Tidwell replaces Ball as AFP-OK State Director

AFP Oklahoma Announces New State Director

Matt Ball Pursues New Opportunity; John Tidwell Joins AFP November 1

OKLAHOMA CITY - Americans for Prosperity (AFP) – Oklahoma, the Sooner state’s leading grassroots advocate for economic freedom and limited government, announced that Matt Ball would be stepping down and John Tidwell will be named State Director beginning November 1.

“I am proud to have served as State Director for AFP,” Ball said.  “This organization’s mission to fight for economic freedom, free markets, and limited government is absolutely critical to preserving the future of America and our great state.  We have built strong momentum as a state chapter and I am confident my successor will continue that momentum into 2014 and beyond," continued Ball.

"John Tidwell brings our organization a true passion for free market policies and a background of fighting for entrepreneurs throughout Oklahoma.  His leadership will be key in taking our organization to the next level fighting for taxpayers against government overreach and misguided public policy."

Tidwell has worked in Oklahoma politics for nearly two decades. He worked as director of communications for Congressman John Sullivan for 12 years and more recently as a Senior Account Executive at Jones Public Relations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, a free-market public relations firm.

AFP President Tim Phillips said the following: “Matt is a dedicated defender of economic freedom and he has charted a winning strategic direction for our Oklahoma state chapter.  We wish him well in his new opportunity and we are equally ready to have John Tidwell assume the State Director role in Oklahoma to build upon past success and grow our presence for the future."

Ball will leave AFP effective October 31st and will begin his new position as Director of Corporate Affairs for CMA Strategies, November 1st and John Tidwell will assume the role of State Director on the 1st.

[Blogger's note: Ball leaves AFP-OK after a rather brief stint in the position, having replaced previous director Stuart Jolly at the end of February. Jolly served as state director for six years.]

Peter Rudy ends Capitol reporting, joins State Chamber

A fixture at the State Capitol for the past few years, Peter J. Rudy has ended his state government reporting, and has joined the State Chamber of Oklahoma as Vice President of Communications.

In a farewell post on OklahomaCapitolSource.com, Rudy said "Unfortunately, I’m a better reporter than I am a businessman so while it was professionally rewarding, the financial side didn’t quite match. So today, Sunday October 6, 2013, is the last day for Oklahoma Capitol Source. I have found employment elsewhere (more details when that becomes official on Monday) and it’s not something that can coexist with sitting at the Capitol for hours on end."

On Monday, the State Chamber announced that they had hired Rudy. "Rudy will replace Jennifer Monies. Monies left earlier this fall when she accepted a role with Senate President Pro Tempore as press secretary and senior advisor."

Rudy's exit leaves a hole in reporting at the State Capitol. In his time with both Oklahoma Watchdog and Oklahoma Capitol Source, Rudy covered practically every major government meeting and House session that took place, posting and tweeting extensive notes.

For anyone interested in the tough job of replacing him, Rudy says, "if there's an intrepid reporter out there who wants to take over the website, email okcapitolsource@gmail.com and we'll talk!"

I hope someone does, because his work will be missed.

Samaritan Ministries: an alternative to ObamaCare

As healthcare costs continue to skyrocket, many families are struggling with the high price of health insurance. With the onset of ObamaCare, other issues with health insurance have come to the forefront as well, such as religious organizations being forced to cover birth control in their insurance plans. Is there another alternative to the health insurance industry? Is there another option that fits your family's moral values, and doesn't support abortion?

My wife and I joined Samaritan Ministries at the end of 2012. Samaritan Ministries is a not-for-profit religious organization classified as a health-care sharing ministry, and is not considered to be traditional "health insurance". HCSMs are exempt from the individual mandate in ObamaCare.

Who Can Join?

To be a member of Samaritan Ministries, you must be a professing Christian, agree to the Samaritan Ministries Statement of Faith, be a regular member of a church, agree to certain moral standards dealing with alcohol, tobacco, sexual activity, and have your pastor or church leader sign a testimonial form. You can view the Application Form here, and the Guidelines here.

How It Works

Members of Samaritan Ministries commit to sending a set "Share" each month (equivalent to an insurance premium) directly to fellow members with "Needs". Monthly "Shares" are not run through a central administration office, where funds could be diverted to office costs.

From SM, here’s how the Need Process works in a little more detail:

Samaritan Ministries publishes a monthly newsletter mailing that reports the total Shares and Needs and includes an individualized Share Notice for each member household. The Share Notice tells each household how to pray for a specific member with a Need and what his address is, so the Share can be sent to him. Typically less than 10 percent of the members have a Need in a given month and are receiving Shares.

When a member has a health care “Need” he receives health care treatment from a provider of his choice, collects the bills, and sends them to Samaritan Ministries. Samaritan Ministries verifies that the Need meets the Guidelines. Then, in the monthly newsletter mailing, Samaritan Ministries directs some members to send their Shares to the member with the Need. The member with the need receives the shares to pay his health care bills.

When a member has a medical need, the first $300 of the bill is the member's responsibility (similar to an insurance deductible). After the first $300, any other expense on up to $250,000 can be shared (click here for the Guidelines). Members can join SM's Save To Share program for an additional $15 a month to cover expenses over $250,000.

Members cover the first $300 on three Needs per year; if they have any additional Needs, the entire amount is shared. Members are encouraged to negotiate for bill reductions; any bill reduction is applied to their $300 responsibility amount, making it possible to entirely eliminate that amount.

What Does It Cost?

Members of Samaritan Ministries agree to share the following amounts, based on household size:

• Singles - $165 8/2016 figure: $220
• Couples - $315 8/2016 figure: $440
• Single-Parent Family - $230 8/2016 figure: $305
• Two-Parent Family - $370 8/2016 figure: $495

When one or both of the heads of household are under 26 years old, there is a discount:

• Singles - $125 ($40 discount) 8/2016 figure: $180
• Couples - $235 ($80 discount) 8/2016 figure: $360
• Single-Parent Family - $180 ($50 discount) 8/2016 figure: $255
• Two-Parent Family - $320 ($50 discount) 8/2016 figure: $445

Any changes to Share amounts is subject to a vote of the entire membership, and has to have 60% in order to pass.

More Information

For more information, visit Samaritan Ministries website at SamaritanMinistries.org. You can view videos, testimonials, Frequently Asked Questions, the Guidelines, the Application Form, and much more.

If you are interested in joining, I'd be more than happy to talk with you. You can call me at (918) 869-6000, or email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com. When a member refers someone who then becomes a member, Samaritan Ministries gives the referring member a $180 credit. Obviously, that's some incentive, but regardless of that, Samaritan Ministries is a great organization.

Cruzing along to defund ObamaCare

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has been speaking on the Senate floor for over 18 hours to defund ObamaCare. Watch him live on C-SPAN here.

Among the senators joining Cruz on the floor and asking questions (to give him a brief talking break) are Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and Mike Enzi (R-WY).

County Party Finances: Net Growth for 2013

In a (delayed) continuation of my County Party Finances series, let's take a look at the net growth through mid-year 2013.

REPUBLICANS

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Republican county parties statewide netted a total of $24,336.22 through June 30th. 10 counties made financial gains (combining for +$34,447.30), and 7 counties posted net losses (combining for -$10,111.08), with Oklahoma County dropping over $7,500 after what appears to have been a rather expensive Lincoln-Reagan Dinner with guest speaker Kansas Governor Sam Brownback.

DEMOCRATS

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Only three Democrat county parties showed positive gains in their financial reports. Osage County raised and spent nothing, leaving 13 counties that reported net losses. The combined total for the Democrats statewide is -$10,290.39. 11 counties dropped less than $700, but Payne County and Tulsa County showed net losses of -$5,167.69 and -$6,486.49, respectively. Tulsa County's activities correspond to the mayoral race underway in the city of Tulsa.

Never Forget

County Party Finances: Raised and Spent

Continuing my series on County Party Finances, let's examine receipts and expenditures a little more closely.

CASH RAISED

As we saw last time, both the Republicans and the Democrats have 17 county committees each that are "current" with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. So far in 2013, Republican county parties have raised $80,585.70, while Democrat county parties have raised $68,732.01.

On the GOP side, Oklahoma and Stephens counties far and away led the pack, both with over $20,000 raised. Four other counties brought in between $5,000 and $9,000. Muskogee County comes in 5th, with $7,781 raised.

For the Democrats, an even greater disparity is shown. Tulsa County has raised over $30,000 through June 30th (remember, very competitive mayoral race), Cleveland County took in half that figure, and Oklahoma County came in at just over $9,000. Only two other counties raised more than $1,000.

MONEY SPENT

"It takes money to make money", the saying goes.

Republicans held true to their financial conservatism, and have spent significantly less than county Democrats so far in 2013. The biggest spenders for the GOP also posted the most money raised, although Oklahoma County alone ($30,163.81) accounts for over half of the money spent statewide among county GOP groups. The counties where higher amounts of cash were spent held major fundraising events (Lincoln-Reagan dinners, fish fries, barbecues, etc), hence the greater expenses. My county (Muskogee) was 3rd, at $3,801.05

Democrats spent over $22,000 more than Republicans. In fact, as another post will show, only three counties post net gains in their accounts through the mid-year report (on the other hand, ten GOP counties show positive balances). Tulsa, Cleveland and Payne counties spent $65,000 of the Democrats' statewide spending total of nearly $80,000.

Details by county after the fold.

Steve Fair on murder of Christopher Lane in Duncan

OKGOP National Committeeman Steve Fair wrote the following to 

his fellow RNC Members this week.

Dear Fellow RNC Member:

I am sure you have heard of the recent shooting (Friday) by some teenagers in my hometown - Duncan, OK - of a young Australian baseball player. This was reported as a 'random act of violence' and that there was no connection/reason/motive for the shooting other than the thugs 'were bored.' Already some folks from Australia and U.S. liberals are condemning our state and nation for allowing citizens to have guns to protect themselves. I want to point out three things:

First, this shooting is not representative our our community, county or state. The real problem wasn't the gun the young man used - it was the heart of the shooter. Sin and wickedness are in the heart before they are in the hand. Please pray that God will regenerate dead hearts in young people not only in Duncan, but across our nation. I fear we have danced around the real issue in America: the inherent wicked, depraved nature of man. The hope of America is the regenerating gospel of Jesus Christ...period.

Second, my wife taught two of the young men charged with this heinous crime. She says both were discipline problems in elementary school. She wasn't surprised to learn both were involved in this shooting. She said the parents were uninvolved in their kid's life. This points out another problem in America. We have children raising themselves and parents justifying their kids' every action. When you teach rebellion, you reap rebellion. The fruits of that rebellion are anarchy (no government) and antinomia (no law).

Third, we ask for your prayers. God is sovereign and He is in control. I don't understand why He allowed this tragedy in our area, but I do know it has a purpose. I am thankful for our District Attorney Jason Hicks and our Sheriff Wayne McKinney. Both are godly men, both Republicans, who are unafraid to stand on principle. Pray for them as they work through this case.

In Christ,

Steve Fair
National Committeeman - Oklahoma

OKGOP Launches Redesigned Website

The Oklahoma Republican Party launched a revamped version of OKGOP.com this week. A planned feature with the new site is to allow county parties to use a free website within the okgop.com platform (i.e. [countyname].okgop.com).

There's a lot on the new site. Do you like the redesign? Comment with your take.

Jay Paul Gumm: From State Senator to Embezzler

Then: 2010

Now: 2013

Playing a role in putting a good candidate in office is a gratifying feeling. However, when the incumbent you helped defeat ends up in jail a few years later.... that is just the icing on the cake.

Thus is the sad situation that former State Sen. Jay Paul Gumm finds himself in now.


Back in 2010, I helped Republican Josh Brecheen, a first-time candidate, in his insurgent campaign against Gumm, the entrenched Democrat incumbent. Seemingly against all odds, in a 'Little Dixie' district that had never elected a Republican to the State Senate (more than 80% of voters were Democrats) and facing a two-term Senator, Brecheen procured 56% of the vote, and ousted one of Oklahoma's most prominent and promising Senate Democrats.

After losing the election, Gumm and his family moved to Mississippi, where he took the position of executive director for the Stone County Economic Development Partnership. On Friday, he was arrested for embezzling over $24,000 from the agency. According to news reports, Gumm is the third employee from the SCEDP to be accused of embezzlement in the past year (one woman embezzled over $300,000).

During the 2010 campaign, questions were raised about certain aspects of Gumm's finances (personal and campaign). Do his current money problems have a root in the past? We may never know, but voters in Senate District 6 can take heart that they put the right man in office in 2010 -- and kicked the right guy out.

New Map Series: Finances of County Parties in Oklahoma

As my faithful readers know well, I have a certain fascination with maps and random data. I have previously created a map series on Voter Registration, and every election season post county-by-county Election Results maps. My newest series will be an examination of county political party finances.

For the purposes of this series, I only used party committees who have filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission in 2013. You may search the list of non-candidate committees for yourself at this link. Some county parties have filed in the past, but have not submitted their quarterly reports in 2013, or have not filed in many years. Still more counties have not properly filed with the Ethics Commission at all.

First up, current cash-on-hand for both Oklahoma Republican and Oklahoma Democratic county parties. Ironically enough, only 17 counties for both Republicans and Democrats have what I'm calling "current" filings with the Ethics Commission (meaning they have filed either their March 31st quarterly, or the June 30th quarterly report).

Ten of these counties have both Republican and Democrat parties that are "current" (Canadian, Cleveland, Creek, Garvin, Kingfisher, Oklahoma, Osage, Payne, Pottawatamie, and Washington counties).

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All 17 county Republican parties post positive balances, with the top three slots belonging to Comanche County ($24,503.51), Stephens County ($14,852.71), and Muskogee County ($10,610.56). The total cash-on-hand among the 17 counties is $86,422.24, for an average of $5,084.

Conspicuously absent from the GOP list is Tulsa County, which has not filed a quarterly reports since 2007. I find this interesting, as the city of Tulsa is in the throes of a competitive mayoral race, and has had tough races within the county in the time since 2007.

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As with many other things, Oklahoma's Democrats trail the Republicans. Their top three come in at lower amounts: Cleveland County ($12,505.27), Payne County ($10,093.48), and Tulsa County (9,903.84). Total cash-on-hand for their active 17 counties is $53,540.16, an average of $3,150. Kingfisher County posts a negative balance of -$337.32.

Next time, we will dig further into the receipts, expenditures, and 2013 net growth.

RNC Chairman to NBC, CNN: no GOP debates if Clinton programs air

RNC Chairman Calls on NBC and CNN to Stop Promoting Hillary Clinton

RNC will not partner with networks in 2016 primary debates

WASHINGTON – Today Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus sent a letter to Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of NBC Entertainment, and Jeff Zucker, President of CNN Worldwide, calling on their networks to cancel their attempts to influence Americans’ political decisions. Both networks are airing programs promoting former Secretary Hillary Clinton ahead of her likely candidacy for president in 2016. NBC has announced plans to air a miniseries, while CNN is producing a documentary. If the productions are not canceled prior to the start of the RNC’s Summer Meeting, Chairman Priebus will seek a binding vote of the RNC to prevent the committee from partnering with these networks in 2016 primary debates or sanctioning debates they sponsor.

“It’s appalling to know executives at major networks like NBC and CNN who have donated to Democrats and Hillary Clinton have taken it upon themselves to be Hillary Clinton’s campaign operatives,” said Chairman Priebus. “Their actions to promote Secretary Clinton are disturbing and disappointing. I hope Americans will question the credibility of these networks and that NBC and CNN will reconsider their partisan actions and cancel these political ads masked as unbiased entertainment. If they have not agreed to pull this programming prior to the start of the RNC’s Summer Meeting on August 14, I will seek a binding vote stating that the RNC will neither partner with these networks in 2016 primary debates nor sanction primary debates they sponsor.”

Read the Chairman’s letter to NBC: http://ow.ly/nAtWq
Read the Chairman’s letter to CNN: http://ow.ly/nDDMr


This is good to see from Chairman Priebus. For far too long, the GOP has allowed the media to dominate the presidential primary debates, while pushing their extreme liberal bias. The next step is to replace liberal moderators with actual conservative Republicans.