'Protect Our Kids No 820' organized to oppose recreational marijuana state question

Sign me up: Protect Our Kids NO 820 Launches Former Governor Frank Keating Chairs Effort to Stop Recreational Marijuana A coalition of community, business, and law enforcement leaders filed papers with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission this week to oppose SQ 820, the effort to legalize recreational marijuana under state law. Official documents list former Governor Frank Keating as the chairman of the organization, Protect Our Kids No 820. Read more » by Jamison Faught - February 02, 2023 at 01:29PM

'Protect Our Kids No 820' organized to oppose recreational marijuana state question Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

State Sen. Standridge files bill to better protect minors from obscene material

Sen. Standridge files bill defining community standards for material made accessible to minors OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 1st) – State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed Senate Bill 1056, which would create a special definition of  “contemporary community standards” in Oklahoma statutes to better address the issue of obscene material being made accessible to minors. Read more » by Jamison Faught - February 02, 2023 at 08:11AM

State Sen. Standridge files bill to better protect minors from obscene material Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Rep. Gann files bill to require vote of the people to redirect property taxes to TIF districts

Gann Bill Would Require Vote of the People to Redirect Property Taxes to TIF Districts OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 31st) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, has filed House Bill 1379, which would require a vote by citizens to redirect property tax through Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Districts. Gann explained that in Mayes County, Mid-America Industrial Park (MAIP) officers proposed redirecting county property tax through the implementation of a TIF district to benefit new corporations coming into the industrial park.   Read more » by Jamison Faught - February 01, 2023 at 11:50AM

Rep. Gann files bill to require vote of the people to redirect property taxes to TIF districts Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

AG Drummond dismisses ClassWallet lawsuit, vows accountability for responsible parties

Back in 2020, Oklahoma officials hired ClassWallet to distribute $17.3M in a federal COVID-19 relief program, intending for these funds to be used for private school tuition and materials. This could be considered one of Gov. Stitt's and now-State Superintendent Ryan Walters' first "school choice" programs. It ended in abject failure and scandal, with a lot of taxpayer money being misspent. After a lot of frankly pathetic passing-the-buck by several individuals, Walters among them, former Attorney General John O'Connor filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state against ClassWallet for mishandling the funds. I felt that was oddly misplaced at the time, as emails later showed that blanket approval was given by Walters and others in government. Now, Attorney General Gentner Drummond has dropped that particular suit and intends to go after individuals who are more directly responsible for the lack of oversight.  First, some additional background, then Drummond's press release. Here's some detail from TheFrontier and OklahomaWatch: Read more » by Jamison Faught - February 01, 2023 at 09:06AM

AG Drummond dismisses ClassWallet lawsuit, vows accountability for responsible parties Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Hern, Brecheen, RSC budget task force members warn Biden of upcoming budget deadline

Rep. Kevin Hern, along with fellow Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brecheen and other members of the Republican Study Committee that Hern chairs, are pushing President Biden on failing to present his budget proposal by a rapidly approaching statutory deadline: RSC leaders press Biden on upcoming budget deadline Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 31, 2023 at 08:38PM

Hern, Brecheen, RSC budget task force members warn Biden of upcoming budget deadline Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

AG Drummond sues Biden admin over emergency health powers delegated to WHO

Drummond sues Biden administration over emergency health powers delegated to WHO  OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 30, 2023) – Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is suing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to remove an illegal regulation from federal law that allows the World Health Organization (WHO) to exert its authority over the United States. Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 31, 2023 at 03:10PM

AG Drummond sues Biden admin over emergency health powers delegated to WHO Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Bullard bill would phase out, replace Fed funding and control over K-12 education

Bullard plan would phase out and replace federal funding and control over K-12 education OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 26th) – Legislation has been filed to cut and replace financial ties and control of the federal government over common education in Oklahoma. Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, authored Senate Bill 863 to authorize the State Department of Education to develop a ten-year plan to phase out the acceptance and use of federal funds for the support of K-12 education and project what state funds will be needed to fill the gap. Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 30, 2023 at 07:49AM

Bullard bill would phase out, replace Fed funding and control over K-12 education Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico