State Sen. Dewayne Pemberton announces he will not seek reelection

State Sen. Dewayne Pemberton (R-Muskogee) has announced that he will not be seeking a third and final term in the State Senate. He will serve out the rest of his term, which ends in November.

Cherokee, Sequoyah join 35 other 'Second Amendment Sanctuary' counties

Last week, two sheriffs declared their counties to be Second Amendment Sanctuaries, bringing the statewide total to 37 counties since February of 2020.

The sanctuary county movement was one of the big stories of 2020 before COVID-19 took over the stage. Between February 12th and March 2nd, twenty-six county sheriffs had made such declarations. They were supported by resolutions or statements by at least four county commission boards and one district attorney.

Cherokee County Sheriff Jason Chennault issued the following open letter on January 25th:

Op-Ed: Real health care solutions available

Real health care solutions available

Let us start talking about health care by getting a few things out of the way.

First, looking for government solutions to health care is a lost cause. We can quibble, but in the end, any plans coming out of D.C. are going to be based on special interests and political advantage. The second is the error of conflating health care with insurance. Health care insurance is not health care, any more than car insurance is car maintenance. To fix our system’s problems, we have to move away from treating health insurance as a cost-sharing plan for non-catastrophic, non-major medical care.

Real solutions are happening right now across Oklahoma and the U.S. as providers in several areas of care are stepping away from the fantasy pricing of the insurance-based system. A growing number of providers are offering transparent pricing and bundled care for their goods and services.Would you like to get effectively unlimited care as needed from your physician for $50-$100 a month? There is a growing number of physicians doing just this. It is a model called Direct Primary Care.

In this model, clients pay a monthly subscription fee. Routine care, even for things like stitches, are covered by the subscription. Most include the ability to contact the physician digitally or by phone with questions or concerns, which becomes a great convenience for clients. Many also include the ability to get needed medications, labs, and imaging without the normally bloated pricing, often for pennies on the dollar.

These savings alone, in a great many cases, are more than enough to cover the cost of the monthly subscription.

Honest and competitive pricing is being realized in other areas as well. Not long ago, I was looking to get X-rays for a client. A certain nonprofit quoted a $350 price tag, which included the radiologist’s report. At an imaging center not taking insurance, I was able to get the same service for $56. You see similar differences in pricing for MRI, CT, and other imaging.

Surgery is another area benefiting clients with price honesty and transparency.There are now state-of-the-art surgery centers in Oklahoma and across the U.S. that actually list their prices, and those prices are often 10-20 percent of the price charged in hospitals and other insurance-based systems. It isn’t rare for the prices at such centers to turn out to be less than the out-of-pocket portions for the same procedures done at locations playing the insurance game.

So, right now, there is a growing availability of care that costs less than many spend for coffee, internet, or a phone in a month. Honest, market-based pricing is bringing down costs, and making care more affordable and accessible. Though we have a long way to go, there is a health care revolution happening now, and it is being done by patients and providers.

For those interested, the Free Market Medical Association is a great source to find and reach out to the health care innovators and providers that are bringing real solutions to our communities.

Dr. Shannon Grimes is a chiropractor in Tahlequah, former chairman of the Cherokee County Republican Party, and current chairman of the Cherokee County Libertarian Party.

Republican Dewayne Pemberton announces for SD9

Retired Admin at Muskogee Schools Dewayne Pemberton

Announces for State Senate District 9

Muskogee, OK – Dewayne Pemberton has officially announced his candidacy for Oklahoma State Senate District 9. The seat, currently held by Earl Garrison, is term limited in 2016. Pemberton is a strict constitutionalist of one who believes in upholding family values, personal responsibility, and he will stand strong to protect our personal liberties. With nearly a 26 year leadership experience in public education from serving as an Athletic Director to High School Principal at both Hilldale & Muskogee Public Schools, Mr. Pemberton will be effective on day one at the Oklahoma State Capitol to be a strong conservative voice at the table for District 9.

Dewayne Pemberton and his wife Claire Pemberton of 36 years have three grown children who have all served in the US Army. Pemberton recently retired from his 36th year in public education – a lifetime commitment to education and of leading & inspiring thousands of students, faculty members, and the local communities.

He has a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Social Studies and Health/Physical Education from University of Central Arkansas in Conway Arkansas where he graduated Cum Laude. Pemberton has completed masters work at the University of Arkansas Little Rock and has a Master’s in Education Administration from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. He has a Principal and Superintendent Specialist certification from Oklahoma State University Tulsa. He spent the first 10 years in education as a social studies teacher, football, wrestling and track coach with Carlisle, Jay and Muskogee Public Schools. He was assistant head coach/defensive coordinator of the 1986 Muskogee High School State Football Championship team.

Pemberton states, “I believe in a limited government – one that encourages economic prosperity by allowing the private sector to freely work. I believe the free enterprise system is the single most effective system of economics in the history of the world. I also believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman. We should fight to protect the life of the unborn except in rare cases of saving the life of the mother. Abortion must end. We should be fully aware of our states’ rights granted to us by the US Constitution. I will be the strong conservative voice of District 9 and will carry that voice of the district to the Oklahoma State Capitol and I would like to thank Senator Garrison for his years of service to our community.”

Dewayne Pemberton is a Republican, member of the NRA, the Chamber of Commerce, and is actively involved within the local GOP of Muskogee. The Primary election for Oklahoma Senate District 9 which covers Muskogee, Talequah, and surrounding areas will be held in June of 2016. For more information, please visit PembertonForSenate.com or call Dewayne directly at 918-687-0063.