The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Oh goody, another "Oklahoma sucks" thread. And from "Mother Jones" to boot. What's the matter, DailyKos or MSNBC not covering Oklahoma this week?

Feel free to "GTFO" if you don't like it....!

Feel free to "GTFO" if you don't like it....!

There's a sunburned neck, big belt buckle, mouth breathing response.

Legislature.

It's a recurring thing...the Oklahoma legislature...it sucking.

Tell us T, how long has it been sucking? For the past several decades or only since the Repubs took over a few years ago. And incidentally, the legislature is a representative body. Saying it sucks suggests that those that voted for its members, and continue to do so, says those voters suck as well.

I've never voted a winner in so looks like I'm good. 

What is sad is that it has become an acceptable "red state thing" to denounced science, pass real laws to cure pretend threats, and use religion for any political purpose that is convenient (hating gays, 911 conspiracies, making sure other religions know they are inferior).  Note you did not argue with the content... Oklahoma really did those things.  You just do not like it being pointed out that most people laugh at it.

As for "gtfo," it seems the liberals won the White House, increased the control of the Senate, and made inroads in the house.  The GOP needs to realize it is moving to a small tent party.  If you arent with the party line on these issues gtfo... and many of us have been forced to.  Out of the Party and on to other candidates in the general election.

People can start laughing at Michigan now.

http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/12/michigan-senate-passes-major-pro-life-bill-stopping-abortions/

You can be fairly certain that any article that uses the term "abortion profits" is written by someone who is not connected with reality.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Emboldened by further gains at the ballot box in November, Oklahoma's Republican leaders say they remain committed to improving the state's economy by focusing on creating jobs and a business friendly environment.

But with nearly two dozen new Republican members, GOP leaders acknowledge they also expect to see even more conservative legislation this session that pushes the envelope on hot-button social issues like guns, abortion and immigration.

Although the bill filing deadline is still two weeks away, Senate measures are beginning to trickle in, some of which reflect the conservative ideology of the 36-member strong Republican caucus.

At least two measures have been filed to limit the activities of groups connected to Agenda 21, a plan developed by the United Nations to help cities and countries become more environmentally sustainable.

Expect More Conservative Bills

http://kwgs.com/post/expect-more-conservative-bills (http://kwgs.com/post/expect-more-conservative-bills)

And here I though the repubs were dead and buried.

It's Oklahoma.  Politically and intellectually, the term "Oklahoma legislator" could be used as an insult.

No doubt since the republicans took control in 2008. Before then, everything was a-okay.

There's a sunburned neck, big belt buckle, mouth breathing response.

Feel free to "GTFO" if you don't like it....!

Oh goody, another "Oklahoma sucks" thread. And from "Mother Jones" to boot. What's the matter, DailyKos or MSNBC not covering Oklahoma this week?

I used to be able to do that by voting Republican for local and state elections.

No doubt since the republicans took control in 2008. Before then, everything was a-okay.

Nebraska has a one-house system they call it a "UniCaminal"

I don't agree with Oklahoma's legislature as being the worst in the nation, Nebraska has a one-house system they call it a "UniCaminal" and it does not work well at all. Oklahoma is doing pretty darn good with low unemployment and low taxes and a low cost of living, it's hard to beat that. We have a good Governor who works for the people. Oklahoma is OK compaired to many other states. I have lived in 5 states.

I don't agree with Oklahoma's legislature as being the worst in the nation, Nebraska has a one-house system they call it a "UniCaminal" and it does not work well at all.

I don't agree with Oklahoma's legislature as being the worst in the nation, Nebraska has a one-house system they call it a "UniCaminal" and it does not work well at all. Oklahoma is doing pretty darn good with low unemployment and low taxes and a low cost of living, it's hard to beat that. We have a good Governor who works for the people. Oklahoma is OK compaired to many other states. I have lived in 5 states.

All 5 at once, no doubt....  every been to the state of "Reality"??

Yep, Nebraska is the only state that has a combined house & senate into one. Anyhow I heard that the state of LA is also working to get rid of their state income tax. Oklahoma may be going to a flat rate income tax of 2.2% I heard mentioned on the radio news. (KRMG). I wish Oklahoma would just get rid of the state income tax and be like Texas.

You are aware that Texas has very high property tax rates to compensate for the lack of a state income tax, right?  Personally, I'd rather see one collection point instead of a hodge-podge of taxes and "fees".

Oklahoma may be going to a flat rate income tax of 2.2% I heard mentioned on the radio news. (KRMG).

Not like I haven't mentioned that at least as many times as he has mentioned wishing OK would abolish the state income tax.

Which would be a lot.

I'm sure it would help Mary Fallin make unemployment less than 1%.  She's really pro-job.  Brad Henry- man what was unemployment under him 98%?

http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=z1ebjpgk2654c1_&met_y=unemployment_rate&idim=state:ST400000&fdim_y=seasonality:S&dl=en&hl=en&q=oklahoma%20unemployment (http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=z1ebjpgk2654c1_&met_y=unemployment_rate&idim=state:ST400000&fdim_y=seasonality:S&dl=en&hl=en&q=oklahoma%20unemployment)

Henry was 2003 thru 2010.

You apparently didn't catch me channeling my inner kraut.

You are aware that Texas has very high property tax rates to compensate for the lack of a state income tax, right?  Personally, I'd rather see one collection point instead of a hodge-podge of taxes and "fees".

Oklahoma's prop. taxes are not all that cheap, Yes they are a bit higher in Texas, but income taxes are still a bigger burden than prop. taxes for most people. Another good point is in Texas you'd be spening less on heating bills, Texas has no food sales taxes, and vehicle regestrations are cheaper than in Oklahoma, don't forget all the nickle and dime taxes they add up too. If Mary Fallin can get rid of our income tax or put in a flat rate of 2.2% that would be a great improvement.

........ but income taxes are still a bigger burden than prop. taxes for most people.

I wish Oklahoma would just get rid of the state income tax and be like Texas.

My property tax has tripled since I first bought my house in 1979. So has the value of my home.

You should be ecstatic.  Isn't that the goal of every homeowner, to have the value of their house soar?  It seems like one of the main advantages of every development project is to increase property values.  Are you saying that is not a good thing?
 
 :D

I am ecstatic. Along with that increase in value came a corresponding increase in ad valorem tax. My point was that my real estate tax grew much faster than my state income tax. In fact, even though my house value declined since 2008, the property tax continued to rise. Sauer seems to think that state income taxes are a greater burden than property taxes in Oklahoma. Maybe in rural OK but that hasn't been my experience in the metro.

State income taxes are fairly low here, we offer tons of deductions and the interest I paid on my refinanced home at a higher interest rate, meant even larger deductions off my federal income which meant less income taxable by the state.

Just keeping him honest.

I am ecstatic. Along with that increase in value came a corresponding increase in ad valorem tax. My point was that my real estate tax grew much faster than my state income tax. In fact, even though my house value declined since 2008, the property tax continued to rise. Sauer seems to think that state income taxes are a greater burden than property taxes in Oklahoma. Maybe in rural OK but that hasn't been my experience in the metro.

State income taxes are fairly low here, we offer tons of deductions and the interest I paid on my refinanced home at a higher interest rate, meant even larger deductions off my federal income which meant less income taxable by the state.

Just keeping him honest.

I can't figure out why you are going on this path. Sauer made an unsupportable statement, which is common for him. Truth is, Texas is not cheaper to live in than OK and state income taxes in each state are not as onerous as property taxes.

State income taxes are fairly low here, we offer tons of deductions and the interest I paid on my refinanced home at a higher interest rate, meant even larger deductions off my federal income which meant less income taxable by the state.

My feelings about my increase in taxation on my home while its value declined is only a minor irritant to me as I understand that the city/state have obligations that increase regardless of the value of my home. Since a lot of tax revenues come from that source, they must adjust. I could always rent or live in an RV.

I lived in Texas for 10 years and found the standard of living higher in Texas  than in Oklahoma and  the cost of living is  lower in Texas- The everyday items are what count alot, gasoline is a few cents higher in Texas, but food in Texas  has no sales taxes, rents seem to be lower in Texas than in Oklahoma, and with no state income taxes the paychecks are bigger, At tax time the only 1040 tax forms you have to file are federal taxes. The Texas  climate is milder than in Oklahoma and you use less heat, homeowners insureance is lower in Texas- and as every home owner knows in Oklahoma the cost to insure your home is in orbit. Much of the costs all come out in the wash in the end, both states have a low cost of living comapired to other states, much depends on your life style and earnings. There are web sites that compair cities and compair cost of living data, but no two families are alike in their spending and tax bills. IMO Texas has the edge over Oklahoma because Texas has no state income taxes. I really hope Mary Fallin can get rid of Oklahoma's state income taxes they are regressive taxes and hurt the economy.

One of my friends has lived in both TX and OK and he says OK is a bit less expensive.  One thing our family noted when we moved here from PA in 1971 is that the standard of living is lower in OK than it was in PA when we moved.

It's always fun to pick out a tax or two and compare to another state. OK taxes pretty much everything.  Pick two things from TX, another two from KS or MO.....  When we moved from PA, sales tax in PA was not included in food, clothing, and prescription drugs.  Trips to the grocery store included knowing what items were taxable and putting them first so the adding machine type cash registers could make a subtotal of the taxable items before adding in the non-taxed items. I haven't checked PA taxes lately. 

The relative proportion of property tax to income tax gets messy when  What would that be like if your home was paid off?   What happens in several years when interest is less a part of your house payment?  Higher interest rate?  Do you not include what you pay to the bank as outgo?  Your interest deduction reduces your taxable income, not your tax one to one. You are still paying a large part of that interest out of your pocket.  Probably the only reason you came out "ahead" is that remaining payments are spread out over more years than before your refinance.   
I would consider that a lot more than a minor irritant. Do you really think you don't pay property taxes when you rent? You don't pay directly but I'm sure they are included in the rent.

You must not have much to do this weekend.

Tilting at windmills?

To cut to the chase, I don't intend to live in this home till its paid off.

Rent reflects only a portion of property tax

and I am not subject to a lien, foreclosure and penalties if I don't pay my rent. They just kick my butt out and ruin my credit!

RV? Just unhook the black water and move along.

I'm just not the nomadic type.  Travel is fun but I like a home base.  Well, it used to be fun before 9/11.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- One of the most divisive issues of the 2012 legislative session apparently will be revisited this spring, with at least one "personhood" bill already filed.

One of my friends has lived in both TX and OK and he says OK is a bit less expensive.  One thing our family noted when we moved here from PA in 1971 is that the standard of living is lower in OK than it was in PA when we moved.

I would consider that a lot more than a minor irritant. Do you really think you don't pay property taxes when you rent? You don't pay directly but I'm sure they are included in the rent.

TULSA - A bill filed by an Oklahoma state representative would eliminate state funding for the Oklahoma Arts Council within four years.

Filed Friday, HB 1895 would cut money appropriated to the Council by at least 25 percent every year until 2017.

Representative Josh Cockroft authored the bill and wrote about his proposal in a recent blog post.

"The question each of us must ask is if we are properly funding the core functions of state government," said Cockroft. " ... My goal is not to destroy the arts in Oklahoma, but rather to start a discussion of what our responsibilities are."

The sophomore representative estimates the measure would save Oklahoma around $4 million.

Cockroft cited an article published last March by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a state think tank, as the basis for the legislation.

Arts funding is not a "core function of government," wrote author Jonathan Small in the piece.

"The Arts Council can operate solely from donations and self-generated funds, without receiving state appropriations," said Small. "Promotion of the arts is a nonprofit interest, which should not be advantaged over other nonprofit efforts that do not receive state appropriations."

In response to the bill's filing, the Oklahoma Arts Council posted an impassioned plea to its supporters and called HB1895 "a challenge that will require thoughtful, strategic and well-timed communication between arts advocates and their individual legislators."

Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Jennifer McCollum also forecasted "the largest grassroots campaign for public funding for the arts in the Oklahoma Arts Council's nearly 50-year history."

Oklahoma House Bill 1895 would cut Arts Council funding

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/state/oklahoma-house-bill-1895-would-cut-arts-council-funding (http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/state/oklahoma-house-bill-1895-would-cut-arts-council-funding)

(http://media2.kjrh.com//photo/2013/01/22/OAC_20130122174500_320_240.JPG)

Oklahoma House Bill 1895 would cut Arts Council funding

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/state/oklahoma-house-bill-1895-would-cut-arts-council-funding (http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/state/oklahoma-house-bill-1895-would-cut-arts-council-funding)

(http://media2.kjrh.com//photo/2013/01/22/OAC_20130122174500_320_240.JPG)

Promoting strong marriages is an “obvious” way to improve the health, education, public safety and economy in Oklahoma, Rep. Mark McCullough said Monday. McCullough is the author of House Bill 1548, which would not allow married couples to divorce on the grounds of incompatibility if there are minor children living in the home, if they have been married longer than 10 years or if either party objects. The bill is one of seven filed by legislators this year that would make it more difficult to divorce.

“We're not here to be a cold, we're not here to be a judge — we're here to say the more the family fails the more government has to get involved, and that's just the facts,” McCullough said.

A national organization criticized recently for churning out prewritten bills to state legislatures across the country has been a platform for some of the more controversial laws passed in Oklahoma in recent years.


“Model legislation” developed by the American Legislative Exchange Council or shared through conferences the council has hosted, played a part in a 2006 “Stand Your Ground” law that allows Oklahomans to use deadly force when threatened in public places, a 2010 resolution that prohibits any law from compelling a person to purchase health care and a state question that same year that requires voters to show an identification card before receiving a ballot.

Several laws under consideration now — including bills that allow for covenant marriages, that would challenge the teaching of global warming and evolution in public schools and that would reject key provisions of the new federal health care law — have identical versions that have either been passed or are also under consideration in GOP-led legislatures elsewhere.

“That's somebody out of state telling Oklahoma how we want our laws enacted and what we want,” said Richard Lerblance, a former Democratic Senator from Hartshorne. “It's not necessarily coming from the people in Oklahoma; it's coming from out of state.”

The council was among several national groups that advised Gov. Mary Fallin in 2011 to resist development of a state health insurance exchange, a primary tenet of the new federal health care law.

Other “model legislation” made available through the council, according to its website, includes ones that would reduce personal income taxes for residents — a top legislative priority this year for Fallin as well as the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives.

The authors of all seven bills filed to reduce the personal income tax said they were not influenced by the legislative exchange council also known as ALEC in drafting the bill language.

“As the author of most tax cut bills we had last year, I didn't have one meeting with ALEC,” said Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond. “My bills are my bills.”

A spokesman for the council was unable on Friday to provide a directory of Oklahoma lawmakers who currently pay membership dues, but directories from previous years indicate at least 25 state lawmakers, mostly Republican, have participated in previous conferences.

Gov. Mary Fallin was chosen as the council's “Legislator of the Year” in 1993, when she represented Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives. The council will host its spring summit in Oklahoma City this May.

Insurance exchange

Emails provided to The Oklahoman earlier this month indicate a policy adviser for the council offered assistance to the state's Insurance Department in scrapping plans for a health exchange in 2011, but Fallin's spokesman, Alex Weintz, said the organization played no role in her decision to return $54 million in federal grants earmarked for exchange development.

“ALEC is a conservative organization, and Gov. Fallin is a conservative governor, so it is possible there is overlap in their agendas,” Weintz said. “Gov. Fallin's agenda was drafted without the help or input of ALEC.”

Oklahoma lawmakers who participate in council functions, and who sign their name to bills promoted by the council, said it's a common way for states to share resources and experiences.

Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said the council is but one of several national organizations where she goes to learn about what other states are doing to tackle problems also experienced in Oklahoma.

A bill that would give teachers the right to present the “scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific theories” such as global warming and evolution — authored by Kern two years ago and re-presented this session by Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Laverne — is identical in language to bills recently passed in Louisiana, Texas, South Dakota and Tennessee.

“If one state has passed the bill and that bill has been found to be workable and has not been challenged by the court then you try to use that same bill,” Kern said. “They give us the model legislation and we give that model legislation to our staff and the staff looks at it and then they tweak it to fit in with existing laws that Oklahoma already has.”

It's the same process by which Oklahoma legislators have proposed deregulating environmental protection programs and a bill that requires drug testing for people who subscribe to welfare assistance.

“More eyes on a bill makes for better legislation,” said Bill Meierling, the council's senior director of public affairs. “Just because a model policy has been adopted by (the council) doesn't mean that policy is taken at large and pushed upon the people of Oklahoma. Instead, a legislator may find a piece, a ‘whereas clause' in our model policy, and say that makes sense.”

The council has come under fire lately for furthering the “Stand Your Ground” and voter ID laws in other states, but most of the criticism comes from those who complain it gives corporate interests unfettered access to lawmakers.

“What it really is a lot of, you know, ideologically right-wing and corporate entities who are pushing policies that help their bottom line,” said Gene Perry, policy analyst for the Oklahoma Policy Institute in Tulsa. “It's giving them access to lawmakers, and it's not really always clear where the idea's coming from or what's really behind it.”

For example, lawmakers who developed a template for “virtual school” bills at a recent council function did so at the same table as the private vendors who provide such services, part of the council's Education Task Force.

Rep. Ann Coody, R-Lawton, is chair of that task force and Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, is an alternate member. A Virginia-based company called K12 — which already provides virtual learning programs on a limited basis in Oklahoma — is a co-chair of the task force.

Stanislawski, who could not be reached Thursday and Friday, has filed a bill this year that would provide a more expansive virtual learning program through the state Education Department for vendors such as K12.

“This idea that corporations impose their wills on legislators is kind of unfair to legislators,” Meierling said. “Those legislators are the stopgap to make sure whatever legislation is enacted is representative of the people, and in fact the democratic process ensures if they don't they won't be in office anymore.”

He said though the council drafts legislation through a public-private partnership, model bills developed through the committees are proposed, adopted and voted on by the public sector participants only.

National conservative group's 'model legislation' ends up becoming law in Oklahoma

‘Stand Your Ground' law and Voter ID derive from national group's suggested legislation

http://newsok.com/national-conservative-groups-model-legislation-ends-up-becoming-law-in-oklahoma/article/3756210/?page=1 (http://newsok.com/national-conservative-groups-model-legislation-ends-up-becoming-law-in-oklahoma/article/3756210/?page=1)

Not sure I see why this is an issue or a cause for concern.  Numerous groups of all ideological/political persuasions draft model legislation for use by state legislators.  It is a way to get a better drafted end product (from a technical legislative drafting standpoint) and often results is more uniformity in laws among states.  Would you prefer that non-lawyer legislators, overworked legislative staff or lobbyist draft the bills (which also happens)?  The far bigger problem is the late night amendments hours before the close of the session that almost no one sees before voting.

The far bigger problem is the late night amendments hours before the close of the session that almost no one sees before voting.

That is also a problem, yes.

BTW, lobbyist-written and ALEC-written are one and the same. The only difference is who the lobbyist passes it to once they're done. So yes, I would prefer our overworked legislative staff draft the bill. Actually, I'd prefer we have enough legislative staff that they not be overworked.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma state senator convinced an appropriations committee Wednesday that the state should amend its constitution to limit how much it can borrow by issuing bonds, even as legislators face a crumbling Capitol and other potential state projects that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a proposal from Sen. Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate, that would cap each year's debt service payments, which are essentially interest payments to people who hold state bonds. In practice, Brecheen's plan would put a limit on how many bonds the state could sell each year to fund major public projects.

Interest in potential state bond issues rose after Gov. Mary Fallin called for repairs to the Capitol, estimated to cost more than $150 million, in her State of the State address earlier this month. But many of her fellow Republicans, who control both houses of the state legislature, have been reluctant to pursue the costly idea.

Brecheen told the committee a limit could address those concerns.

"Many of us would possibly change our minds on issuance of new debt if we knew there was some limit," he said.

The proposal would ask Oklahoma voters to decide whether to limit the state's annual debt service payments to 4.5 percent of the previous five years' average general revenue. The bill also would allow the Legislature to declare emergencies and take on more debt.

At the moment, Oklahoma's annual debt service payments total less than $200 million, or about 3.4 percent of the latest revenue average, State Bond Advisor Jim Joseph told The Associated Press. Those payments come from roughly $1.5 billion in tax-supported debt, he said.

Several committee members asked if the limit would allow for the Capitol repairs, which many politicians see as increasingly necessary.

Joseph told the committee the state could safely issue $500 million more in bonds under the proposed limit — more than enough to fund Capitol repairs and complete other state projects, including a pop culture museum in Tulsa and the still-unfinished American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City.

"That's just a ballpark figure they could use in planning," Joseph later told the AP.

The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Oklahoma is on the verge of becoming a final destination for sick and unwanted horses.

Bills before the house and senate would allow horses to be slaughtered here, which would likely result in the importation of infectious equine diseases (and the end of any horse shows, once their contracts are up).

I really hope they don't take another positive thing and turn it into death and disease.

Where was the positive thing?

Horse shows.  At least people smile there.

Im sure the horse groups will fulfill their contracts to have their shows in the state, and as soon as they are up, relocate to a state that doesnt have infectious horses being imported by the truckload.

House Democrats criticized a bill Wednesday seeking to prevent enforcement of the national health care law as a political statement, meaningless and a waste of time. House Bill 1021, which also would have the Legislature declare the Affordable Care Act as not being authorized by the U.S. Constitution, easily passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives mostly along party lines 72-20. It now goes to the Senate. Rep. Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, said voting for the measure could be a violation of lawmakers’ oaths to uphold the state and federal constitutions. The U.S. Supreme Court last year upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Elected officials, including state legislators, would have to pass a test indicating their basic knowledge of the office they hold under a plan being proposed by a state lawmaker.

Claremore Republican Rep. Marty Quinn is hosting an interim study Thursday to discuss his idea of improving training requirements for elected county officials, including testing requirements.

Quinn says many professionals in Oklahoma are required to be certified, including hair stylists, teachers, plumbers and restaurant workers. He says it only makes sense that elected officials, including legislators, to be properly trained in their area of work. He says it's particularly important for elected officials to understand matters of public finance.

Oklahoma's ban on same sex marriage is illegal, so say a federal court judge. U.S. District Court Judge Terence Kern issued the ruling today. Kern is a justice in the Northern District of Oklahoma, based in Tulsa.

His ruling does not immediately clear the way for same sex marriages in Oklahoma. We are gathering reaction to the story and more information.

Oklahoma's Ban On Gay Marriage Ruled Unconstitutional

http://kwgs.com/post/oklahomas-ban-gay-marriage-ruled-unconstitutional (http://kwgs.com/post/oklahomas-ban-gay-marriage-ruled-unconstitutional)

MUSKOGEE — An Oklahoma state representative has filed a bill that would increase the waiting period for most Oklahoma couples seeking a divorce.

Rep. Arthur Hulbert, R-Fort Gibson, said the measure is aimed at reducing Oklahoma's divorce rate, which is the second-highest in the country, the Muskogee Phoenix reported (http://bit.ly/1hEehKh ). His measure, filed in advance of the legislative session that begins Feb. 3, calls for a six-month waiting period for most divorces.

"I feel like we have a bill that will help strengthen families and give them time to rethink reconciliation," Hulbert said. "I believe marriages have value, and I think society only benefits if we strengthen the family."

Hulbert said his bill would include exemptions for adultery and cases in which an individual is convicted of child abuse or domestic abuse. The measure also includes exceptions for abandonment, extreme cruelty and habitual drunkenness.

But some researchers question whether lengthening the waiting period would have a positive effect.

Stephanie Coontz, research and public education director for the Council on Contemporary Families, said states that ease divorce laws see a drop in domestic violence and suicide rates among wives.

"So, when you think about trying to reverse the ease of divorce, you may be incurring some real risks," Coontz said. This could be more true "in times of economic stress, which do tend to increase domestic violence," she said.

Muskogee County District Judge Mike Norman said he has no problem with a longer waiting period, especially when children are involved, even if it imposes economic hardship on the divorcing parties.

"The worst part of my job is deciding the fate of minor children," he said, adding that he's only had one case in which a couple reconciled before their marriage was dissolved.

Hulbert's bill isn't the only divorce measure this session. Another bill, filed by Republican Rep. Sean Roberts of Hominy, would eliminate incompatibility as grounds for divorce.

There's a waiting period to get a divorce? What's the waiting period to buy a gun?

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

Last time I did?  About 8 minutes.

Outrage!  You gotta get to know your gun dealer better.

It was the wait on the phone that was 8 minutes.  He had my forms ready before I got to the door.  :)

State lawmakers will consider a bill this session that would completely defund the Oklahoma Arts Council in four years.

The bill calls on the arts council to replace its state funding with private funding.

"If you've got XYZ arts organization over here requesting a grant or corporate support from a big company, then you would have the arts council also asking for that support," said Jennifer James, director of Oklahomans for the Arts, an advocacy group supporting the state arts council. "It would dilute the pot of money that's already out there."

The arts council currently gets $4 million from the state, which makes up 85 percent of its budget. If passed, House Bill 2850 would take away state appropriations for the council in 25 percent chunks of its current funding. By 2018, the state would no longer give money to the arts council.

James said that would endanger the entire state's arts culture.

"We are not in a position to be able to compete with states that are much older than we are and that have had philharmonics and symphonies and ballets and opera houses and festivals for three and 400 years," James said. "We are a young state, and we are a poor state."

A study commissioned by the arts council says the arts have a $315 million economic impact in Oklahoma. Most of the council's work is dedicated to giving grants and helping arts organizations find funding.

So if this passes, you'd have to wait for three days to get a divorce. But if you want to shoot her, it's 8 minutes tops. That's sensible.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

Filed Bill Would Defund Oklahoma Arts Council

(http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kwgs/files/styles/card_280/public/201401/Arts_Council.jpg)

http://kwgs.com/post/filed-bill-would-defund-oklahoma-arts-council (http://kwgs.com/post/filed-bill-would-defund-oklahoma-arts-council)

"We are not in a position to be able to compete with states that are much older than we are and that have had philharmonics and symphonies and ballets and opera houses and festivals for three and 400 years," James said. "We are a young state, and we are a poor state."

This one statement really sticks out........
How many United States were there between 1614 and 1714?

http://kwgs.com/post/filed-bill-would-defund-oklahoma-arts-council (http://kwgs.com/post/filed-bill-would-defund-oklahoma-arts-council)

The ignorance coming from the Ok Legislature takes your breath away...

This one statement really sticks out........
How many United States were there between 1614 and 1714?

http://kwgs.com/post/filed-bill-would-defund-oklahoma-arts-council (http://kwgs.com/post/filed-bill-would-defund-oklahoma-arts-council)

The Playhouse in Williamsburg, Virginia, is commonly believed to be the first "opera house"
in America. Although date of construction is unknown, most scholars of opera and theater history
assign a date of 1722.

Oldest Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic 1842

http://nyphil.org/history/main/overview (http://nyphil.org/history/main/overview)

Oldest Ballet Company, San Francisco 1933

http://www.sfballet.org/about/history (http://www.sfballet.org/about/history)

Oldest Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Choral-Symphony 1880

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_Symphony (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis_Symphony)

Time travel

The ignorance coming from the Ok Legislature takes your breath away...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two bills to further restrict abortion in Oklahoma are scheduled for a hearing in a state House committee.

The House Public Health Committee is expected to consider both bills during its regular meeting on Tuesday.

One bill by Broken Arrow Republican Rep. Mike Ritze would require abortion providers to have clinical privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their practice. A second bill by Edmond Republican Rep. Randy Grau restricts the use of abortion inducing drugs.

Supporters of the bills say they're designed to protect the health of women who have an abortion in Oklahoma. Opponents argue the bills would make it more difficult for a woman to have an abortion.

I'm pretty sure there's some mental retardation going on here.

Abortion Bills Set for Hearing in House Committee
What's budgeted to do this over and over?

I'm pretty sure there's some mental retardation going on here.


(http://kwgs.com/sites/kwgs/files/styles/card_280/public/201402/Mike_Ritze.jpg)

“The Arts and Sciences, essential to the prosperity of the State and to the ornament of human life, have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind.”
–George Washington

 “I must study politics and war, that my sons may study mathematics and philosophy…in order to give their children the right to study painting, poetry, music and architecture.”
–John Q. Adams

"We have art in order not to die of the truth."
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Even Lincoln decided to continue funding architecture projects and planned art expansions on the capital grounds during the civil war.

The state wants to cut infrastructure spending, education, and the meager budget for the arts...  what the hell is our state trying to accomplish?  If our goal is to simply be the most ineffective government, the smallest government, or the most conservative - march fourth!  But if we are trying to IMPROVE our state and those that live in it, this course of action isn't going to help.

Ok color me ignorant of how this taxes stuff works but, if the state cuts taxes by X%, couldn't we as a city or county then raise taxes by X% and then spend that on education and arts (cutting out the middle man in OKC, cutting out the "we have to go to OKC to fight for our fair share and often getting gypped out of it" parts) ?   I mean, those education and arts dollars that come from the state to Tulsa, actually came from Tulsa in the first place right?  As far as I am concerned they could cut state government down to only what is absolutely necessary, the things that a city or county by itself can't do, and let cobwebs grow in that dome there in OKC and bring some of those bureaucracy jobs back here to Tulsa if we want. 

Ok color me ignorant of how this taxes stuff works but, if the state cuts taxes by X%, couldn't we as a city or county then raise taxes by X% and then spend that on education and arts (cutting out the middle man in OKC, cutting out the "we have to go to OKC to fight for our fair share and often getting gypped out of it" parts) ?   I mean, those education and arts dollars that come from the state to Tulsa, actually came from Tulsa in the first place right?  As far as I am concerned they could cut state government down to only what is absolutely necessary, the things that a city or county by itself can't do, and let cobwebs grow in that dome there in OKC and bring some of those bureaucracy jobs back here to Tulsa if we want. 

Who will you convince to run on a "raise your taxes" platform?

William:

Corporate, income, and commodity taxes are collected by the state.  Tulsa does not get money from those streams.  We would have to raise property or sales taxes - a different ball of wax.

That said, Oklahoma is busy destroying higher education as fast as we can:
Tuition:  227mil
Athletic Revenue: 64mil
Federal: 55mil
Student Housing Revenue: 51mil
Private Grants: 23 mil
Sales/Enterprise:21 mil
State of Oklahoma: 21 mil
http://www.ou.edu/controller/fss/dwnload/2012_fs.pdf

Yep.  Education is important.  So long as we can cut taxes and don't have to invest in it.  So I guess OU is basically self funded (less than 5% state funded).  Hell, lets sell the naming rights at that point.

What were we talking about again?

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A bill that makes it a felony crime to conduct certain types of embryonic stem cell research in Oklahoma has been overwhelmingly approved in the House, despite concerns it sends the wrong message to the nation's research community.

The Oklahoma House voted 73-14 for the Protection of Human Life Act of 2013. The measure prohibits "nontherapeutic research" that destroys a fertilized human egg. Although the bill specifically exempts embryo transfers connected with in vitro fertilization, it is being opposed by the Oklahoma State Medical Association.

OSMA spokesman Wes Glinsmann says the bill raises a "troubling precedent for future research."

The author of the bill, El Reno Republican Rep. Dan Fisher, says he believes life begins at conception and ending that life is murder.

Okies don't need to science.

I'm guessing it's been determined that there will be no more embryo eating again.

State House Approves Embryonic Stem Cell Ban

http://kwgs.com/post/state-house-approves-embryonic-stem-cell-ban (http://kwgs.com/post/state-house-approves-embryonic-stem-cell-ban)

We put the dumbasses from the back of the class in our state legislature.

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer | 27 comments
The treatment given "August: Osage County" by the critics and the Academy Awards was nothing compared to the way it was kicked around Monday by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

"A movie almost nobody saw!"

"Filth!"

"We don't need that kind of thing around here!"

Critics --— and there were plenty of them --— said the movie about a flawed Oklahoma family and its overbearing matriarch was a prime example of why the state's film-incentive program should not be renewed.

"Aren't we just reimbursing movie stars who come to town for their motel and meals?" asked Rep. James Lockhart, D-Hartshorne.

"If you could bring the whole city of Hollywood here ... I wouldn't want them," said Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City.

Dank, a particularly intractable opponent of the program, said "August: Osage County" was bad for the state's image and that a film proposed for the
Ponca City area, about former Oklahoma first lady Lydie Marland, would be worse.

"It's about a 50-year-old (governor) who married his 20-year-old stepdaughter," Dank said.

Marland and her adopted father, oilman E.W. Marland, married after Marland's first wife — Lydie's aunt — died. Marland was 54, Lydie 28.

Following E.W. Marland's death, Lydie Marland disappeared for more than two decades and remained a mysterious figure until her death in 1987.
"What are they going to do next," asked Dank. " 'The Grapes of Wrath'?"

Dank and others argued that there is no proof the program helps the state's economy.

Supporters say it is both good exposure and a sound investment.

The film rebate is one of the smaller business-incentive programs the state offers. Capped at $5 million, it reimburses filmmakers for one-third of qualified expenses — generally money spent in the state for payroll, goods or services.

Cast salaries qualify only if the actor is Oklahoma-based.

Reportedly, the makers of "August: Osage County" spent $35.1 million in the state and will get about $5 million back through the program.

House Bill 2580, which would authorize the program's renewal for 10 years, failed on a 48-43 vote, three short of the 51 votes needed. Ten members did not vote.

Jill Simpson, director of the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, said that without the rebate, the state is unlikely to have much in the way of film or television activity.

"Forty-six states have a tax rebate or credit," she said in an email. "If we eliminate the film incentive, films will simply no longer be made here. That will cost taxpayers more than the rebate."

A Senate version of the rebate extension has already passed that body, and HB 2580 is likely to be brought back up for reconsideration, possibly as soon as Tuesday.

Also Monday:

Speaker Jeff Hickman, R-Fairview, announced several leadership changes, including his appointment of Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, to the new position of deputy majority floor leader.

Hickman also rearranged several committee chairmanships and vice-chairmanships.

House Bill 2317, the "Merry Christmas Bill," had some rough sledding as several members questioned its usefulness while others said it represented the membership's lack of perspective.

The bill, by Rep. Bobby Cleveland, R-Slaughterville, is intended to allow schools to observe "winter holidays" — essentially Christmas and Hanukkah — without fear of legal retribution.

Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, tried to amend HB 2317 to include Kwanzaa, a secular observance of black culture and history held Dec. 26-Jan. 1.
Rep. Justin Wood, R-Shawnee, quickly moved to table Shelton's amendment, saying, "With all due respect —"

"No," Shelton interrupted. "There is no respect. That's the point."

That began a 90-minute discussion during which everyone agreed that Christmas is a good thing but not whether a law to that effect is necessary or even helpful.

They need to make a movie about OK's legislature. If we could find the Marx brother's clones it would be first rate.

Throwing away 30 million because they didn't like the movie? At least they are consistent in ignoring reality and truth and in throwing away opportunities to increase our state revenues. The Marland story is verifiable and interesting.

A good a place as any to post this.  So the producers of August, Osage County will get a $5 million rebate on the $35 million they spent filming.  That’s likely $35 million which would have been spent elsewhere.  There are plenty of other rural settings around the country that could have doubled for Osage County.

Looking at some of the quotes, our state legislature sounds like an 1870’s Victorian sewing circle.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma House has — on its second try — passed a bill to extend a tax credit for the film industry. The House voted 65-28 for the measure Tuesday after reconsidering the bill. It had fallen three votes short of passing on Monday. The state provides rebates to filmmakers amounting to $1 for every $3 dollars they spend on movie productions in Oklahoma, up to a total of $5 million. The program is scheduled to expire July 1. The bill by Republican Rep. Todd Thomsen of Ada extends the credit for 10 years to 2024. Opponents say the program is a wasteful use of tax dollars. They also say the Oscar-nominated film "August: Osage County," which used the rebate program, portrayed Oklahoma negatively. ___

The type of reporting only the Tulsa World can do:



The bill, by Rep. Bobby Cleveland, R-Slaughterville, is intended to allow schools to observe "winter holidays" — essentially Christmas and Hanukkah — without fear of legal retribution.

Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, tried to amend HB 2317 to include Kwanzaa, a secular observance of black culture and history held Dec. 26-Jan. 1.

Rep. Justin Wood, R-Shawnee, quickly moved to table Shelton's amendment, saying, "With all due respect —"

"No," Shelton interrupted. "There is no respect. That's the point."



Priceless.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A bill that would impose strict new state regulations and requirements for abortion providers in Oklahoma has easily passed the state Senate.

With little discussion and no debate, the Senate voted 34-8 on Wednesday for the bill by Oklahoma City Republican Sen. Greg Treat. The measure now heads to the House, which has supported most anti-abortion legislation.

The bill requires the state Board of Health to develop a list of standards for facilities, supplies, equipment and personnel that abortion providers must maintain at all times.

Among the requirements is that a physician with admitting privileges at an accredited hospital within 30 miles of the facility be on the premises on any day that an abortion is performed.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Several House members are complaining their bills to outlaw embryonic research and to allow school employees to deliver "Merry Christmas" greetings to one another aren't getting a hearing in the Senate.

Rep. Bobby Cleveland's so-called "Merry Christmas" bill that specifically authorizes school district employees to use the greeting and erect nativity scenes has stalled in the Senate Education Committee.

A separate measure that prohibits research involving human embryos has not been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

A third stalled measure would direct school districts to adopt new policies for student speakers and permit students to express their religious beliefs in homework and classroom assignments without penalty.

I received an auto dealer call on this issue.

Seems to me expressly authorizing Christian greetings and the placing of baby Jesus idols in schools is a problem.  Que the flying spaghetti monster and full pirate regalia.

And why bam stem cell research?  We allow our led students to carve up dead people without even flinching.  Yet learning from cells is over the line?

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Senate has voted to override Gov. Mary Fallin's veto of a House bill dealing with federal gun regulations.

The Senate voted 39-0 Thursday in favor of the override. The House voted 86-3 on April 30 to override the veto and the bill now becomes law without the governor's signature.

The Senate action is the latest signal of growing tension between the Republican governor and the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Last week, Fallin vetoed 15 House bills she says were unnecessary or didn't have a meaningful purpose. She accused the House of not acting on some of her key agenda items, including a plan to repair the Capitol building.

It's the first successful override since Fallin took office in 2011. A governor's spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Now they're hatin' on Fallin:

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — A former leader of the Oklahoma Senate has been charged with aggravated drunk driving and attempting to bribe a police officer after being arrested during the weekend in Noble.

Former state Sen. Cal Hobson was charged Monday in Cleveland County District Court.

A police affidavit says Hobson was stopped Sunday by a Noble police officer who witnessed his vehicle swerving. The officer reported Hobson's blood-alcohol content was .27, more than three times the legal limit.

While transporting Hobson to jail, the officer said Hobson offered him up to $50,000 to release him.

Hobson did not immediately return a telephone message, and court records don't indicate if he has an attorney.

Hobson is a former president pro tem of the Oklahoma Senate and currently a Democratic candidate for Cleveland County commissioner.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A GOP state legislator and the chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party are standing behind anti-Muslim remarks the lawmaker posted to his Facebook page, and both say they have no plans to apologize.

A Muslim advocacy group has called for state Representative John Bennett to apologize after he posted a comment to his Facebook page urging people, especially Christians, to "be wary of the individuals who claim to be Muslim-American." The Sallisaw Republican also said in his post that the Islamic holy book, the Quran, calls for the killing of non-Muslims.

The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Director Adam Soltani called the comments "inappropriate and offensive."

Bennett says he has no plans to apologize, while Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Dave Weston described Bennett's comments as "accurate."

Yikes

Oklahoma Lawmaker, GOP Chair Affirm Anti-Muslim Post

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-lawmaker-gop-chair-affirm-anti-muslim-post (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-lawmaker-gop-chair-affirm-anti-muslim-post)

(http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kwgs/files/styles/card_280/public/201302/John_Bennett.jpg)

I'm disappointed in Mary Fallin's  halt in executions. The killers on death row did not halt what they did to their victims, the jury spoke and they need to pay for their murders. You take a life you lose your life  it's that simple. Let's scrap injection and go to the firing squad or hanging it's quick sure and gets the job done with hanging we can use the same rope over & over too.

Just wow. And the state chair just doubles down on it.

Yep.  Any question why I renounced my “R” designation a few years back?

Eh, I'm still registered R.  I just tell myself I'm not an "Oklahoma R".

That way I can still vote in the primaries.  Thank you out-dated Oklahoma election laws.

Yep.  Any question why I renounced my “R” designation a few years back?

Hanging is not legal in Oklahoma.

Yes, now you have no say in the primaries.  You are totally subject to other's selections of candidates for the general elections.  I hate to say it but see Townsend's comments on this.

Yep saw that.  Experienced it when I showed up to vote for the DA race a few weeks ago.  Forgot it was an R primary run-off. 

I’m stubborn like that.  I simply can’t identify with the cro-magnons and neanderthals inhabiting the halls of legislature in OKC.  They are a complete embarrassment to the Republican party I joined in 1984.  They aren’t “Reagan conservatives” by any measure.  If they took an objective look at Reagan, they’d consider him a liberal.  The only part of his legacy which makes me cringe was his courting of the moral majority.  Should have left them with the southern Democrats, but that was the strategy which got him elected and re-elected.  And probably the main reason the south is solidly red these days.

Hanging is not legal in Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Muslims from across the state of Oklahoma will come to the state Capitol later this month to learn about the legislative process and join panel discussions on issues important to their community.

The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced its first ever "Muslim Day" will be held at the Capitol on February 27th. Executive Director Adam Soltani says he expects more than 100 people to attend the event.

Soltani says the event is designed to encourage members of the Muslim faith to be civically engaged and communicate with their lawmakers.

A similar event at the state Capitol in Texas last week sparked outrage after a group of vitriolic protesters heckled Muslim participants. One woman grabbed the microphone and yelled about Islam.

Anyone think one of our legislators will make it on national news?

Muslim Day to be Held at Oklahoma Capitol

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/muslim-day-be-held-oklahoma-capitol (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/muslim-day-be-held-oklahoma-capitol)

Anyone think one of our legislators will make it on national news?

Muslim Day to be Held at Oklahoma Capitol

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/muslim-day-be-held-oklahoma-capitol (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/muslim-day-be-held-oklahoma-capitol)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma voters would get to decide if the governor and lieutenant governor should run on a ticket together, whether Oklahomans need more gun rights, and if the entire state constitution should be rewritten.

The House Rules Committee approved the three separate measures on Wednesday that would send proposals to a vote of the people. All three resolutions now go to the full House.

Republican Rep. Gary Banz of Midwest City wants the people to decide if the governor and lieutenant governor should run together, and whether it's time for a state constitutional convention.

A separate proposal by Republican Rep. Dan Fisher of El Reno calls for a public vote on whether to amend the constitution to strengthen an individual's right to keep and bear arms.

Oklahoma House Panel Approves Public Vote on 3 Issues

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-house-panel-approves-public-vote-3-issues (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-house-panel-approves-public-vote-3-issues)

The newly elected Republican super majority in Oklahoma is horrid.

We have either proposed, or moved forward to:

1) Take money away from schools to use for jails.
2) Money from schools to go to Oklahoma City's pet project (Indian museum)
3) Ban AP classes because they want to teach American history (news flash! We aren't and haven't always been perfect. GASP!)
4) Forbid multilingual schools.
5) Reduced taxes on the wealthiest Oklahomans, telling citizens there was plenty of money, only to recant a few weeks later and admit we face a $600,000,000.00 hole.
6) Propose arming college students in class (remember, we can't trust half of them to drink... but GUNS FOR EVERYONE!)
7) Exempt Oklahoma laws from the US Constitution (seriously, numerous laws propose this)
8) Forbid Oklahoma Judges from enforcing the US Constitution under threat of firing and revocation of pernsion
9) Numerous bills making sure "them gays" know we hate and fear them due to our religious beliefs
10) Numerous bills to teach baptist Christianity in the classroom (please don't be confused, we don't need no Papist type teachin') or otherwise fund Medrassas (or whatever you call the fundamentalist christian equivalent) 
11) Ban the Oklahoma Bar Association
12) Exempt Oklahoma laws from challenges under the Oklahoma Constitution
13) Get rid of OSCN (public access to Court information)


Continuous lip service to responsible government.

We have roads that are rated a D. Our bridges have an overall grade of "deficient."  Our levies and dams are considered "priority status" by the Corps of Engineers. Our educational system compares unfavorably with Arkansas and New Mexico while we are damn glad Mississippi exists. Our public health is consistently among the worst in the Union (which isn't among the best in the world). Our standard of living is falling. Oklahoma is in the bottom 10 for average wages earned. Are are disproportionately disabled. We have a higher poverty rate than most states. We have more women in prison than anywhere else. We struggle to attract, retain, or train an educated work force.

We have REAL PROBLEMS. Courts. Infrastructure. Public health. Education. Public safety. And setting up the correct conditions for prosperity is what the government is supposed to do. Instead we are focused on fighting against public education, taking funding away from infrastructure, blindly funding more prisons, not caring at all about health, and making damn sure gay people know we don't like them.  ("HEY GAY PEOPLE, OKLAHOMA DOESN'T LIKE YOU! Even though you are disproportionately educated, wealthy, and statistically unlikely to commit crimes... we don't want you here." I hear that's what the new Welcome to Oklahoma sign is going to say)

Again,we have actual issues.

My proposed to laws:

A) If a legislator cannot pass the final exam of an AP history AND civics course, they are not eligible for office
B) We already fought the "gay" fight, move on
C) Education is essential for business and leads to prosperity, fund it
D) Infrastructure is essential for business and leads to prosperity, fund it
E) Taxes are bad, but we need tax revenue to fund things. Get over it
F) Quality of life counts: art, parks, recreation, festivals, celebrations, public works... these things are not a waste
G) Not all social problems can be solved by building more prisons
F) Other people have solved our problems, find what works and do that

Annnnnnnnnd GO!

Lest anyone question why I’m a former Republican....

Same here. 

I'm 38, I decided to stay here after college, but the last few weeks have me really regretting that decision!  Besides low cost of living, can anyone tell me a benefit for living here anymore??  The state is broke, there are few with any common sense trying to fix it, we are a national laughing stock, and there is no end to the madness in sight.  My partner has wanted to leave the state for the last two years, but I've fought him on it, saying that people like us need to stay and fix things.  Now I'm wondering what the hell I'm fighting for??  ??? Geeeeez.

And who are all these dingbats voting these people in?? From what I see on social media and on here, these ideas are all WIDELY being condemned as nutty.  Maybe I'm too insulated from the "real" Oklahoma.

I'm still a Republican...I'm just an old fashioned Republican apparently.

I'm with you.  We're getting closer and closer to leaving.

We've discussed where we'd like to go.

We've discussed where we'd like to go.

And people ask me why I don't want to move back to Oklahoma.

Same here.  

I'm 38, I decided to stay here after college, but the last few weeks have me really regretting that decision!  Besides low cost of living, can anyone tell me a benefit for living here anymore??  The state is broke, there are few with any common sense trying to fix it, we are a national laughing stock, and there is no end to the madness in sight.  My partner has wanted to leave the state for the last two years, but I've fought him on it, saying that people like us need to stay and fix things.  Now I'm wondering what the hell I'm fighting for??  ??? Geeeeez.

And who are all these dingbats voting these people in?? From what I see on social media and on here, these ideas are all WIDELY being condemned as nutty.  Maybe I'm too insulated from the "real" Oklahoma.

My issue is that I was born and raised here and I love Oklahoma.  Even if sometimes I don't love her back because of the stupid smile her elected officials do.  So when someone tells me, especially someone who hasn't lived their whole life here as I have, to leave if I don't like it, I rightly tell those people to pi$$ off.

Good for you!!  Keep telling them that!!   Too dam many "imports" - people from higher cost areas of the country - who come here to 'score' on the economic conditions with their big jobs and salaries based on home place wage scales, while enjoying the dramatically lower cost of living - in particular in housing.  They vote on really stupid carp, then when they get retired, bail to take the benefits they gained here back to their home place.


On a smaller scale, the same thing has happened to all the small towns surrounding Tulsa - people saw the 'small town' ambience, thought they liked it, then moved there, but brought the same carp they had in Tulsa to those small towns, remaking them into Tulsa.  Owasso, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby, Sand Springs...  those and more have all been afflicted with this disease... 

Good for you!!  Keep telling them that!!   Too dam many "imports" - people from higher cost areas of the country - who come here to 'score' on the economic conditions with their big jobs and salaries based on home place wage scales, while enjoying the dramatically lower cost of living - in particular in housing.  They vote on really stupid carp, then when they get retired, bail to take the benefits they gained here back to their home place.


On a smaller scale, the same thing has happened to all the small towns surrounding Tulsa - people saw the 'small town' ambience, thought they liked it, then moved there, but brought the same carp they had in Tulsa to those small towns, remaking them into Tulsa.  Owasso, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Bixby, Sand Springs...  those and more have all been afflicted with this disease...  

So you would like to have the small towns around Tulsa to go back to the Skoal Dipping, Crap Kicking, Rednecks that everyone so identifies Oklahoma with, and have goat roping as a state sport.

Hey, these guy are looking for a leadership role, why don't you elect them?

(http://cfile6.uf.tistory.com/image/013E1D4E510FFD4C0994BF)

And what's the deal with cheap housing being such a draw?  I would rather live in half the house with twice the amenities nearby, and I think more and more people are coming to that realization as well.

I turned down transfer to the San Jose, CA area in the late 80s primarily because of the cost of living.  Housing was the biggest part.  I went on a few trips to that site and always cruised around the area in the rental car.  One place I remember was Los Gatos.  Houses that looked like $60,000 in Tulsa were decorated with Mercedes, BMW, Cadillac, Lincoln.... cars.  Turned out those houses were at least $350,000 way back then.  My boss took the transfer.  He traded a 2800 ft^2 house in BA and two cars (one for his wife) for an 1100 ft^2 house on a postage stamp for $200,000+ and one POS car.  All he could afford to do was go to work.   He took another transfer out of CA a few years later but couldn't cash-in because CA taxed housing gains heavily for folks in his situation.

We all have different requirements for amenities.  
I generally think that going out to eat in my home town is a waste of time and money.  There are a few exceptions, about 1/2 dozen per year.  I'd rather spend my money on avgas. I like to visit museums once in a while.  I enjoyed my time in my favorite local bars when I was in the Navy.  I don't want to do that now, except occasionally.  I would probably enjoy the Symphony but I hate to get dressed up and don't wish to spoil the evening for those who do.  I'm generally not interested in theater productions.  Crowded places are not a source of enjoyment for me.   I have outgrown 100 dBA rock concerts.   I did enjoy the Boston Pops on the 4th of July (1980).  Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston was fun but not something I would do every week.  I don't care about professional athletic competitions.

I do like having fire, police, and ambulance service nearby.  I was OK with driving a few miles to a grocery store and don't care for most of the development along Memorial.  I do go to the WalMart, Reasor's, and Lowe's here at 111th and Memorial though as it would be silly to go to their other locations just to protest the local traffic.   Piped in natural gas rather than a tank of propane is nice.

Our house is about 1500 ft^2.  An extra hobby room would be nice but I would probably just fill it with more stuff and still not have enough room.  I don't want a 4000 ft^2 house to maintain.  The acre of land and having my nearest neighbors about 100 ft away is nice and worth the price of a garden tractor and the time to cut the grass. Edging is not necessary without sidewalks or curbs. (Just for you Townsend.  ;D ) Chainsaws, rototils, hedge trimmers and other power devices requiring hearing protection and work gloves are a good way to get some exercise. I get out the ax if there are just a few fallen limbs too big for the muscle powered loppers.

A general aviation airport somewhat nearby is a necessity.  Riverside/Jones is about 10 miles.  I don't golf.  I tried it once in high school and shot a 296 for 18 holes and lost about a dozen golf balls.  

Sorry for the rambling.  I understand that a lot of people want the stuff I don't care about and vise versa.

Edit:
I almost forgot to say I like having room for my pepper gardens and space to throw a toy for our German Shepherd.  Pepper seedlings are popping up in the area originally designed as a dining room. I have 4 flats of peppers and eggplants.  I'll get Okra started in another space in a few weeks. Okra comes up faster than peppers and eggplants.

You know whats fascinating when I read your first couple of paragraphs was the thought that basically what your friend moved to was a more expensive, and compact version of what we have here.  Same thing, just more of it.

For instance, in a more pedestrian/transit friendly city with people living that lifestyle, your perspectives and values can shift ever so subtly yet profoundly.  The local parks become your yard and you come to value them, even if you have a small plot out back to grow flowers and vegetables.  The sidewalks are your hallways, the cafe or patisserie around the corner your breakfast nook, the local pub (and they are not all always noisy brawling places) a hang out for friends and family,

the subway is another way of getting around (in London I remember one evening going out and seeing a couple of older couples in perhaps their late 60's early 70's sitting in the seats right opposite me, the ladies had on nice skirts and dress shoes a scarf thrown around their necks, the gentlemen in slacks and tweed jackets with hats on. They were laughing and carrying on a good conversation and from what I gathered were going out to a restaurant to have dinner. Not what my stereotype of what the subway was supposed to be like, but was full of everyday people of all sorts, families, children, teens, tourists, young, old, etc.)  Also every day you would see young people in suits heading off to work, children walking the sidewalks near where I lived in their school uniforms. Beautiful, quiet, tree lined streets lined with row houses were behind the apartment buildings where I lived, while just to the other side of me was a main street and subway station.  Everything in the world was right there easy breezy.  No car needed or even wanted. There a car would be more of a burden or a hassle. I couldn't imagine trying to navigate those winding mazes of streets and had no idea where anyone would park a car if they had one anyway.

Driving around here around Norman today to run some errands. I literally drove for hours, fields with lots of new homes going in (made me wonder what on earth those children did in those neighborhoods) buildings, parking lots, more fields, highways......no people.  Work to home, no people. That changes you and your outlook, and perhaps you don't even realize what it's doing to you. I always wonder if there is some connection with how we have some of the highest suicide rates in the world (higher even than our homicide rates) and the fact that we are so isolated and alone for so much of the time. We lack the sense of community and camaraderie that you seem to far more easily find in even a huge city, where you wouldn't think that would happen.

That's what I am talking about when I talk about "amenities". Being able to get everything within a short walk or quick hop on the tube. Amenities like beautiful parks and public spaces with statues and fountains, birds and all sorts of plants, right around the corner. Quiet avenues and squares, lovely old churches of mossy stone with big old trees in the lots around them over here, bustling streets full of life right over there. Stumbling across and investigating the occasional little flea market. Incredible food markets (my gosh if I could adequately describe one of the food markets I ran across one day while out randomly exploring, stall after stall after stall of glorious, scrumptious pastries and sweets of every sort imaginable surrounding you on every side.)  I don't know whether that would be a good amenity or a horrible one, but I do know I would die fat and with a smile on my whip creme and chocolate covered face right there in the middle of it all.

Anywhoo, thats what I mean by more amenities, not just smaller home more driving and more expense so you can go to the theater or a loud club or concert (which oddly seems to be the perspective of "that's urban living" in our neck of the woods as even you seem to have put out there a bit).

Again, not saying thats for everyone, but would like the cities in our state to be able to have some good urban living, to be able to offer those types of amenities.  And yes, along with that comes a different sense of perspective and values.  And a lot of people here do not want that and will fight against it.

Frighteningly enough, just as our cities like Tulsa and OKC seem to be developing more urban cores and being able to attract or keep those types of people who like it, the prevailing attitudes in the state seem bent on destroying that progress, economically and socially.  It's like we are soooo close, making decent progress and BAM! out of the blue comes some stupid bill, tax issue, economic conundrum, face palm social issue headline, etc. to scare us into thinking all our hard work will be for naught.

You know whats fascinating when I read your first couple of paragraphs was the thought that basically what your friend moved to was a more expensive, and compact version of what we have here.  Same thing, just more of it.   Dallas has taken that route.  It's still a suburban car culture, just done big.  Very much just as isolating in many ways and doesn't change ones cultural/societal take on things.

For instance, in a more pedestrian/transit friendly city with people living that lifestyle, your perspectives and values can shift ever so subtly yet profoundly.  The local parks become your yard and you come to value them, even if you have a small plot out back to grow flowers and vegetables.  The sidewalks are your hallways, the cafe or patisserie around the corner your breakfast nook, the local pub (and they are not all always noisy brawling places) a hang out for friends and family, the subway is another way of getting around (in London I remember one evening going out and seeing a couple of older couples in perhaps their late 60's early 70's sitting in the seats right opposite me, the ladies had on nice skirts and dress shoes a scarf thrown around their necks, the gentlemen in slacks and tweed jackets with hats on. They were laughing and carrying on a good conversation and from what I gathered were going out to a restaurant to have dinner. Not what my stereotype of what the subway was supposed to be like, but was full of everyday people of all sorts, families, children, teens, tourists, young, old, etc.)  Also every day you would see young people in suits heading off to work, children walking the sidewalks near where I lived in their school uniforms. Beautiful, quiet, tree lined streets lined with row houses were behind the apartment buildings where I lived, while just to the other side of me was a main street and subway station.  Everything in the world was right there easy breezy.  No car needed or even wanted. There a car would be more of a burden or a hassle. I couldn't imagine trying to navigate those winding mazes of streets and had no idea where anyone would park a car if they had one anyway.

Driving around here around Norman today to run some errands. I literally drove for hours, fields with lots of new homes going in (made me wonder what on earth those children did in those neighborhoods) buildings, parking lots, more fields, highways......no people.  Work to home, no people. That changes you and your outlook, and perhaps you don't even realize what it's doing to you. I always wonder if there is some connection with how we have some of the highest suicide rates in the world (higher even than our homicide rates) and the fact that we are so isolated and alone for so much of the time. We lack the sense of community and camaraderie that you seem to far more easily find in even a huge city, where you wouldn't think that would happen.

That's what I am talking about when I talk about "amenities". Being able to get everything within a short walk or quick hop on the tube. Amenities like beautiful parks and public spaces with statues and fountains, birds and all sorts of plants, right around the corner. Quiet avenues and squares, lovely old churches of mossy stone with big old trees in the lots around them over here, bustling streets full of life right over there. Stumbling across and investigating the occasional little flea market. Incredible food markets (my gosh if I could adequately describe one of the food markets I ran across one day while out randomly exploring, stall after stall after stall of glorious, scrumptious pastries and sweets of every sort imaginable surrounding you on every side.)  I don't know whether that would be a good amenity or a horrible one, but I do know I would die fat and with a smile on my whip creme and chocolate covered face right there in the middle of it all.  

Anywhoo, thats what I mean by more amenities, not just smaller home more driving and more expense so you can go to the theater or a loud club or concert (which oddly seems to be the perspective of "that's urban living" in our neck of the woods as even you seem to have put out there a bit).

Again, not saying thats for everyone, but would like the cities in our state to be able to have some good urban living, to be able to offer those types of amenities.  And yes, along with that comes a different sense of perspective and values.  And a lot of people here do not want that and will fight against it.

Frighteningly enough, just as our cities like Tulsa and OKC seem to be developing more urban cores and being able to attract or keep those types of people who like it, the prevailing attitudes in the state seem bent on destroying that progress, economically and socially.  It's like we are soooo close, making decent progress and BAM! out of the blue comes some stupid bill, tax issue, economic conundrum, face palm social issue headline, etc. to scare us into thinking all our hard work will be for naught.

Very nice neighborhood. Too suburban for my tastes.  But again, to each his own, well at least I wish more people around here thought that.

Here are my "old stomping grounds" near the outskirts of London and when I go back to visit will like to stay in the area.  There is a great Hostel "Palmers Lodge, Swiss Cottage" there  http://palmerslodges.com/swisscottage/hostel/  Video shows the hostel and briefly the area https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eDQ93Ozyetw   stayed in a ground floor apartment at this location 24 College Cres and could walk in like 2 minutes to the Swiss Cottage tube station.  There were also numerous bus stops nearby and a "main street" type area right around the corner. Beautiful quiet streets one way, quick access to the whole world the other.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/28+College+Cres,+London+NW3+5LH,+UK/@51.5446489,-0.1750725,117m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m7!1m4!3m3!1s0x48761a906a56ade7:0x5a8c04b0d0724031!2s24+College+Cres,+London+NW3+5LL,+UK!3b1!3m1!1s0x48761a901190a271:0xbee24c8415355652

Cant figure out how to save the satellite view?

Anywhoo, you can do the street view, might have to swing around a bit to the right, just past the stores to see my apartment which was in the brown brick building facing the sidewalk on the left "Northways Parade" (hope it shows things in that direction) and I could see the white homes across the street from my window.  Turning around was my "commute" to the tube station on the Jubilee Line and turning right on Finchley Road you would go down the main street where I would get my groceries, shop and dine.  If what I wanted wasn't there, I would take the tube and in a few minutes could be at another station in a more bustling urban area that had more things.  This was a relatively quiet part of town which was nice.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation that would prohibit the state from regulating the practice of "conversion therapy" is scheduled to be heard in an Oklahoma House committee.

Conversion therapy involves a range of practices that are aimed at changing one's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Other states have passed legislation to ban the practice.

The bill by Republican state Rep. Sally Kern of Oklahoma City is opposed by major medical and psychological associations who say conversion therapy is a dangerous and discredited practice. They say Kern's bill is the first of its kind in the U.S.

Kern's bill authorizes a mental health provider to engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a child under 18 and prohibits state officials from interfering in those efforts.

Oklahoma House Committee to Hear Conversion Therapy Measure

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-house-committee-hear-conversion-therapy-measure (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-house-committee-hear-conversion-therapy-measure)

(http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kwgs/files/styles/card_280/public/201202/3467374-1800916656.JPG)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation that would prohibit the state from regulating the practice of "conversion therapy" is scheduled to be heard in an Oklahoma House committee.

Conversion therapy involves a range of practices that are aimed at changing one's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Other states have passed legislation to ban the practice.

The bill by Republican state Rep. Sally Kern of Oklahoma City is opposed by major medical and psychological associations who say conversion therapy is a dangerous and discredited practice. They say Kern's bill is the first of its kind in the U.S.

Kern's bill authorizes a mental health provider to engage in sexual orientation change efforts with a child under 18 and prohibits state officials from interfering in those efforts.

Damn it, Townsend, leave the photo out.  Now I must go gouge my eyes out!

(http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/429912605/Spoon_Straws.jpg)

Damn it, Townsend, leave the photo out.  Now I must go gouge my eyes out!

Muslims and members of other faith groups will rally and meet with lawmakers Friday. It’s the first annual Muslim Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

Extra security will be on hand, and protests are expected. But Adam Soltani with the Council on American-Islamic Relations says there’s been an outpouring of support for the Muslim community.

Soltani says the goal is to encourage Oklahoma Muslims to be active participants in the democratic process.

In OKC, proper pronunciation is “Moose Limb"

Some really ugly photos of protesters on the World site. Apparently took sign making courses from a certain "church" in Topeka.
 

(http://kwtv.images.worldnow.com/images/6858171_G.jpg)

The video below is particularly sickening. Like something out of school desegregation.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/despite-planned-protests-oklahoma-muslim-day-at-the-capitol-expects/article_caf6dfa8-ee8c-5f5d-8950-7e4cd6ed0acb.html

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma's governor would have broad new powers to appoint the directors of ten different state entities under a bill being considered by a Senate committee.

Broken Arrow Republican state Sen. Nathan Dahm is expected to present the bill Monday in the Senate General Government Committee that he chairs. It calls for the heads of ten different state agencies and boards to be fired effective Jan. 1 and allows the governor to name their replacement.

Dahm did not return telephone messages seeking comment about his bill.

Gov. Mary Fallin's spokesman Alex Weintz says his office did not request the bill, but does support its intent.

Among the affected agencies are the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and Office of Juvenile Affairs.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation that protects members of the clergy who refuse to solemnize a same-sex marriage has been approved by the Oklahoma Senate.

Senators voted 39-6 for the measure Wednesday and sent it to the House, which has passed a similar bill.

The measure by Republican Senator Dan Newberry of Tulsa protects clergy members and others authorized to perform marriage ceremonies from being required to perform those duties if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. It would also shield churches from being required to participate in ceremonies that might conflict for religious reasons.

A federal judge last year struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The measure is one of several that gay rights groups say discriminates against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Fiddling while Rome is burning...

Oklahoma Senate OKs Bill for Clergy to Refuse Gay Marriage

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-senate-oks-bill-clergy-refuse-gay-marriage (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-senate-oks-bill-clergy-refuse-gay-marriage)

It's Oklahoma.... you cannot possibly have expected anything different at this late date...

Sadly....

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26442998/Photos/10959131_10204087270882966_3965975837524870237_n.jpg)

So 1, they have a bill that would make it so that you have to have a minister or someone ordained take the marriage license to a judge. Then 2. they then have a bill that says that ministers/clergy can refuse to marry gay people.  

I wonder if part of their thinking is that this will stop gay marriage because no clergy would want to marry gay people?

If they think that then they really have no idea about the real world.  When Chris and I got married we had about a hundred people (literally) who could and would have been happy to marry us.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — More than a third of Oklahoma's eligible voters aren't registered, so lawmakers are considering allowing online registration to make the process more convenient and renew interest in elections.

State Election Board statistics show that more than 2.1 million people were registered to vote in January 2005. Ten years later and about 10 percent more residents, 119,280 fewer Oklahoma residents were registered to vote.

Last year's general election drew less than 30 percent of Oklahoma's eligible voters.

Republican Sen. David Holt says the registration issue is part of the reason. Legislation he authored would create a secure online voter registration system for the state like those in place in 23 other states.

Snowball, Hell.  Hell, snowball:

Oklahoma Legislature Considering Online Voter Registration

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-legislature-considering-online-voter-registration (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-legislature-considering-online-voter-registration)

Snowball, Hell.  Hell, snowball:

Oklahoma Legislature Considering Online Voter Registration

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-legislature-considering-online-voter-registration (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-legislature-considering-online-voter-registration)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A bill that prohibits Oklahoma school districts from making payroll deductions for its employees for union membership has narrowly passed a state Senate committee.

The Senate General Government Committee voted 4-3 Monday for the bill by Republican Sen. Nathan Dahm of Broken Arrow, the chairman of the committee. The bill already passed the House and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

The bill's approval came despite opposition from the state's two largest teacher unions — the Oklahoma Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.

Dahm says he doesn't believe the state should be in the business of making payroll deductions.

But Westmoore High School teacher Elise Robillard says the bill unfairly targets Oklahoma teachers who already are suffering from low morale.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A group responsible for managing Oklahoma's floodplains says bills moving through the Legislature that prohibit cities from regulating oil and natural gas drilling operations could prevent the state from participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.

The Tulsa World reports that the Oklahoma Floodplain Managers Association has sent a letter to lawmakers warning that the local control legislation might prevent flood insurance policies from being written and renewed.

The bills would limit the ability of local governments to regulate drilling issues including setbacks, noise, odor and dust. They would also prohibit local governments from banning drilling.

The National Flood Insurance Program requires participating communities to adopt and enforce an ordinance that reduces the risk of flooding in the 100-year floodplain. In return, the federal government provides subsidized flood insurance.

It's discriminatory favoring the rich. Only they can afford computers.  ::)

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26442998/Photos/10959131_10204087270882966_3965975837524870237_n.jpg)

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) — An Oklahoma congressman is seeking training records from the Army Ranger School at Georgia's Fort Benning, where two soldiers made history last month by becoming the first females to graduate.

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports that Republican Rep. Steve Russell is asking the Secretary of the Army for paperwork documenting the women's performance.

Russell's spokesman, Daniel Susskind, said the congressman is asking for the records to make sure that soldiers who passed the course deserved to do so.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma legislators return to the Capitol on Monday facing an economic crisis and other troubling issues.

A sharp drop in oil and gas prices has cut revenues to key businesses, which has reduced state revenues. Lawmakers expect to see about a $1 billion budget shortfall for the next fiscal year.

Lawmakers are also expected to discuss the sharp rise in the number of earthquakes, an increase linked to the injection of wastewater underground from oil and gas production.

Also expected to be discussed are ways to raise teacher pay and possibly consider consolidation of some state schools; criminal justice and possibly reducing the penalties for some crimes to ease prison crowding; and a move to amend the state Constitution so a Ten Commandments monument could be erected at the state Capitol.

What are Key Issues for Oklahoma Legislature as it Returns?

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/what-are-key-issues-oklahoma-legislature-it-returns (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/what-are-key-issues-oklahoma-legislature-it-returns)

Glad they're working on that last one...super duper important considering Oklahoma is the suckiest suck to ever suck a suck.

Gov. Mary Fallin on Monday will propose additional dollars for the financially troubled Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The agency is housing a rising number offenders and has problems retaining correctional officers and staffing prisons

Yay for millions more in legal expenses for a lost cause trying to teach people that they aren't welcome here!  Woohoo! If you ain't Christian and wiling to wear it on your sleeve and pray on the street corner, you ain't welcome!

The monument was ruled unconstitutional because the State of Oklahoma cannot use public resources/property to directly or indirectly benefit any religion, and especially cannot do so to benefit one, or some religions over others.

What's the Amendment going to say that will still pass Federal constitutional muster?

"We hereby Amend the Oklahoma Constitution to allow state resources to be expended to benefit our chosen religion to the exclusion of all others, in Jesus name we pray, Amen."

Bill would require a blood test for STDs to get Oklahoma marriage license

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma lawmaker wants those seeking marriage licenses to be tested for diseases.

Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, is the author of Senate Bill 733. Sykes did not respond to a request for comment.

“The State Board of Health shall require a blood test for the discovery of syphilis and other communicable or infectious diseases prior to the issuance of a marriage license,” according to the measure.

Applicants shall first file with the court clerk a certificate or affidavit from an Oklahoma licensed physician stating that each party has been given a blood test and that in the opinion of the physician, the applicants are not infected with syphilis or other communicable or infectious diseases, according to the bill.
If infected, that such diseases are not in a stage which may be communicable to the marriage partner, according to the bill.

The measure was not requested by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, said Jan Fox, director of the agency’s HIV/STD Service.

Legislation repealing a blood test for syphilis prior to getting a license was passed in 2004, she said. Data had shown in the prior five years, there were about 300,000 premarital tests for syphilis performed in Oklahoma with only 5 new cases confirmed, she said.

“What I would say is that just as it was in 2004, premarital testing for syphilis or any other infectious disease does not appear to have any usefulness for disease control efforts,” Fox said.

Those applying for marriage licenses were not people at risk of acquiring it, she said.

Nationally and in Oklahoma, the number of sexually transmitted diseases is on the rise for a number of reasons, she said.

Very good testing is available, she said. In addition, a number of people place themselves at risk, she said.

“It is very easy to find sex partners and easy to find anonymous sex partners,” she said. “That seems to be fueling the increase.”

Ryan Kiesel, American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma executive director, said the measure is built on the false premise that most wait to have sex until after they are married.

“I think there is certainly a potential Oklahomans could have very private medical data revealed to the public under this measure,” Kiesel said.

He said it is bizarre that a politician would run for office under the mantle of family values but work so hard to keep so many people from joining together to form a family.

Troy Stevenson is the executive director of Freedom Oklahoma, which supports same-sex marriage.

“We have real concerns about this blood test legislation and those concerns have yet to be answered,” Stevenson said. “It looks like this is targeting the HIV/AIDS community.”

He said the legislation appears to target people with communicable diseases.

As of Friday, the measure had been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sykes chairs the committee, which meets on Tuesday. As of 5 p.m. Friday, the list of bills for consideration had not been posted.
Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/bill-would-require-a-blood-test-for-stds-to-get/article_79ec8f4d-85c2-5ae2-8f39-03759d9da210.html

Add Anthony Sykes to the list of worst legislators for introducing a bill to re-instate a law repealed as being archaic in 2004.  According to KRMG on the morning drive, the bill would seek to prevent someone from getting married should they have an STD.  I think the Constitution might have something to say about that but count on good ol’ Scott Pruitt to fight for this if it passes and is challenged.

“We want less government intrusion!  Oh, excuse us for intruding on your bedroom!"

Why is the state even in the marriage business?   

Money.

A measure stating Oklahoma’s desire for a Constitutional Convention won final approval Tuesday by the state Senate.

House members passed Senate Joint Resolution 4 last week with amendments, meaning it needed another vote by senators.

Sen. Anthony Sykes was among the 16 "No" votes.

"I do not trust the other state legislatures to be of like mind," Sykes said. "Certainly, Oklahoma is one of the more conservative states in America, and I don't think we can do as good a job as our Founding Fathers did."

Sen. Mike Mazzei told his colleagues a required majority vote for proposed amendments’ ratification will serve as a check and balance.

"If the convention turns out to do a bad job or run away with too many changes, there's just no way that 38 states, 38 bodies like you, are going to ratify something stupid," Mazzei said.

Sen. Nathan Dahm suggested the measure, which mentions a balanced budget amendment, doesn’t go far enough and voted against it.

"This bill deals with appropriated federal dollars, one-third of the budget," Dahm said. "Out of that $3.7 trillion, $2.5 trillion will not be touched under this. That is a major reason for concern."

The measure has been in the works since last February. In all, 34 states must request a convention for Congress to call one. Oklahoma is the 29th.

(1) Balanced Budget Amendment; and (2) Fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limiting the terms of office of federal officials, including members of Congress

I will take our chances with the "more perfect" union I sit under now, as opposed to risking my fate to the yahoos in OKC.

As the father of a 17 year old girl, I read up on this one pretty closely and am of two minds about it.   First, I completely agree that just because intoxication is not mentioned in the law is no reason not to prosecute.  This alone should not have factored into the decision and it's embarrassing to the state that it did.   However, as also the father of a 15 year old boy, it is very troubling that charges could be brought against a boy in this case.   To quote from one of the linked articles:

Afterward, the boy’s attorney mind bogglingly explained, “There was absolutely no evidence of force or him doing anything to make this girl give him oral sex other than she was too intoxicated to consent.” That last part is kind of what it’s all about, thanks!

And my question here is how do you prosecute this?  What is the level of intoxication needed for consent, etc?   It's troubling from both sides, and I don't know if there is an easy answer here.

Just think.... 2/3 of the people around any of you every day of the world are the ones voting for this.  Unless you are one of the 2/3!!  Gotta be so proud of our circle of friends, acquaintances, and co-workers!!

State Senate leader Brian Bingman blames media for focus on social issues

Related story: Oklahoma Senate passes bill to make it a felony to perform abortions

Related story: Oklahoma lawmakers call for president’s impeachment, file religious-accommodation bill over bathroom directive


Oklahoma’s top state Senate leader says the Legislature is focused on core issues such as education, transportation and health care but that the media’s focus on social issues such as abortion has distracted from that.

Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman criticized the media while speaking to the Tulsa World during a fundraiser Thursday night in Tulsa, just hours after the Senate passed a bill that would make performing abortions a felony in the state.

“That’s the media’s doing,” said Bingman, R-Sapulpa.

“They can pick and choose and they can elevate the issue and people call and (say), ‘Is that really what you all are doing?’ My focus has been on the budget this year.”

Bingman is one of two authors of legislation introduced this week responding to federal guidelines relating to transgender people’s access to bathrooms.

He made his comments during the Center for Legislative Excellence’s spring reception at the Tulsa Historical Society. The nonpartisan political action committee prioritizes transportation, education and health care and raises money to elect like-minded legislators.

The bathroom bill is co-authored by House Speaker Jeff Hickman, R-Fairview, and would allow students to cite their religious beliefs in order to be exempted from using restrooms where transgender people are allowed.

A resolution also was filed Thursday calling for the impeachment of President Barack Obama.

At this late point in the session, new legislation can be filed only by leadership members such as Bingman or Hickman.

Bingman maintained Thursday that funding core services is his priority and that the legislation touching on social issues is just what gains the most attention.

The Legislature is facing a $1.3 billion budget hole for next year. It must adjourn by May 27.

Legislators have been piecing together a budget in light of a major revenue shortfall, making compromises along the way — which entails making tough decisions, Bingman said.

“Everybody’s got their idea about how to get there,” he said. “It’s kind of a three-legged stool between the governor, the Senate and the House.”

As far as the abortion bill, Bingman said he is pro-life and that the bill’s passage was meant to be more than just a message, despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the procedure in 1973.

“The Supreme Court shouldn’t be meddling in states’ rights affairs. It’s a constant battle,” he said. “The majority of Oklahomans are conservative and pro-life. That unborn child has rights, too. We want to do everything we can to protect that.”

Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed the bill Friday, saying it was unconstitutional.

According to Brian Bingman, the legislature’s actions are not to blame, it’s the media’s attention on it:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/state-senate-leader-brian-bingman-blames-media-for-focus-on/article_dd7a0af2-68c1-5edd-a995-bedf3371c271.html

It's long past time to change the title of this thread. 2nd my a$$.

Their faces are all punchable.

The numbers disagree

In 2015, 124 officers died in the line of duty, according to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund. The number of officers fatally shot declined, falling to 42 from 49 a year earlier, while the overall number of deaths increased because of more traffic accidents and job-related illnesses.  Fatal shootings of officers has decreased over the previous few decades — from an average of 127 in the 1970s to 57 yearly between 2000 and 2009.

While every other state agency is getting cut.  Gutted in some cases, like education.

Guess who gets a huge $9 million increase, bringing their budget to $13 million??

Legislators services, of course.  New computers all around !!!


http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/most-oklahoma-agencies-see-cuts-but-there-s-a-big/article_b04a453e-9566-5548-a4c8-e8099185400c.html

Remember this come November, people.

Now it comes out that schools have been cut, just not in general funding. In the details of the budget there’s $80 million in new cuts including activities funding, the state department of education and all funding for text books was cut.  The claim of “no new cuts to education” was just a scam and a lie to confuse people that don’t really pay attention.

Thank goodness they were able to maintain the tax cuts on energy production and the rich. We should be thankful we've only had seven earthquakes since Monday. 

The race to the bottom continues. It’s time to remind the legislature that they don’t really just represent the energy industry.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/education/new-details-state-budget-agreement-slashes-funds-for-school-activities/article_4ad00259-1634-5fab-9ba6-3cfc575f723f.html

So when they have a wreck because they are busy playing Rickie Racer and doing their best "Fast And Furious" imitation qualifies as protected status.

Legislature’s focus on ‘dog whistle’ politics harms state, critics say

"You don’t get that much crazy in one day by accident, even in Oklahoma state government," said former Gov. David Walters

Just how far things have gone became clear for Aislinn Burrows and her wife, Carmen, when they stopped at McDonald’s on the turnpike between Tulsa and Oklahoma City recently.

Probably more than half the state has stopped at one time or another at the W. D. “Bill” Hoback Plaza, which has “nice clean bathrooms” according to Foursquare reviews. In recent years, the restaurant was updated with Route 66 art and the bathrooms usually are clean and well-tended.

On this day, however, when Carmen left the car to use the restroom, another woman in the bathroom approached and started asking Carmen if she was male or female. Was she sure she was in the right bathroom?

“I’m a Christian and what you people are doing is wrong,” the woman told Carmen, who is a woman.

“If you’re a Christian, then don’t judge,” Carmen said. Then Carmen told her to take a science class, and left.

The incident left the couple shaken. In a same-sex marriage since 2013, they felt afraid for the first time.

“It was in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday. It was a very heavily trafficked restroom facility. It was the only restroom facility on the turnpike,” Burrows said. “Someone who would feel it’s completely accessible to come up to someone in a restroom facility and be so confrontational and harassing, it does give us pause for concern.

“What’s the next step? There is no protection for people based on the way they look.”

The next step for the Oklahoma Legislature that week was to attempt to pass a law regulating use of restrooms by transgender Oklahomans not once, not twice, but five times. The bill was repeatedly resurrected and attached to “shell” bills, or bills stripped of original titles and held to resurrect failed legislation.

Its co-author, Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, didn’t know how his bill would actually work in practice. However he suggested that students opposed to sharing bathrooms with transgender students could use the bathroom in shifts.

stanislawski_bio
State Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, sponsored a controversial bill to regulate use of bathrooms by transgender students.
The extreme rhetoric at the national level and in states such as North Carolina suddenly erupted at the Oklahoma state Capitol and swept across the state, turning up in websites and social media as well as in pulpits.

For Burrows, the undertone of intolerance emerged at the Hoback Plaza McDonald’s bathrooms.

“I think the negative and harsh rhetoric we are seeing at a national level must be filtering down to state level, especially considering our top officials are being considered for national positions in the GOP,” she said.

Burrows noted that Gov. Mary Fallin is being touted as a possible running mate to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Last-ditch efforts to pass the transgender bathroom bill and a bill that would have made abortion a felony have many speculating that the legislative session that concluded last week was out of bounds, even among some who support the governing party. And while many in the Republican-controlled state Legislature preferred to focus on hot-button social issues, perhaps a welcome distraction, the state’s budget was drowning in red ink.

Oklahoma City commentator and consultant Ron Black, whose former WKY talk show skewered many Democrats, said the conservative message has been drowned out by social issues to the detriment of his party.

“The Republicans have failed. And this is my party, man,” Black said. “This is supposed to be the party of fiscal conservative values, and instead they are focusing completely on social issues as a party, and things not critical to the infrastructure of Oklahoma.”

Black said the issues he believes are actually important to the state revolve around the economy and quality of life.

“If you want business to come to Oklahoma, you have to have good jobs, good schools, you’ve got to have good roads and bridges. It’s not about whether it’s a felony to perform an abortion. It’s not about those things, frankly. That will do nothing but cost taxpayers more money.”

Those outside the state are also taking notice of the state’s political climate. In a Sunday editorial titled “Oklahoma Makes the Poor Poorer,” the New York Times lambasted the state’s political leaders.

A story in the Washington Post last week focused on the level of citizens’ anger at Oklahoma lawmakers and quoted one GOP lawmaker who said he was “ashamed” of his party’s focus on the transgender bathroom bill.

Meanwhile, a widely shared Reuters story pieced together an eye-opening expose of how Oklahoma’s generous tax giveaways to the oil and gas industry cost the state $470 million last year. That amount nearly equaled the state’s budget deficit during the 2015 session.

Walters: ‘dog whistle issues’ for base

For former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters, legislation such as the bathroom bill is part of a larger pattern. In addition to comments in the Post story, Walters deepened his explanation of the Legislature’s erratic, end-of-the-year scramble.

“It’s not by accident that in a single day they make abortion a felony, pass a resolution to impeach Obama, and advanced the transgendered bathroom bill, trying to make them (transgender people) more radioactive,” said Walters, a Democrat.

“I think it’s because they had expected and hoped they had gotten a pass because their irresponsible budget policy cut taxes by a billion dollars. … They assumed it would be attributed to another gas and oil cycle. That sorta got found out.”

12189536_10156353938495438_2871307590297588335_n
Former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters
Walters said GOP lawmakers “realized as they were getting tagged with the budget catastrophe.”

“They needed to pull out the old dog whistle issues for their base. You don’t get that much crazy in one day by accident, even in Oklahoma state government.”

Oklahoma State Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, in that same Post story, said the transgender bathroom bill came up all of a sudden, in the midst of important education funding debates.

“But while students in my district were quite literally marching in the streets to the Capitol to plead with the Legislature to do something about how the budget shortfall will affect their schools, we were addressing something that virtually no one had contacted me about and that was arguably not a pressing issue,” Holt told the Post.

For days, scores of children, educators, parents and other concerned citizens marched on the crumbling Capitol complex in protest, galvanized by more cuts coming to the state’s stressed public education system, culminating in a protest dubbed “Let’s Fix This,” visitors were greeted with a last-minute dodge.

The legislators took a three-hour break.

Educators, parents, students and others converged on the Capitol last week for a protest of state education funding cuts. Photo courtesy of Together Oklahoma
Educators, parents, students and others converged on the Capitol last week for a protest of state education funding cuts. Photo courtesy of Together Oklahoma
For lifelong Oklahoman and award-winning novelist Rilla Askew, the situation was a historic call to action, met with an equally historic rebuke.

“I am really concerned about the deep cuts to education; that’s what got me down there today,” Askew said late last week as the session wound down. “They are driving our state into the ground. That’s the reason I went there.”

The Capitol was awash with youths and adults in red T-shirts, the uniform of the Fix-It movement. However, when the time came for children, parents and educators to meet with their respective representatives, they got a surprise, Askew said.

“When it looked like the people there for the demonstration were going to find their legislator, they canceled the session and told them (the lawmakers) they don’t have to be back until the late afternoon. They just disappeared on us, on the people who came there to demonstrate,” she said.

The House and Senate were not the only places where indifference and even ignorance held sway.

One teacher, Toby Decker, met briefly with Fallin, whom he described as out of touch on one of the more striking pieces of legislation to find its way to her desk: elimination of the EITC, or Earned Income Tax Credit.

The credit is a tax cut specifically for poor working families making less than $25,000 a year. Elimination of the credit has the effect of a tax increase on those families and it passed over the strident pleas of House Minority Leader Scott Inman and others.

Decker said he’d gone to the capitol as part of the education protest. In this case, he visited Fallin’s office to drop off a letter, but managed to catch the governor on her way out.

“I didn’t expect to see her at all,” Decker said.

She was walking with a group of men, a cell phone pressed to her ear. She seemed in a hurry. He spoke up.

“I said, ‘Hi, my name is Toby Decker. I would really like you to consider vetoing the bill the Legislature has passed to eliminate the EITC.’”

Decker said Fallin gave him a blank look for a moment and said, “What is the EITC?”

Asked to oppose a controversial bill that raised taxes on the poor, known as the EITC, Gov. Mary Fallin reportedly told a constituent she didn't know what EITC stood for. Photo courtesy NewsOn6
Asked to oppose a controversial bill that raised taxes on the poor, known as the EITC, Gov. Mary Fallin reportedly told a constituent she didn’t know what EITC stood for. Photo courtesy NewsOn6
“I was completely astonished by her question,” Decker said, but explained to Fallin that he was referring to the Earned Income Tax Credit.

“It dawned on her what I was talking about. I was dumbfounded that she didn’t know what I was talking about.”

Decker explained cutting the EITC would hurt his students, many of whom either have parents who are single working parents—or who themselves are working parents. Fallin may have been caught off-guard by the acronym but she shouldn’t have been if she and the Legislature were going to eliminate the credit to essentially raise taxes on the poor.

“That’s a major bill that’s going to affect thousands of Oklahomans and it’s one way that the Republicans have decided to close the budget hole. … I may have caught her off-guard. But I couldn’t believe she didn’t know what I was talking about. … I definitely think that she is out of touch.”

The Times’ editorial called eliminating the tax credit for poor people “deplorable.”

“After years of enacting generous tax cuts for the wealthy and for the powerful oil industry, however, the Oklahoma Legislature was facing falling revenues and resorted to an assortment of questionable cuts to close a $1.3 billion deficit. None is more regressive than penalizing the working poor.”

The editorial noted that the cut will save the state just $29 million, about 2 percent of its overall budget hole. However, it takes away $312 from a family with three or more children and a parent earning $13,850 annually.

Some GOP lawmakers have said the state can’t afford to sacrifice its dwindling revenues in order to help low-income people make ends meet. Sen. Pro Tem Brian Bingman blamed the media for giving the public the wrong impression that lawmakers are only focused on social issues such as abortion and not on the budget.

Bingman’s comments came hours after lawmakers passed a bill that would have made performing an abortion illegal in Oklahoma. It is highly unlikely such a bill, vetoed by Fallin, would survive a constitutional challenge.

Nobody’s ‘Laffing’ now

University of Oklahoma political scientist Keith Gaddie, a longtime Capitol observer, said the Legislature is running up hard against the reality of the rhetoric individual legislators have been espousing throughout their careers.

“These guys are doing what they said they would run to do. Keep taxes low and cut government,” Gaddie said.

“The problem they are going to run into is, you go from five day a week school to a four-day a week school, and then people have to pay for daycare. Grandma gets sick and the hospital has been closed. The hospice is closed. The nursing home has closed. This is an unprecedented event in turning back public services in the state of Oklahoma.”

Gaddie said the Legislature’s recent behavior is “a step backward to a much more dangerous and less safe time.”

When Fallin signed the state’s tax cut bill into law in May 2013, she announced it would pump $237 million additional dollars into the state economy, unleashing “an important tool for job creation and economic development,” according to her release.

The conservative Oklahoma Council for Public Affairs (OCPA), which lobbied hard for the cuts, lauded the Governor’s move. OCPA invoked the predictions of the plan’s architect, Reaganomics proponent Arthur Laffer.

At the time, Michael McNutt was a reporter for The Oklahoman. Now Fallin’s spokesman, McNutt had penned an interview quoting Laffer in 2011: “It’ll lead to a lot faster growth for Oklahoma. You’ve been a very good performing state … but you still have a way to go to be really superb,” Laffer told McNutt. “Your income tax is your primary deterrent to further economic growth.”

Laffer predicted if Oklahoma eliminated its income tax over the next decade, all boats would be lifted.

“You’ll have more sales, you’ll have more people moving in, property values rising,” he said.

But instead of acknowledging the predictions clearly haven’t panned out, OCPA was at the Capitol again last week, stumping against the Medicaid Rebalancing Act. The act would have included a cigarette tax and expansion of the state’s Medicaid program with federal dollars.

Despite the state’s gaping $1.3 billion budget hole and the act’s bland name — designed to avoid describing what the proposal would actually do — lawmakers defeated the act.

“I think the crassness of it surprises me a bit,” Walters said. “Any of us who have served in public office and make political decisions … that deal on Medicaid is a shocker.”

Walters said the state’s defeat of the Medicaid expansion “is going to cost real lives, thousands of lives in Oklahoma because of their failure to fund health care properly.”

“People are going to die as a result of their irresponsible acts. That’s going to get cumulative. As the error of our electoral ways become apparent, people are going to cycle back and elect serious adults who want to represent Oklahomans instead of some crazy ideology.”

A dramatic shift may not happen this election, Gaddie said, but the problems created by the budget shortfall aren’t going away.

The budget hole was closed with the help of accounting tricks such as transferring $200 million in road funding that will be replaced by bond issue funds. That’s the equivalent of using a high-interest credit card to buy groceries and not paying off the balance for years.

Gaddie and other veteran observers of Oklahoma politics say it’s unlikely voters’ anger will subside just because lawmakers have adjourned.

“It’s a one-year fix. We’re going to be back in the same fix next year. They’ve done nothing to create new sources of revenue,” he said. “We’re going to find out, and they are going to be held accountable.”

Frontier Editor in Chief Ziva Branstetter contributed to this story.

For the Frontier

Wait, I thought we were going to be fine because there is plenty of money and there will not be a budget shortfall. That's what we were all told. Hell, the legislator voted on it and I believe every single Republican confirmed that we would not have a revenue failure so we can go ahead with additional tax cuts and subsidies.

This is a manufactured crisis. Designed and created to make a budget shortfall and thereby give them an opportunity to kill programs they don't like. Environmental quality. Dam inspections (2000 dams and we will be down to 20 inspectors). Higher education. Public education. Mine & Manufacturing safety inspection. Social programs. Find something on the cut list that really pains the right wingers.

Step 1: Cut taxes and give away money
Step 2: Run out of money and pretend to be surprised
Step 3: Destroy programs the party platform speaks out against




I like conservative government. Real, pragmatic conservative government. One that admits it isn't the answer to all of your problems. That knows it cannot create jobs. One that acknowledges there are core services that it needs to do well to enable the citizens to proposer on their own: education, infrastructure, public safety, and yes - providing a safety net. I will even add aiding in the quality of life of its citizens (parks, museums, libraries, public beauty. These aren't "just" luxuries).  Above all, provide stability.

Pragmatic in that you have to acknowledge that some ideologically driven decisions are stupid. Refusing a billion dollars a year because you hate Obama is stupid. Passing unconstitutional laws that you expect to be thrown out is stupid. Passing hateful symbolic laws that have cost other states measurable GDP is stupid. Spending time during the session to erect religious monuments for the State while waiting for the last day to do the budget is stupid.  In each of those instances, the pragmatic decision is to tackle your ideological issue using other means, because the direct approach only makes your statement, it doesn't help your state.

If the Democrats had all the offices, I'm sure they would be doing stupid crap and I'd be happy to jump them too. But for the last ~ decade in Oklahoma, that hasn't been the case. This is an embarrassment.

Ziva Branstetter with The Frontier takes a stab at just how bad our legislature is.  It’s so bad and corrupt it seems, even shamed and corrupt former governor David Walters is chiming in.

Not quite sure the bathroom encounter at the McDonald’s on the Turner Turnpike between some some mis-guided Christian zealot and a lesbian is really essential to the story, but please stick with it to the end.

Whether the legislators have their tax sources replenished or not, the public will feel the effect of any oil recovery and tend to forget the failure of the state republican regime to govern effectively. Then they will resume their tilting against windmills and pass out the largesse to the top of the pyramid. That is our historical behavior.

I keep hoping this session will get people to see just how broken the Oklahoma GOP has become.

I keep hoping this session will get people to see just how broken the Oklahoma GOP has become.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Supreme Court has thrown out another state law that would put new restrictions on abortion providers.

In a unanimous opinion handed down Tuesday, all nine justices agreed that the statute adopted by the Legislature last year "contains different and unrelated purposes" in violation of the Oklahoma constitution's requirement that legislation cover a single subject.

The law encompasses four abortion-related topics: minors and parental consent; tissue preservation; inspection of clinics; and legal liability for abortion providers.

The New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights challenged the law and the state's highest court subsequently blocked it from going into effect. The center sued on behalf of Dr. Larry Burns of Norman, who performs nearly half of Oklahoma's abortions.

Oklahoma's attorney general didn't immediately respond to a request for comment early Tuesday.

What? Me worry?!
Pruitt thinks he's the next governor. Not gonna' happen.

I certainly hope that both parties nominate someone better.

The idea of Pruitt running for governor isn’t what is scary.  It’s the idea there are people in this state who would vote for this idiot.

The idea of Pruitt running for governor isn’t what is scary.  It’s the idea there are people in this state who would vote for this idiot.

One step further - seeing the amount of support Drumpf gets, Pruitt is a shoe-in.

Remember, they booed Failin at the last OSU football game. Isn't that her alma mater? She may have peed in his bathwater.

Remember, they booed Failin at the last OSU football game. Isn't that her alma mater? She may have peed in his bathwater.

You mean when he runs for Governor, right?

Anyone who served in her administration or in the state legislature during her tenure should not be allowed to run for governor, state office or legislature. Republican or Democrat. Blank slate. Can I get an Amen and a petition started!?

‘Do you beat your wife?’

Three Muslim students who tried to visit an Oklahoma lawmaker Thursday at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City were surprised when they were instead handed a questionnaire at his office. They would have to fill out the survey first, an office assistant told them, before they could make an appointment to see state Rep. John Bennett.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/03/05/muslim-students-tried-to-meet-with-a-lawmaker-they-were-first-asked-do-you-beat-your-wife/

If there is one shining victory in Drumpf being POTUS is that we managed to get rid of Scott Pruitt!

That is at least one small improvement for our state.

Arent we lucky to have a legislature caring enough to overturn the vote of the people to address the concerns of the lobyists?

We are just doing what the people hired us to do!

(Excuse me sir, the people directly voted on that issue and disagree with you)

The people are dumb enough to have elected me, clearly they are too stupid to know what is best for them!

So, legislators can take the duties of courts because courts do their duty. No, hypocrisy there. Only a lawyer could embrace that philosophy with a straight face. Why even separate the three branches? Just let the legislators do it all.

The Oklahoma Senate killed a measure Thursday to stop cities from offering enhanced anti-discrimination protections.

Senate Bill 694 would limit employment, housing and public accommodations protections to those classes in state law: race, color, national origin, sex, religion, creed, age, disability or genetic information. Cities and other local governments would not be able to offer such protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The measure would also have eliminated any such rules on the books, such as Tulsa’s 2015 fair housing ordinance that offers protections to the LGBTQ community.

Bill author Joshua Brecheen framed the matter as one of religious freedom.

"We are facing, as a culture this decision: Is the First Amendment going to be subordinate to sexual behavior?" Brecheen said.

Sen. Kevin Matthews of Tulsa didn’t like what that suggested.

"It's very disappointing to me when discrimination is being mentioned in the same breath as choice," Matthews said. "I did not choose to be African-American. I was born that way, and whether people are nice to me when they discriminate ... does not matter."

In a committee hearing on SB694 last month, Brecheen said business owners want the ability to "object to something but do it in a loving manner and it not be categorized as discrimination."

Former Tuttle Mayor and Republican freshman Sen. Lonnie Paxton called the measure a bad bill for the Senate, for the state and for the future.

"For the last summer and fall, I spent that time knocking doors of thousands of Oklahoma citizens. I never had one person open the door and say, 'Pass a bill like this,'" Paxton said. "They said fix our economy. Fix our schools. Fix our state."

Brecheen and other supporters of the bill also said it would address business concerns presented by a patchwork of differing regulations.

SB694 failed 18–25 and will not be revisited this session, as a motion to reconsider it also failed.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma blasts a house bill, calling it a blatant attempt to resurrect a Ten Commandments Monument on public land…despite a clear ruling stating its’ unconstitutionality. Allie Shinn is Director of External Affairs of the Oklahoma ACLU.

Shinn points out voters resoundingly defeated a state question in November that would have removed some barriers between church and state, allowing such a monument. She says any further attempt to put a religious monument on capitol grounds is ‘a monumental waste of time and money’. She’s urging citizens to contact senators to vote no on House Bill 2177.

And...

The ACLU Condemns a Bill that would Allow the Resurrection of a Ten Commandments Monument at Capitol

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/aclu-condemns-bill-would-allow-resurrection-ten-commandments-monument-capitol (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/aclu-condemns-bill-would-allow-resurrection-ten-commandments-monument-capitol)

Dad...gum

A House committee advances a science education bill panned by critics as unnecessary and an opening for misinformation.

Rep. David Brumbaugh says the intent of Senate Bill 393 is to promote critical thinking by exposing students to a broader range of scientific data than what textbooks offer.

"Aristotle, even this far back, talked about that, that, you know, the mind that can entertain, uh, different thoughts without, you know, changing their mind but looking — reason obeys itself, OK?" Brumbaugh said.

The bill says teachers may help students evaluate controversial theories without state or local administrators interfering. It also offers teachers protection against being fired or sued, which critics say thwarts local control.

Beth Allan is a past or current member of several science teachers organizations and says none supports the bill.

"This bill will not prepare students to be competitive in a very competitive environment," Allan said. "Our STEM workforce must know accurate science that is verified."

Critics say the bill is aimed at climate change and evolution and is meant to infuse science with Biblical theories. The bill says it is not intended to favor a religion and deals only with scientific information.

Brumbaugh said critics are wrong to claim SB393 will damage Oklahoma schools’ reputations.

"Doesn't promote anything wacko. Doesn't promote anything but free discussion in the classroom," Brumbaugh said.

Aysha Prather disagreed. Her sixth-grader recently learned about giants not for a lesson in skepticism but because the teacher thought they’re interesting.

"So, here are some other things that people might find intriguing and might choose to share with their classes: Bigfoot, a flat Earth, Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, that the pyramids were built by aliens," Prather said.

SB393 passed the House government and general accountability committee rather than the education committee.

House Committee Passes Controversial Science Education Bill

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/house-committee-passes-controversial-science-education-bill (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/house-committee-passes-controversial-science-education-bill)

We're represented by GD nincompoops

The bill says it is not intended to favor a religion science and deals only with scientific information religious fact.

House Committee Passes Controversial Science Education Bill


Rep. David Brumbaugh says the intent of Senate Bill 393 is to promote critical thinking by exposing students to a broader range of scientific data than what textbooks offer.

"Aristotle, even this far back, talked about that, that, you know, the mind that can entertain, uh, different thoughts without, you know, changing their mind but looking — reason obeys itself, OK?" Brumbaugh said.

“Where do they teach you people to talk like that?  Some Panama City sailor wanna hump-hump bar?”

And yet, someone keeps voting for these people.  I know it isn't me....

"in the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king".

House Committee Passes Controversial Science Education Bill

A House committee advances a science education bill panned by critics as unnecessary and an opening for misinformation.

Rep. David Brumbaugh says the intent of Senate Bill 393 is to promote critical thinking by exposing students to a broader range of scientific data than what textbooks offer.

"Aristotle, even this far back, talked about that, that, you know, the mind that can entertain, uh, different thoughts without, you know, changing their mind but looking — reason obeys itself, OK?" Brumbaugh said.

The bill says teachers may help students evaluate controversial theories without state or local administrators interfering. It also offers teachers protection against being fired or sued, which critics say thwarts local control.

Beth Allan is a past or current member of several science teachers organizations and says none supports the bill.

"This bill will not prepare students to be competitive in a very competitive environment," Allan said. "Our STEM workforce must know accurate science that is verified."

Critics say the bill is aimed at climate change and evolution and is meant to infuse science with Biblical theories. The bill says it is not intended to favor a religion and deals only with scientific information.

Brumbaugh said critics are wrong to claim SB393 will damage Oklahoma schools’ reputations.

"Doesn't promote anything wacko. Doesn't promote anything but free discussion in the classroom," Brumbaugh said.

Aysha Prather disagreed. Her sixth-grader recently learned about giants not for a lesson in skepticism but because the teacher thought they’re interesting.

"So, here are some other things that people might find intriguing and might choose to share with their classes: Bigfoot, a flat Earth, Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, that the pyramids were built by aliens," Prather said.

SB393 passed the House government and general accountability committee rather than the education committee.

We're represented by GD nincompoops

And Brumbaugh died suddenly on Saturday.  Apparently a World editorial writer ripped him pretty good not realizing he’d passed, then they published a gushing “He was close to Christ” sort of retraction/apology yesterday.

“In a recent meeting I hosted with major national site selection companies, an executive asked me how he could persuade businesses to come to Oklahoma when some of our schools have four-day education weeks,” Fallin said.

This freaking nut job wants more power.

BA State Senator to Run for Congress

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/ba-state-senator-run-congress (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/ba-state-senator-run-congress)

(http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kwgs/files/styles/large/public/201705/nathan_dahm.png)

Nathan Dahm

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A new Republican caucus in the Oklahoma House is suggesting that more than 80,000 non-English speaking students in public schools be turned over to federal immigration officials.

Broken Arrow Republican Rep. Mike Ritze told News9 in an interview Wednesday that the newly created Republican Platform Caucus believes the state could save $60 million if it would identify what the caucus believes is 82,000 non-English speaking students "and then turn them over to ICE" (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to determine if they are citizens.

It's unclear from the segment if he was referring to turning over the students' names or the students themselves.

Ritze also questioned whether the state should have to educate children who aren't citizens.


A 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision holds states cannot deny students a free public education based on their immigration status.

Ritze wasn't at the Capitol on Thursday and didn't reply to phone messages or emails.

"This proposal might be laughable if it weren’t made at the expense of real human beings, common decency, and the United States Constitution," said Ryan Kiesel, ACLU of Oklahoma executive director. "Threatening 82,000 children with arrest and internment that would turn their entire lives upside down is disgustingly inhumane."

Broken Arrow lawmaker's idea to target non-English-speaking students, 'turn them over to ICE' criticized

We've got some real A-holes in power

When you know things like religious monuments on state property are against the law but you do it anyway, you tend to think of yourself as above the law.

The legislature getting a nice party for screwing the state and not raising taxes on O&G:

https://www.thelostogle.com/2017/05/17/oil-and-gas-association-is-throwing-a-party-for-oklahoma-lawmakers/#more-72090

Is the story untrue?

A former Oklahoma lawmaker who was convicted of embezzlement says he's considering running for an executive office in 2018.

67-year-old Leo Kingston was a first-term senator when he was convicted in 1990 after a federal grand jury indicted him for defrauding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Kingston served three years of an eight-year sentence.

Kingston returned to real estate after prison and sold his business last year. He now runs a website that deals with commercial real estate and mineral rights.

Kingston announced on Facebook Saturday that he's thinking about running for labor commissioner, saying he's "risen from the ashes" and believes in second chances.

Felons are legally required to wait 15 years after completing a sentence before running for office.

When you see this and think - "maybe all our current sexual deviant congressmen will have another chance..."

Former Oklahoma Lawmaker, Felon Considers Running for Office

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/former-oklahoma-lawmaker-felon-considers-running-office (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/former-oklahoma-lawmaker-felon-considers-running-office)

And now we have another guy running for office in Oklahoma gonna "fix" our problems by finding waste in government and cutting it out.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/government/cigarette-fee-ruled-unconstitutional-by-oklahoma-supreme-court/article_948028d8-a7b0-5835-99ef-7b5c1ff4eaa2.html

...and now for Chapter 2

Oklahoma lawmakers have sent letters to state agencies requesting they give hypothetical results for a more than 3 percent budget cut.

The Oklahoman reports that the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down a $1.50 cigarette fee earlier this month after Justices called it a tax. Legislative leaders are now inquiring how agencies would be affected by an across-the-board budget cut to make up for the lost fee.

The letters sent Thursday and Monday also asked the agencies how a cut in state appropriations would affect federal matching dollars.

Lawmakers and Gov. Mary Fallin have discussed how they might solve the state's latest budget crisis, which may lead to a special session. The special session would give lawmakers the opportunity to modify the state budget and spread the cut across other agencies.

Lawmakers Prepare for Budget Cuts Ahead

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/lawmakers-prepare-budget-cuts-ahead (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/lawmakers-prepare-budget-cuts-ahead)

Health care for Oklahoma’s poorest children will take a $49 million dollar hit because of congressional inaction.

Federal lawmakers did not reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, by a Saturday deadline. Cate Jeffries with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority said they can prolong the program if they essentially start buying on credit.

"We can continue to fund the CHIP program through state fiscal year 2018, which ends June 30, by pushing out some of our provider claim runs into the next fiscal year," Jeffries said.

Other states may have to shut down programs as early as next week. Around 125,000 Oklahoma kids get everything from immunizations to inpatient care through CHIP.

With the loss of $70 million because of Oklahoma’s unconstitutional cigarette tax, the health care authority’s total shortfall for this year is nearly $120 million. They'll likely cut payments to doctors and hospitals to make up for the loss.

The savings are "approximately $8.6 million for every 1 percent decrease in provider rates," said OHCA CEO Becky Pasternik-Ikard.

Covering the budget shortfall entirely through provider rate cuts would mean about a 14 percent cut.

Oklahoma is a destitute family on the side of the road too stupid to pick up the money thrown at them.

The Guardian:  Oklahoma is broken (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/29/oklahoma-education-system-four-day-school-weeks-poor)

Congress Lets Insurance Program for Poor Children Expire, Oklahoma to Lose $49M

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/congress-lets-insurance-program-poor-children-expire-oklahoma-lose-49m (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/congress-lets-insurance-program-poor-children-expire-oklahoma-lose-49m)

Oklahoma is a destitute family on the side of the road too stupid to pick up the money thrown at them.

This is from The Lost Ogle. Apparently the Daily Oklahoman, that definitive source of news, sports and weather on Bizarro World, has laid all the state's budget woes squarely on us Democrats. Never mind that the Republicans enjoy super majorities in both legislative branches and they have a compliant, ideologically driven governor.

https://www.thelostogle.com/2017/10/02/the-oklahoman-blames-democrats-for-states-continued-dysfunction/ (https://www.thelostogle.com/2017/10/02/the-oklahoman-blames-democrats-for-states-continued-dysfunction/)

As if we needed further proof of just how sorry the OK state legislature is - they have only known about this for many years.  And even in the latest 'special session' continue their Failin' - every step of the way!  Get your passport ready for January 22, 2018 !  You won't be able to fly without it.

We've done more than know about it, Oklahoma legislators voted unanimously to reject REAL ID in 2007.

I heard mention the other day that pay and benefit cuts could be on the table for the Ok legislature.

Noise.  It will end up a raise all around.

Governor Fallin and the Republican leadership of the House and Senate announce a budget agreement. The announcement was made at a state capitol news conference this morning:

If passed by the Legislature, the agreement would:

Place a $1.50 tax on a package of cigarettes.

Provide for a 6-cent fuel tax increase.

Revise taxes on alcoholic beverages.

Restore the Earned Income Tax credit.

Provide for a $3,000 teacher pay increase, effective Aug. 1, 2018.

Provide for a $1,000 increase for state employees, effective Aug. 1, 2018. It does not pertain to higher education, legislators or constitutional officers, such as statewide elected officials and judges.

The plan does not include an increase in the gross production tax on oil and natural gas. That is something Democrats have demanded.

Oklahoma House Minority Leader Scott Inman announced he is no longer running for governor — and he’s resigning from the legislature at the beginning of 2018.

Inman made the announcement on Facebook and Twitter Wednesday afternoon as the House debated Republicans’ $442 million plan to fix the state budget.

Inman did not vote Wednesday on Republicans’ budget proposal and was only briefly on the floor to ask questions about it.

"Why is it financially smart for us to vote for a plan that would require more one-time money and still leave a $400 million budget hole next year?" Inman said.

Inman said he can no longer ask his wife and children to sacrifice for him in his political career. He says he’s staying to see special session work completed.

He encouraged Oklahomans to continue pushing for public education, health care, criminal justice reform and a fair tax structure.

Anybody know what they got on him?

Inman Quits Oklahoma Governor's Race, Will Resign from Legislature

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/inman-quits-oklahoma-governors-race-will-resign-legislature (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/inman-quits-oklahoma-governors-race-will-resign-legislature)

So essentially you are saying that the DNC have been doomsayers since 1992?

They got it wrong for so long that when they finally get it right it appears that they are prophets!

So essentially you are saying that the DNC have been doomsayers since 1992?

They got it wrong for so long that when they finally get it right it appears that they are prophets!

Rumor on social media is that there is a pregnant staffer.

So the higher tax proposed for low point beer...won't low point beer cease to be once QT can carry high point beer?

State Rep. Scott Biggs, a three-term Chickasha Republican who has recently opposed changes in Oklahoma's criminal justice system, has announced his resignation effective immediately. Biggs resigned Thursday in a letter to House Speaker Charles McCall, in which he said he'd accepted a federal appointment effective immediately. He didn't specify what his new job will be but said he believes he "can do much more for out state as I work to promote the agriculture industry in Oklahoma."

Biggs Leaves Legislature

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/biggs-leaves-legislature (http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/biggs-leaves-legislature)

These jackasses need to pay for the special elections they force.

See, we don't have this problem in New Mexico, they just go to the state house in Santa Fe to die, apparently.  Our state representative has been in office since 1973.  He's so old school he doesn't use email- serious.  Our state senator has been ensconced er in office since 1991.

Hey, they may be old and corrupt, but they don't cause daily embarrassments.

These jackasses need to pay for the special elections they force.

Bad Laws Cost Oklahoma Millions in Court and in Lost Opportunity

Passed legislation, that even the non-legal scholar understands as unconstitutional, is costing this state millions in court. Dollars, many will tell you, we don't have to spend. Oklahoma has supplied material for late night comics and internet ridicule.

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/bad-laws-cost-oklahoma-millions-court-and-lost-opportunity

So Jenks just elected a Democrat to the state senate.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma legislators have been raising thousands of dollars from lobbyists at lavish fundraisers during a special session limping into its eighth week, yet they've failed to make much progress toward plugging a $215 million hole in the state budget.

The Associated Press obtained invitations to a dozen scheduled fundraisers for some of the Legislature's top Republican leaders, including the powerful chairs of the appropriations committees in the House and Senate.

Legislators can face up to a year in jail and fines for accepting contributions from lobbyists during the regular session that runs from February to May. But that misdemeanor crime doesn't apply during the special session now limping into its eighth week.

State House and Senate members are taking full advantage, raising money for elections a year away.

Everyone is corrupt.  But you are so right - we never hear about NM doing the stupid stuff we do here!!

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Nearly two weeks after an arrest warrant was issued for a New Mexico man running for Congress, police found him at an Albuquerque apartment complex.

What he’s been doing since the warrant was issued out of Santa Fe, is a mystery.

Democrat David Alcon is running for the state’s open District 2 Congressional Seat. Now, he’s behind bars for allegedly stalking a woman in Santa Fe.

A woman attending a Halloween party on October 28 at a hotel in Santa Fe said she started receiving persistent texts from Alcon — some suggesting that he was watching her, other messages professing his love for her, and one picture of his genitals.

Later that night, the woman said Alcon texted her again, that he was outside her apartment.

A warrant for Alcon’s arrest was issued on October 30. Now, rather than turning himself into Santa Fe police, Alcon was arrested Friday in Albuquerque.

Albuquerque Police were called to the Villa De San Felipe Apartments for a welfare check around 3:30 p.m. on Friday. APD did not elaborate on what happened when they got to the scene, just that Alcon was arrested. He’s also not facing any new charges out of Albuquerque, according to jail records.

At this time it’s unclear why Alcon was there. All of his publicly listed addresses are for Milan, New Mexico.

Alcon is now sitting in MDC on a no-bond hold so he can be extradited to Santa Fe. KRQE News 13 reached out to Alcon’s campaign for comment, but have not heard back.

Alcon was previously convicted of stalking a woman in 2007.

Close enough?  

http://krqe.com/2017/11/12/new-mexico-congressional-candidate-arrested-on-stalking-charge/

Close enough?  

http://krqe.com/2017/11/12/new-mexico-congressional-candidate-arrested-on-stalking-charge/

OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation filed by Sen. Nathan Dahm would make Oklahoma’s wildlife the property of “Almighty God” instead of the state.

The measure has been criticized by some as a waste of time and money.

But Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, said the measure is in part in response to some game wardens who made broad statements about their authority and jurisdiction.

“Several game wardens have said that because the state owns the wildlife and they represent the state, therefore, they own the wildlife, and constituents and citizens don’t have rights regarding that and they need to do as they are told,” said Dahm, who is running for Congress. “Things like that.”

J.D. Strong, director of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said he has been able to work with Dahm in the past and will work with him on this measure, Senate Bill 1457.

To bring the state in line with other states, the wording in current law could be changed from saying all wildlife in Oklahoma is the property of the state to the property of the “people of the state,” Strong said.

Strong said Dahm might have had a bad experience with a game warden, but he said that in no way reflects on the vast majority of game wardens who put their lives on the line to protect the public and wildlife.

Sen. J.J. Dossett, D-Owasso, said that while he doesn’t disagree with Dahm’s bill, he called it a waste of time and taxpayers’ money.

Legislative priorities should be fixing the state’s budget problems and funding core services, Dossett said.

The bill seems to distract from those efforts, he said.

“I think it is par for the course for the majority caucus at the moment to focus on distractions during an election cycle” instead of focusing on the reality of the state’s fiscal crisis, said Rep. Cory Williams, D-Stillwater.

Dahm said the bill is not one of his priorities and noted that he has filed several other measures dealing with the budget.

Williams said of the bill: “You would think it would not get a hearing, but sometimes, as you well know, in the horse trading business, in order to get that fringe part of the party’s support and vote, sometimes they trade it for hearings on a bill that would otherwise not see the light of day.”

Rep. Bobby Cleveland, R-Slaughterville, didn’t have a problem with Dahm’s measure.

“I agree that wildlife doesn’t belong to the Wildlife Department,” Cleveland said. “It belongs to almighty God.”

Dahm is no stranger to controversial measures.

In 2016, he filed Senate bill that would allow the revocation of medical licenses for physicians who performed abortions, essentially banning the procedure.

Gov. Mary Fallin, who is pro-life, vetoed the bill, saying the measure was vague and would not withstand a constitutional legal challenge.

STATE OF OKLAHOMA
             2nd Session of the 56th Legislature (2018)
SENATE BILL 1457 By: Dahm
                            AS INTRODUCED
       An Act relating to wildlife; amending 29 O.S. 2011,
       Section 7-204, which relates to ownership of
       wildlife; making all wildlife found in the state
       property of God; authorizing the management of
       wildlife according to statutes; and providing an
       effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
    SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     29 O.S. 2011, Section 7-204, is
amended to read as follows:
    Section 7-204.  All wildlife found in this state is the property
of the state Almighty God.  The people of the State of Oklahoma
place the authority to manage all wildlife pursuant to the Oklahoma
Legislature.
    SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2018.
             56-2-2652 QD
1/18/2018 5:12:18 PM
Req. No. 2652
Page 1

Nathan Dahm has authored legislation to declare wildlife the property of "Almighty God" not the state of Oklahoma.  Keep in mind, this assclown wants to be your new representative to replace Jim Bridenstine in Washington.

Double-checking the actual bill text since I don't trust the media to accurately convey much of anything political, it's for real.  I wonder if God thinks He needs Nathan do to his bidding for Him?

He is exactly what BA wants and even insists on.  But look who runs the show out there - Rhema Bible Cult.   And First Baptist.   Lifechurch.TV is starting to take away some of their customers, so I kinda expect some "jostling" in the church arena there.


You keep saying you don't 'trust' the media, but then when you verify, you find that for the most part, they are right.  80%?  90%??  Maybe you can trust them a little bit after all...  

I saw this last week.  As an avid hunter, I have all kinds of issues with this wording.  There is a fringe element that objects to all hunting regulations.  If the wildlife belongs to "God", then how does state have regulatory authority?   I guess if you are religious, everything is "God's", but that does not subjugate the need for solid National and State regulations.  I think the revised terminology of "owned by the people of the state", or similar, makes sense.

I think the revised terminology of "owned by the people of the state", or similar, makes sense.

I've never done a statistical survey on it.  There's often a lot of interpretation of the meaning of proposed bills by whomever is reporting on it or editing it.  

Too much of what is published is a headline and or first few paragraphs which construe a quote or issue one way then you read the entire story and the facts don't necessarily bear out what the original intent of the article was but they hooked you in with a headline and sound bite.  Too many op-ed pieces pass as non-biased journalism these days.  Before the internet and 24 hour news cycle there was a much clearer delineation between the two.  I often wonder how many people actually read entire articles anymore or just clip and paste the facts they wanted to mine from the Googles to win an on-line argument or bolster their own personal beliefs.  

My father-in-law is one of the worst offenders...and a huge Trump supporter but we love him anyway.  

People take Huff-Poo or Brighttfart as factual news sites when there is a genuine bias in their political reporting.

The Tulsa Whirled ran a daily troop death count in the A section during the entire Bush II administration- to the best of my recollection.  That little nugget disappeared after Obama took office.  Coincidence?  Editorial bias?

I will say this, amongst political beat reporters, Barbara Hoberock with the Whirled's OKC Capitol Bureau has done an admirable job of reporting facts and keeping her own beliefs out of it.  I have no idea which way she swings politically, but she is pretty old school when it comes to her reporting.

I take everything with truck loads of salt....  never take anything as true until can see same/similar from several independent sources.  (Not like Brightfart, Drudge, Fake Fox - since they all are the same.) 


I also don't have a problem with someone's "bias" if they still report things in a truly balanced fashion.   NPR usually has a more liberal position than not, but they go out of their way to be what Fake Fox News lies about every minute of every day - Fair and Balanced.  I often find myself asking why they are letting some RWRE and/or LWRE come on and say carp that is patently false as proven by wide range of second sources.  Because they do provide in-depth and balanced coverage.

HuffPo is definitely biased and occasionally tends to drop the ball on balance, but I can still get all the sides from all the different places I look, so it works. 

I listen to Fake Fox News quite a bit and the KRMG daily clowns (up until the last few months of last year when I got away from radio in general for quite a while) - I just don't accept their lies like so many others do.  There is seldom anything fair or balanced presented there.

We have a really good regional radio station out of Raton which reaches about a 60 mile radius.  It is primarily local reporting and a little nationally-syndicated news on the hour from outlets like ABC but no political commentary programming.  Their noon hour is pretty folksy: obituaries, the local classifieds, and events around the area.  They do a fantastic service for our region.  Their music programming is one of the most eclectic I have ever heard.  We get two feeds for NPR in this area.  I usually enjoy their programming.  The political stuff may be somewhat balanced, but their editing leans very far left.

I can't even think when the last time was I've seen anything on Fox.  The last thing we saw on CNN was New Year's Eve in Times Square.  We rarely turn the tube on anymore.  I don't even log in to Facebook very often and if I see political rants in my feed I generally keep scrolling.  I guess you could say we have become pretty unplugged and more concerned about our local community where we can make a difference instead of worrying about the macro-political scene.  I find it pretty gratifying.  We've been out here in Cimarron almost a year and it has been an extremely transformational one.  We've become very active in the local schools, Civic Club and Chamber of Commerce but I did resist the temptation to run for mayor or village council this time around.  I always figured I could do more for the community as the subversive type, not someone in an elected position  ;)

Man, I am seriously envious.  I am writing this as I sit on a plane in-route from SLC to PHX and then on to MSP, back home in TUL tomorrow night.  (You know you travel too much when you identify the cities by their airport ID's...)   I'm heading that way as fast as I can, but it will be 4-5 years before I can get there.   Planning a trip out there this Spring/Summer, and I will be sure to stop by.

We have a really good regional radio station out of Raton which reaches about a 60 mile radius.  It is primarily local reporting and a little nationally-syndicated news on the hour from outlets like ABC but no political commentary programming.  Their noon hour is pretty folksy: obituaries, the local classifieds, and events around the area.  They do a fantastic service for our region.  Their music programming is one of the most eclectic I have ever heard.  We get two feeds for NPR in this area.  I usually enjoy their programming.  The political stuff may be somewhat balanced, but their editing leans very far left.

I can't even think when the last time was I've seen anything on Fox.  The last thing we saw on CNN was New Year's Eve in Times Square.  We rarely turn the tube on anymore.  I don't even log in to Facebook very often and if I see political rants in my feed I generally keep scrolling.  I guess you could say we have become pretty unplugged and more concerned about our local community where we can make a difference instead of worrying about the macro-political scene.  I find it pretty gratifying.  We've been out here in Cimarron almost a year and it has been an extremely transformational one.  We've become very active in the local schools, Civic Club and Chamber of Commerce but I did resist the temptation to run for mayor or village council this time around.  I always figured I could do more for the community as the subversive type, not someone in an elected position  ;)

KOSU in Stillwater becomes kind of a "slicker" folksy mode station at night - they have The Spy radio.  Lots of good music floating around those airwaves.

Going full drift here but what the hell...


107.5FM Tulsa   http://thespyfm.com/about-the-spy/

Lawmakers to move forward with cuts after revenue package fails in the House
House GOP floor leader says the change is needed after revenue plan fails

By Barbara Hoberock Tulsa World Feb 14, 2018 Updated 10 hrs ago 3
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Legislature will move forward with about $45 million in cuts to state agencies after a revenue package failed in the lower chamber, House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols said Tuesday.

The action is needed to close the books on the current fiscal year after the Oklahoma Supreme Court said lawmakers illegally passed a cigarette tax as a fee instead of following the proper procedure, blowing a huge hole in the state budget.

House Bill 1033xx, a $581 million revenue-raising package, failed by 13 votes to secure the supermajority needed for passage in the House.

It was a component of the Step Up Oklahoma plan promoted by civic and business leaders as a means of giving teachers a $5,000 teacher pay raise and providing enough money to pay for core government services.

“The Step Up Oklahoma plan was the only revenue option being discussed,” said Michael McNutt, a spokesman for Gov. Mary Fallin. “The governor’s office will be turning attention to closing the books on the 2018 fiscal year, and then preparing to work with legislative leaders on the 2019 fiscal year.”

“The reality of that plan not passing, with everything that was in it, is there just simply is not a plan that can pass,” said Echols, R-Oklahoma City.

The revenue package would have made changes to the income tax code, added 6 cents to a gallon of gas and diesel, increased the tax on cigarettes by $1.50, added an additional tax to renewable energy such as wind power and hiked the gross production tax to 4 percent from 2 percent.

Officials have said without the additional revenue, key health, human and mental health services would be cut.

The shortfall for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma Health Care Authority and Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for fiscal year 2018 is $67 million, plus another $31 million for the medical schools, said Jason Sutton, a spokesman for House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.

Officials plan to use $53 million in cash to plug holes, leaving $45 million in cuts, Sutton said.

Echols said the cuts will have to be spread out because they can’t all be absorbed by the health care agencies.

Echols said comments that the plan was rushed are worrisome.

The fiscal year 2018 budget is still not done and lawmakers are in their second special session trying to resolve it, Echols said. The current fiscal year ends June 30.

Republicans have a majority in the House, but several of their members, joined by some Democrats, voted against the proposal for a variety of reasons.

Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman, said the plan failed to restore cuts made to the income tax over the last few years.

It put the burden of funding teacher pay raises on the backs of those who could least afford it instead of asking the oil and gas industry and the wealthiest Oklahomans to pay their share, Virgin said.

In addition, the plan was punitive effort by some in the oil and gas industry to punish competitors, such as renewable energy, with unfair taxation, Virgin said.

Democrats also are seeking a restoration of the gross production tax on all wells to 5 percent, Virgin said.

Fallin said she was “disheartened” by the failure of the Step Up Oklahoma plan and blamed Democrats.

“It is discouraging that most Democrats chose politics over people by refusing to vote for this budget package,” the governor said in a prepared statement. “Their no votes resulted in votes against a teacher pay raise, funding our health and human services and protecting our most vulnerable citizens, and against putting our state on a stable budget path forward.

“House Democrats are saying there will be a better budget plan submitted that they can support, but don’t count on it,” Fallin continued. “In November, 23 House Democrats voted for the A+ budget plan, but last night 11 fewer Democrats voted for a bigger and better plan, the Step Up Oklahoma plan. House Democrats keep moving the goalposts and the people of Oklahoma are the ones who lose.”

Step Up Oklahoma put out a statement Tuesday saying its effort “has run its course but the future of the state “is a cause worth the fight.”

“While we are disappointed by yesterday’s news, the coalition members are committed to demanding results from our elected officials,” the statement reads. “From the beginning, we knew passing a package that contained revenue measures would be difficult because of our state’s three-quarter majority threshold. However, we believe we brought forth a balanced, measured plan, one that would benefit our teachers, schools, hospitals, and businesses. Yesterday’s solid turnout of supportive advocates at the Capitol shows us that Oklahomans are ready for a change. They want our problems fixed.”

Bills and proposals initially deemed dead at the Capitol tend to have a way of rising from the ashes.

Nothing is really dead until lawmakers adjourn. The deadline is 5 p.m. the last Friday in May.

“It shouldn’t be the last plan,” said Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore. “The reason we are here is to work out a solution.”

Quinn said he didn’t understand the mentality that cuts were now the only option.

“There have been deals made before and there will be deals made going forward,” Quinn said.

But Senate Majority Floor Leader Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said the only option now is to spread the cuts across agencies and turn toward focusing on fiscal year 2019.

“I see no other plan,” Treat said. “I see a plan to cut and get on with the people’s business.”

Rep. Cory Williams, D-Stillwater, was among those who cast a no vote.

He said Fallin and legislative leadership might be frustrated by their inability to shame Republicans and Democrats into voting for the plan.

Williams said that while the Step Up Oklahoma plan was being billed as Plan A, it was actually closer to Plan Q, adding that several plans have been discussed in the last few months.

“It is hard to believe the state’s official position is that we are going to take our ball and go home on the sixth day of the session,” Williams said.

I believe there is more to this story. I spent yesterday morning at the Capital talking to legislators and this was a complicated bill.

I have faith a better revenue bill will emerge that gives teachers raises and protect social services.

I believe there is more to this story. I spent yesterday morning at the Capital talking to legislators and this was a complicated bill.

I have faith a better revenue bill will emerge that gives teachers raises and protect social services.

I think as long as we have politicians on 23rd and Lincoln beholden to the Oil and Gas industry, then I say good luck with that because as long as that remains the status quo, there will NEVER been tax reform to that industry.

But it is happening. Unfortunately, on their terms.

The plan that just failed this last week was from the oil and gas industry. They saw the frustration from last year when every teacher learned about gross production taxes and found out that Oklahoma was only charging an effective rate of 3.2%.

Now there might be a statewide vote to make it 7%.
https://stateimpact.npr.org/oklahoma/2017/12/21/group-led-by-long-time-energy-leader-seeks-public-vote-to-increase-oil-and-gas-taxes/

So a bunch of oil and gas people form a group that calls for it to be 4%. They dangle $5,000 pay raises to teachers and nobody reads the fine print. They also include legislation to cripple the competitive energy industries. It also lowers the standard deduction for all of us.

Then when 18 republicans and 17 democrats say it ain't enough, they suddenly become the scapegoats.

It was a brilliant plan.

If it would have worked perfectly, it would have nullified the upcoming vote of the people. When it didn't pass, they still benefited because everyone thinks they tried and those bad people hate kids and teachers. 

Here is my hope. They come back with a plan that makes it 5% and it passes. It should be 7%, but they don't want to gamble that they voters will make it 7%.

I don't get what difference the rate makes to the oil producers.  Unless I'm mistaken, a production tax would be a pass-through cost which does not impact profits, it is simply passed along until it reaches the consumer.  Considering other states with good reserves have higher GPT rates, it doesn't make Oklahoma's oil any less competitive in the marketplace.  Let's say it is not a pass-through cost.  With Oklahoma's low cost of living, and lax rules on fracking and waste disposal it could be assumed that the oil companies already enjoy a lower actual net production cost getting the oil out of the ground over other states with tighter disposal rules and higher cost of living.

I grew up in a family which benefitted directly from the oil business.  Certainly the industry has impacted the finances of every Oklahoman in some way because it is such a huge staple of the economy but it really pains me to see the shenanigans they are pulling simply for a bit more profit.

Democrats who could have helped with the supermajority stood on principle on not enough was being done to turn back tax cuts.  I hope the Teacher's Union will remember those house members as well when it comes time to start shoveling the sh1t out of the OK House.  It might also be a good start if the energy industry's role in creating shadowy "advocacy" and campaign groups were blocked out entirely. 

No money for teachers but now a new mandate that they must post "In God We Trust" in classrooms.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/senate-panel-advances-bills-that-would-put-in-god-we/article_d13f655a-5873-5835-9b2d-db4de065170e.html

No money for teachers but now a new mandate that they must post "In God We Trust" in classrooms.

Things won't change if no one is willing to run against the status quo.  Unreal.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/elections/three-quarters-of-oklahoma-house-members-are-running-for-re/article_c162c989-b314-59aa-bcb5-6f9300c858d7.html

I know both of those candidates. Your district will be well served.

Yeah, I think the woman (can't remember her name currently) seemed really salt of the earth.  Not sure who I'll pick but I have until June I guess to do some more research.

So there's one district with some choices.  I'm simply amazed that with as much negative sentiment as their seems to be against the current legislature no one is standing up to run against incumbents.  I don't recall there being any time-honored tradition in Oklahoma that you didn't run against an incumbent of the same party.  I'm curious to know if there is very little interest from registered Republicans or if the Oklahoma GOP is actively discouraging challengers to the incumbents.

Talked w/Ok Gov Mary Fallin about #oklahomateachersstrike. She mentioned “outside” groups w/teachers at Capitol. I said yes...NEA and WV teacher union leaders.
“And ANTIFA”, she added.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/gov-mary-fallin-fallin-to-cbs-news-teachers-wanting-raise/article_55bb2b2c-e0a7-52e7-9aa2-be2ee4802d3f.html

Hoping 1st district isn't as monolithic as Broken Arrow...not run by Rhema and First Baptist as much....

Inhofe, Sullivan, Bridenstine over 30 years.  Pretty monolithic. 

I believe the last D to win that district was James Jones in the mid 1980's.  Of course, that pre-dates our current climate of hyper-partisanism.  IIRC, JRJ was quite moderate and also from a time when being a Democrat in Oklahoma was really your only route to power. 

Inhofe, Sullivan, Bridenstine over 30 years.  Pretty monolithic. 

I believe the last D to win that district was James Jones in the mid 1980's.  Of course, that pre-dates our current climate of hyper-partisanism.  IIRC, JRJ was quite moderate and also from a time when being a Democrat in Oklahoma was really your only route to power. 

You can be fairly certain that any article that uses the term "abortion profits" is written by someone who is not connected with reality.

Another Oklahoma Attorney General is suing another state, this time over abortion.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/political-notebook-oklahoma-s-attorney-general-goes-after-planned-parenthood/article_3bb8da19-102e-5002-a10c-58efcc841347.html

Where does the money to do this come from?  A teacher might know.

A Republican gubernatorial candidate in Oklahoma said he’s received death threats after someone allegedly hacked his campaign’s Facebook page and called for the euthanization of poor, disabled people on food stamps.

Candidate Christoper Barnett insists it wasn’t him who made the inflammatory comments, which have since gone viral.
“Obviously, I’m not saying the Government should put these people down,” the Chrisforgov account wrote, walking back its earlier statements. “I’m just saying that we shouldn’t keep them up.”

http://atlantablackstar.com/2018/05/16/campaign-site-called-euthanizing-food-stamp-recipients-oklahoma-candidate-governor-claimed-hacked/

"Hackers did it" has only slightly more credibility than "the dog ate my homework."

If you want some real howlers, visit his campaign page at chrisforgov dot com.

Good L@rd that is one of the most messed-up front pages I have ever read.  Was this site hacked too?  I hope so, because otherwise there are too many issues happening at once, and all I can say is "bless his heart"...

Good L@rd that is one of the most messed-up front pages I have ever read.  Was this site hacked too?  I hope so, because otherwise there are too many issues happening at once, and all I can say is "bless his heart"...

He has issues with TU that stem from getting kicked out over a social media post, if I recall right. He insisted someone else posted it at the time but now seems to think his free speech right was curtailed. We may have a thread on it.

2nd worse, or worst:

Dahm and Roberts are trying to get a special session to selectively overturn uh reconsider any or all of Murr Fail's 133 vetos over the last seven years.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/area-lawmakers-want-special-session-to-overturn-fallin-vetoes-from/article_c5dcf37d-a8f6-55f3-b0e9-8c2d5357dee4.html

California bars state-funded travel to Oklahoma over LGBTQ law

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-california-travel-lgbt-20180601-story.html

Did someone fart..???