Small: Proposals could cut red tape in Oklahoma

Proposals could cut red tape in Oklahoma

By Jonathan Small

Despite being a conservative electorate, Oklahomans still face more state regulations than citizens in most other states. The accumulation of those rules impedes economic growth and job creation.

Fortunately, legislative leaders are preparing to tackle this problem.

At a recent meeting jointly led by state Rep. Gerrid Kendrix and state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, who each chair their respective chamber’s administrative rules committee, lawmakers reviewed initiatives that have pared down regulations elsewhere.

State Sen. Bergstrom files bill to gradually eliminate state income tax

Bergstrom Files Bill to Gradually Eliminate Oklahoma Income Tax

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 20th) – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has filed Senate Bill 1, a tax reform proposal designed to reduce Oklahoma’s income tax rates in a responsible and measured way.

Under SB1, the state’s marginal income tax rate will be reduced by 0.25 percentage points across all income brackets. Future reductions are tied to revenue growth, with the Board of Equalization tasked with determining if total state revenue has increased by at least $400 million compared to the fiscal year before the most recent tax cut. Each time this benchmark is met, another 0.25 percent reduction will be triggered, continuing until the top marginal income tax rate is zero.

Conservative leaders, orgs push back against California-style 'jungle primary' proposal

Unable to win elections in Oklahoma the old-fashioned way, with... you know... votes, liberals are now attempting to change the game by messing with the way Oklahoma elections work.

Under the guise of "increasing voter participation", left-wingers of both parties (including one has-been and one current liberal Republican elected officials) announced an initiative petition today for a state question that would switch Oklahoma to the same sort of "top two" jungle primary system used in California that often cuts Republican candidates completely out of the general election.

Pro Tem-designee Paxton names key Senate leadership positions

Pro Tem Designee Paxton Names Key Leadership Positions

OKLAHOMA CITY (November 12th) – Senate Pro Tem Designee Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, today has named key members of his leadership team after being tapped as the Senate’s next leader.

Pro Tem Designee Paxton has appointed Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, as the Senate Majority Floor Leader, Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, as Appropriations Chairman and Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, as Vice Chairman of Appropriations.

State Auditor: forensic audit finds gross mismanagement in city of Lindsay

FORENSIC AUDIT REVEALS GROSS MISMANAGEMENT IN CITY OF LINDSAY

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (November 13, 2024) Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector [SA&I] Cindy Byrd today released her forensic audit report for the City of Lindsay in Garvin County. Auditor Byrd launched the investigation after receiving a request from District Attorney Greg Mashburn.

The SA&I investigated the city’s financial records from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022. The audit uncovered significant mismanagement and a failure of Lindsay City Council members to provide proper oversight of expenditures.

BREAKING: State Sen. Paxton defeats Bullard by 1 vote in Pro Tem-designate race

As I just broke on the Muskogee Politico Twitter feed,  establishment pick State Sen. Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) defeated conservative challenger David Bullard (R-Durant) by one vote in the Oklahoma State Senate GOP caucus vote for President Pro Tempore-designate. 

In the vote to lead the legislature's upper chamber, Paxton received 20 votes to Bullard's 19.

Oklahoma State Election Board celebrates 2024 voting records

Statement about Oklahoma's 2024 General Election from Paul Ziriax, Secretary of the State Election Board

(Nov. 6th) "Oklahoma's 2024 General Election is one for the history books. Unofficial results show that more Oklahomans cast a vote for President than any previous election. Voters set a new record for in-person early voting by more than 120,000. We also had the largest number of registered voters heading into this election since we began tracking this statistic in 2000. 

Small: Voters send message with vote on judges

Voters send message with vote on judges

By Jonathan Small

Oklahomans sent a message this week when they voted, for the first time in state history, to oust a sitting member of the Oklahoma Supreme Court while two other justices came within a whisker of sharing the same fate. The question is whether defenders of the status quo will listen to the voters.

In 1967, Oklahoma voters chose to alter our state’s system of judicial selection including retention-ballot elections for key judicial appointees. Public evaluation of judges was always supposed to be a key component of the process.

But in the 57 years that have since passed, Oklahomans typically had little information provided about the judges they were supposed to evaluate. As a result, no member of the Oklahoma Supreme Court ever fell short on a retention-ballot vote before this year.

That changed in 2024. For the first time, Oklahomans were provided information on the justices facing a retention vote. For the first time, citizens had a way to evaluate judicial performance. And, for the first time, voters chose to remove a justice from the Oklahoma Supreme Court bench.

Election Results Maps: More on Oklahoma's Trump vote

Following up on yesterday's post about Donald Trump carrying all 77 Oklahoma counties for the third time, here's another set of Election Results Maps from Tuesday. Trump scored 66.17% statewide (third highest for Republican presidential candidates, behind Reagan's 68.61% in 1984 and Nixon's 71.78% in 1972), beating Kamala Harris by 34.27%. First up, let's look at which direction Trump's 77-county win moved in each county compared to 2020.

State House interim study examines rural firefighter retention

Smith Studies Rural Firefighter Retention

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 30th) – Rep. David Smith, R-Arpelar, last week held an interim study to examine issues surrounding recruiting and retaining volunteer rural firefighters.

The packed study was held before the House Public Safety Committee on Oct. 21 at the State Capitol.

"Living in rural Oklahoma, I know the importance of rural firefighters," Smith said. "We've got 60 and 70-year-olds fighting fires because we can't get some of the younger people to come up."

OKGOP Chair Nathan Dahm responds to President Trump winning all 77 counties

OKGOP Chair Nathan Dahm responds to President Trump winning all 77 counties

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 5th) – Today, OKGOP Chair Nathan Dahm, responded to the news that President Trump won all 77 counties in the General Election in Oklahoma.

“This is MAGA country,” Dahm said. “Oklahomans want to make our country great again, and they understand the way to do that is to get President Trump back in the White House after the disastrous 4 years under this Democrat regime.”

Election Results Map: Trump carries all 77 Oklahoma counties for third time

Here is the much-anticipated 2024 general election edition of my long-running Election Results Maps series. I've been compiling these since 2010, which has included the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections.

As you can see, former President Donald Trump carried all 77 counties, making 2024 the sixth presidential cycle in a row where the Republican nominee won every single one of Oklahoma's counties (dating back to 2004).

Gov. Stitt celebrates 2nd annual Oklahoma Family Month 2024

Governor Stitt Celebrates Second Annual Oklahoma Family Month 2024

OKLAHOMA CITY (November 4, 2024) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt is celebrating Oklahoma families by signing an executive proclamation declaring the month of November as ‘Oklahoma Family Month.’ The signing marks the start of a month-long campaign dedicated to championing family values, strengthening their bonds, and encouraging Oklahomans to be intentional in their time together.

Election Day: Links and Resources

Today is the General Election. If you haven't voted yet, you have from 7:00am to 7:00pm to cast your ballots at your precinct polling location. If you don't know where to vote, or want to see your sample ballot, use this helpful link from the Oklahoma State Election Board to find out.

Here are some links to various posts and additional resources about the candidates that you may find helpful.

Oklahoma surpasses 2.4 million registered voters ahead of general election

Oklahoma Voter Registration Numbers Surpass 2.4 Million Ahead of the General Election

(Oklahoma City, November 4th) – The State Election Board has released its official pre-election voter registration statistics and the report shows that Oklahoma has reached a milestone – surpassing 2.4 million voters as of November 1, 2024. This year’s report shows a net increase of more than 141,023 registered voters since January 15 and a net increase of nearly 29,056 since September 30. The State Election Board’s official pre-election voter registration statistics show the total number of registered voters is the largest before a Presidential Election since Oklahoma began tracking pre-election voter registration statistics in 2000.

Election Predictions: here's mine -- leave yours!

Let's have another go at this. 270toWin.com has a neat feature that allows you to customize your predictions from the presidential race down to control of the state legislatures. I'm not a prophet nor the son of a prophet (Amos 7:14), but we can have a little fun together with election guesses.

How do you think the election will go? Drop your own Presidential,  U.S. Senate and Oklahoma predictions in the comments section, on the Muskogee Politico Facebook page, or on Twitter (aka X).

State Election Board offers tips, reminders for Oklahoma Voters

State Election Board Offers Tips, Reminders for Oklahoma Voters

(Oklahoma City, November 1st) – Voters head to the polls Tuesday for the General Election. The State Election Board offers these tips and reminders to Oklahoma voters ahead of the November 5 General Election.

OK's Emergency Drought Committee approves new relief program

Pederson, Patzkowsky Bill Leads to Emergency Drought Committee’s New Program

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Monday, the Emergency Drought Committee approved a new program to deliver critical drought relief for Oklahoma agricultural producers. The application period opens on Nov. 12 and will remain open through Jan. 31, 2025. Applications will be available at local conservation districts and on the Oklahoma Conservation Commission website starting Nov. 12.

Sen. Deevers on why voters should reject State Question 833

The following is a column by State Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) about the dangers of State Question 833. I concur:

Rejecting Oklahoma SQ 833 – The Case Against Public Infrastructure Districts (PIDs)
Originally posted at OKGrassroots

State Question 833 (SQ 833) introduces Public Infrastructure Districts (PIDs), giving developers significant control over infrastructure financing at taxpayers’ expense. Here’s why voters should say “No” to SQ 833.

Small: State court targets oil industry

State court targets oil industry

By Jonathan Small

Oklahomans are justifiably concerned about judicial activism. Even “minor” rulings can have major consequences. A recent Oklahoma Supreme Court decision falls into that category.

Thanks to the court’s ruling, an untold number of contracts have been nullified and countless state businesses left with daunting potential legal liability. Oklahoma companies operating in the oil and gas industry may be among those hardest hit.

When companies use subcontractors, it is common to have an indemnity contract that protects the contracting company from being sued for alleged wrongdoing done by a subcontractor.

But in Knox v. Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co., the Oklahoma Supreme Court invalidated an indemnity contract.

OCPAC, Oklahoma Values Coalition release voter guides

For decades, under founder/former president Charlie Meadows, the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC) was the standard for rock-ribbed conservatism in the state. I remember a time when OCPAC and the Conservative Index (run by the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper with OCPAC input) was regularly mentioned on the State House and State Senate floors. Good times... long past, now...

New leadership has taken the group in a different direction and rebranded the organization as OCPAC Foundation ('Original Constitutional Principles Affecting Culture') and OCPAC Action, and their influence has changed as well. Still, they continue as one of the longest tenured political gatherings in the state, and in some ways, they have more pull with statewide officials than ever before, even if their influence with legislators is lessened.

Endorsements and Recommendations for the General Election

Tuesday, November 5th, is the Oklahoma General Election, and voters all across the state will be heading to the polls to decide who will hold elected offices for the next two to six years (depending on the position). Below are a few of my voting picks. I know I'm just a lowly blogger, but hopefully the information in this post will be helpful with your voting plans.

If you don't know where to vote, or want to see your sample ballot, use this helpful link from the Oklahoma State Election Board to find out. Early voting continues today (Saturday, Nov. 2nd), from 8am to 2pm, at these locations. Election day voting is 7am to 7pm at your polling place.

Rep. Gann's state agency budget transparency law takes effect

Gann's State Agency Budget Transparency Law Takes Effect

OKLAHOMA CITY – A law requiring state agency directors to certify their agency's annual budget is filed with the state Department of Libraries within the time required under state law takes effect today.

House Bill 3113, authored by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, requires agency executive directors to certify their agency is in compliance with the Oklahoma State Government Open Documents Initiative when they submit their annual agency budgets to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and the Legislature.