Jones drops out of race
A term-limited House leader said today he is dropping his bid to run for state labor commissioner.
State Rep. Tad Jones, House majority floor leader, said he will not seek the Republican nomination for labor commissioner to work on another endeavor.
Jones, R-Claremore, cannot seek re-election to his House seat because of legislative term limits. He was elected in 1998. Legislators are limited to serving 12 years in Oklahoma.
Republican contenders are Mark Costello, an Oklahoma City businessman, and Jason Reese, an Oklahoma City attorney.…
Read the rest of Jones drops out of race
Calvey jumps into national health care fracas
Republican congressional candidate Kevin Calvey is announcing today he and others are filing a lawsuit to block the national health care bill.
Calvey, an attorney, and several others, including his wife and Oklahoma County District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan, are filing a lawsuit in Oklahoma City federal court against President Barack Obama and others in his administration.
Calvey, a contender in the 5th Congressional District race, will talk about his suit today at the state Capitol.
His lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the health care law, which Obama signed into law late last month.…
Read the rest of Calvey jumps into national health care fracas
Second Democrat to enter 5th congressional race
It took months for a Democrat to enter the 5th Congressional District race. Less than two week after a Democrat stepped forward to run for the central Oklahoma congressional seat, a second Democrat is planning to run for the post being vacated by Mary Fallin.
Billy Coyle is planning to announce his intentions Tuesday to run for the seat, which covers most of Oklahoma County and also Pottawatomie and Seminole counties.
Coyle, an Oklahoma City attorney, has scheduled a news conference Tuesday at the state Capitol to announce his plans.…
Read the rest of Second Democrat to enter 5th congressional race
Henry may follow Sooners to Final Four
Gov. Brad Henry, a University of Oklahoma graduate, is considering a trip to the Women’s Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, after the OU women triumphed Tuesday night over the University of Kentucky.
“I’m not sure how I can not go to the Final Four,” Henry said Tuesday. “They’ve got … a great team. They’re led by guts and determination, and I’m very proud of them.”
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau…
Read the rest of Henry may follow Sooners to Final Four
Fallin kicks off campaign event today
Mary Fallin launched a campaign effort today that she says will allow her to rub elbows with Oklahoma’s workers in her bid to be the state’s next governor.
Fallin, a Republican from Oklahoma City, is giving up her seat in Congress representing central Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District.
She announced her candidacy a year ago. The filing period is in June.
She launched her campaign kickoff with a brief speech this morning in her hometown of Tecumseh. She held a public rally a couple hours later at the Oklahoma History Center, just east of the state Capitol, where she served as a state representative and lieutenant governor before being elected in 2006 to Congress.…
Read the rest of Fallin kicks off campaign event today
Democrat to enter 5th congressional district fray
Tom Guild of Edmond has scheduled a state Capitol news conference at 10 a.m. Thursday to announce his candidacy to succeed U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City. Fallin is not seeking a third term to run for governor.
Guild, the first Democrat to announce for the congressional post, has taught 27 years at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, where he was conferred the title of professor emeritus by the board of regents; and three years at Oklahoma City University.…
Read the rest of Democrat to enter 5th congressional district fray
Jolley drops AG bid
“Accordingly, I have reached the decision to remain in the Senate representing my district and forego a run for attorney general at this time,” Jolley said.
Jolley is not up for re-election this year. He said he intends to seek a third and final four-year term in 2012.…
Read the rest of Jolley drops AG bid
Jett to enter 5th Congressional District contest
State Rep. Shane Jett is expected to announce today he is running for the congressional seat being vacated by Mary Fallin.
Jett, R-Tecumseh, will become the second state lawmaker and the sixth Republican to enter the race for the open 5th Congressional District seat.
Jett is passing up re-election to serve in the congressional district that covers most of Oklahoma County and Seminole and Pottawatomie counties.
Jett, elected in 2004 to House District 27, will announce his congressional bid at noon today at the state Capitol, according to his campaign.…
Read the rest of Jett to enter 5th Congressional District contest
February state tax collections exceed estimate
For the first time in more than a year state revenue collections have exceeded estimates.
State revenue collections in February exceeded the estimate for the first time since December 2008, but fell short of prior year collections for the same month, state Treasurer Scott Meacham said today.
Preliminary reports show general revenue fund collections in February are $220.6 million. That amount is $17.3 million, or 7.3 percent, below last year, but $800,000, 0.4 percent, above the estimate.
February revenue collections are historically the lowest of the year because income tax refunds are paid out, Meacham said.…
Read the rest of February state tax collections exceed estimate
Measure would open tax credit info
A legislator fighting the past several years to unseal the secrecy of tax credits succeeded Tuesday in getting an amendment passed that would make it easier to track how tax credits are used in Oklahoma.
Under the amendment filed by Rep. Mike Reynolds, the Oklahoma Tax Commission would be required to maintain “a list of all taxpayers who have claimed any tax credit authorized by any provisions of state law and related to a tax administered by the Tax Commission.”
Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, said e-mails he obtained from the Tax Commission show the state has nearly $418 million in tax credits that businesses or individuals are eligible to claim in 2008.…
Read the rest of Measure would open tax credit info
