OkieBrent's Soapbox

I guess I should have made that headline to say something like – April 13th was Right-wing Oklahoma Day on MSNBC…

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Read the ThinkProgress blog posting on it here.

And I encourage everyone to watch a special Rachel Maddow Show – April 19, 2010

The McVeigh Tapes – here is a preview

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

And it continued on Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

And again on The Rachel Maddow Show

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In today’s Oklahoman (11/25/2009) Michael McNutt reports that Republican State Representative Dennis Johnson of Duncan says that one of the first bills to be considered in the next legislative session will be one to increase penalties for gang-related activities.  Senate Bill 826 will make recruiting gang members a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Gangs are bad, but is this really what we need to focus on right now?  The State of Oklahoma is laying off teachers, starving seniors, furloughing employees, reducing the number of law enforcement officials – all because of a lack of MONEY.  Representative Johnson wants the state to spend more money we don’t have.

Keep in mind these numbers are from 2005, but according to the Department of Corrections Oklahoma spends more than $20,000 per year per prisoner.   Sixty percent of those prisoners are non-violent.

Oklahoma spends less than half that amount – only $7,615 – on each student per year.  I guess Oklahomans value prisoners more than they do educating our children.

Maybe if Oklahoma prioritized education and students above prisons and inmates, there would be fewer youth even considering joining a gang, fewer drop-outs, and less crime.

What is a better incentive to attract new businesses and jobs – lots of prisoners or a well educated population?  Of course for most businesses and industries a well educated work force is much more attractive, but maybe legislators like Rep. Johnson are only trying to attract more private prisons.

Wayne Rohde made the following comments to a previously posted Big Number.  His comments need highlighting and shared.

How about this BIG Number.

 

Autism, 1 out of 100 children will be diagnosed with autism. (new data)
that is 1 out of 38 boys.  That is approx 500 children each year in OK can be diagnosed with autism if they are lucky enough to have the financial resources to pay for diagnosis.

 

Another big number. 80% divorce rate in the autism community.
Another big number 5 times the bankrutcy rate in the autism community.

 

No insurance coverage in Ok.
All because of another big number Republican State Legislators that stand in the way of helping children with special needs.

 

Another big, big number.
The cost of care if provided by the state taxpayers for each child as they reach adulthood. Lifetime care is $ 3.25 million each.

 

500 x 3.25 million equals $1.625 Billion that the OK taxpayers will be on the hook each year if these children are denied health care to help them recover from autism and become contributing citizens.

 

Another big number 80% of these kids are under the age of 16. The tidal wave is about to hit us.

Thank you Wayne.

There!  I said it.

I have tried to put down in words my thoughts recently.  But there have been so many, with each taking a different train, my brain can’t decide which way to go.  Each attempt I’ve made has just turned into a big piled up wreck of too many different issues.

I love Oklahoma and am an Okie through and through.  I can go on and on about the pride I have in my state: its history, its terrain, its artists, its people, its beauty.  But it seems every day during this past legislative session when I read news about Oklahoma, my pride became overpowered by embarrassment.

What is it about Oklahoma voters that cause us to elect the type of representatives we do, both in our State Legislature and the United State Congress?  To me, the key factor seems to be fear.  What are Oklahoma voters afraid of, and why?

Looking at legislation produced by our “representatives” in the just completed First Session of the 52^nd Oklahoma Legislature, one could conclude: Okies are afraid of the Federal Government (HCR1028, HR1043, SCR0008, SCR0026); we are afraid of bad guys from foreign countries (HR1008); we are afraid of Spanish-speaking neighbors (HJR1042); we are afraid of juries of our peers (HB1603); we are afraid of science (HB1326, HR1014, HR1015); we are afraid of educational standards (SB0834, HR1063); we are afraid of ourselves as voters (SJR0012, SB0004); and we are afraid of God (HB1330)… just to mention of few of the fear-based bills put upon us by the first-ever Republican lead Oklahoma Legislature.  Brief descriptions of all the mentioned bills follow.

Fear of the Federal Government

• HCR1028, by Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City and Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, claims Oklahoma state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government. It serves notice to the federal government to cease and desist mandates that are beyond the scope of its constitutionally delegated powers. It calls on the prohibition or repeal of compulsory federal legislation that directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding.
• HR1043, by Rep. Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa and Rep. Sue Tibbs, R-Tulsa, expresses the House’s strong disagreement with the key findings and conclusions contained within the assessment report issued by the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It also urges Oklahoma’s congressional delegation to oppose any use of the assessment report that may encourage the enactment of any law or laws that infringe on the rights of any person.
• SCR0008, by Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City and Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, states the Legislature’s finding that the Employee Free Choice Act is detrimental to the rights of workers and an offense against democratic principles. It also urges members of the Oklahoma congressional delegation to support worker freedom by opposing the act and any of its components in 2009 and future years.
• SCR0026, by Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City and Rep. Daniel Sullivan, R-Tulsa, expresses the Legislature’s opposition to the proposed federal legislation, introduced as H.R. 1880 and known as the National Insurance Consumer Protection Act, because such legislation would threaten the power of state legislatures, insurance commissioners and state attorneys general to oversee, regulate and investigate the business of insurance to protect consumers.

Fear of Bad Guys from Foreign Countries

• HR1008, by Rep. Fred Jordan, R-Jenks, Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, urges President Barack Obama and his administration to recognize the request of Oklahoma to refrain from relocating detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the federal correctional institution in El Reno, the Fort Sill Regional Confinement Center, the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City or any other federal facility in Oklahoma as a result of the executive order signed on Jan. 22, 2009. It also urges the president to refrain from relocating detainees to any other state in the United States.

Fear of Spanish-speaking neighbors

• HJR1042, by Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore and Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, proposes a constitutional amendment designating English as the common and unifying language of the state. In the Senate, the measure was amended to require all official actions of the state to be conducted in the English language, except as required by federal. It also declares that no individual would have cause of action against a state agency or political subdivision for failure to provide any official government action in any language other than English. The proposed constitutional amendment also states that it shall not be construed to diminish or impair the use, study, development or encouragement of any Native American language. The proposed amendment also provides the Legislature the power to implement, enforce and determine the proper application of the amendment by appropriate legislation. (Constitutional Amendment)

Fear of Juries of Our Peers

• HB1603, by Rep. Daniel Sullivan, R-Tulsa and Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, creates the Comprehensive Lawsuit Reform Act of 2009. It states that in any civil action for professional negligence, the plaintiff must attach to the petition an affidavit that includes a written opinion from a qualified expert that the claim has merit. If such an affidavit is not filed, a court may dismiss the petition without prejudice… [The description of this bill is 2,048 words long, so to save space: it is tort reform. They are afraid that Oklahoma juries will be too generous to injured parties]. (Amended by House, Amended by Senate)

Fear of Science

• HB1326, by Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City and Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, prohibits the conducting of nontherapeutic research that destroys a human embryo or subjects it to substantial risk of injury or death; the transfer of a human embryo with the knowledge that it will be subject to nontherapeutic research or the use for research purposes cells or tissues that were knowingly obtained by performing prohibited activities. It makes violations a misdemeanor. (Amended by House, Amended by Senate)
• HR1014, by Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada, expresses the Oklahoma House of Representatives’ disapproval of the current indoctrination of the Darwinian theory of evolution at the University of Oklahoma and requests that an open, dignified and fair discussion of this idea and all other ideas be engaged in on campus. It also opposes the invitation to speak on the OU Campus to Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published statements on evolution and opinion about those who do not believe in the theory are contrary and offense to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma.
• HR1015, by Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada, expresses the House’s opposition to the invitation to speak on the campus of the University of Oklahoma to Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published statements on the theory of evolution and opinion about those who do not believe in the theory are contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma. It also encourages OU to engage in an open, dignified and fair discussion of the Darwinian theory of evolution and all other scientific theories, which is an approach that a public institution should be engaged in.

Fear of Educational Standards

• SB0834, by Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville and Rep. Tad Jones, R-Claremore, creates the School District Empowerment Program to be administered by the State Department of Education. The bill requires the department to exempt any school district that participates in the program from all statutory requirements and department rules from which charter schools are exempt, except that the district will continue to be required to enroll all students who are residents of the district. The bill requires the department to implement the program beginning in the 2010-2011 school year for school districts which include a school that has been identified for school improvement for the 2009-2010 school year by the State Board of Education under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The bill requires the board to randomly select 20 percent of school districts from specific categories for implementation of the program beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. In the House, the bill was amended to include language allowing any school district board of education from choosing to follow any or all state laws, rules or regulations from which a charter school is exempt. It also adds a requirement for districts to comply with evaluation and training of teachers and personnel, as well as compliance with dismissal and due process procedures. It directs compliance with the requirement to make payroll deductions for either or both professional organization dues and political contributions upon the request of an employee, and it requires certification of teachers, counselors, librarians, school nurses, superintendents, principals, supervisors and others. The measure also requires districts to offer and students to complete curriculum requirements and demonstrate mastery of the state academic content standards. It also states members of a district’s education board must be required to satisfy the instruction and continuing education requirements of the state. (Amended by House, Amended by Senate, Committee Substitute)
• HR1063, by Rep. David Derby, R-Owasso, states that the House opposes any rule the State Board of Education may promulgate that attempts to establish a minimum number of school days in a school year for school districts choosing to adopt the school hours policy as contained in enrolled HB 1864.

Fear of Ourselves as Voters

• SJR0012, by Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso and Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the term of governor, lieutenant governor, state auditor and inspector, attorney general, state treasurer, commissioner of labor, superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner and corporation commissioner to eight years. (Constitutional Amendment)
• SB0004, by Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville and Rep. Sue Tibbs, R-Tulsa, requires voters to provide proof of identity when voting. It states that proof of identity includes documents that show the name of the voter that substantially conforms to the precinct registry; a document with a photograph of the voter; a document with an expiration date after the date of the election; and a document issued by the United States, the state of Oklahoma or a tribal government. The bill states that a voter identification card constitutes proof of identity. The measure states that if a voter is unable to provide proof of identity, he or she may sign a statement under oath. It makes it a felony to use a false ID or to give a false swearing. It provides an exemption from the provision requiring an ID with an expiration date after the date of the election for voters age of 65 or older. It also repeals language requiring that voters provide identification before voting for the first time. The bill also allows voters in a general election to cast their ballots from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the Wednesday immediately preceding the election, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Thursday, Friday and Monday immediately preceding the election as well as from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Saturday preceding the election. (Amended by Senate, Committee Substitute)

Fear of God

• HB1330, by Rep. Mike Ritze, R-Broken Arrow and Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, creates the Ten Commandments Monument Display Act, authorizing the State Capitol Preservation Commission or its designee to permit and arrange for the placement of a suitable monument displaying the Ten Commandments on the state Capitol grounds. The bill directs that the design and construction of the monument be done by private entities at no expense to the state. It authorizes the attorney general to defend placement of the Ten Commandments, if challenged in court. The CCR added language authorizing the Liberty Legal Institute or the attorney general to defend placement of the monument, if challenged. (Amended by House, Amended by Senate)

J.C. Watts announced today he will not run for Governor next year.  So for now on the Republican side it is Mary Fallin against Randy Brogdan.   The only Democrat to officially announce for Governor so far is Jari Askins, but Drew Edmondson is seriously exploring the race.

The Governor’s seat will be open. 

The Lt. Governor’s seat will be open. 

The Attorney General’s seat will be open. 

Also on the ballot will be State Supt. of Public Instruction – will Sandy Garrett run again? 

The State Treasurer will be on the ballot – Will Scott Meacham run for it again, or will he choose to run for Attorney General, or 5^th District Congress (which will also be an open seat)? 

The State Insurance Commissioner, and Labor Commissioner, and State Auditor and Inspector, and a seat on the Corporation Commission will all be on the 2010 ballot.

Tom Coburn has said he will announce his decision whether to run for a 2^nd term in the U.S. Senate by June 1.  If he chooses to retire, that is another seat that will be open.  Will he jump into the Governor’s race? Stay where he’s at? Or go back to Muskogee and deliver more babies?

Half of the State Senate will be on the ballot (24 seats) and all of the State House (101 seats).  And the Republican-controlled legislature has filled the 2010 ballot with initiatives that they couldn’t get passed Governor Henry’s desk.

2010 is very important for Oklahoma Democrats and our new team needs to begin now focusing only on 2010.

Once again, The Lost Ogle has an excellent posting that I hope you’ll read.  They’ve included photographs of three of the State House Republican Hypocrites who couldn’t wait to have their photo taken with the Flaming Lips, yet when it came time to vote for the State’s Official Rock Song – voted NO.

Click here to read Yoshimi Battles the Big Hypocrites and to see the photos.

If you can make it, Governor Henry will make “Do You Realize??” the Official State Rock Song tomorrow.  Here are the details.

2 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
Oklahoma History Center
2401 N. Laird Avenue, Oklahoma City

To honor Oklahoma’s 52nd Legislature for the many regressive bills passed this session, here is a little poem I wrote as a tribute.

Has the 21^st Century got you down? 

Does new technology and science make you frown?

It doesn’t have to distress you,

Don’t let it depress you,

The perfect place for you has been found.

Once you pass that Oklahoma line

Our Legislature will take you back in time

Where if you’re white, male and own land

In Oklahoma you’ll be living just grand

By the time the 52^nd Session is done,

We’ll be living like its 1601,

Flat again the earth will be

No longer will All be included in We

You may risk being burned at the stake

If your progressive thoughts you don’t shake

Only Puritans will be welcome here

All others should live in fear

Welcome to Oklahoma, where simple minds hold sway

And Neanderthals rule the day!

According to pollster Mark Penn, there are now more professional bloggers than bartenders.  Although, Columbia Journalism Review takes Penn and his numbers to task.

Although they are all as good or better than any professional, I wouldn’t categorize any of the following Oklahoma bloggers as “professional” – as in blogging being their full-time job and how they pay their bills .  They do have some very timely and important information worth reading. 

Over at the Oklahoma Observer, Arnold Hamilton takes the Legislature to task for trying their damnedest to destroy public education.

Dr. Kurt Hochenauer at OkieFunk has two recent posts that you should read.  Misdirected Anger is an excellent piece on the teabaggers and The OKC Bombing and Right-Wing Extremism takes on Inhofe and Coburn for their whining about the recent report by the Dept of Homeland Security.

I love reading The Lost Ogle, and today Clark Matthews has a brilliant posting on HB1326 which passed by the Legislature would criminalize Stem Cell Research in Oklahoma.  Governor Henry has until midnight tonight to sign or veto the bill.  Please read Mike Reynolds Loves Embryos, Hates Sick People.

According to a 2007-2008 report by the Oklahoma Dept of Commerce, the largest employer in Oklahoma is the State of Oklahoma with between 36,000-37,000 jobs.  But that is really not correct. 

The DOC grouped all the state agencies into one group (minus Universities and public schools), but all the federal agencies are independent in this report.  The total number of Federal employees on this report in Oklahoma (minus several not on the DOC list, i.e., National Park Service, Federal Prisons, Federal Research sites, VA hospital, and others) is between 72,250-73,850.

So why do I bring this up?  Because there are too many state Legislators who seem to absolutely hate our Federal Government.

Here we are in the worst economic crisis in almost 70 years, with unemployment numbers growing and record bankruptcies being filed, and what does the Oklahoma Legislature do?  They pass HJR1003 by right-wing conspiracy theorist Rep. Charles Key and Sen. Randy Brogdon, a Republican running for governor because he thinks Mary Fallin is too liberal.  The Short Title of HJR1003 reads:

“A Joint Resolution claiming sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over certain powers; serving notice to the federal government to cease and desist certain mandates; providing that certain federal legislation be prohibited or repealed; and directing distribution.”

Every Republican in the Legislature voted for it, along with three Democrats in the Senate and 22 Democrats in the House.

I think the part of HJR1003 that really gets me is this section:

 ”THAT this serve as Notice and Demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers.

 

“THAT all compulsory federal legislation which directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed.”

HJR1003 really has no power, but if it did I am certain the Courts, after our State spent millions defending it, would throw this nonsense out.   But even if the Courts did not do so, what would keep the Federal Government from just saying, “Fine Oklahoma.  If that is the way you want it, then that is the way you’ll have it.  You want to be sovereign and not abide by the same rules as the other 49 states, then we’ll pull out all our federal dollars and your sovereign little ass can take care of itself.”

Goodbye Tinker (26,000-27,000 jobs), goodbye Altus AFB (3,000 jobs) and Vance AFB (2,300-2,500 jobs).  So long Fort Sill (21,400 jobs), FAA (3,000-3,300 jobs), and Bureau of Indian Affairs (550-650 jobs).  Adios US Postal Service (16,500 jobs), FedEx and UPS can take over the mail service in Oklahoma. 

The 52nd Oklahoma Legislature is doing nothing but wasting time.  They should just Sine Die.