AFP Applauds OK-5 Candidate Kevin Calvey

Americans for Prosperity Applauds U.S. Congressional Candidate
Kevin Calvey

-Signs No Climate Tax Pledge-

The Oklahoma chapter of the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-OK) today applauded U.S. Congressional candidate Kevin Calvey (5th District) for signing the group’s “No Climate Tax Pledge.” By doing so, Calvey joins over 285 lawmakers and candidates on the federal, state and local levels pledging to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.”

“The one thing elected officials should be able to agree on is that global warming shouldn’t be used as an excuse to hike taxes on citizens and businesses,” said AFP-OK State Director Stuart Jolly. “We encourage all of Oklahoma’s elected officials and candidates for elected office to sign the pledge.”

Other Oklahoma signers include U.S. Senators James Inhofe and Tom Coburn; U.S. Representatives John Sullivan and Tom Cole; and Oklahoma Speaker of the House Chris Benge.

Cap-and-trade took its first step toward enactment when the U.S. House narrowly passed the Waxman- Markey energy tax bill, which escaped the lower chamber by a scant seven votes despite significant bipartisan opposition. Senators Boxer (D-Calif.) and Kerry (D-Mass.) have just begun committee hearings on companion legislation in the Senate. However, key Democratic senators have expressed opposition to attempting to pass cap-and-trade this year.

President Obama has made no secret of his support for the bill, which would be the largest tax increase in American history. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has scored the plan as an $846 billion increase in federal revenue, a burden that will be borne by taxpayers and consumers for decades to come.

“Using the guise of climate change to transfer dollars from hard-working citizens to bureaucratic big government is unacceptable,” said Jolly. “Regardless of their stance on global warming, this should be common ground for all of our elected officials at all levels of government.”

AFP- 2009 Oklahoma Taxpayer Prosperity Agenda

AFP- Oklahoma
2009 Taxpayer Prosperity Agenda
“It’s Our Money”

Tax dollars are taxpayer dollars, and elected officials need to be reminded that “It’s our money!” AFP-Oklahoma supports programs that promote self-reliance and limited government. The 2009 Taxpayer Prosperity Agenda, if followed, will secure taxpayer protections and common sense solutions.

State Agenda:
School choice for all Oklahomans & appropriate,
responsible educational spending
End contract taxpayer-funded lobbyists
Eliminate the franchise tax
Legal reform legislation

School Choice for ALL Oklahomans & Appropriate Education Spending:

Did you know that:

You have a choice where to send your kids to college but not to K-12. Why not? After all, taxpayers are paying for both.

Allowing School Choice will actually save Oklahoma education money:

It cost over $8,000 to educate a student in Oklahoma…

But only $4,000 to send them to a private school

Even if a family is given a tax deduction of $4,000 for the private school, the school system keeps the difference. School choice can work.

The OEA’s $850 million petition is more money than is spent on prisons, roads and bridges. Money is not the answer. Enough is never enough.

Since 1985 the student population in Oklahoma grew by 7.1%...
But Oklahoma school employment increased 46%-- 7 times faster than the student growth.

During this same period, common education spending grew from 1.463 billion to 3.808 billion, and we’re still ranked 48 th by the NAEP.

AFP-Oklahoma calls for School Choice for all students. If we want competition and better schools, we need to allow parents to decide where their kids will go to school. Both high and low performing schools will improve through competition . In addition, Oklahoma needs responsible and transparent education spending that focuses on students and not the administration.

End Contract Taxpayer-funded Lobbying:

Using tax dollars to hire contract lobbyists to go back to the capitol and lobby for more of our tax dollars is wrong. We need transparency and accountability in state spending.

Lobbying with our tax dollars is a growth industry in Oklahoma:
State, county, and city governments use our tax dollars daily to hire contract lobbyist to represent you. AFP believes that Oklahomans should be represented by the politicians they elect, not by lobbyists.

There are at least 122 government paid lobbyists in Oklahoma representing 54 state- funded entities, but we’re not sure since Oklahoma does not require this information from lobbyists, and remains opaque.
Oklahoma is ranked 42 nd in “lobbying openness” by the Center for Public Integrity.

From ’98-08, Oklahoma’s taxpayers spent over $8,900,000 on federal lobbyists, while the cities of Norman and OKC spent $720,000 and $640,000 respectively.

The citizens of Oklahoma work hard for their money and they deserve to have their tax dollars spent wisely. AFP-Oklahoma will help shine a light on taxpayer-funded lobbying in our state, and end contract taxpayer-funded lobbying.

Eliminate the Franchise Tax:

The Franchise Tax generally cost small businesses more money in compliance than is paid in taxes. We want to entice businesses to come to Oklahoma, not tax them out of state.

Only four states enact a franchise tax, and Oklahoma’s business tax climate is ranked 18 th by the Tax Foundation. We can do better!

A repeal has wide support:
A repeal passed out of the House on wide margins in 2005 and 2006. Most businesses pay between $250 to $20,000 in Franchise Taxes.
Oklahoma State Chamber supports the repeal.

Oklahoma already has a 6% corporate income tax rate which makes the franchise tax unnecessary. It’s an anti-business, double taxation practice that needs to end.

Legal Reform:

Whether Oklahoma has a tort problem or not is beside the question. The perception among doctors, businesses, and other professionals wanting to come to Oklahoma is that we do. Our judges have kept these types of lawsuits under control but more is needed to entice businesses and families to move to Oklahoma.

The Governor has 18 legal reform points left that he wants passed. Oklahoma’s legislature passed those reforms last year and the governor vetoed them. AFP will fight to get meaningful reform passed in 2009.

National Agenda:

Stop “Cap-n-Trade,” and the union’s “Card Check” (The Employee Free Choice Act) bills

On the national level, the Cap-n-Trade will be one of the most destructive bills ever passed for the state of Oklahoma because it focuses on taxing energy producers- taxes that are then passed on to consumers.

It’s a “hidden tax” scheme designed to force you to use less energy by making energy so expensive that you’ll have to find alternatives.

The CBO estimates that it’s a $1.2 TRILLION tax increase on our citizens.
Union’s “Card Check” bill would do away with the “secret ballet” for workers leading to harassment and intimidation.

Card Check reverses our Right-to-Work legislation passed a few short years ago along with many of the rights it protects.

If passed, employers will have 90 days to come up with a contract or the Feds will, through forced arbitration, which then completely ties the hands of business owners and increases their expenses.

*The list is not all inclusive as we’ll also fight to lower the Property Tax Cap to 3%,lower income taxes for all Oklahomans, and to ensure our roads and bridges are properly funded and maintained.

AFP-Oklahoma is committed to building a grassroots effort around the state to educate, organize, and mobilize our taxpayers in fighting for lower taxes and ending wasteful spending.

Our issues are bi-partisan and transcend party lines. AFP represents the taxpayers’ interests.

We, together, can make a difference and make Oklahoma a place where businesses and families will want to come and stay. In order to ensure this goal becomes reality, AFP-Oklahoma has chosen the above issues for its 2009’s Taxpayer Prosperity Agenda.

Eat some BBQ and tell CNN to take a spin...

CNN Hit Job:
Americans for Prosperity for their Hot Air Tour

The
AFP "Hot Air" Tour:
The Economic Impact of Global Warming

The Americans For Prosperity Hot Air Tour is
TODAY in Oklahoma City's.

Ride a hot air balloon, eat some FREE BBQ from Earl's.

We'll be discussing the economic impact of the global warming hysteria and all the coming increases in taxes...specifically the Cap & Trade bill.

There's a lot of legislation on its way that will significantly change the way we do business and all in the name of global warming.

Imagine a future where the government controls your home thermostat remotely (a real proposal in California). Where families and businesses will be on the hook to pay for feel-good regulations that do almost nothing. Where you'll be forced to choose between heating your home or a family vacation. Between a full tank of gas or saving for your children's education. Click here to register now.

For more information, please contact Oklahoma Director Stuart Jolly at (405) 514-0514 or sjolly@afphq.org and check out our new cost of hot air website: www.CostOfHotAir.org

Bring the family and have some fun! Short rides will be given in the hot air balloon.

TODAY from 5-7 pm at the
Bricktown Ballpark parking lot...
parking is free

What: Free rally and cook-out

When: 5:00 PM; Thursday, May 1

Click here to register now

Where: Bricktown Baseball Ballpark, parking lot

FREE PARKING

What will the Hot Air in the debate cost you?
www.CostOfHotAir.org

AFP Hot Air Tour stop in OKC

The
AFP "Hot Air" Tour:
The Economic Impact of Global Warming

The Americans For Prosperity Hot Air Tour is coming to Oklahoma City's.

Ride a hot air balloon, eat some FREE BBQ from Earl's.

We'll be discussing the economic impact of the global warming hysteria and all the coming increases in taxes...specifically the Cap & Trade bill.

There's a lot of legislation on its way that will significantly change the way we do business and all in the name of global warming.

Imagine a future where the government controls your home thermostat remotely (a real proposal in California). Where families and businesses will be on the hook to pay for feel-good regulations that do almost nothing. Where you'll be forced to choose between heating your home or a family vacation. Between a full tank of gas or saving for your children's education. Click here to register now.

For more information, please contact Oklahoma Director Stuart Jolly at (405) 514-0514 or sjolly@afphq.org and check out our new cost of hot air website: www.CostOfHotAir.org

Bring the family and have some fun! Short rides will be given in the hot air balloon.

This Thursday from 5-7 pm at the
Bricktown Ballpark parking lot...
parking is free

What: Free rally and cook-out

When: 5:00 PM; Thursday, May 1

Click here to register now

Where: Bricktown Baseball Ballpark, parking lot FREE PARKING

What will the Hot Air in the debate cost you?
www.CostOfHotAir.org

The Road to Recovery Begins with Jeff Flake on Appropriations

The Road to Recovery Begins
with Jeff Flake on Appropriations

By The Directors

With Roger Wicker being named a United States Senator, there is an opening on the Appropriations Committee for the U.S. House of Representatives. The Republicans get to fill the seat. The Republican leadership has a great opportunity to prove that it is serious about earmark reform and a conservative approach to spending. It’s time to put some action behind their rhetoric.

Rep. Tom Cole, the Chairman of the NRCC, the campaign arm of the House Republicans, claims that he deserves the spot - that putting himself on the Appropriations Committee will help improve Republican fundraising successes. That, in and of itself, should tell you everything you need to know about why Tom Cole is a poor choice.

We encourage you to call your Republican member of Congress (or the closest one to you if you don't have one) and encourage them to support Rep. Jeff Flake for the Appropriations Committee.

The GOP will not earn the trust of voters again until the House Republicans prove they are fiscally responsible. Jeff Flake has led the fight on the House floor against earmarks and wasteful spending. Jeff Flake gets it.

Our party needs Jeff Flake as the face for reform on the influential Appropriations Committee. He is also one of the few men who could change the committee instead of the committee changing him.

The Republican Steering Committee will nominate someone for this spot - and generally, the Republican Conference as a whole rubber stamps that nomination. But it does not have to be that way. Already Republican backbenchers and members of the Republican Study Committee are gearing up for a fight to nominate Jeff Flake.

If the Steering Committee does not nominate Flake, the Conference can. Let's help them out. Call your Republican member of Congress and encourage him or her to support Jeff Flake.

Approps seat tests the GOP on spending

Approps seat tests the GOP on spending
By Jackie Kucinich
January 15, 2008

House Republicans this month will face a defining moment when they fill an opening on the Appropriations Committee: Either appoint an anti-earmark lawmaker or risk further alienating conservatives at the grassroots level.

The intensifying effort to persuade Republican leaders to select Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to fill ex-Rep. Roger Wicker’s (R-Miss.) Appropriations seat grew stronger Monday as FreedomWorks endorsed the maverick lawmaker.

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), now FreedomWorks president, said in a release, “Appointing Jeff Flake would make a major statement to the American people that the Republican Party is about the big ideas, such as ending wasteful earmarks and bringing transparency to the Appropriations Committee.” Armey added that the appointment is “a test” for the Republican Party, suggesting the GOP will not be back in the congressional majority unless it takes bold steps such as tapping Flake.

After sweeping GOP losses in the 2006 election, many Republicans on and off Capitol Hill faulted the rapid growth of earmarks as a major part of the party’s problem. President Bush last year pressed Congress to significantly curtail earmark use.

Flake is perhaps best known for offering anti-earmark amendments on the House floor that often fall well short of passing. The motions have infuriated some GOP members, especially appropriators.

There are seven appropriators on the 27-member House Republican Steering Committee, which will make its decision later this month.

While influential outside groups are pushing for Flake, some Republicans and watchdogs are grumbling about Rep. Tom Cole’s (R-Okla.) bid for the appropriations opening. Cole’s surprise candidacy for the Wicker slot has triggered questions about the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) chairman’s motives.

Cole has indicated that he would be able to boost the NRCC’s war chest if appointed to the spending committee. Cole jumped into the race months after he and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) clashed on NRCC’s fundraising, which is lagging far behind that of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

“My first reaction is the crass power-play aspect of it was astonishing,” said Meredith McGehee, policy director for the Campaign Legal Center, a non-partisan group that monitors campaign finance expenditures. “These appropriations are used as partisan pawns rather than as wise spending of taxpayers’ dollars.”

Republicans “are going to have a tough decision between change and wanting to distance themselves from the [Jack] Abramoff era or [reiterating that] delivering pork is the way to gain political power, “ McGehee added.

Groups such as Club for Growth, Americans for Prosperity and RedState.com began the drumbeat for Flake last week, saying that his brand of fiscal conservatism is badly needed on the spending panel. They urged members to contact Boehner to advocate for a Flake appointment.

A Boehner spokesman said the office had received “some calls” on the topic.

“We need someone [to reform the committee] from the inside,” said Nachama Soloveichik, a spokeswoman for Club for Growth.

While declining to name Cole specifically, Soloveichik said that appointing another member would send a message of Washington business as usual.

“It’s not the message we want to send. It’s about cutting waste and eliminating corruption — it’s not about special deals,” she said, adding that while in the short term fundraising may go up, in the long term “it would be a stake in the heart of the party.”

One former GOP leadership aide was not so kind, describing Cole’s move as “selfish,” explaining that the seat should rightly go to a politically vulnerable member who could use the power the committee affords to stay in office. The aide noted that Democratic target Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) is seeking the seat.

Cole’s office declined to comment on the those claims, pointing to its statement last week that says “Congressman Cole respects all of his colleagues who are also seeking this appointment. He has been quietly making his case to members of the Steering Committee and is confident they will make a decision in the best interests of the Republican Conference.”

In addition to Reichert, Flake and Cole, Reps. Henry Brown Jr. (R-S.C.), Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) and Michael Turner (R-Ohio) have expressed interest in the post.

Last week, Flake found an unlikely ally in appropriator Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) who, while a strong believer in the right to earmark, believes Flake’s addition would be a strong message of a party’s ability to reform itself.

“Jeff has a lot of respect and would be a very good and very viable member,” Kingston said. “This would be a very serious step to get back to where we need to be.

“This is a big cultural challenge on our part: Are we ready for change?” Kingston said. “If we are not up to the challenge to step up to this challenge then we are not ready to assume the majority again.”

Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) echoed Kingston’s remarks, saying, “Jeff Flake is the gold standard of earmark reform. Period. End of paragraph.”

Hensarling pointed out that while several RSC members are interested in the post, Flake’s distinction as a member who does not accept earmarks sets him apart and would “send a very strong symbol” for fiscal responsibility. Hensarling stressed he is not endorsing Flake, however.

Flake asserted that his presence could add much-needed oversight to a committee that has been plagued with questionable ethical practices and, according to many conservatives, is in dire need of reform.

Flake said he has spoken to Boehner and other steering committee members about his bid.