Comment

Comment by Twana Blevins on June 6, 2012 at 10:14am

Details on the Activities Fund budget passed by the State Board of Education yesterday. http://oklahoma.watchdog.org/3149/state-board-of-education-has-to-make-cuts-to-approve-457m-activities-fund-budget/

State Board of Education has to make cuts to approve $457M Activiti...

oklahoma.watchdog.org

Comment by Twana Blevins on June 4, 2012 at 11:31pm

What You Thought

During last week's update I indicated that this article would include results from this year’s House District 31 constituent surveys.

The personhood proposal to define the start of life as beginning at conception received the support of 56 percent of House District 31 survey respondents. The personhood proposal could potentially have served as the legal catalyst for the overturn of the Roe v. Wade supreme court decision. As you might imagine, the proposal generated thousands of emails to legislators and was the cause for much debate during this year’s session. While it was approved in the Senate, it did not get a hearing in the House. The bill was not heard after members of the House Republican caucus took a vote to not hear the bill. This again brings into question the practice of giving bills a hearing based on a secret vote for which a legislator's constituency cannot hold him/her responsible.

62 percent of survey respondents indicated their support of the proposal to allow concealed carry licensees to open carry. The proposal was approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. It will go into law in November of this year.

63 percent of House District 31 residents voiced their support of a bill to make Oklahoma County Sheriff elections non-partisan. The bill was approved in the Senate but failed by a slim margin in the House.

The most aggressive level of intensity was expressed for and against two measures brought forward for consideration at the end of the year:

80 percent opposed the effort to issue several million dollars of bond debt to complete the construction of the Native American Cultural Center. Due to the large amount of legislative opposition to this proposal, the bill was defeated in the Senate and never even made it over the House for me to vote against.

80 percent of those who responded to the survey declared support for the effort to enact tax reform. Unfortunately, after I issued the poll, it became apparent that the House and Senate could not agree on a tax reform policy. House members were understandably concerned when it was realized that the foremost tax reform proposal could actually raise the level of taxes paid by some taxpayers. A more comprehensive proposal is almost certain to be proposed during the next legislative session..

I was in agreement with the survey results and the constituents’ point of view on each of these issues with the exception of making sheriff elections non-partisan. As the leading law enforcement official in the county, the sheriff plays a significant role in defending the rights of county residents, especially the 2nd amendment right of self defense. It is important to elect a sheriff who understands these constitutional rights. Partisan affiliation could very well serve as an indication of how a candidate feels about this and other important principles. Until and unless the sheriff's position becomes subject to hire based on policies set by a board of elected officials (much like a police chief is hired by a city council), the partisan factor will serve as a key indicator of the values held by sheriff candidates who seek the vote of citizens.

I very much appreciate the input of those who participated in this year’s implementation of the new email survey system. I plan to further streamline and incorporate the survey during next year's session as well. If you have not signed up to receive the update, you may do so by visiting hd31.org/307.

Thank you for reading this article. Your interest and input are much appreciated. Please do not hesitate to email Jason.Murphey@hd31.org with your thoughts and suggestions.

Sincerely,


@JWMurphey

Comment by Twana Blevins on May 24, 2012 at 11:08am

Greetings Patriots,

 

The good news is that it appears the Bond Bills for repairs to the State Capitol and additional funding for the Indian Cultural Heritage Center(money sink hole) have failed for now.  The repairs to the capitol will still need to be done and hopefully the Legislature will include them in the budget or finance them with cash on hand.  With that in mind I’m not sure why we would borrow $20,000,000 to build a Pop Culture Museum in Tulsa if we can’t seem to maintain the buildings the State already has.

 

I can’t seem to determine the exact status of the other bond measures, but there is no posting of their having passed so if they get voted on it will be today or tomorrow as this session ends Friday.  There does appear to be some chicanery going on with the Master Lease Programs in regards to the State Medical Examiners Facility which is to be built on the UCO campus.  The Master Lease Program bonds are supposed to support construction projects, remodels and repairs to facilities and the leasing of certain equipment on college campuses in the State and paid for through tuition and fees/ institutional funding.  The Medical Examiners Facility is a State agency and doesn’t seem to fit the requirements.

 

 Probably wouldn’t hurt to call your Senator and Representative and let them know what you think.

 

Restore this Republic!

Mark

Comment by Twana Blevins on May 23, 2012 at 7:55am

We’re in the last two weeks of the legislative session which is a very dangerous time for tax payers.  I will try to get more information out tonight concerning this press release from Senator Anderson, but it looks like a lot of this debt will be used for non-essential construction and to catch up on neglected maintenance.  These bills are also being pushed from the top.  Looks like we will need to make some calls.

 

The State of Oklahoma currently has around $2,000,000,000 in tax supported bond debt.

 

Restore this Republic!

Mark

 

Oklahoma State Senate

Communications Division

State Capitol

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

 

For Immediate Release: 

Statement from Sen. Patrick Anderson –

Taxpayers of Oklahoma to take on $535 million in new bond debt

“The taxpayers of Oklahoma are being asked to carry the burden of an additional $535 million in new bond indebtedness this year if the legislature moves forward and passes the pending bond issues that have been brought forward during this last week of the legislative session,“ said Anderson, R-Enid.  “The $535 million only accounts for the principal repayment of the bond issues – the interest on these bonds will obligate the taxpayers of Oklahoma for millions more in addition to that amount.”

 

            The $535 million in new bond debt for 2012 is for the following projects:

 

            $25 million for repairs to Tulsa’s Zink dam.

           

            $200 million for the Master Lease Real Property projects.

 

            $50 million for the Master Lease Personal Property projects.

 

$200 million for repairs to the Capitol building, the Jim Thorpe building and the Governor’s mansion.

 

$40 million for Oklahoma City’s Native American Cultural Center museum.

 

$20 million for Tulsa’s Pop museum.  

 

“I personally feel that it is irresponsible to be running up the state’s debt in this manner,”  said Anderson.  “I am hopeful that other fiscal conservatives in the legislature will join me in opposing these bond issues.”

 

 

– 30 –

 

For more information, contact:

Sen. Anderson: (405) 521-5630

Comment by Twana Blevins on May 21, 2012 at 10:09am

Oklahoma’s Memorial Day Parades & Events

back

Oklahoma Parades

Memorial Day Services Starting Point American Legion Post 36 105 East Lee Sapulpa, OK Time: 0700 Click here for map Event The breakfast is free to thoes that are going to the services this is provided by the American Legion Post 36 Phone: 918-224-1460 Contact Name: Bill Laughter Position/Title:  Commander Please log in to obtain email contact

Comment by Twana Blevins on May 21, 2012 at 10:05am

Memorial Day

45th Infantry Division Museum's Memorial Day Ceremony

When: Begins 10 a.m. on Monday, May 30th
Where: 2145 NE 36th Street, South in the Adventure District
What: Pay tribute to the veterans at this annual ceremony that includes helicopter flyover, massing of the colors, patriotic music and guest speakers.

Comment by Joann Balfour on May 16, 2012 at 5:54pm

He has been strong on this issue; but, he has voted pretty much in lock-step with leadership on every issue.

Comment by Twana Blevins on May 16, 2012 at 5:38pm

http://www.frc.org/washingtonupdate/cartoonist-hangs-voters-out-to-die

The ENDA the Rainbow


If liberals think they can intimidate Congressman James Lankford (R-Okla.), they picked on the wrong guy. Last week, the far-Left's ThinkProgress tried to ambush Rep. Lankford on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which gives special workplace rights to homosexuals and cross-dressers.
FRC has argued against the policy for years. Not only is it unnecessary, but it would be used as a weapon to bludgeon religious employers and businesses.

In ThinkProgress's video, the interviewers ask Rep. Lankford if he could "support a law that says you can't fire someone for their sexual orientation--similar to protections for people on gender?" The Congressman replied that "[R]ace and sexual preferences are two different things. One is a behavior-related and preference-related and one is something inherently--skin color, something obvious, that kind of stuff. You don't walk up to someone on the street and look at them and say, 'Gay or Straight?'"

The crew pressed him more, asking if he believes people are born gay. "Do I personally? No. I don't. I think it's a choice issue. Are tendencies and such? Yes. But I think it's a choice issue." That day, ThinkProgress posted an outright lie as its headline, suggesting that Lankford wants to make it "legal to fire someone for being gay." Of course, he never said that--but ThinkProgress never lets a little thing like the truth get in the way of a good story. Since then, the Left has launched an all-out smear campaign against the Oklahoma Republican, hoping he'll back down. He hasn't--not even when threatsto his office started pouring in. "Businesses hire and fire people based on their performance at work, not in their private lives outside of their work," he said.

The entire episode has been a case study in liberal tactics. Time and time again, the Left tries to bully or intimidate people into submission on their agenda. But when Americans are undeterred, as Rep. Lankford is, liberals are at a complete loss. Usually, after a few failed attempts, they become frustrated enough to move on to the next target. Bend and be trampled. Stand and be left alone. In the meantime, it takes lots of courage to weather the storm. Contact Rep. Lankford (202.225.2132) and tell him you're grateful he has!

Comment by Twana Blevins on April 30, 2012 at 11:00pm

very important read!

A Real States Rights Solution

 

www.hd31.org

 

I hear often from House District 31 constituents regarding their frustration with the ever increasing encroachment of the federal government. From the fear of new healthcare policies to dealing with...

Comment by Joann Balfour on April 16, 2012 at 7:47pm

Absolutely.

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