Oklahomans Will Vote On Repeal of Blaine Amendment

The Oklahoma legislature last Thursday gave final passage to SJR 72 (full text) (legislative history), referring to the voters of the state a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the state's Blaine Amendment.  The amendment would repeal Art. 2, Sec. 5 of the Oklahoma constitution that prohibits public funds or property from being used for sectarian or religious purposes. Legislative passage came in reaction to a state supreme court ruling last year that, in reliance on Art. 2, Sec. 5, ordered removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the statehouse grounds. As reported by The Oklahoman, an ACLU spokesman said that if the ballot measure passes, the ACLU would likely file a federal challenge to the Ten Commandments monument.