`In God We Trust' display sought in state buildings
Oklahoma's House speaker once again is pushing for the national mot to ,“In God We Trust” to be displayed prominently in state buildings.
The Oklahoma House on Monday passed Speaker Charles McCall's House Bill 2085 to add the phrase in 342 state buildings at an estimated cost of $85,000.
The legislation incited fierce debate from Democrats, who argued the bill violates the separation of church and state and could alien ate Oklahomans with diverse religious beliefs.
HB 2085 is identical to legislation McCall, R-Atoka, introduced last year. His earlier bill passed the House, but stalled in the Senate when the COVID-19 pandemic upended the last legislative session.
The bill would require the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to display “In God We Trust” in all state buildings in a manner consistent with how them otto is displayed in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. The state agency would have to cover the costs.
HB 2085 specifies displaying them otto should not be construed to mean the state favors any religion over another. It also charges Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter to defend the displays if they are challenged in court.
“This bill isn't about religion. It's about preserving our national history,” said Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, who presented the measure on the House floor.
“E Pl uri bus Unum” ( out of many, one) served as the national motto from 1776 until 1956, when Congress changed it to“In God We Trust.” The phrase has been on the nation's money since the conclusion of the Civil War, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
McCall previously told The Oklahoman he does not intend for the bill to be a religious statement, but a reminder of the country's history and founding principles.
Re p.M au ree Turner, D-Oklahoma City, who is Muslim, said whether it' s intentional or not, the legislation will hurt atheists and non-Christians.
“This bill sends a message,” she said. “It sends a message to folks who don't believe in religion, to folks who believe in different religions and quite frankly, it sends a message to me.”
Rep. Regina Good win, D-Tulsa, made a similar point, noting additions to state buildings wouldn't say, “In Buddha We Trust” or “In ( Pr o phet ) Muhammad We Trust,” nods to Buddhism and Islam, respectively.
Democrats also argued the bill was a waste of the Legislature' s time and state resources.
Steagall said he believes displaying the motto is a great investment of state funds, and noted the $85,000 is minuscule in comparison to the state's $20 billion operating budget.
House Speaker Pro Tem Terry O'Donnell, R-Ca to os a, said the motto could help unify the country at time of deep political divisions.
“We need to accept that the national motto unifies our country and is inter woven into the fabric of our society,” he said.
HB 2085 passed on a party-line vote, and advances to the state Senate.