. A quick review of the committee roster shows that several of the committee members have a connection to the state's agriculture sector -- so they should have an appreciation for the value of UN knowledge resources such as those of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. A couple of them are attorneys, so they should clearly understand that Agenda 21 does not represent any sort of threat to due process or property rights. At least two of the senators on the committee have a background in science and technology. A few of them have some tenuous connections to international organizations or experience. For example, Senator Brinkley is a Kiwanian; Senator Standridge has an interest in international commerce.

We are encouraging our members and friends to write or call their State Senator and State Representative -- asking them to oppose these Anti-UN measures.

To find the name of your State Representative and State Senator, visit the "Oklahoma Legislature" website, here ...

www.okhouse.gov/FindMyLegislature.aspx?State=OK

Then, to find their email address, etc., use the member directories that appear at okhouse.gov and oksenate.gov.

For additional background information on the proposed bills, please see the "Archives" section of this blog. Here are some recommended articles:

January 2013:
   Disambiguation
   Anti-Knowledge

December 2012:
   Criticisms Continue
   More Testimony
   Consequences
   Anti-UN Measure Pre-Filed in Oklahoma Legislature
   The Jeane Kirkpatrick Society
   The UN and Property Rights

November 2012:
   The Future We Want

Thanks!