POLITICS

Oklahoma House approves 'In God We Trust' bill

Carmen Forman

This July 23, 2019 photo shows "In God We Trust" stenciled in a wall at South Park Elementary in Rapid City, S.D. When students return to public schools across South Dakota this fall there should be a new message displayed in a common area, a cafeteria, entryway or other prominent location. A new state law that took effect this month requires all public schools in the state's 149 districts to paint, stencil or otherwise display the national motto "In God We Trust." The South Dakota lawmakers who proposed the law said the requirement was meant to inspire patriotism in the state's public schools.
(Adam Fondren/Rapid City Journal via AP)

The Oklahoma House on Tuesday approved a bill to put "In God We Trust" in most state buildings.

The bill from House Speaker Charles McCall could cost the state an estimated $85,000 to place the national motto in 342 state buildings.

McCall's bill passed on a party-line vote following fierce opposition from Oklahoma Democrats. Groups supporting the separation of church and state have decried House Bill 3817, saying it disenfranchises Oklahomans with diverse religious beliefs.

Linking the state to God could have the unintended effect of alienating people from religion, said Rep. Merleyn Bell, D-Norman.

"How fragile is your faith that you need to put it in the face of every Oklahoman every single day?" she said.

McCall recently told The Oklahoman he's not pushing the bill as a religious issue. It's an homage to the country's history, he said.

"It means something different to everybody, but it is our nation's motto," he said. "It's on our currency, it's on buildings throughout this country, and I think it's a good thing to embrace the positive things about our country's history."

Rep. Collin Walke, D-Oklahoma City, insinuated the bill is an election-year stunt that doesn't improve Oklahomans' lives. All members of Oklahoma's House are up for re-election this year.

Democrats said the $85,000 to implement HB 3817 could be better spent elsewhere. Walke said the funds could be used to put 17 people through mental health court.

Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, said putting words or phrases like this in state buildings could make people tune out to the message. The human mind is trained to ignore things we see every day, he said.

“The God that I serve does not want to be a fixture on our buildings," he said. "He wants to be a fixture in our hearts.”

HB 3817 passed the House on a vote of 76-20. It now heads to the state Senate.

Some Democrats have suggested costs to display the national motto in state buildings could exceed $85,000 because the legislation requires the size and placement to match the "In God We Trust" in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.

School buildings would not have to display the motto.