Despite the presiding officer's declaration that a result would be declared after just 2 minutes of voting, the floor leader prevailed in keeping the roll open until the Speaker's team had twisted some figurative arms and get some weak willed Republicans to change their position.
Rep. Terry O'Donnell was not voting. Rep. Michael Rogers decided early on to oppose this recall. But in the last few seconds both of them became "Yea" votes and immediately the gavel sounded. The Speaker had his way.
44 of the Republicans voted to seek the recall of a key constitutional right. 24 Republicans voted to defeat this plan. Their arguments include the central point that the legislature has not even tried to work with the voters on taxes. It only takes 51 house votes to place a tax proposal on the next statewide ballot. And then it only requires a simple majority of the voters to pass a revenue increase.
But this legislature wants to avoid the will of the people. The disrespect of the voters has enraged many Oklahomans and is fueling calls for primary challenges, just as Rep. Leslie Osborn previously called for primary challenges against those who did not support massive new taxes last month. Osborn was never reprimanded by leadership for violating the rules & decorum of the House.