Fallin: Ten Commandments to remain up during GOP-led fight

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the state must remove a 6-foot tall granite monument of the Ten Commandments from its capitol because it violates the state’s constitutional ban against the use of public funds or property to benefit a religion.

“It is a privately funded tribute to historical events, not a taxpayer funded endorsement of any religion, as some have alleged”, Fallin said.

While legal battles like this generally focus on perceived violations of the US Constitution, there has been a shift in recent years by atheist activists and First Amendment watchdogs to instead use state constitutions as the basis of complaints.

“It’s deeply disturbing that Gov. Fallin would break the law, brazenly defying the state’s highest court in order to further her personal religious agenda”, executive director Roy Speckhardt said in a statement to The Huffington Post.

Rather than tamping down talk of impeachment, GOP House Speaker Jeff Hickman issued a statement saying impeachment is an option within the Legislature’s authority and “will be seriously considered”, along with possibly amending the constitution or imposing other “judicial reform” measures.

Lawmakers are fighting to keep the Ten Commandments Monument outside the Oklahoma State Capitol.

“We fully expect the state to respect the rule of law and comply with the court’s decision”, Mach said. “That said, if she does, there is a word for it. It is called contempt”. “Taken to an extreme it could even lead to churches, synagogues, mosques and other buildings used for religious purposes being unable to receive police and fire protection as they would be directly or indirectly benefiting from public monies”.

But on Tuesday, Fallin struck back, stating that Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has requested a rehearing of the case by the court. “It was written with discrimination in mind, and like a malignant tumor, needs to be removed completely”.

“After reviewing the Supreme Court’s Ten Commandments ruling, it is clear that we have a toxic provision in our state Constitution”, state Rep. John Paul Jordan (R-Yukon) told KFOR.

Mach said he doubted the court would grant the appeal.