The long-expected agreement on this year’s scheme proposes to drop Oklahoma’s personal income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 5 percent effective Jan. 1, 2015. The net effect will be to provide a family of four earning about $40,000 an additional 50 cents a day in their pockets. This is not even “trickledown” economics, it’s […]
politics
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Demonizing rich people
Last November, every financial trend pointed to high unemployment and low GDP. Add to these realities the imminent explosion of health care costs, widespread inflation, inevitable tax increases and unsustainable deficits. In 1992, lesser economic factors became a mandate to fire George Bush. How does a president taking extravagant vacation getaways while people lose their […]
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Leftist Hollywood
First, he accurately captured the misgivings many of us here in flyover country have with the movies’ leftist politics. But I thank you even more for your positive mention of Jackie Evancho. This is an aspect of this movie that almost all reviewers have completely ignored. Many in Middle America, like me, are worried about […]
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Kind of a jerk
I watched in stunned amazement a video clip of you using the phrase “Jew me down” while publicly speaking in your official capacity. As an American Jew, I can’t decide which was more offensive, the use of that phrase — oh, you mean they bargained you down, like a Jew? — or your tasteless and […]
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Dead or alive
Although House leadership this session quashed bills that sought to outlaw texting while driving, proponents of the legislation tried again last week. No go. An amendment that would have limited the ban to school zones, work zones and intersections failed, too. Faring better was a plan to let teachers and other school personnel arm themselves […]
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Accord struck
Fallin joined House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, and Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, yesterday afternoon to announce an agreement on those measures, which still must receive approval from the full House and Senate. “We’ve been working on common goals to create a more vibrant environment for our citizens and businesses,” Fallin said at […]
Posted inArts & Culture
TEEM player
Kris Steele at a TEEM graduation Credit: Mark Hancock Since November, he has led The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) as its executive director. Founded in 1987, the Oklahoma City-based nonprofit began as a support center for men battling substance abuse, but now focuses on providing free education and job placement services to men and […]
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Not kosher
Credit: Brad Gregg At least that’s according to the man himself, who told The Oklahoman last week “the wrinkles of my brain” compelled him to use the phrase “Jew down” in the state House of Representatives. “They might try to Jew me down on a price. That’s fine,” Johnson said during April 17 debate on […]
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Opposites attract
Credit: Brad Gregg So when Coburn last week made Time magazine’s list of the Top 100 most influential people in the world, Obama honored his conservative chum with a write-up. “The people of Oklahoma are lucky to have someone like Tom representing them in Washington — someone who speaks his mind, sticks to his principles […]
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All about Cleta
Credit: Brad Gregg Mitchell, formerly Deatherage, was a liberal Democrat when she served in the state House from 1976 to 1984. For years, however, she has been a card-carrying conservative Republican who isn’t shy about her anti-gay sentiments. In fact, Krohn writes how, in 2011, she was pivotal in ousting GOProud, a right-wing, fiscally conservative […]