11/30/2007

Bob Campbell / Midland Reporter-Telegram

An Oklahoma state senator said Thursday that he led opposition to a plan like the Trans Texas Corridor this year because it would have surrendered his state's sovereignty to the federal government.

Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, said at a morning news conference at the Rohill Building at 3100 N. "A" St. that Oklahoma House Bill No. 1819 would have helped create a "NAFTA super highway" by waiving Oklahoma's 11th Amendment right not to be sued in federal court.

He told participants in a Thursday night program offered by the Midland Business and Professional Chapter of the John Birch Society that the road would be regulated under international law.

"It would be an international police force, not the Oklahoma Highway Patrol," Brogdon said at the CEED building between Midland and Odessa.

Saying the big Texas and Oklahoma highways are necessary to the creation of the North American Union by Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, Brogdon explained he became aware of the danger a year ago and was alarmed when the bill overwhelmingly passed the Oklahoma House of representatives in Oklahoma City.

"Some representatives carry a lot of water for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and it was an ODOT bill," he said. "It was sponsored in the Senate by Cliff Brannan of Oklahoma City.

"He's a friend of mine and sits right behind me. But just before we defeated the bill by 39-7, I turned around to Sen. Brannan and said, 'You'd better hang onto your hat, cowboy, because you're goin' for a ride!'

"We'd be subject to an international tribunal in case of a dispute, including accidents or other lawsuits."

Brogdon was elected to the Oklahoma Senate five years ago after a career in heating and air conditioning in Owasso, just north of Tulsa. He said he sold the business two years ago to concentrate on public service and recently has spoken in Dallas and Houston.

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