Strongly pro-life
legislators, including two with “perfect” answers on the Oklahomans for
Life survey of candidates for positions in the state Legislature, have
been targeted with late mailers, radio spots and/or television
advertisements. The communications which hit Friday and Saturday of last
week, were designed to mislead voters about their records on pro-life
issues.
One of the state’s leading advocates of pro-life protections, Oklahoma
Family Policy Council Executive Director Mike Jestes, issued a statement
saying attempts to use his critical analysis of one bill last
legislative session were unwelcome and inaccurate.
In statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, Jestes said:
“Oklahoma Family Policy
Council regrets the way in which our previous comments, which were
internally directed at members of the Oklahoma Legislature, are now
being used in partisan, political ways to scare concerned Oklahoma
voters about the pro-life values of some very fine conservative,
pro-life Oklahoma legislators.
“Unfortunately, many fine state legislators, including Rep. Ann Coody,
Rep. Steve Martin, Rep. Jason Nelson, and possibly others, are being
incorrectly characterized for partisan purposes as not pro-life.
“Their votes in 2010 over Senate Bill 1902 were about the regulation and
control of Oklahoma’s equine and animal husbandry industry. There were
not then — nor are there now — any documented problems in Oklahoma about
veterinary drugs being used for back-alley abortions or date rape.
“The bill in question, S.B. 1902, was later, at our suggestion, amended
in the Senate to correct any possible deficiencies and is now consistent
with federal law.”
Jestes concluded: “Voters in these affected districts should exercise
their common-sense about politics in the last few days before an
important election. Check out the records of these legislators directly,
or via well-known pro-life organizations like Oklahomans for Life.
Don’t rely on charges by unknown political action committees. Don’t be
fooled.”
Rep. Nelson, the incumbent in west Oklahoma City’s District 87, garnered
a perfect “pro-life” rating on the 12-question survey of Oklahomans for
Life (LINK), as did Ann Coody of Lawton (District 64).
Nelson’s opponent, Dana Orwig, did not answer the pro-life
questionnaire; nor did Coody’s foe, Michael J. Corrales. Both Orwig and
Corarales are Democrats.
Steve Martin, the Republican incumbent in District 10 (Nowata, Osage and
Washington counties), answered 11 of 12 questions in agreement with the
Oklahomans for Life survey. His Democratic opponent, Nick Brown, agreed
with Oklahomans for Life on ten questions, disagreed on one and did not
answer another.
A key critic of S.B. 1902 who asked not to be identified told
CapitolBeatOK on Saturday “it was the Dem [Democratic] House Political
Action Committee who paid for the brochures.” Veterinarians involved in
the fight over S.B. 1902 have also told CapitolBeatOK the mailer is
distorted and inaccurate.
In interviews with CapitolBeatOK, Jestes made clear his earlier concerns
about legislation relating to misuse of prescription medicines relating
to veterinary medicine had been addressed in a series of Senate
amendments.