Oklahoma Gets Waiver From No Child Left Behind
Oklahoma is one of ten states that won’t have to comply with all of the requirements under the education law known as No Child Left Behind, a White House official confirmed Thursday morning. Oklahoma was among the first 11 states to apply for a waiver after the Obama administration announced last fall that it would relax some of the most controversial provisions.
More later when the official announcement is made, but here is the application Oklahoma submitted for the waiver.…
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10th Circuit Nominee Robert E. Bacharach Gets Highest Rating from Bar Association
Magistrate Judge Robert E. Bacharach, who has been nominated for a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, has been given the highest rating from the American Bar Association: unanimously well-qualified.
Bacharach, who has been a federal magistrate judge in the Western District of Oklahoma, based in Oklahoma City, since 1999, was nominated by President Barack Obama on Jan. 23 for the appeals court. He would replace Robert Henry, who is now president of Oklahoma City …
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Rep. James Lankford Speaks Out on Birth Control Action by Obama Administration
Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, says he is “outraged” by the Obama administration’s decision requiring birth control to be part of health insurance plans offered by some organizations with a religious affiliation, such as Catholic hospitals or Christian universities.
“I met with presidents of several of Oklahoma’s Christian-affiliated universities this week, and they expressed grave concern about their freedom to practice their faith and values without interference from the federal government,” Lankford said in a statement.
“I share this concern …
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President Barack Obama Speaks at National Prayer Breakfast
In remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, President Barack Obama said scripture was the basis for some of his policy proposals, including health care reform and financial reform.
You can watch the speech here, and the transcript is below:
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
Washington Hilton
Washington, D.C.
9:10 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please, please, everybody have a seat. Well, good morning, everybody. It is good to be with so many …
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President Barack Obama’s Proclamation for National African American History Month
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
The story of African Americans is a story of resilience and perseverance. It traces a people who refused to accept the circumstances under which they arrived on these shores, and it chronicles the generations who fought for an America that truly reflects the ideals enshrined in our founding documents. It is the narrative of slaves who shepherded others along the path to freedom and preachers who organized against the …
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Obama’s Remarks on Energy in Nevada
President Barack Obama, suddenly a huge booster of domestic natural gas, unveiled some new initiatives in Las Vegas on Thursday. Here are excerpts from his prepared remarks. He deviated somewhat from them, even quoting the oft-heard phrase that the United States is now “the Saudi Arabia of natural gas.”
Part of my blueprint for an economy built to last is American energy. And that’s why we’re here today.
For decades, America has been talking about decreasing our dependence on foreign …
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Obama: Think About the America Within Our Reach
Here are excerpts from the speech President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver at 8 p.m. central time on Tuesday:
“Think about the America within our reach: A country that leads the world in educating its people. An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where …
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President’s Speech in Osawatomie, Kansas Expected to Be Template for SOTU
President Barack Obama’s speech in Osawatomie, Kansas last month, when he talked about the struggles of the middle class and the problems of wealth inequality, is expected to be the template for his Tuesday night State of the Union address. The text of the speech is in an earlier blog posting here.…
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First Lady’s Guest List Released for State of the Union Speech
Among those sitting in the House gallery with First Lady Michelle Obama for the state of the union speech on Tuesday night will be Warren Buffett’s secretary and the wife of the late Steve Jobs.
Buffett’s secretary, Debbie Bosanek, has become a regular part of President Barack Obama’s speeches since she pays a higher tax rate than her world-famous investor boss, according to Buffett himself. Obama has invoked the Buffett rule _ essentially, that middle-class wage earners shouldn’t pay a …
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Keystone: The Oklahoma Connection
The Oklahoman’s energy reporter, Jay Marks, had a story last week about the 1,200 jobs that could be created in Oklahoma and the impact on the crude supply hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, where the proposed Keystone XL would connect on its way to the Texas Gulf Coast.
The U.S. State Department held a hearing in Midwest City last summer about the proposed pipelne. Here is a transcript of that hearing.
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