tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44348194068989411812024-03-18T21:13:56.985-05:00MuskogeePolitico.comA top-ranked Oklahoma conservative political blog, authored by Jamison Faught.Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.comBlogger5615125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-1482132475610142572024-03-18T20:56:00.008-05:002024-03-18T21:05:29.177-05:00Dahm and Deevers discuss Tyrannical Treat's 'terrorist' tirade after Senate filibustering<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfUI3YTS0H8kYeRq6ne6w1D_380PUiFp7QjJO63Z8MXgBq-61aY-sKAoAAVxTL0QMwZ7w93bUmdW6AiBlBJFMcoGhYrCtXuYbzN24qoNr0hv3PjWW1nq3nKv9ewlc5slIzTqhmE5OQQriL2CeUrXDHJIap-06TT40lfhFaPo8WWpfsocSHae00-MBZkob/s942/greg%20treat%20'terrorist'%20coment.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="942" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfUI3YTS0H8kYeRq6ne6w1D_380PUiFp7QjJO63Z8MXgBq-61aY-sKAoAAVxTL0QMwZ7w93bUmdW6AiBlBJFMcoGhYrCtXuYbzN24qoNr0hv3PjWW1nq3nKv9ewlc5slIzTqhmE5OQQriL2CeUrXDHJIap-06TT40lfhFaPo8WWpfsocSHae00-MBZkob/w400-h295/greg%20treat%20'terrorist'%20coment.png" width="400"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div>(Couldn't help myself with the alliteration there.)<p></p><p>On Thursday, conservative state senators Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) and Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) <a href="https://journalrecord.com/2024/03/deadline-day-lasts-13-hours-on-oklahoma-senate-floor/">engaged in a filibuster</a> of-sorts to protest, among other things, the lack of action on conservative members' priority legislation and the general state of how things are run in the Senate under Pro Tem Greg Treat.</p><p>At a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=7250641755055215">press conference</a> during the day, Treat commented on the action, saying that he "doesn't negotiate with terrorists," before back-tracking moments later to say, "I am not calling them terrorists; I'm calling their actions 'terroristic'". And yet, as Sen. Dahm points out below, everything that he and Deevers did was above board and by the Senate Rules.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/dahm-and-deevers-discuss-tyrannical.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-11877909156392294152024-03-18T19:19:00.000-05:002024-03-18T19:19:03.256-05:00Congressman Brecheen announces 14 town halls, April 2nd-4th<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LD82wZQKmiUSEi4C4T5jjqhPFlQy1nKsOqpEzGVuDdPNM6C8bvS8SBLB64pU4dEAX6E6wiTBSGFimjNrWACrV-WnO0x2CFJCaTReKyXhy30seosB-mA7-uISC0ktvGToTV05912v0MiC8IsF2mNMY-HNjewgBEUod8Lf7uBy5FSWdw0c80nswRNmUpLS/s720/Brecheen%20town%20hall%20graphic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LD82wZQKmiUSEi4C4T5jjqhPFlQy1nKsOqpEzGVuDdPNM6C8bvS8SBLB64pU4dEAX6E6wiTBSGFimjNrWACrV-WnO0x2CFJCaTReKyXhy30seosB-mA7-uISC0ktvGToTV05912v0MiC8IsF2mNMY-HNjewgBEUod8Lf7uBy5FSWdw0c80nswRNmUpLS/s320/Brecheen%20town%20hall%20graphic.png" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Congressman Josh Brecheen Announces April In-Person Town Halls</b></div></b><div><br></div><div>Washington, D.C. – Congressman Josh Brecheen announced the following in-person town halls for the month of April. Constituents are invited to attend and share their thoughts and ask questions on policy issues impacting Washington, D.C. and Oklahoma.</div><div> </div><div>Congressman Brecheen held 18 in-person town halls in February. For a recap of those town halls, <a href="https://brecheen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=270">please click here</a>. <span></span></div><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/congressman-brecheen-announces-14-town.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-13045540006441486412024-03-15T12:54:00.004-05:002024-03-15T12:54:00.152-05:00Clock wars: State Senate passes bill to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time<p>While a lot of people like the "fall back" clock switch, practically nobody appreciates "spring forward". There's a push in the state legislature, and across the country, to pick one and stick with it. So... Standard Time, or Daylight Saving Time? You have <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/search/label/Daylight%20Savings">both camps</a> in the Oklahoma Legislature. Earlier this week I ran a <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/rep-kevin-west-continues-pushing-switch.html">column from one House member</a> who wants to switch to permanent Standard Time. The State Senate, however, <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2023/03/state-senate-approves-bill-to-lock.html">once again</a> has voted to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time. Confused? Yeah. We all are.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j-lvnwRbY6nGunlpFaB6t9UbK820flOG76WJAUOHlJY3efgQ4FR2XcZPyVFSCJTSHJtVkGlBr5HnWNWIOh9v61gpuaFYvFHVElxnhUGkVFCQZiFAmVss5k-fR0i8W1zald18MRvraDwg/s800/clock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j-lvnwRbY6nGunlpFaB6t9UbK820flOG76WJAUOHlJY3efgQ4FR2XcZPyVFSCJTSHJtVkGlBr5HnWNWIOh9v61gpuaFYvFHVElxnhUGkVFCQZiFAmVss5k-fR0i8W1zald18MRvraDwg/s320/clock.jpg" width="320"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Senate approves bill to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 12th) – <a href="http://oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB1200&Session=2400">Senate Bill 1200</a> received approval from the full Senate Monday and provides that Oklahoma remain on Daylight Saving Time year-round should Congress pass legislation allowing states to choose whether or not to take part in the bi-annual time change. The bill’s author, Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens, R-Tahlequah, has long advocated for locking the clock, citing the health and safety benefits of having an extra hour of light in the evenings.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/clock-wars-state-senate-passes-bill-to.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-61695267273298438562024-03-15T09:30:00.001-05:002024-03-15T09:30:00.249-05:00Drummond urges FTC to strengthen online privacy, safety protections for youth<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71F243Kd7W4puynn4TPdENrsb4obqNKaDQdfwekNvygunxedoTLC-7Jo6Q4lJRvKiWBTNgQIxWOb4pAUlr5qJrGpUhgbVDSmSCQQyNf-RUhcDS0gVcMBkMsiEo3hKtoeAyWFl_DXk4C1AR6CDP5q9ve766BPqE2dFVSYZfR5X5iIAyFGuZ2wX3HqPyJQd/s800/gentner%20drummond.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71F243Kd7W4puynn4TPdENrsb4obqNKaDQdfwekNvygunxedoTLC-7Jo6Q4lJRvKiWBTNgQIxWOb4pAUlr5qJrGpUhgbVDSmSCQQyNf-RUhcDS0gVcMBkMsiEo3hKtoeAyWFl_DXk4C1AR6CDP5q9ve766BPqE2dFVSYZfR5X5iIAyFGuZ2wX3HqPyJQd/s400/gentner%20drummond.jpg"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Drummond urges FTC to strengthen online privacy, safety protections for youth</b></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 12, 2024) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond and a coalition of 39 other attorneys general are urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to update and strengthen the rules technology companies must follow under the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).</p><p>Drummond said the update is necessary because the rules governing online privacy protections for children under the age of 13 have not been revised in more than a decade. At the same time, the digital world has evolved rapidly — with smartphones, social networks and connected devices now a big part of daily life.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/drummond-urges-ftc-to-strengthen-online.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-84727743389192708422024-03-14T21:53:00.003-05:002024-03-14T21:53:32.213-05:00House passes three income tax cut bills by Speaker McCallThe State Senate's GOP leadership is adamantly opposed to cutting the income tax this year, but House Speaker McCall is just as determined to put the ball in their court, with the House sending the following income tax cut bills to the Senate this week:<br><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MBdJjakQhrRDlgJ0A7BNu5rQGaIU44MYVCk8Yv_jmOfNnc5sBobUNFoPEpvHAhThmzZHDSvqOskHiMmtT31nBina1-uFkFwk4fR5SRbbbJtWZl2EG2cWDjd8HmEP-IOpRDCA07pgI2Cx/s800/state+capitol.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="800" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MBdJjakQhrRDlgJ0A7BNu5rQGaIU44MYVCk8Yv_jmOfNnc5sBobUNFoPEpvHAhThmzZHDSvqOskHiMmtT31nBina1-uFkFwk4fR5SRbbbJtWZl2EG2cWDjd8HmEP-IOpRDCA07pgI2Cx/s320/state+capitol.jpg" width="320"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Speaker McCall Tax Bills Pass House</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 13th) – Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, this week gained House passage of multiple bills he authored regarding Oklahoma's tax structure and policy. The bills were in addition to tax policy legislation passed by the House earlier this session.</p><p>"I made a promise to Oklahomans when the grocery tax passed earlier this session that the House was not done delivering tax relief to our citizens," McCall said. "This week, the House kept that promise. State savings are at record levels, our economic outlook as a state continues to rise and now is the time to allow Oklahomans to keep more of their hard-earned money. The House believes that principle, and that is reflected by the overwhelming number of votes these bills received."<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/house-passes-three-income-tax-cut-bills.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-44647092433086446472024-03-14T21:40:00.004-05:002024-03-14T21:40:58.331-05:00State Senate votes to raise age of consent from 16 to 18<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXF3IHjHCug8BFxuS5s5kFO74KqreDcW2hdk4Cc6utY_0dC5xwsPZKOYGjkXCBxYMQf823x-W6M5uatLrjtKLEGCAP3qtWgvf-BxtYyKWu_luXzz662_kX-ucK4K-JnlgckHekS-272LmLsxi9ffwO7lvKwtQzGa6QK5SYTb0KcVRYeSz1GOUFWktww/s800/Hamilton%252C%2520Warren_flags.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXF3IHjHCug8BFxuS5s5kFO74KqreDcW2hdk4Cc6utY_0dC5xwsPZKOYGjkXCBxYMQf823x-W6M5uatLrjtKLEGCAP3qtWgvf-BxtYyKWu_luXzz662_kX-ucK4K-JnlgckHekS-272LmLsxi9ffwO7lvKwtQzGa6QK5SYTb0KcVRYeSz1GOUFWktww/s320/Hamilton%252C%2520Warren_flags.jpg" width="256"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Senate votes to raise age of consent</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 12th) – Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, received overwhelming approval for his legislation to raise the age of consent from 16 to 18. <a href="http://oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb615&Session=2400">Senate Bill 615</a> aims to protect minors from predation by giving them two additional years of legal protection.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/state-senate-votes-to-raise-age-of.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-11225173675586292472024-03-14T21:28:00.003-05:002024-03-14T21:30:20.044-05:00House passes social media age-limit and verification bill <p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CCVTjnwh003Tmep9tSjq0xrSegP-ccfKuC1EIPFrYGeWu8ot8XIX-xbTdbrk6YlKKdisUpUTl3Y3HfW-PolzIL3ljBtQQEM_X2gUGV93SBn_Cey1pc2JqXVev7gbRGwQ_eiBJbawxLAWuYEC2qSpHyhDu5IIYSyPax_dvdRF1h4SzIh9mF9_F1_HI6Nj/s6016/social%20media.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CCVTjnwh003Tmep9tSjq0xrSegP-ccfKuC1EIPFrYGeWu8ot8XIX-xbTdbrk6YlKKdisUpUTl3Y3HfW-PolzIL3ljBtQQEM_X2gUGV93SBn_Cey1pc2JqXVev7gbRGwQ_eiBJbawxLAWuYEC2qSpHyhDu5IIYSyPax_dvdRF1h4SzIh9mF9_F1_HI6Nj/s320/social%20media.jpg" width="320"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Social Media Age-Limit Bill Passes House</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 14th) – Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, today passed a bill in the House that would limit social media accounts for youth.</p><p><a href="http://oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb3914&Session=2400">House Bill 3914</a> would require social media companies to verify account holders are over the age of 18 or to confirm parental consent for those aged 16 to 18.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/house-passes-social-media-age-limit-and.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-52401839354026184582024-03-14T20:59:00.002-05:002024-03-14T21:03:21.284-05:00Former State Rep. Avery Frix announces bid for State Senate District 9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqtUiaSkVGo9YVI_hxq1C-B3XNR_f1lyZ8FS6A7omt9_TfolQzt05FypNrqv_TK5WV1jB5YhQ9JZjgPCJnb9t0p26bKPacO9PAZ2qerPLgW7iStDyjQAa6B5k8GuBu_cYhmHcGrc-JBG2zqdwudtxoiUe4Kwfr1vnoRVbL9nZp7gBDgFu1rjA-nGom5Wx/s768/avery%20frix.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="768" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqtUiaSkVGo9YVI_hxq1C-B3XNR_f1lyZ8FS6A7omt9_TfolQzt05FypNrqv_TK5WV1jB5YhQ9JZjgPCJnb9t0p26bKPacO9PAZ2qerPLgW7iStDyjQAa6B5k8GuBu_cYhmHcGrc-JBG2zqdwudtxoiUe4Kwfr1vnoRVbL9nZp7gBDgFu1rjA-nGom5Wx/s320/avery%20frix.png" width="320"></a></div><p>At an event in Fort Gibson this evening, former State Rep. <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/search/label/Avery%20Frix">Avery Frix</a> (R-Muskogee) announced his candidacy for <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Oklahoma_State_Senate_District_9">Senate District 9</a>, currently held by <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/02/state-sen-dewayne-pemberton-announces.html">retiring State Sen. Dewayne Pemberton</a> (R-Muskogee). So far, he is the first candidate to start campaigning for this open seat.</p><p>Frix previously served in the Oklahoma State House for three terms (from 2016 to 2022), representing House District 13, before <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/search/label/Avery%20Frix+Josh%20Brecheen">running for Congress and losing</a> to now-Congressman Josh Brecheen in the Republican runoff election (he loaned his campaign $255,000 in that failed effort).<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/former-state-rep-avery-frix-announces.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-68870638964925284602024-03-13T11:36:00.001-05:002024-03-13T11:36:00.180-05:00Small: Child protections merit lawmakers’ support<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU3clutMLmS6CUzVgSG3GzS5EfOpoNf8vaSVl0pMGOoR9m2X6tQiWzAKoowrZA19k3Ru9MXpOpPUyLixvCixmZk67RRj3QmSqavPtXjTPobKomGET5PkNyxrSififYH4wyz02Ge3J9cfu/s500/Jonathan+Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="500" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU3clutMLmS6CUzVgSG3GzS5EfOpoNf8vaSVl0pMGOoR9m2X6tQiWzAKoowrZA19k3Ru9MXpOpPUyLixvCixmZk67RRj3QmSqavPtXjTPobKomGET5PkNyxrSififYH4wyz02Ge3J9cfu/s320/Jonathan+Small.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br>Child protections merit lawmakers’ support</b></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By Jonathan Small</i></div></i><p></p><p>Amid the typical debate over budget priorities and policy issues this year, Oklahoma lawmakers are also considering bills to better prevent child exposure to pornography. Those bills deserve legislators’ support.</p><p>State Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Ardmore, and state Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, have filed legislation to give home-Internet access subscribers and cellular-data-plan subscribers the ability to block access to porn sites.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/small-child-protections-merit-lawmakers.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-45259569874461884342024-03-12T16:07:00.002-05:002024-03-12T16:07:00.135-05:00McBride bill would honor OK National Guard with Capitol Arch<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3-WKo78yAh37DBTbsvCze-MOymDWLzOTMTV753dyoFZ_na7KTC689Jr-BxAk1TxN0F-cVdB7I7hVxbkg2gTEwKh8kf4AseNQjHr-hQAoRzpiuYAvvLeqML6yP1rFuB_M7VrxXuV6u1DYriJTYWflQkUGM9jZSk72lKi9B6KsZ3DgDYAI6FKCyKl3qGW5/s800/Mark%20McBride.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3-WKo78yAh37DBTbsvCze-MOymDWLzOTMTV753dyoFZ_na7KTC689Jr-BxAk1TxN0F-cVdB7I7hVxbkg2gTEwKh8kf4AseNQjHr-hQAoRzpiuYAvvLeqML6yP1rFuB_M7VrxXuV6u1DYriJTYWflQkUGM9jZSk72lKi9B6KsZ3DgDYAI6FKCyKl3qGW5/s320/Mark%20McBride.jpg" width="256"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>McBride Bill Would Honor OK National Guard with Capitol Arch</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 7th) - Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, on Wednesday passed a bill in the Oklahoma House of Representatives that would fund the building of an arch at the Oklahoma Capitol to serve as an honorary symbol of the services performed by the Oklahoma National Guard.</p><p>McBride said the arch was part of early drawings of architect Solomon Layton before the Capitol was built in 1917. It was originally designed to stretch across Lincoln Boulevard much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was one of the structures, like the dome, however, that was laid aside because of lack of funding at the time. <span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/mcbride-bill-would-honor-ok-national.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-21543932590684286322024-03-12T12:20:00.008-05:002024-03-12T12:20:00.133-05:00House passes bill to fix teacher signing bonus issue<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SxwdLVqB2pUCfVGLD7s10SD5ECc7MnUNkipNsuHXIGhIroGnFJ8G6ncorsKE62FWMWeW4FRUm8mvM6FufXP2ot362b_M43p1e7L8pNX15vrRmkwd_JGwi_M6hQTBLuz-s6txX4VbCHcK/s1880/teaching.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1880" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SxwdLVqB2pUCfVGLD7s10SD5ECc7MnUNkipNsuHXIGhIroGnFJ8G6ncorsKE62FWMWeW4FRUm8mvM6FufXP2ot362b_M43p1e7L8pNX15vrRmkwd_JGwi_M6hQTBLuz-s6txX4VbCHcK/s320/teaching.jpeg" width="320"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>McBride Passes Teacher Signing Bonus Fix</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 8th) – Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, this week passed a bill in the Oklahoma House of Representatives that he said would fix the State Department of Education's flawed signing bonus for teachers returning to Oklahoma public school classrooms.</p><p><a href="http://oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb4017&Session=2400">House Bill 4017</a> directs the Oklahoma State Board of Education to establish a $7,000 annual signing bonus program for teachers who return to teaching in state public schools beginning with the 2024-25 school year and who agree to serve for five years. The signing bonus shall be paid in five equal annual installments not to exceed $35,000 per participant.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/house-passes-bill-to-fix-teacher.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-77527839633922972152024-03-12T08:11:00.001-05:002024-03-12T08:11:00.142-05:00Rep. Kevin West continues pushing switch to permanent Standard Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j-lvnwRbY6nGunlpFaB6t9UbK820flOG76WJAUOHlJY3efgQ4FR2XcZPyVFSCJTSHJtVkGlBr5HnWNWIOh9v61gpuaFYvFHVElxnhUGkVFCQZiFAmVss5k-fR0i8W1zald18MRvraDwg/s1772/clock.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="1772" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j-lvnwRbY6nGunlpFaB6t9UbK820flOG76WJAUOHlJY3efgQ4FR2XcZPyVFSCJTSHJtVkGlBr5HnWNWIOh9v61gpuaFYvFHVElxnhUGkVFCQZiFAmVss5k-fR0i8W1zald18MRvraDwg/w320-h320/clock.jpg" width="320"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Rep. Kevin West Legislation Would Address Time Change</b></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY – Feeling sleep-deprived after Sunday's bi-annual time change pushed clocks forward an hour?</p><p>Don't blame Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore.</p><p>West authored <a href="http://oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb2217&Session=2300">House Bill 2217</a>, which would send to a vote of the people a question on whether to adopt permanent standard time in Oklahoma. The measure was filed last year and assigned to the House Rules Committee but has not been heard. It is similar to legislation he's filed in the past.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/rep-kevin-west-continues-pushing-switch.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-49988330143078320212024-03-11T22:03:00.000-05:002024-03-11T22:03:13.242-05:00Senate passes Bullard bill to fund local water, wastewater improvements<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflHfakTUl8ztCruh_K79Q4Ig4_fvRej96qikOSPSoyuEOWkSI-N2QB75NRnQFN0bUkfhyk42EtZuSjiU0xWMpW3Np1e7HbfhtYJLfa7pzAfUc1qnrO-JZQXq4x9yYSHPdB0Bqk19WpL7tsh37YJZAhhqYvZmUA2rycQera9_VlcK7YquhcEpQoKEsuqEE/s3000/Bullard_David.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflHfakTUl8ztCruh_K79Q4Ig4_fvRej96qikOSPSoyuEOWkSI-N2QB75NRnQFN0bUkfhyk42EtZuSjiU0xWMpW3Np1e7HbfhtYJLfa7pzAfUc1qnrO-JZQXq4x9yYSHPdB0Bqk19WpL7tsh37YJZAhhqYvZmUA2rycQera9_VlcK7YquhcEpQoKEsuqEE/s320/Bullard_David.jpg" width="256"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Senate passes Bullard bill to fund local water, wastewater improvements</b></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 11th) – The Oklahoma Senate on Monday passed a bill from Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, that would earmark $125 million for much-needed water and wastewater infrastructure projects in localities across the state.</p><p><a href="http://oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1331&Session=2400">Senate Bill 1331</a> directs the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to establish a program to provide loans to municipalities and rural water districts seeking matching funds for water or wastewater improvement projects. The state would provide $125 million in initial funding for the program.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/senate-passes-bullard-bill-to-fund.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-17378437357871567692024-03-11T21:55:00.009-05:002024-03-14T21:30:52.473-05:00Att'y Gen. Drummond calls on Meta [Facebook] to protect accounts from scammers<p>I know several individuals who, in recent months, were the victims of such hacks on Facebook, which not only locked them out of years of personal posts, but their business pages or groups. Facebook (okay... <i>"Meta"</i>... it's always going to be Facebook, just like Twitter will never be <i>"X"</i> for me) "customer service" is notoriously difficult to deal with in such situations.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPDpmSoNuxe3Ru6qsEOx6InbCYNyRw1PP6EthauMjUa6df47KMCNDIlmTJwFMxfAHW3b2R71GyQGknirb0CfI0OHci6BiTi1kHpN-wY05RaHoajPE1FW775wY0oTCw00Vxfzm69P6eC2Ak5nwiJg6frL9FH3CKFjQXzbeTwGSaTtvOZXpLGRR9u31aLkZ/s750/facebook%20hack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="750" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdPDpmSoNuxe3Ru6qsEOx6InbCYNyRw1PP6EthauMjUa6df47KMCNDIlmTJwFMxfAHW3b2R71GyQGknirb0CfI0OHci6BiTi1kHpN-wY05RaHoajPE1FW775wY0oTCw00Vxfzm69P6eC2Ak5nwiJg6frL9FH3CKFjQXzbeTwGSaTtvOZXpLGRR9u31aLkZ/w400-h238/facebook%20hack.jpg" width="400"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Drummond calls On Meta to protect accounts from scammers</b></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 6, 2024) -- Attorney General Gentner Drummond and a bipartisan coalition of 40 other attorneys general sent a letter Tuesday to Meta Platforms Inc. (Meta) asking for a data security review following major increases in scammers taking over accounts on Facebook and Instagram. <span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/atty-gen-drummond-calls-on-meta.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-30867227966116451112024-03-07T14:09:00.001-06:002024-03-07T14:28:38.413-06:00Election Results Maps: Trump mega-sweep, Biden loses one county<p>The presidential primary was on Tuesday, so it's time to update my long-running <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/search/label/Election%20Results%20Map">Election Results Maps series</a>. Today, we look at how well - or how poorly - the presumptive major party nominees performed. </p><p>First up, the Democratic primary:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FNre4v81TQnOoB1eQYSXvpkjoDkl-RON67rKfv0KkaO8NPyajOFCmvlxJJ6g08sX39k6NqhA6xXYEHDZPIC5bvgGeFDYEjXSh8fpBxWjI8-5XYpRH-K60THIrvQuSENG0pAqOTPtTne8ovToYca6GaglAAlSWjji67_n4f8_yoxbkeeczMdn9cpnM1lY/s620/Biden%202024%20OK%20Primary.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FNre4v81TQnOoB1eQYSXvpkjoDkl-RON67rKfv0KkaO8NPyajOFCmvlxJJ6g08sX39k6NqhA6xXYEHDZPIC5bvgGeFDYEjXSh8fpBxWjI8-5XYpRH-K60THIrvQuSENG0pAqOTPtTne8ovToYca6GaglAAlSWjji67_n4f8_yoxbkeeczMdn9cpnM1lY/s16000/Biden%202024%20OK%20Primary.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>As you can see, President Joe Biden cruised to 72.98% statewide, a lead of 45.96% over all challengers combined. However, he failed to carry all 77 counties, losing one (Cimarron) to Congressman Dean Phillips.</p><p>Biden clung to single-digit leads in three other counties - Coal (33.33%, a 2.2% lead over Phillips), Roger Mills (37.5%, a 1.4% lead over Phillips), and Washita (35.92%, a 4.9% lead over Phillips). He was held under 50% in 11 counties, and an even 50% in one more.</p><p>He did perform better than President Barack Obama did in his second-term primary; Obama received 57.1%, while losing 14 counties. On the other hand, President Trump <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2020/03/ok-primary-trump-sets-record-vote-for.html">set a record</a> for incumbent presidents by <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2020/03/astounding-map-trumps-percentage-by.html">scoring 92.6%</a> in 2020 (including unanimous votes in <a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2020/03/yuuuge-night-137-of-oklahoma-precincts.html">13.7% of all precints</a>).</p><p>Speaking of Trump...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXXsgUXD2uY07-ESkZ_oX37lTxpCObbU1_x6ycl9D0J88jrs8Xw-AiiIgj3rEtZmW76IPrDe0pvMjVvALNGzVGf4FhCzGxbEQrXLcPJxhhhnPoS7t9sdTUBjoa6oRrxZUUbzL4s5YcsPqnP1V2Jm59gFfWFHcT8CtiKLjkpYdj1oHT4ScWg7gokcdarU2/s620/Trump%202024%20OK%20Primary.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXXsgUXD2uY07-ESkZ_oX37lTxpCObbU1_x6ycl9D0J88jrs8Xw-AiiIgj3rEtZmW76IPrDe0pvMjVvALNGzVGf4FhCzGxbEQrXLcPJxhhhnPoS7t9sdTUBjoa6oRrxZUUbzL4s5YcsPqnP1V2Jm59gFfWFHcT8CtiKLjkpYdj1oHT4ScWg7gokcdarU2/s16000/Trump%202024%20OK%20Primary.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Former President Donald Trump, unsurprisingly, swept all 77 counties by commanding margins, with 81.83% statewide (a lead of 63.66% over all challengers combined). His <i>worst</i> showing was in Oklahoma County, where he led Nikki Haley by a 72.23% to 24.92% vote (a 47.3% lead for The Donald). He topped 90% in 23 counties, including two where he <i>led</i> by 90% (Coal with a 90.4% lead, and Choctaw with a 90.3% lead -- with 94.84% and 94.55% of the vote, respectively).<div><p>Granted, he's something of a semi-incumbent, at least within his own party, but I would surmise this to be the largest and most dominant primary performance by an individual who is not currently sitting in the White House.</p></div>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-50239378577476263812024-03-06T09:43:00.001-06:002024-03-06T09:43:12.991-06:00State Sen. Cody Rogers reverses course, will seek reelection<p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2023/08/state-sen-cody-rogers-announces-he-will.html">Six months after announcing</a> that he would not be seeking reelection, Republican State Senator Cody Rogers has had a change of mind, and will campaign for a second term in <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Oklahoma_State_Senate_District_37#District_map">Senate District 37</a> (west Tulsa, Jenks, Glenpool, Sand Springs).</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6bD2ZREUqhJsBgZy5s6LppudJw0y8DTANyRENKOKU-HHNevIrwas_T8rlC4Eg9phqBwbwZCkrAUGez4S6KId5Evv3OzcH1wbgMs4Hs7_Y6m6xnQHXT0FFQHxNi1GmxEnHVsQzM9sHP1sW0HLeo4lG0DcRDrjmZZ1tShU30EU6KrQ8abPvLlzGQBIGQ/s800/Rogers%252C%2520Cody_flags.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6bD2ZREUqhJsBgZy5s6LppudJw0y8DTANyRENKOKU-HHNevIrwas_T8rlC4Eg9phqBwbwZCkrAUGez4S6KId5Evv3OzcH1wbgMs4Hs7_Y6m6xnQHXT0FFQHxNi1GmxEnHVsQzM9sHP1sW0HLeo4lG0DcRDrjmZZ1tShU30EU6KrQ8abPvLlzGQBIGQ/s320/Rogers%252C%2520Cody_flags.jpg" width="256"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sen. Rogers comments on political future</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (March 5th) — Sen. Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa, released the following statement Tuesday.</p><p>“The opportunity to work on behalf of this great state and its people has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Over the past few months, there has been considerable speculation regarding my political future. After much deliberation, thoughtful consideration of my family and constituents' needs, and discussions with colleagues, I have decided to continue service in the Oklahoma Senate.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/state-sen-cody-rogers-reverses-course.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-10710789200548680012024-03-05T14:21:00.001-06:002024-03-05T14:21:09.395-06:00AFP-OK applauds grocery sales tax cut, calls for income tax relief next<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-KXLDZWsrTYlhHiORx87YqGsE8aQ88ADOpT5PlDSgCX5BlJksim7mWXswWJGQPh-Uy7BX51HFXBheEGF8xRPZlS8pxvrRQZrr97v-tj5p_sWMdokE6aRVK2FzVMOVAy81klB0O-87x2R/s400/AFP-OK.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="400" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-KXLDZWsrTYlhHiORx87YqGsE8aQ88ADOpT5PlDSgCX5BlJksim7mWXswWJGQPh-Uy7BX51HFXBheEGF8xRPZlS8pxvrRQZrr97v-tj5p_sWMdokE6aRVK2FzVMOVAy81klB0O-87x2R/s320/AFP-OK.png" width="320"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Americans for Prosperity - Oklahoma Praises Grocery Tax Cut, Calls for Income Tax Relief Next</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Feb. 27th) - Today, Americans for Prosperity - Oklahoma (AFP-OK) celebrates the elimination of Oklahoma's state grocery tax - a landmark achievement that will ease the burden on families across the state struggling to make ends meet under the record high inflation caused by the Biden administration. </p><p>While the grocery tax cut will help residents all across the state, AFP-OK urges lawmakers to take up reforms that will work to grow the whole state's economy. With a governor who has said he will sign any tax cut that crosses his desk and a large <a href="https://ocpathink.org/post/press-release/poll-oklahomans-support-income-tax-repeal">majority of Oklahomans in support of eliminating the income tax</a> altogether, there's no reason for the legislature to stop here. <span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/afp-ok-applauds-grocery-sales-tax-cut.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-46643470315398211962024-03-04T21:50:00.001-06:002024-03-04T21:57:50.889-06:00OK House Republicans pick Hilbert as Speaker-Designate for next term<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtR1eHA3FUEvJQR71z42LYHubGMuvH0_NIoCUQwL97cyk0eDBvVoRvHdZ2xlzDPrhITOvppJrbh_AyzQgGVRoPS5rs69EhP6RhSFELaHM_WGxgfUMvzne9vcc4PZJtUVRSL67pay1Aaae0K0lUoEcHX5ynERR0DwAvnI_Xj3-D7_84KHcc8JtHQV0-a1kr/s4531/Kyle%20Hilbert.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4531" data-original-width="3625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtR1eHA3FUEvJQR71z42LYHubGMuvH0_NIoCUQwL97cyk0eDBvVoRvHdZ2xlzDPrhITOvppJrbh_AyzQgGVRoPS5rs69EhP6RhSFELaHM_WGxgfUMvzne9vcc4PZJtUVRSL67pay1Aaae0K0lUoEcHX5ynERR0DwAvnI_Xj3-D7_84KHcc8JtHQV0-a1kr/s320/Kyle%20Hilbert.jpg" width="256"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>House Republicans Elect Hilbert Speaker-Designate</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY – Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, has been elected by the Oklahoma House Republican Caucus as speaker-designate for the 60th Legislature.</p><p>The speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives is the body’s chief presiding officer and is responsible for committee appointments, the flow of legislation and the management of the House budget and staff. The speaker also serves as an ex officio voting member on all House committees.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/ok-house-republicans-pick-hilbert-as.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-2181676685999461922024-03-03T14:10:00.003-06:002024-03-03T14:10:00.190-06:00State Election Board: post-election audits confirm results of recent legislative races<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_L7tDdWFobAv8LC1riroxmZIVOLxxPDxzHn0f57QaVpUhfh0f8jlO4MidMp4OTLeMbhFsfAE-h3J2ObjDOULOD2qNK3K1vZe4vr48pZg6kEEYwQ747ib7iVffCBrl2TaVagyrgqSuQcKT6PXiKLVSUQpL5cka3ll84HhzNU6Kq8tfM30t-Ok5PrN8w/s400/ok%20state%20election%20board.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_L7tDdWFobAv8LC1riroxmZIVOLxxPDxzHn0f57QaVpUhfh0f8jlO4MidMp4OTLeMbhFsfAE-h3J2ObjDOULOD2qNK3K1vZe4vr48pZg6kEEYwQ747ib7iVffCBrl2TaVagyrgqSuQcKT6PXiKLVSUQpL5cka3ll84HhzNU6Kq8tfM30t-Ok5PrN8w/s320/ok%20state%20election%20board.jpg" width="320"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Post-Election Audits Confirm Results of Recent Legislative Races</b></div></b><p></p><p>(Oklahoma City, February 29th) – The State Election Board announced today that post-election audits conducted last week confirmed the results of the recent State Senator, District 32 Special General Election and State Representative, District 39 Special Primary Election and Special General Election.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/state-election-board-post-election.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-34413597383338465442024-03-02T18:14:00.004-06:002024-03-02T18:14:00.149-06:00Senate committee approves legislation to fund Arkansas River levee improvements<p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmC9rCmg__ZVevQLIDpsQicnVwQDGQTPWaSwuVldfd2pYhhdNBHDG3Au0RxuL4lg0uDWRRjclhReJ6p4AgHn25GUI5mUiED2FdX6K_PEK9gLJY0upisbQe6o5ky459V-pdK_o6t4-EFt7MaJOeyM7tvK4t1CMJT-FIkdpYFx1Apc52o5Wj66hVRMNBiGXr/s500/tulsa%20levee.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="500" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmC9rCmg__ZVevQLIDpsQicnVwQDGQTPWaSwuVldfd2pYhhdNBHDG3Au0RxuL4lg0uDWRRjclhReJ6p4AgHn25GUI5mUiED2FdX6K_PEK9gLJY0upisbQe6o5ky459V-pdK_o6t4-EFt7MaJOeyM7tvK4t1CMJT-FIkdpYFx1Apc52o5Wj66hVRMNBiGXr/s320/tulsa%20levee.png" width="320"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Senate Appropriations Committee approves legislation to fund Arkansas River Levee improvements</b></div></b><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 29th) – Sen. Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa, received approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday for <a href="http://oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1391&Session=2400">Senate Bill 1391</a>. The measure designates funds to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for improvements to levees along the Arkansas River.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/senate-committee-approves-legislation.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-63196717340252105222024-03-02T13:47:00.022-06:002024-03-02T13:47:00.302-06:00Nothing as permanent as a temporary tax: Wagoner County voting Tuesday on EIGHT tax proposals<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvhm_HXi-Eqv8yLz8yHbjid_9Ugzq6-aqc2KNkmJlIVvQD1p3r44hHQA6GFk7wf0U4bxq2ZLA1tGGuSLa8e8R3xTWCi7fEH99oCeZeiq82dRAqDOYj66bIXIbKLpkBdxegtByO1UPofo5zJjoc2dF5BC9V7fUWi0h8GPGZtnI8XKq8VP75Xe8hVJ9S63s/s1920/temp%20tax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvhm_HXi-Eqv8yLz8yHbjid_9Ugzq6-aqc2KNkmJlIVvQD1p3r44hHQA6GFk7wf0U4bxq2ZLA1tGGuSLa8e8R3xTWCi7fEH99oCeZeiq82dRAqDOYj66bIXIbKLpkBdxegtByO1UPofo5zJjoc2dF5BC9V7fUWi0h8GPGZtnI8XKq8VP75Xe8hVJ9S63s/s320/temp%20tax.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br>Wagoner County residents are preparing to vote on <i style="font-weight: bold;">EIGHT</i> sales tax propositions, including three that change "temporary" sales tax campaigns into permanent ones. If all eight questions pass, the sales tax in some Wagoner County communities will exceed 10%.<p></p><p>As I said over on Twitter: "Few things are quite so permanent as a temporary tax."<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/nothing-as-permanent-as-temporary-tax.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-18453418530843220372024-03-02T11:53:00.000-06:002024-03-02T11:53:00.135-06:00Small: Bad bill would hike utility costs for consumers<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPlj_hGu4_9QMHDd7LiunuSui7bGADEKOWRdmP6qs_6awMQYH3PkxrL7qOGf23fkk-czb4rkoIgthqeGiYmX4-tW6J_oCqYeVCW1F3id2Q18cgPObVrr-7KUzYS_TqDxuxIq9z1IyMY-gfjsn3f4AWXPR3M4mhAPYM6N0KO8lViNeuAlKnJmSmeed1JQt/s1000/power%20lines.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPlj_hGu4_9QMHDd7LiunuSui7bGADEKOWRdmP6qs_6awMQYH3PkxrL7qOGf23fkk-czb4rkoIgthqeGiYmX4-tW6J_oCqYeVCW1F3id2Q18cgPObVrr-7KUzYS_TqDxuxIq9z1IyMY-gfjsn3f4AWXPR3M4mhAPYM6N0KO8lViNeuAlKnJmSmeed1JQt/s320/power%20lines.jpeg" width="320"></a></div><br>Bad bill would hike utility costs for consumers</b></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By Jonathan Small</i></div></i><p></p><p>In recent years, Oklahoma has gone from having some of the most affordable electric rates in the nation to some of the most expensive.</p><p>In September 2022, the Alliance for Electrical Restructuring in Oklahoma <a href="https://www.okenergytoday.com/2022/09/oklahomas-electricity-rates-climbed-the-fastest-in-the-past-year/">showed</a> that electricity rates surged by 49 percent from June 2021 to June 2022, bumping Oklahoma from having the most affordable electricity rates in the nation to having the 18th-highest costs.</p><p>Given that trend, you would think Oklahoma lawmakers would be working to lower costs.</p><p>Instead, a measure that could further drive up electricity rates has advanced from the Oklahoma House of Representatives.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/small-bad-bill-would-hike-utility-costs.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-27604773654446615882024-03-01T21:42:00.004-06:002024-03-01T21:42:37.742-06:00Treat bill reverting law back to having tags remain with vehicle after sale passes Senate committee<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4O4Eib6XL1_oxGEa6OBjBoAxBDDjp__AiSRNs3xbUIZPNH-mCk3SXPs0eduJrD7ykIXcN-Omga-pdSg9ajBgwT3Po3Pp4Zs4PHglS7DbhfSXHydg_N4Yt-XvkbP9ONb2zwPKD14cxsaBnpT3WJIv8irShjEEzihyphenhyphenk7FMtkjsUXnEl4hoiQBF69m5T4aIj/s876/treat%20wreck%20dashcam.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="876" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4O4Eib6XL1_oxGEa6OBjBoAxBDDjp__AiSRNs3xbUIZPNH-mCk3SXPs0eduJrD7ykIXcN-Omga-pdSg9ajBgwT3Po3Pp4Zs4PHglS7DbhfSXHydg_N4Yt-XvkbP9ONb2zwPKD14cxsaBnpT3WJIv8irShjEEzihyphenhyphenk7FMtkjsUXnEl4hoiQBF69m5T4aIj/s320/treat%20wreck%20dashcam.png" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dash cam view <a href="https://kfor.com/news/local/shocking-dashcam-shows-deputy-thrown-from-side-of-highway-crash/">just prior to vehicle slamming into car on shoulder</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b></b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pro Tem Treat Comments on Tag Legislation Passing Committee</b></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Treat: This is the most important piece of legislation I am prioritizing</i></div></i><p></p><p>OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 27th) – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today released the following statement after <a href="http://oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb2035&Session=2400">Senate Bill 2035</a> unanimously passed through the Aeronautics and Transportation Committee.</p><p>Senate Bill 2035 was authored by Pro Tem Treat in the wake of a tragic accident that involved his son, Mason. He was driving legally with proper documentation but didn’t have a car tag because the sale of the vehicle was from a private individual. Current state law requires a private seller of a vehicle to retain possession of a motor vehicle tag after the sale of a car.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/treat-bill-reverting-law-back-to-having.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-32302522831050653102024-03-01T20:49:00.003-06:002024-03-01T20:50:11.845-06:00State Election Board offers tips and reminders ahead of March 5th Presidential PrimariesIt's something of a foregone conclusion as to who will overwhelmingly win their respective presidential primaries (well, except for the Libertarians), but Tuesday is Oklahoma's presidential primary.<br><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwJRgbKHLgr_R7NU9fbKJvlRc26-FQHkWkj_VuFFSmcel0OXyDDa9EvXgM6BqbhZ4fm3klSrRTlY3PBuKMD1K47-UmsBKRUHlS5TG1sEzMIf2bnIzAOFiXkCUMemb2tSNsAHgE5Ue4KcA/s1000/voting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1000" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwJRgbKHLgr_R7NU9fbKJvlRc26-FQHkWkj_VuFFSmcel0OXyDDa9EvXgM6BqbhZ4fm3klSrRTlY3PBuKMD1K47-UmsBKRUHlS5TG1sEzMIf2bnIzAOFiXkCUMemb2tSNsAHgE5Ue4KcA/s320/voting.jpg" width="320"></a></b></div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b>State Election Board Offers Tips and Reminders Ahead of Presidential Primaries</b></div></b><p></p><p>(Oklahoma City, March 1st) – Voters head to the polls Tuesday for the Presidential Preferential Primary and several nonpartisan elections. The State Election Board offers these tips and reminders to Oklahoma voters ahead of the March 5 Election.<span></span></p><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/state-election-board-offers-tips-and.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4434819406898941181.post-51144844994528050062024-03-01T20:36:00.001-06:002024-03-01T20:36:33.003-06:00Brecheen holds 18 town halls, travels 1,000+ miles in 72 hours<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBPPCBuoUzWkrDCc1SqjGenCQLJlsJvRKTP-OqyMIRi14GP9wAyUFcmz69fv8ngVBoxuoCw6bhMtecGkOVK2ZctAJTuyuUjqk00ppusOAV6CfX1y0c8TfY7m_r6dQwIlAdlNGuTf_hW3-CCXSKQTcWlNqTfV8E0rlpIEX7bukz6V57uVI__I03RVZg4ZC/s2048/brecheen%20town%20hall%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBPPCBuoUzWkrDCc1SqjGenCQLJlsJvRKTP-OqyMIRi14GP9wAyUFcmz69fv8ngVBoxuoCw6bhMtecGkOVK2ZctAJTuyuUjqk00ppusOAV6CfX1y0c8TfY7m_r6dQwIlAdlNGuTf_hW3-CCXSKQTcWlNqTfV8E0rlpIEX7bukz6V57uVI__I03RVZg4ZC/s320/brecheen%20town%20hall%201.jpg" width="320"></a></div></div><br>Last week, Congressman Josh Brecheen completed a whirlwind tour of the 2nd Congressional District, holding 18 public town hall meetings in less than 72 hours.<p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>18 town halls</li><li>1,017 constituents attending</li><li>1,068 miles traveled<span></span></li></ul><a href="https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2024/03/brecheen-holds-18-town-halls-travels.html#more">Read more »</a>Jamison Faughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02717547537110650231noreply@blogger.com0