Veterans group endorses Calvey
Iraq Vets for Congress announced today it is supporting Kevin Calvey to replace U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, who is not seeking re-election in order to run for Governor.
Leaders lead by example and Kevin Calvey set a great example, said Kieran Lalor, Chairman of Iraq Vets for Congress. Calvey joined the Army National Guard after the start of the Iraq War, at age 37, when he was already a businessman and elected official.
Shumate to aid in minority teacher recruitment
State Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, has been appointed to the Minority Teacher Recruitment Advisory Committee by House Speaker Chris Benge.
Shumate said it would be an honor to serve on the committee, which oversees the Minority Teacher Recruitment Center.
“I am excited by this appointment,” Shumate, D-Tulsa, said. “The Minority Teacher Recruitment Center was set up to help recruit minority teachers to Oklahoma public schools and I am proud to take part in overseeing its operation. Minority teachers are often role models who inspire students from diverse backgrounds to pursue higher education, so it is very important to increase their numbers in Oklahoma schools.”
The committee is made up of a 19-member panel. Some of the group’s efforts include Leadership, Education and Achievement Program and Future Educators Association.
“This center provides collegiate grants and looks to meet unmet needs in teacher recruitment,” Shumate said. “I look forward to meeting with the committee.”
The Best and Worst
If only we could make such a list.
I’d have a few lists from the legislative session. Best dressed, best debate, who has the best candy in their offices, etc. Those are the inane things that come to mind sometimes after a long day of listening to bills move through the floor.
But, The Oklahoma Observer can use it’s mighty pen to name the ten best and the ten worst House and Senate members of the Legislative session that ended in May.
If you’re unfamiliar, the Observer’s politics are no mystery. The publication tends to be left-leaning. Founding editor Frosty Troy, a fixture in the Capitol press corp, is often touring the country and speaking on the importance of public education and other issues. And in a red state like Oklahoma (at least in the last national election), his stance can be refreshing to loyal readers and fans who subscribe to the publication. And heck, Frosty even has a Facebook page.
Since the Observer requires a subscription, I won’t spoil their whole best and worst list of the session, to get that information you’ll actually have to get your own copy. But some highlights should whet the appetite.
Among the best in the Senate, Observer writers Troy and Editor Arnold Hamilton had this to say: Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne is an “oddity — apparently one of the few senators who reads all the bills on the agenda, then asks meticulous questions.”
The article also praises Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole. Observer writers call Coates “one-of-a-kind, refusing to march in lockstep with the majority of Republicans…” Coates was the lone Republican that opposed the chief information officer bill and refused to change his vote. He also voted with Democrats on other issues throughout the session.
Among the worst in the Senate, The Observer called Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Glenn Coffee a “bitter partisan,” who “blew it as the first Republican president pro tempore in state history.” Ouch. He did get tort reform legislation passed into law, though.
The Observer also said Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, the author of the worst bill in the session. Ford wrote Senate 834, which sought to deregulate public schools. The Observer said the bill would have “turned every school district into an old plantation.” Observern founding editor, Troy spoke out against this bill at a rally of educators earlier this year.
In the House, Rep. Ryan Kiesel, D-Seminole earned praise from Observer staff who said Kiesel wasn’t afraid to “speak truth to power…he challenged one GOP sacred cow after another.” The publication also lauded Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, calling him an “independent thinker in the all-too-often lockstep world of the House GOP.”
Those drawing criticism in the House included Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, who the Observer says “continues to baffle, astonish and amuse.” The Observer also called Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa “a walking conflict of interest.”
Askins continues state travels
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, who has crisscrossed the state many times to attend and speak at various events since taking office in 2003, won’t be slowing down her pace, especially now that she has an announced Democratic opponent for governor.
Askins, the first to announce she’s a candidate for governor in 2010, is scheduled to speak Friday to the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce in Lawton.
Attorney General Drew Edmondson ended months of speculation when he announced Wednesday he is a Democratic candidate for governor.
Television and newspaper advertising and use of the new media, such as Web sites, and MySpace, Facebook and Twitter postings, will be used by both candidates. But each also have said it’s important to get out and meet the people and hear what they have to say.
Askins will continue her travels and Edmondson said he plans to also attend as many functions as he can across the state.
The Republican gubernatorial candidates, U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma City and state Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso, also said they will be spending much of their time this summer and beyond traveling across the state.
Friday’s chamber meeting in Lawton is its legislative wrap-up session. Area legislators attended meetings earlier this year. The chamber luncheon is at the Best Western Hotel and Convention Center. It starts at 11:45 a.m. Cost is $15 a person. Tickets may be obtained by calling the camber at (580) 355-3541.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Edmondson’s in the 2010 governor’s race
Attorney General Drew Edmondson as expected announced today he’s running for governor.
He’s the second Democrat to announce plans to seek the post in 2010. Two Republicans also have announced. The filing period is next June.
Edmondson, speaking to about 100 supporters gathered in the Blue Room in the state Capitol, said he’s ready for new challenges.
“As attorney general, I’ve fought to protect Oklahomans from crime, I’ve stood up against special interests and I’ve taken on corrupt politicians,” Edmondson said. “As governor, I’m going to fight just as hard to create good-paying jobs and make sure all Oklahomans have access to quality, affordable health care.”
Edmondson said he would focus his time as governor on creating new, high-paying jobs in the energy industry. Improving common and higher education and protecting the state’s natural resources, especially water, were other priorities, he said.
Edmondson said in January he isn’t seeking a fifth term and was contemplating a gubernatorial bid.
Democrat Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and two Republicans, U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma City and state Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso, already have announced they are running for governor in 2010. Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat in his second term, can’t seek re-election.
Campaign reports covering the first three months of this year showed Edmondson had about four times the cash on hand than Askins and Fallin, both of whom had already announced their plans to run for governor. He raised nearly $280,000 during that time period, more than Askins and Fallin combined.
Edmondson made the announcement on his 42nd wedding anniversary. His wife, Linda, who was at his side, will be helping him in his campaign.
“We’ve been a team for a long time,” she said.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Edmondson to announce political plans
Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who has been pondering the past six months whether to run for governor, is expected today to announce whether he will seek the post.
Edmondson has scheduled three news conferences today across the state to discuss his political plans.
Edmondson, who said in January he isn’t seeking a fifth term and was contemplating a gubernatorial bid, is holding news conferences in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and in his hometown of Muskogee. The Democrat’s first event is at the state Capitol, where he began his political career as a state representative in 1974 and he will end up at the county courthouse in Muskogee, where he was elected district attorney in 1982, 1986 and 1990.
Democrat Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and two Republicans, U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma City and state Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso, already have announced plans to run for governor in 2010. Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat in his second term, can’t seek re-election.
Campaign reports covering the first three months of this year showed Edmondson had about four times the cash on hand than Askins and Fallin, both of whom had already announced their plans to run for governor. He raised nearly $280,000 during that time period, more than Askins and Fallin combined.
Todd Goodman, chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said he anticipates Edmondson will announce he is running for governor, setting up a primary race between two popular Democrats.
“A contested primary isn’t necessarily doom and gloom,” he said. “Sometimes it can even strengthen the candidates in the party. They are two of the hardest-working public servants in the state of Oklahoma, and having them both on the campaign trail discussing the issues most important to the working men and women of Oklahoma can actually benefit the state as well as Democrats.”
Within an hour after Edmondson’s campaign announced his news conferences, Askins’ campaign sent out an e-mail announcing a new Web site, JariAskins.com. It will feature photos, YouTube videos, speeches, blog posts, news articles and Twitter feeds as Askins campaigns across the state.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Senator in Korea for international conference
Where is the world is Sen. Clark Jolley?
The reference to “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego,” may show my age a bit, but it’s fitting. Jolley, the Edmond Republican, is in Korea for the next week attending National Strategy Institute, a program affiliated with the American Council of Young Polticial Leaders. Jolley is one of six United States officials to visit Korea as part of the program geared at political leaders under 40.
But he’s not just sitting in meetings and taking notes. The tech-savvy lawmaker, who backed measures like the chief information officer and reforms to tracking student performance data in the past legislative session, is also blogging and taking video for his web site, www.clarkjolley.com. And you like to tweet, check out Jolley on Twitter at twitter.com/clarkjolley.
Guess he doesn’t mind being called a “geek” as he said on the Senate floor.
Henry wraps up bill consideration
On Friday, Gov. Brad Henry took action on the bills that remained on his desk for consideration. He signed the chief information officer bill into law and veto provision that would make it easier to get measures on the ballot.
He vetoed a record 21 bills sent to him this session. It’s also the first time the Legislature has been all Republican. Henry is a Democrat. In all, 480 bills were sent to the governor’s desk by the Legislature this session.
Here’s a list from Friday of the bills signed into law and nixed by Henry.
-HB 1137 – Appropriates $2,404,447,551 to the State Department of Education; allocates funds appropriated among various Common Ed groups; requires the development of performance measures; specifies purposes for various funds; EMERGENCY.
-HB 1162 – Directs the Department of Central Services to expend $1,000,000 of the agency’s FY-10 appropriations for the demolition of the Hissom Memorial Treatment Center, which has been closed for 20 years; EMERGENCY.
-HB 1170 – Creates the Oklahoma Information Services Act; creates position of Chief Information Officer; provides for appointment of the Chief Information Officer.
-HB 1200 – Appropriates $74,360,930 to the State Department of Health; authorizes expenditure of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Fund; directs the transfer of money to a number of funds; EMERGENCY.
-HB 1737 – Creates the Oklahoma School for the Visual and Performing Arts.
-HB 1755 – Provides for the designation of enterprise agencies.
-HB 2245 – Creates the Oklahoma Criminal Illegal Alien Rapid Repatriation Act of 2009; authorizes release of prisoners to the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement under certain circumstances.
-SB 222 – Creates the Educational Accountability Reform Act; provides for membership, appointment and designation of officers, quorum, staff and travel reimbursement; requires compliance with Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; EMERGENCY.
-SB 1020 – Prohibits transmission of child pornography by Internet; sets penalties; EMERGENCY.
-SB 1033 – Prohibits persons from wrongfully injure any cervidae (deer) upon the premises of a farmed cervidae facility or wrongfully remove any cervidae from the premises of a farmed cervidae facility; EMERGENCY.
-SB 1064 – Amends language pertaining to the possession of cell phones or electronic devices in prison; EMERGENCY.
-SB 1175 – Creates the Oklahoma Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Security Act of 2009; defines terms and creates committees.
-SB 1200 – Relates to insurance; relates to short title by updating statutory reference.
VETO MESSAGES
HB 1200
This is to advise you that on this date, pursuant to the authority vested in me by Section 12 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution to approve or object to items in appropriations bills presented to me, I have VETOED all of Section 9 of House Bill 1200 appropriating the sum of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00) to the Oklahoma Institute for Disaster and Emergency Medicine. This line item is unnecessary because the Institute has sufficient funds on hand for program costs for FY 2010. By vetoing this item, the funds specified therein will remain in the budget of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, and the Commissioner of Health will have the authority and flexibility to further evaluate and respond to the actual funding needs of the Institute if necessary.
HB 1575
While I strongly support the Academic Achievement Award program and the proposed improvements in HB 1575, other changes in Section 2 of the bill are problematic, amount to unconstitutional logrolling, and fatally flaw the measure. Without explanation, the legislation arbitrarily increases the time span that a teacher may be held under a temporary contract, changing a longstanding employment provision and eroding educators’ precious due process rights. I would encourage lawmakers to approve new legislation with Section 2 deleted so I can sign into law the proposed improvements for the Academic Achievement Award program.
HB 2176
All citizens, whether they are employed by the public or private sectors, have the constitutional right to express their views on any issue they choose. HB 2176 would prohibit certain state employees from advocating for or against legislation pending before the Oklahoma Legislature and authorize a felony charge and a prison term of up to two years for anyone who runs afoul of the provision. This legislation is poorly worded, has severe unintended consequences, and clearly stifles freedom of speech in direct conflict with the First Amendment.
HB 2246
While HB 2246 is designed to strengthen the initiative petition process and contains several good provisions, the bill is fatally flawed because of Section 3, a provision that grants additional rights to petition circulators at the same time it takes away the rights of other citizens. For example, Section 3 would make it a crime for a person to interrupt a conversation between a circulator and a potential signer, touch a petition or promotional material without the consent of a circulator or shout in the presence of a circulator to express opposition to their initiative. Such prohibitions have the effect of discouraging and even criminalizing such basic constitutional rights as free speech and freedom of assembly. Section 3 also provides unscrupulous circulators with a cash incentive to report such offensive speech or assembly by requiring offenders to pay the complaining circulator $500 in statutory damages for each violation.
It is critical to have a fair and accessible initiative petition process available to the people, but the meritorious proposals in HB 2246 cannot overcome the harm caused by Section 3. In an effort to enact fair and responsible petition reforms in the next legislative session, I will appoint an interim task force to review the issues addressed in HB 2246 and work on language that strengthens and improves the process without eroding the constitutionally guaranteed rights of individual citizens.
Nickles, Ward to chair Lamb’s Lt. Governor campaign
Election 2010: Holt announces bid
Holt Announces Bid for State Senate Seat
David Holt, chief of staff for Mayor Mick Cornett, announced his candidacy today the Senate seat in District 30.
Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee currently holds the seat. Coffee is term limited and will not be able to run for a Senate seat in 2010.
The district includes portions of Northwest Oklahoma City, Bethany, Warr Acres and The Village.
“This corner of the world is a special place,” said Holt. “The values I was blessed with here have stayed with me my entire life, and that’s why my wife and I still call it home. The people of this community have meant so much to me in my life. I am humbled to announce my candidacy as a conservative Republican, with the hope of giving back.”
Holt announced via an online video filmed in front of Wiley Post Elementary School in the 30th District, where Holt attended and where his mother was PTA President. The video can be viewed at www.votedavidholt.com.
Holt says he plans to walk the district in the coming months and talk to voters.
Holt also served in the Bush White House, for U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, for Lt. Governor Mary Fallin, and several members of Congress from Oklahoma.
– Julie Bisbee, Capitol Bureau
