Credit: Brad Gregg That’s a rhetorical question, of course. The answer is: damn near everyone. When lawmaker and alleged briber Terrill, R-Moore, announced he was not running for reelection, three Republicans squared off in the June 26 primary. The results forced a Tuesday runoff in which Moore businessman Mark McBride faces Norman resident Paula Sullivan. […]
legislature
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Off the campaign trail
Credit: Brad Gregg The 28-year-old Smith was arrested by Pontotoc County sheriff’s deputies on two warrants stemming from his owing nearly $3,000 in back child support and $1,850 in driving-related municipal fines. Smith’s campaign manager — who also happens to be his fiancée — and apparent Quentin Tarantino movie character SunShine Fox told The Oklahoman […]
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Shining light on the legislative process
With the legislative session over, it’s a good time to think about ways to make the next one better. Specifically, I’m concerned with making the legislative process more transparent. Much has improved over the five years since I’ve been covering the state Capitol, but much more can — and should — be done. For starters, […]
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Fetus fetish
Credit: Brad Gregg That includes a measure requiring that women get an ultrasound before an abortion and have the images described to them. That bill was struck down as unconstitutional, but that ruling is being appealed by state Attorney General Scott Pruitt. “Every year, we look to Oklahoma to see what unfortunate, harmful thing they […]
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Bloat and potential scandal
The OK Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents Program has a long list of qualifying factors for the successful bidder that doesn’t include such things as national recognition of workers, programs or training — but does include a number of established factors, including an already existing relationship with the Office of Juvenile Affairs. Since there is […]
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Fallin appoints Native liaison
The position was created after the Legislature eliminated the Indian Affairs Commission in 2011, but the post has been vacant since then in the wake of questions about raised its quarter-Indian blood requirement. The lack of a liaison between tribal governments and the state has caused some tribal leaders to complain that their requests and […]
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Don’t let the sunshine in
Credit: Brad Gregg As it turns out, too much sunlight can also be a bad thing for, if not government officials, at least for their captured images. Portraits and murals on the fourth floor of the state Capitol building are slowly degrading due to the light slipping in under the dome and striking the paintings. […]
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Cutting taxes is not an answer
I wish those fortunate enough to be able to pay taxes would reflect on public services that are often taken for granted but make for a civilized society: police and fire protection; sewage treatment and water treatment facilities; public schools and teachers; family services for lives that have run off the rails. Tens of millions […]
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Sieg House!
Credit: Brad Gregg 1. Punch and/or punt babies or little old ladies. 2. Tell a crowd your first order of business will be to mend your broken heart. 3. Wear a swastika or Nazi uniform. Anywhere. Anytime. For any reason. For some reason, Rule No. 3 somehow seems to trip up a depressing number of […]
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Kern she win?
Sally Kern Moore, a Bethany city councilman, is Kern’s opponent in the primary election for House District 84, which includes parts of northwest Oklahoma City and Bethany. The winner of Tuesday’s primary will be unopposed in the November general election. Sally Kern Kern, 65, has been a high school government teacher for around 20 years […]