How about this simple analogy: Republicans, with super majorities in the House and Senate, are like children who suddenly find themselves in a free candy store. They’re gorging. “Will it eventually make them sick?” ask hopeful progressives. Democrats call it a whole lot of crazy going on. “Excuse us,” argue Republicans. “Aren’t we simply fulfilling […]
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Agenda agitation
Credit: Brad Gregg To many, Agenda 21 is a voluntary U.N. resolution meant to foster sustainable communities. To others — including some state legislators — it is a covert means to steal our McMansions, confiscate our guns and force us all into cramped urban apartments and onto mass transit. The measure, authored by Rep. Sally […]
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Ridicu-laws
Credit: Brad Gregg But we might not be able to do that much longer. House Bill 1060, authored by state Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, easily won House approval last week. It seeks to prohibit the application of foreign law when the aforementioned violates the Constitution. In response to the measure’s passage, dissenting Rep. Emily […]
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Mane issue
Opponents of a horse slaughter bill protested in downtown OKC March 4. Credit: Mark Hancock Two measures alive in the state Legislature, House Bill 1999 and Senate Bill 375, would allow for the humane slaughter of horses while maintaining a ban on the sale of horse meat for human consumption in the state. The bills […]
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Put down the smartphone and drive
It seems everyone has a story of a near-crash or of a texting driver who nearly ran him or her off the road or of somebody who knows somebody who was in a wreck caused by a driver on the phone. And if you don’t know have such a story, it’s only a matter of […]
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Down with science
Credit: Brad Gregg The slyly named Scientific Education and Academic Freedom Act narrowly passed out of a House committee, despite it having drawn the usual ridicule from the national mainstream media who defend such piffle as “climate change,” “gravity” and “the orbit of the planets.” Blackwell has insisted HB 1674 has nothing to do with […]
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Counterpoint: Don’t punish workers
Bob Burke I’m not against change, but the reforms suggested by the state Senate in Senate Bill 1062 are a direct assault upon Oklahoma’s working men and women. The legislation seeks to lower the costs of workers’ compensation rates in the state by drastically cutting benefits to workers. There is no reduction in medical costs, […]
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Yay or neigh?
Credit: Brad Gregg But legislation recently passed in our House and Senate has some wondering if Oklahoma might also become the “dead horse capital of the world.” Senate Bill 375 would revoke the 1963 law banning the sale of horse meat while House Bill 1999 seeks to legalize horse slaughterhouses. “We have an overpopulation of […]
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Smoke up
Credit: Brad Gregg Current statute pre-empts municipalities from enacting smoking ordinances stricter than what state law has enacted. The measure to repeal that preemption was strongly backed by Gov. Mary Fallin, who had made it a key part of her legislative agenda. Sen. Rob Johnson, R-Kingfisher, headed much of the committee debate against the measure. […]
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Coverage controversy
Protesters push for Medicaid expansion at a Feb. 5 rally at the state Capitol. Credit: Mark Hancock Oklahoma currently ranks near the bottom among states in terms of wellness. Both opponents and advocates of an expansion of the state’s Medicaid program say action is required to improve the state’s health. Fallin and other state leaders […]