The $1.5 trillion is for deficit reduction, not just spending. Lankford obviously prefers groveling on his knees before the tea party loons and signing demagogic anti-tax pledges, but the inescapable reality is that tax revenues are 6.2 percent of GDP below what they were in 2000 (the lowest level since the 1940s), with 47 percent […]
Clifton Adcock
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Let it ride
In 2004, Oklahoma voters passed State Question 712, which created the State-Tribal Gaming Act and allowed horse racetracks to have electronic games on the premises. In the run-up to the 2004 election, those in horse racing said the measure was needed to keep the faltering industry alive. Now, those in the business say Oklahoma has […]
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Ambulance alert
Stephen Williamson (pictured), president of EMSA, made a presentation before the Oklahoma City Council at its Aug. 16 meeting, and told the body that the city would be better served by sticking with the current ambulance service provider. EMSA’s response comes about one month after Oklahoma City Fire Chief Keith Bryant made a presentation to […]
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Valley rally
Valley Brook, located just north of Crossroads Mall, is surrounded on all sides by Oklahoma City. According to 2009 census numbers, the population is 789. The controversy started when resident Richard Ford (pictured presenting to the council) noticed a change in his city utility rates: an increase of $10 on his trash service bill and […]
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Shadid’s ‘sacrifice’
Central Oklahoma should be proud and thankful to have an astute individual in the person of Dr. Ed Shadid on the Oklahoma City Council. I don’t personally know him; nor have I talked to him. We need and should encourage differing opinions from the council members. From what I can gather, this spine surgeon gains […]
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Changing hands
The trust voted during its Aug. 9 meeting to take ownership of the foundation’s property at 123 S. Hudson, known as the Vitagraph property, in exchange for the trust forgiving the $4.2 million loan the foundation used to buy the property. However, the foundation will also have to pay to the trust $188,500 in unpaid […]
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The debt deal
But that’s not the end of the fight over debt, said U.S. Rep. James Lankford, R-Okla. Lankford visited Oklahoma Gazette Aug. 3 and discussed the debt-ceiling debate and legislation, as well as several other issues. The freshman congressman voted for the deal, but expressed doubt about what could be achieved to reduce the nation’s debt […]
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‘Line in the sand’
The measure, authored by Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid (pictured right) and Ward 4 Councilman Pete White, failed in a 4-5 vote. Ward 7 Councilman Ronald “Skip” Kelly and Ward 5 Councilman David Greenwell joined Shadid and White in voting to approve the measure. Shadid criticized The Oklahoman at the meeting. Prior to the citywide […]
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Green lawns or drinking water?
Recently, I was in Vici in western Oklahoma, and they have had less than one-fourth-inch of rain in the past year. Pastures appear dead, crops are nonexistent and cattle are being sold because of drought. This is not a “what-if” scenario; this is the new reality. Farmers are selling their pond water and well water […]
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‘Water solution’
First, diversion of Oklahoma freshwater from its flow to the Red River would increase the salinity of the Red River, already saline from flow of the Salt Fork, near the boundary of Oklahoma with Texas. Deliberate increase of the salinity of the Red River is forbidden by the Red River Compact (RRC), to which Oklahoma, […]