Legal wrangling between the group Take Shelter Oklahoma and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has focused on the wording of a ballot title that explains what the issue is about to voters. Take Shelter Oklahoma had until Dec. 16 to collect 160,000 signatures so the measure could be decided by voters. However, that plan has […]
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That’s a lot of money
A new rule increases by 500 percent the amount in meals and other gifts a lobbyist can give to a legislator each year. That comes to $500 per lawmaker. Here’s a little math, so check it twice because we are journalists. There are 149 solons at the state Legislature. If all of them receive the […]
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Open-and-shut?
See update Dec. 20 update: UPDATE: Court unseals Ed Shadid’s divorce records When asked about the records, acquired from Gazette sources, Shadid said he is ready for the anticipated public reaction later this week if the full divorce file is unsealed. “But I don’t want (ex-wife) Dina (Hammam) or the children to be hurt. I don’t […]
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LETTERS
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Moore) says, “Shutting down the government is a suicidal political tactic. Eventually, it will be reopened, but the president will not have capitulated and you will have discredited yourself, and along the way, you will have hurt the American people.” It’s the “political equivalent of throwing a temper tantrum.” A few days […]
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Streetcar route passes City Council vote after contentious debate
Jeff Bezdek voices his disapproval of Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid\’s approach to the streetcar vote, at Tuesday\’s City Council meeting. Photo by Mark Hancock Almost two dozen citizens spoke against and in favor of the proposal, which created a 2 ½ hour discussion of the most controversial MAPS 3 project. Councilmen James Greiner, Ed […]
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We voted … not
Credit: Brad Gregg The state fell to the near-bottom of voter turnout in a recent study from Nonprofit Vote, a nonpartisan organization that encourages voter participation. Our über-conservative state ranked 49th in the nation. According to the study, 49.6 percent of Oklahomans did their civic duty in the presidential election, beating only West Virginia and […]
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A chilling effect
But the threat of new taxes on intangible property could have a chilling effect on home builders and homeowners. When the state Supreme Court ruled that all intangible property could be taxed, we realized that this could impose new taxes on our designs, architectural drawings, computer software, and even the awards we’ve won for our […]
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Don’t tax ideas
As executive director of the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, I believe it’s wrong to tax ideas, inventions, brand names — all are “intangible property” that are the seeds of future growth. These are the very things that fuel new businesses and new jobs across our state. New ideas are at the core of Oklahoma’s success. […]
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In-person treatment
Jim Wilson Introduced by Sen. Kim David, R-Wagoner, House Bill 2381 sets its sights on RU-486, also known as mifepristone, as well as any other drug or chemical used for abortion. Mifepristone differs from over-the-counter forms of emergency contraception — so-called morning-after pills — that release hormones to delay ovulation and preempt pregnancy. RU-486 terminates […]
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Meth-odology
The vote in the House Public Health Committee prompted a war of words between Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris and a trio of Tulsa-area Republican legislators who opposed the bill. Harris railed that Reps. David Derby, Ron Peters and Mike Ritze “betrayed their constituents.” Derby shot back that “it’s time the DA did his […]