Members of the Oklahoma Legislature are seeking to enact legislation that would be a good first step toward rejecting unconstitutional federal education funding and, by extension, restoring state sovereignty in this key area.
Senate Bill 863 (SB 863) is authored by Senator David Bullard (R-Durant) and coauthored by Senator Warren Hamilton (R-McCurtain) and Representative Jay Steagall (R-Yukon).
If enacted, SB 863 would require the Oklahoma Department of Education to “develop a ten-year plan to phase out the acceptance and use of funds provided by the federal government for the support of pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade education in this state.” This plan would include a specific timeline for ending federal funding.
Under the bill, this plan would be submitted on or before June 30, 2024.
SB 863 is a great first step toward rejecting unconstitutional federal funding and reclaiming state sovereignty. By funneling tax dollars to states and localities, the federal government makes them financially dependent — and it can (and already does) attach strings to its funding, thus forcing the states to comply with its draconian agenda.
Already, Oklahoma receives at least 37 percent of its revenue from the federal government. This dependence on federal funding is detrimental to Oklahoma’s sovereignty.
Furthermore, federal education funding is unconstitutional. The U.S. Constitution doesn’t give the federal government any role in education, and the 10th Amendment affirms that education policy lies with the states and the people. Oklahoma shouldn’t participate at all in unconstitutional programs, and enacting SB 863 would help free Oklahoma from the federal government’s grasp.
Contact your state representative and senator, urging them to support SB 863 and to reclaim state sovereignty by rejecting all federal funding.
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