There were not enough votes in the State Senate on Thursday to pass a bill that would have prohibited cities and towns from enacting laws protecting gay and transgender people from discrimination in housing and employment. Republican Senator Josh Brecheen of Coalgate authored the bill. "What is happening is we are facing as a culture this decision, is the First Amendment going to be subordinate to sexual behavior?" he asked during debate. Opponents like Republican Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle said lawmakers should be working on more important issues like the budget.