Brief Blogging Bullets

Blogging has been on partial-hold due to vacation, so here are some brief blogging bullets to catch up on some of what's happened in the week or so.

• Democrats won both special elections on Tuesday, July 11th:
• Democrat Michael Brooks defeated Republican Joe Griffin in SD44 by a vote of 54.6% to 45.4%. The district has a Republican District Rating of 49.6 (30th most-Republican/18th most-Democrat; 11 GOP-held seats have lower scores, 1 Democrat seat has a higher score), and combining past history with the tremendous baggage of ex-Sen. Ralph Shortey's scandal means this outcome wasn't exactly shocking.
• Democrat Karen Gaddis defeated Republican Tressa Nunley in HD75 by a vote of 52.3% to 47.7%. The district has a Republican District Rating of 56.3 (40th most-Republican/61st most-Democrat), making this the most Republican State House seat held by Democrats. Gaddis' victory caught many people by surprise, but again, this special election was the result of another scandal. The Democrats have an unbeaten record in recent years in scandal-caused special elections, but will it translate into more widespread victories in the regularly-scheduled general election? Only time will tell.
• Edmond education activist and self-described Republican Angela Clark Little "joined with former Gov. David Walters and a who's who of Democratic luminaries to help raise money for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Drew Edmondson."
• Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt has joined the GOP race for Governor. Stitt is the founder and CEO of Gateway Mortgage Group.
• State Rep. Leslie Osborn was replaced as A&B Chair by Speaker McCall today. A&B Vice-Chair Kevin Wallace will be the new budget chairman. Ironically and rather bizarrely, Democrat leaders are speaking out in support of Osborn.
• A new Oklahoma Republican political consulting firm has launched - Tomahawk Strategies principals include former AFP-OK director and Trump campaign leader Stuart Jolley.
• State Rep. John Michael Montgomery is running for SD32, the lone Democrat-held seat west of I-35 (open seat in 2018 due to term limits)
• Lieut. Governor candidate Matt Pinnell raised over $300k in his first ten weeks as a candidate, including donations from all 50 states.

State Sen. Ralph Shortey resigns

Yesterday afternoon, embattled State Sen. Ralph Shortey tendered his resignation to the Senate President Pro Tem Schulz and Governor Fallin, effective immediately. KFOR posted his resignation notice, which read:

I hereby resign effective immediately from the Senate of the State of Oklahoma.

It has been my honor to serve the constituents of the 44th Senate District since 2010.  I appreciate the service the men and women of the Oklahoma Senate provide, and I recognize the need for the business of the Senate to proceed without distraction for the remainder of the legislative session.

The Oklahoman posted a press release Shortey sent out after his resignation:

Earlier today, I submitted my resignation, effective immediately, to the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, as well as to Governor Fallin. I thank the constituents of Senate District 44 for the opportunity they provided to serve. Because I take that responsibility seriously, I recognize that the charges against me are a distraction to their interests and the remaining legislative session, which should serve all Oklahomans.  My resignation is evidence of my respect for public service and the duties of our elected officials.  I ask for the privacy of my family - my wife and four daughters - as I defend myself of these charges.

Thus ends - in shocking fashion - the political career of Ralph Shortey.

State Sen. Shortey charged with 3 child-prostitution felonies

Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman

State Sen. Ralph Shortey (R-OKC) has officially been charged with three felonies related to child prostitution, after police discovered Shortey with a teenage boy at a motel in Moore last week.

Shortey turned himself in around noon, and posted his $100,000 bond around 2:00pm. KFOR has more details, along with disturbing and graphic details of the exchanges between the 35 year-old Shortey and the 17 year-old boy.

Yesterday, the State Senate voted to strip Shortey of just about everything short of outright removal from office - his committee vice-chairmanship and memberships, authored legislation, executive assistant, office, parking spot, and state-issued laptop.

If he doesn't resign before Monday, I'd expect the State Senate to move to expel him.

State Senate Approves Resolution Imposing Punishment on Sen. Ralph Shortey

Yesterday, news broke that police were investigating State Sen. Ralph Shortey (R-OKC) following an incident involving Shortey and a teenage boy at a local motel. KOCO reported earlier today that Moore police are recommending three prostitution-related charges: soliciting prostitution of a minor, prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church and transporting for the purpose of prostitution.

Today, the State Senate voted to suspend Shortey from his legislative privileges, while reserving the right to expel Shortey.

Oklahoma Senate Approves Resolution Imposing Punishment
on Senator Ralph Shortey

The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday approved a resolution imposing punishment upon Senator Ralph Shortey pursuant to provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution.

Copy of Senate Resolution 7

“This is not a presumption of guilt or innocence. The Oklahoma Senate has full faith that the judicial system will play out appropriately and bring this matter to a lawful conclusion. This resolution reserves the right of the Oklahoma Senate to pursue further action if more facts come to light. It would be inappropriate to comment any further due to the pending investigation,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz, R-Altus.

Here is the text of Senate Resolution 7:

WHEREAS, Section 30 of Article V of the Oklahoma Constitution states that "each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member." Further, acting pursuant to such authority, the Senate has enacted its rules for the 56th Oklahoma
Legislature and such rules delineate rights and privileges granted to members of the Senate.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 56TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Section 30 of Article V of the Oklahoma Constitution and pursuant to the rules of the Oklahoma State Senate, the Senate hereby imposes the following punishment upon Senator Ralph Shortey for disorderly behavior:

1. Senator Shortey's positions as vice-chair of the Committee on Energy and the Subcommittee on Select Agencies of the Appropriations Committee are hereby suspended;
2. Senator Shortey's membership on the Committee on Retirement and Insurance, Committee on Judiciary and Committee on Appropriations are hereby suspended;
3. Senator Shortey's authority to designate an executive assistant pursuant to the provisions of Senate Rule 3-4 is hereby suspended and his executive assistant is hereby placed under the direct supervision of the Chief Operating Officer of the Senate;
4. Senator Shortey is hereby directed to immediately return custody of his state-owned laptop computer and any other state-owned property in his possession to the Senate;
5. Senator Shortey shall no longer be authorized to occupy his office in Room 412 of the State Capitol or his assigned parking space in the west parking lot of the Capitol, in conjunction with the provisions of subsection E of Senate Rule 2-4;
6. The provisions of Senate Rule 6-5 are hereby suspended to remove Senator Shortey's name as author or coauthor of any legislation under the control of the Senate. Any other member of the Senate may assume principal authorship or coauthorship of any such legislation as provided in the Senate Rules;
7. The allowances for expenses of the office and postage, and for mileage and other travel expenses, granted to Senator Shortey are hereby suspended;
8. All pages scheduled as of March 15, 2017, under the sponsorship of Senator Shortey for the remainder of the 2017 legislative session shall be under the sponsorship of the President Pro Tempore, and no additional pages shall be scheduled under the sponsorship of Senator Shortey for the remainder of the 2017 legislative session.

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate reserves the right to further exercise its powers pursuant to the provisions of Section 30 of Article V of the Oklahoma Constitution or any other provision of law or rule.