OKLAHOMA CITY (OP) – State lawmakers
admitted Tuesday that they had no idea
who amended HB 2355, regarding performance
awards issued by the Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation.
The amendment added a new paragraph
to the first section of the bill. As apparently
approved, the paragraph reads “Metallica rules.”
Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, author of
the legislation, says he isn’t sure when the
amendment was added. “It might have been in
the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public
Safety,” he said, “but I really don’t remember.”
Committee Chair Sen. Dick Wilkerson,
D-Atwood, conceded that the amendment
could have been approved during the meeting.
“It was getting late, and I wanted to get home
and watch ‘Survivor,’ so I think we pretty much
approved everything on the table and went
home.”
House Minority Leader Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville
wasted no time attacking the legislation.
“This is typical of the Democrats ‘bait-and-switch’ policies,”
he said. “They did the
same thing with tort reform and worker’s compensation.”
Legislators have declined to repeal the
amendment. “I don’t think it’s hurting anything,”
said Lamons, “and besides, none of us
are sure what a ‘Metallica’ is.”
Under other provisions outlined in the
bill, the ruling status of Metallica will be
enforced by OSBI and the Oklahoma Bureau of
Narcotics.