Coburn: Jarrin Jackson is a leader of virtue

Former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn recently spoke at an event in Muskogee for 2nd Congressional District candidate Jarrin Jackson, where he made the comments below in support of Jackson's challenge of incumbent Congressman Markwayne Mullin. Coburn endorsed Jarrin Jackson's 2016 bid, and reacted strongly to Mullin's announcement that he would be breaking his term limits pledge. In radio interviews...

Richardson to air commercial during New Year's bowl games

GOP gubernatorial candidate Gary Richardson is running the following television ad during the New Year's Day college football bowl games on ESPN: From a Richardson campaign email: "I wanted to send you a sneak peak of our television ad that will be airing statewide next week during the New Year's Day bowl games on ESPN. It tells the story of District Attorney Vic Feazell, who was facing...

Cornett making campaign stop in Muskogee Friday

GOP gubernatorial candidate and Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett is making a campaign stop in Muskogee on Friday, according to a post by his campaign (seen above). Cornett joins fellow candidates Gary Jones, Todd Lamb, Gary Richardson, and Kevin Stitt in making campaign visits to Muskogee (if other candidates have made...

Music Monday: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

This week's Music Monday is the old English Christmas carol God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, played by the Annie Moses Band. Enjoy, and have a Merry Christmas! See below for 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. December 4th, 2017: Carol of the Bells (Mannheim Steamroller) November...

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...

Cornett Super PAC being funded by Clinton bundler

A Super PAC supporting GOP gubernatorial candidate and OKC mayor Mick Cornett recently purchased $100k in television and digital ads in the Tulsa market, and a primary funder of the group was a bundler for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Sue Ann Arnall, ex-wife of oil tycoon Harold Hamm, gave $200k to the 'Oklahoma Values' Super PAC that is supporting Cornett's campaign; only...

Lamb supports OPEA's call for Tourism Department investigation

LAMB WELCOMES PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION’S CALL FOR TOURISM DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, December 20, 2017 – Republican gubernatorial candidate Todd Lamb said today he welcomes an investigation into the Oklahoma Department of Tourism as called for by the Oklahoma Public Employees Association. “As a member...

Fallin: tax increases still needed despite revenue growth

Governor Mary Fallin Statement on Oklahoma Board of Equalization Findings OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today issued the following statement after the Board of Equalization meeting: “I’m glad to see today’s estimate submitted to the Board of Equalization and acted on the board shows some revenue growth for the...

Calvey: Increased Revenue Sign of Recovering Economy

Calvey: Increased Revenue Sign of Recovering Economy OKLAHOMA CITY –State Rep. Kevin Calvey, R-Oklahoma City, today issued a statement following the State Board of Equalization’s announcement that state revenues are expected to increase by $425.3 million, significantly reducing the state’s budget deficit. “These increased...

Two-Faced Fallin: calls for federal tax cuts while pushing state tax hikes

As she comes to her final year in office, Governor Mary Fallin is setting a "legacy" of pushing for the largest tax hikes in Oklahoma history. In an ironic twist, she is simultaneously supporting the largest federal tax cut in decades. Back in February, Fallin proposed a massive expansion of the state sales tax, amounting...

Muskogee Phoenix Editorial Board: Doerflinger's actions disgraceful

The Muskogee Phoenix has historically been a fairly liberal newspaper, but on occasion, they get things dead right. Today's editorial is one example. Muskogee Phoenix Editorial Board: State official’s actions disgraceful A Facebook feud initiated by the governor’s finance secretary demonstrates the depth to which...

AG Hunter: FBI and HHS joining Dept. of Health investigation

Attorney General Hunter Announces FBI and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Investigate Oklahoma Health Department OKLAHOMA CITY - Attorney General Mike Hunter today announced that the FBI and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will partner with...

This week's schedule for the Second Special Session

Here is the [current] schedule this week for the Second, Very Special, Extra-Extraordinary Session the Legislature is currently in. Two #okleg #specialsessionPartII have now been publically posted: SB1: Appropriating $32M from the general fund to OHCA SB2: Appropriating $11M from the general fund to DHS — Trevor Brown...

Music Monday: I Saw Three Ships (The Piano Guys)

This week's Music Monday is the old English Christmas carol I Saw Three Ships, arranged and played by Jon Schmidt of The Piano Guys. Enjoy! See below for 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. December 4th, 2017: Carol of the Bells (Mannheim Steamroller) November 27th, 2017:...

OCPA's Small: Learning from the Health Department

Learning from the Health Department By OCPA President Jonathan Small Tens of millions of dollars are missing; criminal investigations are underway. Officials at the State Department of Health, it seems, misspent funds and misled the public about it for at least six years. Some of the money came from the federal government...

Fallin [finally] officially calls limited 2nd Special Session for Monday

After a long delay causing some to question whether she would actually call the Legislature in on Monday, Governor Fallin has issued the executive order officially setting the second special session date. Governor Mary Fallin Calls Special Session to Provide Oklahoma Health Care Authority Funding to Avoid Provider Rate...

Health Dep't so bloated 200-employee layoff won't affect services?

The House Special Investigative Committee is digging into the scandal that is the fiscal mismanagement at the Oklahoma Department of Health. For more on the meetings the committee held this week, read these links: NewsOK, NewsOK, KFOR, and KOCO. News9 reported this stunner of a statement by Secretary...

Did Fallin botch her veto?

During yesterday's meeting of the House Special Investigative Committee, looking into the Oklahoma Department of Health scandal, State Rep. Josh Cockroft (R-Wanette) turned up an interesting question: did Governor Fallin botch her veto of the special session budget bill to the point that no agency is currently operating with a legal budget? Fallin's veto of the measure left off a crucial word that...

Murdock wins SD27 GOP Primary

State Rep. Casey Murdock (R-Felt) emerged victorious in the field of six Republican candidates seeking the nomination in the Senate District 27 special election primary held today. Preliminary results from the Oklahoma Election Board: Casey Murdock - 33.17% Travis Templin - 28.23% Carolyn McLarty - 23.12% Jeff Hall -...

Music Monday: Who Is He In Yonder Stall

This week's Music Monday is Who Is He In Yonder Stall, sung by the Collingsworth Family (a Southern gospel group). Enjoy! See below for 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. December 4th, 2017: Carol of the Bells (Mannheim Steamroller) November 27th, 2017: Joy to the World! November...

Stitt hits Lamb on Tourism Dep't problems, crashed campaign call

In recent days, Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Stitt has been hitting fellow GOP candidate and incumbent Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb on two different fronts. The first issue is over the "crashing" of a Stitt campaign conference call by Lamb's campaign manager, Keith Beall. Joining the call after receiving a text...

Admiral Greg Slavonic (Ret) endorses Hern for Congress

Greg Slavonic Endorses Kevin Hern For Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional Seat Tulsa, OK – Retired Navy Rear Admiral Greg Slavonic has endorsed Kevin Hern for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional Seat being vacated by Representative Jim Bridenstine after he was nominated by President Trump to head NASA. “Kevin Hern is the best candidate...

Fallin Sets 2nd Special Session Date for December 18th

Looks like Governor Fallin was dead-serious about putting the Legislature in session on Christmas. In order to pass any tax increases the Legislature would need to be in session for at least ten legislative days; even if the legislature met on Saturday and Sunday, the quickest they could be done would be the 27th of December. Governor...