Oklahoma has the second-most conservative Legislature in the US. Here's how local lawmakers responded

William C. Wertz, The Oklahoman
·2 min read
House Speaker Charles McCall, shown here speaking to the media in October, is celebrating Oklahoma's ranking as the second most conservative Legislature in the country by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
House Speaker Charles McCall, shown here speaking to the media in October, is celebrating Oklahoma's ranking as the second most conservative Legislature in the country by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
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Does Oklahoma have the most conservative Legislature in the country?

Not quite.

According to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Oklahoma ranks as the second-most conservative Legislature in the country, behind West Virginia.

Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, praised the rating Monday and attributed the state's standing to "almost a decade of hard work to champion conservative principles here in Oklahoma."

McCall noted, during his tenure as speaker (which began in 2016), "Oklahoma has moved from 16th to 2nd on the list."

"I am thankful that my colleagues have helped turn Oklahoma from a state ranked near the bottom in every category, into a growing, thriving state that is moving up the rankings rapidly," McCall said.

More: Too conservative for the Supreme Court? The nation's most right-leaning appeals court draws scrutiny

House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, of Oklahoma City, had a different view.

"We should not be proud of being ranked highly by a right-wing extremist organization," she said.

"CPAC is known for peddling conspiracy theories and touting issues that distract us from tackling the challenges Oklahoma faces. Our leaders should be focused on fixing our public schools, letting families and doctors determine their own healthcare decisions, and developing real solutions around building good jobs in our state," she said.

CPAC's Top 5 most conservative legislatures

  1. West Virginia

  2. Oklahoma

  3. Tennessee

  4. Ohio

  5. Kentucky

CPAC's Top 5 least conservative legislatures

41. California

42. Connecticut

43. Rhode Island

44. Massachusetts

45. Hawaii (five states weren't ranked)

What actions counted in the rankings?

McCall said that Oklahoma's ranking was based on the accomplishment of conservative goals such as:

  • Tax cuts

  • The nation's strongest pro-life bills

  • Prohibitions against "Critical Race Theory" being taught in the classroom.

  • Transgender bathroom policies — specifically, stopping transgender women from using women's bathrooms

  • Maximizing pension returns by stopping investments in funds with "Environmental, Social and Governance" (ESG) guidelines.

Last week, Oklahoma's largest public employee association said Oklahoma' boycott of large banks and asset management companies with ESG policies could cost state taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and “the promise the state has made to thousands of retired public employees.”

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association said the policy restricted its ability to seek the most favorable interest rates for its investment of pension funds.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: CPAC ranks Oklahoma Legislature as the second most conservative in US