Barton: Insurance Commissioner race matters more than most realize

Oklahoma’s Insurance Commissioner Matters More Than Most Realize

June 8th, by Brian Barton

During part of Marty Quinn’s time in the Oklahoma Senate, I worked in and around the Oklahoma Legislature and had the opportunity to observe his work firsthand. These are my personal observations about a man I respect.

Politics often focuses on speeches, advertisements, and campaign promises. My perspective is a little different. I had the opportunity to watch Marty work, interact with people, and serve in public office. What stood out to me wasn’t one particular moment. It was the consistency.

Whether working with constituents, fellow lawmakers, agency officials, or community leaders, Marty developed a reputation for being prepared, thoughtful, and willing to do the work required to solve problems. In my experience, consistency is one of the most underrated qualities in public service.

For those reasons, I believe Marty Quinn is the right person for the job.

Cong. Brecheen endorses Marty Quinn for Insurance Commissioner

Oklahoma's best, most conservative member of Congress endorses Marty Quinn for Insurance Commissioner. I concur. Marty Quinn is a great guy, and has the best private and public sector experience to do this job well.

Congressman Josh Brecheen: 

“I am proud to endorse Marty Quinn for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner. I had the privilege of serving alongside Marty in the Oklahoma Legislature for eight years, where he consistently proved himself to be a principled conservative, a man of integrity, and someone who always kept his word. Marty never wavered in his commitment to doing what was right, even when it wasn’t the easiest path.

Marty Quinn announces campaign for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner

Great news! I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have in this position. Incumbent Republican Glen Mulready is term-limited, so this will be an open seat:

Marty Quinn Announces Campaign for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner

Conservative Businessman and Former State Senator Brings Decades of Industry Experience to the Race

CLAREMORE, OK (July 15th) — Marty Quinn, a small business owner, insurance professional, and longtime conservative leader, today announced his candidacy for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner.

With over 40 years of experience as an agency owner and manager— Quinn brings unmatched expertise and a deep commitment to public service. A former Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee and respected voice in the Oklahoma Legislature, Quinn is running to restore transparency, protect consumers, and ensure the Insurance Department works for the people — not the bureaucracy.

CD2 runoff: James Dobson endorses Josh Brecheen

Conservative champion Josh Brecheen has received yet another endorsement in the 2nd Congressional District GOP runoff election. Since the primary, he has received the support of fellow candidates John Bennett (4th place with 11.3%), Marty Quinn (6th place with 7.3%), Wes Nofire (7th place with 6.2%), and David Derby (8th place with 5.5%). 

Joining those in endorsing Brecheen is world-renowned Christian author and the founder of Focus on the Family, Dr. James Dobson.

Marty Quinn endorses Josh Brecheen in 2nd District runoff

The absolutely wild, 14-member GOP primary in the 2nd Congressional District ended with State Rep. Avery Frix and former State Senator and Coburn staffer Josh Brecheen squeeking by into the runoff, with 14.74% and 13.75%, respectively.

Since the end of the runoff, Brecheen has been endorsed by several of the candidates who did not make the runoff. Here is the endorsement by State Sen. Marty Quinn, who placed sixth with 7.29% of the vote:

Quinn receives endorsements from current and former Bartlesville-area legislators

State Senator Marty Quinn has been endorsed in his campaign for Congress by three current or former legislators from the Bartlesville area.

Quinn is one of 14 candidates for the 2nd Congressional District seat. Washington County, with its county seat of Bartlesville, is a brand-new addition to the District following redistricting, and will play a crucial role this primary in the election of the next congressman.

How I think the Senate and CD2 races currently stand

We're now less than two weeks from the 2022 primary election, so I thought I'd write my take on the two most competitive and crowded races attracting attention in the state.

Marty Quinn releases CD2 campaign ad

State senator Marty Quinn is one of 14 Republicans running for the 2nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Quinn has served the Claremore area in the Oklahoma Legislature since 2010, representing House District 9 from 2010 to 2014, and Senate District 2 from 2014 to 2022. Quinn has nearly 40 years of experience in the insurance field, including 25 years in the Claremore area.

OCPA column: Statesmen show up at Capitol

Statesmen show up at Capitol

By Jonathan Small

They say a statesman thinks of the next generation, not the next election. Oklahoma citizens owe a debt of gratitude to those statesmen who still serve in the Legislature and just gutted a self-dealing bill that would have enriched politicians while saddling Oklahoma taxpayers with greater debt.

First fundraising reports for U.S. Senate, CD2 candidates

Candidate filing has concluded, and at the same time the first campaign fundraising reports are available for some of the leading candidates for federal office. In this post, I'm going to briefly cover the fundraising figures for the GOP U.S. Senate and U.S. House candidates that have filed their first quarter reports.

OCPA praises Senators for rejecting scheme to boost politicians' retirement

I posted previously about the fiasco retirement bill passed by the House [Bad idea: State House votes to roll back pension reforms, return to same bad system that got into trouble]. OCPA slammed the measure late last week, saying “Oklahoma families face many real challenges today, but an insufficiently lavish retirement plan for politicians is not one of them.”

The disastrous measure was authored by State Rep. Avery Frix (R-Muskogee), who also happens to be running for Congress. Frix has a history of pandering to government unions on this issue, and this vote coincides with the launch of his campaign for Congress. 

State Sen. Marty Quinn (R-Claremore), also running for Congress, rightly opposed Frix's bill language in committee. Read more:

OCPA praises Senators for rejecting retirement scheme

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 11, 2022)—Members of the Senate took a strong stand against legislative self-dealing today by rejecting a House effort to quietly boost retirement benefits for state politicians, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small said today.

State Senate approves bills affirming biological sex at birth, protecting women's sports

Senate supports science with measures affirming biological sex at birth and its importance in women’s sports

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate gave approval to a pair of measures Thursday affirming biological sex at birth and placing importance on this designation for female student athletes across the state. Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, is the author of both measures.

Senate Bill 1100 would require the biological sex designation on Oklahoma birth certificates to be listed as either male or female, outlawing the use of “X” or any other symbol to represent a nonbinary designation.

“This measure is a direct response to our state’s health department adding nonbinary as an option on birth certificates,” Bergstrom said. “Like the vast majority of Oklahomans, I found this move to be a slap in the face of science. How has our society sunk so low that it is seriously an argument if someone is a boy or a girl? Biological sex is very clear, and our vital state records must reflect this.”

The Senate also passed Senate Bill 2, also known as the Save Women’s Sports Act, which would prohibit anyone of the male sex from playing on athletic teams designated for females, women, or girls.

In his debate, Bergstrom shared that he is passionate about this issue because of his daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters who have and will compete in women’s sports.

“We must protect our female students across this state from losing out on educational opportunities and scholarships because they are competing against men identifying as women,” Bergstrom said. “How is it fair for our children – our daughters, granddaughters, nieces and cousins – to compete against someone who has a very distinct biological advantage over them? The bottom line is it isn’t, and we must address this issue now and protect our female students from men infiltrating women’s sports programs.”

The measure comes on the heels of transgender athlete Lia Thomas’ dominating performance in the NCAA women’s swimming championships earlier this month. Previously known as Will Thomas, the swimmer had the benefit of higher testosterone levels, enhanced lung capacity, and larger hands and feet, lending to increased strength and a distinct advantage against biological females in the competition.

“It’s sad we even have to pass legislation designating that there is a difference between males and females, and that men have an advantage when competing against women,” said Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, co-author of the measure. “But I’m here to support our women and the future of women’s sports.”

SB 2 passed with bipartisan support on a 37-7 vote and is also co-authored by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow; Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman; Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore; Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa; Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington; Sen. Jake Merrick, R-Yukon; Sen. Blake Stephens, R-Tahlequah; Sen. Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa; Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee; Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain; Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard; Sen. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole; Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt; Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant; and Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore.

SB 2 now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Dahm releases statement after passage of Save Women’s Sports Act  

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, released the following statement after the passage of Senate Bill 2, also known as the Save Women’s Sports Act, on Thursday. Dahm was a co-author of the measure.

State House passes bill to send end of Daylight Savings Time to vote of the people

Daylight Savings Change Clears House

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, today convinced enough of his House colleagues to send to a vote of the people a proposal that could permanently end Daylight Savings Time in Oklahoma.

House Bill 3146 would ask Oklahomans to vote on a statutory amendment that if approved would lock the clock on Central Standard Time in Oklahoma and do away with the twice-yearly clock changes. The change would take effect Nov. 8 – the next time clocks are scheduled to fall back an hour.

"Regardless of how we manipulate the clock, we still have the same number of daylight hours available to us each day," West said. "This gives the people of Oklahoma the right to decide the time on the clock during which they are observed."

Daylight Savings Time, which states can currently opt in or out of, requires setting clocks forward an hour each spring and backward an hour each fall in an attempt to increase daylight during evening hours.

Other states, including nearby Arizona, have passed or are passing similar legislation.

Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee joins 2nd District congressional race

Muskogee Police Chief Johnny Teehee has joined the race for the 2nd Congressional District seat currently held by Markwayne Mullin, who is running for U.S. Senate. More here from the Muskogee Phoenix.

He joins fellow Republican candidates State Sen. Marty Quinn, State Rep. Dustin Roberts, pharmacist Chris Schiller (also of Muskogee), OKGOP Chairman John Bennett, and Army veteran Erick Wyatt.

Here is Teehee's announcement press release:

Republican Johnny Teehee Announces for Congress

Candidate’s Mission: “Protect Americans and the American Dream”

 

With a mission of “Protecting Americans and the American Dream” from the liberal assault led by Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, conservative Republican Johnny Teehee announced his candidacy for congress today.

The latest on the 2nd Congressional District race

Here's the latest on the race for Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District, being vacated by Congressman Markwayne Mullin, who in turn is seeking the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe. It's getting to be a crowded race very quickly.

Quinn is in: announces 2nd District Congressional campaign

This morning, State Sen. Marty Quinn (R-Claremore) announced his intention to run for the Congressional District 2 seat being vacated by Congressman Markwayne Mullin (who is running for U.S. Senate):

Today, I announced my intentions to run for Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District. Under Joe Biden’s failed leadership, the politicians in DC think the only answer to a problem is more government spending and more government control. Oklahomans know that more government is the PROBLEM, not the solution. In Congress, I’ll fight every day and will continue to challenge the status quo on behalf of hard-working Oklahomans. President Trump showed us exactly how a business leader can shake things up in Washington DC. I’m ready to put my years of business and legislative experience to work on behalf of our state.

Quinn is completing his final term in the state legislature, having served two terms in the State House and two subsequent terms in the State Senate.

Legislature raided pension assets for election-year state workers' retirement boost

Lawmakers vote to raid pension assets for benefit increase

by Ray Carter, Director, Center for Independent Journalism

 
May 15, 2020 -- Lawmakers voted Friday to approve an unfunded increase in state workers’ retirement benefits, a step that accelerates the ongoing financial deterioration of Oklahoma’s state pension systems and reduces current workers’ future retirement security.

House Bill 3350 provides a 4 percent “cost of living adjustment” (COLA) to most retired state government workers, but provides no funding to cover the cost, instead draining the pension systems’ corpus for the cash.

Opponents noted the legislation repeats the mistakes of the past, when lawmakers routinely raided pension assets to provide COLAs as a vote-buying exercise during election years, and ultimately left the Oklahoma government with one of the worst-funded pension systems in the nation.

“Today, your legislation gives an unfunded, 700 million dollar benefit to state retirees—who I agree deserve it—but it’s not paid for,” said Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle.

Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, said he was “not going to crawl under a rock and ignore the financial mistakes that continue to be made by this body and other bodies so that people can ‘like’ me.”

“Why are we taking the same financial destructive path of previous administrations?” Quinn asked. “You know what I’m talking about. A system that was one of the fifth-worst systems in the entire United States, almost $16 billion underfunded, giving away COLAs in election years. We’re doing the same thing. Just a different group of people.”

“I’m not going to vote to raid the funds,” said Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville.

Proposed "Trump Highway" moved to Panhandle, bill passes committee

Remember several weeks back when State Sens. Nathan Dahm and Marty Quinn authored bills to rename a portion of Route 66 after President Trump and create Make America Great Again/Keep America Great license plates? There's some new news on those bills.

Both have had some significant changes, and both passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday.

SB1089 originally was going to name a several mile stretch of Route 66 in Ottawa County the President Donald J. Trump Highway. There was significant pushback from local elected officials who decried the effort. The location of the highway renaming has been moved from the far northeast corner of the state to the far northwest corner, to a 20-mile section of Highway 287 in Cimarron County.

ALTHOUGH.... I just noticed a potential problem with the Committee Substitute. It specifies State Highway 287 at Boise City. There is no State Highway 287 in Oklahoma. There is a U.S. Highway 287, which is the road they intended. Probably needs amending again if they want signs to actually go up.

The measure passed the Senate Transportation committee by a 5-4 vote.

The other bill authored by Dahm and Quinn originally created two new Trump campaign-themed license plates, a Make America Great Again plate and a Keep America Great plate. Sen. Dahm reports that both plates have now been combined into a single America First license plate.

SB1384 passed the Transportation committee with an 8-1 vote.

State Sen. Dahm files bill to create "MAGA" license plates

While I generally agree with him more than almost every other member of the state senate, I'm getting the feeling that the majority of State Sen. Nathan Dahm's bills this year are either just memes, or specifically written to trigger as many liberals and get as much publicity as he possibly can. Several of them are the equivalent of legislative clickbait. Just callin' it as I see it...

Legislation filed to create “Make America Great Again” and “Keep America Great” license plates

“Make America Great Again” and “Keep America Great” license plates may soon be cruising by in a lane near you.

Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, has filed Senate Bill 1384, which would create special “Make America Great Again” and “Keep America Great” Oklahoma license plates. Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, is co-author of the bill.

“With the introduction of these specialty license plates, we are providing Oklahomans with the option to show their support for America,” Dahm said. “The added benefit of these special license plates is the proceeds from their sale will support two veteran groups here in Oklahoma that President Trump has donated to in the past.”

Each purchase of the specialty license plates would donate $10 to the Folds of Honor Foundation and $10 to the Warriors for Freedom Foundation.

The fee for special license plates is $35 per year, in addition to all other registration fees required by the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act. Twenty dollars of the plate fee supports the charity, foundation or fund designated by the special plate. There are currently 98 special license plates available in Oklahoma.

“I believe these license plates could be very popular with Oklahomans,” Quinn said. “Our president has been very supportive of our veterans, and these plates are a great way to give back to some very deserving Oklahoma veteran groups.”

Ottawa County State Rep, County Commissioners oppose renaming Rte 66 for Trump

Following a recent (and honestly, somewhat puzzling and bizarre) announcement by two Republican state senators seeking to rename a portion of Route 66 after President Trump, the local state representative announced that he and the three Ottawa County Commissioners (all Democrats) oppose the move.

The proposed route that would be named President Donald J. Trump Highway lies within Ottawa County -- which is not in the district of either proposing senator. Sen. Marty Quinn's district lies within Rogers and Mayes counties, while Sen. Dahm's district is in Tulsa County. While the senator representing Ottawa County is a Republican like the bill authors, he has not to my knowledge commented on the bill or signed on as a co-author.

Loring: Legislation to Rename Route 66 Could Negatively Impact Tourism

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Ben Loring (D-Miami) released the following statement in response to legislation filed to rename part of Historic Route 66 in House District 7 after President Donald Trump.

“I do not understand why Sen. Nathan Dahm and Sen. Marty Quinn have filed legislation that would jeopardize tourism in this part of the state and dishonor one of Oklahoma’s favorite sons,” Loring said. “This highway, from Chicago to Santa Monica, is already designated the ‘Will Rogers Highway,’ which is great for all Oklahomans. This is not at all a political issue. It is entirely an economic issue. Changing the name could have a significant negative impact on tourism in this area.

“The combination of Ottawa and Delaware Counties are number three in the State behind Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties as far as tourism dollars being spent here. Route 66 is a huge part of that.  We have the Coleman Theatre, the longest Main Street on the Mother Road, both of the two longest stretches of the original roadway and the Ku-Ku restaurant all right here on Route 66. All of the mayors whose communities would be affected and the County Commissioners join me in opposition to this idea.  This is not a political party divide.  Many Americans with strong political beliefs and foreign tourists would avoid this section of Route 66 simply because of this legislation if it goes through.  That is not fair to these communities.  Please pick another road, and I would suggest one in your own Districts.”