Oklahoma City, OK - Despite the fact that the measure passed the state House unanimously, more than a dozen Republican lawmakers today pushed to rescind the passage of a measure marking the National Day of Prayer.

"Is there something in the water up at the state Capitol?" asked Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Todd Goodman. "I know that Republican leaders have let their hypocrisy run rampant for many years, but this is a shocking new low – trying to undo a unanimous vote in support of a National Day of Prayer has pushed the limits of the ridiculous."

Throwing away any thought of their duties as legislators, Republican representatives let their political tempers reign when, after letting the day of prayer measure pass unanimously, they tried to re-vote on the measure because one member objected to being named a co-author.

"Prayer is not something that should be turned into a political stunt," Goodman added. "The measure passed unanimously, but that was somehow not good enough for a dozen or so Republican members.

"Simply put, the vote was done, the Day of Prayer was approved, and 15 Republicans tried to abolish that approval. I no longer have any idea what these people stand for – it's all lost behind their political vengeance."

The GOP members who attempted to negate the unanimous vote by which the National Day of Prayer resolution passed were: Reps. Lisa Billy, David Dank, Lee Denney (the bill's author), Rex Duncan, George Faught, Jeff Hickman, Sally Kern, Scott Martin, Randy McDaniel, Jason Murphey, Mike Reynolds, Mike Ritze, Todd Russ, Kris Steele and Weldon Watson.

Goodman noted that the attempt to re-vote on the measure just because one House member tried to exercise his right to free expression by asking his name not be listed as a co-author of the bill was more of a temper tantrum than a serious legislative move.

"After the initial objection, clearly these GOP members just wanted to get the vote on record so they could use the vote as a line item for campaign materials," he noted.

"We should never use prayer to try to force political consequences, and we shouldn't waste half an hour on the House floor pretending that there is no First Amendment," concluded Goodman.