A bill to require “In God We Trust” to be displayed in all state buildings passed the Oklahoma House on Tuesday.
Opponents of House Bill 3817, like Democratic Rep. Regina Goodwin, were frustrated by its sponsor, Republican Rep. Jay Steagall, who avoided answering questions outside the text of the bill.
"I am a Christian. I want to say that. But I also want to know, when you say, ‘we,’ who is the ‘we’ referring to in ‘In God We Trust’?" Goodwin said.
"I think that’s a good question. The bill has to do with signage. So, if we want to talk about the placement or the size or any of that, I’d be glad to answer those questions for you, but — yeah," Steagall said.
Opponents questioned the bill’s $85,500 cost estimate for 342 state buildings, saying $250 per building building won’t cover even a basic, vinyl sign. They also asked whether it’s worded clearly enough that public schools are exempt and why the state motto, "Labor conquers all," was not being used instead of the national motto.
Most Democratic representatives voted against HB3817, citing its potential to alienate Oklahomans who are not Christians. Norman Rep. Merelyn Bell said her opposition to such displays was formed as a child, when she saw two other children sitting out of a public school Christmas program because of their beliefs.
She was forthright with supporters of the measure.
"How fragile is your faith? How fragile is your faith that you need to put it in the face of every Oklahoman every single day?" Bell said.
The bill also preemptively authorizes the Oklahoma Attorney General to defend the law if it's challenged in court.
HB3817 was authored by Speaker Charles McCall. It passed 76–20, with just two Democrats, Reps. Ben Loring and Matt Meredith, in support and no Republicans opposed.
