Marriage Bill Clears Senate Panel
Oklahoma Senate committee passes marriage-promotion measure
BY BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
OKLAHOMA CITY – A Senate panel on Monday passed a measure that would require the airing of public service announcements promoting marriage as a tool against poverty.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed House Bill 1908, by House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, and Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City.
The measure would direct the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative to use money it receives from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program to fund the public service announcements. The measure was amended to prohibit elected or appointed officials from being in those advertisements.
The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative receives $2.8 million in TANF funds. The entire program receives $145 million in federal dollars and $60 million in state funds, Holt said.