Richardson Issues Statement in Response to Denial of Car Sales Tax Stay

Richardson Issues Statement in Response to Denial of Car Sales Tax Stay  Tulsa, OK, June 30, 2017 – Gary Richardson issued a statement today in response to the Oklahoma Supreme Court denying his stay on the implementation of the car sales tax before the case is heard on August 8th.  “I’m extremely disappointed...

New Texas GOP Chair puts party platform to use

The Republican Party of Texas elected James Dickey as their new chairman on June 3rd, and he has apparently hit the ground running. One of his big ideas? Asking Texas legislative Republicans to follow the state GOP Platform. Dickey, elected to fill out the remainder of the chairman's term after the previous chair resigned,...

Third lawsuit filed over last-minute tax hikes

House Bill 2433 passed in the final hours of the legislative session, putting $123M more in taxes on Oklahomans through adding a 1.25% sales tax on vehicle sales, in addition to other taxes already charged on sales. That measure is now being challenged in court by the Oklahoma Automobile Dealers Association, Battison Honda...

AG says Doerflinger's Rainy Day Fund raid was legal

The official with the longest title in state government, Secretary of Finance, Administration and Information Technology and Office of Management and Enterprise Services Director Preston Doerflinger surprised many officials at the Capitol and observers around the state when news broke in March that he had completely...

Music Monday: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

This week's Music Monday is the hymn Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, played by Rob Charles, a church organist in Wales. Enjoy! Lyrics: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation! All ye who hear, Now to His temple draw near; Praise Him in glad adoration. Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously...

Mullin compares US debt to... Cavemen and Vikings?

2nd District Congressman Markwayne Mullin recently made a post on Facebook and Twitter drawing attention to the America's sky-high national debt. It's a topic that far too often gets ignored by those in Washington, who keep spending like there's no tomorrow. Our national debt poses a greater threat to America's future than...

Richardson to Challenge Tax Hikes in Supreme Court

Richardson to Challenge Tax Hikes in Supreme Court Tulsa, OK, June 22, 2017–  Gary Richardson held  a press conference at the Tulsa Press Club today at 3 p.m. to announce his plan to file a lawsuit in the Oklahoma Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of House Bills 1449, 2348, and 2433. House Bill...

Rep. Strohm withdraws from SD37 race

Representative Chuck Strohm Withdraws Candidacy for State Senate District 37 TULSA, OK- Representative Chuck Strohm has withdrawn his candidacy for State Senate District 37. The seat is being vacated by Senator Dan Newberry who is resigning. Strohm has represented Jenks, Bixby and areas of South Tulsa in House District...

Cindy Byrd launches campaign for State Auditor

CINDY BYRD LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR STATE AUDITOR June 19, 2017 --  Oklahoma Deputy State Auditor Cindy Byrd officially kicks her campaign this week by announcing her run for State Auditor in her hometown of Coalgate.  Byrd, a Certified Public Accountant, has spent more than 20 years working to provide accountability...

Music Monday: A Christian Home

This week's Music Monday is A Christian Home, written by Barbara Hart and sung to the tune Finlandia by Jean Sibelius. The powerful lyrics, posted below the video, describe the model for the Christian home, very much needed in today's society. Enjoy! Lyrics: O give us homes built firm upon the Savior, Where Christ is Head, and Counselor and Guide; Where ev’ry child is taught His love...

Map: Oklahoma Libertarian Party registration by county

Continuing the Voter Registration Maps series, here is an update to the Oklahoma Libertarian Party numbers after a full year of existence (or, re-existence). First, the raw total of voters registered under the OKLP: As of April 1st, there were 4,165 voters registered as Libertarian, heavily centered in the metros....

Map: voter affiliation changes, April '16 to April '17

Here's the newest edition to my long-running Voter Registration Maps series. Last spring, we took a look at party affiliation changes between the recognization of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party and the pre-election deadline for party affiliation changes. Here, we look at changes between April 1st, 2016, and April 1st, 2017. When...

Trump nominates DA Brian Kuester for U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Oklahoma

District Attorney Brian Kuester made the list of President Trump's first U.S. Attorney nominations today: President Donald J. Trump Announces United States Attorney Candidate Nominations President Donald J. Trump today announced his first wave of United States Attorney candidates.  The United States Attorney serves...

Cong. Bridenstine endorses Brian O'Hara for SD37 special election

Congressman Jim Bridenstine sent out the following email this evening, endorsing his Deputy District Director Brian O'Hara's run for Dan Newberry's newly-vacated State Senate seat: I am happy to support and endorse Brian O'Hara in his run to serve the people of State Senate District 37. Brian O'Hara is a friend, a conservative,...

Chambers gains business endorsements in HD46

NORMAN BUSINESS LEADERS ENDORSE DARIN CHAMBERS IN HD-46 RACE June 12, 2017 -- Two prominent business leaders in Norman, Todd Booze and Scott Bauman, are encouraging their colleagues in the business community to vote for Darin Chambers in the upcoming special election for House District 46. "Darin Chambers has the real-world...

Rep. Young (D) endorses Sen. Holt (R) for OKC Mayor

State Representative and Community Leader George Young Endorses David Holt for OKC Mayor JUNE 12, 2017 --  Following the decision by Mayor Mick Cornett not to seek re-election, Oklahoma House Representative George Young publicly declared his exploration of a mayoral candidacy. Last week, Young announced he will instead...

Music Monday: Ol' Man River

This week's Music Monday is Ol' Man River, from the 1951 film of the musical Show Boat. The music was composed by Jerome Kern, the lyrics were written by Oscar Hammerstein II, and William Warfield is the singer in the 1951 re-make (previous films in 1936, 1929, and the Broadway stage in 1927). Enjoy! Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have...

State Rep. Chuck Strohm Announces for Senate District 37

Representative Chuck Strohm Announces Candidacy for State Senate District 37 TULSA, OK- Representative Chuck Strohm has announced his candidacy for State Senate District 37. The seat is being vacated by Senator Dan Newberry who is resigning. Strohm currently represents Jenks, Bixby and areas of Tulsa in House District...

Lawsuit filed over new cigarette tax

A lawsuit has been filed to block the new $257M cigarette tax "smoking cessation fee" passed by legislators in the final week of the legislative session last month. The lawsuit was filed by R.J Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Phillip Morris USA (the two largest tobacco companies in the country), along with...

Newberry resigns from State Senate, creates 7th vacant legislative seat this term

Whether it's failing to oppose unconstitutional tax hikes or simply serving out their entire term in elected office, it appears that the Oklahoma Legislature is full of individuals who are unwilling to fulfill their pledge of service to the people. State Sen. Dan Newberry has submitted his irrevocable resignation from...

Music Monday: Choctaw Cowboy

This week's Music Monday is Choctaw Cowboy, by the Annie Moses Band (a group that has Oklahoma roots). Enjoy! Click to go below the page break to see all previous Music Monday posts. Do you have a song you'd like to suggest for a future Music Monday? Email me at JamisonFaught@MuskogeePolitico.com...

Winston Churchill, 77 Years Ago: "We Shall Fight"

As the United Kingdom reels from yet another terrorist attack, today marks the 77th anniversary of one of Winston Churchill's greatest orations -- his We Shall Fight speech to the House of Commons. "We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island,...