Governor Henry Vetoes Common-sense Reform

Rejects bill that passed by a combined 128-1 vote!

From Oklahomans for Responsible Government:

Governor Brad Henry showed how out-of-step he is with the average citizen in the state Friday by vetoing a bill that passed by a combined 128-1 vote in the legislature – House Bill 2246, a common-sense reform that would have improved the ability of citizens to petition their government.

HB 2246 would have extended the period for a citizen-led initiative petition to gather signatures from 90-days – currently the second-shortest period in the country – to one year. It also would have provided protections for those gathering the signatures from being harassed by opponents.

“For the Governor to veto a bill which could have easily been overridden if the legislature was in session goes beyond petty politics,” said Brian Downs, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Responsible Government. ““With his action, Governor Henry delivered a slap to the face of citizens who want to petition their government and leaves Oklahoma with one of the highest barriers for citizens to put a measure on the ballot in the country.”

In his veto message, Governor Henry claimed that a provision to protect petition circulators from being harassed or intimidated by opponents has, “the effect of discouraging and even criminalizing such basic constitutional rights as free speech and freedom of assembly.”

“Apparently Governor Henry doesn’t care about the rights of citizens to be free to petition their government without being intimidated or threatened by opponents,” said Downs.

“In a year when initiative petition reform bills got overwhelming support in the legislature, Governor Henry decided that he would play Supreme Court Justice with his veto pen,” said Downs. “It continues to amaze that the Governor thinks he knows what is constitutional and what is not when a bill he signed last year was declared unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court.”

OFRG will continue to fight for the rights of the average citizen to petition their government despite the actions of Governor Henry to maintain the status quo.

 

Ask Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry to Sign OK HB 2246!

From Oklahomans for Responsible Government (OFRG.org):

This past legislative session was a very successful one for our policy agenda, but there is still an important bill left for the Governor to sign.

House Bill 2246 makes important reforms to the initiative petition process, including extending the period to gather signatures from 90-days to one year. The right of citizens to petition their government is an important one and HB 2246 will improve what is currently a very burdensome initiative system.

Call Governor henry’s office at 405-521-2342 or follow this link to message the Governor from his webpage.

With your help, we can make it easier for the average citizen to try and get a measure on the ballot!

Also see: Oklahoma House Bill 2246, 2009 on Ballotpedia, and read the text of the bill HERE.

And remember to become a fan of the Oklahomans for Responsible Government Page on Facebook, to receive more updates like these.

 

Call Governor Henry; Let Oklahoma Vote

From Norma Sapp, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Initiative Rights:

Here in Oklahoma we have the toughest ballot initiative process in the country. With only 90 days to collect hundreds of thousands of signatures, it’s no wonder that only three initiatives have made the ballot in the last ten years! Right now, we have a historic chance to change that, but only if you contact Governor Brad Henry today.

Ask Governor Henry to do his part to clean up the initiative process and give Oklahomans time to petition by signing two important initiative reform bills that passed the legislature overwhelmingly.

These bipartisan bills—Senate Bill 800 and House Bill 2246—make important improvements to the initiative process. HB 2246 increases the 90 day time limit for circulating a petition to one year, giving citizens enough time to collect signatures. SB 800 streamlines the process and protects citizens from having petitions unjustly thrown out on a mere technicality.

I have traveled all over the state in the past few weeks talking to citizens at the grassroots level about the initiative process. After going to 70 cities and towns and braving nearly as many tornadoes, I can tell you firsthand that the people of Oklahoma want an accessible initiative process. Right now we can have it.

Both of these bills are on the governor’s desk waiting for his signature. These changes are desperately needed to give Oklahomans back a voice in government. Pick up the phone right now and call the Governor’s office at (405) 521-2342. You can also email the governor by clicking here.

 

Another Reform to Oklahoma’s Initiative Petition Laws Passes

From Oklahomans for Responsible Government:

Common-sense bill makes ballot more accessible to citizens

Oklahoma’s very restrictive laws governing ballot initiatives will be opened up under House Bill 2246 which got final approval in the Senate last night and is now going to the governor for his signature. It’s the third major reform to the system which allows citizens to come up with laws and put them up for a vote.

“It’s a fundamental right of Oklahomans to petition their government,” said Brian Downs, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Responsible Government. “But the laws limited that to the point where only well-funded and well-organized groups could mount such an effort.”

There are several provisions to HB 2246, but the main components will:

• lengthen the amount of time to gather signatures from 90-days to one year
• require legal challenges to petition language be handled before signatures are collected
• create a Task Force that will look at other aspects of the initiative and referendum process

HB 2246 is the third measure to deal with the initiative petition process this session. Senate Joint Resolution 13, which already passed both houses, will ask voters to change the law so that the number of signatures needed to put a measure on the ballot is based only on the last election for governor. Senate Bill 800 deals with the legal challenges to ballot initiatives. It got final approval earlier this week and also awaits the governor’s signature.

“Changing the initiative petition process has been a major policy agenda issue for OFRG this session,” said Downs. “We commend the legislators for supporting the initiative petition process and encourage the governor to sign them into law.”

 

Massive 18 ft Replica of the State of Oklahoma Coming to State Capitol

Press Conference with Authors of SB-852 and HB-2246, Legislation that Will Reform Initiative Process

Oklahoma City, OK, May 5th, 2009 – Oklahomans for Initiative Rights’ massive 18 foot wide replica of the State of Oklahoma will visit the South Plaza of the State Capitol on May 6th in Oklahoma City, OK as part of a statewide grassroots campaign to protect Oklahoman constitutional rights.

In addition, Oklahomans for Initiative Rights will be holding a press conference with the authors of SB 852 and HB 2246, Rep. Randy Terrill and Sen. Randy Brogdon. These bills will protect Oklahomans’ constitutional rights to petition their government and to make the initiative process more accessible to its citizens. Currently, Oklahoma has the one of the most restrictive ballot initiative processes in the country permitting only 90 days to collect hundreds of thousands of signatures.

• WHAT: Press Conference with Rep. Randy Terrill and Sen. Randy Brogdon to call for passage of SB 852 and HB 2246.
• WHO: Oklahomans for Initiative Rights.
• WHEN: May 6th, 2009, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
• WHERE: Oklahoma State Capitol – South Plaza – 2300 N Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK

To follow the float, and for more details on the statewide campaign visit www.LetOklahomaVote.org

Oklahoma-3 Are Free! AG Dismisses Charges

Free at last! Oklahoma AG Drew Edmondson today dropped all charges against the “Oklahoma 3″—Paul Jacob, Susan Johnson, and Rick Carpenter—in response to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeal’s refusal to approve his request for a rehearing.

Edmondson had asked the court to rehear the case in which the 10th Circuit judges invalidated Oklahoma’s residency requirement for petition circulators. Edmondson had indicted the Oklahoma 3, claiming they had willfully violated the requirement.

In addition to dropping charges, Edmondson told the Tulsa World that he has decided not to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn 10th Circuit court. Edmondson acknowledged that the out-of-state petioner ban “is no longer enforceable.”

Paul Jacob released the following statement in response to the charges being dismissed:

Today is a great day for justice, for freedom of speech and the right to petition one’s government. It is a great day for Rick Carpenter, Susan Johnson, and me—now known as the Oklahoma Three.

The charges brought against us by the attorney general have now been dismissed. They should never have been brought in the first place. We did not break the law and, as we all now know, the law itself is unconstitutional.

Our prosecution has sadly had a chilling effect on Oklahomans, who want to reform their government and to hold it accountable through the petition process. My goal throughout this ordeal has been to encourage Oklahomans and Americans everywhere not to let their rights be eroded through fear and intimidation. Today we have won a victory.

But the battle to protect citizen rights is far from over.

As President of Citizens in Charge, I look forward to working with all Americans to see the voter initiative process triumph over attacks from politicians. The will of the people should always prevail over the desires of politicians.

Thanks to all of you for the support you have given to Paul and the Oklahoma 3 during this terrible ordeal!

Citizen Leader Faces Felony Charges for Petitioning Oklahoma Government

National Initiative and Referendum Expert’s Statement Before Trial for Violating Petition Laws
(Oklahoma City, OK)…Paul Jacob, President of Citizens in Charge released the following statement before his preliminary hearing on felony charges of violating the state’s statute requiring petition circulators to be residents of Oklahoma:

“Today, Attorney General Drew Edmondson continues his attack on the right to petition one’s government. We are innocent. We sought to understand and to fully comply with the letter of the law. Indeed, those running the petition drive were advised by state officials and followed that advice.

“Furthermore, the very statute being used to prosecute us is being challenged as unconstitutional. In recent months, statutes similar to Oklahoma’s have been struck down as unconstitutional by two federal circuit courts – the Sixth and Ninth Circuits – in unanimous decisions.

“Make no mistake: We are here today facing 10 years in prison because we worked for an issue adamantly opposed by the rich and powerful in Oklahoma. The goal of this prosecution is to threaten us and scare Oklahomans away from the initiative process, which gives citizens their best opportunity for real reform.

“But we will not be bullied out of our rights as Americans. We will fight this vicious, politically-motivated assault, and we will prevail.”

Citizens in Charge works with activists, legislators, media, opinion leaders and voters to protect the initiative & referendum process where it exists in 24 states and to expand the process to the 26 states where voters currently lack the initiative.

Also see:

• Free Paul Jacob
• Free the OK3 Rally on Tuesday! (Updated)