Tulsa World: Gumm said he has been encouraged by a number of people to look at the job, a position he said involves enormous responsibility. He called the post daunting, adding that whoever is selected must put his or her heart and soul into it. He said the job is one of service and not power. "I have approached members about committing to me," said Gumm, who would need to secure 13 votes. Read more...

Labels: OK Senate, Sen. Gumm

Posted at 2/28/2007 01:03:00 PM |   

House Republican leaders expressed disappointment in 18 of their Democrat colleagues who opposed a measure on Tuesday to designate a special week celebrating America's freedom in Oklahoma schools. House Bill 1874 by Rep. Dennis Johnson (R-Duncan) would designate "Celebrate Freedom Week" for Oklahoma schools the same week that Veteran's Day is marked in November. The week would be used to instruct students in the importance of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights and other foundingdocuments and historical American figures. "This bill is one way to expand our children's knowledge about our nation's basic foundations," said Rep. Johnson. "Some things should absolutely be taught in school, and the core principles of our nation's freedom must be emphasized so they can be passed on to future generations." The bill passed by a vote of 80 to 18 on the House floor Tuesday. It now goes to the state Senate for consideration. "People-Who-Enjoy-Eating-M&M's Week' sounds good too," said Rep. McCarter (D-Marlow), in comments against the bill. Those voting against the measure included: Rep. John Auffet (D-Stilwell); Rep. Scott BigHorse (D-Pawhuska), Rep. Ed Cannaday (D-Porum), Rep. Wallace Collins (D-Norman), Rep. James Covey (D-Custer City), Rep. Darrel Gilbert (D-Tulsa), Rep. Larry Glenn (D-Miami), Rep.Chuck Hoskin (D-Vinita), Rep. Ryan Kiesel (D-Seminole), Rep. Al Lindley (D-Oklahoma City), Rep. Ray McCarter (D-Marlow), Rep. Ryan McMullen (D-Burns Flat), Rep. Jerry McPeak (D-Warner), Rep. Richard Morrissette (D-Oklahoma City), Rep. Bill Nations (D-Norman), Rep. Mike Shelton (D-Oklahoma City), Rep. Ben Sherrer (D-Chouteau), Rep. Dale Turner(D-Holdenville).

Labels: OK House, Rep. Dennis Johnson

Posted at 2/28/2007 12:50:00 PM |   

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today received the “Taxpayers’ Friend Award” from the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) for his continued efforts to protect and support the taxpayers of Oklahoma and the nation. Sen. Inhofe was ranked 4th among senators and was the highest ranked member of the Oklahoma congressional delegation for the year 2006 for his commitment to reducing federal spending, taxes, and debt. Sen. Inhofe was one of only 61 members in both the House and the Senate to receive the NTU’s "Taxpayers’ Friend” award this year.

“I wish to thank the National Taxpayers Union for this award,” Inhofe said. “No other group in America needs more support and representation than the American taxpayer, and the National Taxpayers Union continues to provide an invaluable service. I look forward to continuing to work for lower taxes, a strong economy, and keeping the federal budget out of the family budget.”

John Berthoud, President of the National Taxpayers Union, stated, "While many Members of Congress talk about reducing the size of government, Senator Inhofe backed up those words with votes. His pro-taxpayer score is one of the best in the entire Senate, and proves that he is a consistent and effective ally in the battle to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington.

Labels: Sen. Inhofe

Posted at 2/28/2007 12:38:00 PM |   

HB 1051 Part of House GOP "Safe Families Platform" A key portion of the House Republican Safe Families Platform passed out of committee today and is now headed to the House floor. House Bill 1051, by House Speaker Lance Cargill, prevents student-aged sex offenders from attending the same school as their victims. The measure was approved by the House Education Committee.

"No victim of a violent crime, particularly a child, should have to face their attacker on a daily basis," said Cargill (R-Harrah). "Often, the student victim will change schools or in some cases, the entire family will move so that their child will not have to endure this. This bill will put the burden of starting over in a different school on the attacker."

Cargill introduced a similar measure last year after being contacted by a female student from his district who was raped by a classmate. Her attacker was allowed to return to the same school. However, Cargill's 2006 bill died in the State Senate. The "Safe Families Platform" is part of the 2007 House Republican "Year of Ideas Agenda".

Labels: Crime, OK House, Spkr. Cargill

Posted at 2/28/2007 12:20:00 PM |   

ODP Chair Lisa Pryor wrote yesterday on OKBluenotes that if you can read her post on HB 1935, the "Honesty in Funding Education Act," you should "thank a teacher." It is ironic to us that a day later, one of the most poorly written pieces we've ever seen on the site was submitted on behalf of Black History Month. In between the run on sentences, poor punctuation, and words that simply don't belong in context to the sentences, try and interpret this: BLACK WALL STREET" "A Dream Lost"

"A little- known chapter of African-American history in Oklahoma as told to Ronald E. Childs. If anyone truly believes that Columbine High School massacre or the on the Federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was the most tragic bombing ever to take place on United States soil as the media has been widely reporting, they're wrong plain and simple. That's because an even deadlier bomb occurred in the same state to forget that it ever happened..."

We praised them last week for waiting 14 days to race bait and pander to African American Oklahomans during Black History Month. We guess they wanted to get one more race baiting post on the site before the end of the month.

Labels: Black History Month, OK Bluenotes

Posted at 2/27/2007 11:29:00 AM |   

"A hundred registered sex offenders live closer to schools than the law allows. Lane does nothing, despite repeated complaints from police." - From 2006 Prater campaign commercial, "Ask a Police Officer" OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater says language in the state's current sex-offender law make parts of it "almost unenforceable." Prater says the law -- which prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school, park or day-care center -- requires prosecutors to prove that an offender knowingly moved into a restricted area. That's something he says is "incredibly difficult" and it has kept Oklahoma County prosecutors from charging anyone under that section of the law.

Labels: David Prater, hypocrisy watch

Posted at 2/27/2007 11:12:00 AM |   

From Okiefunk: The state GOP, despite its majority in the Oklahoma House and rising fortunes in the Senate, continues to misfire by supporting needless ideological legislation and engaging in petty, sometimes secret, bipartisan politics. The questions are these: Where are the big plans from Republicans to help move the state forward and help its residents? Where is all the promised reform of good ol’ boy politics, the actions of what its mouthpiece, The Daily Oklahoman, always refers to as the “usual suspects? Has the conservative juggernaut here lost its mojo? Here’s what sticks out about the GOP in the 2007 legislature so far. Read more...

Labels: OK Legislature, OKGOP

Posted at 2/27/2007 11:11:00 AM |   

NORMAN, Okla.(AP) Former Mexican President Vicente Fox urges the respect of human and labor rights and says constructing a wall between the two nations is a waste of time and money. Fox's comments came today as he addressed an academic convocation at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Fox served as Mexico's president from 2000 to 2006. He touted his country's economic improvement in recent years, but said much work remains to be done to provide more educational opportunities for its citizens. He drew loud applause from the mostly students in the audience when he called for a greater United Nations presence in Iraq and urged the United States to exit the country. O-U President David Boren praised Fox for breaking seven decades of one-party rule in Mexico and for bringing stability to the country's economy.

Labels: Immigration Reform, OU

Posted at 2/27/2007 09:21:00 AM |   

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A federal magistrate sides with Attorney General Drew Edmondson's argument that he shouldn't be deposed for his lawsuit against poultry companies. Judge Sam Joyner also ruled, however, that Edmondson's office should answer questions from poultry companies about evidence that is to be used in the case. Joyner says since Edmondson is representing the state of Oklahoma in the lawsuit, the state is the true party, not the attorney general. Simmons Foods is one of 13 poultry companies being sued over poultry waste use in the Illinois River watershed. It and other companies believe Edmondson should be considered a witness because he said the amount of phosphorous dumped on the ground in the watershed annually is equivalent to the waste of more than 10 (m) million people. Joyner agreed with the poultry companies' argument that Edmondson's office had given evasive or incomplete answers to a series of pretrial requests for information. Edmondson's office has 30 days to further answer questions from one company regarding the evidence.

Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Poultry Lawsuit

Posted at 2/27/2007 09:15:00 AM |   

Legislation preventing elected officials from using appearances in public service announcements (PSAs) as free campaign TV time passed a committee vote Monday. House Bill 1451, by Rep. Rob Johnson, would ban elected officials from appearing in PSAs during election years in which they are up for re-election. The measure passed a vote of the House Rules Committee Monday and now moves to the House floor.

"This practice essentially allows incumbents to have free campaign commercials," said Johnson (R-Kingfisher). "Basically, if an elected official has a buddy who's putting together a PSA, the official can appear in it, reaching hundreds, if not thousands of people at no charge to his or her campaign. It borders on being unethical, and certainly gives incumbents an unfair advantage. Rarely can a challenger afford such an opportunity. "Public service announcements certainly serve a valuable purpose, and this bill is in no way an attack against them," Johnson added. "We just want to remove this unfair advantage for sitting elected officials."

If passed by the Legislature and signed into law, HB 1451 would be in effect for the 2008 elections, in which at least all 101 of Oklahoma's House seats and 24 of the state's Senate seats will be up for grabs.

Labels: Decision '08, Ethics Reforms, OK House, Rep Rob Johnson

Posted at 2/27/2007 08:34:00 AM |   

House GOP will advance "most meaningful immigration reform in the nation" House Republicans leaders said today they will advance the nation's most meaningful immigration reform law this week when a House committee takes up House Bill 1804, an omnibus reform measure.

"Our immigration reform effort is about upholding Oklahoma's rule of law and respecting immigrants who come to our country legally," said Speaker Lance Cargill (R-Harrah). "We must do more to make sure that Oklahoma's social safety net is not strained to the breaking point by illegal immigration."

Rep. Randy Terrill, author of House Bill 1804, the Oklahoma Taxpayer & Citizen Protection Act of 2007, said the measure is scheduled to be heard by the full House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 4:30 p.m. in room 412-C at the State Capitol. The measure is a key part of the House GOP's Safe Families platform in the Year of Ideas Agenda. Terrill said that on Feb. 28, in addition to the bill's presentation in committee, representatives from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) will also demonstrate a key element of House Bill 1804, the federal status verification system, called the Basic Pilot Program. The demonstration will take place at 9 a.m. in room 512A at the State Capitol. Basic Pilot uses federal databases to determine work eligibility. Oklahoma would be among the first in the nation to enroll in the program, and employers would be required to use the database system to confirm employees' legal status.

"Our federal government hasn't stopped illegal immigration, so it's up to states to lead the way," said Terrill (R-Moore). "This is about respect for our nation's laws and our state's laws. If you have one broken window in a neighborhood and do nothing to repair it, you'll soon have a neighborhood full of broken windows. That's the situation we have with illegal immigration. As a nation we have looked the other way and ignored the problem for too long."

The Washington, D.C.-based Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) calls House Bill 1804 the most meaningful immigration reform bill in the nation. The IRLI says that, if enacted, HB 1804 will be the most significant single step that any state has taken in this area.

"This is an excellent piece of legislation that carefully balances critical enforcement obligations with respect for the dignity and privileges of U.S. citizens and legal alien residents," said Michael Hethmon, general counsel for the IRLI. "House Bill 1804 gives workers, law abiding businesses, and the taxpayers who fund Oklahoma public services the protection they need against unfair competition."

Labels: Immigration Reform, OK House, Rep. Randy Terrill

Posted at 2/26/2007 02:20:00 PM |   

Democratic Party infighting took center stage on the national stage last week. Presidential aspirant Sen. Hillary Clinton called for Sen. Barak Obama to apologize for disparaging remarks made by an Obama contributor towards the Senator and her husband. The over-reaction by the Clinton campaign was coupled with a report that Sen. Joseph Lieberman is considering changing parties due to his party's position on the war. Now it seems that same intraparty squabling is occuring withing the ODP as well. In another "can't see the forest for the trees" piece, The Tulsa World reports that Attorney General Drew Edmondson claims Claremore Sen. Sean Burrage had a "conflict of interest" when he voted last week for a bill declaring that animal waste is not hazardous. Sen. Burrage's law firm has had Tyson Foods as a current and former client. The attorney general is correct in his assertion of a conflict of interest, but his action of throwing a fellow democrat under the bus on behalf of the poultry suit; and the World still ignoring alleged charges of corruption and harrassment within the attorney general's office, only produces more questions of conflicts of interests between the World and the attorney general. Chairman Pryor used the Utilitarian philosophy for damage control in an aptly named post today called, "The Greater Good" on the ODP blog:

"Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has repeatedly taken the position that his job is to protect the citizens and resources of our great state --- his position is a personal conviction and is inherent in his constitutional oath of office. I am very pleased that his walk matches his talk and that he continues to pursue every option available to protect our water resources for the greater good of the people of Oklahoma. Let's make sure that anyone who personally benefits from or directly represents the poultry producers does the right thing and abstains from this vote on the floor...."

Labels: AG, Decision '08, Drew Edmondson, OK Media, Tulsa World

Posted at 2/26/2007 12:29:00 PM |   

Demookie.com co-owner Calvin Reese (Right) pictured with "psuedo political consultant" Ron Black last summer. From McCarville Report Online:

Labels: 400lb Gorilla, Decision '08, Demookie.com, Reese Bros.

Posted at 2/23/2007 05:00:00 PM |   

Dear Governor Henry, In light of your public frustrations over losing a bill that was part of your agenda, I wanted to take the time to send you a copy of a recent article I wrote. I hope it will be a framework for constructive dialog and a productive, successful session. You see, I don’t define “bipartisanship” as just agreeing to see everything your way and voting for a measure because you think it is the right thing to do. I don’t believe bipartisanship is compromise, as some people would suggest, especially if it means compromising my own principles just to get agreement. I do believe bipartisanship means to collaborate (to work jointly with others in an intellectual endeavor). I feel like you and I began such an effort when you invited me to your office to get my assistance on this measure and two others that had been sent to the Rules Committee. In an effort to work in good faith, I agreed to reassign one of those bills to another committee. Senator Morgan reassigned the other two. Two of the three measures made it out of committee with bipartisan support and are headed to the floor for consideration by the full Senate. I certainly understand your frustration. When you served as a member of the majority in the Senate, those of us in the minority watched most of Governor Keating’s agenda items die in committee. In fact, every one of us in the minority had to live with our own bills being killed in your committee and others. I learned as a member of the minority that you have to let those things go. It taught me to not take it personally, but rather to work to get the issue done in other ways – often in a Democrat authored bill. As a regular victim of your veto pen, I have had to relearn this lesson many times. This taught me not to worry about getting the credit, but rather to focus on the policy over politics. I didn’t see Governor Keating complain when you and members of your party killed his agenda items. Instead, he worked hard to find common ground, as he would walk up to the fourth floor to meet with legislators to reach a solution together. As I pledged to you when we met recently in your office, I am committed to just such a process. Senator Morgan and I have worked hard to keep an atmosphere of civility in these first three weeks as we deal with a most unusual and delicate situation in the Senate. So far it has worked very well. We have encouraged our members to avoid unnecessary partisan rhetoric and to try to make our power-sharing agreement work. The Senate works differently under these circumstances. You have repeatedly and publicly criticized some of the new procedures we have implemented, such as placing bills that can’t get bipartisan agreement in the Rules Committee and the calling of committee caucuses to avoid rash decisions that could lead to conflict if members have questions about the new procedures. I hope you will begin to understand that even though you haven’t heard of these measures being done in the past, they were developed in a bipartisan manner to get the work of the people done. Senator Morgan and I both recognized the difficulty of this task and that it would likely result in fewer bills becoming law. That is why we are trying to focus on the things we can agree on and not the issues that will divide us. I hope you will join us in this process. Sincerely, Glenn Coffee, Co-President Pro Tempore

Labels: Brad Henry, Budget, OK Legislature, Sen. Glenn Coffee

Posted at 2/23/2007 04:55:00 PM |   

Paper still has head in the sand when it comes to real scandals We almost made it through the week without the need for issuing a "Hypocrisy Watch." Mick Hinton of the Tulsa World, has written the talking points memo for Oklahoma Democrats' today, under the guise of "objective journalism." The piece reports that Speaker Cargill is "summon[ing] key lobbyists" to "special meetings" outside the capitol for fundraising activities. Now usually when one thinks of a summons, you think of a court of a law and a judge mandating you appear. Was this a deliberate choice of words Mick? We've copied every quote from a lobbyist in the piece. You'll notice a familiar, recurring theme in every comment. Remember, this is every lobbyists quoted in the piece, so we're not purposely omitting positive quotes:

"Lobbyist Bobby Stem confirmed that he met with the speaker on Tuesday at an office outside the Capitol." "It was the friendliest fundraising meeting I've ever had, and you can quote me on that," said Stem, a prominent lobbyist during Democratic administrations." (What would you expect from a Democratic lobbyist?) "Stem said there was no strong-arming for contributions, although he said it was "very pro-active" with money raising emphasized in several ways." "One lobbyist said he felt uncomfortable going to the "un-neutral" site, while another said it was "cheesy." Both spoke on the condition that they not be identified." "After leaving the office, lobbyist Jim Walker acknowledged that he had just talked with the speaker, but said "it is no different than what used to occur at the Capitol, from time to time."

"But others said they felt compelled to comply with the speaker's wishes. They said that has been the case in the past, but the methods were different this time around."

Hey Mick, how about investigating the attorney general and the poultygate scandal going on "five minutes from the Capitol?" What about the Chairman of your newspaper contributing money to the AG while his paper is endorsing him. We'll re-use the analogy we made earlier this week regarding your paper's lazy reporting. This piece was akin to a reporter covering the Superbowl and only writing about Prince's new shoes! What about the fact that it was held in plain view away from the Capitol? What about the angle that it illustrates the reforms Cargill is looking to initiate?

Labels: Ethics Reforms, hypocrisy watch, Press Bias, Spkr. Cargill, Tulsa World

Posted at 2/23/2007 04:41:00 PM |   

Oklahoma House Speaker Pro Tempore Gus Blackwell (R-Goodwell) issued the following statement Thursday regarding actions on the House floor by Rep. "Lucky" Lamons (D-Tulsa) during the debate on House Bill 2100. Lamons tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to merge the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics with the Department of Public Safety. "Like any lawmaker from either party, Representative Lamons is required to follow the rules of floor debate. It's against the rules to debate something that isn't under consideration. Representative Lamons was warned three times that he was violating the rules, but he ignored the warnings every time. "Representative Lamons has a history of flaunting the rules. He apparently thinks the rules don't apply to him, unlike the other 100 members of the House. This is just another example of Representative Lamons disrupting regular order when he is unable to manipulate the process to his advantage. "Representative Lamons tried to amend the bill twice. Both his amendments failed. In fact, for the last 20 years, this amendment has failed consistently, both under Democrat and Republican leadership. Instead of abiding by the wishes of the majority, he continued to try and promote his own amendment in debate. But the rules require he debate the bill before the members. It's my job to uphold the rules of the House." HB 2100 would create a commission to "identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in state agencies." The powerful ten member commission would consist of four members of the House; four members of the Senate; one person from the private sector appointed by the Governor; and one person from the private sector appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. The members will be charged with reviewing the policies and procedures of all state agencies once every twelve years. They'll seek public input through hearings and will make recommendations on each agency to the full Legislature. The commission will have the power to abolish agencies if the legislature doesn't vote to continue them.

Labels: OK Legislature, Rep. Blackwell, Rep."Lucky" Lamons, Spkr. Cargill

Posted at 2/23/2007 03:40:00 PM |   

Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, OK Media, Poultry Lawsuit, Press Bias, Tulsa World

Posted at 2/22/2007 07:51:00 PM |   

Gov. Brad Henry’s controversial plan to create a state-funded pre-kindergarten program for three-year-olds is dead for the next two years following a tie vote in the Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill, SB 518, died on an 8 to 8 vote Wednesday. Under the Senate’s new power-sharing agreement, a bill receiving a tie vote on “final action” in a committee is dead for the next two years. Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee said the bill’s defeat does not signal the end of bipartisanship in the evenly divided Senate. It is just an example of a policy difference between the two parties on a specific proposal. “I am proud of the eight members of the Appropriations Committee who took this brave stand and said our state should not commit to this expansion of government at a time when we are facing a tight budget,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “But Senate Republicans continue to look forward to working with Gov. Henry on areas where we can find common ground, like fixing the Teacher Retirement System.” Coffee said there is also significant division among early childhood education advocates about whether Henry’s plan is an effective one. Democrats obviously had different views on the defeat of the bill. Governor Henry said The vote amounted to "pure politics". "Republicans caucused right before this bill, whipped everybody into shape and came back and voted lockstep against the bill.” Treasurer Scott Meacham said that scientific research on the benefits of enhancing brain development during the early childhood years is unanimous. "Most development occurs before age 3, then slows by age 5, Meacham said. "Making an investment during the formative years can pay big dividends on down the road, when students are learning academic skills," he said. "I would urge you to put aside your partisan rhetoric,” said Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, the bill's author. ODP Chair Lisa Pryor wrote in her morning rant" this morning: "Yesterday all eight GOP members of the Senate Appropriations Committee voted against Oklahoma's families and three-year olds." We love bi-partisanship. RELATED: OKLAHOMA City (AP) A bill to expand the number of Oklahoma children that qualify for Medicaid benefits passes the Senate Rules Committee today.

Labels: Brad Henry, Budget, OK Bluenotes, Sen. Glenn Coffee

Posted at 2/22/2007 09:40:00 AM |   

United Victims group concerned over Title 43A Legislation in Oklahoma that governs how the criminally insane are released back into the community. Daniel Hawke Fears may be released due to a loophole in the law. The group asks Governor Brad Henry for an emergency session of the Legislature. Sallisaw, OK (PRWEB) February 22, 2007 -- United Victims group is asking Governor Brad Henry to create an emergency session of the Legislature to amend Title 43A Legislation that allows the criminally insane to re-enter the community. A rally slated for March 10, 2007 at the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds will inform the community of Sallisaw about the issues and move toward a community based effort to pressure lawmakers for a change in the statute. Daniel Hawke Fears was convicted in September 23, 2004 for the killing of two women, Patsy Wells and Reba Spangler and shooting several others during a shooting spree covering 20 miles of U.S. 64 from Sallisaw to Roland Oklahoma. A Sequoyah County jury convicted Fears to two terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; nine terms of life imprisonment; and 120 years. On July 7, 2006, by unpublished Opinion the Court reversed and remanded the case to the District Court of Sequoyah County for entry of a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. United Victims group urges lawmakers to also adopt a policy that prevents insane persons who commit heinous crimes to be under security for the remainder of their lives. Roger Nix, United Victims Coordinator and son of Patsy Wells stated "it is too dangerous to experiment with the community when dealing with someone who has demonstrated his capability of killing innocent people." Dr. Lee Coleman, M.D. in his book "The Reign of Error: Psychiatry, Authority, and Law" states, "First, psychiatrists do not have the tools that society thinks they have. They have no special way of predicting who will commit a criminal act or of determining when a criminal is cured of antisocial tendencies. They have no tests to determine a person's innermost thoughts, even though the courts assume they do." United Victims Rally "Keep Sallisaw Safe" is scheduled for March 10, 2007 at the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds Community Building, corner of Redwood Street and Shurley Avenue at 10:00am.

Labels: Crime, Daniel Hawke Fears

Posted at 2/22/2007 09:23:00 AM |   

Murphey Legislative Update 2/21/2006 Ending Forced School Consolidation By Sen Gumm

Labels: OK Legislator's Blog, Rep. Jason Murphey, Sen. Gumm

Posted at 2/21/2007 02:06:00 PM |   

Legislation that would make county offices in Oklahoma nonpartisan passed a vote of the House Elections and Redistricting Subcommittee on Wednesday. House Bill 1452, by Rep. Rob Johnson, would allow all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, to cast a ballot in their local county elections. "There are two key reasons why Oklahoma needs this change," said Johnson (R-Kingfisher). "First, when you consider county government's responsibilities, partisan politics shouldn't play much of a role. County government deals more with the administration and enforcement of county services and laws. These aren't partisan issues. "Second, partisan county elections, by their very nature, often prevent a large portion of the population from voting on county officers. If all the candidates for a particular county office are of the same political party, the race is decided in the primary, and any voter who's not a member of that party is effectively disenfranchised. This happens regularly in rural counties." Pointing to the office of sheriff as an example, Johnson said, "Whether you're a Democrat or Republican shouldn't affect your job as sheriff. The sheriff's duty is to enforce the laws already on the books. A sheriff's party affiliation should be immaterial to whether or not they can do the job. "We have nonpartisan judicial elections because judges should be unbiased and not partisan, and because all citizens should have a say in the process" Johnson added. "County officials should be the same way. It just makes sense."

Labels: OK House, Rep Rob Johnson

Posted at 2/21/2007 12:53:00 PM |   

Speaker Cargill authors eight-point plan in HB 2110 (Audio) House lawmakers Wednesday advanced a comprehensive ethics reform measure containing strong provisions cracking down on questionable campaign fundraising tactics such as "bundling" and "splitting." "Oklahomans deserve an honest and open government," said Speaker Lance Cargill (R-Harrah), author of House Bill 2110. "The reforms we're offering are fundamental changes that will benefit citizens, instead of more posturing by power players to protect incumbents. This is about making the Capitol more open and more accessible to the public than ever before." HB 2110 passed the House Elections and Redistricting Subcommittee today with unanimous bipartisan support. Cargill said HB 2110 contains an eight-point plan to strengthen the public's trust in state government: 1. Ban Political Contributions at the Capitol: "There are plenty of places to hold political fundraisers," said Cargill. "Our state Capitol isn't one of them. There was a time when lobbyists were known to disperse checks to lawmakers shortly before a critical vote. We can erase this image with this simple reform." 2. Require monthly reports of contributions: Cargill said HB 2110 will provide more frequent reports for citizens' review, so that the public won't have to wait for months for information. Cargill said that if the purpose of campaign finance reporting is to reveal who, and to what degree, someone is interested in the outcome of a race, then that information needs to be made available on a more frequent basis. 3. Require disclosure for lobbyist "bundling": Lobbyists often collect several checks from different sources and deliver these bundled checks to a candidate. These coordinated efforts can involve significant amounts of money, and the public has a right to know about them. 4. Ban Honoraria: Currently, state officials can receive an honorarium for a public appearance if it is performed in their official capacity. Cargill said state officials shouldn't receive compensation outside their salary for duties related to their office. 5. Prohibit professionals from soliciting political contributions from their clients: Cargill said it is unfair for those with professional clientele to solicit contributions from those to whom they owe a duty of trust. Cargill said that attorneys, for example, shouldn't be allowed to shake down clients for contributions, many of whom may be subject to the mercy of their legal representative. 6. Require filing of contributor forms for out-of-state donors: Out-of-state political organizations routinely funnel money into Oklahoma races, and often those who are donating don't even know where the money is really going. Cargill said it is important to know the identity of donors who wish to affect politics in a state that is not their own. HB 2110 will require the filing of a contributor card -- with an express statement of intent to donate in Oklahoma -- to ensure the legitimacy of out-of-state donations. 7. End donation "splitting": Cargill said that some campaign organizations attribute partial pieces of the same contribution to different races in an attempt to get around the individual reporting requirements or contribution limits. 8. Require annual ethics training: Cargill said that HB 2110 would require each chamber of the Legislature to conduct annual ethics training for all members, employees, and lobbyists. "Through better education and preparation, we can prevent missteps and provide clear guidance for all involved with the process," he said.

Labels: Ethics Reforms, OK House, Spkr. Cargill

Posted at 2/21/2007 12:33:00 PM |   

Chickens, Pollution at Core of States' Dispute by Greg Allen NPR Morning Edition, June 7, 2005 · Water monitors recently found in Arkansas creeks have state officials angry over what they call the clandestine monitoring of their chicken industry. The monitors were traced back to Oklahoma's attorney general, who is threatening to sue the Arkansas chicken industry. While the discovery of the water monitors was an embarrassment, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmonson and other officials are refusing to back off their contention that Arkansas must do more to police chicken suppliers within its borders. (Audio) LATER: How many other Oklahoma media executives or reporters have contributed to Drew Edmondson's campaigns?

Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Poultry Lawsuit

Posted at 2/20/2007 01:49:00 PM |   

Yesterday we commented on the Tulsa World congratulating themselves on their wins in the "B" category of newspapers. An alert reader notified us that the World had actually been named the state's top newspaper in the "A" category. The Community World - an insert to the the World - had the wins in the "B" category. Our reader surmises that the insert - that is not a separate newspaper - was deliberately entered to compete against smaller, independent newspapers to "hike its win count." They continue by offering enlightening comments on the Tulsa World and plagiarism, conflicts of interests, and lazy journalism: "Plagiarism--the World loves to put other news organizations' work in its pages, but won't credit the source even if it was a major investigation. Don't see that problem with real newspapers--just last night the Telegraph in London credited the New York Times for a key international story, even though the Times' contribution was relatively minimal. The World is a swamp of conflicts of interest, ethics violations and, most sinister, editorial crusades designed to line the pockets of the publisher's family and save them from their bad real estate investments. The Gaylord family is cleaning up its act; the Lorton family is a disgrace. Nice catch." They continue: "Ask anyone who works in emergency services how often the newspaper runs material two days after the fact, without using the updates provided by the agency, then refuses to correct the resulting errors. It is a standing joke!"

Labels: OK Media, Press Bias, Tulsa World

Posted at 2/20/2007 01:45:00 PM |   

NSU President Larry Williams speaks with Speaker Cargill and Florida Speaker Marco Rubio Oklahoma Speaker of the House Lance Cargill and Florida Speaker Marco Rubio engaged a crowd of over 40 people Friday at the third IdeaRaiser for the 100 Ideas Initiative. Rubio, who initiated Florida’s 100 Ideas program in 2005, encouraged Oklahomans to get involved in the project. “We’re hoping you’ll come up with ideas the political process hasn’t picked up on,” Rubio said. Rubio also said that the Florida initiative found “that people felt what the government was dealing with was not what people were dealing with in their daily lives.” “As you engage people at every level, I think you’ll find that there are ideas that no one is talking about or writing about, but are still important,” he added. The topic of discussion Friday was rural healthcare in Oklahoma. Ideas presented at the event included creating a system to provide travel to patients living in rural areas who do not otherwise have a method of getting to doctor appointments, creating a statewide electronic medical database and providing more information in elementary schools about preventative health care. Those in attendance at the University Center at Northeastern State University included representatives from the NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry and the Cherokee Health Science Center. NSU President Larry Williams, his wife, Pamela, and State Rep. Mike Brown, D-Tahlequah, were also in attendance.

Labels: 100 Ideas Initiative, Spkr. Cargill, Thad Balkman

Posted at 2/20/2007 01:30:00 PM |   

KSWO owner & station manager each gave contributions to Drew Edmondson in 2006 - on Valentine's Day. Lawton television station KSWO's slogan "you can count on us" is proudly displayed at the top of the station's website. An Oklahoma Political News Service investigation reveals that you may not be able to "count on" KSWO - or any other Oklahoma media outlet - for unbiased coverage concerning Attorney General Drew Edmondson and the ongoing "Poultrygate" scandal. We have been chronicling the amazing spectacle of a major scandal occurring right underneath the Oklahoma press' noses and their seemingly ambivalence towards uncovering the truth. A search of the KSWO website search engine revealed one entry for "Drew Edmondson" - a puff piece dated January 17th of Edmondson investigating complaints of price gouging after the recent ice storms. We even typed in "Poultry Lawsuit" with zero results and "Poultry" brought back Thanksgiving recipes. Recent campaign reports for the Attorney General show contributions from the station's owner Bill Drewry and the station manager Larry Patton. Mr. Patton even uses KSWO's P. O. Box as his "address for the contributor." We do note that Messrs. Drewry and Patton have every right to engage themselves in our political system through financial participation, we only question the propriety of a news organization - which is supposedly unbiased and neutral -having its management contributing to political campaigns? It begs the question; will journalists be more reluctant to report a story if they know their superiors have contributed financially to the subject of an unflattering report? The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics says that journalists should "avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived," "remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility," and "shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity." The Attorney General's two opponents needed the contribution a lot more than he did. Edmondson out raised his nearest opponent James Dunn nearly three to one and garnered almost two thirds of the vote this past November. (61.19% to 38.81%)

Tomorrow: How many other Oklahoma media executives or reporters have contributed to Drew Edmondson's campaigns?

Labels: AG, Drew Edmondson, Poultry Lawsuit, Press Bias

Posted at 2/19/2007 08:32:00 PM |   

Senator John McCain has picked up the endorsement of former governor Frank Keating, despite McCain's "nuance" of his abortion position since his last presidential run in 2000. McCain is now claiming he is pro-life, and to prove that claim to social conservatives, he will speak at a teenage abstinence rally in South Carolina later today. Keating, who is Catholic, signed a bill in June 2001 to prevent teenagers from having an abortion unless they first received the consent of their parents. The measure also held abortion practitioners liable for "physical and emotional injuries" suffered by a minor if they do not notify or receive consent from a parent prior to performing an abortion on a girl under 18 years of age. Keating also signed a bill in May 2002 authorizing the state's "Choose Life" license plates As we wrote above, McCain's position seems to have changed decidedly since 2000: By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 2/25/2000 "At one point in the campaign, McCain said he would not support the repeal of Roe v. Wade because it would force women to have ''illegal and dangerous operations.'' And during a swing through New Hampshire, he told reporters that if his teenage daughter got pregnant ''the final decision'' about whether to terminate ''would be made by [her].'' In both instances, McCain later said he misspoke." This commentary appeared in a slightly different form on nationalreview.com, February 7, 2001: "John McCain is hawking a book of pro-abortion propaganda to his colleagues. Surprised? Don't be. He's the hero of the story. Richard North Patterson's novel Protect and Defend tells a familiar story: Mean-spirited conservatives, Republicans, and Christian Right anti-abortion fanatics in Washington, D.C., vs. the pro-choice, anti-gun, pro-campaign-reform forces of light. Senator Chad Palmer is twice a hero: once for enduring being kidnapped and held hostage by Islamic extremists, and now for supporting campaign-finance reform even though he's a Republican. Palmer used to be pro-life, until his teenage daughter was able to start turning her life around by getting a legal abortion. And now he has to vote on a controversial nominee to be chief justice of the Supreme Court. The previous one, a hateful old conservative, died of a stroke while giving the oath of office to the new Democratic president. The president names a feminist judge. During her confirmation hearings, this judge writes a decision letting a 15-year-old girl abort her hydrocephalic fetus at seven and a half months over the objections of her parents, who are tyrannical religious zealots. She is bitterly opposed by anti-abortionists with names like Mace and Harshman, as well as by a group called the "Christian Commitment." Eventually a sleazy Washington lobbyist exposes the abortion in Senator Palmer's family. His daughter, distraught, drinks a bottle of wine, gets behind the wheel on an icy night, and dies. So guess who casts the deciding vote in the Senate? And guess which way he votes? Last month, real-life Senators John McCain and Barbara Boxer jointly sent a copy of this book with a letter to every member of the Senate. This evening, McCain and Boxer are hosting a reception and book-signing party for Patterson in the United States Capitol. "

Labels: Abortion, Decision '08, Frank Keating, John McCain

Posted at 2/19/2007 09:09:00 AM |   

Labels: Press Bias, Tulsa World

Posted at 2/19/2007 09:05:00 AM |