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Rep. John Bennett (R-Sallisaw) stood on the House floor to decry the unethical practices of some agencies who are using fear as a political weapon. The most egregious offenders are the Dept. of Mental Health and the Department of Human Services.
Speaker Charles McCall was the first to cry 'foul' at Commissioner Terry White's misbehavior. Speaker McCall convened a press conference on Friday, Oct. 21st, just one day after White and several of her multi-million-dollar corporate contractors announced the impending closure of the most effective mental health services. McCall assured Oklahomans that the state already had $100 million dollars in unappropriated funds that were ready for immediate commitment to the agencies when the money is needed. That didn't stop the Mental Health Agency from continuing the narrative of fear throughout the next week. On Tuesday, Oct 24th, several thousand Oklahomans descended on the capitol to repeat the terrifying threats they heard. Several Oklahomans were in tears at the capitol as they pleaded with lawmakers. Some of these citizens struggle with chronic major depression, anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It seemed to some capitol staffers and lawmakers like the agency narrative was exacerbating the illnesses and triggering panic, just for political showmanship. |
John Bennett is emerging as one of the best debaters in the legislature.
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This Tuesday, Rep. John Bennett finally addressed this shameful practice. Here is Bennett's floor debate.
The narrative of the Bennett speech resulted in Gov. Mary Fallin immediately crying foul because Bennett identified the tactic as terror, as it was intended to terrify the target. Bennett, a war veteran of recent middle east theaters of war, is well versed in identifying terror. He is not recanting his speech. |
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