Horse Slaughter Author, Now Chamber VP Decries Controversial Bills As Giving ‘Backward Impression’ Of State
Controversial bills giving Oklahoma a black eye, Tulsa Regional Chamber says
By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
OKLAHOMA CITY — A rash of controversial bills being heard at the Capitol has the rest of the nation thinking Oklahoma is backward, says Skye McNiel, a Tulsa Regional Chamber spokeswoman.
Those bills range from a proposal to abolish AP history courses in public schools; to a so-called “hoodie” bill, which was designed to put more teeth in an existing law to prevent people from concealing their identities during the commission of a crime; to several bills targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Oklahomans, including proposals that attempt to eliminate state licensing or recognition of same-sex couples’ marriages and which would allow businesses, if they cite religious objections, to refuse to provide services.
One lawmaker filed a bill to revoke the status of the watermelon as the state vegetable.
Tulsa Regional Chamber representatives said it is important that the state accept diversity to attract businesses.