Lawmakers reject effort to ‘lock the clock’ plan giving Oklahomans more daylight in the morning

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House on March 25 rejected an attempt “to lock the clock” and remain permanently on standard time.

House Bill 1223, by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, proposed ending the tradition of moving clocks forward an hour to comply with a federal law that requires states to switch to daylight saving time the second Sunday in March unless they specifically exempt themselves.

West said his constituents want “to lock the clock,” but right now Congress gives states two options — change their clocks twice a year or lock the clock on standard time, which means residents would have more hours of light in the morning.

He said students are leaving for school in the dark because the sun doesn’t rise until after 8 a.m.

But Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, said Oklahomans made it clear last year that they want more daylight at the end of the day, not at the beginning.

“They want to lock the clocks, but they do not want to lock the clocks and it get dark at 4 o’clock in the afternoon,” he said.

Fetgatter said he walked to school in ice and snow and with wet hair that had icicles hanging from it.

After the measure failed 54-40, West publicly congratulated his colleagues.

“Congratulations on that vote because you just guaranteed that we’ll continue to change our clocks twice a year,” he said.

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