Tidbits for Fall 2014
Governor Mary Fallin applauded the August 18 selection of former Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins as interim executive director of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. "Jari Askins is a dedicated and universally respected public servant with a keen knowledge of pardon and parole issues," said Fallin. "Having served in all three branches of government - including as former chairman of the Pardon and Parole Board - she brings a unique perspective and unparalleled experience to the position. I know she will serve the state well as interim executive director." Askins, a native of Duncan, served as a Stephens County special district judge for eight years, from 1982-1990. In 1991, she was appointed to the Pardon and Parole Board, which elected her as its first female chairman, and she later served as executive director. She was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1994 and served for 12 years, serving her last two-year term as Democratic leader. She was elected Oklahoma's 15th lieutenant governor in 2006. She passed up seeking re-election to run for governor, losing to Fallin in the November 2010 general election.
Legislators Learn How to Repeal Common Core
On August 22, several lawmakers from Louisiana attended a meeting at the Oklahoma Capitol with state Rep. Jason Nelson (R-Oklahoma City) and state Sen. Josh Brecheen (R-Coalgate) to learn how Oklahoma used House Bill 3399 to repeal the federal common core standards and establish a process to develop new, superior standards for English and math.
HB 3399 was signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin in June and was upheld by the state Supreme Court in July following a legal challenge over its constitutionality. The meeting also included lawmakers from both Colorado and Nevada via teleconference. Participants in the meeting included Louisiana state Reps. Brett Geymann, Lance Harris, Cameron Henry, Kenneth Harvard, Bob Hensgens and Roger Pope and Louisiana political activists Kathryn Goppelt, Mary Kass, Sara Wood and Jane Smith. Following the initial meeting and conference call, a panel discussion was held where Oklahoma activists Jenni White, Carolyn McLarty and Holly Gerard provided details of the successful campaign to the Louisiana delegation.
Rep. Nelson said the colleagues in other states want to take a similar approach and use it to repeal the federal common core standards in their own states. "Oklahoma has caught the attention of legislators across the nation, not just for our success in repealing the common core standards, but also because we have put in place a process to replace them with stronger standards," said Nelson. "Our bill was also the most comprehensive of the states that have repealed the standards. They want to know what our process looked like and how we included parents, teachers and grassroots activists to repeal the common core standards and work toward producing better, state-driven standards." The success of the effort in Oklahoma has given encouragement to similar efforts in other states. "Oklahoma is at the point of the arrow on this important national issue. House Bill 3399 and its results embolden other legislators across the country to assert the 10th Amendment and ensure our students have standards and tests that are not under the control of federal funding," said Sen. Brecheen.
Vehicle Tag Compact with Choctaw Nation
On September 3, Governor Mary Fallin announced that the state of Oklahoma had signed a vehicle tag compact with the Choctaw Nation. The compact, signed during the Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival, establishes how the state and tribe will work together to issue Choctaw vehicle tags. "The state of Oklahoma and the Choctaw Nation already are important partners in economic development, education, health care and transportation infrastructure," said Fallin. "This is just another example of an opportunity for state leaders and tribal leaders to get together to strengthen our partnerships."
Under the compact, Choctaw citizens who want to purchase a Choctaw tag may go to a state tag agent and present their citizenship card. They will pay all the same fees and taxes that a non-tribal person would to complete the same transaction. The Choctaw Nation gives its citizens who purchase a Choctaw tag a 20 percent rebate on licensing, registration, registration renewal, and payment of excise taxes. The Choctaw Nation is responsible for the design of the tag, and the state will manufacture the tags and distribute them.
"A Choctaw tag is much more than just saving money -- it is a way to show our heritage," said Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton. "There is a resurgence in interest of the culture of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The new license plates are a great way for our members to display their pride in tribal heritage. The tags state "Chahta Sia Hoke!' -- which is Choctaw for "I Am Choctaw!', and feature the Great Seal of the Choctaw Nation and stickball sticks, a traditional Choctaw game. I hope all tribal members in Oklahoma are as excited about placing this newly designed tag on their automobile as I am."
Dismissal of Lawsuit on Monument
State Rep. Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow) praised the summary judgment of an Oklahoma County judge who ruled in September that the Ten Commandment's monument on Oklahoma State Capitol grounds is constitutional. "In Van Orden v. Perry, the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that a Ten Commandments monument is an appropriate historic artifact to display on government property," said Ritze. "The Oklahoma Legislature is committed to following the Supreme Court precedence on this issue. Taking that into account, the court has ruled in our favor."
House Bill 1330, by Ritze, was enacted in 2009. It notes that "The placement of this monument shall not be construed to mean that the State of Oklahoma favors any particular religion or denomination thereof over others, but rather will be placed on the Capitol grounds where there are numerous other monuments." The legal argument for the constitutionality of the monument is that: 1. The Ten Commandments are an important component of the foundation of the laws and legal system of the United States of America and of the State of Oklahoma; 2. The courts of the United States of America and of various states frequently cite the Ten Commandments in published decisions; and 3. Acknowledgements of the role played by the Ten Commandments in our nation's heritage are common throughout America.
2014 Scripture Impact Award
In September, Wycliffe Bible Translators USA announced that Bobby Gruenewald would receive the 2014 Scripture Impact Award in recognition of his contributions to Scripture engagement and to bring an end to Bible illiteracy. Wycliffe USA President and CEO Bob Creson presented the award at LifeChurch.tv's Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, campus on September 27. Gruenewald is a pastor and innovation leader at LifeChurch.tv, where he explores new ideas and searches for practical ways to leverage them for the global church. In that capacity, he founded and oversees YouVersion, a smartphone app that provides free access to more than 1,000 versions of Scripture in more than 720 languages. Since it was launched in 2008, YouVersion has been installed more than 154 million times. "Bobby Gruenewald and his team at LifeChurch.tv have revolutionized the way people all around the world access Scripture in the language they know and understand best. We're honored to recognize their contributions to the global church with the 2014 Scripture Impact Award, and we look forward to continuing to work with Bobby and his team," Creson said.
A-F Report Cards Released
On September 17, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) released the 2014 A-F Report Card for public schools statewide. In this third year of A-F, more than one-third of Oklahoma schools improved their overall score, with 289 receiving A's. Unfortunately, this year also saw a rise in F schools with 200, or 11 percent, as compared to 163 in 2013. Mandated by state law, the school grades provide parents, students, businesses and communities with a clear, easily understood snapshot of how local schools are performing. The 2014 school grades are as follows: A — 289 (16.1 percent), B — 473 (26.4 percent),
C — 504 (28.1 percent), D — 299 (16.7 percent), F — 200 (11.1 percent), No report card — 30 (1.6 percent).
While the A-F calculation essentially remained the same from last year, there were a few modifications. High school End-of-Instruction (EOI) tests taken by middle school students only counted for middle school and not high school, as previously had been the case. Moreover, middle school students taking an EOI in math were not required to also take the grade-level math assessment. In contrast to 2013, the A-F calculation this year factored in advanced coursework and year-to-year growth for high school bonus categories, such as graduation rates. The 2014 grades are available at http://afreportcards.ok.gov
Lankford New Chief of Staff
Congressman James Lankford named Rear Adm. Greg Slavonic (U.S. Navy, Retired) as his new Chief of Staff. Rear Adm. Slavonic began his service to the Fifth District of Oklahoma on October 1. "I am honored to bring Rear Adm. Slavonic's background in strategic communications and leadership, earned through a distinguished 34-year career in the U.S. Navy, to our team," said Lankford. Rear Adm. Slavonic earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University and upon completion of his undergraduate studies, enlisted in the Navy. He received orders to the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CVA 64) and completed two western Pacific deployments in support of combat operations in Vietnam. In 1976, he earned a Masters degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. Serving the Navy through several additional combat tours, including but not limited to Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom II, Rear Adm. Slavonic served as the U.S. Navy's Deputy to the Chief of Information in Washington, D.C. and Director of Public Affairs (Reserve) from June 2001 to 2005. In his civilian professional life, he has many years of experience as Advertising Director for The Journal Record and senior account executive for NBC affiliate television station, KFOR-TV. He served as adjunct professor in the Communications Department as the University of Central Oklahoma.
Republican Supports Dorman
State Sen. Patrick Anderson (R-Enid) is supporting Democratic nominee Joe Dorman (D-Rush Springs) for governor and will likely vote for him November 4. He confirmed his support after Dorman visited the Enid Rotary Club as Anderson's guest. Sen. Anderson also attended an Enid campaign event earlier this year for Dorman. There has been tension between Anderson and Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, especially over the closing of Northern Oklahoma Resource Center of Enid, a state institution for the developmentally disabled. Anderson wanted to keep the facility open, but Fallin approved a committee recommendation to place clients in home-based care. Even though he's supporting a Democrat for the state's top office this fall, Anderson said there's no danger of him switching parties. Sen. Anderson has a 62 percent cumulative average on the Oklahoma Conservative Index rating Oklahoma legislators.
Bipartisan Support for Significant Legislative Reform
On October 3, state Rep. Randy Grau (R-Edmond) said that both gubernatorial candidates in the previous night's debate at Oklahoma State University stated their interest in a change to the legislative process he authored last session. "Reforming the legislative process to hold one session devoted entirely to the budget would greatly improve how we spend Oklahoma tax dollars," said Grau. "In last night's gubernatorial debate, both candidates agreed that it is a good idea. For that reason, I will push hard again next year for this significant reform." Currently, both policy changes and a budget are enacted annually. Under House Joint Resolution 1003, by Grau and state Sen. David Holt (R-Oklahoma City), one session would be devoted solely to the development of a state budget and the next year would include the passage of a budget as well as policy issues.
The legislation was approved overwhelmingly in the Oklahoma House of Representatives by a 70-18 vote. It failed to receive a hearing in the Oklahoma Senate. "This reform accomplishes two critical goals," Grau said. "First, it will improve the budget process by providing more time for detailed analysis and consideration of how we spend the taxpayers' money. Second, it will slow down the number of new laws we pass every year. As I talk to citizens from all over the state, there seems to be a consensus that the legislature needs to improve the budget process and pass fewer laws."
Reforms Reach $25 Million in Savings
State and local government entities are now saving $25 million each year as a result of the modernization of state purchasing systems, a legislative study found. During testimony to the House Appropriations and Budget Committee in October, Oklahoma Purchasing Director Scott Schlotthauer said the savings have exceeded last year's estimates by 6 percent and now total $61 million since the passage of House Bill 1032 from the 2009 legislative session. Schlotthauer predicts the savings will grow to more than $27 million by year end when the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) will release an updated savings report in compliance with provisions of House Bill 1032 which created the ongoing reporting requirement in addition to the purchasing system reform. Additionally, Schlotthauer told committee members that OMES Central Purchasing continues to find new opportunities for savings based on state agency requests for exceptions from state issued purchasing contracts.
House Bill 1032 gave state purchasers the ability to renegotiate contracts and the exception requests provide a tool for discovering renegotiating opportunities. Schlotthauer's testimony came as a result of a hearing requested by state Reps. David Brumbaugh (R-Broken Arrow), and Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie). Brumbaugh and Murphey requested the hearing as an ongoing effort to monitor previous government modernization and cost-saving proposals and explore the opportunities for new ones.
Study on Vulnerability of Electrical Grid
A legislative study on October 14 highlighted Oklahoma's vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse attack or massive solar flares. State Rep. John Bennett (R-Sallisaw), who requested the study, said the Oklahoma Legislature should act to protect Oklahomans. "To date, there have been 11 federal studies into the threat posed by electromagnetic pulse attacks," said Bennett. In one of those studies, a Congressional "Blue Ribbon"' committee found that, in the event of an electromagnetic pulse attack, it could take from 12 to 18 months to rebuilt the nation's electrical grid. The result, according to the study would be death from exposure and other factors relating to lack of electricity. "Nothing has been done at the national level to address this vulnerability. I believe Oklahoma should be the first state in the country to create a cost-effective plan to protect critical components of Oklahoma's electrical grid. This will involve working with public utilities, who participated in this week's study." The study included public utility officials, Center for Security Policy CEO Frank Gaffney, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency R. James Woolsey, Dr. George H. Baker, Dr. Thomas Popik, Dr. Peter Pry, Pastor Paul Blair, Glen Howard, Paul and Molly Whrenberg and CIA agent Clare Lopez.
OU and Nazi Looted-Art
On October 15, State Rep. Mike Reynolds (R-Oklahoma City) released a letter to the University of Oklahoma's Fred Jones, Jr. Museum of Art, formally asking the university's art museum director, Emily Ballew Neff, to clarify the museum's public position regarding a case involving an 1886 Camille Pissarro oil painting stolen by Nazis in 1941 from the Meyers, a prominent French family. "The university has gaping holes in its due diligence process about the painting's history," said Reynolds. "That is clear from its own records, which clearly show the university's flawed research in the painting's past." The university released to the House Government Modernization and Accountability Committee some records of the painting's purchase and bequest, but only after a public hearing into the case, led by Reynolds. "To make matters worse, for four long years, OU did nothing to approach a known possible owner of the painting when its own documents detail serious questions about ownership," said Reynolds. "That's disturbing enough, but even the facts OU's own lawyer is alleging about the painting's ownership are troubling."
Reynolds committee heard testimony from the university's attorney Shawnae Robey on March 19, 2014. Robey told the committee the university had no evidence that the painting's ownership was established when the Meyers filed suit in May 2013. On May 16, 2014, the committee heard testimony from Raphael Meyer, son of the painting's owner, Dr. Leone Meyer of Paris, regarding the family's position about the painting's history. The committee also heard from Marc Masurovsky, a Washington, D.C.-based looted art provenance expert and a principal with the Holocaust Art Restitution Project (HARP). "The painting at present is on public display as part of the Clara Weitzenhoffer bequest at the Fred Jones Museum," said Reynolds. "Madame Meyer wants it back. For her, the painting is a symbol both of her adoptive father and her birth family, whom perished at Auschwitz."
Ebola Public Health Emergency
State Rep. Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow) sent Gov. Mary Fallin a letter requesting that she declare "a state of catastrophic health emergency relating to the Ebola epidemic," he said October 8, 2014. Ritze noted that Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy declared a public health emergency and signed an executive order that gives the state's public health commissioner the authority to quarantine individuals who are suspected of carrying the virus. Ritze wants Gov. Fallin to take a similar stance in Oklahoma, using her powers under the Emergency Management Act and the Catastrophic Health Emergency Powers Act. "As a physician and as citizen of this state, I am very concerned about the potential spread of Ebola if proper precautions are not taken," said Ritze. "I hope Gov. Fallin will use the full power of her office to assist public health officials and medical providers in preventing an outbreak." Ritze, who serves as a ranking member of the House Public Health Committee, is a board certified physician and surgeon with a master's degree in forensic science administration.
Oklahoma Judge Performs Lesbian Wedding
Just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to let stand a lower court ruling which overturned Oklahoma's law against same-sex marriage, Oklahoma State Court of Civil Appeals Judge Jane Wiseman made a quick trip to Tulsa to perform the wedding for the Tulsa lesbian couple who brought the lawsuit to strike down the law. It should be noted that Judge Wiseman will be on the state judicial retention ballot on November 4. Some are urging Oklahoma voters who oppose homosexual marriage to express their opposition to the court action by voting not to retain Judge Wiseman. Judge Wiseman was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry. If she is voted out, the next governor (also on the November 4 ballot) would appoint a new judge to the court. No judge in Oklahoma has ever lost in the retention ballot.
Oklahoma Abortion Law Challenged
In October, attorneys for the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit challenging the state's admitting privileges law for abortion facilities and have asked for an injunction keep the law from going into effect on November 1. Signed by Gov. Mary Fallin in May, SB 1848 requires, among other things, that doctors performing abortions in the state have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the facility in which the abortion is performed. The abortion rights group filed the lawsuit on behalf of Dr. Larry Burns of Norman, one of three abortion providers in the state. The group says that Burns, who performs nearly half the state's abortions, has been unable to obtain privileges at any of the 16 qualifying hospitals within 30 miles of his office, with many hospitals even refused to process his application. A similar law in Texas has been challenged and is working its ways through the courts.
Rep. Turner Disappointed in Veto of HB 2539
The beheading incident in Moore has one state representative disappointed in a veto of a measure focused on clarifying justifiable homicide. House Bill 2539 clarified old language regarding who can protect whom in life-threatening moments. The text was changed from specifying the protection of a spouse, child, mistress or other servant to the protection of anyone in danger. The measure passed the state House, 77-6, and cleared the state Senate, 45-2. HB 2539 was vetoed by Gov. Mary Fallin on April 29. "With all the danger popping up all over the world -- including here in Oklahoma -- I still cannot believe this measure was scuttled by Gov. Fallin," said state Rep. Mike Turner (R-Edmond). Turner, who led the successful veto override of HB 2461 and was a principle author of HB 2539, said the recent violent act in Moore is proof that Oklahomans need more legal protections to act in the defense of themselves and others. "The recent beheading by an ISIS sympathizer is unnerving and unsettling. It clearly shows how important it is for responsible Oklahomans to be able to act in self-defense when necessary."
Transgender Candidate Defeated
Paula Sophia, who was seeking to become Oklahoma's first "transgender" legislator, lost by a razor-thin margin in the Aug. 26 Democrat Runoff Primary for House District 88 in Oklahoma City. Since no Republicans nor Independents filed for the office, the victor in the Runoff Primary became the new representative. Jason Dunnington, an assistant sociology professor, defeated Sophia, who is a retired police officer, by 22 votes, 990 to 968. Rep. Kay Floyd (D-Oklahoma City) did not run for reelection to the seat, in order to run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Al McAffrey who won the Democrat nomination for the Fifth District seat in Congress.
Passing of Former Senator Jack Short
Former state senator Jack Short died on October 5. He was 89. A native of Mangum and a Navy veteran, he graduated from Tulane University and the University of Oklahoma law school. As a Republican representing District 46 in Oklahoma County, he served one term in the Oklahoma Senate from 1966 to 1970. After losing his bid for re-election, he moved to Tulsa in 1971 where he served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma through 1975. He was then appointed as an administrative law judge for the U.S. Department of the Interior, handling federal Indian probate cases. He then continued in the legal profession working as trial lawyer handling cases in Oklahoma and Kansas.
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