Trump advisor Alex Gray releases Senate campaign announcement, endorsement by Richard Grenell

I've posted previously that Alex Gray was joining the U.S. Senate special election. Here's his official press release announcement, giving some more detail on the candidate's platform and background. 

He's also announcing an endorsement by Richard Grenell, which I've posted at the bottom. Grenell worked in the Trump adminstration from April 2018 to January 2021, as Acting Director of National Intelligence (the first open homosexual to serve at a Presidential Cabinet level), then Ambassador to Germany, and finally Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations.

SENIOR TRUMP ADVISOR ALEX GRAY ANNOUNCES U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN IN OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma City, OK – Today, former Trump Administration national security official, Alex Gray, announced his candidacy to finish the last four years of Senator Jim Inhofe’s current term. Inhofe recently announced he would be retiring at the end of the year, creating a vacancy that will be filled through a special election in November. 

Gray served as Chief of Staff of the National Security Council during the Trump Administration. Since leaving the White House, Alex and his wife Rochelle have returned home to Oklahoma City, where he runs a small business helping American companies around the world. Alex is the recipient of the second-highest civilian award from the Department of Defense and the highest award from the National Security Council for his service to the country under President Trump.

“It is important during this period when our country is being subjected to the radical policies of Joe Biden that we elect an America First conservative to the Senate,” Gray said.

He continued, “The current 50-50 split in the Senate is terrifying, and we must keep the seats we have and add additional ones in the 2022 election cycle. Republicans in the Senate are the last line of defense against court-packing, the Green New Deal, radical liberal judges, and 40 year-high inflation under the Biden administration.”

“I was honored to serve President Trump every day of his presidency in the White House, and I will continue President Trump’s America First mission in the Senate and fight for the same conservative policies that helped our country prosper under his leadership. I am looking forward to introducing myself to the people of Oklahoma and sharing our vision not only for Oklahoma but our country's future,” Gray concluded.

ALEX GRAY RECEIVES FIRST ENDORSEMENT OF HIS SENATE CAMPAIGN FROM FORMER DIPLOMAT AND ACTING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE RICHARD GRENELL

Oklahoma City, OK – Today, mere hours after announcing his candidacy for Senate, former Trump Administration national security official, Alex Gray, has received the first significant endorsement of his campaign from former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell in his bid for United States Senate. 

House Republicans pass 12-point medical marijuana reform package

House Republicans advance comprehensive medical marijuana policy package

Bills will stop illegal marijuana grows, improve product safety and health

OKLAHOMA CITY – Following the largest single day illegal marijuana bust in state history last month, House Republicans have advanced a comprehensive medical marijuana policy plan to stop illegal grows and foster a safer, fairer free market for the product.

The 12-point plan advanced through multiple bills in House committees last week.

"Illegal marijuana grows end now. The black market isn't a free market," said House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City. "This comprehensive plan aggressively attacks the spread of illegal marijuana operations statewide, as the people of Oklahoma have demanded."

The 12-point plan will require:          

• Making the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority a standalone agency
• A grant program for county sheriff's departments to fund law enforcement efforts in every county (HB 3530)
• Full implementation of a seed to sale system (either via court order or new legislation)
• Provisional licensing requiring pre-license inspections and increased document submission prior to approval (HB 3734)
• Tiered grow license fees based on grow size (HB 2179)
• Separate licensing for medical marijuana wholesalers (HB 3634)
• All medical marijuana businesses to post standardized permit signage at the place of business (HB 2025)
• Stringent electrical and water data reporting by marijuana growers (HB 4055)
• Annual inspections (HB 2024)
• Product packaging standards and maximum beyond use dates (HB 3019; HB 4288)
• Standardized laboratory testing and equipment (HB 4056)
• Marijuana grows to register as environmentally sensitive crop owners with the Agriculture Department (HB 3827)

A seven-member Republican working group collaborated for months with industry stakeholders, other legislators, regulators, law enforcement and other experts to develop the plan. The working group was comprised of Reps. Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita, Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, and Jay Steagall, R-Yukon.

"All these bills work together to create a multifaceted, synergistic approach to extinguish illegal growing and distributing while focusing on product safety and public health," Marti said. "Oklahoma is open for legal business. Legitimate businesses will rise and illegal operators will fall under this package."

Marti is chairman of the House Alcohol, Tobacco & Controlled Substances Committee, which advanced most of the bills containing the plan.

Fetgatter, who has worked extensively on medical marijuana issues for the past three years, praised the collaboration used to develop the plan.

"These solutions build on our work in previous years to comprehensively address the most significant concerns citizens across the state – from anti-marijuana voices to our many legitimate marijuana businesses – have had since State Question 788 passed. I am proud of my colleagues for their collaborative teamwork on this complex, pressing issue," Fetgatter said.

Oklahoma voters authorized medical marijuana through State Question 788 in 2018. As the state's medical marijuana industry has grown since then, so has its illegal black market. Marijuana grown in Oklahoma can only be consumed in Oklahoma, and authorities have said far more marijuana is being grown here than can be consumed here. Law enforcement has connected some grow operations to international organized crime and drug trafficking organizations.

More than 200 law enforcement agents conducted the largest single day drug bust in state history last month, raiding a dozen locations statewide to seize 100,000 marijuana plants and thousands of pounds of processed marijuana with an estimated street value of $500 million. More a than a dozen resulting arrest warrants in multiple states are being pursued. Such raids have become increasingly common as illegal medical marijuana grows proliferate across Oklahoma.

A House resolution honoring the officers involved in the raids was presented on the House floor last week.

"If you're a bad actor, you better get out or get straight or you'll be next," said Pfeiffer, a member of the marijuana working group. "From last month's historic bust to this aggressive policy package, the message is clear: Illegal marijuana is coming to an end in Oklahoma."

State Senate passes bill allowing autonomous vehicles to drive on Oklahoma roads

Senate approves bill allowing autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Paul Rosino has won full Senate approval for a measure allowing autonomous vehicles (AVs) to operate on Oklahoma roads.  Senate Bill 1541 creates the framework for the state to regulate AVs, protecting the public and roadways.

Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, said 19 states already allow AVs, with 20 more allowing testing.  So far, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas are among those states that have already approved similar language regulating AVs and allowing them to operate without a driver.

Senate passes measure keeping Planned Parenthood out of classrooms

Senate passes measure keeping Planned Parenthood out of classrooms

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given approval to Senate Bill 1544, which would prevent public, charter or virtual schools across the state from partnering with an individual or entity that performs, induces, or provides abortions.

Authored by Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, the measure aims to prevent organizations, like Planned Parenthood, from instituting curriculum and normalizing sexual activities, behavior, and abortion in the state’s public-school systems.

As COVID-19 recedes, Health Dep't transitioning to weekly reports rather than daily

OSDH Transitioning Away from Daily Situation Updates

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is starting its move toward the endemic phase of the pandemic. Throughout the transition there will be gradual changes to how and when OSDH reports some of its data.

Starting this week, OSDH will discontinue its daily situation updates that monitor the daily case counts. Instead, the OSDH will release data on Thursdays. The weekly report will provide an average based on weekly accumulations.

The weekly epidemiology report will continue and will also be released on Thursdays.

During the omicron surge, it became increasingly evident that the daily case count number was many days delayed and at best only represented a portion of what we knew must be the true current case count numbers. Many factors contributed to that, including lags in laboratory reporting, at-home testing, asymptomatic cases and those who may feel sick and choose not to get tested.

“Adjusting data reporting will be an evolving process that ensures we are monitoring key data in Oklahoma and across the country to best prepare for possible surges,” said Keith Reed, interim commissioner of health. “I want to reassure Oklahomans that we will continue to be vigilant when it comes to COVID-19 and the safety of all the communities we serve.”

Muskogee pharmacist Chris Schiller kicks off congressional campaign

As I mentioned on Saturday, Muskogee pharmacist Chris Schiller has officially kicked his campaign off, sending out a text blast today directing voters to his new campaign website. Schiller owns Economy Pharmacy (two locations each in Muskogee and Tulsa), and is the president of the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association.

Former Trump nat'l security staffer Alex Gray files for Senate

I posted on Thursday that Alex Gray, former chief-of-staff of Trump's National Security Council, was considering jumping into the U.S. Senate special election to replace retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe. He was interview by the nationally-syndicated Hugh Hewitt Show on radio, as well as on FOX Business Network with Larry Kudlow.

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.

4-H Excused Absence bill passes out of State House committee

Rep. Rick West Passes 4-H Excused Absence Bill Out of Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener, this week won unanimous committee passage of a bill that will grant students involved in 4-H activities or projects an excused absence from school so their grades will not be adversely affected.

House Bill 2991 prohibits schools from marking students with an unexcused absence if they are participating in 4-H activities approved by the county 4-H educator. The student is required to provide documented proof of their participation, and must be given the opportunity to make up any missed work.

Mullin announces campaign strategists, consultants

MULLIN FOR U.S. SENATE ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP TEAM

National Public Affairs, CAMP to Serve as Senior Strategists for Markwayne Mullin’s Campaign for U.S. Senate

WESTVILLE, OK – Fresh off of a successful announcement for the U.S. Senate this past weekend, Markwayne Mullin today announced his campaign’s strategic advisors. 

Former Trump Campaign Manager Bill Stepien of National Public Affairs and Oklahoma-based Campaign Advocacy Management Professionals (CAMP), led by Fount Holland, will serve as Senior Strategists for Mullin’s campaign for the U.S. Senate. The campaign’s pollster will be Brent Buchanan of Cygnal, the survey research firm that Stepien added to the Trump presidential campaign in its final months.

“I am proud to have a recruited such a strong team of professionals to help lead our campaign to take back the Senate from the Radical Left,” said Markwayne Mullin, who announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on Saturday. “I am a Christian, a family man and a proud supporter of President Trump and I am looking forward to representing our conservative Oklahoman values in the United States Senate.”

House Republicans put forward five tax relief options

House Republicans push tax relief options to fight inflation, improve economic competitiveness while protecting budget

OKLAHOMA CITY – With inflation remaining at a 40-year high, House Republicans on Thursday advanced five new options the Legislature can choose from to provide tax relief to Oklahomans this session.

"Again, the House wants to address inflation today without causing budget problems tomorrow," said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. "With President Biden's policies driving inflation up and more states cutting taxes – especially income taxes – last year than any year since 1986, Oklahoma must stay vigilant on tax relief. The options in these bills allow Oklahoma to aggressively fight inflation and continue competing economically while protecting its strong state budget."

The tax relief options are:

• One-time income tax rebate of $125 for individuals and $250 for households
• Permanent income tax rate reduction of .25%
• Two-year grocery sales tax suspension
• Two-year enhancement of the grocery sales tax credit for low-income Oklahomans
• Eight-year phaseout of the corporate income tax

Each option should have no negative impact on the appropriated budget in the short or long term thanks to the way each is structured and current surplus revenue levels, according to legislators.

House Commitee passes bill clarifying services offered by chiropractors

Randleman Chiropractor Bill Moves Forward

OKLAHOMA CITY – A House committee has approved legislation to clarify what nutritional supplements chiropractors may administer by injection.

House Bill 3246, authored by Rep. Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula, was approved by the House Business and Commerce Committee on Wednesday. Randleman told the committee the legislation will clear up confusion about what services chiropractors can offer and help some patients receive services that they may not have known are available.

Randleman said he was asked by a chiropractor in his district to run the bill. Both the Oklahoma Chiropractors' Association and the Unified Chiropractic Association of Oklahoma are supportive of the language.

"I feel that any bill which helps clarify services is needed in our state right now," Randleman said. "This measure will simply clear up what nutritional supplements chiropractors can administer by injec