The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

I thought a general thread on what is happening in OKC this legislative term was worth it. Here is a bill that is making its way throughout the medical community.

http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2013-14%20FLR/HFLR/HB1020%20HFLR.PDF

As always, a distinct, new thread should be started when asinine, right wing zealotry bills make it through. I never want to miss out on how f'd up this state can be.  ::) 

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A bill that takes money from a program for needy Oklahoma families and directs that it be used to create an advertising campaign to promote marriage has cleared the Oklahoma House.
The House voted 71-27 Wednesday for the bill sponsored by new Republican House Speaker T.W. Shannon of Lawton.

The bill calls for the creation of a statewide public service announcement campaign that promotes marriage as a tool against poverty. It directs that the campaign be paid for by funds allocated to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program.

TANF provides temporary cash assistance to poor families for up to 60 months in cases of a parent's death, incapacity, absence or unemployment.

Online:

House Bill 1908: http://bit.ly/W69t7V (http://bit.ly/W69t7V)

Flanked by public school superintendents, Oklahoma House Democrats called on Republican legislative leaders and the governor Wednesday to increase funding for public schools.

Funding for public schools, which makes up the largest percentage of the legislatively appropriated budget, has been cut nearly 20 percent the past five years, said House Minority Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City.

Oklahoma's cuts to public schools are the third-highest in the nation, he said.

Yet enrollment in public schools has grown by about 22,000 students in the same time period, Inman said.

“Our children need to be properly funded,” he said.

Public schools received about $2.3 billion of the $6.8 billion legislatively appropriated budget for the 2013 fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Republican Gov. Mary Fallin has proposed an increase of $13.5 million for the 2014 fiscal year. Inman reminded those at a Capitol news conference that state schools Superintendent Janet Barresi, a Republican, told lawmakers public schools needed a $300 million increase.

Inman urged Republican legislative leaders to pull back plans to cut the state's personal income tax and put the money needed to finance the tax cut into public schools.

Fallin has proposed cutting the 5.25 percent top personal income tax rate to 5 percent, which would cost the state about $40 million for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts July 1, and about $120 million annually when fully implemented.

Inman said calculations show about 42 percent of Oklahoma taxpayers wouldn't see a reduction in their state personal income taxes under Fallin's proposal. Those who did would see an average savings of about $39 a year.

“While our students have larger class sizes, fewer new textbooks and fewer resources, we're giving $39 back a year to Oklahoma citizens,” he said. “We believe that if the people of Oklahoma hear that case … that they'll join with us and call on a bipartisan group of leaders to put a stop to this income tax push.

“Instead of cutting $120 million, let's put that $120 million into the common education system in Oklahoma,” Inman said.

Cutting funding for OETA.  Bunch of dumbasses.

Cutting funding for OETA.  Bunch of dumbasses.

Cutting funding for OETA.  Bunch of dumbasses.

PBS/OETA is in the Spring Festival money begging process.  Send a few extra bucks.

PBS/OETA is in the Spring Festival money begging process.  Send a few extra bucks.

Seriously, how many people are really watching PBS these days?

Only the ones with a functional brain.

Not sure if accurate, bu there is the OETA programming schedule.

http://www.oeta.tv/schedules

If it is, I think we all now know what a function brain is required to watch in heiron's world.  Especially during the day..But then again, heiron is getting up in age, "Daniel Goes to the Potty" (10:00 am) might be useful to him . :o

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Big Bird lives!
An attempt to ultimately end direct state support of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority failed 57-41 in the state House of Representatives on Thursday, a vote that still leaves the 60-year-old network's future somewhat in doubt.

In truth, the latest attempt to defund OETA would have endangered Big Bird less than programs such as Oklahoma's only statewide newscast and other local programming. OETA received $3.8 million in appropriations this fiscal year, or about 40 percent of its operating budget.

"As a broadcaster, I can tell you the first thing that is cut is local programming," said Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, who operates several radio stations in western Oklahoma.

"A vote to defund OETA will be it's death toll," Wright said.

Rep. Tom Newell, R-Seminole, the author of House Bill 2218, disagreed. He said the bill would phase out funding over 10 years, giving OETA time to "build up its endowment."

Newell tried to entice OETA supporters to vote for his bill by extending OETA's "sunset" authorization to 2022. Trying to defeat that authorization has been one of the tactics used by OETA opponents in recent years.

Seventeen House members lined up to debate against Newell's bill, although at least two of them were against it because they want OETA defunded immediately. Newell was the only member to debate in favor it.

Newell insisted he had worked with OETA officials on the bill, but Rep. Jeff Hickman, R-Dacoma, said, "that means holding a gun to their head and saying, 'You've got two choices. We can eliminate you now or we can eliminate you five years from now.' "

The most impassioned plea came from Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, who said the move to eliminate OETA was driven by a desire to score points "on a conservative index put out by people who couldn't get past Ned in the First Reader.

"I can't believe what we do out here," Dank said. "We're shooting gnats with cannons."

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20130314_16_0_OKLAHO983303

“Let’s quit pretending everyone can afford cable television. There’s passion among the people for OETA. And you’ll feel that passion in the next election if you keep treating the people this way.”

-Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, concerned that a bill to slash OETA funding would take away critical educational programming for young children

Wow, an Oklahoma Republican said that?

Good for him.

Some of them aren't backwards thinking hillbilly redneck racist sexists who are frightened by anyone outside their own faith.

Which means if he runs for reelection, he'll likely be voted out...

So, I don't post on this forum very often (I read it everyday), but I have to chime in on this whole anti agenda 21 thing...

So the anti agenda 21 bill "would prohibit any city, town or county from adopting or implementing policy recommendations established by the United Nations Agenda 21". This would make it illegal for OKC to build their streetcar system. It would also make it illegal for tulsa to get a streetcar system. It would make certain kinds of zoning illegal, more specifically the kinds of zoning that are pedestrian friendly. It would make it illegal to make more bike paths.

So I guess my big question is why aren't people more vocally opposed to this legislation? Especially the officials in okc who want a streetcar?

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Accompanied by Republican lawmakers, a conservative think-tank has released a proposed budget that supporters say outlines a way to cut the state's income tax by one-half of 1 percent without reducing funding to core government services.

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs released its annual budget book on Monday.

Officials with OCPA praised Gov. Mary Fallin and House Speaker T.W. Shannon for efforts to reduce the top personal income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 5 percent. But they said Oklahoma could afford to cut the rate even further by eliminating funding for several state programs and overhauling the health benefits package for state workers.

The conservative think-tank recommended eliminating funding altogether for state agencies like the Oklahoma Arts Council and Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.

Conservative Think Tank Urges Deep Income Tax Cut

http://kwgs.com/post/conservative-think-tank-urges-deep-income-tax-cut (http://kwgs.com/post/conservative-think-tank-urges-deep-income-tax-cut)

(http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/kwgs/files/styles/card_280/public/201303/OCPA.jpg)

Working to reduce intellect in the state in order to retain power.

I will gladly exchange being a little dumber when it comes to the arts and Big Bird to reduce taxation. If you want Big Bird or the like, get a subscription to hulu or netflix, they might have it.  

Exactly.  Can you afford that 'hit'??

It's about time they got rid of professional football and basketball in the high schools and colleges...that would save a hundred times what getting rid of Big Bird would save, and raise the average IQ of the student body at the same time!

I also want them to stop fighting wasted wars and making me pay for it.  But since it's your buddies that are all about that, and guys like me will never be able to afford to buy Congress, I guess my kind of people are just screwed again...    Look out, Iran!!  The RWRE here is getting ready to drop the hammer!  Look to the west when Obama leaves office in 2017.


Oh, by the way...you do realize that there is lots of evidence that exposure to the arts - pretty much all kinds - raises the general level of academic performance and improves attendance - and leads to students to stay in school longer (fewer dropouts).  But hey, that wouldn't go well with the Failin' agenda of continued decline for Oklahoma students would it, now?   It really would be a tragedy for the RWRE if more people became better educated...what would happen to their "base" then??

AOX has apparently hijacked heroin's account again. Either that, or we need another intervention because apparently:

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Lj5KP8OgZVk/SCOqfKtAOsI/AAAAAAAACFA/2zl-Lq5PzLE/s400/8557060_f14bd4f251.jpg)

Calm down a bit. If you like paying the current tax rate, that's your choice. I do not, which his why I have no probs cutting out things I find useless to me and my family. We have directv, hulu, netflix, the internet, dvd, etc. I have ZERO need for govt subsidized programs that I already have through that media. Now, do I like "the arts", sure I do. We need folks like The Artist to make our lives more enjoyable. Do I prefer govt subsidized "arts" to tax cuts? Nope. Same goes for Big Bird.

I will gladly exchange being a little dumber when it comes to the arts and Big Bird to reduce taxation. If you want Big Bird or the like, get a subscription to hulu or netflix, they might have it. 

I have been deeply concerned about heiron's commitment to PBS, especially the day time programming if funding is cut.  :) So to help him, I found this clip.

http://www.spike.com/video-clips/ndjk0e/its-potty-time

But the key question is, did it help you "have the knack" yet...??  And put the seat back down when you are through?

You bet I have The Knack:

and yes to your post. That ol ditty been around a while.

I will gladly exchange being a little dumber when it comes to the arts and Big Bird to reduce taxation. If you want Big Bird or the like, get a subscription to hulu or netflix, they might have it. 

You know, for a lot of people, especially in this state, that small $10 a month for something like netflix is more than their budget can bare.  And it's these people, the low income, who need the help the most to get out of it.  Of course, the most effective way of getting someone out of poverty is to educate them.  But this is a red state, and if you want to survive in the far right ideology around here you have to fall into the group that thinks that a good education should only be awarded to those who already have money, or the extreme few who manage to climb out on their own.