Dems, Freedom Caucus uniting

Alexia Aston

The Oklahoman USA TODAY NETWORK

Aim to stall vote to alter Oklahoma Constitution

Senate Democrats and far-right Freedom Caucus lawmakers have formed an unlikely alliance that could delay a state question backed by mainline Republicans.

They worked across party lines to shoot down an attempt to ask voters to change the state Constitution to reform the Judicial Nominating Commission on an election date with historically low turnout.

Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said it was not a coordinated effort, but an alignment

between the Democrats and Freedom Caucus senators regarding transparency and feeling like “voters are getting a rigged deal.”

The partnership between two opposite factions in the Senate could signal potential headaches ahead for Republican leaders who set the chamber’s agenda and hope to reform the state Constitution by sending a slate of state questions to voters.

The vote allowed Democrats and members of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus to flex their political muscle against Republican leadership in the Senate. It showcased the ongoing splintering and infighting between Republican Senate leadership and Freedom Caucus members who feel their voices and bills aren’t treated equally.

“If we’re going to take power away from voters, why are we going to rush that through in August?”Kirt said. “That feels clearly like it’s a political calculation on the part of other Republicans.”

In addition to changing how appellate court judges are chosen, Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Kevin Stitt want to reroute funds from the tobacco settlement trust and give lawmakers the power to reel in Medicaid expansion.

They hope to place the questions on the Aug. 25 ballot, which will attract more GOP voters because runoff primary elections will be held on the same date. Several Republican races for statewide office, including the governorship, are expected to go to a runoff.

But the vote on Thursday, April 9, signaled their plans may not sail through.

One of the measures calling for a state question, House Joint Resolution 1024, passed the Senate floor along party lines, but the vote on the provision allowing for a special election in August failed to receive the necessary twothirds vote.

The measure asks voters to remove political party restrictions from the Judicial Nominating Commission along with rules barring the three at-large members from being a lawyer or having an immediate family member who is.

The Republican lawmakers who joined the Democrats in the 27-17 vote include known members of the Freedom Caucus, like Sens. Shane Jett, of Shawnee; George Burns, of Pollard; Dusty Deevers, of Elgin; Randy Grellner, of Cushing; Julie McIntosh, of Porter; Dana Prieto, of Tulsa; and Lisa Standridge, of Norman. Other Republicans who voted against the provision include Sens. Brian Guthrie, of Bixby, and Darcy Jech, of Kingfisher.

The vote will be reconsidered later after a motion to do so by Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville.

Jett said members of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus voted against the special election provision because they agreed with Democratic arguments about moving the state question to the November general election. He said when the vote is reconsidered, caucus members could change their minds if presented with a compelling argument to hold the vote in August.

Ballot measures that fail to receive the necessary 32 votes in the Senate to send them to the August ballot will be forced to the November election.

Another resolution that would end the state’s constitutional duty to cover low income adults under Medicaid was supposed to be heard on the Senate floor the same day. It was ultimately put on hold after the vote on the special election provision for changes to the Judicial Nominating Commission failed.

The state question that will result from HJR 1024 is just one of several ballot measures Republican leadership are aiming for the Aug. 25 ballot.

Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, both cited potential voter fatigue as the reason to put ballot measures on the August agenda.

Hilbert said he predicts there will be state questions on the ballot in August and November, but thinks putting all state questions on the August ballot will be cleaner.

While members of the Freedom