Oklahoma Republican State Committee Endorses "Resolution Concerning Party Support of Candidates"

On January  22, 2011 over one hundred members of the Oklahoma Republican Party State Committee met in Tulsa to discuss party business.  

A motion to endorse this resolution was brought to the floor by Tulsa County Vice-Chairman J.B. Alexander.   

Following a second, and some discussion, the motion passed by a margin of 75%.

Vice-Chairman Alexander stated that a similiar resolution would be brought before the Tulsa County delegates at the March 5th county convention.
 
State Party Chairman Matt Pinnell stated a similiar one would also be forthcoming at the state convention in May.

 

Oklahoma Republican State Committee Endorses 

"Resolution Concerning Party 

Support of Candidates"

On January 29, 2010 the Republican National Committee passed a resolution tited "Resolution Concerning Party Support of Candidates".  

This resolution is the outcome of many complaints from Republicans across the country who are tied of seeing GOP dollars going to candidates who turn on the party during the campaign season  or following the elections.

The resolution reads as follows:

WHEREAS, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have recently supported primary or special election candidates who professed allegiance to the Republican Party but who, as their circumstances changed and to serve their own interests, turned against the Republican Party and became or supported a candidate of another party; and

WHEREAS, many Republican leaders and Republican organizations were undermined and lost credibility as a result of the actions of such candidates; and

WHEREAS, there will be many more decisions regarding the support of candidates, and many more opportunities to enhance or diminish the credibility of Republicans and Republican organizations, in the coming election cycle; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Republican National Committee urges its leadership and the leadership of all Republican organizations to carefully screen the record and statements of all candidates who profess to be Republicans and who desire the support of Republican leaders and Republican organizations, and determine that they wholeheartedly support the core principles and positions of the Republican Party as expressed in the Platform of the Republican Party adopted at the 2008 National Convention; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Republican National Committee urges that no support, financial or otherwise, be given to candidates who clearly do not support the core principles and positions of the Republican Party as expressed in the Platform of the Republican Party adopted in the 2008 National Convention.

Is this just the tip? OU Foundation may face possible ethics probe for unreported gifts

From Today OU Daily 

OU Foundation may face possible ethics 

probe for unreported gifts

Nicholas Harrison/The Daily

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The OU Foundation may be under investigation by the Oklahoma State Ethics Commission for failing to report gifts to university officers and employees.

The Daily submitted a complaint to the commission Dec. 13 stemming from the OU Foundation’s denial of an open records request first reported Dec. 7.

Although the foundation invoked a statute that allows them to keep donor information confidential, the state attorney general’s office had issued an opinion in 2002 that indicated it must still comply with all applicable state ethics laws.

In his 2002 opinion, Attorney General Drew Edmondson wrote, “The authority of a public body to keep donors’ identities confidential is tempered by the rules of the commission.”

Edmondson noted state officials and employees are required to be independent and impartial and to exercise their powers and prerogatives without prejudice or favoritism.

Anyone who does business with a state entity is required to report any gift to a state officer or employee with a cost of more than $50, according to state statutes.

 

On its official website, the foundation’s audit report indicates it has several contracts with the university and provided $21,644,682 in salary supplements in 2010 and $28,824,589 in 2009. However, when The Daily contacted the commission, no reports were filed by the foundation.

At its regular meeting Dec. 21, the commission acted on two complaints, voting unanimously “there was a reasonable basis to believe that a violation of constitutional ethics rules had occurred.”

Immediately after the meeting, Marilyn Hughes, executive director for the commission, confirmed an investigation had been opened on the OU Foundation. 

 However, when contacted by The Daily on Tuesday, Hughes said she could neither confirm nor deny the investigation.

All information regarding ongoing investigations is kept confidential in accordance with state law. After a complaint is submitted it is presented to the commission by the executive director during a closed executive session, said Rebecca Adams, general counsel to the commission.

If the commission determines rules have been violated, there is no guarantee the findings will be available to the public.

At its discretion, the commission may resolve a possible rules violation by issuing a private reprimand which remains confidential. They may also issue a public reprimand, reach a settlement or bring a lawsuit to court, Adams said.

A the time this story was written, OU Foundation President Guy Patton and OU Press Secretary Chris Shilling said they had not been contacted by the commission. They were not aware the foundation was the subject of an investigation and could provide no comments.

Oklahoma Voter fraud law takes effect

A measure that significantly increases election fraud penalties is intended to deter election and voter registration irregularities in the state.


Senate Bill 1921, by former Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, takes effect today.

Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said SB 1921 was requested by state Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax.

The measure passed 91-7 in the House of Representatives and 33-10 in the Senate, both controlled by Republicans, Democratic Gov. Brad Henry signed the bill into law.

The measure increases the maximum punishment for felony violations of election laws from a fine of $5,000 to $50,000 and from two years in prison to five years.

It also increases the penalty for misdemeanor violations of the election code from a fine of $1,000 to $10,000.

The law also makes it a felony to vote with and submit an absentee ballot issued to another person, make false application for an absentee ballot, cause the cancellation of a qualified voter’s registration, cause the submission of voter registration forms with false information, and conspire to commit election fraud.

"We had not increased our fines in a number of years," Coffee said. "They were not conforming with other states for similar crimes."

"Although there are not very many problems with voter registration fraud or election fraud in Oklahoma, our state is not totally immune to such allegations." Ziriax said. "As secretary of the state Election Board, I believe Oklahoma has the best election system in the nation. By deterring fraud through tougher criminal penalties, SB 1921 improves the public's faith and confidence that our elections in Oklahoma are fair, honest and accurate."

An Adair County man who had previously been investigated for voting irregularities was charged in July with falsifying ballots.

Court proceedings are pending against Darryl Cates, of Westville, who is charged with two counts of false affidavit in voting registration and two counts of false notarization of an absentee ballot.

He is accused of signing the names of Sherri Eagle and Michael Cooksey in absentee voting for the Cave Springs school election in February 2009.

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