Lords of the rings
The phrase “counter-intuitive” means contrary to normal expectations. We were surprised to learn that the University of Arizona is home to the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. The university is in Tucson, usually associated with the desert rather than forests. This would be like the University of Oklahoma hosting the National Hurricane Center rather than the National Severe Storms Lab. Yes, we know Arizona has The Petrified Forest. But living trees? Actually, the Coronado National Forest lies just outside Tucson’s city limits. And why not a research station for dendrochronology (dating events through tree-ring research) in Arizona? Texas A&M has a department of oceanography, even though College Station is 130 miles from the ocean. Also, the lead research on the Oklahoma Cross Timbers region has been conducted at the University of Arkansas in a state that has virtually no presence of prototypical Cross Timbers flora. Perhaps we’ll discover that the fine print of the stimulus bill includes funding for iceberg research at OSU.
Smile of cars
What’s it going to take to put you in the driver’s seat of that new car? This should put a smile on your face: Part of the federal stimulus package is a deduction on taxes paid when new cars are purchased. Congress considered, but rejected, another deduction for the interest paid on new car loans. Oklahoma doesn’t assess sales taxes on vehicles. Instead, it takes 3.25 percent of the purchase price on new cars (used cars also have an excise tax, but it’s figured differently). Motor vehicle excise tax collections led all categories in declines for January, compared to January of 2008. The vehicle tax decline was nearly 60 percent. Most car buyers will qualify for the new federal deduction. So in addition to those dealer incentives, Uncle Sam is offering one of his own. Of course all of us will ultimately pay for this deduction through the increase in the federal debt.
Wasting time
Tough budget times tend to leave lawmakers with too much time on their hands. We’re glad to see they didn’t waste much time on yet another unnecessary proposal that would infuse science classes with faith and morality discussions. Science teachers and their students already have sufficient freedom to explore scientific issues. Teachers must use their best judgment in guiding the discussion and keeping students on track. The proposed Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act, which was killed in a Senate committee this week, and similar bills would just further muddy the academic waters. Lawmakers should stick to problems that need fixing. Academic freedom in the science classroom isn’t one of them.
Meanwhile, in Illinois …
Zoinks! After nurturing the impression he was above the muck of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pay-to-play scandal, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris now acknowledges he made some calls to try to raise funds for Blagojevich at the behest of the governor’s brother — while Burris was seeking appointment to the seat vacated by President Barack Obama. Burris, a Democrat, says he’s open to a Senate ethics investigation, which probably is the least he could do after making everyone believe he steadfastly rebuffed Blagojevich’s money grubbing. Illinois is a blue state, as blue as any in the country. But you’ve got to wonder if the stink of corruption isn’t going to linger with Illinois voters long enough for them to vote for change of their own next year, to the GOP.
Meanwhile, in Illinois …
Zoinks! After nurturing the impression he was above the muck of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s pay-to-play scandal, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris now acknowledges he made some calls to try to raise funds for Blagojevich at the behest of the governor’s brother — while Burris was seeking appointment to the seat vacated by President Barack Obama. Burris, a Democrat, says he’s open to a Senate ethics investigation, which probably is the least he could do after making everyone believe he steadfastly rebuffed Blagojevich’s money grubbing. Illinois is a blue state, as blue as any in the country. But you’ve got to wonder if the stink of corruption isn’t going to linger with Illinois voters long enough for them to vote for change of their own next year, to the GOP.
Open your wallets
If you think government budget shortfalls are bad now, wait and see what will happen if various advocacy groups, judges and bureaucrats get their way. For starters there’s the Oklahoma Education Association funding proposal, set to go before voters next year, which would increase the education budget by $850 million a year. The cost of a verdict in a lawsuit against the Department of Human Services is unknown if the state loses. But it would be in multi-million-dollar category. Also consider the U.S. Justice Department’s scathing criticism of the Oklahoma County jail and how that may ultimately lead to major spending to correct deficiencies. Most of the above doesn’t involve one-time spending. It involves recurring expenses in perpetuity. One thing’s certain: A handful of trial lawyers will be making a lot of money, so personal income tax receipts should be going up as well.
Leadership appreciated
Kirk Humphreys barely had a chance to get started as chairman of the Oklahoma City School Board before voters bid him a hasty exit in favor of former state Sen. Angela Monson. We’re nonetheless grateful for Humphreys’ leadership during that short time, including his input in the hiring of Superintendent Karl Springer and his efforts to massage a 2007 bond issue plan so schools will get the promised projects without a tax increase. We hope history will prove that one MAPS for Kids legacy is proven leaders taking a renewed and active interest in the school district’s affairs. Patrons were fortunate to have two quality candidates to choose from in the first-ever chairman’s election. Who could’ve foreseen 10 years ago that a former mayor and former state senator would run against each other for school board?
A Team Obama player no more
It was a puzzle how a fiscal hawk like Judd Gregg, the Republican senator from New Hampshire, could sign on with the Obama administration as Commerce Department secretary. Turns out, he couldn’t. Gregg withdrew his name from consideration citing a “different set of views” on a variety of policy issues, which he said would keep him from being a team player for Team Obama.
There were a couple of tender spots. Gregg mentioned the $789 billion economic stimulus package, whose non-stimulus spending must have caused him major heartburn. Reports also suggest some friction over White House plans to oversee the 2010 Census instead of Commerce, to which the U.S. Census Bureau is assigned.
Gregg, who was identified as President Barack Obama’s choice for Commerce just last week, said it had become clear “this process will not work for me,” that there were “irresolvable conflicts.” Instead of joining the Cabinet, Gregg will stay in the Senate.
That has political ramifications. While Gregg said he’s unlikely to run for re-election in 2010, his holding the seat instead leaving it in the hands of a placeholder will help Republicans maintain control. And you never know: Gregg might change his mind.
Of course, Gregg’s bow-out means Obama still needs a Commerce secretary. His first choice, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, withdrew because of an on-going pay-to-play investigation in his state.
Lip-synch
You’ve probably seen video of President Barack Obama’s exchange in Florida with Henrietta Hughes, the elderly woman who asked the president to help alleviate her homeless situation. Obama promised to do what he could, and later a state official offered Hughes a home a couple hours from Ft. Myers, where the encounter occurred. Emotional and touching.
Just plain creepy is the woman in white, standing near Hughes in the video shot, who can be seen mouthing the words, “I love you, Barack,” as the president comes over. Wow. While Obama’s approval ratings are indeed high, that kind of what — idolatry? hero worship? — is over the top.
Stay tuned. Soon we’ll know the name of the amorous Woman in White, who’s gone viral.
Gaggle of governors
Later this month Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and the governors of the other states, commonwealths and territories are scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association Winter Meeting. They’ll drop a million dollars or more on plane tickets, hotels, meals, cab rides and other amenities basically to tell Washington a number of the states are broke — which Washington already knew. Doesn’t anyone think about the message that sends?
Of course, the meeting Feb. 21-23 will be billed as important, because it’s always considered important. The guvs will meet with President Barack Obama, Cabinet members, academic and business leaders and other luminaries.
They’ll participate in panel discussions, committee meetings and other forms of hob-knobbery. They’ll talk about the economy, meeting infrastructure needs and budgetary issues, which is good with so many of their budgets going up in flames right now. These will be called “challenges,” not “problems.”
Still, many Americans couldn’t be blamed for asking, with so many states wondering how to make ends meet, couldn’t they just hold a big teleconference and save lots of time and money?
