Oklahoma lawmakers are not giving up the fight to bring the 10 Commandments monument back to the Capitol grounds.Rep. John Paul Jordan has authored four of five bills currently making their way to the floor.“What they’re dealing with is repealing Article 2, Section 5, which was the basis of the (Prescott vs. Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission) case,” Jordan said.He said the way the state supreme court interpreted the constitution leaves the state, religious organizations, schools and law enforcement agencies open to more lawsuits by the American Civil Liberties Union.ACLU Oklahoma attorney Ryan Kiesel said lawmakers have more pressing matters, like a $1.3 billion budget shortfall.“There are more important things that demand their attention. Focus your energy there, and stop playing politics with religion,” Kiesel said.Kiesel added the state has already spent thousands of dollars paying legal fees in the case it lost.“The state has spent thousands at this point and a federal suit would be more than that,” Kiesel said.Jordan said failing to do something to change the state constitution could cost even more.“They’re going to be looking to file lawsuits on counties, cities, school districts -- anything they perceive to be a violation of Article 2, Section 5,” Jordan said.

Oklahoma lawmakers are not giving up the fight to bring the 10 Commandments monument back to the Capitol grounds.

Rep. John Paul Jordan has authored four of five bills currently making their way to the floor.


“What they’re dealing with is repealing Article 2, Section 5, which was the basis of the (Prescott vs. Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission) case,” Jordan said.

He said the way the state supreme court interpreted the constitution leaves the state, religious organizations, schools and law enforcement agencies open to more lawsuits by the American Civil Liberties Union.

ACLU Oklahoma attorney Ryan Kiesel said lawmakers have more pressing matters, like a $1.3 billion budget shortfall.

“There are more important things that demand their attention. Focus your energy there, and stop playing politics with religion,” Kiesel said.

Kiesel added the state has already spent thousands of dollars paying legal fees in the case it lost.

“The state has spent thousands at this point and a federal suit would be more than that,” Kiesel said.

Jordan said failing to do something to change the state constitution could cost even more.

“They’re going to be looking to file lawsuits on counties, cities, school districts -- anything they perceive to be a violation of Article 2, Section 5,” Jordan said.