Foreign governments more open in dissent
I just got back from a trip to Britain; my first overseas. While I was there, I was lucky enough to be able to go see the British Parliament, the equivalent to the U.S. Congress in many ways and the Scottish Parliament, or something more similar to a state legislature. The differences between the debates I saw there and what goes on here seemed stark to me.
First, the House of Commons (think U.S. House) and the House of Lords (U.S. Senate, though different in many ways) are quite a raucous bunch. When I was there, global warming was the issue of the day, and the members were not afraid to express (sometimes loudly) what they thought of the questions or responses given. Often members were booed, or cheered, depending on the opinion expressed. After each answer, members must stand up hoping for a chance to be recognized to ask the next question. In the House of Commons, much like Congress and often the Oklahoma Legislature, many members aren’t in the chamber during debate unless there is a vote. In fact, all of the 646 Members of Parliament (they are called MPs) cannot even fit into the Commons chamber, which only sits 427 people at any one time.
As for the House of Lords, it is a group of unelected members, many of whom are there because of their last name and the title that comes with it. In recent years, lords can also be appointed for their life, and the numbers have swelled to 750 members. Again, not even a quarter of the members were there the day I saw them debating.
On the days I saw the proceedings in both England and Scotland, government officials were called before the members to answer pointed questions about their performance and budgeting. I think the Oklahoma Legislature, and state officials, could stand a little more of this type of open questioning.
Overall, the atmosphere was adversarial, with clear divisions between the government (or what they call the majority party) and the other minority members. Some things in politics are universal I suppose.
Jennifer Mock
Capitol Bureau
Capitol workers to get lunchime treat Monday
Workers at the Capitol won’t have to bring their lunch or go elsewhere for lunch Monday, thanks to a state employees group.
The Oklahoma Public Employees Association will provide free sandwiches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday on the 4th-floor rotunda to the approximately 250 workers at the Capitol.
A snack bar at the Capitol has been closed since May 25. It’s expected a new vendor could be in place by the end of this month, state officials have said.
Snack bar operators are selected by the Business Enterprise Program, a part of the Rehabilitation Services Department. The program provides employment opportunities for people who are visually impaired to independently run their own businesses in government buildings.
Snack bars in the basement and on the fourth floor of the Capitol are open during the legislative session; the fourth-floor operation usually shuts down when legislators are not in session.
The previous operator quit suddenly May 24, the day before legislators adjourned this year’s session.
She came in hurriedly when Lee Hutsen, who had operated the snack bars for 14 months, was booted out of the Capitol in late January just before the start of this year’s legislative session because of a dispute with a customer over chicken salad. The customer wanted the item, but Hutson said he no longer served it.
Hutsen now runs the snack bar in the Hodge Building, a couple blocks north of the Capitol.
He and his wife, Mary, said last week they’ve picked up about four or five customers since the Capitol snack bars closed.
Hutsen, a visually impaired vendor in the Business Enterprise Program for seven years, said he’s increased business at the Hodge Building since starting up shop there in February – from about $425 in daily sales to about $600.
Lee Hutsen said whoever is selected as vendor at the Capitol will be starting during a slow period, but business will pick up noticeably during the four months legislators are in session.
“It’s nothing to make $2,000 a day (in sales) between the two snack bars,” he said.
Daily sales in the basement snack bar when legislators are not in session usually run about $400, he said.
“Eight months out of the year, the state Capitol business is a little better than break even by the time you pay for products and pay for your help,” he said.
Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
More said to be watching presidential contenders
Are you paying more attention to the presidential candidates this year compared with four years ago?
A national campaign manager for one of the candidates says polls indicate you are.
The many big-name candidates in both the Democratic and Republican parties may be a factor why more people report watching this year’s presidential races compared with the 2004 campaigns, said David Bonior, campaign manager for Democratic presidential contender John Edwards.
Republicans didn’t have a presidential primary race in 2004, and several states have moved up their primaries or caucuses to early 2008, which also may be a factor, Bonior said during a speech Friday in Oklahoma City to Oklahoma County Democrats.
Polls, he said, show between 50 to 67 percent of Americans are paying attention to this year’s race compared with about 25 percent during the same time four years ago.
What do you think?
Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
No free lunch – or any lunch – at the Capitol
If they’re going to eat lunch, state workers at the Capitol are getting in the habit of either going out or bringing their own.
A snack bar in the Capitol remains closed. But a new operator could be serving food and drinks in less than two weeks, a state spokeswoman said today.
The previous operator quit suddenly on May 24, the day before legislators adjourned this year’s session.
Typically, snack bars in the basement and on the fourth-floor are open during the legislative session; the 4th-floor operation usually shuts down when legislators are not in session.
Lobbyists and others spend a lot of days during the legislative session pacing the 4th-floor rotunda while legislators in their chambers. They often get something to eat or drink at one of the snack bars.
Even though legislators won’t return until February for the next session, the Capitol still is a busy place. It’s one of the state’s top tourist attractions and soon various legislative committees will take place here.
And then there’s all the state workers who are here every day.
Snack bar operators are selected by the Business Enterprise PRogram, a part of the state Rehabilitaton Services Department. The program provides employment opportunities for people who are blind to independently run their own businesses in government buildings.
Jody Harlan, a Rehabilitation Services Department spokeswoman, said efforts are under way to find an operator.
The goal is to have the basement snack bar open by June 18, she said.
“The process for replacing that person is just about like any other state government deal where they look for people who are qualified and people who are food service managers,” she said.
The state recently formed a partnership with Java Dave’s Coffee to open at least five stores in government buildings across the state. The department will find eligible visually impaired managers to run the stores. One of them, which will be a little larger than a kiosk, will sell coffees and pastries on the first floor of the Capitol. But that’s not expected to open until this fall.
Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
Political joke?
Driving south on Lincoln Blvd. this morning, astute commuters might have noticed something noticeably out of place at Republican Party Headquarters.
Sitting outside the building, flanked by President Bush signs and a Republican elephant symbol in the windows, was a large yellow papier-mache dog donning an American flag top hat and scarf. To top it off, the dog was holding a ‘Brad Henry for Governor’ sign.
Yes, you read that right, in front of the Republican party was a yellow dog holding a Henry sign. The dog was quickly removed and dismissed as a prank by party officials.
“Sounds to me that there are some Democratic operatives with too much time on their hands,” said Republican Party chairman Gary Jones. “If they want to concentrate on things like that, that is fine. We are going to concentrate on getting more Republicans elected.”
He did add that “we’ll probably have some fun with it.”
Newly elected Democratic Chairman Ivan Holmes said he does not know who is responsible for the joke. But, the dog did come from the Democratic headquarters. It had long been stationed in the party’s kitchen, Holmes said, but he decided to throw it away a couple days ago.
Apparently someone took it from behind the building and placed it in front of the Republican headquarters, he said.
Republicans, tag, you’re it.
Jennifer Mock
Capitol Bureau
