Changes to the Initial Request
Oklahoma has updated its request for 55,000 Bibles intended for public schools, initially specifying a version supported by former President Donald Trump. The revised request, issued on Monday, now allows for more flexibility in the type of Bibles to be included.
The initial version required the Bibles to feature U.S. historical documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. This stipulation matched the “God Bless the USA Bible” endorsed by Trump earlier this year. This particular edition is significantly more expensive than standard Bibles that do not include these documents.
The amended request states that these historical documents may be included either together or separately. Additionally, the deadline for suppliers to submit their offers has been extended from October 14 to October 21.
Background on the Initiative
This initiative is part of State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ push to have Bibles in public school classrooms. However, it has faced opposition from some of Oklahoma’s largest school districts.
In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Walters emphasized the Bible’s importance, citing its historical significance in the United States. He criticized what he referred to as “fake news media” for spreading misinformation about the program.
“The left-wing media hates Donald Trump so much, and they hate the Bible so much, they will lie and go to any means necessary to stop this initiative from happening,” Walters stated.
Official Statement and Intentions
The Oklahoma Department of Education explained that the changes to the “request for proposal” (RFP) were made upon the recommendation of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES). This office oversees the issuance of requests and collaborated with Walters on the updates.
The department addressed concerns about the initial RFP, clarifying that tailoring it to benefit one specific organization would be illegal. “Unfortunately, there have been false reports repeated by many supposedly credible news organizations,” the statement read.
Christa Helfrey, a spokesperson for OMES, noted that the changes aim to save taxpayer money. “OMES worked with OSDE to amend the solicitation to provide the listed resources at a much better value to Oklahomans,” Helfrey said.
Initial Requirements and Costs
The original request included unusual specifications not commonly found in standard Bibles, such as requiring a leather or leather-like binding for durability. Trump had previously encouraged supporters to purchase the “God Bless the USA Bible” for $59.99 from a dedicated website.
In contrast, similar Bibles without the additional historical documents can be found online for less than $20.
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