Rainy Day ruckus
We’re just halfway through the 2009 fiscal year, and already there’s talk of using the Rainy Day Fund to prop up the FY 2010 budget. The noise by some at the Capitol follows news from the state Tax Commission that receipts for next fiscal year could be down by $250 million. Gov. Brad Henry has prudently left the Rainy Day Fund alone during his six years in office, and as a result there’s now about $600 million available. Henry says he doesn’t favor tapping it. Neither does Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, who’s correct in saying next year could be worse and so it’s best to keep away. Energy-rich Alaska faces up to a $400 million deficit in this year’s budget, but Gov. Sarah Palin isn’t reaching into her state’s sizable reserve fund. “It’s not pouring rain in Alaska. It’s sprinkling,” she said this week. The same is true for Oklahoma.
Targeting the bullet tax
Under the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, Americans have the right to buy and consume alcoholic beverages. But that doesn’t give them the right to avoid paying taxes on beer, wine and spirits. Two Democratic Oklahoma lawmakers think guns and ammunition should be exempt from state sales taxes because, in the words of one of them, “We should not have to pay a tax to exercise our constitutional rights – especially our Second Amendment rights.” State Rep. Eric Proctor, D-Tulsa, and state Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, say they’ll seek the tax exemption in the next legislative session, one that will be dominated by how to fund government in a down year for state revenues. We assume that exempting guns and ammo from state sales taxes means they’d be exempted from local sales taxes as well. Of the many unneeded bills being talked about before the session begins, this ranks among the most pointless. Lawmakers should take aim and shoot down this proposal early in the session.
‘A Democratic seat’
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> Illinois Democrats have shelved efforts to conduct a special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Under state law, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has the authority to name Obama’s successor. But with Blagojevich up to his eyeballs in trouble for allegedly trying to sell the appointment to the highest bidder, some thought a special election would be the best way to go. State Democrats said no. They said an election would cost up to $50 million and would take four months to run its course. Politics is another reason. A special election would create the possibility the seat might be won by a Republican. “This is a Democratic seat,” one Democratic state senator told The Washington Post. “We want to keep it Democratic, and if an election were to be held, that opens it up to our Republican colleagues.” Nice! We thought the seat belonged to the people of Illinois — those so badly served by their governor and others who think a seat in the U.S. Senate is theirs to control.
‘A Democratic seat’
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> Illinois Democrats have shelved efforts to conduct a special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Under state law, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has the authority to name Obama’s successor. But with Blagojevich up to his eyeballs in trouble for allegedly trying to sell the appointment to the highest bidder, some thought a special election would be the best way to go. State Democrats said no. They said an election would cost up to $50 million and would take four months to run its course. Politics is another reason. A special election would create the possibility the seat might be won by a Republican. “This is a Democratic seat,” one Democratic state senator told The Washington Post. “We want to keep it Democratic, and if an election were to be held, that opens it up to our Republican colleagues.” Nice! We thought the seat belonged to the people of Illinois — those so badly served by their governor and others who think a seat in the U.S. Senate is theirs to control.
Caroline’s in?
Having gotten a good taste of national politics during the recent presidential campaign, Caroline Kennedy reportedly is letting it be known she’d like to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate if Clinton is confirmed as Barack Obama’s secretary of state. The Associated Press reports a source as saying Kennedy has talked to New York Gov. David Paterson about being appointed to the seat. JFK’s daughter left a relatively reclusive life earlier this year to campaign for Obama. One question is whether a person who has spent most of her adult life out of public view has the force of personality and temperament to be effective in the Senate, which is no place for shrinking violets. While the chamber has a variety of personality types, most members have considerable egos. The description doesn’t seem to fit Kennedy, not at this point anyway. If Clinton joins Obama’s Cabinet, Paterson will appoint a replacement for the next two years. A high-profile seat like New York’s surely is drawing lots of attention from highly motivated people. It’ll be interesting to see whether the Kennedy name is enough to separate her from the pack of contenders.
Caroline’s in?
Having gotten a good taste of national politics during the recent presidential campaign, Caroline Kennedy reportedly is letting it be known she’d like to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate if Clinton is confirmed as Barack Obama’s secretary of state. The Associated Press reports a source as saying Kennedy has talked to New York Gov. David Paterson about being appointed to the seat. JFK’s daughter left a relatively reclusive life earlier this year to campaign for Obama. One question is whether a person who has spent most of her adult life out of public view has the force of personality and temperament to be effective in the Senate, which is no place for shrinking violets. While the chamber has a variety of personality types, most members have considerable egos. The description doesn’t seem to fit Kennedy, not at this point anyway. If Clinton joins Obama’s Cabinet, Paterson will appoint a replacement for the next two years. A high-profile seat like New York’s surely is drawing lots of attention from highly motivated people. It’ll be interesting to see whether the Kennedy name is enough to separate her from the pack of contenders.
Campus gun bill won’t go away
Legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle are uneasy with the resurrection of a bill allowing students to carry concealed weapons on campus. But unfortunately, it’ll probably happen anyway. Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, has said he’ll likely file a measure similar to the one that died last year. The amended version of that bill would have restricted the privilege to military veterans and to students who have gun training. At a State Chamber function this week, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, and Republican leaders all said they opposed the measure. But, as House Minority Leader Danny Morgan said, “The political reality of it is it’s going to be difficult to stop if it’s pushed in that (state Capitol) building.” Here’s hoping Morgan’s wrong about that.
Campus gun bill won’t go away
Legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle are uneasy with the resurrection of a bill allowing students to carry concealed weapons on campus. But unfortunately, it’ll probably happen anyway. Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, has said he’ll likely file a measure similar to the one that died last year. The amended version of that bill would have restricted the privilege to military veterans and to students who have gun training. At a State Chamber function this week, Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, and Republican leaders all said they opposed the measure. But, as House Minority Leader Danny Morgan said, “The political reality of it is it’s going to be difficult to stop if it’s pushed in that (state Capitol) building.” Here’s hoping Morgan’s wrong about that.
Not quite ready
Having endured what was then the nation’s worst terrorist attack, Oklahoma was in a position to help with advice for the cities affected by the 9/11 attacks. Is the state in a position to handle another such emergency? Not quite, according to the 6th annual disaster preparedness report issued by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The state met seven out of 10 benchmarks for preparedness, the report says. That’s actually not too bad - six states met only five of the benchmarks. A state’s preparedness score is presumed to indicate how ready we are for a disease pandemic, natural or man-made disaster or a bioterrorist attack. Oklahoma is lacking in preparedness for a flu pandemic. It also hasn’t increased funding for public health services by an amount deemed necessary by the report’s author. The third area of deficiency is the lack of law limiting the liability exposure of business or non-profits that respond to an emergency.
‘Do you solemnly swear … ?’
Here’s an intriguing scenario: Former President Bill Clinton being grilled at wife Hillary’s Senate confirmation hearing about potential conflicts of interest between his globetrotting interests and her role as secretary of state. A number of Republican senators are interested in putting Bill Clinton under oath, according to a report in the Politico. Spouses appear at confirmation hearings all the time, but usually from the first row of the audience, where they nod and/or smile at committee members who’re poised to rip the lungs out of their loved one. In this case the workings of the former president’s international foundation — specifically, its money-raising arm — are grist for discussion. “Seeking donations from foreign governments is definitely concerning,” a Senate GOP told Politico. Of course, other stuff would come up as well, which would make the Hillary-Bill Show from Capitol Hill that much better.
