The Oklahoma Libertarian Party convention body took bold action to censure one of their own, today. Joe Maldonado was strongly chastised by the state convention body for:

• Defamations of other candidates
• Promoting policy which is contrary to OKLP platform

  The specifics of the complaint center around accusations against Rex Lawhorn & his campaign leadership.  Maldonado has a long history of publicity stunts and other antics.
  Maldonado chose not to attend the business sessions of the OKLP convention, today.

UPDATED: Follow the updates on our social media thread: https://www.facebook.com/pg/SoonerPolitics/posts/

​by David Van Risseghem, publisher -
  Two years ago I had a blast at the OKLP first state convention in the modern era. I was the only media representative present, but other journalists were sending me text messages expressing frustration that they didn't think of coming.
  These folks are inventing process which will become tradition for generations coming after them. They were officially recognized as a political party by the Secretary of State just 2 years ago. The legislature also moved to secure their charter by reducing the electoral mandate from 10% to just 2.5% of the ballot count at the previous general election.
  They are generally good natured and thrilled to see their movement capturing  the interest of citizens who didn't feel at home in the other political parties.
  They make some of the same dumb mistakes that the other parties do, but they are usually more honest to admit their dysfunctions.
  If you're not a Libertarian, you'll still have a great time.

  The upcoming elections are beginning to take shape and there are two weeks to go before filing closes.  the State Ethics Commission is the  only currently certifiable database of who is declaring their candidacy. We have included that data in the body of this article.

  This list of hundreds of candidates is by no means the full catalogue. There are several more who have not filed with the ethics commission because there is not a mandated legal requirement unless and until campaign donations are raised within a specified period, and the report is due 30 days after that calendar period. 

  Hence, those who have not raised or spent campaign funds prior to January 1st, may not be reflected in this list.

  But filing the paperwork with the Ethics commission also serves to declare to other citizens that there is indeed a candidate who's serious about the race and wants all other friends and foes to be aware.
​
  The State election board will conduct the filing process between April 11-13, at the state capitol.
Filing for 2018 federal, state and legislative offices will be April 11-13, 2018.

2018 federal, state and legislative filing packet
(Candidates for 2018 federal, state or legislative offices should use this packet)

2018 county officer filing packet

2018 Filing fee and petition requirements

2018 Terms of Office

  The newly seated commission on Agency Performance & Accountability Audits met today at the state capitol. Former GOP Gubernatorial Candidate & Oil Industry executive, Bob Sullivan of Tulsa is the chairman.  The meeting focused on preparations for the bidding process for the first round of audits.  Consultants are being vetted for their capabilities to comprehend, identify, and produce solutions. The bids will not be awarded until the legislature funds the commission. The consensus funding request is $5 million per year over the next 4 years.  

• TC Burgin and others on the commission made comments that seem prejudiced that the resulting reports will include recommendations for more money being spent to increase the  services to the state.
• Sullivan did address the need to look for 'mission creep' in the agencies, beyond the statutory mandates of law.
• The contracts can be awarded once the commission is funded. Hopefully by June 1st, but the resulting reports will be more thorough if the legislature puts this matter on a fast track, just as they did this week for the education appropriations.
• Sullivan wants the reports back by December 1st, but they realize that a later December date might be the case.

  Dr. Mike Ritze says he feared for his safety at the Oklahoma Capitol, during the noon hour, on Wednesday. Ritze, who turns 70 this year, was invited by Oklahoma Taxpayers Unite, to attend a press briefing by constituents and Sen. Tom Coburn.
As Ritze was walking alone on the 4th floor, he says  Rep. Josh West, a freshman Republican started yelling at him for participating in the taxpayer advocacy group's meeting. As West (a tall former military vet) got even closer, he screamed; "YOU'RE STARTING A CIVIL WAR!".
  That outburst, and the encroaching movement caught the eye of a capitol public safety officer and he stepped up to the two house members. The presence of law enforcement evidently had a positive effect and West wisely recovered his senses & backed away.
  I was in the doorway of the very packed press briefing room during this time. Others heard the husky outbursts from a far distance but had no idea it was coming from a sworn state official.  I did notice that Rep. Ritze was not anywhere to be seen. He evidently decided to watch the event from his own office and caught up with Dr. Coburn after the briefing.

  When I heard of the outburst and other reports of an irate few associates of the House Speaker, I sought out Mike Ritze and met with him in his office. He recounted the highlights as I stated them. He also wondered if there was a PTSD issue affecting this dangerous behavior (Ritze was a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps).
  He said; "I get yelled at from time to time and I take it all in stride. It comes with the office." But Ritze did not expect a fellow Representative to be among the most rude individuals in the capitol.  The Bullying continues..

  Rep. Roger Ford wanted much more for the public school teachers. He voted 'No' because this massive new tax fell short of his goals. He believes that the teachers will now lose the moral high ground if the go on strike.
  Ford supports some of the tax package but wants to raise much much more. He also wants to spend much much more.
  Here is his assessment of the issue.

  Rep. John Bennett delivered another of his classic fiery speeches last night on the House floor. the occasion was historic as the legislature voted for the Democrat's dream tax package by a tally of 79-19.
  Bennett decried the complete failure to conduct performance audits of the largest agencies.  He points out that the tight fiscal crunch of last year exposed an illegal shell game in the Dept. of Health. He is suspicious that the similar practice is likely to be common in several other agencies. But; he adds; we may never know?
  By Bennett's reasoning, pouring cash infusions into these un-audited agencies will allow them to hide their corruption. With the Health dept. it went on for years.
  We hope to publish the Bennett floor speech when it is released.

  Bennett's office released this breakdown of the new taxes. This is only the first of many expected new taxes.

Section by Section Summary of HB 1010XX
Higher Tobacco Tax
Sections 2 of the measure levy and provide administration directive for an additional 50 mill/cigarette tax on cigarettes. ​

  Despite state revenues being up almost a billion dollars and without any auditing of agencies or reforms to government, tonight the House passed HB1010xx.

• GPT = 5%
• Cigs = $1.00 per pack
• Gasoline = 3 cents per gallon 
• Diesel = 6 cents per gallon
• Hotel/Motel tax = $5.00

  I voted no. This is the largest tax increase in state history. Last time this happened, Oklahomans were clear about what they thought of it and tonight the House turned its backs on them.
​  I believe it is irresponsible governance to ignore the structural problems of overspending we have and instead demand taxes be raised on hard working Oklahomans and that includes teachers.
   I know it’s popular to say that we can’t get a teacher pay raise or anything else done without raising taxes, but that simply isn’t true.
   This was a horrible defeat and a sad day for Oklahoma. On top of that, the revenue this raises will not be enough to prevent a walkout.

  The Oklahoma house tried again to raise taxes without a vote of the citizens of the state. This time they chose a package that the Democrats blessed with support. ​

   This may be the largest package to be brought to the floor in the passed two years. 

• It hikes petroleum gross production to the levels that the Democrats asked for last year but were denied.
• It taxes the wealthy in their itemized deductions for annual income taxes. 
• It taxes motor fuels, both diesel & gasoline. 
• It taxes tobacco nearly double the current amount.

  It appears that House Democrats have joined the ranks of those supporting a Republican leadership tax package. The Massive new taxes will hit the lodging industry hard. Each night of lodging will include another $5 state tax on top of the already hefty sales tax and special community taxes earmarked for tourism, or core local govt. services.
  The mentally ill will be hit with an additional $1 per pack tax on tobacco products. As we have detailed in another article, The mentally ill consume 44% of all tobacco products and have extreme difficulty becoming stable enough to handle the stress of withdrawal that their fragile nervous system must endure. Mental health advocates equate this to a tax on wheelchairs in the name of compassion for the disabled.
  This legislature has largely turned their back on the mentally ill, forcing cops to incarcerate far more of them in jails around the state than are properly treated in state mental health hospitals.  The state now has only 349 state-operated beds, but Just Tulsa jail alone, houses over 500 men who have sought treatment for severe mental illness.
  Oklahoma has recently emerged from a 24 month recession and state tax collections are breaking records. Still the legislature's appetite for more spending is driving this session's leaders to confiscate more of Oklahoma citizens' household income.
   The promise to conduct performance audits appears to be an empty one. No activity seems to be coming from the commission set up last fall.
  

  The House media page says the vote will be held when the body convens at 10:30, tonight.
  ​

  Democrats on the House Appropriations & Budget Committee, and Republican Rep. Mike Sanders; voted to keep giving full cash payments to corporations who set up wind farms in Oklahoma. In the past 5 years the better part of a Billion dollars has been given to investors from other states who set up the massive windmill structures and sell that energy to customers in other states.

Oklahoma tax payers subsidize the low energy to customers in other states by giving these billions to those who built operate and maintain the massive complexes.

  It seems to undercut the narrative of the Democrat caucus when they say they want the poor working people to be protected from carrying the load of govt. funding. Democrats seem to have the opposite narrative when the oil industry is getting the tax breaks and credits.

  The tragic reality is that our legislature can't seem to find the will to quit giving money to industries with wealthy lobbying machines.
  Sadly, the Democrats who claim to represent the working poor, are the obstructions, today.  And Rep. Mike Sanders is, too. His western Oklahoma district has hundreds of wind generators and his re-election funding looks quite adequate.

Updated:
  The Oklahoma House leadership just announced a series of new appropriations and budget bills this morning in a short floor session. The only business was to read the titles of a few leadership bills and assign them to the Appropriations and budget committee. 
  The A&B chairman, Kevin Wallace, also announced a committee meeting to convene right after the 15 min floor session.
  It is expected that this series of bills will take a completely different form via proposed amendments. The members will be asked to vote on them within minutes after first seeing them.
  If successful, the bills will probably move to the House floor for quickie votes next Monday.
  And yes, these bills have emergency clauses, so they can go into effect even before their constitutionality can be challenged.

  SoonerPolitics asked our readers a question that Ben Shapiro talked about, today.  We said, "If blacks are 'disadvantaged' and so are women, then why are black men treated worse than black women?"

  Mr. Jajuan Love of Owasso took the time to explain some of the dynamics that impact this situation and how he intends to deal with it and raise his son to be the man God wants him to become.
 Here are his words...

  Brooke McGowan, a contributing writer for the national media site 'PolitiChicks' has posted a blunt letter to the Oklahoma legislature. In it, she makes a strong claim for the charge of unfaithfulness on the part of both the House & Senate leadership.  Not only does she charge them with cheating on the Republican party, but also punishing those Republicans who will not go along with them in their political debauchery.
This post is published on her Oklahoma blog.

​Dear Oklahoma entrenched Republicans,

We want a divorce.

  ..And it’s YOU that has to go! Because Conservatives, actual conservatives, have held their end of the bargain by rejecting every effort to raise Oklahoma’s taxes to historic levels. YOU on the other hand, have jumped the shark, cheated on the good people of Oklahoma, and we are kicking you out and keeping the house. You’ve just gotta go, and like the deranged cheating narcissist, you continue to gaslight us by telling us the only way to solve the current dilemma is by raising our tax. We KNOW BETTER, and we are on to you!

  A strong & deep rift has emerged in the Oklahoma House Republican Caucus. Many conservatives have given up even attending, anymore.
​  Perhaps the most clear indicator of political philosophy was presented for a floor vote last Thursday. Without warning, the leadership called up a resolution to see if the people of Oklahoma will be willing to give up a constitutional protection against a runaway legislature confiscating more taxes than ever before.
  When Rep. Scott Fetgatter presented his idea, he immediately added an unknown amendment to make it even more severe than his colleagues were aware of. 
  He wants to make it possible that little more than a simple majority of each chamber (60%) could pass a tax package of over $1 Billion dollars (Like Gov. Fallin tried to do, last year).
  Rep. Jason Murphey successfully tabled that surprise amendment, but the version Fetgatter pressed to a vote was a 67% threshold for  denying the people of their constitutional right to a vote on losing more from their paychecks. A full roster of Conservatives joined with the Democrat leaders to object to the recall idea. Only Fetgatter himself would defend the House leadership's plot.