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By Doug Russell
News Editor
It was the most humiliating experience in his life, state Rep. Terry Harrison said about a scuffle at the Southeast Expo Center.
Harrison, D-McAlester, was visiting areas damaged by the Jan. 13 ice storm when, as part of the damage tour, he stopped off at the Southeast Expo Center on Jan. 17.
He, his father and Ricky Wall wandered away from the main group looking at damage with Gov. Brad Henry and went to a specialized catering trailer on the south side of the Expo Center. Harrison’s father and Wall went to one end of the trailer, while Harrison himself went to the other.
That’s where the scuffle occurred. Read more…
Second part of House GOP year of ideas agenda focuses on healthcare reforms & traditional values
House Speaker Lance Cargill (at podium) and other House Republican leaders announce their Healthy Oklahoma platform for the 2007 Legislative session Monday at a special press event at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa. Behind Speaker Cargill, L-R: Rep. Pam Peterson, Rep. Skye McNiel, Rep. Chris Benge, Rep. Kris Steele, and Rep. Tad Jones.
Speaking at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa on Monday, Speaker Lance Cargill and House Republican leaders launched the second platform in their 2007 “Year of Ideas Agenda.”
“Oklahoma’s pioneer spirit remains strong after the first 100 years of our history. Now we should harness that spirit to create a healthier society in our state,” said Cargill (R-Harrah). “2007 should be the year of ideas. We have an opportunity this year, in our centennial year, to lay the groundwork for our state’s second century. And our healthcare system is a vital part of that future. Oklahoma is blessed with citizens who are hard working and who uphold traditional values. At the same time, we face challenges, and it’s time for solutions.”
The Healthy Oklahoma portion of the House GOP agenda will focus on creating a healthier society in Oklahoma. Cargill and House leaders will unveil the final portion of their agenda later this week. Highlights of the four-plank Healthy Oklahoma platform:
New Healthcare Reforms
Rep. Kris Steele (R-Shawnee), chair of the House Health Subcommittee, has authored House Bill 1928 to expand health savings accounts (HSAs) as an option to state employees. Health savings accounts are personal and portable accounts that allow individuals to set aside pre-tax dollars toward medical and long-term care expenses.
“We must continue to look to market-based solutions for health care options, said Steele. “Health savings accounts put consumers in charge of their health care decisions, and we think state employees should be allowed to have that choice. Health savings accounts will also reduce many of the problems we currently have in health care such as overuse of medical services and
rising costs.”
Other legislation in this area includes:
* House Bill 1818, authored by Rep. Scott Martin (R-Norman), establishes a new task force to study and make recommendations on using information technology to reduce health care costs, share health care data more efficiently and establish a regional health information organization. The task force would make recommendations.
* House Bill 1601, authored by Rep. Jeff Hickman (R-Dacoma), would make physical education and arts education available to all Oklahoma students.
Strengthening Traditional Family Values
House Bill 1317 by Rep. John Wright (R-Tulsa). HB 1317 would ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to perform abortions. The measure would make it unlawful for a state employee to perform an abortion or for state funds to be used to counsel for abortion. An exception is provided to save the life of the mother.
House Bill 1652 by Rep. Pam Peterson. HB 1652 would close loopholes in existing law by establishing an objective standard for medical emergency abortions.
Senior citizen & retiree issues
House Bill 1294, authored by Speaker Cargill, offers free park days for senior citizens.
Incentives for green space and recreational areas
House Bill 2108 by Speaker Cargill would take advantage of Oklahoma’sbeautiful natural terrain and moderate weather to set aside more green space in the state for the enjoyment of citizens.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Governor Henry says he wants to provide early childhood education opportunities to more children across the state.
Henry plans to announce a new childhood education initiative tomorrow. He says research shows early education makes them more likely to succeed in school and later in life.
In recent years, Oklahoma pre-kindergarten’s program has garnered national attention as one of the best in the nation. It’s earned praise from the National Institute for Early Education Research.
Currently, the state and its school districts partner with faith-based and privately-run early education facilities to offer instructional programs to pre-kindergarten children. About 70 percent of the states four-year olds are participating in the voluntary state program.
Speaker Cargill released this statement regarding the Governor’s proposals:
“House Republicans are committed to excellence in education – the key to knowledge-based 21st century economy. That’s why earlier this week we announced an education agenda that includes innovative rewards for quality teachers as well as a focus on fostering pioneering programs like charter schools. We encourage the governor to join us in supporting these initiatives. While we continue to have concerns about the level of spending the governor is proposing this week, we look forward to examining the details of his proposal. We will wait for final budget numbers before the session begins, and we’ll also ensure that any investments we make this year are fiscally prudent.”
Related:
“State Fudging On Academic Performance Measures”
OKPNS Flasback: “Gov. Henry Should Put His Money Where His Mouth Is”
House Speaker Lance Cargill (R-Harrah) and other House Republican leaders will hold a special Tulsa press event this morning at 10 a.m. at St. John Medical Center, located at 1923 S. Utica Avenue in Tulsa.
Speaker Cargill and House Republicans will hold the second of three press events outlining their agenda for the 2007Legislative session.
The first portion of the agenda – the Entrepreneurial Society platform – was announced Tuesday, Jan. 23.
Apparently not content with being a back bencher in the 110th Congress, or a member of the minority during her Congressional career, Freshman Congresswoman Mary Fallin has been quoted often in the national press lately. Fallin is quoted again today in the Washington Times on the recent House Repulican Caucus retreat.
“We have to show the American public that we can get things done,” said Rep. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma. Voters “want to see Congress work on real solutions to real problems.” Read more…
Related:
From Mickey’s Musings: “Fallin Watch: Bipartisanship Talk A Ruse?”
Staff and wire reports
Oklahoma lawmakers in the second half of 2006 were wined and dined by lobbyists with $200 dinners and expensive football and basketball tickets and golfing fees.
Reports filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission last week detailed thousands of dollars spent on lawmakers and other public officials by registered lobbyists.
Tickets to athletic events rivaled costly dinners and golfing fees in popularity, according to lobbyist reports, which were still coming in Friday, four days after Monday’s deadline.
One expenditure on two lawmakers was literally for a wine tour in California.
A report filed Friday showed Okla-homa State University showered more than 80 House and Senate members with season tickets to OSU football games valued at $250. Read more…
By Sen. James Inhofe
President Bush is right, America is far too dependent upon foreign powers for our energy needs and we must improve the nation’s energy security.
Congress should build upon the significant gains made in passing the bi-partisan energy bill in 2005 where Congress made a commitment to advancing clean technologies and expanding domestic energy production.
While chairman of the EPW Committee, I worked with my colleagues to include several provisions in the energy bill that have helped expand refinery capacity, expand the use of nuclear energy and strengthen security at nuclear facilities, and improve permitting processes so we can explore our domestic resources in an environmentally-conscious manner. These provisions continue to benefit Oklahoma and the nation as a whole. Read more…
From The Tecumseh Countywide News:
Oklahoma Congresswoman Mary Fallin addressed the full floor of the House of Representatives this week, encouraging her colleagues to oppose legislation that would undermine Oklahoma’s oil and gas industries and move the nation further away from energy independence. Fallin instead proposed a two-part solution, acknowledging the role that both traditional and alternative energy forms can play in our future.
“The answer to America’s energy crisis lies in expanding our oil and gas production in the short term, while investing in renewable energy sources in the long term,” Fallin said.
The legislation backed by Congressional Democrats would raise taxes on oil and gas companies in the United States, which would ultimately discourage domestic energy companies from further exploration. Fallin argued that this tax increase comes at a time when the U.S. most needs to increase production of its own energy resources. To not do so, said Fallin, would represent “both a national security threat and an economic threat to the nation.” Read more…
Related: Rep. Fallin’s post today on the The Hill’s Congress blog:
The dominant wing of the Democratic party will be in full splendor tomorrow afternoon at the Capital. Peace House-Tulsa is sponsoring, along with a host of other “peace” groups, a rally with “music, speakers, tables and booths” at the Capitol’s South Plaza. A “peace walk” will follow immediately afterwards.
The lead sponsor of the event, Peace House-Tulsa, was founded last September by two Tulsa Unitarian Universalist Ministers and a local peace activist. The Unitarian Universalist Church says on its website regarding Jesus Christ’s Deity, “[Jesus] was a savior because he was a God-filled human being, not a supernatural being.” Regarding the Bible being the infallible word of God:
“We do not, however, hold the Bible-or any other account of human experience-to be either an infallible guide or the exclusive source of truth. Much biblical material is mythical or legendary”
According to their website, Peace House-Tulsa is an “incubator for peace and justice.” The organization’s stated mission is to “pursue justice through education and nonviolent action, practicing kindness and compassion for all beings, so that peace may prevail on earth.” Sounds like the Congressional Democrats’ Iraq plan to us.
They’re hoping their new building can “host a wide range of activities including classes, discussion groups, meditation, music-making, social gatherings, retreats, etc.”
“We envisioned a place where women, children and men could come together to teach and learn new ways of interacting, new ways of solving problems, new ways of changing the world,” the founders said on the website.
So all you aging baby boomers, break out the tye dye t-shirts and start practicing your “hey hey – ho ho” protest chants for tomorrow afternoon; it’s going to be trip down memory lane.
This rally is also for you 20 somethings who get your news from Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks. You’ll have the full attention of the powers that be in Washington and the Democratic leadership in Oklahoma City.
