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Governor Stitt announces cabinet transitions

6/30/2020

GOVERNOR STITT ANNOUNCES CABINET TRANSITIONS

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 29, 2020) – Governor Kevin Stitt today announced he has appointed Kevin Corbett as Secretary of Health and Mental Health and Elizabeth Pollard as Secretary of Science and Innovation as former Secretaries Jerome Loughridge and Dr. Kayse Shrum are returning to their full-time careers.

“We are fortunate to have the ability to promote talented people like Secretary Kevin Corbett and Secretary Elizabeth Pollard to ensure a seamless transition,” said Gov. Stitt. “They both have made significant impacts on our state in just a few months, and I am excited to work with them as we continue our momentum toward becoming a Top Ten state.”
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by Muskogee Politico - June 30, 2020 at 12:29PM

Governor Stitt announces cabinet transitions
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Oklahoma Primary Election Day information

6/30/2020

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Today is the Oklahoma Primary Election, and voters all across the state are now heading to the polls to decide nominees in many different races. Here is some information that may be helpful to your plans today.

If you don't know where to vote, or want to see your sample ballot, use this helpful link from the Oklahoma State Election Board to find out. All voters will be eligible to cast ballots on State Question 802 as well as any nonpartisan races in their precinct. Additionally, Republicans and Democrats will be voting in their respective primaries, while Independents are allowed to vote in the Democratic primary.

My picks for the Republican primary ballot, state question, and Muskogee city proposition can be found here. Michael Bates of BatesLine.com and the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee have additional recommendations and picks that I generally agree with. You can also view survey responses at iVoter Guide (put out by the American Family Association and the Family Research Council), the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association, Oklahomans for Life, and Free The States (abortion abolition group).

Voting will be open from 7am to 7pm, with live results on ok.gov/elections shortly thereafter.

Evil triumphs when good men do nothing. Do something for your state and country. If self-proclaimed Christians would vote what they profess, this state and nation would be in a lot better shape. Duty is ours; consequences are God's.

Don't forget to vote today.

by Muskogee Politico - June 30, 2020 at 06:45AM

Oklahoma Primary Election Day information
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State Election Board Offers Tips Reminders for Oklahoma Voters

6/29/2020

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State Election Board Offers Tips, Reminders for Oklahoma Voters

(Oklahoma City) – With social distancing and safety protocols in place ahead of the statewide primary on Tuesday, the State Election Board offers these tips and reminders for Oklahoma voters before they head to the polls June 30.

ELECTION DAY VOTING

Polls are open statewide from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Lines at the polls are typically longest before work, during the lunch hour, and after work.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS

The State Election Board worked with OU Health Sciences Center to develop safety protocols for all of Oklahoma’s 2,000 polling places and 77 county election boards. Poll workers at every location have been supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE) including hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, and disinfectant.

Voters are asked to be patient and follow signage and procedures. While it is not required, the State Election Board strongly recommends that voters wear a mask to protect themselves and those around them.

Find more on COVID-19 and the 2020 elections at https://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Info/Covid-19_and_2020_Elections.html.

BE PREPARED

Study the candidates and issues before going to the polls. View your sample ballot using the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal at www.elections.ok.gov. You can also use the portal to find your polling place and track the status of your absentee ballot. Due to the COVID-19 emergency, some polling places may have changed. Voters are strongly encouraged to verify their voting location before heading to the polls.

CLOSED PRIMARY

Oklahoma has closed primaries; however, recognized parties may open their primaries to Independent voters. For the 2020 and 2021 election years, the Democratic Party has elected to open its primaries to Independents. The Republican and Libertarian parties have chosen to keep their primaries closed.

If you are an Independent voter and would like to vote a Democratic ballot, please be sure to let the poll worker know when you check in.

PROOF OF IDENTITY

Oklahoma law requires every voter who votes in person to show proof of identity before receiving a ballot.

There are three ways for voters to prove their identity under the law (only one proof of identity is required):

Show a valid photo ID issued by the federal, state, or tribal government; or
Show the free voter identification card issued to every voter by their County Election Board; or
Sign an affidavit and vote a provisional ballot. (If the information on the affidavit matches official voter registration records, the ballot will be counted after Election Day.)

State and county election officials are always your trusted sources for information. Visit the State Election Board website to learn more about elections in Oklahoma at www.elections.ok.gov.

by Muskogee Politico - June 29, 2020 at 08:10PM

State Election Board Offers Tips, Reminders for Oklahoma Voters
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Arkansas State Rep: learn from our mistake reject Medicaid expansion (SQ 802)

6/29/2020

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More from OCPA on State Question 802:

On May 13, 2020, Arkansas State Representative Josh Miller wrote a letter to Oklahoma leaders urging them to reject Medicaid expansion.

The letter read:

"Dear Leader David, Speaker McCall, Leader Echols, and other Republican Members of the Oklahoma Legislature,

In light of Oklahoma's consideration of Medicaid expansion, I write to briefly share Arkansas' experience. I will be candid—and hope to convey my sense of urgency. I cannot stress enough my primary takeaway from Arkansas' Medicaid program in recent years: expanding Medicaid to able-bodied adults is a raw deal. Let me explain.

Those who supported Medicaid expansion made lots of promises: increased federal funding to support our state budget, greater access to care for the needy, and relief for rural hospitals. But Arkansas is in a worse position today than before because these grand promises were built on the broken foundation of ObamaCare.

Instead, enrollment and costs shattered projections. Waste and fraud is more difficult to detect. Some of our rural hospitals are still struggling and a few have even closed. Greater costs are being shifted to the remaining Arkansans who pay higher private insurance premiums. More Arkansans are trapped in welfare dependency. And the truly needy—like those with physical and developmental disabilities who require home-based care—face long waiting lists and reduced services while able-bodied, working-age adults move to the front of the line.

In short, expansion was a big mistake for Arkansas.

In times of uncertainty like the COVID-19 pandemic, knowledge is power. And I know the experiences of neighbors, who have had to learn from their mistakes, can provide the most useful knowledge. Arkansas and Oklahoma share more than a border. Our cultures, economies, and enduring public policy challenges have much in common. If you want to avoid the mistakes of our state, I urge you to reject Medicaid expansion.

Sincerely,

Josh Miller
AR State Representative Dist. 66"

Now, I urge all Oklahomans to heed Rep. Miller's advice—reject Medicaid so that Oklahoma can avoid the woes that our neighbor has endured.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Small
President, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

by Muskogee Politico - June 29, 2020 at 02:07PM

Arkansas State Rep: learn from our mistake, reject Medicaid expansion (SQ 802)
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Oklahomans For Life: Bice misrepresents pro-life record no endorsement in CD5 primary

6/29/2020

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No endorsement in 5th Congressional District Republican Primary by Oklahomans For Life

Misrepresentation by Stephanie Bice Campaign

(June 18th) We have received a number of inquiries from residents of the 5th Congressional District about the use of the name and logo of Oklahomans For Life in the 5th District Republican Primary. Use of our name and logo in this race has been done without our knowledge or consent.

We have learned that residents of the 5th Congressional District have received several mailings in recent days implying, or stating outright, that one of the candidates in the Republican Primary has been endorsed by Oklahomans For Life. The mailings have been sent by, or on behalf of, the campaign of Stephanie Bice.

Oklahomans For Life has not endorsed anyone in the 5th Congressional District Republican Primary. Any claim to the contrary is incorrect.

The most recent mail piece says Stephanie Bice has been “Endorsed & Rated 100% Pro-Life by Oklahomans For Life, Inc.” Neither half of that assertion is accurate.

Oklahomans For Life has not endorsed Stephanie Bice in this, or any other race. Regarding the claim that she has been “Rated 100% Pro-Life by Oklahomans For Life,” there have been 14 pro-life bills for which we have advocated during the six years Stephanie Bice has been in the legislature. She has voted for 12 of the 14 bills. (The bills are on our website under “Votes.”)

There are several other candidates in the 5th Congressional District Republican Primary who are strongly pro-life, including David Hill, Janet Barresi, Michael Ballard, and Terry Neese. For one of the candidates, or her surrogates, to falsely claim the endorsement of Oklahomans For Life is an unacceptable misrepresentation – misleading to the voters of the district, unjust to the other candidates, and a disservice to the unborn child.

Tony Lauinger
State Chairman, Oklahomans For Life

Oklahoma legislature Candidate-Survey responses are posted on our Oklahomans For Life website, www.OkForLife.org. Please click here for Candidate Surveys. Click here for Votes on pro-life bills in the legislature. Oklahoma’s Primary Election is tomorrow.

No endorsement has been made in the 5th District Republican Primary by Oklahomans For Life or National Right to Life. Several strongly pro-life candidates are competing for the Republican nomination. Those who have answered National Right to Life's Congressional Candidate Questionnaire with all pro-life answers are David Hill, Janet Barresi, Michael Ballard, Miles Rahimi, Terry Neese, and Stephanie Bice. The incumbent is radical pro-abortion Democrat Kendra Horn.

In addition to 37 detailed questions about legislation, the Candidate Questionnaire of National Right to Life asks this question: “Under what circumstances, if any, do you believe abortion should be legal?” The 5th Congressional District candidates’ answers to this question are as follows:

David Hill: “I am pro-life without exception.”
Janet Barresi: “Only to prevent the death of the mother (the NRL position).”
Michael Ballard: “Only to prevent the death of the mother (the NRL position).”
Miles Rahimi: “Only to prevent the death of the mother (the NRL position).”
Terry Neese: “To prevent the death of the mother, or in cases of rape reported to a law enforcement agency, or incest against a minor reported to a child abuse agency.”

Stephanie Bice: “To prevent the death of the mother, or in cases of rape reported to a law enforcement agency, or incest against a minor reported to a child abuse agency.”

by Muskogee Politico - June 29, 2020 at 12:47PM

Oklahomans For Life: Bice misrepresents pro-life record, no endorsement in CD5 primary
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2020 Primary Election: Tips and Picks

6/29/2020

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Tomorrow is the Oklahoma Primary Election, and voters all across the state are now heading to the polls to decide nominees in many different races. Here is some information that may be helpful with your voting plans.

If you don't know where to vote, or want to see your sample ballot, use this helpful link from the Oklahoma State Election Board to find out.

Here are a few of my voting picks. Work and family activities prevented me from getting into more detail on many of these races, but here are some basic thoughts.

Corporation Commissioner: Todd Hiett. Hiett seems to have been a solid commissioner, and his challenger is 85 and a perennial candidate.
United States Senate: J.J. Stitt. This is a protest vote, as I don't think Inhofe -- who will be 86 two weeks after the general election -- should have run for re-election.
U.S. House, District 2: Joseph Silk. Silk is a conservative stalwart, and the most dedicated defender of the unborn that the Oklahoma legislature has ever seen. He would make a fantastic congressman. As I've pointed out before many times before, Markwayne Mullin is a remorseless pledge-breaker, and I will not reward that dishonesty and lack of integrity with a vote.
U.S. House, District 4: James Walters. Incumbent Tom Cole is the most liberal Oklahoma Republican in Congress, and should have been ousted long ago.
U.S. House, District 5: David Hill. Hill seems to be the most conservative in a crowded field. He was the only candidate to say “I am pro-life without exception” in the National Right To Life candidate questionaire; the others had some sort of exception or excuse to support abortions in certain cases.
State Senate District 7: Warren Hamilton. Hamilton seems to be a fiery conservative, dedicated to the cause of abolishing abortion in Oklahoma. Incumbent Larry Boggs has been more conservative than most of the rest of the State Senate, but I feel that Hamilton would be a more eloquent and rock-solid member.
State House District 3: Rick West. Rick was one of a handful of conservative champions in the 2017-2018 legislative sessions and special sessions before opting to not run for reelection in 2018. He would be a fantastic addition to the Legislature.
State House District 11: Wendi Stearman. I've heard great things about this homeschool mom running against one of the most liberal legislative Republicans.
State House District 14: George Faught. I'm biased, of course, but here's what Charlie Meadows of OCPAC wrote about my dad: "Faught’s leadership is needed for insight into who are the fake conservatives. He knows who the snakes are at the Capitol and what rocks they slither under."
State House District 69: Angela Strohm. Strohm's husband was also a member of the conservative core in past terms. She would carry on that representation well.
State Question 802: Vote NO. Oklahoma can't afford this disastrous measure. You can read a host of reasons at the many posts and viewpoints I've published on this.
Muskogee County Sheriff: Michael Mahan. I appreciated his responses to my candidate forum, and respected Second Amendment individuals in the area support him.
Muskogee Mayor: Marlon Coleman. I appreciate his positive campaign and his seeming ability to overcome differences and unite folks from a broad coalition. His opponent has surrounded himself with unsavory characters and run nasty campaigns both this round and two years ago.
Muskogee City Proposition: I voted yes. I prefer a strong-mayor form of government to the council-manager form we currently use. That said, this isn't a huge issue for me. Read arguments from the Yes side here, and the No side here.

You can also find recommendations and picks that I generally agree with from Michael Bates of BatesLine.com, and the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee. You can also view survey responses at iVoter Guide (put out by the American Family Association and the Family Research Council), the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association, Oklahomans for Life, and Free The States (abortion abolition group).

by Muskogee Politico - June 29, 2020 at 09:09AM

2020 Primary Election: Tips and Picks
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Former Gov. Keating: "SQ 802 is bad for Oklahoma"

6/29/2020

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Former OK governor says ‘Vote No’ on SQ 802

By Former Gov. Frank Keating

Dramatic improvement in Oklahoma citizens’ health. Rural hospitals transformed from near collapse to thriving hubs of medical innovation. Literally a billion dollars raining from the sky.

Those are just a handful of the promises made or implied by supporters of State Question 802, which would expand Oklahoma’s Medicaid program to include many able-bodied adults as part of Obamacare.

You’re probably thinking, “That sounds too good to be true.”

You’re right.

Here’s the truth about State Question 802. It’s been tried in other states—and failed.

The reality of SQ 802 is far different than the pie-in-the-sky claims made by its supporters.

First, it won’t improve health outcomes. States with citizen demographics that are similar to Oklahoma—like Arkansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana—have all expanded Medicaid, yet still rank alongside Oklahoma (or worse) in health outcomes.
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by Muskogee Politico - June 29, 2020 at 08:36AM

Former Gov. Keating: "SQ 802 is bad for Oklahoma"
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Neese releases list of endorsements by current and former OKC-area elected officials

6/28/2020

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TERRY NEESE RELEASES ENDORSEMENTS OF 18 CURRENT & FORMER ELECTED OFFICIALS AHEAD OF OK-05 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

Oklahoma City, OK (June 23rd) -- Terry Neese, Republican candidate for Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District, today released a list of eighteen current and former elected officials who have endorsed her campaign ahead of the Primary Election on June 30th.

Terry Neese said: “I am honored to have the support of eighteen incredible public servants who recognize the importance of nominating a trusted conservative and proven job creator who has what it takes to beat Kendra Horn and help Republicans win back control of Congress in November. I am running for Congress to help President Trump deliver his America-first agenda that will secure our borders, rebuild our economy, and protect conservative values from being destroyed by Nancy Pelosi and liberal coastal elites -- and I will get the job done for Oklahomans.”
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by Muskogee Politico - June 28, 2020 at 07:30PM

Neese releases list of endorsements by current and former OKC-area elected officials
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Small: No vote on SQ802 is a wise decision

6/28/2020

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“No” vote on SQ802 is a wise decision

By Jonathan Small

Soon, Oklahomans will consider State Question 802, which would increase welfare by expanding Oklahoma’s Medicaid program to cover able-bodied adults. Believing the arguments of SQ802’s supporters requires ignoring mountains of evidence.

Isn’t Medicaid expansion funded by “free” federal money? Nope. The federal government is broke and has a trillion-dollar deficit. Plus, State taxes are required as well. In Oklahoma, Medicaid expansion will cost state taxpayers up to $374 million annually.
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by Muskogee Politico - June 28, 2020 at 03:31PM

Small: “No” vote on SQ802 is a wise decision
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House Dems call on Governor to implement 5-level virus alert system

6/28/2020

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Democrats Call on Governor to Implement Oklahoma Virus Awareness Program

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 24th) -- House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, today called on Gov. Kevin Stitt to implement a system to better prepare Oklahoma for pandemics including COVID-19.

The Oklahoma Virus Awareness Program, similar to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Terrorism Advisory System, would use levels to make recommendations for actions based on data and not politics.

“Too many decisions during this pandemic have been made based on what is best for politics,” Leader Virgin said. “This system would help the process become a bit more transparent and more easily understood by relying on specific data thresholds instead of cherry-picked data that promotes one side’s political talking points.”

House Democrats did present an example chart of the program, however, the goal is for the actual thresholds and recommendations to be created by public health experts.

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by Muskogee Politico - June 28, 2020 at 01:00PM

House Dems call on Governor to implement 5-level virus alert system
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Muskogee Politico
Jamison Faught

MuskogeePolitico.com is operated by blogger Jamison Faught, and was started on July 31st 2008.
Faught is a lifelong Muskogee resident, and is a homeschool graduate. He and Kristen got married in September of 2012. They are the parents of a energetic daughter (2015) and son (2017).
On the political side, Faught has volunteered on numerous campaigns, served as the chairman and organizer of the Muskogee Tea Party, and has been involved in both the Muskogee County Republican Party and the Oklahoma Republican Party for almost a decade.
U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Muskogee) was the doctor who delivered him, and his father (George Faught) has served four terms as the first Republican state representative in House District 14.

Governor Stitt announces cabinet transitions

Oklahoma Primary Election Day information

State Election Board Offers Tips Reminders for Oklahoma Voters

Arkansas State Rep: learn from our mistake reject Medicaid expansion (SQ 802)

Oklahomans For Life: Bice misrepresents pro-life record no endorsement in CD5 primary

2020 Primary Election: Tips and Picks

Former Gov. Keating: "SQ 802 is bad for Oklahoma"

Neese releases list of endorsements by current and former OKC-area elected officials

Small: No vote on SQ802 is a wise decision

House Dems call on Governor to implement 5-level virus alert system

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