Sep
30
In a one-two punch, Attorney General Drew Edmondson lost round one to stop poultry producers from spreading their chicken litter.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell denied Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson’s request for an injunction to stop the practice, but does not end a federal lawsuit filed by the state.
In an ongoing battle since 2005 when Edmondson began to wage his personal war against the poultry farmers, there has been much sparring and pointing of fingers. Until now. The chicken lives another day while the egg is on the face of Edmondson.
“We are pleased with the court’s ruling in denying Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have completely stopped the land application of poultry litter…,” Jackie Cunningham, Poultry Community Council community relations director, said in a statement.
Cunningham said the court noted that the fecal bacteria levels in the Illinois River Watershed are similar to other waterways in Oklahoma where there is no poultry production.
This fight will indeed continue, but hardworking farmers must appreciate winning this round against the limitless resources of the state Attorney General.
Sep
30
Presidential debates have come a long ways from when the first Presidential debate between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon was broadcast on network TVs in 1960. But with the 2008 Presidential election in full swing, the formal debates are now becoming a place for social networking via Twitter.
Twitter has quickly become a gathering place for people to share ideas. And with the Presidential election on the horizon, a number of activists are tweeting (the verb form of “twitter” is “to tweet”) their thoughts about the election and candidates.
Just this past week, several OFRG staffers along with other activists across Oklahoma tweeted throughout the Presidential debate between John McCain and Barak Obama. This live, groundbreaking commentary by regular “Joe Citizens” is unprecedented and is catching the attention of the media. You can read the history of our Presidential debate tweets here.
This Thursday, the staff of OFRG and other activists across the state will once again provide live commentary on the Vice Presidential debate between Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) and Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK). You can follow along with our live tweets at www.TheRightTweets.com.
To participate in the twitter commentary, go to www.Twitter.com and create a new account. For the debate, be sure to use the #debateok08 hashtag in your tweets so your comments are logged and followed.
Sep
26
Bailing Out or Caving In???
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Over the past days, weeks, and months, there have been numerous stories of banks and mortgage companies failing. Climaxed with the federal government taking ownership of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, we have seen an insurgence of government takeover of private industries that rival with communist nations.
The buyout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was the largest expansion of federal government to date – exceeding that of the New Deal. And now the federal government is ready to release more than $700 billion to “rescue” Wall Street. But do unprecedented times call for fiscal and moral irresponsibility?
Never.
It is unjustifiable for the government to step into a free market and start directing it, especially on the backs of hard working tax payers. The federal government already suffers from an enormous debt level and will be struggling to cover Medicare in a few short years.
Instead of taking a hard and long look at fixing the problem (getting government out of the private sector where it compounds problems), the members of Congress are fixing a temporary problem with a LOT of your money.
If government continues with business-as-usual approach, this problem will never go away. By spending $700 billion, the federal government has opened the doors to bailing out private companies in the future. Where does it end?
Government has shown itself to be immature in handling taxpayer money, which is why so many organizations like OFRG have formed. Each family in Oklahoma lives by a budget, and has to meet that budget every month. There is no such thing as a “free check” to hard working taxpayers.
By pursing this path of unchecked spending and little accountability, all the government does is ensure that you, Joe Taxpayer, will foot the bill of irresponsible spending.
Sep
18
More Money, No Reform
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In 2004, Governor Henry and the Oklahoma Education Association promised windfall revenues for education. This was dependent on the voters passing a state-wide lottery. The state and public education would stand to collect 35% on all lottery revenues, a projected $300 million per year in additional income. However, since 2005 a grand total of $175 million has been collected which is drastically lower than what was supposed to be “for the kids.”
The OEA and their supporters of the lottery are now wanting more. The same groups petitioning the same voters to raise per pupil spending to the regional average which would cost taxpayers $850 million in tax INCREASES and wreck our state budget.
The lottery was a grandioso idea packaged for voters to get more money in the hands of a growing bureaucracy. The money promised then and the money campaigned for now is not going to the classroom or teacher’s paychecks. This arrogant scheme is going to grow administrative salaries, hire more lobbyists in Oklahoma City, and establish more programs that prevent teachers from teaching.
The true story is that we have ignored our children. We have some of the most under performing schools in the country and the education lobby is not asking for higher standards, an open market for school choice, or incentives for teacher performance - instead they are just asking for more money.
More money is not the only formula or solution to solve our problems. We must look at where the money is being spent, question every dollar (all $3.7 billion of them) that is appropriated, and stand up to the education union that has done very little “for the kids.”
This election season taxpayers should take notice, boycott the OEA petition for more money and instead demand reform - cause once they have your money, reform will be like winning the lottery.
Sep
16
It’s a rarity when elected officials stand up for open government, even when it means resigning from their job to do it. During the past week, two city councilmen did just that.
Two members of the Colbert City Council have resigned following a vote against an audit.
Vice Mayor Michelle Weger and Councilor Richard Parrish each resigned during the past week.
Their resignations came after a meeting in which the council voted 3-2 against an investigative audit of the Bryan County town.
Prior to the resignation of Weger and Parrish, Colbert trustee Michelle Weger stepped down from her position as well.
Michelle Weger has served on the Board of Trustees since January 2007. She says for more than a year she has investigated what she calls missing or misappropriated dollars to the tune of $100,000.
…She also says proceeds from the 3 percent sales tax were not going to accounts voted on by Colbert citizens.
The situation in Colbert leaves a vivid example for the need to have transparent government - at the state AND local level. OFRG stands on the principle that taxpayer’s money is just that, the taxpayer’s money. Without a transparent government, it is too easy for money to be shifted and laundered as witnessed in Colbert.
This is exactly why we NEED state, county, and municipal governments to post their budgets and expenses online in an easy to read format. Government exists at the pleasure of the taxpayers, not the taxpayers for the pleasure of the government.
Sep
12
Icing on the cake…
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As if to add icing on the cake, the Enid News confirms that the Enid sales tax has increased over the last THREE years.
The OEA message that tax cuts are evil is once again debunked by real data. Even in economic hard times, people refocus their spending habits. But thanks to the Oklahoma legislature which cut income tax in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Working families now have the money they need to continue buying products and services while at the same time building a strong economic community.
Sep
11
Sept. 11, 2008
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On today, September 11, 2008, we pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of seven years ago.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the departed who will forever be remembered and the survivors who witnessed such a tragedy on that fateful day.
Go with God.
Sep
10
Oklahoma Tax Revenues on the Increase
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Beware of OEA Evil Tax Cut Message
I’m sure most of you know that the OEA is leading a petition drive to mandate $850 million be spent on more bureaucracy, telling supporters, teachers, and potential petition signers that they don’t have more money for education cause of the evil income tax cuts that were passed by the Legislature and Governor Henry in 2005.
Well, NEWS FLASH: Oklahoma has an increase in tax collections!!
While most states across the country are facing deficits, Oklahoma families are spending more of their own money and increasing profits of small businesses. The Tulsa World published the collections report today which highlighted increased sales tax collections and gross production numbers for the month of August.
Income tax collections are down for the month of August, but that is the idea behind a dynamic model. Put more money in family budgets and they will spend it on goods and services, ultimately allowing the State of Oklahoma to reap the benefits.
Be aware of the OEA message. It is full of false claims with no efforts to address REAL education reform. If you want more information on state tax collections or REAL education reform, please check out the following links:
OCPA Perspective (July 2008) - Oklahoma Tax Revenues Continue to Rise
Sep
8
A citizen’s committee formed by Oklahoma County District 3 Commissioner Ray Vaughn is looking into solving a number of concerns that the U.S. Justice Department addressed in a recent report on the county jail. When the committee concludes at the end of the year, it is expected they will “have some answers - and a price tag to with them.”
Vaughn said the committee will have its first meeting later this month after two more appointments are made.
Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes was appointed to the committee by and has served on past committees that looked at the jail’s problems.
Clabes said the group must be willing to ask voters for the money to truly solve the issue, even if that means building a new jail.
“It’s everybody’s dirty little secret,” Clabes said.
“We all know we have to have it, but we don’t want to admit it. It is going to cost money to have a successful jail forOklahoma County.”
Sep
8
Strange and Unusual - fish breaks teen’s jaw
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In an unusual story that happened over the weekend, a teen’s jaw was broken when a fish jumped up out of the watter and hit the boy in the jaw as he was riding an inner tube.
Seth Russell, 15, was cruising Lake Chicot in Arkansas on a large inner tube towed by a boat when a Silver Asian carp leaped from the water and hit him in the face. Seth was knocked unconscious.
“He doesn’t remember anything at all,” the boy’s mother, Linda Russell, said last week. “He was laughing, and the next thing he remembers, he is waking in a hospital.”
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