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.

Tahlequah kids quizzed on CRT, Transgender stances -- in 7th grade geography

TAHLEQUAH KIDS QUIZZED ON CRT, TRANSGENDER STANCES
by Ray Carter, Center for Independent Journalism [link]

Seventh-grade students in Tahlequah were quizzed during the first semester of school about their views on Critical Race Theory, transgenderism, abortion, and other political issues … in a middle-school geography course.

The quiz gained public attention when it was discussed during this month’s meeting of the State Board of Education.

On Oct. 11, 2021, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) received an email informing agency officials that a “Mr. Smalley,” who taught seventh-grade geography in Tahlequah Public Schools, had given students a Chromebook assignment/quiz “that asked for the students to rate their stance on the following topics: Critical Race Theory, Abortion (including late term & abortion in the case of rape or incest), Gay marriage, Transgender Identify, the execution of Afghan terrorists and numerous other topics.”

The complaint continued, “First, I would like to know if this would be appropriate in any classroom, especially with 12-13 year old, seventh grade students? Second, what did this have to do with Geography and what did this teacher have to gain from such information?”

The complaint stated that Smalley “crossed so many lines” with the survey assignment. (The complaint appears to reference teacher David Smalley.)

Column: the facts on oil & gas taxation

This column is from Alberto Soto, a Republican small businessman from Tahlequah:

“If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts.”
― Albert Einstein

"The people" want more money for education, for health care, for social services but they want someone else to pay for those increases. How did we as a country get to the point where it is okay to pass the burden of our wants onto others like the oil industry, business, corporations and rich people? How is this fair? How is this not just evil greed on the part of those who want it all but wish to pay for none of it?

How can I say this when the rich keep getting richer and as liberal democrats like Mr. Inman (who is running for governor) insist that it is the rich who are getting rich off the backs of the poor and middle class.

Scott Inman:

File this in the "You Can't Make This Up" category.
To date, House and Senate Republicans have refused to raise the GPT on oil and gas companies or restore the income tax cuts for the wealthiest of our citizens . . . We will not sit by quietly as the folks in charge shift the tax burden from their wealthy contributors through income tax cuts, gross production tax cuts, and corporate tax credits on to the backs of middle-class families.

or as Nick Singer says, from a post that Scott reposted on his personal page says,

Nick Singer, “Creating a low tax rate and/or grace period and/or new and not existing wells is a give away to people who don't need, on a highly profitable, finite and very volatile resource that Oklahoman's need to make hay with while they have it.”

So the rich don’t “need” to make more money because hey they have reached their limit. We the liberal elites in this state have determined that enough is enough. We need more of your money. Sorry, it’s actually not “your” money rich oil industry but it is our money because by keeping the taxes low on you we are giving it away.

The arrogance of how they talk about the oil industry and the rich is appalling.

When I read all the back and forth from our liberal democratic friends I am left thinking that these (mostly men) men are just not being honest or are grossly ignorant of the amount of taxes the “rich” are paying in this state, specifically the oil industry and how business operate and make a profit. It is my guess that most of these men have never carried a payroll or have ever run a business in their life. They go straight from law school to politics as in the case with Mr. Inman.

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” “Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable.” “For every fact there is an infinity of hypotheses. ”
John Adams

Facts:
Oil and Gas companies are the only business that pays this creative tax called the gross production tax or GPT. On top of this tax they pay income taxes, payroll taxes, unemployment taxes, state and local taxes. The truth is that the oil industry pays about 22% of total taxes in this state. The truth is, it is the backs of the oil industry that we are building this state on. Without the oil industry Oklahoma would not be the same state. It is the one industry that has the highest taxes imposed on it. Their tax rate is 4 times greater than the average business.

Even local democrats like Representative Matt Meredith have taken up this game

“This morning the Republican party went against, not only the people of Oklahoma, but the Constitution of Oklahoma, and passed a gross production bill that would bring in one time money and not raise the gross production to 5% or 7%. They played games, did a slide of hand and let the BIG OIL companies once again control the Capitol…

We will continue the fight for our kids, teachers, elderly, health care professionals and every family within not only District 4, but also in Oklahoma. We all deserve BETTER!!!”

Matt, buddy, the oil industry is just doing what anyone should do in their place- stop the abuse and over taxing nature of government in its tracks. Big government liberals will never have enough money. It is easy to pick on “big” business and those “greedy” rich guys because most of us are not those guys.

But the people of Oklahoma have shown time and time again that they are too smart for this. There are now only 26 Democrats in the house and 6 in the senate left and if they continue on this pattern of dishonesty that will be reduced some more.

The GPT is 2% on new wells for only 3 years after which it goes up to 7%. Liberals want to increase that to 7%. and then speak like the oil industry is abusing the elderly for wanting to keep it where it is at.

“The sum of all the taxes the oil and natural gas industry pays makes it the largest direct revenue source for Oklahoma’s budget. When other Oklahoma industries pay $1 in taxes per employee, the oil and natural gas industry pays $4 in taxes per employee.”

and

“In fact, the gross production tax is only 1/5th of the total $2.55 billion in taxes the oil and natural gas industry paid to the state in FY’15. Unlike our neighboring oil producing state, Texas, the oil and natural gas industry also pays corporate and personal income taxes, which outpaced gross production tax collections in FY’15. “

The truth is Matt that the oil industry pays 22% of all taxes in this state. Instead of demonizing our neighbors, friends, and job creators we should be treating them like we want to be treated and thanking them for how much they support this state. Instead of accusing them of greed, bribery and “shenanigans” let’s be honest with District 4 and point out these facts. If you still think they don’t pay enough in taxes then make an honest case. Tell the voters why you think that $2.55 billion is not enough for you and your democratic friends when our entire state budget is about $6.9 billion.

Do you believe Matt that the oil industry should pay half of the state budget? How much is enough? What is a “fair share”? Do you really believe that higher taxes on this industry is moral and just?

Is it really smart for our state budget to be so dependent on one industry like this? I would say no way. That is short sighted, greedy and foolish.

It it time for politicians to stop acting like politicians and start treating their fellow citizens with more respect and level with us and tell us the truth.

Alberto Soto is a small business owner from Tahlequah, and writes on Facebook at Reasonable Right.

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.

Boren postpones town halls due to weather

As a result of the heavy snow today, Congressman Dan Boren has postponed his scheduled town halls for today and tomorrow.

POSTPONED:

• Tuesday, Feb. 1st - Stillwell
• Tuesday, Feb. 1st - Tahlequah
• Wednesday, Feb. 2nd - Sallisaw
• Wednesday, Feb. 2nd - Muskogee

RESCHEDULED:

• Friday, Feb. 4th - Stillwell (Adair County Courthouse, 9:00am)
• Friday, Feb. 4th - Tahlequah (Tahlequah Armory, 12:30pm)

The Sallisaw and Muskogee town hall meetings have not been rescheduled yet, but further announcements will be made on Congressman Boren's website.

Rep. Faught Hosts Final State Question Forum

Rep. Faught Hosts Final State Question Forum

Area residents will have one final opportunity to attend a public meeting to discuss the eleven State Questions on the upcoming ballot.  The Thursday evening gathering will be the last in a series of forums hosted by Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee).  Faught has met with church and civic groups, as well as held open meetings in area communities including Muskogee, Fort Gibson, Braggs, Tahlequah and Eufaula.

“I am encouraged and pleased that well over 300 citizens have taken advantage of these informal discussions.  They are making sure they are informed before voting on these important issues”, said Faught.

The final State Question Forum will be held this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau office (24 E. Shawnee – east of K Mart).  There will be no charge to attend and everyone is invited.  Informational packets will be available.

For more information, contact Rep. George Faught at (918) 682-8383 or email george.faught@okhouse.gov.

Area School Board Filings

The filing period for area school board races ended yesterday. Multiple candidates filed in several districts across the area.

Muskogee: Larry Dan Leatherman and Pamela Isaacs (incumbent Danny Shiew did not file).
Hilldale: Terri Breedlove (incumbent) and Vernon Antonioni.
Fort Gibson: Darren Kilpatrick (incumbent) drew no opposition.
Okay: Jon Oxtoby and David Rodden.
Braggs: Kyle Jones (incumbent) and Audra Lynn Hunt.
Norwood: Rickey Moore (incumbent) and Susan Kirk.
Hulbert: Kent Barnes (incumbent) Christopher Sallee and Linda Baker.
Webbers Falls: David Jarrard and Robert Vinson.
Wagoner: Vernon Sullivan (incumbent) and Mark Collins.
Tahlequah: Hamid Vahdatipour and Duel Smith.

The school board elections will be held on February 9th, 2010. Any runoff elections will be held on April 6th, 2010.