When last November's election results became known, many political pundits proclaimed Oklahoma's Legislature as the "most conservative in the nation." They didn't realize that it quickly would earn another "most" award within a matter of months into the new legislative session for its work in dealing with the state's Native American population.
Recent activity has now placed Oklahoma at the front of the line for recognition as the most anti-Indian state legislature in the nation. In fact, the Legislature's actions and non-actions of May 18 probably make that single legislative day the second greatest in the history of anti-Indian activity for any legislative body. Of course, the single worst legislative day for Indians came during the Administration of President Andrew Jackson when the Congress of the United States enacted the Indian Removal Act leading to the relocation of tens of thousands of American Indians away from the East Coast. While the good news for Indian Country is that the Removal Act will never be duplicated, the recent actions in the Oklahoma Capitol are chilling not only to tribes within the Sooner State but elsewhere across the country.
Over the years, the Oklahoma House and Senate have featured some of the most wonderfully colorful politicians in the country, although our friends from Louisiana proudly challenge any state to duplicate their native son and former Governor, "Uncle Earl" Long. While stories of Uncle Earl are legendary, the current Oklahoma crew is setting new standards in its treatment of the state's Native American population that defy explanation for a state boasting that it has avoided many of the economic problems confronting others.
The legislature set new standards for itself with two separate actions in a single day. The newest Day of Infamy for Oklahoma's Native Americans is May 18, 2011.
The events of May 18 came in rapid succession. First, the Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa) announced that the Republican majority was killing a $40 million bond issue to finish the long-planned, widely praised, and much-anticipated American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City. In doing so, they even rejected pleas from their own leader, Republican Governor Mary Fallin, who actively worked to secure passage of the measure. This means that the partially completed facility at a very prominent site visible from the intersection of Interstate highways 35 and 40 will continue to be a construction zone for the foreseeable future, if not indefinitely. The cost of abandoning the project is estimated at $209.1 million, including $91 million already invested in construction, $38.1 million in demolition costs, and $80 million in lost state tax revenues over 20 years.
And at almost the same hour of the same day, the House of Representatives voted 57-36 to disband the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission. The floor debate featured such arguments in favor of the action as saving the expense of operating the office, including hiring an executive director and two employees. Curiously, the sum "saved" by this action will be transferred to the Governor's office budget.
Needless to say, Oklahoma would like for its tribal casinos to contribute a larger share of their gaming revenue to help finance the state government's operations. Meanwhile, the Legislature cut Oklahoma's already-depleted education budget by another five percent.
Oklahoma's favorite son is Will Rogers, the internationally acclaimed humorist and member of the Cherokee Tribe. Rogers tragically died in an airplane crash near Barrow, Alaska, in 1935. And, as many readers know, Will Rogers famously said, "I never met a man I didn't like." Oklahoma's favorite son died 76 years ago. It is a certainty that he never met any person currently serving in the Oklahoma Legislature.
The author is a native of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, as is State Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman.
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