Here are news items involving local government, religion, and land use that have caught our attention.
Oklahoma is a state where we respect the rule of law, and we will not ignore the state courts or their decisions. However, we are also a state with three co-equal branches of government. At this time, Attorney General Scott Pruitt, with my support, has filed a petition requesting a rehearing of the Ten Commandments case. Additionally, our Legislature has signaled its support for pursuing changes to our state Constitution that will make it clear the Ten Commandments monument is legally permissible. If legislative efforts are successful, the people of Oklahoma will get to vote on the issue.
The Governor’s full statement is available at Ok.gov.
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Florida Today reports that a coalition of atheist, agnostic and humanist groups is suing Brevard County, Florida in federal court for refusing to allow religious non-believers the opportunity to offer a prayer before the start of County Commission meetings. The complaint, filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, is available here. The plaintiffs contend that Brevard County’s policy violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Florida Constitution, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway.
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Texas News reports that a West Texas County Clerk is refusing to issue marriage licenses for same sex couples following the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, and has issued a what she calls a “declaration” to “protect natural marriage from lawless court opinions.”
[View source.]