Lankford Brings Government Waste Report to the Senate Floor

WASHINGTON, DC (April 27th) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today brought this week’s release of volume 6 of his government waste report, Federal Fumbles: Ways the government dropped the ball, to those who need to hear about it most: the US Senate. Lankford spoke about specific examples of waste from the report and about his frustration that some in Congress talk about debt and some of the big decisions we face for long-term solvency of several major federal programs, but most are not willing to actually address it.

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 27th) – Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, secured passage Wednesday of legislation requiring the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) to provide a detailed report on the planned turnpike through eastern Norman and give the Legislature authority to modify the authorization for construction or location of the turnpike.

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 27th) – The full Senate has given approval to a bill creating an income tax credit to help defray some of the costs associated with adoptions.  Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, is the principal Senate author of House Bill 3088.  Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, is principal House author of the measure.

For more on the controversy over Stillwater Public Schools allowing boys to use the girls' bathrooms, click this link. Here's the latest, with Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor responding to a letter from State Rep. Anthony Moore requesting the AG's office take action:

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 27th) - Today, the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General sent a letter to Oklahoma State Representative Anthony Moore encouraging him to pass legislation making clear that school restrooms should be designated based on biological sex for privacy and safety purposes.

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 27th) – Sen. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole, won passage of House Bill 1933 from the full Senate Tuesday, moving the measure closer to becoming law.  

The legislation would index Oklahoma’s unemployment benefits, effectively ending unemployment tax increases on Oklahoma businesses. This system would adjust how the state pays unemployment compensation to a tiered system based upon the number of weekly claims. This means individuals would qualify for more weeks of benefits when the economy is performing poorly, and less weeks of benefits when the economy is strong.

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 27th) – The governor signed Senate Bill 1100 on Tuesday, approving the first of its kind ban that prohibits nonbinary classifications on state birth certificates. The legislation was authored by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair.  

Under the bill, the biological sex designation on Oklahoma birth certificates may only be male or female, outlawing the use of “X” or any other symbol to represent a nonbinary designation.

The Oklahoma State University Office of Multicultural Affairs recently announced it was hosting a “Drag Queen Story Hour” that was “geared towards ages 2-8.”

Critics said the event amounted to “ideological grooming” of children.

Do officials with oversight of state colleges believe the event was a proper use of taxpayer facilities and aligned with OSU’s mission? And if not, what action do they plan to take?

For the most part, those officials have adopted a “duck and cover” policy in response.

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 26th) – Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed two floor substitutes to protect Oklahoma children from sexualization and unnecessary gender reassignment surgeries.

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 26th) – Oklahomans could be getting fewer irritating solicitation calls thanks to legislation unanimously approved Tuesday by the Senate. House Bill 3168, by Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, creates the Telephone Solicitation Act of 2022, which would prohibit numerous types of marketing calls and set strict parameters on when others can be made.