By: William Gill

William Gill — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:05:55 +0000

The Oklahoma legislature, over the past few years, has become the poster child for political corruption, bribes, very selective enforcement of Oklahoma legal statutes, and betrayal of the very individuals who elected them to office. It was bad enough in 2010 when the Speaker of The House colluded with the Oklahoma Bar Association to bury a piece of pro-military legislation in return for their support in his bid to be appointed to an Oklahoma State office (look no further than the Secretary of State’s office) But the 2011 Legislative session this past Spring was the highlight of backroom corruption and self-serving votes which made the 2010 corruption appear to be small potatoes. Among the slaps in the face of Oklahoma military members was: A widely distributed photo of members of the Oklahoma Legislature praising the sacrifice that Oklahoma military personnel “active, reserve, guard and retired” made for their country. These photos and speeches were all made during Oklahoma’s Military Appreciation Day.

Meanwhile, back in the legislature’s cloakroom, those same individuals were all gathered, busily plotting the demise of any pro-veteran bills that had been introduced and were awaiting debate. A couple of the bills made it through a number of hearings, votes, and reviews. When it looked like they may make it to the floor of the legislature for a final vote. The House Judiciary Committee sidetracked the bills yet again to another final review. WHAT DID THE MAJORITY OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE have in common “most were Family Law lawyers” SOME of whose legal offices made the majority of their income fleecing military members in divorce courts.

NONE reclused themselves as is required under the statutes of Oklahoma when they are tasked with reviewing legislation that has a DIRECT bearing on their law office’s income in this case the question of protection of military retainer pay in military divorces! They garnered support for this illegal activity by submitting numerous “Letters To The Editor” under assumed names – letters that naturally supported their illegal actions. Not satisfied with “legalizing” lifelong servitude of a retired military member to an ex-spouse, usually married to the boyfriend/girlfriend that deserted their military spouse and family for. The legislature went another step further and allowed ex-spouses to CLAIM A PORTION OF THE MILITARY MEMBER’S DISABILITY PAY a practice that is specifically in violation of U.S. Federal Laws! Imagine a healthy remarried ex-spouse, living off the money awarded to the military member for injuries incurred in active combat – injuries such as missing limbs, blindness, chronic pain, – THE LIST GOES ON.

The final insult was draping themselves in the American Flag, spouting endless drivel about how they were 100% behind the several thousand Oklahoma troops on their way to combat in Afghanistan, while again opposing legislation that would support those same Oklahoma troops effectively stabbing them in the back upon their return home to Oklahoma – many to face broken families, children farmed out to grandparents while the spouse was hitting the bars with their newest “love”.

A Disabled OKLAHOMA Vet

Comments on: Senate Republicans release agenda

By: William Gill