GGF Firearms celebrates milestone with 50% off sale

Glenndale Grace Firearms & Training, a longtime sponsor here at Muskogee Politico, is celebrating their third year in business with a 50% off membership sale on March 1st.

In addition to 25-yard, 50-yard/180-degree, and 100/300-yard outdoor ranges and a trap field, GGF Firearms offers a wide range of training an certification courses, competition hosting, and an on-site firearms and gear store. I'm a customer, and can personally recommend and vouch for their professionalism and expertise. Link and Susan Mock, the owners, are great assets to the community.

GGF Firearms is conveniently located just north of Muskogee, within a 40-minute drive of Tulsa, Tahlequah, and Lake Eufaula. Check them out!

Bill to align school board elections with regular elections advances to OK House floor

Bill to Shift School Board Election Dates Advances in Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 26th) – House Bill 1151, authored by Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, passed through the House Government Oversight Committee Tuesday, moving one step closer to making school board elections more accessible for Oklahoma voters.

The bill proposes shifting school board elections from February and April to June and November, aligning them with larger election cycles. It also standardizes term lengths for school board members, setting four-year terms for both elementary and independent district boards.

Sen. Bergstrom's bill to protect religious freedom passes committee, heads to Senate floor

Good bill recognizing our inalienable constitution freedom of religion. It passed committee by a 5-2 vote, with both Democrats voting against it (Sens. Michael Brooks and Regina Goodwin).

Bergstrom Bill to Protect Religious Freedom Gains Committee Approval

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 25th) – On Wednesday, Senate Bill 513, authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, successfully passed out of the Public Safety Committee. SB 513 aims to protect the constitutional right to religious freedom during declared states of emergency.

Under SB 513, neither the Governor or any official of a municipality, county, or political subdivision is allowed to restrict any activity in a place of worship that is otherwise legal under state law.

Gov. Stitt announces illegal immigration enforcement agreements with DHS, ICE

Governor Stitt Announces Finalized Agreements with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 21, 2025) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt announced that the State of Oklahoma has officially finalized three agreements with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, granting state law enforcement agencies enhanced authority to enforce federal immigration laws under Operation Guardian. Through these agreements, the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN), and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) will work alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to identify, arrest, and remove criminal illegal aliens from Oklahoma.

Small: Reading failures must be addressed

Reading failures must be addressed

By Jonathan Small

It’s said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results.” This describes the failures in reading proficiency by Oklahoma students, despite billions of dollars of increased spending on public education in Oklahoma.

Edunomics Lab revealed that from 2013 to 2024 Oklahoma’s per-pupil spending increased 47 percent during that decade, but National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores in both reading and math are far lower today than in 2013. One cannot ignore that reality. Oklahoma’s spending increase far outpaced inflation during that time. Regarding Oklahoma, Edunomics noted, “Reading 4th-grade scores fell through the decade and continue to decline even as spending increased.”

NAEP scores show that only 23 percent of Oklahoma fourth grade students scored at or above proficient in reading, compared to 33 percent in 2015.

Homeschool Oklahoma: Why we don’t want the option of “Free Money”

Last week, I posted a guest op-ed, The dangers 'school choice' brings to the homeschool community. Here's a similar article from Homeschool Oklahoma (formerly OCHEC, for you fellow old-timers) on the topic of the dangers posed by the new Parental Choice Tax Credit for homeschoolers.

Why We Don’t Want the Option of “Free Money”

Originally published February 7, 2025 | Jonathan Bartlett, HSOK President

Many people are surprised at Homeschool Oklahoma’s position regarding vouchers or voucher-like (i.e., tax credit) payments to homeschoolers. While many people understand the basic idea that accepting government money involves accepting government strings (now or in the future), the same people often don’t understand why we don’t want it even as an option. Why are we against giving people the option of having public money, as long as it isn’t forced?

Let me outline several.

Frix bill on homemade goods and farm products passes Senate committee

Sen. Frix Gains Committee Approval for Bill Expanding Freedoms for Local Producers

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 19th) – The Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee approved Senate Bill 939 Monday. The measure, by Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, aims to expand opportunities for producers to sell homemade goods and farm products.

Senate Bill 939 ensures that the provisions of the Homemade Food Freedom Act will not prohibit the sale of homemade food for home consumption from a retail space at the ranch, farm, or home where it is produced. The measure also aims to enhance producers' ability to deliver their products or sell their goods at farmers markets.

Storm chasing license bill advances through Senate committee

Both legislative bills seeking to create a professional storm chasing license and extend certain 'first responder' privileges have now passed their first committee votes (the House version, HB 2426, passed in committee on Feb. 4th, and advanced to another committee). It's extremely unpopular among the storm chasing community, as they feel - among other things - that it's one step toward regulating all storm chasing activities (and puts the government thumb on the scale for some members in an unfair advantage and unsafe manner).

Sen. Mark Mann (D-OKC) and Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee)

Emergency Weather Response Bill wins unanimous committee approval

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 20th) – Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, won unanimous, bipartisan support from the Senate Retirement and Government Resources Committee for legislation to help storm trackers travel Oklahoma roads and highways more safely during severe weather. Senate Bill 158 would allow storm trackers employed by FCC licensed radio or TV stations or employees from universities with meteorology programs to be able to travel as first-responders.

House passes administrative rules reform measure; OCPA, AFP-OK praise

House Passes REINS Act

Second House priority bill passes House title-on in first three weeks of session

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 20th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives today passed House Bill 2728, a measure designed to enhance transparency and legislative oversight in the state’s administrative rulemaking process.

House Bill 2728, authored by Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, creates the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2025, modeled after similar federal legislation. The bill ensures that state agency regulations receive greater legislative review before taking effect.

Op-ed: The dangers 'school choice' brings to the homeschool community

The homeschool community in Oklahoma has entered a new era, one in which the specter of government regulation is closer than ever before due to the 2023 passage of the Parental Choice Tax Credit, which includes a $1,000 credit for homeschool families.

I've written before about the wariness homeschoolers have for government strings (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). As the saying goes, with the shekels come shackles. As a result, many homeschoolers in Oklahoma (me included) are declining to take the "free* money!" offered by the latest government Pied Piper. Don't be a party in laying the groundwork for infringement on educational freedom. The camel's nose is now under the tent.

 

Image by wirestock on Freepik

THE DANGERS SCHOOL CHOICE BRINGS TO THE HOMESCHOOL COMMUNITY

by Robert Scott

Our freedoms are rarely eroded in one fell swoop. Like the frog in boiling water liberty is lost in baby steps. Participating in the school choice tax credit will impact us all. Simply not taking the tax credit is not enough. All forms of government money (subsidies, credits, grants, incentives, welfare) are a means to control the people.

Sen. Lankford releases latest 'Federal Fumbles: A Playbook for DOGE'

Lankford Releases Latest Federal Fumbles as Playbook for DOGE

WASHINGTON, DC (Feb. 13th) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the latest edition of his government waste book, Federal Fumbles: A Playbook for DOGE. Lankford reveals billions of dollars lost to wasteful spending, inefficiencies, fraud, and improper payments. The book also exposes the 30 different agencies involved in disaster relief and $2 billon that was given to the Taliban through United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Every time I talk with Oklahomans, they make it clear they want Washington to waste less and save more. My Federal Fumbles book is another edition of our playbook to cut waste and make government more efficient. This is the mandate that the American people voted to implement and we are committed to accomplish,” said Lankford. 

Click here to read the full report. Below is the Top 5 list:

Oklahoma Freedom Caucus releases 2025 policy agenda

Good stuff from the best group in the Legislature:

Oklahoma Freedom Caucus releases policy agenda

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 17th) – Today, the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus led by Chairman Shane Jett, House Vice Chair Jim Olsen, and Senate Vice Chair Dusty Deevers released the following policy agenda for 2025.

For the 60th Legislature the focus of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus is to advance the Freedoms of Oklahomans in four key areas: