Bad instruction prompts lawsuit

One of the lower-key victories of the 2024 Oklahoma legislative session was passage of Senate Bill 362, which stated that Oklahoma public-school teachers “shall be prohibited from using the three-cueing system model of teaching students to read” starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

Under the three-cueing method, students are encouraged to guess words based on associated pictures and context, and to memorize entire words, rather than learn to sound them out phonetically.

APMreports has noted “that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked” three-cueing, while ExcelinEd in Action noted the three-cueing system “can be boiled down to this: Teachers using this method instruct students to guess.”

Eliminating three-cueing will prevent unnecessary academic hardship for Oklahoma children. Lawmakers deserve praise for passing the ban, particularly state Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, who championed the issue.

But the benefits of SB 362 may extend beyond academic impact. It turns out the ban could also limit future financial liability for Oklahoma schools that might otherwise face litigation.

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 20th) – Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, has filed Senate Bill 80, legislation aimed at increasing transparency and public involvement in the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s (OTA) projects. The proposed bill would establish clear requirements for public notification, input, and oversight before any new turnpike or modifications to existing turnpikes can proceed.

“Our Constitution guarantees due process for every citizen,” Standridge said. “As a nation we give the worst of the worst criminals, including serial killers, due process; we certainly owe landowners in the path of a potential turnpike the same. This legislation ensures that the OTA operates with full transparency and accountability, prioritizing the interests of affected residents and businesses.”

I dare you to find a harder working member of Congress in the entire country than Josh Brecheen. Here are some stats from his first two years representing Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House:

Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2024) – As we reach the conclusion of Congressman Josh Brecheen’s first term in office, here are some of the top highlights of the 118th Congress from our constituent engagement within Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District, in case you might have missed it.

Total Number of In-Person Town Halls: 106 in-person town halls. Congressman Brecheen held 106 town halls throughout Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District including in Adair, Antlers, Atoka, Bartlesville, Beggs, Broken Bow, Caddo, Checotah, Chelsea, Chouteau, Claremore, Coalgate, Commerce, Dewey, Durant, Eufaula, Fairland, Fort Gibson, Grove, Hartshorne, Haskell, Heavener, Henryetta, Holdenville, Hugo, Idabel, Inola, Jay, Kansas, Krebs, Locust Grove, Madill, McAlester, Miami, Morris, Muldrow, Muskogee, Nowata, Okemah, Okmulgee, Oologah, Panama, Pocola, Poteau, Pryor, Ramona, Roland, Salina, Sallisaw, Stigler, Stilwell, Tahlequah, Talihina, Tishomingo, Verdigris, Vian, Vinita, Wagoner, Warner, and Wilburton. 

By the Numbers:

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 own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Attacking the “rich”

Liberals often argue the tax system should penalize the “rich,” who allegedly never pay their “fair share.” That argument has resulted in a system where a large share of citizens is declared “rich.” In fact, the top 50 percent of all taxpayers now pay an astounding 97.7 percent of all federal individual income taxes.

A similar argument is being made regarding school choice. Some critics argue the “rich” shouldn’t benefit from the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program. As with taxes, this argument relies heavily on defining much of the population as rich.

To illustrate my point, recall that an Oklahoma teacher married to a firefighter enjoys family income well above $100,000 today.

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 12th) – Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, has requested legislation to ensure state elected officials remain accountable to Oklahoma voters.

Coleman said he intends to file legislation to amend Oklahoma’s Constitution to allow for recall elections of state elected officials.

Coleman said he is working with Senate staff to draft legislation that would allow the Oklahoma Legislature to refer recall propositions to the ballot so voters can decide whether to remove or retain a specific state official. Because the legislation would alter the state’s Constitution, it would have to pass both legislative chambers and then be approved by Oklahoma voters to become effective.

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 10th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives today added to its transparency portal a government efficiency survey intended to root out duplication of services, waste and inefficiencies in state government. 

This initiative piggybacks on the federal effort to eliminate government waste through the newly-created federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

"We will work hand-in-hand with President-Elect Trump and our federal delegation on broader efforts to make government more efficient with DOGE," said House Speaker-Elect Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. "We want to ensure our state government is working as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. As lawmakers, we want the assistance of Oklahomans who have first-hand experience with duplicative and wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars."

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 4th) — Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, issued the following statement regarding Oklahoma energy policy reaffirming his commitment to an Oklahoma First agenda of low energy costs and government efficiency.

“Oklahomans have been very clear on their desire for an Oklahoma First energy policy, which means: (1) Prioritizing Oklahoma-based companies and local reinvestment, not foreign-controlled entities; (2) Focusing on proven energy sources under Oklahomans’ feet—oil and gas—rather than speculative technologies; (3) Rejecting climate alarmism which has been proven false on almost every prediction for 20 years; (4) Protecting Oklahoma’s natural beauty; (5) Protecting resources from ‘green’ energy scams that are resource-intensive and strain local utilities and water supplies; (6) Rejecting companies who embrace woke, globalist ESG/DEI ideologies; (7) Rejecting the waste of taxpayer dollars and redistribution of wealth through subsidizing ‘green’ energy in any way.