Being a journalist is not OK in Oklahoma

New Oklahoma bill would force journalists to be licensed by the state

According to Dahm’s Senate Bill 1837, called the Common Sense Freedom of Press Control Act, “any media outlet that includes opinions at any time in its print, broadcast, or other means of distribution shall do each of the following before any articles, stories, opinions, news, videos, or other media are distributed to the public:”

• Complete a criminal background check.
• Receive a license from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates public utilities in the state.
• “[C]omplete a propaganda-free safety training course of no less than eight (8) hours as prescribed by the State Department of Education, which shall be developed in coordination with PragerU,” which is a right-wing advocacy group known for distorting U.S. history and promoting climate change denial.
• Have liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.
• Submit to drug testing every quarter.

The bill reads that each media company post a prominent “disclaimer” before each broadcast or printed publication stating “” WARNING: THIS ENTITY IS KNOWN TO PROVIDE PROPAGANDA. CONSUMING PROPAGANDA MAY BE DETRIMENTAL TO YOUR HEALTH AND HEALTH OF THE REPUBLIC.”

 

Dead on arrival.

 

These are not serious people.

 

Too Soon(er)?

 

It's easy to dismiss this kind of halfwit fascism.

But get ready for it, because it's coming to a statehouse near you.

 

Only if Sinclair newscasts are forced to air this coming in and out of each break.

 

Seems blatantly unconstitutional.

 

Before the filing deadline for Oklahoma legislative sessions, numerous bill proposals are launched with little hope of being heard, let alone passed. A bill that would create a Bigfoot hunting season was filed before a past session and another one this session would declare anyone in a gang who is of “Hispanic heritage” a terrorist. They are ploys for publicity and, unfortunately, they seem to get it.

Nathan Dahm, the author of bill, likely knows it’s blatantly unconstitutional. He’s state GOP chair and from the extreme right of an already right-wing party.

Oklahoma Republican leaders spend a good bit of time arguing about who gets to drive their clown car. The governor called for a special session to begin today to enact state income tax cuts, even though he has no real proposal. The leader of the senate, also a Republican, says he will gavel the session in, then out, effectively killing it. The regular session begins a week from today.

 

Why? It's Oklahoma. They have no reason to vote it down. They'll put it into law and happily see it through to a challenge at SCOTUS, where their klan will affirm it.

 

Prima facie unconstitutional. Will be overturned without comment by every federal appeals court, including SCOTUS.

 

After Stinky gets elected and orders every Dem judge to be machine-gunned, we'll see then.