By Constitution Staff

On April 23 the state Senate failed by six votes to override Gov. Brad Henry's veto the night before of a pro-life bill. House Bill 1326, by state Rep. Mike Reynolds (R-Oklahoma City) and Sen. Todd Lamb (R-Edmond) would make it illegal for any Oklahoma business to conduct research that would kill a human embryo or subject an unborn child to a substantial risk of death or injury. "The idea that we should condone the harvesting of children for "well intentioned' research runs counter to all morality. Human embryos are human beings and the state cannot condone their destruction for research purposes," said Reynolds. The ban was supported by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in both the state House and Senate. Earlier in the day, the House did successfully override the gubernatorial veto by a 68-26 vote. However, since the Senate was unsuccessful in its vote to override, Gov. Henry's veto remained intact.

While the initial bill passed with 38 votes in the Senate, more than enough to override the Governor's veto, the Tulsa and Oklahoma City Chamber leadership went against the wishes of their pro-life members and convinced ten state senators to change their vote, thus sustaining the veto 26-19. The senators who changed their vote and did not support the override of the veto were: Patrick Anderson (R-Enid), Randy Bass (R-Lawton), Sean Burrage (D-Claremore), Harry Coates (R-Seminole), Mary Easley (D-Tulsa), Earl Garrison (D-Muskogee), Charlie Laster (D-Shawnee), Debbe Leftwich (D-Oklahoma City), Richard Lerblance (D-Hartshorne), and Charles Wyrick (D-Fairland). A few senators were also absent for the vote.

"This battle is not over yet! I have stood firmly on the pro-life side and I know that there are thousands of Oklahoma business owners who do not support the destruction of human embryos for profit," said State Senator Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso). "It's a travesty that the Oklahoma City and Tulsa Chamber leadership are more concerned about profit than the protection of human life." Brodon urged members of the local Chamber of Commerce to ask their leaders to stand on the side of innocent human lives and support HB 1362. He also asked people to contact the senators who switched their vote and urge them to reconsider.

"The chambers' support of embryonic stem cell research as an "economic growth' tool is a shocking violation of the public trust and basic moral values," said Rep. Pam Peterson (R-Tulsa). "The idea that Oklahoma should condone the destruction of innocent human life in the name of "economic development' is indefensible," Peterson said. "Our law clearly states that human life begins at conception. Now the chambers are advocating the destruction of a legally recognized life in exchange for research dollars, saying the state should determine the best use of a person's life for the state's purposes. That's a huge paradigm shift that runs contrary to the basic values of our nation."

State Rep. Lisa Billy ( R-Purcell) noted that chamber officials made significantly inaccurate statements about the extent of their proposed research efforts. On April 21, Roy Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, told KWTV in Oklahoma City: "This is about using embryos that are currently frozen in banks that are going to be destroyed and thrown away. It is not about harvesting embryos. It is not about creating embryos for research." But, a report by the RAND Corporation refutes Williams' claim. Although there are nearly 400,000 embryos that have been frozen and stored nationally, the report notes the vast majority are designated for future attempts at pregnancy and just 11,000 have been designated for research uses. "Even if there were no moral issues involved, embryonic stem cell research cannot be done solely with existing frozen embryos," said Billy. "It requires thousands of human eggs that will literally be harvested from the bodies of women, particularly poor women in dire financial straits. That kind of inhuman exploitation would be a black eye for Oklahoma's reputation." Billy said.

As a result of the chamber's call for vetoing the embryonic stem cell ban, many pro-life lawmakers boycotted a legislative event jointly hosted by the Oklahoma City and Tulsa chambers.

In preparation for the governor's veto and expected override attempt, a number of Democrat legislators issued statements supporting the upcoming veto by the governor. One liberal Republican, also joined in the effort. State Rep. Doug Cox (R?-Grove) endorsed the governor's veto. "I applaud Governor Henry for researching the facts rather than listening to misleading emotional arguments," said Cox. With a lowly 44% Oklahoma Conservative Index rating, Cox is one of the most liberal Republicans in the Legislature, has been nominated or received the RINO (Republican In Name Only) award several times from the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC).

Supporters of the research ban may make another attempt to override in the Senate if they can get the support of those who initially supported the bill.