Music Monday: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

This week's Music Monday is the Christmas carol Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, with lyrics written by John Wesley (with additions by George Whitefield and others).

Enjoy!



The lyrics are powerful, and full of doctrinal truths:

Hark! the herald angels sing, 
"Glory to the new born King, 
peace on earth, and mercy mild, 
God and sinners reconciled!" 
Joyful, all ye nations rise, 
join the triumph of the skies; 
with th' angelic host proclaim, 
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!" 
Hark! the herald angels sing, 
"Glory to the new born King!" 

Christ, by highest heaven adored; 
Christ, the everlasting Lord; 
late in time behold him come, 
offspring of a virgin's womb. 
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; 
hail th' incarnate Deity, 
pleased with us in flesh to dwell, 
Jesus, our Emmanuel. 
Hark! the herald angels sing, 
"Glory to the new born King!" 

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! 
Hail the Sun of Righteousness! 
Light and life to all he brings, 
risen with healing in his wings. 
Mild he lays his glory by, 
born that we no more may die, 
born to raise us from the earth, 
born to give us second birth. 
Hark! the herald angels sing, 
"Glory to the new born King!" 


Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to submit for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com.

Merry Christmas!

Have a very merry Christmas!

The account of the birth of Jesus Christ, from Luke 2:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

I hope that you have a very happy and safe holiday!

RINO Alert: HD70 Rep. Carol Bush shows true colors

Republican Ken Walker was one of only three incumbent legislators to lose their reelection bids (all Republicans, all defeated in their primaries). Walker lost the House District 70 GOP primary to challenger Carol Bush by just over 3% of the vote.

Walker ranked high in both his conservative rating average (9th in the House) and his Conservative Performance Index score (14th in the House). 

It appears that he's been replaced by a true 'RINO' (Republican In Name Only). In an interview with TheTulsaVoice.com, new HD70 State Rep. Bush reveals her true colors.

In the interview, she takes positions supporting numerous liberal positions. Here's a sampling:

ObamaCare: "Wrong execution of the right idea. I do believe we have to take care of the healthcare of everybody."

Tax Hikes 1: "We’ve taken too much money out of the budget in the last 12 years."

Tax Hikes 2: "I was all for that cigarette tax. It should go back on the table." 

Tax Hikes 3: [question from interviewer: "So, where do we make up the revenue? Higher taxes on horizontal drillers?"] Bush: "Yeah. What about a luxury tax?"

Gay "Rights": "Of course. You can’t legislate morality."

Abortion: appears to be pro-abortion, and wants schools to be able to give birth control to students

Bush also appears to lean toward allowing assisted-suicide laws, and found Rep. John Bennett's talk at a recent caucus meeting to be "prayer revival, Bible thumping" and "offensive", further saying "We need to muffle his megaphone."

Bush says she was recruited to run by extreme liberal Democrat ex-Rep. Jeannie McDaniel . McDaniel had the 7th most liberal rating in the House, and 5th worst CPI score.

It looks like she will be a "fitting" replacement for ex-Rep. Doug Cox, who had the 2nd-worst CPI score among Republican House members and the worst conservative average.

Coburn releases #12DaysOfWaste report

The Foundation to Restore Accountability, former Sen. Tom Coburn's government-waste-exposing non-profit, has released a new report detailed more wasteful federal spending. The #12DaysOfWaste report covers items like $300,000 in Christmas presents for federal prison inmates, $2,000,000 to promote confectionery products, and $150,000 to purchase equipment for two Vermont snowmobile clubs.

Here are the first two items on the list:

Read the full report here.

Music Monday: I Wonder As I Wander

This week's Music Monday is I Wonder as I Wander, written in 1933 by American composer John Jacob Niles, in the style of and inspired by Appalachian folk music. It's performed here by the Cambridge Singers.

Enjoy!



Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to submit for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com.

Thursday: Muskogee GOP post-election party with State Auditor Jones

The Muskogee County Republican Party is throwing an Election Celebration party on Thursday, with special guest State Auditor and former OKGOP Chairman Gary Jones. For the first time in state history all 3 legislative seats that encompass the city of Muskogee went Republican, and the entire county is represented in the State Senate by Republicans. Every open legislative seat in Muskogee County flipped from Democrat to Republican in the recent election. Also, Republicans now number over 30% of all registered voters in the county for the first time in history.

The event will be held on Thursday, December 15th, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (300 MLK Street in Muskogee - across from Office Depot) from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Come meet our newly elected and re-elected state legislators, and special guest State Auditor Jones.

          *          *          *          *

To illustrate the Republican sweep, here are all the partisan races that were held in Muskogee County in 2016 (with the 2014 State Senate races in lighter shades). Republicans won every race except for County Sheriff and House District 15 (figures below are for Muskogee County only, and do not include figures from other counties for the rest of each race).

(click image to view larger)

Music Monday: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

This week's Music Monday is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, performed by The Piano Guys.

Enjoy!


Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to submit for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com.

An Overview: Health Care Sharing's Tremendous Growth

For those of you who are long-time readers, I've written quite a bit in the past about health-care sharing and our experience as a family with this different method of dealing with health-related expenses. With constant changes in the health care field, I thought I'd take some time to explore some of the growth this concept has had in the past eight years.

Over the last few weeks, I've gathered information from the six nationally-available health care sharing ministries, but before I share the statistics let me explain what exactly "health care sharing" is, for those who are unfamiliar with the term.

An Introduction to Health Care Sharing

Health care sharing is based on a Biblical principle found throughout the Scripture (see Acts 2:44-45), with Galatians 6:2 being a key verse: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Applying this principle to health care means Christians banding together to share each other's medical costs.

While there are some minor differences among the major health care sharing ministries, the basic system is the same. Members usually affirm a statement of faith and agree to live a lifestyle that fits certain moral guidelines (including but not limited to: no sexual activity outside of Biblical marriage, restrictions on tobacco and alcohol, and usually a minimum church attendance or involvement level). Members commit to a set amount each month, which is sent to fellow members who have submitted their medical bills to the ministry, which assigns those medical needs to specific members each month.

Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs) "are operated by not-for-profit religious organizations acting as a clearinghouse for those who have medical expenses and those who desire to share the burden of those medical expenses." They are not insurance, but HCSMs and their members are exempt from the insurance mandate in ObamaCare and pay no penalty or tax. HCSMs are legal and operate in all 50 states, U.S. territories, and even have international members (such as missionaries).

HCSM members are considered cash or self-pay patients, and can generally use any physician or hospital that will accept cash/self-pay patients (one or two of the ministries use networks for extra savings, but they're not required). Most of the ministries also work with third-party groups to negotiate deep discounts on larger bills.

Health care sharing in a modern sense traces back to the Amish and Mennonites in the 1960's, but in the 1980's and 1990's several new non-denominational (generally evangelical Protestant) groups started which accepted membership nationwide regardless of church affiliation, provided they agreed to the statement of faith and guidelines (as mentioned previously).

According to a 2014 article by Politico's Brett Norman says "53 health-sharing groups have been certified by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) as qualifying for the individual mandate exemption. Many are small churches with fewer than 100 members."

There are currently six main, nationally-available HCSMs. Christian Healthcare Ministries began in 1981. In 1993, Christian Care Ministry started Medi-Share. Samaritan Ministries started sharing in 1994. Altrua HealthShare (2000, 1997 through merger), Solidarity HealthShare (2012, 1990s through affiliation), and Liberty HealthShare (2013, 1995 through affiliation) started sharing more recently, but are affiliated with older groups in order to qualify under the ObamaCare restrictions on HCSMs (continual existence since before 2000 is one rule).

According to a paper published by the Charlotte Lozier Institute last December, there were just over 100,000 participants in HCSMs in 2005. Growth since that time has been exponential, particularly since ObamaCare began to be implemented. I reached out to the six aforementioned ministries and obtained some statistical information to share about their growth.

The Nation-wide Ministries

Christian Care Ministry - Medi-Share

As of November 2016, there were about 212,400 individuals participating in Medi-Share; in December 2008, there were 37,900, for an eight-year increase of about 460%. There are currently about 3,170 members in Oklahoma.

Monthly membership with Medi-Share is a little more complicated, a little more like traditional insurance. It depends on age, health, and varying pre-sharing levels ranging from $500 to $10,000. It looks like it ranges from $36 (17, healthy, $10,000 personally responsible before sharing) to between $1,060 and $1,925 (head of household older than 65, family, $1,250 pre-sharing). Medi-Share is not available in Montana.

Samaritan Ministries International

As of November 2016, Samaritan Ministries had 209,650 individuals participating; in December 2008, that number was about 40,500, for an eight-year increase of about 418%. There are 3,425 members in Oklahoma.

Monthly membership runs from $180 (single individual under 26, young adult discount) to $495 (for a family of three or larger). Samaritan's pre-sharing level is $300 per submitted need, with a pre-sharing limit on the first three needs (none of additional needs), for a max of $900.

Christian Healthcare Ministries

Christian Healthcare Ministries was not particularly helpful in responding to my questions, only confirming that they have "well over 150,000 actively participating members", likely between 175,000 and 200,000 nationally. In December 2008, they probably had around 18,000 members, for an eight-year increase of about 872%. They have "over 3,000 members" in Oklahoma.

Monthly membership runs from $45 (one individual on 'Bronze' program) to $450 (family of three or larger on the 'Gold' program). CHM's pre-sharing level is $500 per unit per year for their 'Gold' level, to $5,000 per incident on 'Bronze'.

Liberty HealthShare and Solidarity HealthShare (National Coalition of Health Care Sharing Ministries)

Liberty and Solidarity are affiliated organizations, with Liberty being the larger of the two. Solidarity is exclusively for practicing Catholics. The two groups comprise the "National Coalition of Health Care Sharing Ministries", which administers Solidarity and helps with their operations, utilizing Liberty's wider experience. As of November 2016, the two groups totaled over 90,000 individuals participating; in December 2008, their parent groups had about 3,000 members, for an eight-year increase of about 2900%. Approximately 1,000 members are in Oklahoma.

Monthly membership runs from $107 (single individual under age 30 on lowest program) to $499 (senior adult couple on 'Complete' program). Liberty and Solidarity have the same prices and programs. Their pre-sharing level ranges from $500 for an individual to $1,500 for a family.

Altrua HealthShare

Currently, Altrua HealthShare has about 25,000 individuals participating; in 2008, that figure was about 1,500, for an eight-year increase of about 1567%. Altrua originally began as a Mormon-oriented HCSM in 2000, but changed structure and leadership in 2005 to became non-denominational in reach. They currently have about 300 members in Oklahoma.

Monthly membership runs from $10 (single individual under 40 on 'Bronze' program) to $780 (family on 'Gold Standard' program; add $50 on any program for the 6th and following family members). Their pre-sharing level is from $500 per person ("Gold Standard" program) to $4,000 ("Bronze" program) per year.

Tremendous Growth since 2008

When combining figures I've collected online and through direct requests, we see that for a period of several years (at least 2005-2010), there were between 100,000 and 120,000 members of health care sharing ministries nationwide. However, once the Affordable Care Act began to be implemented in 2012 and 2013, HCSM growth exploded like a rocket. There are now over 712,000 individuals participating in health care sharing across the country, a growth of over 600% since 2008.

I used 2008 as the starting point of this overview for several reasons: 1) The election of Barack Obama started a period of new health care policy under a new presidential administration. 2) Obama made his health care plan a key part of his first campaign, and when he won plans began immediately to make a complete change to the American health care system. 3) Those changes began disrupting a fairly settled, existing system (one that need some reforms, albeit of a completely different bent), forcing people to explore other options, and particularly bringing attention to the previously little-known concept of health care sharing.

Here's a chart I put together with the membership information I've gathered from the previously-discussed ministries:

CCM = Medi-Share, SMI = Samaritan Min., CHM = Christian Healthcare Min., Lib/Sol = Liberty+Solidarity

As you can see, beginning in 2013, the figures simply take off. The years with asterisks ('09, '11, '12, '14) were dates I had few official figures from, and are based on the general trends. Otherwise, I was able to directly obtain figures from the various ministries or else glean them from news reports and documents online.

The "big three" (Medi-Share, Samaritan, Christian Healthcare Ministries) all had a modest amount of members to begin with, while Liberty/Solidarity and Altrua didn't really start enrolling until 2013 and 2015.

Here's the chart for the combined figures from these six nationally-available HCSMs:

There's been an increase of over 600% since 2008, and membership in these six HCSMs has doubled in just the last eighteen months.

Not included in these figures are members of the several dozen other organizations who have no online presence, predominately small, localized churches and ministries in the Amish and Mennonite communities. I've reached out to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (which certifies HCSMs) for more information, which I hope to receive soon, but we all know how slow the wheels of government can move. Taking these additional ministries into account, there could be as many as 750,000 Americans participating in health care sharing organizations across the nation.

Oklahoma has a 25% higher participation rate than the nation at large, with a total of around 11,000 Oklahomans being members of different HCSMs.

Expectations with the Trump Administration

When I reached out to the different ministries, I asked them what they hoped or expected to see regarding HCSMs in the upcoming Trump administration. Here are a few of their comments.

Samaritan Ministries:

Joel Noble, Public Policy Department: We are optimistic about the upcoming political climate. We will plan on passing legislation to amend the tax code so health care sharing membership qualifies for a health savings account (HAS). We will also seek to clarify existing tax law to permit taxpayers to deduct health care sharing amounts and any fees. Additionally, we are positioned well to be involved in whatever repeal/replace looks like for the ACA as it would relate to health care sharing, if and when that happens.

Medi-Share:

Any changes to the Affordable Care Act will take some time to implement, and we’ll keep our members well-informed of any potential impact to them. In the meantime, our members will continue to faithfully share in one another’s healthcare burdens as they have since 1993.

Christian Healthcare Ministries:

We trust our future, regardless of administration, will be the same as our past, which is that we will be able to fulfill our purpose of glorifying God and serving His people. That’s all we do and want to do.

Liberty HealthShare/Solidarity HealthShare:

We are expecting continued recognition of healthcare sharing as a means of sharing medical costs, a method chosen by people wishing to live their faith by sharing in each others’ time of needs.

Altrua HealthShare:

Randall Sluder, Executive Director: "There's nothing negative that I see coming [regarding health care sharing] from the Trump administration."

Conclusion

Health care sharing has been around for quite some time, and is poised to continue rapid growth in this era of constant changes in health care and health insurance. For Christians, it's an exciting non-insurance method that deserves consideration. Tens of millions of dollars worth of medical needs are shared each and every month by three-quarters of a million individuals across the country, testifying to the fact that this really does work.

My wife and I are members of Samaritan Ministries, and it works for us. I have a relative who is in Christian Healthcare Ministries, and it works for them. I go to church with a Medi-Share member, and it works for them. I have a carpet cleaning customer who is a member of Liberty HealthShare, and it works for them. You might not be aware of it, but you probably know members of health care sharing ministries yourself! Regardless of the ministry, these are all good options that should be looked into.

More Information and Links

If you are interested in more information about health care sharing, or the specific ministries I've mentioned in this article, feel free to utilize these links, or contact me via email.

Nationally-available health care sharing ministries (alphabetical order so nobody gets upset 😉):

• Altrua HealthShare
• Christian Care Ministry Medi-Share
• Christian Healthcare Ministries
• Liberty HealthShare
• Samaritan Ministries
• Solidarity HealthShare

Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries: Samaritan Ministries and Medi-Share have formed this public policy organization to advocate and provide information about health care sharing to government officials and the general public. They have a handy page detailing the legal status of health care sharing in all 50 states, viewed here.

Health Care Sharing Ministries: An Uncommon Bond, published by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, is an informative 35-page report on HCSMs and the savings experienced by members.

My personal experience with Samaritan Ministries: two different medical needs in four years, about $50,000 in medical bills were shared in full by over 70 families across the country. If you look into Samaritan and decide to join, I'd appreciate being listed as your referral (we get a credit), if you've found my information helpful. The other ministries also give referral credits, so if you decide to join a different ministry, I may know someone you could list in that ministry as well.

State Rep. Calvey calls for Hofmeister resignation

 Conservative Lawmaker Calls for Hofmeister Resignation

OKLAHOMA CITY – Conservative lawmaker Kevin Calvey, R-Oklahoma City, today called upon State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, R-Tulsa, to resign in the wake of felony charges against her.

“Joy Hofmeister’s own words make it clear that it is best for the children of Oklahoma that she resign,” said Calvey, referring to emails referenced in the indictment filed by District Attorney David Prater, D-Oklahoma City, against Hofmeister and representatives of the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA) school administrators’ lobby and the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) teachers’ union, among others.  “This isn’t a case of ‘he said, she said.’  Ms. Hofmeister admits in her own emails that she and CCOSA officials planned the massive illegal dark money negative campaign against her GOP primary opponent in advance, and that this dark money campaign would allow Ms. Hofmeister to focus solely on touting her own background rather than engaging her opponent.”

Calvey noted that his call for Hofmeister’s resignation should not be confused with the criminal case against her.

“Ms. Hofmeister is certainly entitled to the presumption of innocence in the criminal case against her,” Calvey said.  “It is a firm principle of the American justice system that felony defendants be presumed innocent of the criminal charges against them.  But surely the standard for holding public office is higher than merely avoiding prison.  Even if she is acquitted of the criminal charges, the indisputable evidence clearly shows Ms. Hofmeister, CCOSA, and OEA conspired to violate campaign laws to get her elected.  The citizens of Oklahoma and the children Ms. Hofmeister was elected to serve deserve better.”

Calvey questioned whether legislators would trust Hofmeister to lead the state’s largest agency with the cloud of criminal charges looming.

“If I were a trustee over a person’s funds, and discovered that the person’s CPA had obtained his license by overstating his credentials, wouldn’t I have an obligation to obtain a new CPA, regardless of whether that CPA had committed actual fraud or not?  We legislators are in a position similar to that of a trustee over the citizens’ hard-earned tax dollars.  Don’t we have an obligation to seek a new leader for the State Department of Education under these circumstances?”

Trump taps Scott Pruitt to head the EPA

Environmental Protection Agency, meet your worst nightmare, and your soon-to-be new boss: Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt.

Pruitt has made fighting the EPA's overreach one of his top priorities as Attorney General, and like clockwork the Left is screaming bloody murder about Trump choosing him to lead the agency.

Elections have consequences, remember?

BONUS: here's the headline from the New York Times Editorial Board's lead opinion piece in tomorrow's paper - "An Enemy of the E.P.A. to Head It".

Gov. Fallin Forms Task Force to Review Occupational Licensing Requirements

Governor Mary Fallin Forms Task Force to Review Occupational Licensing Requirements

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the formation of a task force to perform a comprehensive review of occupational licensing in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Occupational Licensing Task Force will provide recommendations to the governor to remove unnecessary or burdensome regulations that are a barrier to potential workers.

“Occupational licensing often can be overly burdensome, which can hinder a person from earning a living and providing for their family,” said Fallin. “These unnecessary or outdated barriers make it harder for many Oklahomans, particularly those who may not have completed a formal education as well as some minorities. This can help them to obtain jobs and build new businesses that create jobs.”

The Oklahoma Department of Labor will provide administrative support for the task force, including necessary personnel.

Members of the task force are to:

• Identify all of the licenses required in Oklahoma.
• Identify all state agencies, boards, and commissions involved with the administration of licenses.
• Determine how each license is administered, including a review of information technology platforms that are or could be utilized and the fee structure for obtaining licenses.
• Review the necessity and appropriateness of training levels and other requirements required to obtain licenses.
• Evaluate whether the public health and safety goals and concerns addressed by license requirements outweigh the barriers to entry they place on Oklahoma workers.

The task force was given a deadline of Dec. 31, 2017, to complete its work.

Fallin’s executive order names Labor Commissioner Melissa McLawhorn Houston to head the task force.

“I look forward to continuing my efforts to evaluate long-standing bureaucratic policies and procedures to determine common-sense practices,” Houston said. “It is important that the state licensing framework allow the free market to thrive without burdensome regulations, while not placing barriers on those working to escape poverty. This will be accomplished while keeping the safety and health of the public a priority.”

Houston will appoint members of the task force, which will consist of two state senators; two members of the state House of Representatives; Attorney General Scott Pruitt or his designee; Fred Morgan, president and chief executive officer of the Oklahoma State Chamber or his designee; one member of the Oklahoma Justice Reform Task Force; two members of organizations focused on workforce and economic development; and a member of an organization focused on poverty reduction.

John Tidwell, Oklahoma state director of Americans for Prosperity Foundation, applauded Fallin for forming the task force and Houston for leading it.

“While we need to be judicious in identifying potential licensing issues for reform, we also need to consider how removing barriers for Oklahoma workers could fundamentally strengthen our state’s economy through increased opportunity for tens of thousands of Oklahomans,” Tidwell said. “We hope that the recommendations of this task force will be seen as a catalyst for an improved Oklahoma economy and a fresh opportunity for government to remove barriers for entrepreneurs without further stifling their ability to live the American Dream.”

Music Monday: A Christmas Festival

This week's Music Monday is A Christmas Festival, arranged by Leroy Anderson and performed here by the Boston Pops Orchestra, conducted by Arthur Fiedler.

Enjoy!

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Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to submit for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com.

OCPA's Small: Higher Ed Delusions

Jonathan Small, OCPA President

Free Market Friday: Higher delusions

When Oklahoma voters trounced University of Oklahoma President David Boren’s tax increase at the polls on Nov. 8, a major reason many voters gave for voting no was the fact that a large chunk of the revenue would have gone to a higher education system they view as wasteful and inefficient.

Less than a month later, what do we hear?

“As a system of higher education we generate $9.5 billion a year for Oklahoma,” higher ed Chancellor Glen Johnson boasted. “For every dollar the Legislature appropriates, higher ed generates $4.72 back to the Oklahoma economy.”

Seriously?

“Government spending does not come out of thin air,” economist Joshua Hall of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity said of that $4.72 number. “Every dollar spent by state government comes out of the private sector at some point. A dollar of public spending is estimated to cost anywhere from $1.25 to $1.50 to raise.”

When asked what would have happened if some of that money had been left in the private sector, the analyst who came up with the multiplier that Johnson cites told CapitolBeatOK: “We don’t look at that for the projects we do. We were trying to find the economic impact of those dollars spent in public institutions of higher education and play that out. We did not look at the fiscal stream, as such.”

Indeed. So it’s no surprise that economist Richard Vedder, who helps compile the annual college rankings for Forbes, had this to say: “Econometric analysis I have done suggests that the relationship between state appropriations for higher education and economic growth is actually negative – resources are taken from competitive private enterprise driven by market discipline and given to an inefficient sector sheltered from such discipline.”

But hey, if Johnson is correct, then by all means policymakers should appropriate every single dime to higher ed – and we’ll all be rich.

With an annual compensation exceeding $411,000, Chancellor Johnson may make more money than the president of the United States – but he makes about as much sense. Remember President Obama’s claim about his “stimulus package” – that money extracted from taxpayers and crunched through a vast government bureaucracy magically generates more money?

If the higher education system is not willing to reduce administrative bloat, consolidate campuses, increase professor workloads, and rein in the out-of-control political correctness, appropriators should respond accordingly.

Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (www.ocpathink.org).

National Defense Authorization Act Includes Bridenstine Provisions

National Defense Authorization Act Includes Bridenstine Provisions

Washington, DC, December 2, 2016 --  Today, Congressman Jim Bridenstine voted for the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. The NDAA conference report reconciles differences in the House and Senate versions passed earlier this year.   NDAA is a bipartisan bill that authorizes funding for America’s armed forces and sets Department of Defense policy.  Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act 55 years in a row.

The NDAA conference report includes a number of critical provisions:

• Pay raise for the troops above the President’s request
• Additional funding to stop the drawdown in Army soldiers and Marines
• Expanded care at military hospitals

The NDAA conference report rejects a number of controversial policy changes in the Senate NDAA including:

• Requiring women to register with Selective Service
• Cuts to housing allowance (including dual military families)

The NDAA conference report includes several provisions from Rep. Bridenstine’s American Space Renaissance Act (ASRA).  In April 2016, Congressman Bridenstine introduced ASRA, groundbreaking legislation to enact bold reforms across military, civil, and commercial space sectors.  NDAA is the first step in Bridenstine’s strategy to enact ASRA piece-by-piece using different legislative vehicles.  The conference report includes ten ASRA provisions, including:

• Section 1605 - Modifies the terms of the Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) to ensure DOD uses accurate cost estimates and fully considers commercial SATCOM technologies.  The Pentagon uses AoAs to help select new weapons systems to replace old programs.  DOD will start the SATCOM AoA shortly to help choose a successor system to the current Wideband Global SATCOM satellite constellation, which provides long-distance communications capabilities to our warfighter.  
• Section 1606 – Redirects funding to jump start a pilot program to test next-generation SATCOM technologies.  Private sector SATCOM companies are offering leap-ahead capacity for commercial customers.  The Department of Defense should take advantage of this. 
• Section 1613 - Establishes a pilot program for the Air Force to buy, test, and evaluate commercial weather data.  Utilizing data provided by innovative private sector weather companies can lower costs to taxpayers, produce better weather products for the warfighter, and complicate the targeting solutions of our enemies by distributing space architectures.

State Rep. Tom Newell announces resignation

Rep. Newell announces resignation

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Tom Newell announced his resignation from the House of Representatives today.

Newell delivered his resignation letter to Gov. Mary Fallin showing an effective date of Dec. 31, 2016. Fallin will call for a special election within 30 days to fill the seat for Oklahoma House District 28, which covers Seminole County and the northern portion of Pottawatomie County in east central Oklahoma.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of House District 28,” said Newell, R-Seminole. “I will be pursuing an opportunity in the private sector that will allow me to spend more time with my family, while allowing me to serve families nationwide.

“I appreciate the trust people in District 28 placed in me. I’m thankful for the friendships I’ve made with all of my colleagues in the Legislature. I know the state is capable hands with the new House members and Speaker-elect Charles McCall.”

Newell, a pastor, was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2011. During the 2016 legislative session he served as chair of the Government Oversight and Accountability Committee. He also served on the Business, Labor & Retirement Laws Committee, the Children, Youth & Family Services Committee, and on the Revenue & Taxation Appropriations Subcommittee.

Newell was born in Bristow, OK, and was a state champion bull rider and state champion extemporaneous speaker in the FFA. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City and his master’s degree in business administration from Liberty University. He pastored churches in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Pennsylvania, and taught business and economics classes at Seminole State College.

He has three sons and one grandson: Ethan, Andrew, Levi, and Easton.

Former CD2 candidate Dakota Wood joins Trump DoD transition team

Dakota Wood, who came in third in the 2012 2nd District GOP primary, has been named part of President-elect Trump's transition team for the Department of Defense.

According to a release yesterday, Wood is a new addition to the DoD "landing team" Trump has put together. Members of the "landing teams" are Trump transition volunteers and staffers who will be working with current agency and department personnel to ensure a smooth transition.

Wood spent 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and currently is the Senior Research Fellow for Defense Programs at The Heritage Foundation.

Fallin named to transition team, leading pick for Interior Secretary?

It was announced today that Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin was named as a vice-chair of President-elect Donald Trump's transition team:

President-Elect Donald J. Trump Announces New Vice Chairs and Executive Committee Members Serving on Presidential Transition Team

(New York, NY) - President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect and Chairman of the Presidential Transition Team Mike Pence today announced the addition of new Vice Chairs, Executive Committee members, and key staff leadership who will join the Trump-Pence Presidential Transition Team.

Joining the distinguished group of Vice Chairs are Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis, Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland, Congressman Tom Reed and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and U.S. Senator Tim Scott. Also joining the Executive Committee are: Congressman Sean Duffy, Congressman Trey Gowdy, Congressman Dennis Ross, Pastor Darrell Scott and Kiron Skinner.

Full list of the Trump transition vice-chairs and executive committee is here. Two of the other vice-chairs on the team have already been named to prominent posts -- Michael Flynn (National Security Advisor), Sen. Jeff Sessions (Attorney General) -- while several others are rumored to be in the running for other positions.

Along those lines, the rumor mill in D.C. is that Governor Fallin is the top choice for Secretary of the Interior: "Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin is emerging as President-elect Donald Trump's leading contender for interior secretary, three people close to Trump's transition team told POLITICO."

If Fallin is tapped for a Cabinet spot, Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb will be elevated to fill out her term.

Dan Boren won't run for Governor in 2018

In an announcement today, former Democrat congressman Dan Boren has decided against running for governor in 2018. This is essentially the Oklahoma Democratic Party conceding the race to the GOP, as Boren was their best (and perhaps only) shot at taking the governor's mansion back.

From reporter Sean Murphy with the Associated Press:

Dan Boren decides not to run for Oklahoma governor in 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Dan Boren, a former four-term Democratic congressman from one of Oklahoma's most well-known political families, has decided not to run for the state's open governor seat in 2018.

Boren told The Associated Press that he opted against entering the campaign after spending the past year visiting with civic and business leaders across the state about a potential run.

"At this moment, it is important for me to spend time with my kids," Boren said late Monday. "My desire for public service has not diminished and I believe some day in the future I will enter public life again."

The 43-year-old Boren said he intends to continue working on business development for the Chickasaw Nation and spend time with his two children, ages 6 and 9.

In an interview with the AP earlier this year, Boren had said he was actively exploring a run to replace Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, who is prohibited by term limits from seeking a third four-year term in office.

Boren served one term as a state representative before running successfully for Congress in 2004 in the 2nd Congressional District in eastern Oklahoma, a seat he held for eight years before stepping down.

His grandfather, Lyle Boren, was a congressman and his father, University of Oklahoma President David Boren, is a former Oklahoma governor and U.S. senator. Dan Boren's first cousin, Janna Little, is married to current House Speaker Paul Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice-presidential nominee.

The Oklahoma governor's seat in 2018 is expected to draw interest from strong candidates on both sides of the aisle. Potential Republican candidates include U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, Treasurer Ken Miller and Attorney General Scott Pruitt. Lamb, Miller and Pruitt all are term-limited from their current offices, and Bridenstine has said he wouldn't seek a fourth term in Congress in 2018.

Prominent Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson, who ran as an independent for governor in 2002, said Tuesday he is taking a "very serious look" at running as a Republican in 2018.

Possible Democratic candidates include ex-state Rep. Joe Dorman, who won 41 percent of the vote against Fallin in 2014 despite being heavily outspent, and Oklahoma House Minority Leader Scott Inman of Del City.

Senator Lankford Releases “Federal Fumbles” Gov’t Waste Report

Senator Lankford Releases “Federal Fumbles” Gov’t Waste Report

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford today released his second annual government waste and solutions report called, “Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball.” The report represents $247 billion in wasteful and inefficient federal spending and regulations, but also includes solutions to each of the examples of government waste. CLICK HERE to access the report.

“The American people have signaled a bold new direction for Washington with the election of President-elect Donald Trump,” said Lankford. “Although the federal debt wasn’t a major focus during the presidential campaign, it remains a serious impending crisis that must be addressed. In Fiscal Year 2016 alone, we had a $587 billion deficit and our federal debt is now an outrageous $19.5 trillion. To lower the debt, we need to grow the economy, and we must root out inefficiencies, duplication, and wasteful spending wherever they exist. This ‘Federal Fumbles’ report provides specific examples of wasteful spending and unnecessary regulations that are not in the taxpayer’s best interest.”

Lankford released the report during a press conference in Washington, DC this morning. Watch the video below:


Senator Lankford Excerpts from Press Conference:

“This is the way the federal government has dropped the ball, and what we are trying to focus in on, is not trying to pick on one particular agency or entity, but to say we have got to be able to pay attention. We are really dealing with four different main areas as we walk through this; grants that need oversight, regulations and regulators that need oversight, agency bureaucracy and inefficiency, and then a lack of coordination between agencies.

“We are not just trying to raise the problem; we are also trying to raise how you solve it. Whether it is an administration action, whether it is a piece of legislation, whether it is just coordination between the two, or some of those things that have already happened, but we haven’t engaged in it enough to provide the oversight needed to actually get the coordination. Every single one of these identify here is the problem, here is the issue, and here is how to solve it.

“This is not a comprehensive book; this is not trying to list everything in the federal government where there is an issue. We are trying to find some key areas that we can identify, and say here are some problems we have seen, and some things that we find as common ground solutions. This builds on last year’s book.

“We have got duplication issues. We have got problems that are around federal foreign aid, which has been an ongoing issue that we have made recommendations on. When we deal with foreign aid, we should simply deal with foreign aid that is to the benefit of the United States. We don’t think that is an unreasonable request. Instead, at times, we deal with foreign aid, like studying fish bones in Tanzania.”

To do his part to help reduce federal spending in Congress’ own operational budget, Lankford has operated his Senatorial office budget far below the allotted amount for each Senator. Since he was elected to the US Senate in 2014, Lankford has given back $230,000 to the Treasury each year.

Federal Debt Statistics:

• The federal deficit for Fiscal Year 2016 was $587 billion, and overall debt is now $19.5 Trillion, according to the Treasury Department.
• The total federal debt of $19,573,444,713,936.79 now equals about $165,575 per household in America.
• In the eight years of Mr. Obama’s presidency, the federal debt has grown by $9 trillion, nearly matching the total amount of debt accumulated by all of his predecessors.
• According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the projected federal deficit is expected to be $594 billion in Fiscal Year 2017.
• Annual deficits are projected to increase above $1 trillion within this decade due to America’s aging population. Between 2010 and 2040, the number of Americans age 65 and older will double – from 41 million to 82 million people. 

Five Examples of Legislative Victories From 2015 “Federal Fumbles” Report:

1. Subsidized Wind (page 11) – The Wind Production Tax Credit was originally created as a temporary subsidy to help get the wind energy industry off the ground. The industry is now very successful, yet it receives more than $6 billion in federal tax credits every year. Lankford helped secure a provision in the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations funding bill, which was signed into law last December, to include a three-year phasedown of the wind energy tax credit. 
2. 25,000+ Ineligible Families In Public Housing (page 71) – Last year, more than 25,000 families in America received federally-subsidized housing from HUD, despite not being qualified for the program. More than $100 million was spent on families, like one in New York with an annual income of $497,911, who earned far more than the allowable amount for federal assistance. Lankford secured a provision in the annual Senate Appropriations bill for HUD (S. 2844) that requires implementation of an IG report’s recommendations to ensure only those who are entitled to federal housing assistance actually receive it.
3. Disability is Only for the Disabled (page 119) – The Social Security Administration (SSA) has an enormous backlog in disability cases waiting for an Administrative Law Judge hearing. To expedite the backlog, the SSA created a new system to hear cases, but it was found to be costly and legally uncertain. Lankford confronted the SSA with the cost and risk of that scheme and after threats of a subpoena, the SSA reversed their plan and changed direction. This will save the taxpayer millions of dollars of litigation costs and will speed up the disability process.
4. Caution: Read Before Eating (page 27) – A recent food-labeling FDA rule requires grocery stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues to add more detailed information on each food item sold. While Americans should have information on the food they eat, existing labeling requirements are already very detailed, and this regulation would burden the agriculture industry with more than $1 billion in compliance costs in the first year alone. Lankford helped secure a provision in the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations funding bill, which was signed into law last December, to pause implementation of the rule. 
5. Taxpayers Right To Know – More than 25 pieces of legislation that address an example of waste in Lankford’s 2015 “Federal Fumbles” report have passed a Committee or one House of Congress, and could progress even further during the lame-duck session of Congress, which ends December 31, 2016. One bill is the Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act, which passed the House and has bipartisan support in the Senate. This bill will promote budget transparency, which will result in federal spending that is more accountable to the taxpayer, especially for questionable grants, which make up a significant amount of waste examples in Lankford’s 2015 report.

Music Monday: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

This week's Music Monday is the old Christmas carol God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, sung by the a capella group Pentatonix.

Enjoy!



Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to submit for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com.

Plenty To Be Thankful For

As we celebrate this Thanksgiving, those of us in America certainly have a lot to be thankful for. We have freedoms most of the world's inhabitants can only dream about. We have security and peace of mind that the vast majority of the world will never experience. The video below is an emotional reminder of the blessings we so often take for granted.

From FaithWire:

The story began back in 2012 when a Sudanese woman showed up in Forth Worth, Texas, pregnant and with her two small children. Her husband couldn’t make the trip, unable to leave the refugee camp because the couple had lost their marriage papers while fleeing war. They had to find a way to prove they were married and that the children were indeed his. The man, Dyan, feared he would never see his family again.

Dyan comes home from Robert Fuqua on Vimeo.

Here's more from the publisher of the video:

This video represents the next chapter in the now near four-year-old story of our church's ministry to refugees in a North Fort Worth complex. A ministry that began with two of our elder wives, Mary Claire and Molly coming alongside the Sudanese woman in this video, now has over a hundred vetted volunteers serving the diaspora in our region. And, hundreds more participating annually in coat drives, back pack drives, and many opportunities through the year to engage with these families around food and fun.

Xenophobia is nowhere in the heart of God. He is all about the nations! And, His people are called to be as well. For me, this video is a testament to what can happen when God's people respond in simple, yet sacrificial obedience to God's call on the Church, His Bride, to engage and embrace people of all tongues and tribes.

There are nuances in this video most people will miss that to me signal the fingerprint of God. One of them for me is the advertising display hanging over the baggage carousel in the background of the shot when Dyan embraces his wife for the first time in four years. Though many ads were looping endlessly on that monitor, at that very moment the ad read, "Where Dreams take their Course". Another special moment for me was when Dyan dropped to the floor overwhelmed in gratitude toward God, and my camera POV inadvertently became the POV of his three children, at times framed by the side of his son's head. In the background of that shot you see Mary Claire and Molly's husbands with their four sons, American playmates of Dyan's children, transfixed on the miracle for which they themselves prayed these past years.

The final image of this video of Dyan embracing His son, is framed by Mary Claire and Molly's tearful faces. In the distant background is an Algerian refugee family who had just arrived with Dyan. The man with them in the maroon shirt is a staffer for World Relief, another refugee ministry in Fort Worth with whom we serve. A piece of the video that remains in my minds eye, yet in the interest of time lies on the cutting room floor, is a moment when this Algerian mom in the hijab goes over to Dyan's wife and embraces her, greeting each of her children with encouraging words offered in a mutual tongue they share, but which I didn't recognize. What I did recognize however was a shared joy emerging from a shared pain and anguish. And that my friends is the ultimate and beautiful paradox of this four minute glimpse into a shared four-year experience. May this video help you share in their joy and worship the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the Joy set before Him endured the cross that the nations might come to enjoy Him forever.

To paraphrase the Irving Berlin song sung by Bing Crosby in the movie Holiday Inn, "We've got plenty to be thankful for." Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Watch List: Oklahomans who might get Trump appointments

President-elect Donald Trump is in the midst of picking appointees for his Cabinet and various other top government posts. Among the many names being mentioned for different positions are several Oklahomans.

Gov. Mary Fallin                                Businessman Harold Hamm

Secretary of the Interior

The Department of the Interior manages about 75% of all federal public land, is responsible for conservation of natural resources, and operates numerous agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and oversees policy in American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Governor Mary Fallin and Continental Resources CEO Harold Hamm are being mentioned as possible picks. Fallin met with Trump on Monday, while it appears that Hamm has had no interview yet.

Secretary of Energy

Despite its name, the Department of Energy actually has more to do with nuclear issues than what you typically think of when you hear "energy" (i.e. oil and gas drilling, etc). Over half of the DOE budget is dedicated to managing our nuclear arsenal and cleaning up atomic-related waste. It also runs the Office of Science, which is focused on research. The DOE has some influence on oil and gas policy, as well as energy-efficiency standards.

Harold Hamm is one of the names being mentioned for this position.

Congressman Jim Bridenstine

NASA Administrator

The NASA Administrator is the highest-ranked official at NASA, and serves as the senior space science advisor to the President of the United States. The Administrator oversees day-to-day operations, manages resources, and sets policy and direction for the agency,

Congressman Jim Bridenstine is one of the rpeople being reported as possible appointees (interesting read here on Bridenstine being the "outsider" pick versus the "insider" options). Before being elected to Congress, Bridenstine was the executive director of the Tulsa Air & Space Museum, and helped with the effort to bring one of the retired space shuttles to Tulsa. Space issues have been one of his priorities in Congress.

Secretary of the Air Force

The Air Force Secretary is the head of the Department of the Air Force, and "is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 660,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian Airmen and their families."

Congressman Jim Bridenstine, a former Navy pilot who spent 9 years in active duty and is currently in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, has also been mentioned as being considered for this post.

Matt Pinnell

RNC Chairman

With Reince Priebus being tapped as Trump's Chief-of-Staff, that leaves the RNC chairmanship vacant. While technically the position is elected by the National Committee, the President (or President-elect in this case) will have the real decision making, and the Committee will formally elect his pick. Former OKGOP chairman Matt Pinnell, appointed by Priebus as the RNC's State Party Director, was touted as a frontrunner for the job before the presidential campaign really picked up. Priebus being Trump's chief-of-staff may help Pinnell get the job.

President-elect Trump and T.W. Shannon

Unknown

Former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon had a meeting Sunday with Trump and top aides Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon. During the meeting, Shannon said they discussed transportation, infrastructure, poverty, education, and issues related to Western land usage. Watch his interview on Fox & Friends here. UPDATE: rumors of possibly a Bureau of Indian Affairs position?

And for one more Oklahoma, here's what the Tulsa World reports: 'Another Oklahoman, Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, said last week that he has reached out to Trump with a request that he be named to the new administration’s Cabinet. “I’m trying to be considered with the new Trump administration to be the secretary of transportation or to be in that office,” he said Nov. 15, acknowledging that he has not heard from Trump or his transition team.'

Music Monday: Beethoven's 'Hymn of Thanksgiving'

This week's Music Monday is the third movement from Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132. which he titled "Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit", or "A Convalescent's Holy Song of Thanksgiving to the Godhead". Beethoven, completely deaf at the end of his life, wrote this piece after recovering from a serious illness.

Enjoy!



Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to submit for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com.

Maps: 2012 and 2016 Oklahoma presidential results compared

This latest installment in my Election Results Maps series compares the 2016 presidential results to the 2012 presidential results.

Here's the overall picture. In 2012, Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama by 33.54%. Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton by 36.4%, a 2.86% increase:

The vote percentage shifted in the Democrats direction in 7 counties. In 3 of them, Trump got between 72.34% and 78.1% of the vote, while Romney had received between 77.18% and 85.82%. Trump's smallest spread in these "trending"-Democrat counties was still +10.51% in Oklahoma County.

2016 added a new element in that we had a third-party candidate for the first time since 2000. As a result, both the Republican and Democratic nominees received lower vote percentages than in 2012.

This map shows the increase and decrease in county percentages for Donald Trump compared to Mitt Romney's 2012 showing:

Trump had lower percentages than Romney in 15 counties, with the biggest decrease in McClain County (-7.72%). Of the counties with the top 20 highest increases, 16 came from counties in the 2nd Congressional District.

This map shows the changes in county percentages for Hillary Clinton compared to Barack Obama's 2012 figures:

McClain County was the only place where Clinton bested Obama's 2012 percentage, increasing by 3% (from 14.18% to 17.18%). She fell by double-digits in 19 counties, with the largest coming in Mayes County (-16.3%).

Music Monday: Hymn to the Fallen

This week's Music Monday is Hymn to the Fallen from the film Saving Private Ryan, composed by John Williams.

Enjoy!



Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to submit for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com.

Election Results Map: Presidential Race

Continuing with my update to the Election Results Maps series, here is the presidential race.

Obviously, Donald Trump crushed it in Oklahoma.

Trump's worst counties and Clinton's best counties:

• Oklahoma: Trump 51.69%, Clinton 41.18%, Johnson 7.13%
• Cleveland: Trump 57.14%, Clinton 35.48%, Johnson 7.38%
• Tulsa: Trump 58.40%, Clinton 35.55%, Johnson 6.05%

Trump's best counties and Clinton's worst counties:

• Cimarron: Trump 89.32%, Clinton 6.50%, Johnson 4.18%
• Beaver: Trump 88.82%, Clinton 7.87%, Johnson 3.31%
• Ellis: Trump 88.17%, Clinton 8.49%, Johnson 3.34%

Johnson's best counties:

• Payne: 8.36%
• Cleveland: 7.38%
• Oklahoma: 7.13%

Johnson's worst counties:

• McCurtain: 2.50%
• Dewey: 2.67%
• Atoka: 2.78%

Hillary Clinton received single-digit percentages in 8 counties (all in northwestern Oklahoma). Donald Trump got over 80% in 17 counties (mostly western Oklahoma plus Atoka and McCurtain in the southeast). His smallest lead was still a healthy 10.51% in Oklahoma County.

I'll try to get around to comparing these results to the 2012 results sometime soon.

Election Results Map: State Question 790

Continuing with my update to the Election Results Maps series, here is State Question 790.

The 'Yes' vote won only 10 counties (average 'yes' vote of 51.56%), all west of I-35 and mainly in the northwest. 61 counties rejected the question (average 'yes' vote of 44.65%). Opposition was strongest in the southeast and the OKC/Tulsa metros.

Election Results Map: State Questions 780 & 781

Continuing with my update to the Election Results Maps series, here are State Questions 780 and 781.

First, SQ780:

31 counties voted in favor ('yes' vote average of 55.29%), while 46 voted against ('yes' vote average of 43.72%). Support was primarily confied to the areas with moderate-to-large cities, with the top three counties being Oklahoma (69.88%), Cleveland (65.92%), and Tulsa (64.68%).

Now, SQ781:

Just 21 counties voted in favor (average vote of 55.52%), while 56 counties opposed (average 'yes' vote of 44.22%). Once again, the top three counties were Oklahoma (66.42%), Cleveland (63.28%), and Tulsa (62.40%).

This was the most indecisive of the state questions, as the 'yes' vote in 42 counties ranged from 45% to 55%. The far northwest and the southeast were most strongly against, while the metros were the only areas of strong support.

Election Results Map: State Question 779

Continuing with my update to the Election Results Maps series, here is State Question 779.

The 'Yes' vote won only 8 counties (average 'yes' vote of 51.55%), and those very narrowly. 69 counties rejected the measure (average 'yes' vote of 38.62%). Opposition, while widespread, was strongest in central and northwestern portions of the state.