An anonymous OKPNS reader has sent along a document from one-time guest columnist “Dr. Goose.” We heartily encourage our readers to send us their original commentary for consideration for OKPNS. (okpns_editor@hotmail.com)

It appears Dr. Goose is about to come to the defense of Speaker Chris Benge’s controversial natural gas plan. The document appears here in it’s unedited state, providing us insight into the media powers that are assembling to support the Speaker.

Developing!

From “Dr. Goose:”

The Oklahoma Speaker, Chris Benge, rolled out his record profits energy independence plan for T. Boone and Chesapeake Oklahomans this week, and he is patriotically asking Oklahomans to help us defeat dangerous foreign oil. I was shocked: I didn’t know foreign oil was more dangerous than its domestic cousin! I’ll be more careful from now on! I guess that Argentina crude is packing heat. Heck yes, Mr. Speaker, I’ll be glad to say no to dangerous foreign oil and it’s children, gasoline and diesel. “You pack heat, you’re going back in, but not in my tank!”

I’m also jazzed about his call to Oklahomans to emulate the progressive countries of the world, you know, Pawkeeestawn (Obama-speak) and Eyeran (Bush-speak). Next, the Speaker will challenge us Oklahomans to be the best we can be, and overtake Tennessee in the number of obnoxious country singers per square mile. Stirring rhetoric coming from my Speaker!

I am very enthusiastic: I’m pretty sure Mr. Benge is going to tour Oklahoma wearing one of those NASCAR-like driving suits with all the logos of the companies who bought him are helping him make Oklahoma and America energy independent. His news conference at the end of the opening day of the legislature will sound something like this: “The Chris Benge Chesapeake T. Boonedoggle Nose Pickens Clean Skies Foundation CNG/BS Massive Tax Credits Oklahoma Thundergottheclap Energy Pawkeestawn-Eye-Ran Independence scheme plan ran pretty good here on opening day. We put in a couple hundred thousand in the tank, added a butt-load of hot air to the rear and added couple pounds of methane and the crowd just went wild. In the future, we’ve got to keep our crew chief, Dirty Coates, from letting his papers blow across the track. But all in all, we fooled ‘em educated them and they pretty much bought into this bovine scatology plan. I know I have been bought.”

There are some who think ‘addicted to oil’ is liberal environmental wacko talk, adopted by the President in one of his weak moments, and used by leftists and con artists promoting foolish alternative energy plans. I want to be clear: it is just a coincidence that Speaker Benge is sounding like Al Gore and Thomas Friedman and a couple thousand communist writers. Just a coincidence. No, I’m serious. Stop laughing, darn it!!

And one other thing: that similarity between the folks that advised old Harry Coates last year and this deal, I want to go on record that’s a coincidence, too. The difference is Harry Coates is a Republican who fell under the sway of liberal RINO’s and got caught doing a stupid thing on behalf of some energy con artists, while Speaker Benge is a Republican who fell under the sway of liberal RINO’s and got caught doing a stupid thing on behalf of some energy con artists, and uh, oh hell, never mind.

Anyway, on behalf of our civic minded Speaker, who is advancing tax credits for con artists Oklahoma’s children, I want to draw your attention to three so-called conservatives, who are actually rabid liberals, who falsely and cynically are attempting to slam the con artists patriots who care nothing about profits and want rob help America.

Read the non-sense from this Limbaugh character and others and you’ll see why Chris Benge is actually a keen-thinking man who hasn’t been influenced by the lure of campaign donations and power.

Read these three “lefties” (Limbaugh, Corsi, Hebron) and realize Chris Benge is a man full of natural gas of vision who is putting the interests of billionaires Oklahomans foremost in his taxpayer ripoff leadership.

Speaker Benge Quote:

“Of the 234.6 million vehicles traveling on American roads, a mere 95,000 are natural gas vehicles, or 0.1 percent. That is compared to countries like Argentina where there are 1.5 million NGVs on their roads. Both Pakistan and Iran have nearly a quarter of their vehicles running on natural gas. And they do that so they can reserve their oil to sell to the United States, further feeding America’s addiction to foreign fuel.”

We told you to watch for a sellout: the sale starts now!

House Speaker Chris Benge is starting his “Sold Out” tour this week. The Speaker has bought into the CNG con being perpetuated by some rich Oklahoma and Texas con artists, and somewhere Al Gore is laughing his fat behind off at yet another Republican seduced by Ponzi-scheme solutions for Gore’s contrived global warming fantasy.

And what will the con artists get? The politicians who have sold out won’t want you to know, but here it is: a built-in market for their natural gas and, dare we say, monstrous amounts of tax credits. We also suspect legislation to require the entire state fleet of vehicles to run CNG, and you can bet the taxpayers, not the con artists, will be footing the bill.

It’s just the latest con job (remember ethanol?) foisted on the public by opportunists seeking to exploit America’s anger toward the energy situation. Do you remember natural gas promoters spending millions last year to stop a coal-fired electricity plant? Do you recall the results? higher prices for Oklahoma electricity consumers! If going green is so great, why does it feel like a prostate examination?

Remember the famous words: those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it. Apparently Mr. Benge slept through that part of history class.

So here’s a primer: when demand goes up, prices go up, and when demand drops, price drops! And we know what’s going to happen to supply if millions upon millions of Americans spend billions upon billions of dollars on retrofitting their cars and start burning CNG: lower supplies and higher prices. To put it another way, Mr. Speaker, after you spend thousands and thousands converting your vehicle to CNG, and millions of Americans start using CNG, the price will go up. Oh, and by the way, if millions stop using gasoline, the price of gasoline will go down.

Here’s our new slogan: CNG, it isn’t a bargain for long!

Remember the words of PT Barnum: there’s sucker born every minute. By the way, we thought you would enjoy a look back at some of history’s most famous con artists in light of today’s “Sold Out Tour.” It will help remind you that really foolish people are often taken advantage by con artists. It kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it.

Related:

The Oklahoman: Oklahoma House speaker touts natural gas as part of Oklahoma’s energy strategy

AP: Okla. House speaker proposes doubling CNG stations

Michelle Malkin: Pelosi And The Big Wind Boone-doggle

“Which brings us to Madame Speaker’s 2007 financial disclosure form. Schedule III lists “Assets and ‘Unearned Income’” of between $100,001-$250,000 from Clean Energy Fuels Corp. — Public Common Stock. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) is a natural gas provider founded by T. Boone Pickens. Yep, that T. Boone Pickens — former oilman turned wind-power evangelist whose ads touting a national wind campaign are now as ubiquitous as Viagra promos.” Read more…

This one is too easy, so let’s make it interactive…

We recently suggested that a certain billionaire’s motives might not be all philanthropic and pure, and that there might soon be clues how all the “philanthropy” might get cashed in, specifically regarding the taxpayers/ratepayers having to shell out bongo bucks to help the billionaire “NOT” make any more money (remember, he said he has enough already) on a certain energy type that some experts believe is nothing more than a carnival con job. Keep reading, you are getting warm…

We recently suggested a certain legislative leader might not have the “equipment” necessary to punish a band of rogue business leaders who, using big bucks and dirty tricks, tried and failed to politically terminate a member of his leadership team. Bear with me I know you’ve got it now…

We also suggested that leader might have been compromised because a certain company, seeking to create a virtual monopoly by creating a government-assisted domestic market for its product, will buy him off with campaign cash. Humor me, we will get the answer together…

Finally, after careful consideration, which politician seems to be siding with the governor’s ultra-liberal secretary of energy, and which public official sounds more like a fiscal conservative, wary of corporate welfare-seeking energy companies. BINGO…

THE ANSWER IS HERE!

Related:

Jim’s Journal: (Sen. Inhofe) T. Boone Pickens Comes Home to Oklahoma to Talk About Energy Plan

From The McCarville Report Online Blog yesterday:

Bullet-Proof: Republican Rep. Randy Terrill, having survived an all-out assault in the primary over his sponsorship of the state’s new immigration law, is now viewed by many as politically bullet-proof. Said a GOP consultant: “His enemies shot their wad in the primary and he killed ‘em. He’s got bigger bullets than they do. So what’s next: Terrill for governor?”

It’s pretty clear that the attempt by the pro-illegal alien lobby to rub out State Rep. Randy Terrill has failed. Terrill’s beaten his opponent in the November election twice before, with the Democrat failing to break 30%. It’s over: as we’ve stated before, Randy Terrill, love him or hate him, is going back to the House of Representatives as Chairman of the Revenue and Tax Committee.

But what about the cabal of characters that attempted to push a button on Terrill? The chamber of commerce/Chesapeake/Devon/Express Personnel/Fast Eddie Kelley gaggle did indeed try to ruin Terrill’s career. They were even joined by some of those involved in that ridiculous lawsuit against Oklahoma over driver’s license tests not offered in the Iranian language. Although hapless and incompetent, (that last-minute spin on Terrill’s bankruptcy by Kelley and other liberals was just awesome, huh?) they did try to politically assassinate Terrill, using his words.

So what now? All eyes will shift to Speaker Chris Benge. Up until now, groups attempting political harm to a member of the legislative leadership are usually called into the woodshed. But there is some suspicion that may break tradition and not punish the conspirators. Why? The promise of campaign money, perhaps?

One year ago at this time Benge was the Chairman of the powerful Appropriations and Budget Committee, but not seen as a potential political leader in former Speaker Lance Cargill’s team, and was not even the second choice for speaker when Cargill resigned as a result of the campaign finance scandal revealed by OKPNS and News9’s Stacey Cameron. Some insiders say he may be too timid to do what’s right: punish those who tried to harm one of his leaders. If he doesn’t there will be repercussions from members, and there are plenty of Terrill supporters in the House Republican Caucus.

This story bears watching, and we will.

Developing…

Just weeks after new House Speaker Chris Benge forced House Majority Floor Leader Greg Piatt (R-Ardmore) to make an embarrassing refund of a controversial contribution from a Texas businessman, some Capitol observers are raising questions about thousands of dollars in similar contributions Benge has received.

Benge’s third quarter 2007 ethics report shows he received 43 separate checks, totaling thousands of dollars, all on a single day, July 6, 2007. All of these checks were written by people employed by Career Technology Centers. Benge received an additional check that same day from the Career Tech System’s Political Action Committee. Altogether, the checks total over $4,000.

The donations are drawing scrutiny because Benge as appropriations and budget chairman last year advanced a large budget increase for career techs and much of the increase was used to raise salaries within the career tech system. Now it appears that closely on the heals of that vote and the pay increases, Benge was handsomely rewarded with thousands of dollars in contributions from career tech interests. Some also find it odd that dozens of checks from all across the state were somehow received by the campaign on the very same day.

Capitol observers are now wondering whether Benge will apply the same standard to himself that he applied to Piatt. Piatt was criticized for taking a $5,000 contribution from Texas businessman Brad Phillips after having worked on an insurance bill last session which was favorable to Phillips’ interests. Piatt had refused to return the contribution for weeks but was forced to make an embarrassing flip flop and admit the impropriety of the contribution by returning it shortly after Benge became Speaker. Piatt admitted that Benge asked him to give the contribution back.

Given the thousands of dollars Benge got from a group that he helped legislatively last session that are now drawing scrutiny, Capitol observers wonder if he will apply the same standard to himself that he applied to Piatt and return the contributions. Some see this as an early test of Benge’s leadership – will he apply consistent standards for everyone – including himself – or keep a double standard when it comes to his own fundraising?

Received via the confidential OKPNS Tip Line:

For more information, see the Oklahoma Ethics Commission

So, now that Chris Benge is moving on up to Speaker of the House, who’s going to fill his shoes? Turns out it’s going to take two to replace him: From Jennifer Mock, of the OK House of Representatives:

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 6, 2008) – Two state lawmakers were appointed today to serve on House subcommittees in the place of recently named House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa.

Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, will fill Benge’s spot on the House Banking Subcommittee, and Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, will replace Benge on the House Insurance & Retirement Subcommittee.

“I look forward to working with Representative Murphey and Representative Sullivan in their new roles,” Benge said.

Benge was named Monday as the new Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. In Oklahoma, the House Speaker does not have regular duties on any legislative committees, though the Speaker can cast a vote in any committee.

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 1, 2008) – Rep. Chris Benge, chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, announced today he is running for Speaker of the House.

“I’m honored some of my colleagues have encouraged me to run for this position, and am actively seeking votes from my fellow Republicans,” said Benge, R-Tulsa.

Benge has spent a decade in the House working in both in the minority and majority, and at the service of two speakers as the Appropriations and Budget Committee chairman.

This experience, and his intimate knowledge of the legislative budgeting process, is what several of his colleagues cited as reasons why they urged him to run, Benge said.

“Regardless of who is chosen by the caucus Monday, we will move forward with the agenda that was approved by all of our members and will be well-positioned to get the people’s work done this legislative session in a united way.”

Rep. Benge is a native Tulsan. He was born and raised in southwest Tulsa and currently resides in the community of Berryhill with his wife, Allison, and their two children, Garrett, 13, and Hayden, 11. He is an Oklahoma State University graduate with a degree in business

.

Related:

DEVELOPING: Chris Benge New Speaker? (1-31-08)

Henry Spending like a Drunken Sailor?

After further examination of the governor’s executive budget, House appropriations chairman Rep. Chris Benge said Tuesday that the fine print reveals worrying details that could leave taxpayers on the hook for a billion dollars in new spending and debt.

Benge said the governor is pushing to expand state government using surplus money instead of paying for existing needs.

It’s our job to ask tough questions, and this does not seem to be a realistic budget, said Benge (R-Tulsa). I’m troubled by the governor’s push for new spending while racking up unnecessary long-term debt as a fix for spending commitments.”

Benge said that in December, the governor publicly cautioned lawmakers to be careful about overextending the state with new spending and new programs.

“We would respectfully ask the governor to follow his own advice, Benge said. However, it appears the governor is attempting to point us in a direction that will lead to financial hardship.” After looking through the governor’s executive budget, Benge said he found that while the governor proposes more than half a billion dollars in new spending and $663 million in bonds, he offers no additional tax relief for the state’s citizens.

Notably, Benge said the governor appears to be trying to make up for the lottery’s $40 million shortfall by proposing long-term bond issues. For example, the governor’s proposed $18.8 million in bonds for common education ad valorem reimbursement creates 20 to 30 years of debt for one year of school operational costs.

Benge has questioned some state revenue growth estimates for the 2008 fiscal year. For example, gross production collections are currently $74 million below estimates for the 2007 fiscal year, yet increases have been projected for FY 2008. There has also been a projected increase of 134 percent for corporate income taxes for FY 2008, which Benge said goes against a number of established trends.

The governor also proposes a 34.1 percent increase in funding for the lieutenant governor, though he told journalists this weekend he felt the office was a waste of taxpayer dollars.