The measure by Rep. Sue Tibbs, R-Tulsa, is similar to one passed previously by the Senate, except the Senate version allows the use of a voter registration card if a photo ID is not available.

Tibbs said the bill is necessary to keep illegal immigrants and others who are ineligible to vote from influencing the electoral process. She said similar bills in other states did not repress voting last November.

Speaking on behalf of the bill, Rep. Steve Martin, R-Bartlesville, said he suspected voter fraud handed the 2008 presidential election to Barack Obama and influenced elections in Oklahoma.

“People talk about the election in 2000 being stolen, but I’m not so sure the same thing didn’t happen in 2008,” Martin said.

Rep. Ryan Kiesel, D-Seminole, told Martin he needs to “get a thing called a SPAM filter” for his e-mail.

Opponents argued that about 78,000 qualified Oklahoma voters do not have photo IDs.

Most, said Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, D-Tulsa, are poor, elderly or disabled, and requiring them to pay for a photo ID would be unfair.

Tibbs said she didn’t see how anyone could conduct day-to-day activities without a photo ID and said the bill should not be killed because of the small number of people who don’t have them.

In other developments in the House:

Workers comp judges: A key piece of the Republican legislative agenda, House Joint Resolution 1041 would require Senate approval of workers compensation court judges, who are appointed by the governor.

The measure requires Senate adoption and a vote of the people.

Opponents argued the change would give the Senate president pro tem de-facto control over the appointments and further politicize them. Supporters said it will give the public some degree of control over the appointments.

“These are the only judges not subject to some vote of the people,” said Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa.

Rep. Scott Inman, D-Oklahoma City, said if that is the concern, workers comp judges should be subject to direct or retention votes as are all other judges.

“The folks in my district did not elect the president pro tem of the Senate,” he said. HJR 1041 passed, 62-36, and heads to the Senate.

Rural development: House Bill 2067 by Rep. Skye McNiel, R-Bristow, would allow small communities to band together to issue capital improvement bonds through the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority.

HB 2067 passed, 83-14, and heads to the Senate.

CompSource: By a 51-46 margin, the House approved a measure by Rep. Scott Martin, R-Norman, freeing the state-owned workers compensation insurance fund from central purchasing and other administrative requirements.

Martin said the exemption would allow CompSource to lower its operating costs. Opponents feared it would reduce oversight of the agency.