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Sunday, September 30, 2007 Senator Tom Coburn: The Doctor Of TruthFriday, September 28, 2007Dr. Coburn Explains Hold on NICS bill
Labels: Sen. Tom Coburn Posted at 9/28/2007 09:37:00 PM |Energy Group Offers Scholarship In Fallin's Name Tecumseh Countywide News & Shawnee Sun:
The Energy Advocates, a not-for-profit organization based in Oklahoma, has announced it will provide student scholarships in the name of Oklahoma Fifth District Congresswoman Mary Fallin.
Fallin responded to the announcement, saying “I am deeply grateful this fine organization has chosen to honor me in such a way.”
“The Energy Advocates membership is committed to raising public awareness of all aspects of the energy industry.” Read more...Labels: Rep. Fallin Posted at 9/28/2007 03:55:00 PM |Inhofe Statement on SCHIP Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today announced that he is a co-sponsor along with Senators Lott (R-Miss.) and Coburn (R-Okla.), among others, of the SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (S.2086), which provides an 18-month clean extension of the SCHIP program without the big-government expansions in the Democrats’ SCHIP re-authorization legislation (H.R.976). The temporary extension is consistent with the President’s plan and increases funding in accordance with CBO estimates of the costs to ensure that every state’s SCHIP program is fully funded when the current program’s authorization ends on September 30th.
“I support the original intent of the SCHIP program, which provides health coverage for uninsured children in need,” Senator Inhofe said. “Unfortunately, Congressional Democrats have been playing politics with the SCHIP re-authorization bill, using it as a vehicle to advance their long-standing agenda of socializing healthcare and creating a new middle-class entitlement.
“The Democrats’ legislation unnecessarily expands state-wide health insurance coverage from low-income, uninsured children to include entitlements to some upper-middle class families and adults, forcing the federal government to insure adults with funds intended for children. Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that almost 2.1 million people eligible in this new bracket could drop private coverage in favor of government-run, taxpayer-funded insurance. This unprecedented expansion toward nationalized healthcare will detrimentally affect the quality of coverage available to Americans.
“Congress needs to pass a clean extension of SCHIP that maintains the original intent of the program by providing health insurance for the millions of uninsured, low-income children across the country, not middle-class adults. I co-sponsored the SCHIP Extension Act to do just that – provide an 18-month extension of the SCHIP program, ensuring that children are still able to receive health insurance when the program expires this week.”
Labels: Sen. Inhofe Posted at 9/28/2007 03:48:00 PM |Believing in Oklahoma; Fighting for the Next Generation By Senator Jay Paul Gumm of Durant
Hello again, everybody! Over the next several weeks, the celebration of Oklahoma’s Centennial will be in full swing.
Compared to most of our neighboring states, Oklahoma is young. In fact, most communities in my Senate district are older than Oklahoma. As young as Oklahoma is, it is remarkable what we have achieved.
During my recent tour of area schools, one question almost always came up. “What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Oklahoma?”
For me, the answer is simple. Our biggest challenge is simply believing in ourselves and our state. For much of our short history, Oklahomans have been convinced that our state cannot compete and win – except on the football field. Read more... Labels: OK Legislator's Blog, Sen. Gumm Posted at 9/28/2007 03:38:00 PM |News9: Oklahoma Speaker of the House Lance Cargill Remains at the Center of a Growing ControversyRelated: AP: Young speaker embroiled in ethics controversy again Fair And Biased: WILL THE MYSTERY MAN PLEASE ID HIMSELF? NewsOk.com: Fundraising probe ‘witch-hunt,' ex-official says Labels: investigations, Spkr. Cargill Posted at 9/28/2007 09:29:00 AM |Boren Bill Would Mandate Colon Cancer ScreeningsWASHINGTON — Oklahoma Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, on Tuesday began promoting a bill that would mandate insurance pay for colon cancer screenings.
Boren cited his family history as a reason for legislation expanding coverage to 28 states that do not require insurance companies to pay for the screenings.
He was accompanied at a Capitol news conference by his sister Carrie Boren, missioner for evangelism at the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas.
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Labels: Cong. Dan Boren Posted at 9/28/2007 09:23:00 AM |Education Cost Studies Needed, Report Author Says
The Norman Transcript
Transcript Staff Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY --State leaders need a much better understanding the costs associated with meeting new education standards, the author of a controversial Oklahoma education study said this week.
John Augenblick, the president of Denver-based Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, defended his firm's 2005 study of the way Oklahoma's education system is funded, saying the questing of how much it cost a state to provide education services which meet governmental standards is "a pretty new question."
Augenblick's two-part study, "Calculating the Cost of an Adequate Education in Oklahoma," analyzed the "adequacy of revenues available to elementary and secondary school districts in Oklahoma" for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
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Labels: Education Posted at 9/28/2007 09:20:00 AM |Experts Warn that Vital Public Programs are at Risk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2007
For more information contact:
David Blatt, Public Policy Director
Community Action Project
918.382.3228
OKLAHOMA CITY – If the fiscal policies of reducing revenue continue, state government will lack the resources necessary to properly fund vital programs on which Oklahomans rely. According to members of the Alliance for Oklahoma’s Future, dramatic funding cuts in state services such as education, public safety, and state pension programs are inevitable if further reductions in state revenue occur this coming legislative session.
“Because of recent decisions enacted by the Legislature, Oklahoma’s revenue growth has slowed dramatically and we are facing long term budget shortfalls,” said David Blatt, Alliance chairman. “Costs for the state’s existing programs are increasing faster than revenues and this situation will further put the squeeze on those priorities that matter most to Oklahomans.”
The Alliance was called today to speak to members of the House Revenue and Tax Committee regarding changes to Oklahoma’s tax structure. The Committee chair posed the question, “Should Oklahoma cut taxes and if so, which ones?”
“With a grossly underfunded education system, increasing poverty rates among Oklahoma’s children, crumbling roads and bridges, and a crowded prison system, we believe these are the wrong questions for the committee to be asking,” said Blatt. “First and foremost, we need to guarantee that we are meeting our goals as a state to achieve an adequate tax system that provides every Oklahoman opportunity, prosperity and security.”
The Alliance proposed the following recommendations to the Committee:
• Take a breather from further tax cuts;
• Evaluate the current tax structure’s capacity to adequately fund the state’s goals;
• Develop long-term budget forecasts;
• Modernize Oklahoma’s tax system;
• Maintain a balanced tax structure; and
• Preserve and ensure equity in the state income tax.
Further testimony by Elizabeth Hudgins, Senior Policy Analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a national nonpartisan policy research organization, pointed out that Oklahoma’s taxes are already among the lowest in the nation. “Oklahomans pay among the least in the country in state and local taxes, ranking 43rd nationwide,” said Hudgins. “Policymakers should consider their state’s goals and priorities and ensure a tax system that works for all Oklahomans.”
Posted at 9/28/2007 09:16:00 AM
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Red Cross Gives Defibrillator to "Capitol Doctor of the Day" Program as Part of Preparedness Month Darrell Gable of the Red Cross instructs House security staff in CPR and proper operation of an Automated External Defibrillator.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 27, 2007) – As part of National Preparedness Month, the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma made a special donation Thursday to make sure Oklahoma lawmakers are prepared for the worst.
At a special ceremony, Vince Hernandez, CEO of the Central Oklahoma Red Cross, presented the Capitol Doctor of the Day office with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Dana Cash with Zoll Medical, which is partnering with the Red Cross on the gift of the defibrillator, was also present for the event.
“Many Oklahomans visit their state Capitol each year, and they often come to observe their state Legislature in session,” said House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah. “Though we hope it never happens, it’s always possible that a visitor, a lawmaker, or a staffer could suffer a heart attack here in the Capitol. I appreciate the Red Cross helping us be prepared for the realities of life.”
Chad Warmington, chief of staff of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, accepted the gift on behalf of the Speaker, the Doctor of the Day office, and the entire Legislature.
The defibrillator will be stored in the Oklahoma Legislature’s Doctor of the Day office at the state Capitol during the legislative session.
As part of the event, House security staff were also given professional instruction by the Red Cross in CPR and were taught how to operate the defibrillator.Labels: OK Legislature, Spkr. Cargill Posted at 9/28/2007 09:00:00 AM |American Gun Law Expert Commends Senator CoburnGun rights expert John M. Snyder this morning commended Sen. Tom Coburn (OK) for blocking an attempt by Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY) to ramrod firearms legislation through the United States Senate without full consideration of the proposal.
“America’s millions of law-abiding gun owners owe Coburn their appreciation for his action,” said Snyder.
“Schumer tried to bring a so-called National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) improvements bill out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and directly to the floor of the Senate without amendment by virtue of a unanimous consent agreement. Under such a procedure, a piece of legislation may be brought to the floor and acted upon unless at least one Senator objects. Fortunately, Coburn objected and that is why he now is a hero of the gun rights movement.”
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Labels: Sen. Tom Coburn Posted at 9/27/2007 01:13:00 PM |Tell Me Something I Don't Know"People now are really frightened and scared because they don't know what's going to happen," says Juliana Stout, an editor at the newspaper El Nacional de Oklahoma. "They're selling houses. They're leaving the country."Illegal Immigration apologist are shocked at the exodus of Illegals leaving Oklahoma in droves. Maybe if each state adopted this same strict policy we could regain our country back. Read More Labels: Immigration Reform, Rep. Randy Terrill Posted at 9/27/2007 12:56:00 PM |Press One for English? No Call Your Senators for English!Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.) has introduced a bill that would make English the official language of the United States of America, and would require “The Government of the United States [to] conduct its official business in English, including publications, income tax forms, and informational materials.” It would also send a message to new immigrants that the U.S. intends to preserve its linguistic unity as a nation, and that they must have a responsibility to learn English as the first step toward pursing the American dream, and full participation in American life.
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Labels: Decision '08, English Only, Sen. Inhofe Posted at 9/27/2007 12:52:00 PM |State Rep. Randy Terrill answers questions about immigrationRiver Opponents React To New IncentivesCourtesy of KOTV With the river tax vote two weeks away supporters are now courting the north side of Tulsa, where some community leaders have blasted the plan for neglecting black Tulsans. On Wednesday, Mayor Kathy Taylor held out a carrot worth millions of dollars for a yes vote. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports on the reaction to the promise of pools and playgrounds on the north side. Many North Tulsa residents vowed to vote no, but river tax supporters are moving north to change their minds. “I'm not surprised because divide and conquer has always been one thing used in the north side of Tulsa,” said Dr. Warren Blakney, Minister of the North Peoria Church of Christ. “If you can divide the vote than perhaps you can get what you need.” Labels: Kathy Taylor, Tulsa Posted at 9/27/2007 12:41:00 PM |Campus Security Changes UrgedIn the aftermath of the Virginia Tech slaying, Oklahoma took a proactive approach to solving harmful situations before it is too late.
The Campus Life and Safety & Security Task Force is drafting recommendations to go to Gov. Brad Henry and lawmakers in January.
Recommendations Bird and others said more and better-trained counselors are needed to help troubled students and those with mental health issues. Some campuses don't have any on-site counselors and others don't have enough to meet the need. Also, the state lacks enough training programs for counselors. Labels: Brad Henry, Campus Life and Safety Security Task Force Posted at 9/26/2007 11:23:00 AM |NRCC Broke?
Labels: Cong. Tom Cole, Decision '08 Posted at 9/25/2007 04:57:00 PM |Effort Launched To Divert Lottery Money From Education
By Rep. Jason Murphey
In 2002, while campaigning for Governor, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry campaigned on a platform of financing Oklahoma public education through creation of the Oklahoma lottery. The lottery concept appears to have been presented to Oklahomans as a magic bullet to cure Oklahoma's education challenges, not unlike the House Bill 1017 sales tax increase, which was also presented to Oklahoma voters as an education solution. The lottery was to provide $500 million to the education system.
It is in fact generating only about $70 million per year for public education. This represents about 14% of the money originally predicted. For instance, in fiscal year 2008 lottery revenue will make up only around 2% - 3% of the amount state government gives to the local school districts in Crescent, Guthrie and Edmond. Worse still, Oklahoma politicians, in their haste to spend the money, have incurred millions of dollars of long term debt that must be paid back out of those revenues. Read More Labels: Education, Lottery, Rep. Jason Murphey Posted at 9/25/2007 11:58:00 AM |Frank Lucas Announces Agra Fire Department to receive $180,000“I’m glad to help the Agra Fire Department earn federal dollars so that they can better protect local residents from possible fire outbreaks,” Lucas said. “The fire departments in Oklahoma are struggling to protect residents with a mostly volunteer workforce and shrinking city budgets. They need all the help the federal government can give them.”
“I’m sure Lincoln County residents are pleased to learn about this as well,” Lucas said. “They deserve the peace of mind that their local fire department is prepared for the unexpected.”
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Labels: Cong. Frank Lucas Posted at 9/25/2007 11:47:00 AM |A Bridge Too Far?
Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican who requested the inspector general’s report, tried to get a measure passed that would place a moratorium on earmarks until all of the nation’s deficient bridges were either repaired or replaced.
It should come as no surprise that he was unsuccessful. The measure failed by a lopsided vote of 82 to 14. “The bridge in Minnesota didn’t fail as much as Congress failed,” Coburn said. “We failed to direct dollars where they were needed most because this body is obsessed with parochial pork-barrel politics.” The House passed a similar bill prior to the Minneapolis bridge collapse that also was packed with pork totaling $2.2 billion. The projects include: * A museum to present and interpret the colorful and fascinating history of Las Vegas — $200,000. * A peace garden on North Dakota’s border with Canada — $450,000. * A minor-league baseball stadium in Billings, Montana — $500,000. * A mule and packers museum in Bishop (population: 3,575), Calif. — $50,000.Labels: Pork, Sen. Tom Coburn Posted at 9/25/2007 11:29:00 AM |Illegal Immigration Bill Unconstitutional?
The Latin American and Hispanic Affairs Advisory Council has questioned the constitutionality of Oklahoma's new immigration law. The issue they have with the new law is that Oklahoma is doing the Federal governments job. The late (great to some) James Brown has a song titled " I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open The Door I'll Get It Myself)"
What the Advisory council fails to realize is that ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL. No matter if you come from Canada, China, Iran, Iraq, or MEXICO (where most Iraqis nationals and Chinese come through) courtesy of our un-guarded Mexican borders.
I haven't heard them scream about the Constitutionality of Illegal Immigrants receiving: In state tutition, healthcare, and in some cases drivers license. Now if you want to talk about Constitutionality talk about that and then maybe we can have a debate. Until then, ILLEGAL means ILLEGAL and if you are here ILLEGALLY you should be shipped back where you come from.
More Information:
How Eisenhower solved Illegal Immigration in the 50's
Labels: Immigration Reform Posted at 9/25/2007 11:07:00 AM |Documents Reveal State GOP Work Billed to County Party
By Scott Cooper
The Oklahoma County Republican Party, under investigation for questionable 2004 campaign contributions, was billed thousands of dollars for candidates in districts well outside of Oklahoma County during that election cycle.
In documents obtained by Oklahoma Gazette, various political and survey consulting firms conducted work for nine Republican state House candidates in the fall of 2004, none of whom ran for office inside Oklahoma County.
PAYMENTS
One firm sent a bill for $15,050 to the county party for survey work on six incumbent representatives. Another firm conducted six polls for various district races at a cost of $3,000. Read more...Labels: investigations Posted at 9/24/2007 05:38:00 PM |Statement by House Speaker Lance Cargill on Dank Ethics Legislation
OKLAHOMA CITY (Monday, Sept. 24, 2007) House Speaker Lance Cargill issued a statement Monday following an announcement by state Rep. David Dank on ethics legislation:
"I commend Representative Dank for coming forward with this proposal for ethics reform. For far too long in our state’s history,there have been too many problems with ethics in state government, from the Supreme Court to the Legislature to the governor's office. That’s why I was proud to author last year’s House Bill 2101, which has been described by many, including officials at the state Ethics Commission, as the most sweeping and comprehensive legislative ethics reform in years. House Bill 2102, among other things, banned contributions at the Capitol and honoraria payments to legislators. Obviously, anything we do must be constitutional, but we certainly support tough rules. I look forward to reviewing the details of Representative Dank's proposal."
Labels: Ethics Reforms, Rep. David Dank, Spkr. Cargill Posted at 9/24/2007 04:45:00 PM |Tulsa Politics and Propriety in Punditry
By David Arnett, Publisher
The hot local issue of Arkansas River restoration and development in Tulsa has driven Republican Party divisions to the public most recently with a personal attack by a self-aggrandizing pundit upon a private individual who is active within one of the most influential political clubs in the metropolis.  Michael D. Bates Labels: Tulsa Today Posted at 9/24/2007 04:19:00 PM |Breaking News!! Lawmaker looks to change the way money is used in Oklahoma politicsIn an attempt to limit the amounts of money donated to PAC's State Rep. David Dank has said that he will file legislation to curb the influence of money in politics.
Among reforms called for by State Rep. Dave Dank, R-Oklahoma City, are:
*Banning contributions during the legislative session;
*Requiring full disclosure of consultants reported by name who are running campaigns, to ensure relatives and friends are not getting the money intended for races;
*Limiting transfer of money from one political action committee to another in an effort to make sure an individual does not funnel contributions in excess of the $5,000 limit to the same candidate.
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Labels: Rep. David Dank Posted at 9/24/2007 01:59:00 PM |Extremism Hits Close To Home
While the Ethics panel continues to look into the GOP Fundraising, liberals around the state are taking advantage of that opportunity to really pander to their liberal base of supporters. REDOKLAHOMA has more to report on this story.
It is always good when the attention is on someone else. Who would've thought that Andrew Rice was associated with people like this? But then again he is just another liberal masquerading as a "moderate".Labels: Andrew Rice, Decision '08 Posted at 9/24/2007 10:43:00 AM |KWTV Follow Up Reports on GOP Ethics Probe
We have for you KWTV's Stacey Cameron's follow up reports on the continuing Ethics Commission probe. First, here is the 4:00pm "Your Vote Counts" segment discussing the investigation. Here is the 10:00pm report from last night's broadcasts.Labels: investigations Posted at 9/21/2007 06:00:00 PM |WOW! With Friends Like These....
Tulsa World:
 Some lawmakers, including former House Speaker Todd Hiett, said they contributed funds to the state party, but were surprised to learn the Oklahoma County party took control of the money.
Hiett, who said he thought his own $5,000 contribution was going to the state, said Thursday that Cargill, who was then House caucus chairman, should have the answers.
"That's a question for the PAC chairman (Cargill). He managed the finances for the Republican (House) caucus," Hiett said.
"Cargill obviously felt like he was on solid ground. I honestly hope he would come forward with the legal ground that supports that action." Read more...Labels: investigations, Spkr. Cargill, Todd Hiett Posted at 9/21/2007 05:00:00 PM |TIME Magazine: The Senate's G.O.P. Bomb Throwers
U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (L) speaks as Senator Tom Coburn look on during a news conference. Alex Wong / Getty
By JAY NEWTON-SMALL
Senator Tom Coburn spent a good part of last Wednesday trying to stop the federal government from building bike paths. He wanted to redirect the $12 million allotted for them to shoring up U.S. bridges following the collapse of a highway bridge in Minneapolis that killed 13 people. The amendment failed 80-18. Undeterred, Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, immediately introduced his second amendment of the day: a motion to suspend all earmarks — or pet projects often attached in secret to funding bills — until structural integrity of all U.S. bridges can be verified. There were $2 billion in earmarks in the bill, which, if passed, will fund the Transportation Department next year; the amendment failed 82-14. That same day Senator Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, added his own amendment to suspend a rule that requires the government to use unionized workers to make emergency repairs to bridges, which DeMint says raises the cost by as much as 35%. That amendment also failed, 56-37. Read more...
Related:
An anonymous Republican Senator, identified by Think Progress as Tom Coburn (R-OK), has placed a secret hold on a law that would restore public access to presidential records. Two other senators were initially suspects but their offices have denied involvement while Coburn’s office has refused comment. The secret hold is part of an attempt to undermine the Democratic bill nullifying Bush’s executive order of 2001 that called for many executive materials to be kept secret “in perpetuity.” (Think Progress and The Dallas Morning News)
CQ.com: Sen. Labels: Congress, Sen. Tom Coburn Posted at 9/21/2007 04:47:00 PM |Lawmaker says state income tax too high
OKLAHOMA CITY — While University of Oklahoma President David Boren is calling for a moratorium on further state tax cuts, the chairman of the House’s Revenue and Taxation Committee believes Boren’s request is premature.
State Rep. Randy Terrill said he still believes the state’s income tax is too high but wants to gather information from a series of interim studies later this fall before deciding.
“Boren’s call was premature,” Terrill, R-Moore, said. “We haven’t begun our interim studies yet. We want to look at whether or not additional tax relief is needed or necessary and, if so, what type of tax relief is preferable.”
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Labels: Rep. Randy Terrill Posted at 9/21/2007 04:06:00 PM |OKPNS - "Oklahoma's Third Most Influential Political Blog"
Oklahoma's Most Influential Political blogs
1.) TPD Blog
2.) The Lost Ogle
3.) Oklahoma Political News Service
4.) My Tulsa World Blog
5.) SoonerThought
6.) The McCarville Report Online
7.) The Red Dirt Political Report
8.) Oklahomily the Blog
9.) Living On Tulsa Time
10.) Okiedoke - Vintage Okie opinion
11.) Stan Geiger
12.) BatesLine
13.) meeciteewurkor
14.) Bounded Rationality
15.) blue oklahoma
16.) Satellite Sky
17.) Speaker Cargill's Blog
18.) MedBlogged
19.) OKLAHOMA OpinionsViewsOK.comOkieLife.com
20.) Sidebar Blog: Law and Disorder, Okie StyleLabels: OKPNS Posted at 9/21/2007 03:39:00 PM |Payday Loans Gone Bad
Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is accused of charging illegal interest rates on payday loans.
By Marie Price
The Journal Record
Oklahoma City - A class-action lawsuit filed in a Pennsylvania federal court accuses several lenders, including some tied to the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, of charging illegal interest rates on payday loans.
The legal action was filed on behalf of Matthew Walp of Bensalem, Penn., who allegedly applied for and received several payday loans on Web sites operated by one or the other of the seven named and 10 “John Doe” loan companies.
Read More Labels: Pay Day Loans Posted at 9/21/2007 10:41:00 AM |Oklahomans Join Nation's Protests for "Jena 6"
Photos courtesy of Jaclyn Houghton/CNHI News Service
Labels: Demonstrations Posted at 9/20/2007 06:53:00 PM |KWTV Report on GOP Ethics Probe
KWTV "News 9" reporter Stacey Cameron, follows up on the story we broke last Friday on possible ethics violations by House GOP lawmakers and Oklahoma County party officials. Click here to view last night's report.Labels: investigations Posted at 9/20/2007 02:41:00 PM |Race bodes well for state As ugly and quarrelsome as political races can be, the electorate profits from them, and that certainly will be the case in the race for U.S. Senate in 2008 in Oklahoma. Incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe will defend his seat against at least one candidate, and the race is sure to be filled with fire.While Inhofe’s conservative value system reflects the value system of most Oklahomans, Inhofe’s long tenure has been filled with controversy. Labels: Andrew Rice, Decision '08, Sen. Inhofe Posted at 9/20/2007 12:19:00 PM |Tell Me Something I Don't Know
Today our State Auditor Jeff McMahan's wife met with Federal Agents looking into possible political corruption. Corruption? What Corrutpion?
Labels: Jeff McMahan Posted at 9/20/2007 12:06:00 PM | |
