Oklahoma GOP Legislator Wants to End Marriage in Oklahoma to Keep Out Gay Marriage! WHAT?

Thought I would have some fun today after spending my weekend laughing and talking to friends around the Country reminding them I said the OK GOP when we moved here January 1997 was on the loony side with the hard right seemingly playing a major role.  No one believed me and told me no way could it be that bad.  My friends, the skeptics, are skeptics no more after the latest out of an Oklahoma state representative from Edmond, OK, home of Sally Kern who I didn't think could be topped for some far out ideas, but I was wrong.

Oklahoma Representative wants to do away with all marriage to stop gay marriage in Oklahoma:

Lawmakers Consider Preventing ALL Marriage In Oklahoma 

Posted: Jan 24, 2014 4:51PM CSTMichael Konopasek, News 9 

State lawmakers are considering throwing out marriage in Oklahoma. 

The idea stems from a bill filed by Rep. Mike Turner (R-Edmond). Turner says it's an attempt to keep same-sex marriage illegal in Oklahoma while satisfying the U.S. Constitution. Critics are calling it a political stunt while supporters say it's what Oklahomans want. 

"[My constituents are] willing to have that discussion about whether marriage needs to be regulated by the state at all," Turner said. 

Other conservative lawmakers feel the same way, according to Turner. 

"Would it be realistic for the State of Oklahoma to say, ‘We're not going to do marriage period,'" asked News 9's Michael Konopasek. 

"That would definitely be a realistic opportunity, and it's something that would be part of the discussion," Turner answered. 

Such a discussion will be made possible by a current shell bill -- something that can be changed at almost any time to react to upcoming rulings on Oklahoma's same-sex marriage ban. 

"I think that, especially with issues like this, [these lawmakers are] out of touch with most Oklahomans," said Ryan Kiesel, ACLU Oklahoma executive detector. 

Kiesel says prohibiting all marriage is new territory. In fact, the ACLU was unable to find an example of where a state has ever tried to ban all marriage. Kiesel believes the entire idea just boils down to politics. 

"Moving forward I think we'll see less efforts like this," Kiesel said. 

Turner admits his idea makes a lot of people uncomfortable. He also says, "I accept that." Turner plans to wait until the federal appeals process plays out. The fight over Oklahoma's ban on same-sex marriage will now head to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver

Took to Twitter after my son sent me this link calling this guy "Idiot of the Week" which says a lot because there are any number of Oklahoma Republican elected officials who could fill that title, but this guy is a lock.

After taking to Twitter, I came up with a solution if the idiots at the Capitol in Oklahoma City pass this no marriage bill in the legislature as their answer to gay marriage and the governor signs the bill.  Here in Oklahoma as with other states the territorial lands of the Indian tribes are not subject to laws passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor or state referendums.  (Note:  On Indian reservations, however, only Federal and tribal laws apply to members of the Tribe unless the Congress provides otherwise.)  No tribe in Oklahoma is going to do anything but laugh about this idea.  They are too smart to even think this should apply to their territory.  

With that in mind, I came up with the idea that the casinos on tribal lands should open up wedding chapels as a lot of them have hotels and offer a package deal for the weekend.  There is one south of Norman so you get married, have your room with perks, and the casino gives you a gift of some tokens to spend.  Simple, legal, and a way for the tribes to thumb their nose at the state government.  Gays can already marry in Indian territory so why not include heterosexuals if OK State Government chooses to do away with all marriage in OK.

Lo and behold, I heard from several friends in the tribes saying that was an outstanding idea, and they should think about it.  I told them I want a cut for my idea and they laughed.  I laughed most of the afternoon yesterday because it was so funny to me that any member of the legislature could be this dumb and the fact he has support from others made it funnier.

It has gone viral around the Country that Oklahoma is considering doing away with marriage to stop gay marriage.  I keep hearing from people in various parts of the Country with their mea culpa to me on Oklahoma politics.  Anyone who has known me for years knows I have been complaining about OK GOP going back years since getting involved several years after we moved to Norman in January 1997.

On a more serious note,  The Journal Record had an article in the pay portion of their site:

Legislators’ attempts to maintain a stance against same-sex marriage in Oklahoma are difficult to market as an attractive reason for businesses to move to the state, economic development experts said.

When the Republicans took over state government in 2011, we had a surplus every year including when other states had deficits during the recession.  Our unemployment numbers were low, housing didn't take a huge hit, and the economy kept on going.  Now it is 2014 and our state has almost $200M less revenue than predicted for the budget.  

Oklahoma leads the nation in cuts to education per pupil since 2008, #49 in teacher pay and if they give a $2,000 pay raise, we will still be #49.  Today learned from The Oklahoma Policy Institute that a list by 24/7 Wall Street finds Oklahoma provides the fourth least government benefits in the nation, including pensions, education funding, and Medicaid payments. That is not all from OK Policy.Org today, there is more just today: 

226.7 percentJanuary 27th, 2014
Increase in Oklahoma’s diabetes rate from 1995-2010, the largest relative increase in the nation.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Oklahoma’s oil and gas tax breaks top $300 million
Tax breaks for horizontal drilling and other forms of oil and gas production are projected to cost the state over $300 million this fiscal year and next, according to new calculations by Oklahoma Policy Institute.  

We learned last week even though the state has an almost $200M shortfall in the budget that Gov Fallin wants to bring back the tax cut they passed last session that was overturned by the Court.  All I can do is shake my head at the abject stupidity of Republicans and their tax cuts that make the wealthy even wealthier and provide little to nothing for the middle class and poor.  Money doesn't flow back into the economy -- it flows into offshore accounts.  Just ask Mitt Romney.

There are rumblings that a few oil and gas owners think the rate for horizontal drilling should be raised but no one pays attention as the GOP is the party of the tax cuts no matter if it hurts education and infrastructure.  We have some people in our legislature who believe infrastructure should be financed on a pay as you go basis instead of with bonds which are a bargain today.  Any common sense in economics is missing from the GOP dominated OK Legislature but we have more than our fair share of hard right as witnessed by the bills to keep gay marriage out of the state, marriage laws to prevent divorce that some believe have increased spousal abuse, immigration laws, not to mention Oklahoma leads the nation in restrictions on abortions which keep getting overturned by the Courts as unconstitutional.

What is the answer from Republicans, we must change the way judges are chosen so their (unconstitutional) laws will stand -- constitution means nothing to these people.  We have people here who believe that the State Laws should always trump Federal Law.  We saw that play out with the Governor and the National Guard on spousal benefits for same sex couples where some Guard Members had to travel several hours to sign up for benefits.  These people protect us and because they don't fit the Republican idea of marriage in Oklahoma, they are to be punished?

Never thought I would be saying this, but I am ready to see Oklahoma turn back Blue and get some common sense in state government.  I miss Gov Henry and his low key approach to getting the job done.  Worst thing that happened was Republicans and ALEC taking full control of Oklahoma State Government.  I can name a few Republicans in State Government who believe in doing their job representing all Oklahomans but they can be counted on two hands compared to the large number of hard right now in charge in Oklahoma.  If not hard right, many elected officials bow down to them and their loony ideas.

If you live in Oklahoma or know someone from here, tell them to think long and hard before supporting Republicans because they are tanking this state with their hard right ALEC agenda.  The Democrats have come up with some good people to run for office in 2014 which will be spotlighting in the days ahead.   We need to roll up our sleeves and get some common sense back in this state and evict the loons from office with their 'my way or no way' agenda.  For a group of people who love to spout less Government, they love to tell the rest of us how to live and what we can do in our homes to which I say Bravo Sierra.

Have a great rest of the day!