produce birth certificates -Oklahoma House advances bill

Oklahoma House advances bill calling for presidential candidates to produce birth certificates

The measure would require presidential candidates to present certified copies of a birth certificate or other approved documents proving their U.S. citizenship to be put on the primary election ballot in Oklahoma.

BY MICHAEL MCNUTT mmcnutt@opubco.com Oklahoman    1

Published: April 7, 2011

President Barack Obama would have to prove his U.S. citizenship to Oklahoma election officials if he wants to be on next year's presidential primary ballot under a bill approved Wednesday by a House committee.

The Senate have approved another group of Gov. Mary Fallin's executive appointments. Receiving approval are: Jim Reese, Cabinet agriculture secretary and agriculture commissioner; Dave Lopez, commerce and tourism secretary and director of the Department of Commerce; Mike Ming, energy secretary; Alex Pettit, chief information officer; Gary Sherrer, environment secretary; and Michael Thompson, safety and security secretary and public safety commissioner.

The provision in Senate Bill 91 is an amendment filed by Sen. Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City. The bill still has its original language that would require each candidate filing with the state Election Board to provide proof of identity and eligibility to hold the office.

Shortey's amendment calls for presidential candidates to present certified copies of a birth certificate, a U.S. certificate of birth abroad or a report of birth abroad of a U.S. citizen to suffice for proof of citizenship.
“A lot of people are classifying this as a birther bill which I don't think it is,” Shortey said. “The concern has stemmed from the questions that have arisen from President Obama.”

A similar measure failed to advance two years ago in the Legislature.

Doubts about the citizenship of the Democratic president, who announced this week he is seeking re-election, still linger from so-called “birthers,” a small but vocal group that has been questioning whether Obama actually was born on U.S. soil.

“All of our election laws don't deal anything with the presidential candidates,” Shortey said. “You can't challenge a presidential candidate for qualifications or eligibility.”

Shortey said that discussion over the president's birth prompted him to look into what proof presidential candidates must present to prove they are U.S. citizens, which is a requirement of the U.S. Constitution.
He couldn't find any, he said.

“Basically we just trust the guy,” Shortey said.
“This basically puts the responsibility on the state to basically qualify the candidate,” he said.
Obama in 2008 presented a “certificate of live birth” and a newspaper notice tells of Obama's birth in Honolulu in 1961. Shortey said that document wouldn't meet the eligibility requirements of SB 91.
The House of Representatives Rules committee passed SB 91 by a vote of 11-0. It now goes to the full House.

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