A Okie look at all thing Politics, eCampaign, New Media and Warfare - - - I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. - John Adams
Showing posts with label Mike McCarville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mike McCarville. Show all posts
DPS Doesn't Have A Clue Where Highway Traffic 'Spy' Camera Revenue Estimate Came From
The Department of Public Safety admits in a solicitation for vendors bidding on Governor Henry's new statewide system of highway traffic "spy" cameras that it doesn't have a clue where an estimate of $50 million in new revenue for the state from the system came from.
That revelation is found in reading questions submitted by bidders, and the DPS response to them (Bid #5850000395). The DPS response to the questions is somewhat surprising given that it is the entity that has been in charge of requesting information from bidders.
Two bidders asked for the source of the revenue estimate; in both cases, DPS replied, "Unknown."
Reading the proposals also reveals that initially, the estimate of new revenue was $95 million. The income would flow from fines assessed against those without vehicle insurance. Even at $50 million, the sum listed in Henry's budget, it is estimated that more than 750 motorists without insurance would have to be fined per day to produce that much money for the state given that the vendor would be paid 25 to 30 percent of the fines collected. DPS reports there are 3.9 million vehicles in the state with 3.5 million of them being properly insured.
A DPS source told The McCarville Report Online he believes the first estimate came during one of the initial discussions about the Oklahoma system. He named the person he believes made the estimate, but TMRO was unable to contact that person during the Memorial Day holiday for confirmation.
The system, which would place 220 cameras across the state to photograph the license plates of passing vehicles, is designed to catch insurance scofflaws, those without the mandatory vehicle insurance.
But privacy advocates and civil libertarians see a much more sinister use of the information that would be gathered by the cameras. They note the apparent ease of tracking the movements of motorists, and the ability of the state to harvest unrelated information about the vehicle owner and place it into a computer database. That fear appears to be reinforced by advocates of the "Automated License Plate Recognition" (ALPR) system.
Governor Henry proposed the system as part of an effort to raise new revenue.
Former OU and Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer, credited by some as being responsible for Governor Henry's upset victory in the 2002 governor's race, apparently is connected to a company that may benefit from Henry's plan to use highway traffic cameras to identify those without vehicle insurance.
While there's been no announcement that InsureNet will be the company chosen to process information obtained through the highway cameras, it has won contracts in other states as a "sole source provider," meaning it is the only firm able to perform the service.
Former Republican House member Wayne Pettigrew of Edmond is a national officer of the firm.
Switzer was a fundraiser for Henry in 2002 and again in 2006. His endorsement of Henry in the 2002 race, many believe, propelled Henry to victory. Switzer also was responsible for placing a last-minute series of Henry radio commercials with a jingle that became the hallmark of the campaign.
Bulletin ~ The House Transportation Committee heard a presentation last Wednesday on InsureNet, which provides paperless verification of motorists’ insurance status. Former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer, who implemented the program in Oklahoma, was present at our meeting.
Following the thread of disjointed information about InsureNet's efforts to bring the controversial cameras to Oklahoma highways also shines light on the involvement of others, including Republican Rep. Ken Miller of Edmond, the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee and a candidate for state treasurer.
Miller authored House Bill 3326 in the 2008 session which authorized creation of the new license plates, which apparently became the first step in instituting the system and was a member of the committee that designed the plates. Miller, however, says the system would have worked with the state's previous license plates. And, as with Henry, there's a political connection between Switzer and Miller.
Oklahoma Ethics Commission reports show Switzer donated $2,500 to Miller's 2010 reelection campaign.
In Henry's reelection campaign in 2006, Switzer repeated his 2002 donation generosity to Henry; he donated the maximum, $5,000.
Among the firm's clients are (L100321 - Fallin, Christina M - Huddleston Investments, Inc): 3-Star Centers of Oklahoma [Child Care), American Academy of Ophthalmology, Coalition for Oklahoma Teeth Floaters, Folds of Honor Foundation, Huddleston Investments, Inc., IESI Corporation, Oklahoma Bondsman Association, Oklahoma Consumer Capital Association, Oklahoma Financial Services Association, Oklahoma Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma, Outdoor Advertising Association of Oklahoma, Thomson/West Group, VISA.
In an email introducing Christina Fallin as his new associate, Huddleston writes that she's had experience in Washington working for a lobbying firm while her mother was in Congress.
Asked to comment on her daughter's lobbyist registration, Fallin said, "I'm very proud my daughter has taken an interest in public policy and is actively advocating for several groups and industries here in Oklahoma. I've always encouraged my kids to get involved and to try to make a difference here in the state, and Christina is doing just that."
The younger Fallin has represented her mother at several events, the most recent one being the presentation of certificates on her mother's behalf at The 52nd Byliners Awards Dinner sponsored by the Oklahoma City Professional Chapter of the Association for Women In Communications at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club on February 21st.
Missouri blogger Christopher Arps routinely attacks Oklahoma Republicans from his Florissant location.
This week, he's been in the news for printing on his Oklahoma Political News Service an unproven (and refuted) allegation about GOP Senate leader Glenn Coffee from former Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes.
Arps routinely posts scathing, unverified attacks that purport to be from anonymous tipsters to his blog.
His attacks prompted this retort from the Muskogee Politico's Jamison Faught yesterday: "Oklahoma Political News Service likes to tout themselves as a reputable blog, but most of their material is just political sleaze and unproven smears.
Ironically, OKPNS isn't even based in Oklahoma - it's run out of Missouri. Unfortunately for the blogger at OKPNS, he has discredited himself too many times to be taken seriously."
Given the attention Arps is getting here, a review of the attention he's gotten in Missouri is appropriate.
*****
From The St. Louis American's Political Eye ~ Christopher Arps, a former staffer for former U.S. Senator Jim Talent (never did the word “former” sound so sweet) brags about speaking at (Ward) Connerly’s press conference on his “New Leadership” blog, a forum he routinely uses to bash The American and U.S. Rep. Wm. “Lazy” Clay, as Arps insultingly styles the 1st District congressman from St. Louis.
The EYE wonders where Arps got the gas money to make the trip to K.C.
The man is a deadbeat dad, and not just a missed-one-payment type; according to the Missouri Department of Corrections, Christopher Arps of Florissant was convicted of non-support for six out of 12 months in St. Louis County in 2001.
According to the Department of Corrections official, Dean Watson, the dude is on active (felony) probation in District 8E (Florissant) until 2011.... Maybe he needs to spend less time on Republican politics and more time on his family. And maybe instead of preaching responsibility, Arps should start practicing it.
*****
From johncombestblog.com ~ I’m embarrassed to say I knew Christopher Arps, and even more embarrassed to say that I liked him when I first met him in 2001.
Eventually, though, the people who gave him chance after chance to turn his life around — including myself and the patient souls at Talent’s district office — had to show a little tough love. Arps struck back in anger and spite, which I guess shows he wasn’t fit to be much of a father anyway.
...Expect to hear more about this disappointing — but not particularly surprising — case soon.
Arps also engendered controversy with his attempted involvement in the National Black Republican Association, and with his attacks on the Missouri news media in a Missouri blog.
*****
Arps routinely claims credit for "breaking" stories on the flimsiest of evidence. Among his favorite targets are members of the Oklahoma news media, including the State Capitol Press Corps: "You know for years we’ve enjoyed tweaking the capitol press corps, which is simply the worst group of reporters in the free world."
Usually, Arps criticizes them for not picking up his innuendo-driven, factually-challenged anonymous-tipster-based "stories." His favorite targets appear to be Michael McNutt of The Oklahoman and Tim Talley of The Associated Press, both veteran and respected journalists who, unlike Arps, actually know where the Capitol men's rooms are located.
Arps has directed special scorn at often-honored, veteran journalist and investigative reporter Nolan Clay of The Oklahoman. Arps alleges Clay conspired with a state official to "smear" a local politician. Those who know Clay find the claim laughable.
What Arps doesn't brag about are his unfounded-stories-that-don't-come-true. Among them: A story that claimed GOP Senator Harry Coates of Seminole was going to switch to the Democratic Party. When it didn't happen, Arps' story mysteriously disappeared from his blog and he hasn't mentioned it since. A source gave TMRO the same "tip," but after checking it out, we dismissed it as untrue.
*****
A St. Louis Republican official familiar with Arps soiled reputation says Arps is "a black racist. If you disagree with him and you're white, you're a racist; if you disagree with him, or cross him, and you're black, you're an 'Uncle Tom.'"
Arps' pursuit of some sort of personal validation by constantly denigrating others is displayed in virtually everything he posts and if you disagree with him, he pulls out the "racist" label or describes you in sophomoric or insulting terms, as numerous Republicans in Missouri and Oklahoma will attest.
