As reported by the Capitol Beat OK, Speaker Benge is going to pull a health care bill authored by Rep. Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow) that would exempt Oklahoma from any nationalized health care mandates (ie. Obamacare). 

In response to questions from CapitolBeatOK, Speaker of the House Chris Benge said this afternoon (Feb. 3) that House Joint Resolution 1054, a proposed constitutional amendment, would be pulled from consideration by the House Rules Committee. 

Ironically, Charlie Meadows with OCPAC sent an email to his followers this morning encouraging them to continue calling Speaker Benge about this bill.

I did a little checking around and this is what I learned. It appears that Speaker Benge is concerned about the number of state questions to be on the ballot this coming November. Speaker Benge told one source that there are already 9 questions to be on the ballot, with 13 questions held over from last year’s session and 31 pieces of legislation coming from this year’s legislative session that are still eligible to be placed on the ballot. Benge told the source that the committee is “working to manage the number of state questions to avoid overloading the ballot.”

 

I have been telling people for over a year now that I too am concerned bout the large number of ballot questions. However, this issue is so important that it must be heard and hopefully pass asap. Therefore, we just do whatever is necessary to urge Speaker Benge and the rest of the legislature to move this issue along. Speaker Benge could negotiate with Governor Henry to put some of the lesser important issues, such as requiring a photo ID for voting purposes, to be put on he ballot during the primary election. The governor has that option. Therefore, please contact Speaker Benge’s office and ask him for an assurance that he will use his INFLUENCE to allow HJR 1054 to be heard. If he is really against Obama’s health care plan and wants to rotect the citizens in Oklahoma from the unconstitutional actions that may come out of Washington, then he needs to support this legislation. The Speaker’s Capitol number is (405) 557-7444 and his e-mail is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . A phone call is preferred or do both. Speaker Benge has near dictatorial power over legislation, so no matter where you live in Oklahoma your call is needed and important. Please act today through Thursday.

Therefore, please contact Speaker Benge’s office and ask him for an assurance that he will use his INFLUENCE to allow HJR 1054 to be heard. If he is really against Obama’s health care plan and wants to rotect the citizens in Oklahoma from the unconstitutional actions that may come out of Washington, then he needs to support this legislation. The Speaker’s Capitol number is (405) 557-7444 and his e-mail is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . A phone call is preferred or do both. Speaker Benge has near dictatorial power over legislation, so no matter where you live in Oklahoma your call is needed and important. Please act today through Thursday.