Congressman Josh Brecheen announces 7 town hall meetings, reports on first 100 days

28 in-person town halls so far in his first 100 days as a Congressman? He's a man hard at work for his district! Read below for information about Brecheen's seven upcoming town hall meetings, and his report to his constituents about his activities in his first one hundred days as Congressman:

Congressman Josh Brecheen Announces May In-Person Town Halls

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Josh Brecheen will hold in-person town hall meetings on Tuesday, May 2nd and Friday, May 5th. Constituents are invited to attend and share their thoughts and ask questions on policy issues impacting Washington, D.C. and Oklahoma.

Congressman Brecheen has so far held 28 in-person town halls throughout Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District with more to be announced soon. 

Small: Means-testing education?

Means-testing education?

By Jonathan Small

Here’s a quick thought experiment. There are two proposals to fund K-12 education. With one, families would get up to $7,500 for a child’s education. In another, families would receive nearly $13,000 per child in educational services. Some lawmakers want an “income cap” on one of these programs, to limit which families can use it. Can you pick which one?

It’s not the $13,000 one—nobody is suggesting a limit there. The income cap would apply only to the $7,500 option.

Civil liberties group steps in to help preacher threatened with arrest by Bartlesville judge over social media use of Bible verses against LGBTQ, public drag shows

In Bartlesville, OK, a Christian street preacher has been silenced and threatened with arrest by activist judges for daring to - on his social media account - use the Bible to denounce same-sex marriage and public drag shows. The LGBTQ insanity seems to have gripped local law enforcement and judges in Bartlesville. For much more information, the Substack blog The V1SUT Vantage has covered this ordeal extensively.

The Rutherfor Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties organization, is taking up the case on behalf of the preacher, Rich Penkoski:

Court Threatens Street Preacher With Arrest for Using Bible Verses to Criticize Same-Sex Marriage, Denouncing Drag Show on Social Media

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (April 13, 2023) — Pushing back at attempts by the courts to silence individuals whose religious views may be perceived as intolerant or hateful, The Rutherford Institute is challenging a five-year restraining order against a street preacher who has been threatened with arrest after citing Bible verses on social media to express his moral concerns about a church that endorses same-sex marriage and raising awareness about a public drag queen performance that occurred in front of children.

State Election Board elects new officers

State Election Board Elects New Officers

(Oklahoma City) - State Election Board members met Monday, April 3 to elect a new Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Heather Mahieu Cline (Oklahoma City) was elected the Chairman of the Board and Dr. Tim Mauldin (Norman) was elected Vice-Chairman. The Board also welcomed new member Mignon Lambley (Hooker).

Gov. Stitt restructures his cabinet; replaces Ryan Walters as Sec'y of Education

The biggest change comes in the second press release, posted further down this post, in which Gov. Stitt announces that he is replacing State Superintendent Ryan Walters as Secretary of Education - a cabinet-level position. Walters has drawn quite a bit of criticism for simultaneously holding both education-related positions - one elected statewide, the other appointed by the Governor - and "double-dipping" with two government salaries.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT RESTRUCTURES EXECUTIVE CABINET TO ADJUST TO OKLAHOMA'S TOP CHALLENGES

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 11, 2023) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt issued the following statement after restructuring the Executive Cabinet by Executive Order-2023-08:

“I’m very excited about our new cabinet structure. We are always learning more and trying to improve how we run state government and I believe our cabinet structure should reflect our state’s changing needs.

Bill to issue temporary disability placards to new mothers one step closer to becoming law

I've been swamped with work and other responsibilites the last two weeks, and didn't get a chance to post this press release earlier. This measure has since passed a House committee unanimously.

Full Senate approves bill to issue temporary disability placards to new mothers

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 27th) – Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, received unanimous approval for Senate Bill 1070 Wednesday, which allows mothers to receive a temporary disability placard to use for six months after giving birth. If signed into law, Oklahoma would become the first state to provide this assistance to new mothers.

Bill aiming to curb sex-trafficking draws pushback as Dem rep declares prostitution is alternative income stream

BILL AIMING TO CURB SEX-TRAFFICKING DRAWS PUSHBACK
by Ray Carter | April 10th, 2023

An effort to increase the penalties on individuals who pay prostitutes for sex, informally referred to as “johns,” has run into unexpected resistance.

One prominent Democrat has argued prostitution is one of the “streams of incomes” chosen by individuals who find entry-level job wages insufficient, while an advocacy organization has declared the bill is effectively anti-transgender.

But the bill’s authors have both said the point of the legislation is simple.

“This bill aims to curb sex trafficking by reducing the demand for prostitution services,” said state Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City. “Many of those engaging in prostitution are victims of human trafficking.”

Small on school choice: Not afraid to thrive

Rev. Wade Moore at recent school choice rally

Not afraid to thrive

By Jonathan Small

Most parents want their children to not only survive but thrive. Sadly, among some school-choice opponents, that is apparently viewed as a controversial statement.

Oklahomans from across the state recently rallied at the state Capitol, urging lawmakers to pass a robust school-choice tax credit that will allow them to use their tax dollars for the education setting that best serves each individual child, including private school and homeschooling.

But one lawmaker dismissed many of them—based, it appears, on skin color.

Lucas holding town hall meetings in central Oklahoma this Wednesday and Thursday

Congressman Lucas Announces April Town Hall Meetings in Central Oklahoma

Cheyenne, OK (April 5th) – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) will hold town hall meetings in Canadian, Kingfisher, Blaine, Garfield, and Grant Counties on Wednesday, April 12th and Thursday, April 13th. Residents around the locations are invited to attend and share their thoughts on current events in Washington, DC and across Oklahoma.

State Senate approves $700M education package

I'm posting this somewhat delayed due to having been swamped with work, but this was the biggest thing to come out of the legislature last week:

Senate Approves Historic Education Funding Package

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 30th) - The Oklahoma State Senate today gave passage to its historic $700 million education package. 

Senators voted overwhelmingly on both measures 40 – to – 7 on House Bill 1935 and 46 – to – 2 on House Bill 2775, approving the single largest appropriations increase to education in state history, sending it back to the House of Representatives. 

Sen. Lankford warns of Chinese-owned farmland in Oklahoma, files bill to protect agricultural land from foreign nationals

Lankford Pushes to Protect Oklahoma Farmland from Foreign Nationals

WASHINGTON, DC (March 30, 2023) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced the bipartisan Security and Oversight of International Landholdings (SOIL) Act, along with Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Michael Bennet (D-CO), in order to provide oversight and transparency of purchases of US agricultural land that threaten national security. On the heels of a successful rejection of allowing more marijuana growth in the state, Lankford continues to respond to concerns from Oklahomans about the multiple recent purchases of Oklahoma agricultural land by foreign entities.

Congressman Lucas announces April town hall meetings in Oklahoma Panhandle

Congressman Lucas Announces April Town Hall Meetings in Oklahoma Panhandle

Washington, DC (March 27th) – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) will hold town hall meetings in Ellis, Harper, Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver Counties on Tuesday, April 4th and Wednesday, April 5th. Residents around the locations are invited to attend and share their thoughts on current events in Washington, DC and across Oklahoma.