Bad mountains on the rise?
Oklahoma’s developing some mountains that concern a state lawmaker.
They’re “trash mountains,” or landfills that are rising up in some areas of the state’s landscape.
Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, says he is concerned the state Department of Environmental Quality has allowed the height of some of these “trash mountains” to increase to the point some have become the key terrain feature on the horizon.
He says DEQ cannot take adverse action against landfills in response to complaints regarding odor …
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"Why Do We Have This Today Happening?"
The House began debating Democratic energy legislation this morning and — news flash — it’s not going to be bipartisan. Rep. Mary Fallin’s comments early today made that clear from the outset:
In fact, House Republican Leader John Boehner, of Ohio, yelled on the House floor that the bill “won’t do a damn thing.”
But Rep. Dan Boren, a conservative, pro-drilling Democrat from Muskogee, is expected to vote for the bill, according to his spokesman. Boren is expected to be the …
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Oprah the Latest to Join Fight on a Bill Stalled by Coburn
Sen. Tom Coburn, the Oklahoma Republican who has become famous (infamous to some) for holding up bills that Senate leaders want to pass on a fast-track process, sent out a press release yesterday after Oprah Winfrey urged her viewers to call the Senate and press for passage on a child predator bill.
The bill is one of many that Coburn has delayed because he wants a chance to amend it or at least have some debate. But it’s also one, …
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Wall Street vs. Main Street
The latest Wall Street meltdown and the attendant rhetoric in Washington about whether people here care more about Wall Street or Main Street reminded me of one of the more memorable speakers at the Democratic National Convention last month.
…
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Treasurer heads to state fair
It appears to be a perfect day to head out to the Oklahoma State Fair.
And if you ever thought about checking with the state to see if it has any unclaimed property of yours, this afternoon would be a good time to have the head official of the program look it up for you.
State Treasurer Scott Meacham will be at the treasurer office’s unclaimed property booth in the Cox Pavilion at the fair.
He’s expected to show up …
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Senators heading back to school
Several state senators are scheduling visits to local schools in their districts.
Some might wisecrack they might learn something from the students, but it’s part of “America’s Legislators Back to School,” a program sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislators. Its purpose it so help children and teens learn more about government and representative democracy.
Senators deserve a pat on the back to go to classrooms to talk with students. Perhaps such visits will spark a student to get …
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The President's Host
Shouldn’t have been too tough to get a beer at the home of John Cresap, who hosted the McCain fundraiser attended by President Bush today. Cresap is president of Premium Beers of Oklahoma, one of the 25 largest wholesalers of Anheuser-Busch products in the country. Which obviously makes him business kin of Sen. John McCain’s wife, Cindy, whose father and uncle started what is now the largest beer distributor in Arizona.
Beer buys big houses
as pictures of Cresap’s …
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Your Government At Play
Trading a few road projects for some tickets to Disney on Ice? Just one of the many acts outlined in the indictment this week of lobbyist Kevin Ring. The recipient of the tickets, as we learned in June, was John Albaugh, chief of staff to former Oklahoma Congressman Ernest Istook (Representative 4 in the indictment and the Justice Department press release).
But reports from the Department of Interior’s Inspector General gave a whole new definition to cozy relationships. Seems some …
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Palin energizes Oklahoma delegates
ST. PAUL, MINN. – Oklahoma Republicans arrived at the Republican National Convetion “almost as a matter of duty” to nominate U.S. Sen. John McCain as their presidential nominee, said Lynn Windel of Ardmore, who attended his seventh convention. Many were concerned it would be difficult for McCain to distance himself from President Bush and his declining popularity ratings, he said.
The selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin by McCain as his running mate perked up Republicans, Windel said.
“They were …
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Abramoff Didn't Get Off
In fact, Jack Abramoff, the former Republican lobbyist, got four years in prison in the corruption scandal that ensnared him and several public officials, including members of Congress and some aides. He was sentenced in federal court here Thursday, dressed, according to the Associated Press, in much more modest garb than this:
Among those who have pleaded guilty in the lobbying scandal that rocked Washington was John Albaugh, who was chief of staff to former Oklahoma Congressman Ernest Istook. Albaugh is cooperating …
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