Message from Chairman Jones:

Last week in downtown OKC there was a small rally in support of a bill that would expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The rally was held in front of Rep. Mary Fallin’s office. Nathaniel Batchelder, speaking for the groups behind the rally, said, “we need Rep. Fallin to override Bush’s veto and stand up for our kids.”

It seems like everyone’s motto these days is “it’s about the kids.” If this SCHIP program were really about our kids’ future, however, we wouldn’t expand government spending and put our children further in debt.

As Congresswoman Fallin put it: “ I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t agree with the basic premise that poor children should have access to quality medical care… the conflict is over how great an expansion of SCHIP the federal government can responsibly sustain.”

The real facts back up Fallin’s stance:

The proposed SCHIP expansion would allow and strongly encourage States to provide government health coverage for children in families making 300% of the Federal poverty level, or almost $62,000 for a family of four. Furthermore, Congress' bill would enable SCHIP to cover children in some households with incomes of up to 400% of the Federal poverty level (about $83,000 per year).

Of the 5.8 million enrollees Congress' legislation would attract by 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that 2.0 million would drop private insurance to enroll, moving us closer to a nanny-state government that Democrats envision.

Democrats would like to point the finger at Republicans and make the outlandish claim that we are against children if we don't support this bill. Unfortunately for Democrats, the facts just aren’t on their side.

Related:

Community Action Project: SCHIP Issue Brief

The Collegian: SCHIP veto a democratic disaster

Labels: Gary Jones, OKGOP

Posted at 3:40 PM |   

Message from Chairman Jones

We learned last week that Governor Brad "Blackjack" Henry is on a Brazilian fishing trip with some of Oklahoma's most prominent trial lawyers. On the current trip are a member of the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission and two former members, and three past presidents of the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association.

So does Henry's three-hour tour signal a future third tort reform veto?

After promising Oklahoma taxpayers Texas-plus tort reform, Henry proceeded to veto tort reform legislation last session...twice. Seems like Henry's trial lawyer buddies are getting a good return on their investment.

In Henry’s first campaign for governor in 2002, Lawyers accounted for over 27% of Henry’s receipts, far outpacing his second most lucrative source, a category referred to as “Self.” In 2006, trial lawyers came through again, with 20% of his contributions, outpacing the number two category – healthcare – by an almost 4-1 margin.

"For him to be vacationing with the leaders of the Trial Lawyers Association just tends to show that he is way too close to that organization," said State Senator James Williamson, the author of the tort reform bill vetoed by the Governor just five months ago. "He should show impartiality in this issue and there's a standard of trying to avoid even the appearance of impropriety."

With Henry chummy as ever with Oklahoma's most powerful trial lawyers, it looks as if we are set for another tort reform showdown next legislative session. Republican lawmakers shouldn't back down from this fight, but Henry's current schmooze-cruise doesn't make the fight any easier.

Labels: Brad Henry, OKGOP

Posted at 12:15 PM |   

OKLAHOMA CITY (August 8, 2007) With Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton visiting Oklahoma this upcoming Saturday evening, Gary Jones and the State Republican Party have created a handy “Pandering Guide” for her convenience.

“Hillary has a long and painful history of pandering to people she knows nothing about,” said Jones. “So for her visit to Oklahoma, we thought it would be a nice gesture to provide her some pandering guidelines for our great state.”

Oklahoma Pandering Guide 101:

Number 1: Don’t wear our crimson and cream or orange, black and white
You may have gotten away with wearing a Yankees hat when you campaigned in New York, but it’s not going to work here in Oklahoma. Stick with what you know: liberal east coast elitistism.

Number 2: Please don’t try the southern drawl again
Your southern drawl that you pulled out on your stop in Selma, Alabama was more than a little embarrassing. Oklahomans can tell real quick if you aren’t from around here. So you probably should keep that in your back pant suit pocket.

Number 3: Speaking of pant suits

You’ve been criticized on the campaign trail for some of your pretentious pant suit ensembles. Let me stop you before you even think about entering Oklahoma in a pair of Wranglers and a cowboy hat.

Number 4: Your love for tax increases
We know you want to raise taxes on everything from businesses to personal income. However, that stance isn’t going to score you any points in Oklahoma. We want our tax burden to be lower, not higher. That’s why all 77 counties in Oklahoma went for George W. Bush in 2004, and why even Oklahoma’s lone Democrat Congressman Dan Boren predicted you won’t win Oklahoma.

Number 5: Last, but certainly not least, socialized healthcare
We’ve heard you are still pursuing a step-by-step plan to achieve nationalized Health Care. As always, you and your liberal colleagues are advocating another government boondoggle, not a private enterprise solution, and we don’t want the government in our doctor’s offices. So steer clear of discussing this dangerous policy.

“We feel if you stick to our guidelines you may just get out of Oklahoma unscathed. As far as the election, however, I’m afraid you won’t be so lucky,” concluded Jones.

Labels: Decision '08, Gary Jones, OKGOP

Posted at 6:16 AM |   

Green Country GOP Delegation Step Up

By Gary Jones

Most of the time we don’t see a leader’s true grit until a tragedy or crisis hit. Well, Oklahoma has been hit with a crisis, and I’m proud to say our leaders stepped up to the plate.

Over the last few weeks, thousands of Oklahomans have been displaced or evacuated from their homes due to record-breaking flood conditions across Oklahoma. Northeastern Oklahoma has been the most heavily effected area of the state. Washington County has sustained significant damage and has already been approved for individual assistance by President Bush. State Senator John Ford and State Representatives Steve Martin and Earl Sears, who represent the majority of the affected areas, have stepped up to the plate, worked with first responders and emergency officials and showed true leadership exactly when residents needed it the most.

“I am so pleased to serve with Rep. Steve Martin and Rep. Earl Sears in Washington and Nowata Counties,” said Senator Ford. “We have worked closely together during this disaster with the local, state and Federal government agencies to help the victims receive the necessary services to start the recovery process.

“People have lost so much and this disaster has affected our communities deeply,” said Ford. “I will be working with Representatives Martin and Sears to ensure that all available resources are dedicated to helping protect the Washington and Nowata County area residents, and that the area is included in any forthcoming disaster declarations.”

Labels: Gary Jones, OKGOP

Posted at 11:29 AM |   

Labels: AG, Brad Henry, Gary Jones, Gene Stipe, Jeff McMahan, OKGOP, Sen. Mike Morgan, Steve Phipps

Posted at 11:50 AM |   

Well one thing we can say about new/old OKGOP Chairman Gary Jones, the weekly email has gotten a hell of a lot better. We actually look forward to receiving it now. Before, it was about as entertaining as watchng paint dry! The commentary is more insightful and this week, Jones even adds a little humor.

Gene "Bosshog" Stipe Legacy Keeps Growing

The federal investigation into Gene Stipe and his alleged corruption in SE Oklahoma just keeps growing, with Senate Co-President Pro-Tem Mike Morgan now coming under fire.

A Sunday story by the Oklahoman shows some Oklahoma colleges used non-traditional private financing to build housing projects, and students at several Oklahoma colleges are paying higher housing costs because of it.

Morgan, who's a Stillwater attorney, was paid more than $230,000 as the acting attorney on some of the projects...all in his Senate district. Reporters Tony Thornton and Randy Ellis also report that huge sums were paid to a title company co-owned by---you guessed it---former State Senator Gene Stipe.

The shady funding method, called off-balance-sheet or no-recourse financing, results in higher interest rates and higher fees paid to underwriters, banks and various attorneys, because the schools bypass competitive-bidding to streamline construction projects. The Oklahoman confirmed that the schools' financing method is drawing FBI scrutiny.

We've made the point here before that the arrogance of power, the corruption that follows and the unquenchable thirst to spend taxpayer dollars has been the trademark of Oklahoma Democrats during their time in the majority, and it's the mark Stipe has left on the Democratic Party.

With Mike Morgan term-limited, it is uncertain if he will simply slip off into the shadows or if these charges will be pursued further. What is more clear however, is that this cloud of corruption may damage Morgan's popularity in his own Senate district and could hurt the Democratic nominee who will look to replace Morgan next November.

Labels: Gary Jones, Gene Stipe, OKGOP, Sen. Mike Morgan

Posted at 11:13 AM |   

The so called Oklahoma Independent Media Center researchers seem to have too much times on their hands. How else to explain them having their panties in a bunch over the alleged scandal of the OKPGOP using a photo shopped picture of Speaker Nancy Pelosi on their website recently.

OIMC says on their website:"We are a grassroots, community-based collective striving to provide universal access to news media without corporate filtering. This is a progressive outlet committed to amplifying the voices of everyday people and especially those working for justice and equality in Oklahoma and around the world."

Isn't progressive code word for liberal Democrat? Read below an excerpt from their "expose":

The front page of the Oklahoma Republican Party's web site presents an image of the Speaker of the House, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, which they accurately refer to as "disturbing".

But the disturbing aspect of the image is its relationship to reality and its use on the website of a supposedly reputable organization of mature adults to disparage its subject in a not-so-subtle fashion. The image is clearly digitally distorted ("Photoshopped")in order to present the Speaker as old, haggard and ugly, with heavily rouged cheeks, sloppy lipstick and lines, bulges and veins that do not actually exist on the Speaker's face.

First, If you want to investigate real political bias in the Oklahoma media, here's a link for you. Second, we're not so sure the photo has been altered. The pictures were clearly taken at different times. Speaker Pelosi has been in public life a long time, maybe the first picture is more recent.

Labels: OKGOP, Press Bias, Spkr. Pelosi

Posted at 11:36 AM |   

Special Report
By Michael D. Bates

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Delivering his post mortem for the 2006 mid-term elections, Sen. Tom Coburn told delegates at Saturday's Oklahoma Republican Convention that the voters lost confidence in Republican integrity, not Republican ideas:

"If Republicans will stand on ideas and have courage to back up those ideas, the courage to challenge the status quo, then the Republican Party both in Oklahoma and this country will be very successful in the future."

As Coburn took a breath, a woman in the crowd cried out, "Tom for President!" It was the biggest applause line of the day.

Oklahoma boasts the most conservative Senate delegation in the nation -- both Coburn and his senior colleague Jim Inhofe have a perfect score from the American Conservative Union -- and every county went red in 2004.

Most of the convention's 900 delegates are waiting to find a candidate like Coburn to back in a bid for the White House -- someone with integrity who can confidently articulate conservative ideas. None of the candidates already in the race has captured their hearts. Read more...

Labels: Decision '08, OKGOP

Posted at 9:56 AM |   

Jimmie Martin over at viewsok.com and a supporter of Gary Jones, sent to us the Chair and Vice Chair election results: "Jones wins by 12 votes in a runoff with Daxon. Cheryl Williams upsets the vice chair and wins." Thanks Jimmie!

Labels: Gary Jones, OKGOP

Posted at 5:50 PM |   

Monday, January 08, 2007

Christmas may have come a month early for certain consultants and staffers associated with the Oklahoma Republican Party’s “Victory 2006” effort, according to reports recently released by the Federal Election Commission.

Perhaps the most stunning fact revealed by the document is the amount spent on door hangers (pictured), over $130,000. The strategic centerpiece of the Victory program, the hangers were received with trepidation by GOP activists over their aggressive nature and ridicule by some political analysts over their ineffectiveness. According to the disclosure, a total of $93,887.15 was spent on the handouts in the final weeks of the campaign in addition to the $36,500 paid on October 16.

Consultants also made out well on Republican Party Victory. In the final month of election alone, they earned $34,188.75, including $20,000 paid to DC-based Clinton Key. Hired in August by Chairman Tom Daxon, Key was responsible for overseeing the effort. The program’s chairman, Marsha Funk, came away with $7,643.45 for her efforts in the last 30 days of the campaign. Party staff had a busy travel month, reimbursing almost $15,000 in expenses.

This is not the first time Tom Daxon’s leadership has come under scrutiny in his 6 month tenure as chairman. Questions have arisen in the past over unity (“House, Senate GOP Dumps Daxon Over ‘Victory ‘06’”), leadership (“Political Novice Marsha Funk In Consideration for OKGOP Victory?”), spending (“GOP’s Funk Raises Salary, Not Confidence” and “Oklahoma GOP Desperate for Cash in 11th Hour”), and effectiveness (“One Week Later, a GOP Post-Mortem”).

Click here to download the complete analysis of OKGOP Victory’s final month.

Labels: OKGOP, Tom Daxon

Posted at 3:37 PM |   

From Frosty Troy's "Fridays with Frosty" commentary on KOSU-FM, April 21, 2006: (Audio)


Ted Riley, KOSU: Frosty, the US Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued an opinion that could hurt two Oklahomans with some high name recognition.

Frosty Troy: Absolutely. Now I know why Tom Daxon resigned as Finance Director of the Oklahoma House of Representatives a few days ago. It was at the same time that a three-judge panel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Daxon did, indeed, sexually harass an employee of the Corporation Commission when he was general administrator there. And, by the way, he fired her. And he lost that job too.

The Circuit Court found that Daxon harassed Pamela D. Fye. When she complained to Corporation Commissioner chairman Denise Bode, Bode did not follow up on the case, according to the court ruling. The court also held that another employee, Karen DePue, was harassed by Daxon. The court opinion said DePue reported that Daxon said he was viewing pornography on his home computer, and it had aroused him, and he told her - he compared her to the women that he had viewed. That's a direct quotation from the opinion, by the way.

Pamela Fye was fired by Daxon because she refused to go into "salacious" - and this is the court's word - "salacious detail" about a previous sexual harassment case involving a previous general administrator. Fye sued Daxon, Bode, and the Commission, and they lost in the District Court, and they appealed because they said they were immune from prosecution. By the way, the three panel judges from the Tenth Circuit said no, they're not.

You know, ironically, Tom Daxon is now a candidate for chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, and Denise Bode is running at mid-term for the Republican nomination for Congress. Go figure.

Labels: OKGOP, Tom Daxon

Posted at 10:52 AM |   

We guess now is better than never for Chairman Daxon to call for State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan's resignation. It's not like these allegations and the "proof" hasn't been floating around for awhile.

Sources close to Chairman Daxon tell OKPNS that Daxon advised Jones last fall to wait bringing the story out because it would be so damaging that the Democrats would ask McMahan to withdraw from the ballot and substitute another candidate. For the record, Oklahoma law would not have allowed Democrats to substitute another candidate.

Our sources also told us that Daxon recommended to Jones that he should direct his focus on McMahan no longer having a certificate of compliance for his audit reports.

Mike McCarville did an exhaustive examination of the shenanigans before the election. Oh we forgot, Chairman Daxon was too busy coming up with the brilliant plan to use door hangers during last fall's campaign.

Chairman Daxon, here's a way to redeem yourself. How about calling for an independent investigation into the attorney general's Poultrygate scandal?

From the McCarville Report Online:

Republican Party Chairman Tom Daxon called today for the resignation of Auditor & Inspector Jeff McMahan after a federal investigation alleged he received illegal campaign donations. Appearing on Oklahoma City radio station KTOK's "First News With Reid Mullins" this morning, Daxon said there is the "appearance...and fact" that wrong-doing occurred in the financing of McMahan's 2002 and 2006 campaigns. He said that confidence in the auditor and inspector's office is at stake and McMahan should resign. For KTOK's continuing coverage, tune to AM-1000. Read more...

Labels: Jeff McMahan, OKGOP

Posted at 10:25 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 9:11 AM |