Rep. Osborn Seeks to Protect State Finances from Unfunded Mandates

One state representative wants to ensure that unfunded mandates do not dictate future state revenue spending to the detriment of vital state services.
Rep. Leslie Osborn (R- Tuttle) is the author of House Joint Resolution 1014, which would amend the state constitution to prevent unfunded mandates from forcing draconian cuts to vital government services, such as roads, schools and public safety.

“The constitution of Oklahoma stipulates that the Legislature divide the general revenue fund as they deem appropriate on a year-to-year basis and the people have a direct voice in that process through their elected representatives,” Osborn said. “That system needs to be preserved. Under my bill, general revenue would be budgeted solely according to the fiscal health of the state and not based on arbitrary unfunded mandates. This measure, which would go to a vote of the people, would insure that this constitutional right is not subverted.”

Osborn said unfunded mandates could be a growing problem in the future if constitutional protections are not enacted.

“Unfunded mandates require that money is taken off of the top of the general revenue fund, leaving much less to be divided up among vital agencies,” Osborn said. “As a result, those unfunded mandates could require drastic cuts to road funding or public safety programs, or even massive tax increases, which in the current economic climate could be devastating to our state economy.”

House Joint Resolution 1014 passed out of the House Rules Committee and now advances to the full Oklahoma House of Representatives.

American Minute - Feb. 9 - "Tippecanoe and Tyler too"

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

"Tippecanoe and Tyler too" was the campaign slogan of 9th President William Henry Harrison, born FEBRUARY 9, 1773.

He was the first President to die in office, serving the shortest term of only 30 days.

The son of Benjamin Harrison, signer the Declaration, and grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President, William Henry Harrison was aide-de-camp to General "Mad Anthony" Wayne, who defeated the British and Indian forces at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

Harrison became Secretary of the Northwest Territory - 260,000 square miles from which was formed Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

He was the area's first delegate to Congress and in 1801 became Governor of the Indiana Territory.

Harrison disrupted Chief Tecumseh's confederation at the Battle of Tippecanoe.

In his Inaugural Address, 1841, William Henry Harrison stated:

"I deem the present occasion sufficiently important and solemn to justify me in expressing to my fellow citizens a profound reverence for the Christian religion, and a thorough conviction that sound morals, religious liberty, and a just sense of religious responsibility are essentially connected with all true and lasting happiness."

RNC Chairman Steele Delivers Weekly Republican Address (6 Feb 2009)

RNC Chairman Michael Steele Delivers Weekly Republican Address.

Transcript:

This is Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Democrats have controlled both branches of government for less than a month. And you have to wonder if all that power has gone to their heads.

For the last two weeks, theyve been trying to force a massive spending bill through Congress under the guise of economic relief.

All of us Republicans and Democrats agree the government must act to kick-start the American economy. American families are doing their best to balance their own budgets and pay their mortgages.

The fastest way to help those families is by letting them keep more of the money they earn. Individual empowerment: thats how you stimulate the economy.

But the Democrats have a different philosophy. Instead of leaving money in the family checkbook, they want to send it to Washington, run it through a slow and inefficient government, and hope that does some good.

When families keep the money, they spend it, save it, or invest it. And the private sector economy benefits when families and businesses buy consumer goods or invest it for the future. But when Washington spends the money, some of it may flow into the economy, but all too often, much gets wasted.

Democrats in Congress want a one-trillion dollar spending bill. Youve heard about the pork-barrel programs they want to fund 45 million dollars for ATV trails and removal of fish passage barriers is one that caught my eye. Exactly what is a fish passage barrier and why does it cost 45 million dollars to stimulate the economy with it?

Thats why Republicans in the House voted against uncontrolled spending. This is not a bragging point, but rather a statement that at least Republicans would stand with the American taxpayer.

But voting no is not enough and Republicans have offered innovative ideas to help struggling families and small businesses. Weve offered plans to spark job creation and investment through lower taxes, to stop the taxation of unemployment benefits, and to help Americans keep their jobs and their homes.

The comprehensive Republican plan would lower taxes for all working American families. If youre married, the first 16,750 dollars you make this year will be taxed at ten percent. Why dont we cut that rate in half to give instant buying power to every working American family?

Good ideas lots of them all left out of this plan by the Democrats in Congress.

Republicans stand ready to work with reasonable Democrats to do what is right for America.

But it will take more than bipartisan words from the President. It will require fair-minded action from Democrats in Congress.

American Minute - Feb. 8 - Boy Scouts of America

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

The Boys Scouts of America was incorporated FEBRUARY 8, 1910.

Sir Robert Baden-Powell began the movement in England two years prior.

A hero of the South African Boer Wars, Sir Baden-Powell's troops were besieged 200 days by an overwhelming army, but his resourcefulness saved his men.

The Boy Scouts are now the largest voluntary youth movement in the world, with membership over 25 million.

In the pamphlet "Scouting & Christianity" 1917, Baden-Powell wrote:

"Scouting is nothing less than applied Christianity."

The Scout Oath states:

"On my honor, I will do my best: To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law, To help other people at all times. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge addressed a gathering of Boy Scouts in New York:

"The three fundamentals of scouthood are reverence for nature ... reverence for law...and reverence for God. It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. Doubters do not achieve."

President Coolidge concluded: "No man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is part of an unending plan."

Performance Reviews: Oklahoma Worker's Compensation Court

Oklahoma State Senator Anthony Sykes, Chair the Oklahoma State Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary and Rep. Randy Terrill, Chair of the Oklahoma State House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary, joint Subcommittee Performance Reviews: Worker's Compensation Court

Performance Reviews: Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs

Oklahoma State Senator Anthony Sykes, Chair the Oklahoma State Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary and Rep. Randy Terrill, Chair of the Oklahoma State House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary, joint Subcommittee Performance Reviews: Bureau of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs Control

Performance Reviews: Oklahoma CLEET

Oklahoma State Senator Anthony Sykes, Chair the Oklahoma State Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary and Rep. Randy Terrill, Chair of the Oklahoma State HouseAppropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary, joint Subcommittee Performance Reviews: Council on Law Enforcement Education & Training

Performance Reviews: Oklahoma Dept. of Public Safety

Oklahoma State Senator Anthony Sykes, Chair the Oklahoma State Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary and Rep. Randy Terrill, Chair of the Oklahoma State House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary, joint Subcommittee Performance Reviews: Department of Public Safety

Performance Reviews: Oklahoma Dept. of Homeland Security

Oklahoma State Senator Anthony Sykes, Chair the Oklahoma State Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary and Rep. Randy Terrill, Chair of the Oklahoma State House Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety & Judiciary, joint Subcommittee Performance Reviews: Department of Homeland Security

American Minute - Feb. 7 - Frederick Douglass born 1817

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

Frederick Baily was born FEBRUARY 7, 1817.

Though against the law for a slave, he learned to read.

At age 20, he escaped to Massachusetts and changed his name to Frederick Douglass to hide from slave catchers.

He began debating, developing oratory skills and exposing the injustices of slavery.

William Lloyd Garrison hired him to sell subscriptions to the Liberator Newspaper.

Frederick Douglass published his best-selling autobiography, but with his identity now known, to avoid slave-catchers he fled to England.

He was enthusiastically received and met with reformer Daniel O'Connell.

English friends raised money to buy his freedom and he returned to New York, founding the North Star newspaper.

Writing for abolition and women's suffrage, his motto was "Right is of no sex-Truth is of no color-God is the Father of us all, and we are all Brethren."

An advisor to President Lincoln, Frederick Douglass told the story of his conversion:

"I loved all mankind, slaveholder not excepted, though I abhorred slavery more than ever. I saw the world in a new light...

I gathered scattered pages of the Bible from the filthy street gutters, and washed and dried them, that...I might get a word or two of wisdom from them."

Aubrey McClendon Selling Off His Prized Wine?

Is Aubrey McClendon
Selling Off His Prized Wine?

Even though the market for collectible wines is slumping, Sotheby’s recently announced it will sell off 9,000 bottles in two auctions in March and April. The sale is titled “Classic Cellar from a Great American Collector.”

It is large by any standard. But what really caught my eye was the statement in Sotheby’s news release that the sale is a “single owner collection,” meaning that it is all coming from one seller’s cellar.

Who is this “Great American Collector?” And why would he or she try to unload 9,000 bottles at a time when wine prices are collapsing?

Sotheby’s won’t say. Jamie Ritchie, head of Sotheby’s North American wine department, was uncharacteristically silent when I asked about the seller. “Sorry, I just can’t comment,” he said.

According to three people familiar with the auction, the seller is Aubrey McClendon, chief executive of Chesapeake Energy. These people say at least one other broker kicked the tires on Mr. McClendon’s collection before it went to Sotheby’s.

McClendon is one of the top wine collectors in the country, known for his love of Burgundy and Bordeaux. He also is known for his cash crunch. Last fall, he was forced to sell 94% of his stake in Chesapeake to pay back margin loans. Mr. McClendon’s stake once was valued at more than $2 billion. So it wouldn’t be surprising if he were to want to liquidate some of his, er, liquid assets.

Mr. McClendon, through a spokesman, didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Sotheby’s says it expects the sale to fetch at least $5 million–not much for a former billionaire, but these days every little million helps.

It also remains to be seen whether the auction will be a success. An article in the San Francisco Chronicle quotes experts saying that lot prices for wines at auction have fallen as much as 30% since the summer. Some bottles, like 1986 Leoville-Las-Cases, averaged around $360 a bottle in the past two years but are now trading closer to $200. (For those interested in current wine prices, Steve Bachmann of Vinfolio has an informative blog analyzing auctions, valuations and advice for sellers and buyers).

The McClendon collection may fare better than others. It features more than 1,500 bottles of Domaine de la Romanee Conti–a favorite Chateaux of the nouveaux that has held up relatively well in price. The collection also has plenty of Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Lafite, also blue-chip names.

What is more, Sotheby’s is hedging its bets by splitting the auction in two, with half being offered in New York and half in Hong Kong. While U.S. collectors are pulling back, Hong Kong collectors have proven more resilient, with recent auctions there posting healthy results. (Sotheby’s is shipping 4,000 or more of the bottles in temperature-controlled containers to Hong Kong, something it has never done before).

Mr. McClendon may be the biggest wine seller so far in the financial crisis, but he most certainly won’t be the last. With many collectors running light on cash, I suspect more and more will turn to their wine cellars in search of real liquidity.

Coffee Talk By Senator Glenn Coffee, President Pro Tempore

Every legislative session has its own challenges and opportunities, and the 2009 session is certainly no different. The greatest challenge we face this year is the fact that the national and international recession has now impacted Oklahoma. Our economy is still much stronger than many other states, but we are not immune to what is happening.

However, unlike the federal government, in Oklahoma our constitution requires us to write and pass a balanced budget. Unlike Washington D.C., we must live and operate within our means.

The reality is that we are faced with state revenue decreases and anticipated reductions in federal dollars to the tune of about $600 million. This is a significant challenge, but not insurmountable. In 2003, we were facing an even larger shortfall, yet we worked together to identify specific areas where we could make reductions and still make keep essential state services like education, public safety and critical infrastructure needs funded. We also worked to lay the groundwork for economic growth, and those efforts paid off—in fact those efforts and Oklahoma’s vibrant energy industry are why we remain in better economic shape than in other parts of the nation.

Senate Republicans have also fought to enact policies that can help us to identify waste, eliminate outdated and unproductive programs, and enact reforms that will ultimately make state government more efficient and our economy more productive. The unique opportunity we have been entrusted with in the 2009 session is that for the first time in Oklahoma’s history, we hold the majority in the Senate and in the House. Initiatives and reforms that were stonewalled and buried in the past now can be fully vetted and debated. We can stop the loss of medical professionals and assure greater access to healthcare by finally passing meaningful lawsuit reform. By enacting legislation to ensure reliable, objective information on student achievement and graduation rates, we can do a better job of preparing Oklahoma students for success throughout their lives.

We’ve already been able to achieve major successes in securing critically needed resources in our transportation infrastructure. We’ve also worked to ensure Oklahomans can keep more of their hard-earned dollars. Our members will continue to develop reforms and innovations that will enable us to build on those successes when the economy does begin to improve. I want to assure you that we do not take for granted the faith Oklahomans have placed in us, and are devoted to making our state stronger and more prosperous for all our citizens in the years to come.

Protecting 2nd Amendment Rights Moves to House Floor

A bill that would forbid employers from asking a potential employee if they own a firearm passed out of committee this week.

The legislation, House Bill 1025, is in response to President Barack Obama asking potential cabinet members if they owned or possessed a firearm, and if so, for its registration information on their background application.

Rep. Rex Duncan, author of the bill, criticized Obama’s question as an infringement on Second Amendment rights and wants to make sure no Oklahoma employers, both public and private, are allowed to ask a similar question on a job application.

“I was deeply offended by President Obama’s question,” said Duncan, R-Sand Springs. “I think Oklahoma employers are smarter than to ask a question like that as a term of employment, but this legislation will make sure.”

“It is inappropriate for any employer to exploit an employment application to determine a person's job eligibility or to breach their privacy and constitutional rights,” said Chris W. Cox, the executive director of the National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action. “Gun owners and hunters are grateful for the leadership of Representative Duncan for his efforts to preserve their privacy and Second Amendment rights.”

The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee this week and will next be heard for a full vote on the House floor.

‘Truth in Music’ Bill Clears Committee

You may remember him from the rock and roll revival act or the popular TV series, both called Sha Na Na.

The group was featured in the movie Grease as Johnny Casino & The Gamblers.

But now Jon “Bowzer” Bauman has a different focus: working to prevent others from falsely impersonating musical acts.

Bauman spoke at the House Judiciary Committee Thursday to encourage support of House Bill 2057 by state Rep. Mike Thompson. The bill would make it illegal for musical groups to falsely affiliate themselves with an artist without designating themselves as a tribute group or advertising the performance as a salute to the original artist.

The bill is titled the Truth in Music Advertising Act.

“This legislation protects both consumers and recording artists from losing out to groups falsely promoting themselves as the original recording artist,” Thompson, R-Oklahoma City, said.

“The bill punishes impersonators with a fine of up to $15,000. Groups that identify themselves as tribute bands or acts or otherwise credit the original artist or groups that have express permission or work with a member of the original recording group, would not be affected.

Similar legislation has passed in 27 states and Bauman said another eight may pass the law by the end of the year.

“It has vast support everywhere,” Bauman said.

The bill designates the state attorney general’s office as the enforcer of the law but, according to Bauman, the enforcement of the measure generally takes care of itself because the vendors who book the act usually begin to self-police to avoid trouble, Bauman said.

“The situation usually begins to start taking care of itself without much government interference,” he said.

The bill passed out of the Judiciary Committee Thursday and now proceeds to the House floor.

Coody Appointed to Education Commission of the States

State Rep. Ann Coody has been appointed by House Speaker Chris Benge as the Oklahoma Legislature’s representative on the Education Commission of the States.

“I am honored by the appointment and pleased to be able to be a contributing member to a commission focused on educational policy,” said Coody, R-Lawton. “I hope to bring my perspective to the commission but also learn from others’ perspectives.”

The Education Commission of the States is part of the Compact for Education that meets in Denver, Colo. It provides a forum for all branches of government in the compact states to discuss educational policies.

“The House leadership is committed to providing greater accountability and standards to Oklahoma schools,” Coody said. “As chair of the Oklahoma Common Education Committee, I will already have a role to play in crafting educational policy here. Being on this commission will provide a view of policy in other states.”

Home Invasion Bill Would Make Jail Time Mandatory for Home Invaders

A bill by state Rep. John Wright that would create harsher penalties for “home invasion” passed out of the House Judiciary Committee Thursday.

House Bill 1030 makes “home invasion” a specific crime subject to Oklahoma’s “truth in sentencing” law requiring those convicted to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.

Under the bill’s provisions, individuals convicted of home invasion would serve a minimum 10-year prison sentence and as many as 20 years in a correctional facility.

“People have a right to dwell safely and securely in their own home,” said Wright, R-Broken Arrow. “This law would uphold that standard.”

House Bill 1030 defines “home invasion” as a crime involving “two or more” armed persons who enter a dwelling while the owners are present “with intent to commit some crime.”

The bill defines a home invasion as a crime that involves “forcibly bursting or breaking the wall, or an outer door, window, or shutter” at a home.

“Unfortunately, the Tulsa area has experienced a rash of this type of criminal activity where groups of criminals are breaking into homes while the occupants are there,” Wright said.

Because home invasion is a more serious crime than simple burglary, Wright said the penalty should be greater than the seven-year maximum handed down to those convicted of burglary.

“When there’s just one intruder, the homeowner has a chance,” Wright said. “But the odds are definitely against you when an organized group busts into your home.”

House Bill 1030 passed the Oklahoma House Judiciary Committee and is next scheduled for the House floor.

Property Rights Bill Misunderstood, Author Says

Legislation meant only to bring uniformity to property laws in Oklahoma does not infringe on the First Amendment right of freedom of religion at churches across the state, the bill’s author said today.

There is a misunderstanding of House Bill 1725, said Rep. Pam Peterson, author of the bill. The legislation would simply require the owner of church property to be clearly stated in the deed or trust agreement, so it is understood who owns the land.

The legislation has been targeted by many church leaders across the state, who claim the bill is trying to take away a national denomination’s right to own land on which a church is situated.

Peterson said the bill is neutral when it comes to who owns the land. Instead, the bill would bring uniformity to the law as it applies to the ownership and transfers of all Oklahoma property, regardless of who owns the property.

“We at the state have an interest in knowing who owns the property,” said Peterson, R-Tulsa. “This bill does not favor the church itself or the denomination when it comes to ownership; it simply states the owner, whoever it is, should be clearly identified in the property’s deed.”

The bill is partly in response to a land dispute between Tulsa’s Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church and Presbyterian Church USA. Last year, Kirk of the Hills agreed to pay $1.75 million to the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery/Presbyterian Church USA to keep the church building and property after the congregation left the Presbyterian Church USA. The settlement came after a Tulsa County judge ruled that the denomination was the land owner.

Peterson again stressed that if her legislation had been in place, the denomination and the local church could have made certain that the deed reflected the owner of the property.

“Then two years of uncertainty and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees could have been avoided,” she said.

The bill does not favor one side or the other.

“The parties can structure the deed to clearly state the identity of the owner,” said Peterson. “We want to avoid a patchwork of court decisions that are increasingly determining ownership in cases like these. It is our job as legislators, not the court’s job, to make the law.

“If this bill becomes law, it will still be up to the denominations and their member congregations to determine how they want to hold their property, but the law would make sure it is done in the manner that clearly reflects who owns the property. We have no interest in who owns the property,” she said.

The bill is currently pending before the House Judiciary Committee.

American Minute - Feb. 6 - Ronald Reagan born

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

A graduate of Eureka College, IL, 1932, he announced for radio stations in Iowa. He married Jane Wyman and had children Maureen and Michael.

He was a Captain in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II, then became an actor, appearing in over 50 films.

He was President of the Screen Actors Guild, switched from Democrat to Republican, and became Governor of California.

His second marriage, to Nancy Davis, 1952, had children Patti and Ron.

His name was Ronald Reagan, born FEBRUARY 6, 1911, and died June 5, 2004.

At age sixty-nine, he was the oldest person elected U.S. President, and sixty-nine days after his inauguration, he survived an assassination attempt.

At the Alfred M. Landon Lecture Series, 1982, Ronald Reagan stated:

"We can't have it both ways.

We can't expect God to protect us in a crisis and just leave Him over there on the shelf in our day-to-day living.

I wonder if sometimes He isn't waiting for us to wake up, He isn't maybe running out of patience."

At Reunion Arena in Dallas, 1984, Ronald Reagan stated:

"America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under."

Sullivan Seeks New Protections for Injured Workers

Legislation filed by state Rep. Dan Sullivan would ensure that unethical lawyers cannot siphon money from injured workers for political donations.

“Lawyers are supposed to represent their clients, not prey upon them,” said Sullivan, a Tulsa Republican and attorney. “Unfortunately, we know that some attorneys have been secretly bilking clients to fund political candidates. Those injured workers should not have their settlements turned into a slush fund for politicians.”

Last August, The Oklahoman reported that roughly $1 million had been donated to the Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC over the last decade with most of that money coming from injured Oklahoma workers, including several who told the paper they did not know they had “donated” the money to the PAC.

The Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC is run by workers compensation attorneys. The Oklahoman reported that the lawyers involved with the fund raised money for the PAC by withholding a portion of their clients' workers' compensation awards.

Several injured workers interviewed by The Oklahoman said they had no knowledge of the donations.

Sullivan’s House Bill 1601 would make it illegal for an attorney to deduct or withhold any portion of a client’s judgment or settlement proceeds “for the purpose of donating or contributing funds or monies to a political fund, political action committee, campaign of any kind, or candidate for state, federal or local office.”

“I look forward to stopping this practice so that injured workers’ compensation actually goes into their pockets and not the pockets of those looking for political gain,” Sullivan said. “Any injured worker that wants to make a political donation will obviously be free to do so at his or her individual discretion, but my bill will ensure the worker makes that decision.”

House Bill 1601 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee today. It now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Legislation to Protect EMTs Passes Committee

To protect the men and women who save lives daily, state Rep. Marian Cooksey has filed legislation that would increase penalties on individuals who assault emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

House Bill 1360, by Cooksey, would allow felony charges to be pursued against anyone who assaults an emergency medical care provider who is performing medical care duties.

“Why would anyone want to attack the very people who save our lives?” asked Cooksey, R-Edmond. “We need to ensure our EMTS are given better legal protections.

According to medicinstitute.org, there were 14 assaults on EMTs last year that resulted in serious injury in Oklahoma. There were six assaults in Oklahoma City and eight in Tulsa.

A study conducted in 1999 concluded that during 12 years of service, EMTs received an average of nine assaults each year; and 92 percent of responding EMTs had been assaulted at some point while performing their duties.

Cooksey said that number should be zero and hopes her bill will put an end to the assaults.

HB 1360 increases the penalty for assaulting an emergency care provider to up to two years in prison.

HB 1360 passed the House Judiciary Committee today. It now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Rep. Lamons Responds to ME Investigation

House Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, responds to the request today by House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee for an OSBI investigation into the State Medical Examiner’s Office:
“I fully support and appreciate the House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tem calling for this investigation.

We need a quick response to this situation and I applaud them for taking the lead on this extremely important matter,” said Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa.

PRO TEM, SPEAKER CALL FOR OSBI INVESTIGATION

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and House Speaker Chris Benge called upon the Attorney General to a request an OSBI investigation into the State Medical Examiner’s office today.

The leaders have expressed concerns for over a year regarding the management and operations of the office, but additional allegations of sexual harassment charges inside the office bring new urgency to the matter.

“I have expressed real concern about this office for some time now,” said Coffee. “We have been acutely aware of serious management issues, but the new allegations require immediate action.

“On a legislative level, we will continue looking at the management at this agency,” he continued. “But multiple issues need to be resolved at this vital agency.

“I hoped that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation will look into these allegations immediately, and help us all move this agency toward fulfilling its mission,” Coffee concluded.

House Speaker Chris Benge added, “It is vital that the public has confidence in this office, and given the current allegations, I think it is important that an investigation is initiated immediately so as to not impede ongoing operations.”

Rediscovering freedom in America

“Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.”

The continuing irresponsible actions of Congress are beyond shameful. The Washington politicians have inexplicably adopted the mantra of “government is the solution.”

I remember not too long ago, President Ronald Reagan declared that “government is not the solution, government is the problem.” His views have been proven to be right beyond any doubt over the last three decades. Reagan inspired a generation to readopt a previously practiced belief of Americanism. What I mean by that is he had a unique gift to help Americans understand what patriotism, citizenship, and charity are all about.

Pre-Reagan America had slumped into the doldrums of despair. Unprecedented double-digit inflation had stifled the economy. Interest rates reaching 17 percent all but eliminated the great American dream of home ownership. Income tax rates had reached upwards to 90 percent in the highest tax bracket while Iran thumbed its proverbial noses at the United States by holding American hostages for over a year.

President Reagan gave us a road map for success and all we had to do was follow it to continue upon the path of prosperity.

Rather than staying on the straight and narrow path of fiscal prudence, the politicians in Washington have led us back to the dark ages of big government.

The “dollar” was once recognized around the world as the gold standard and is now shunned. Today many countries would much rather trade in deutschmarks, francs and the euro.

The hidden tax of inflation has stripped the dollar of much of its worth. Fiat (play) money is printed almost daily, causing even more stress on the economy. The increasing debt burdening the American people has reached critical mass and must be paid off if we are to survive as a nation.

The most shocking realization is that Congress’ sophomoric answer to the financial problems we face is to “borrow” money to pay off the debt. That makes no sense at all! Implementing that strategy will increase our debt two fold.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan was elected president. This was the beginning of a radical transformation back to the founding values and principles of our Constitution.

The chains of government were loosened. Income tax rates were slashed to modest levels causing incredible expansion of the economy. Double-digit inflation dropped off to almost nothing, interest rates fell to all time lows and private investment in industry created jobs galore.

If Reagan did it – we can do it too. The answer to today’s problem is fairly simple to solve since there are only two pieces to the puzzle.

Number one, we need Constitutional conservative leadership like Reagan provided.

Number two; “We the people” must demand a moral and responsible government by electing dedicated public servants.

I still believe in America. I still have faith that values of our forefathers are just as relevant today as they were 230 years ago. I believe the vast majority of Oklahomans will support someone who will provide Constitutional leadership.

Our freedom is precious, and as Reagan said …It is our destiny and duty to preserve in sacred trust mankind’s aspirations of freedom for generations to come.

Please join me and let’s spread the cause of freedom. Brogdon

American Minute - Feb. 5 - Roger Williams & the Danbury Baptists

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

Guilty of preaching religious liberty in England, Roger Williams fled to Boston, FEBRUARY 5, 1631.

He pastored briefly before being banished by Puritan John Cotton, who himself had been persecuted by Anglicans in England.

Roger Williams befriended the Narragansett Indians, who gave him land for Providence Plantation, Rhode Island-the first place where church
government was not controlled by the state government.

In 1639, Williams organized the first Baptist Church in America.

His "notorious disagreements" with Cotton led to his publishing "Mr. Cotton's Letter Lately Printed, Examined and Answered," 1644, in which Roger Williams wrote:

"The church of the Jews under the Old Testament in the type, and the church of the Christians under the New Testament in the anti-type, were both separate from the world; and when they opened a gap in the hedge or WALL OF SEPARATION BETWEEN the garden of the CHURCH AND THE WILDERNESS OF THE WORLD, God hath ever broken down the wall ... therefore if He will ever please to restore His garden and paradise again, IT MUST of necessity BE WALLED IN peculiarly unto Himself from the world."

In 1802, Jefferson referred to Roger Williams' "wall of separation" in his letter to the Danbury Baptists.

Sen. Newberry - Senate Stand for Pro-Life

10th Amendment Right
at Stake

Senator Dan Newberry along with a majority of the Senate voted in favor of Senate Resolution 5 strongly opposing the federal “Freedom of Choice Act.”

President Barack Obama recently promised that one of the top priorities of his new Administration would be to sign into law the “Freedom of Choice Act,” which classifies abortion as a fundamental right. If signed into law, this fundamental right would be equal to the right to free speech and the right to vote, rights that, unlike abortion, are specifically detailed in the United States Constitution.

The Freedom of Choice Act would negate any federal or state pro-life law and would effectively prevent the State of Oklahoma from enacting similar protective measures in the future. The act would invalidate more than 550 federal and state abortion-related laws—laws supported by the majority of the American public.

Senate Resolution 5 also reads, “The ‘Freedom of Choice Act’ seeks to undermine the right and responsibility of the states and the people to debate, vote on, and determine abortion policy.”

State Senator Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, authored the resolution saying this is not only a protection of the unborn, but a protection of our rights.

“Oklahomans have continually supported pro-life issues and this honorable body has continually passed pro-life measures,” said Newberry. “All would be negated if the Freedom of Choice Act becomes law. This act also causes Oklahomans and United States citizens to give up their 10th amendment right, granting more control to the federal government in determining our rights.”

National Background Checks for Firefighters Approved in Senate Committee

Oklahoma applicants for certain professions and licenses are required under state law to undergo both state and national background checks for the sake of public safety. Unfortunately, municipal fire departments do not have that same authorization, but State Sen. Ron Justice hopes that he can get that changed this year through his Senate Bill 249.

"My bill is about prevention and peace of mind. Victims of fire or other situations that require assistance from a fire department shouldn't have to worry about the integrity of the men and women helping them," said Justice, R-Chickasha. "This would give citizens peace of mind that the people in their homes aren't criminals and would also help our municipal fire departments prevent any wrongdoings from happening by keeping criminals off their forces."

SB 249 was requested by Mustang's Fire Department in conjunction with the State Fire Marshall's office. The measure would authorize municipal fire departments to conduct national criminal history records checks on perspective firefighters. They currently are authorized to conduct state background checks but as Mustang Fire Chief Carl Hickman pointed out that is not enough when departments are considering out of state applicants.

Hickman said he once had an applicant from out of state that, unknown to the department at the time, had an out of state felony warrant out for his arrest. The person was not hired, but when Hickman later found out about the individual’s criminal record he realized that the law needed to be changed.

“From a fire chief’s standpoint, I want to have as many tools at my disposal to ensure that I’m hiring people with integrity beyond reproach, not individuals with a shady background or issues in other states,” said Mustang Fire Chief Carl Hickman. “Our job is to protect the public, and we can’t do that to the best of our ability if we don’t know everything about our applicants.”

Each applicant would be required to provide the department with two completed fingerprint cards and a money order or cashier's check made payable to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to cover the fee for the background check. The Bureau would keep one set of fingerprints in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and submit the other set to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the national criminal history records check.

Some examples of other professionals that are required to undergo a national background check to obtain their professional license include teachers, locksmiths, jewelers, bell bondsmen and security guards as well as applicants for the Horse Racing and ABLE Commissions.

The measure will now go before the full Senate.

House Committee Approves Voter ID Reform

Oklahoma State lawmakers voted today to target voter fraud by requiring that Oklahoma citizens provide proof of identity before voting in an election.

"Any election reform package approved this year must start with voter ID as its foundation," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. "Our top priority is to ensure the integrity of our elections, and to do that we must ensure that only eligible voters cast ballots."

House Bill 1037, by state Rep. Sue Tibbs, would require citizens to provide "proof of identity" before voting. Under the bill, proof of identity could be established by producing a document containing a photograph of the voter that was issued by a state, federal, county, municipal, or tribal government.

"For Oklahomans to have faith in our election process, we cannot tolerate any opportunity for voter fraud," said Tibbs, R-Tulsa. "This legislation provides a simple, cost-effective way to guarantee that no Oklahoman is disenfranchised as the result of illegal votes."

Under the bill, if a voter is unable to produce a photo ID, that person can sign a statement under oath swearing to his or her identity.

Anyone found to have signed the oath falsely would be subject to felony punishment.

In recent election cycles there have been reports of voter fraud in numerous states, prompting lawmakers to enact new reforms.

For example, ACORN, a liberal activist group that has registered millions of voters across the country, has been embroiled in countless fraud allegations and was the subject of an FBI investigation.

Some ACORN employees were accused of submitting false voter registration forms – including some signed `Mickey Mouse' and several in Nevada listing Dallas Cowboys players’ names, though none of the players live in the state. Another Nevada ACORN worker was caught filling out voter registration forms using names and addresses copied out of the telephone book.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a similar law in Indiana that required voters to show photo identification.

Last week, former Federal Election Commissioner Hans von Spakovsky noted in the Wall Street Journal that Georgia and Indiana saw record numbers of Democrats vote in November, despite having some of the nation’s toughest voter ID laws.

"With every election that has occurred since states have begun to implement voter ID, the evidence is overwhelming that it does not depress the turnout of voters," von Spakovsky said in the Journal. "Indeed, it may actually increase the public’s confidence that their votes will count."

House Bill 1037 passed out of the House Rules Committee today. It will next receive a vote from the entire Oklahoma House of Representatives.

American Minute - Feb. 4 - Dietrich Bonhoeffer killed by Hitler 1945

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

Jimmy Carter, in his book Sources of Strength, 1997, wrote:

"Rev. Niebuhr urged Dietrich Bonhoeffer to remain in America for his own safety. Bonhoeffer refused. He felt he had to be among the other Christians persecuted in Germany.

So he returned home, and...in resistance to Hitler...preached publicly against Nazism, racism, and anti-Semitism...

Bonhoeffer was finally arrested and imprisoned, and FEBRUARY 4, 1945, just a few days before the allied armies liberated Germany, he was executed on orders of Heinrich Himmler.

He died a disciple and a martyr."

Jimmy Carter concluded:

"The same Holy Spirit...that gave Bonhoeffer the strength to stand up against Nazi tyranny is available to us today."

On February 16, 2002, Dr. James Dobson told the National Religious Broadcasters:

"Those of you who feel that the church has no responsibility in the cultural area...

What if it were 1943 and you were in Nazi Germany and you knew what Hitler was doing to the Jews...

Would you say, 'We're not political-that's somebody else's problem'?"

Dobson concluded:

"I thank God Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not give that answer, and he was arrested by the Nazis and hanged in 1945, naked and alone because he said, 'This is not right.'"

American Minute - Four Chaplains Day

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

On the frigid night of FEBRUARY 3, 1943, the Allied ship Dorchester plowed through the waters near Greenland.

At 1:00am, a Nazi submarine fired a torpedo into its flank, killing many in the explosion and trapping others below deck. It the ensuing chaos, four chaplains: a priest, a rabbi and two protestant ministers; distributed life jackets.

When there were none left, the four chaplains ripped off their own jackets and put them on four young men.

Standing embraced on the slanting deck, the chaplains bowed their heads in prayer as they sank to their icy deaths.

Congress honored them by declaring this "Four Chaplains Day."

On February 7, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower remarked:

"And we remember that, only a decade ago, aboard the transport Dorchester, four chaplains of four faiths together willingly sacrificed their lives so that four others might live.

In the three centuries that separate the Pilgrims of the Mayflower from the chaplains of the Dorchester, America's freedom, her courage, her strength, and her progress have had their foundation in faith."

Eisenhower concluded:

"Today as then, there is need for positive acts of renewed recognition that faith is our surest strength, our greatest resource."

Henry Names New Adjutant General

Governor Henry today appointed Army National Guard Major General Myles Deering to serve as the state’s top military officer.

As Oklahoma Adjutant General, Deering will serve as military advisor to the governor and commander of the Oklahoma Air and Army National Guard.

He succeeds Lt. General Harry “Bud” Wyatt III, who was recently promoted to serve as the director of the Air National Guard at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.

“During his lengthy military career, Gen. Deering has distinguished himself as a dedicated solider and a seasoned leader capable of handling any and all challenges that come his way,” said Henry. “Oklahoma will be in good hands with Gen. Deering as its top military officer.”

From December 2004 to November 2008, Deering served as commander of Oklahoma’s famed 45th Infantry Brigade. He led the 45th in recent deployments to Iraq and in 2005 served as task force commander of 15,000 National Guard, Reserve and Active Duty troops in New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Deering, 56, was recently assigned as the Director of Manpower and Personnel at the National Guard Bureau in Washington, DC, but will be reassigned back to Oklahoma in order to serve as Oklahoma’s State Adjutant General.

“It is a great honor to serve my home state and my country as adjutant general,” said Deering. “I appreciate the governor’s confidence in me, and I look forward to serving in this new role.”

Deering’s military career has spanned almost four decades.

He entered the service in 1971 and was commissioned as an infantry officer upon completing Officer Candidate School.

He has held numerous leadership positions in the Oklahoma Army National Guard and has earned numerous medals and citations, including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

A native of Ada, Deering holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He has also earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in Natural and Applied Science from Oklahoma State University.

He is a 1970 graduate of Ada High School. Deering and his wife, Pam, reside in Norman. Pam is the Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services for the Midwest City-Del City Public Schools. Their son, Daniel, is a former Oklahoma National Guard member who served in Bosnia and Iraq.

Ok Gov Henry TRASH Blogger in 2009 State of State

Oklahoma Governor Brad "I'm Late" Henry, pop off and TRASH Blogger and Talk Radio, in his 2009 State of the State Address.

Being 1 of maybe 2 or 3 blogger that spend anytime at the State Capitol, I think its funny. I will have to blog more about Gov. "I'm Late"

American Minute - Treaty with Mexico

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

FEBRUARY 2, 1848, the U.S. Congress ratified the peace treaty which ended the Mexican War.

In exchange for 15 million dollars the territories of California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming, were brought into the Union.

The treaty stated:

"In the Name of Almighty God-the United States and the United Mexican States animated by a sincere desire to put an end to the calamities of the war....have, under the protection of Almighty God, the Author of Peace, arranged, agreed upon, and signed the following Treaty of Peace."

The Treaty continued:

"If (which is not to be expected, and which God forbid) war should unhappily break out between the two republics, they do now...solemnly pledge themselves to each other and to the world to observe the following rules...

All churches, hospitals, schools, colleges, libraries, and other establishments for charitable and beneficent purposes, shall be respected, and all persons connected with the same protected in the discharge of their duties, and the pursuit of their vocations. "

The Treaty concluded:

"Done at the city of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the 2nd day of February, in the year of the Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight."

SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM COFFEE RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

“As always, the governor’s speech was positive and forward looking, and we appreciate his willingness to work with the legislature to see our state through our current challenges.

“We all know our nation’s economy is struggling, and states across the nation face tight budget years. While we’re fortunate that Oklahoma does not face the cataclysmic crisis of many other states, we face some very real issues. We stand ready to work with the House and the Governor to provide Oklahomans a balanced budget that is efficient, provides the essential services we need, and moves our state forward.

“During these tough economic times, it is encouraging to see that the governor agrees we should avoid raiding the Rainy Day Fund, but he was light on specifics on how he plans to deal with the budget shortfall. I do endorse his position of holding Public Safety, Transportation and Education harmless in the budget process, which will make our challenge all the greater regarding other areas of need this year.

“In the current financial scenario, we have an opportunity to look at various areas of government and determine the efficiency and effectiveness of agencies and their responsibilities. Our job as legislators is to be efficient with taxpayer’s money, and I believe the Office of Accountability and Innovation will be a good step in that direction.”

Protecting people’s right

The First Amendment guarantees every citizen the right to petition our government for redress of grievances. Oklahoma has some of the most onerous legislative rules in the nation when it comes to petitioning state government. Senate Bill 852 and Senate Joint Resolution 13 address these concerns and attempt to tear down many of the roadblocks.

SJR 13 is a constitutional amendment designed to lower the number of required signatures to present an initiative petition to the people. Current law requires that "15 per centum of the legal voters from the last general election shall have the right to propose amendments to the Constitution by petition.” There are two problems in the current law; 15 percent is too high of a threshold, and tying the signatures to the last general election is inconsistent and unfair.

For example, the amount of signatures required for one petition would be based on the governor’s race and the other petition on the presidential race. Two different standards would require a different number of signatures. The one tied to the presidential race may require 300,000 signatures and the one tied to the governor’s race may only require 150,000, since far less people vote in the latter. SJR 13 seeks to correct both problems by lowering the amount of required signatures from 15 percent to 10 percent and tying all petitions to the governor’s race.

SB 852 contains several needed changes statutorily. The first one deals with the "gist” or the explanation of the bill. Current law allows for the gist to be challenged after signatures have been collected. If the attorney general or the court decides the gist is too complicated, then the entire petition can be disqualified. The new law would require the gist to be submitted to the secretary of state at the time the petition language is presented. After all challenges and court proceedings are complete, the gist is either approved or changed to meet the intended requirements and no further gist challenges are allowed.

Another change requires protests dealing with the constitutionality of the language in the petition to be dealt with before signatures are collected rather than after. Once all challenges are complete, the petitioners would have one year to collect the required amount of signatures instead of the current 90 days. Any protest to the number of signatures would have to be filed with the secretary of state within 10 days. If in the opinion of the state Supreme Court any objection to the count or protest to the petition is frivolous, the court may impose appropriate sanctions.

Finally, it would be unlawful for anyone to engage in "petition blocking,” which would include harassment or intimidation of persons circulating or signing petitions.

Legislative action is needed in Oklahoma in order to protect the right of the people, which is guaranteed in the Constitution. 2009 could be the year for reform. Brogdon

Democrats to GUT U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Eleven Senate Democrats have called on President Obama to quickly replace the chief of the Army Corps of Engineers in the latest move in an increasingly nasty spat centered on accusations that Corps leaders have cozy business relations that undermine federal wetlands protection.

The Democrats -- including Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. -- sent a letter Wednesday to Obama asking for the speedy ousting of Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John Paul Woodley Jr.

In the letter, which does not refer to Woodley by name, the senators cite a report from Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform and Transportation and Infrastructure panels in alleging that "the current Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works 'placed the interests of corporate lobbyists over the scientific determinations of career staff ...' in several decisions regarding Clean Water Act protections."

This includes Woodley's role in producing a dual Environmental Protection Agency-Army Corps document in December intended to clarify an earlier 2007 memo that itself was meant to clear up a muddled Supreme Court ruling in 2006 regarding federal wetlands protection.

Democrats and environmental groups have charged the revised guidance provides less protection and is more confusing than the memo it replaced.

In a telephone interview Thursday, Woodley called the House Democrats' report "false, malicious, fraudulent and a tissue of lies." The report "is the product of a review of some 40- or 50,000 pages out of which a small number are taken out of context, misinterpreted, misapplied in order to create a fictional story," he said. "No lobbyist ever asked me to do anything in this case."

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., issued a statement praising the senators for joining the effort to "expeditiously" replace Woodley and Deputy Assistant Secretary George Dunlop.

"Based on the actions of these two individuals during their service with the Corps, it would be far better to allow a career civil servant to serve as an interim, acting-assistant secretary, rather than allow either Secretary Woodley or Deputy Assistant Secretary Dunlop to remain in control of the construction and regulatory authorities of the agency," Oberstar said.

Oberstar and the senators also say Woodley has been lax in implementing reforms included in the 2007 Water Resources Development Act.

Rose Day at Oklahoma Capitol THIS Wednesday

The annual pro-life lobbying day, Rose Day, will be held this Wednesday, February 4, at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City.

The Rose Day program will be held at 11:45 a.m. in the House Chamber.

The morning will be devoted to visiting state legislators, urging their support for pro-life legislation here in Oklahoma. Please come and show your support for the unborn child.

Thank you!

American Minute - Feb. 1 - Julia Ward Howe & the Battle Hymn of the Republic

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

Five dollars was all she was paid by the Atlantic Monthly Magazine for her poem, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, published FEBRUARY 1, 1862.

The Union's theme song during the Civil War, Julia Ward Howe wrote it while visiting Washington, D.C., and seeing the teeming military, galloping horses and countless campfires.

Sleeping unsoundly one night, she penned:

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:

His truth is marching on."

Julia Ward Howe continued:

"I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;

'As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal';

Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,

Since God is marching on."

The next verse stated:

"He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgement-seat:

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on."

Julia Ward Howe's poem concluded:

"In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea;

With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me:

As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,

While God is marching on."

American Minute - Jan. 31 - Jacob Duche' & the First Prayer in Congress

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

Jacob Duche' was born JANUARY 31, 1738.

An Anglican minister, the Continental Congress had requested he open their first session with prayer.

Conscious of impending British attack, Rev. Jacob Duche' read Psalm 35:

"Plead my cause, Oh, Lord, with them that strive with me, fight against them that fight against me...Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me."

John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:

"Rev. Duche' appeared with his clerk and in his pontificals, and read several prayers in the established form, and read...the 35th Psalm...

I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning."

John Adams continued:

"After this, Mr. Duche', unexpectedly to every body, struck out into an extemporary prayer, which filled the bosom of every man present.

I must confess, I never heard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced...with such fervor, such ardor, such earnestness and pathos, and in language so elegant and sublime, for America, for the Congress, for the province of Massachusetts Bay, and especially the town of Boston.

It has had an excellent effect upon everybody here. I must beg you to read that Psalm."