As the director of a small agency, the Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council, I know words and language have great significance. We write contracts using specific language to ensure we get what we pay for. We base eligibility for services on very specific words — the right words on applications for services. There is other language […]
op-ed
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An embarrassment of a senator
Traveling around the county I hear two things about Oklahoma: “Love the Thunder” and “Who is that idiot who thinks global climate change is a myth?” What would it take to change his mind? Some 26,000 heat records broken this year, epic droughts and deadly wildfires? Or perhaps that dramatic photograph from space recently published […]
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Rising above messages of hate
An anti-Islam movie trailer recently posted to YouTube resulted in unfortunate and inexcusable acts of violence in parts of the Middle East. The film itself is a shameful and disgraceful take on the religion of Islam, and has caused pain in the hearts of the American Muslim community. As an individual who was born in […]
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Point: Slow down on ODOT funding
One of the few exceptions to the hard times is the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Following a long stretch in which state investment in roads and bridges remained virtually flat, the Legislature in 2005 created the ROADS (Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety) fund. Revenues for this fund come directly from personal income tax collections, […]
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Counterpoint: Roads funding is critical
Over the past six years, the Legislature, along with Gov. Mary Fallin and former Gov. Brad Henry, have rightfully positioned transportation as a core priority. Oklahomans should be thankful. Recently the Oklahoma Policy Institute questioned the investment that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has received in recent years. Yes, transportation has received marked appropriation increases […]
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For Tim Rhodes
I practiced law for over 30 years, primarily in Oklahoma County, observing the operations of the court clerk’s office and Oklahoma County government. I feel it’s important for you to give Tim Rhodes your consideration and hopefully your vote on Tuesday for many reasons. As a Republican, you no doubt favor limited government, but you […]
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Don’t say Chick-fil-A wasn’t personal
While I hadn’t had time to consider it earlier in the day, I suddenly realized I felt the same way. In the days following, I heard from dozens of other LGBT Oklahomans who had similar feelings. I shared this with a straight friend who simply couldn’t understand these feelings. “Why?” she asked. “This is just […]
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Betting on a better boulevard
At the June meeting of the MAPS 3 streetcar subcommittee, Green presented an update on the progress of the new Oklahoma City boulevard. Within a couple days after his remarks, the Friends for a Better Boulevard Facebook group had been formed, newspaper articles began to appear, local blogs were heating up and talk radio was […]
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Oklahoma needs the Affordable Care Act
Sound familiar? Under the Affordable Care Act, states will be given an opportunity to opt into an expanded provision of Medicaid, effective 2014. This provision in the ACA is of vital interest for Oklahoma. It means 200,000 more Oklahomans will be eligible, if they enroll, to receive health insurance (about 29 percent of Oklahomans are […]
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Disaster is ahead for Obamacare
It will cost more than predicted. Despite 20 new taxes totaling $575 billion, the Congressional Budget Office has now projected total Obamacare costs through 2022 at $1.76 trillion, about twice the initial 10-year estimate. And that is still an optimistic figure. Medicare is instructive here: In 1965 when it was first passed, Medicare hospital insurance […]