The Oklahoma State Board of Education continues its work to remove age-inappropriate pornographic materials from Oklahoma’s public schools. At its January 25, 2024, meeting Superintendent Ryan Walters officially informed the board that he has appointed nationally renowned Chaya Raichik (handle: Libs of TikTok) to the state Library Media Advisory Committee. In a brief video presentation Chaya assured viewers that the porn will be removed and “we will take back our schools”. 

Superintendent Ryan opined that it would be better for schools to act on their own now to remove such materials from their libraries. He said that if the state finds the materials “there will be accountability.”

Well before the meeting began Protestors armed with signs gathered outside. Protests continued during the Public Comment portion of the meeting. In part protestors were blaming Chaya for the August 2023 bomb threats to Tulsa area schools that were later deemed “not credible” by the Tulsa Police Department and the FBI.

Protestors appear to fear her appointment will cause additional bomb threats. Two people speaking “on the agenda” suggested that Chaya’s appointment will be followed by bomb threats. However, bomb threats have been made for a myriad of reasons and it is the person making the threat responsible for the harm. Terror attempts generating fear must not freeze our freedom.

A third said that appointing her is another example of not listening to the public. In contrast, one of the three “off the agenda” speakers commended Chaya’s appointment.

Sexual Predators in Oklahoma Schools:

Superintendent Walters stated that “the board will move on this.” He explained that school districts are required to notify the board and suspend teachers who are being investigated from individual reports of improprieties. Fourteen teaching certificates were reviewed in an executive session. Four (Benjamin Hall, Lauren Anderson, James Caldwell, and James Miller) were “summarily suspended” and referred to a hearing officer for an individual proceeding for revocation or other action, two (Erin Overton and Kacy Katibeh) were suspended for the remainder of the school year for breach of contract with Glenpool public schools, eight were referred to a hearing officer (Ivy Reneau, Kimberly Coates, Kristen Andrews, Melissa Smith, Rhonda Carlile, Stacy Dimarco, Christin Covel, and Devon Mitchell). One additional individual (Dallas Ewton) “failed to appear” before the assigned hearing officer so the board agreed to accept the hearing officer’s decision.

The board decided to hear the case of Summer Boismier during their regular March 28, 2024, board meeting.  At that meeting the board will decide whether to revoke Ms. Boismier’s teaching certificate or hold a hearing. On 08/22/22 Ms. Boismier resigned from the Norman Public School District.  She had a display of books in her classroom covered by a sign reading “Books the state doesn’t want you to read” accompanied by a QR code to the Brooklyn Library Books Unbanned. A parent accused her of violating HB 1775. Ms. Boismier now resides in Brooklyn, New York and works for the Brooklyn Public Library.

Praise for Superintendent Johnson and TPS:

Following Dr. Johnson’s detailed report Superintendent Ryan praised TPS for their good academic progress and intentionality. He voiced his concerns regarding financial projections wanting to be sure that there is money to sustain TPS for the future.

Superintendent Ebony Johnson gave her monthly presentation about the turnaround efforts that she is leading in TPS. She opened by showcasing a number of students in graduation regalia.  Those students hadn’t met the requirements to graduate in the spring of 2023 but succeeded in meeting them for “Winter Graduation” on January 8, 2024.

Dr. Johnson and her team reported progress towards reaching the three district goals established in previous meetings with the OSBOE. Much of the work focuses on the district’s CSI (Comprehensive Support and Improvement) and MRI (More Rigorous Intervention) schools. She cited

• shifts in teacher and administrative assignments to better meet student needs
• purchase of Oklahoma standard aligned test preparation materials
• starting “high dose” tutoring in CSI and MRI schools
• plans to complete Science of Reading training with all teachers and school leaders by May 30
• winter break tutoring with 299 elementary students
• placing support staff into English Language Arts classroom vacancies at all MRI and CSI sites
• providing additional counselors and social work supports to MRI schools
• plans for district leaders to receive midyear reflections from MRI and CSI school leaders
• using various data (i.e., Amira usage, end of unit assessments, number of skills mastered) to monitor student progress throughout the school year
• chronic absenteeism has improved from last year, but continues to be significantly higher than pre-pandemic years
• student behavioral issues are “less prominent” than last year, but suspensions continue to interfere with the goal of maximizing instructional time
• teacher retention is stabilizing post COVID, yet the proportion of traditionally certified teachers has steadily declined since 2018
• TPS has taken measures to be able to maintain a sustainable budget for the next five years
• TPS is maintaining building spaces
• TSP finance teams is meeting every three weeks with the OSDOE finance team
• TPS plans to audit central office positions aiming to reduce the current 4.03% administrative costs
• OSDOE board members are actively helping TPS
• TPS board member Lamkin is working on establishing PTAs in TPS schools that currently do not have a PTA
• Dr. Dodd (chief strategy and innovation officer) reported that there is energy, momentum and enthusiasm across the district and added that there is “no arm twisting needed”

OSBOE board members asked questions, made suggestions, and engaged in dialogue about:

• multi use of school buildings and family accessibility
• demonstrating how science of reading training serves student outcomes
• the benefits of Amira (AI real time feedback to students)
• definitions of non-instructional spending and the meaning of “per student” to calculate the percentage of administrative costs
• chronic absenteeism: teaching families that pre K and Kindergarten is school, showing families how better attendance will help their children, and helping families team up with the schools to get their children to attend
• teacher retention: noting that it is more about teachers feeling good about the district they work in (working conditions) than about teacher pay
• continuing to make a “deep dive” into financial stability over the long term

Other subjects covered in this OSBOE meeting:

1. Three school districts (Antlers, Jennings, and Glencoe) requested that they be in session for fewer than the required one hundred sixty-five instructional days for the 2024-2025 school year. The request was granted. The three districts have the required1,080 hours per year of instructional time and are “high” performing districts. Therefore, they meet the legislative established qualifications for a reduced number of instructional days.
2. A number of school districts requested “late penalty waivers”. The penalties were incurred when the districts failed to meet the deadlines for various reports due to the state. Bryan Cleveland, General Counsel, explained that traditionally if the penalty is less than $100 it is waved upon request.

Five hundred twenty-one of the five hundred forty-six school districts met all deadlines. The penalties are subtracted from state aid the next time that aid is given and are generally less than three thousand dollars. 

Board members asked if there were any districts that have asked for waivers in a previous year and learned that there were two such districts. After some discussion the board passed a motion to waive all penalties except for the two school districts (Bokoshe and Hanna) that had previously asked for waivers.

,OSBOE Goes After Porn, Praises TPS
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.

In a stirring display of determination and advocacy, Women for Tulsa is set to galvanize the community with an event that’s more than just a gathering—it’s a movement. The group is hosting a noteworthy event featuring Riley Gaines, Ambassador at the Independent Women’s Forum and a celebrated 12-time NCAA All-American Swimmer.

This event, which is free to all ages and the public, is scheduled for February 9, 2024, at the Cove at River Spirit Casino in Tulsa and represents a clarion call for action.

Gaines, a symbol of determination and perseverance, is the group’s chosen face to inspire young women and men to stand for their beliefs. According to Julie Woolslayer, co-spokeswoman of Women for Tulsa, Riley’s message is clear and universal: “Protect women’s sports, protect women’s spaces. This message transcends political boundaries and should resonate with liberals, conservatives, and moderates alike.”

Women for Tulsa is not affiliated with any political group. Their candidate vetting system and strategic focus on local politics stand out from other groups; their Christian Conservative perspective doesn’t hinder its inclusivity, as it supports the best candidate regardless of political affiliation. This approach aligns with the belief of Christy Rawlings, co-spokeswoman in finding a middle ground: “Women for Tulsa tries to reach that ‘gap’ instead of being too polarizing.”

“My previous work in Washington D.C. for then Oklahoma Senator David Boren showed me a lot of great things can happen in the middle,” states Rawlings. “We must listen to the other side and be able to reach common ground.”

The organization’s current mission is to awaken and activate the community. As Rawlings states, “There are a lot of people looking to get involved…we want to provide the vehicle for them to make a difference.” The group offers diverse roles for involvement, recognizing each member’s unique skills and time restrictions.

The inception of Women for Tulsa is rooted in a shared vision between Rawlings and Woolslayer. Meeting at a gym and bonding over shared frustrations, they transformed complaints into action. Woolslayer, with a background steeped in volunteerism, finds herself as an encourager and supporter in this movement.

“We were working out at the same gym, complaining, and went for a long walk with another friend — decided it was time to stop complaining and start doing,” recounts Woolslayer.

With 80 current members and an aspiration to grow to 400, Women for Tulsa is on an ambitious path. Their monthly newsletter, packed with calls to action, reflects their proactive stance in local governance.

The upcoming event with Riley Gaines is part of their strategy to amplify their voice and expand their reach. The event, capable of hosting 2,500 people, offers free bus parking and accommodation options, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity.

Women for Tulsa represents a dynamic force in local politics, advocating for women’s rights. The group’s hyper-focus on local politics, such as city council, school board, and mayoral races, will never change. Engaging speakers like Riley Gaines underscores their commitment to inspiring and mobilizing the community.

With a mission that resonates across political lines, Women for Tulsa is creating a platform where women’s voices, both young and old, can unite for a cause that transcends the usual divides. It’s a testament to their dedication and a step towards a larger, more active membership committed to making a difference in Tulsa and beyond.

For more details about Women For Tulsa and the Riley Gaines event, visit https://womenfortulsa.org.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in City News Tulsa online and in print and is republished here with permission.

,Tulsa Rally with Riley Gaines on February 9
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.

The current fentanyl crisis in America is directly tied to the Biden administration’s unwillingness to secure our southern border.

Over the past three years, over 8.8 million illegal migrants have crossed the southern border. That is more than twice the population of Oklahoma. This number includes over two million known “gotaways” who evaded border patrol, smuggling drugs and trafficked persons into our country. The Biden administration’s open border has created a national security, public health, and humanitarian crisis.

Joe Biden’s incompetence has proven deadly. On Joe Biden’s watch, over 56,380 pounds of fentanyl have been trafficked into our country. Now, illicit fentanyl poisoning has become the leading cause of death among American adults ages 18-45.

Fentanyl is a controlled substance. However, illicit fentanyl production is the primary driver of record-breaking overdose numbers. Fentanyl abuse has become more common and dangerous in recent years due to “fentanyl analogs” and “fentanyl-related substances,” which are similar in chemical makeup but far more powerful. In fact, of the pills tested for fentanyl, an alarming 42 percent contain at least two milligrams of fentanyl – a lethal dose that could fit on the tip of a pencil.

Fentanyl and its analogues are easier to produce and quicker to make than other drugs. They are also twenty times more profitable. For these reasons, criminal drug cartels are flooding our border with counterfeit pills and cashing in on our national security crisis at the American people’s expense.

Unfortunately, the fentanyl crisis is disproportionately harming Oklahomans.

Oklahoma has seen fentanyl deaths double for five years in a row, and as of November of last year, it ranked fourth in the U.S. for an increase in fentanyl overdose deaths in the last 12 months. In 2019, there were 47 fentanyl overdose deaths in our state, according to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. In 2022, the number of deaths from fentanyl poisoning skyrocketed to 300. According to the CDC, unintentional overdose deaths in the State of Oklahoma reached almost 700 between April 2022 and April 2023.

Despite these difficult statistics, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claims the amount of fentanyl coming across the southern border is “at historic lows” thanks to Joe Biden’s immigration policies. Oklahomans should be outraged by the Biden administration’s effort to put their political agenda over the safety and security of the American people.

The solution is straightforward: the single most effective step we can take today to combat the fentanyl epidemic is to secure our border. Senate Republicans stand united in our efforts to enforce our immigration laws, reinstate the “remain-in-Mexico” policy, end Obama-era catch and release, build the wall, crack down on Mexican cartels, and tighten asylum claims, among other protections. The deadly fentanyl epidemic has found its way into our Oklahoma communities, and it is past time the Biden administration takes a hands-on approach to prioritize U.S. national security and save lives.

,To Stop the Fentanyl Crisis, Secure the Border
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.

For most Americans, bomb shelters are a relic of the past, a call-out to the early 1960s when Cold War tensions ran high. But for citizens of Israel, bomb shelters are a very present and living reality. Even more so since October 7.

In an announcement today, the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry in the US and United Kingdom reported donations of 14 bomb shelters to Israel in 2023. Of those, 12 after the ghastly October 7 terror attacks by Hamas.

The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry was founded in 1938 to provide relief and assistance to Jewish refugees who were fleeing the Holocaust. “With theological conviction, we took a stand against antisemitism through humanitarian aid and blessed the Jewish people as instructed by God in Genesis 12:3,” said Dr. Jim Showers, president and executive director.

In the Western Negev near the Gaza Strip, finding refuge from missiles is such a regular aspect of life that you will find a safe room in every home and a bomb shelter in every community. Even bus stops, often decorated with beautiful artwork, double as bomb shelters.

While Israel’s Iron Dome of anti-missile protection is able to destroy an estimated 90% of projectiles coming out of Gaza, the danger is still in the shrapnel, which can kill. Bomb shelters provide safety from the rocket storms.

Near the end of 2023, FOI partners installed two shelters, one in Kibbutz Dorot and the other in Kibbutz Erez, both in the Western Negev. Two more were just donated after New Year’s, at a cost of approximately $34,000, and will be installed at yet-to-be-determined sites.

All the shelters purchased in 2023, and the two just recently acquired, are valued at more than $500,000. All of that was donor-funded.

“We have also given funds to refurbish and move bomb shelters that were previously protecting populations that were murdered in the massacre so they can protect people again,” noted Showers. “That’s been one of the more emotional stories to tell.”

Friends of Israel has donated 74 bomb shelters in the last 10 years. “Each time the missile siren sounds in Israel, Friends of Israel bomb shelters protect more than 1,200 people,” Showers said. “We can see how the Lord helped prepare Israel by increasing our financial capacity to help with more bomb shelters, ambulances, and other medical equipment.”

Since 2012, The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry has blessed Israel with more than $6.9 million in humanitarian aid through its Israel Relief Fund. Beyond shelters, monies have also purchased two ambulances and seven medicycles contributed to Israel’s national emergency medical system, Magen David Adom.

“The need to help the sons and daughters of Jacob continues as antisemitism and poverty persist throughout the world,” Showers said. “Because our salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ comes through God’s covenant promises to Israel, the Apostle Paul points out in Romans that we are indebted to help the Jewish people materially, ‘For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things’” (15:27b).

And for the people of Israel today, that means safety and assurance during very troubling and unsettled times.

To learn more about The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, visit FOI.org.

,American Ministry Shelters Israel
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.

Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), alongside Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), introduced January 11th the Constitutional Election Integrity Act, legislation that would prevent state politicians like the Maine Secretary of State and state entities like the Colorado Supreme Court from disqualifying presidential candidates from the ballot on constitutional matters that should be decided by only the Supreme Court.

The Constitutional Election Integrity Act clarifies that the Supreme Court of the United States has the sole ability to decide legal claims arising out of section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. The legislation also withholds federal funding for election administration from states that misuse the 14th Amendment for political purposes.

Mullin and Tillis are joined by Senators J.D. Vance (R-OH), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).

“Presidential elections are determined by the American people, not liberal political activists with a grudge,” said Senator Mullin. “Right now, states like Colorado and Maine are working overtime to undermine American voters and kick President Donald Trump off the ballot. Our bill, the Constitutional Election Integrity Act will clarify and affirm that any challenges to the U.S. Constitution must be adjudicated by the Supreme Court, not partisan activists. I am glad to join with my colleagues who believe in protecting the sanctity of our Constitution and the system of checks and balances established by our Founding Fathers.”

“Regardless of whether you support or oppose former President Donald Trump, it is outrageous to see left-wing activists make a mockery of our political system by scheming with partisan state officials and pressuring judges to remove him from the ballot,” said Senator Tillis. “American voters, not partisan activists, should decide who we elect as our President. The Constitutional Election Integrity Act would put any constitutional challenges in the sole place they belong: the U.S. Supreme Court.”

“Kicking your political enemies off the ballot is the kind of stuff you see in communist countries like Venezuela, Cuba and China—it should never be happening in the United States of America. Period. These partisan activists are anti-democracy, and their actions are an effort to silence Americans and their votes. This is about taking your voice away from you. This is sending a message to folks—American citizens—that you don’t get to vote for the president of your country. That is our God-given, inalienable right, and I will not stand for this gross overreach,” said Senator Scott. “That is why I am fighting hard to pass the Constitutional Election Integrity Act to restore freedom and democracy to our elections that some Democrat states are working so hard to dismantle.”

“Activist courts and far-left state officials have attempted to remove a lawful candidate for president from the ballot in a brazen, undemocratic act of election interference,” said Senator Budd. “That’s why I am proud to join Senator Tillis in his effort to restore election integrity and ensure that the voters get to determine the next president, not partisan actors.”

“Weaponizing state courts to remove candidates from the ballot not only undermines our political system but seeks to silence the American people and circumvent their will,” said Senator Lummis. “Our Founding Fathers fought to give the American people the freedom to elect their president; they did not intend for political activists to abuse our judicial system. The Constitutional Election Integrity Act gives the U.S. Supreme Court the authority to preserve this sacred right, and I’m proud to join Senator Tillis in protecting our elections from these overt displays of partisan corruption.”

The text of the legislation can be found here.

,Sen. Mullin Bill to Require SCOTUS Review
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.

Rep. Eric Roberts, R-Oklahoma City, has filed legislation to prohibit the use of ranked-choice voting in all Oklahoma elections, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the state’s electoral processes. This is good news, but Griffin Communications’ Tulsa KOTV Channel 6 Sunday promoted an “Open Primary System” just as today the State of New Hampshire utilizes that chaotic process to harm Republicans and their presumptive nominee Donald J. Trump.

House Bill 3156 would ban ranked-choice voting within the state. House Joint Resolution 1048 would introduce a legislative referendum allowing voters to decide whether to add stipulations about how elections are conducted into the Oklahoma Constitution and ensure voters can select only one candidate for the same office.

“Ranked-choice voting makes voting more confusing and has delayed election results everywhere it has been tried,” Roberts said in a release Monday. “We need to preserve the simplicity and timeliness of our current elections, along with our current ease in doing hand recounts when needed.”

Ranked-choice voting requires voters to designate their top choice in a race, their second choice and so on down the ballot.  Roberts gave the example of a ballot with five offices. If each office has four candidates, he said, each voter would be expected to review and rank four candidates for each race, which is a total of 20 votes.  If no candidate receives a majority, the least popular candidate is then eliminated and their voters would have their votes reallocated to their second-choice candidate, with the process repeating until one candidate has a majority.

The process requires specialized computer software to handle the reallocation of votes from one candidate to another. In an interim study last year, Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said the adoption of ranked-choice voting would necessitate the replacement of all state election machines, including new computer software, with an estimated cost of “tens of millions of dollars.”

Ziriax told committee members that “the days of knowing the election results on election night would be long gone.” Ranked-choice voting has already been banned in Florida, Tennessee, Idaho, Montana and South Dakota. HB3156 and HJR1048 are to be considered in the Second Regular Session of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature, which begins Monday, Feb. 5.

KOTV Sunday aired a story with two so-called election experts, Jeremy Gruber with Open Primaries and Margaret Kobos with Oklahoma United, discussing the push for open primary elections and what that would mean for voters. Both groups want open primaries. It is a media shame KOTV did not offer alternative views or debate in this newscast.

While Independent Voters can vote in Oklahoma Democratic Party Primaries, Republicans must be registered as a Republican to vote in the party primary for good reason.

This election cycle draws a stark difference nationwide and locally between Lawful Freedom and Constitutional Chaos as demonstrated by the National Democratic Party faction of continual lawfare and uni-party media manipulations.

Republicans don’t disrespect Democrats or Independents (that’s where they get new Republicans), but the purpose of political affiliation is to establish common beliefs on public policies from open party debate. Nonpartisian elections allow candidates to hide their beliefs from voters, electioneer contests, and play havoc with the process which benefits big money establishment uni-party candidates.

More debate on principles, beyond personalities, provides more honest representation in office after election.

,Ranked-Choice Voting & Open Primaries
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.

Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, in a statement today responded to critics of legislation he filed that targets Hispanic gang members in an attempt to protect Oklahomans from illegal activity by Mexican and other drug cartels that have brought fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the state and that perpetuate other illegal activity such as sex and labor trafficking.

House Bill 3133, as it is currently worded, states that any person who is of Hispanic descent living within the state of Oklahoma; is a member of a criminal street gang as such term is defined in state statutes; and has been convicted of a gang-related offense enumerated in state statute shall be deemed to have committed an act of terrorism and will be subject to property forfeiture.

Humphrey said he hadn’t considered the language offensive, but after consulting with others, he intends to change the measure to read something along the lines of anyone involved in a transnational criminal organization that includes documented and known gang affiliation.

“My recently filed House Bill 3133 has received massive criticism,” Humphrey said. “The indignation seems to be over the use of the word Hispanic. It appears that calling out the Mexican cartel or Hispanic gangs has become racist.

“Border agents and narcotics agents have advised there are two Mexican Cartels – the Sinola and New Age Cartels – that are primarily responsible for the horde of drugs and fentanyl that is destroying and murdering  thousands of Americans.

“When we see a plane fly into a building killing 3,000 people, we recognize that as an act of terrorism. But when a reported 107,000 people are illegally slain with illegal fentanyl, we remain silent and take no action. America has seen more people dying from fentanyl overdose in one year than American military members killed in the Korean and Vietnam wars combined. Yet, our government has not declared this an act of war or an act of terrorism. We have not declared these cartels or the gangs they employ as terrorists.

“House Bill 3133 seeks to rectify the government’s indefensible failure. The bill seeks to identify, classify and punish these horrific terrorists.

“I have been shocked that America is being invaded and undergoing acts of terrorism resulting in at least 107,000 peoples’ deaths, and yet the public’s outrage is aimed at me for simply declaring the groups that are mainly responsible are Hispanic. When I declared Mexican cartels are Hispanic, there was moral outrage and accusations of racism. I believe these continual accusations of racism present an indisputable danger to America freedom and democracy. United we Stand; divided we fall.

“While I am not moved by unwarranted accusations of racism, I do admit a valid point that House Bill 3133 should not be limited to just Mexican cartels. I have agreed to change the bill and am working with narcotics’ experts to provide better language. I will remove the word Hispanic and replace it with something like transnational criminal organization to include documented and known gang affiliation.

“Hearing from everyone and adapting bill language is how good legislation is formed.”

,Protecting OK From Gangs & Cartels
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is commending the New York Stock Exchange for listening to him and his fellow attorneys general by withdrawing a proposed rule change that would have allowed the listing of “Natural Asset Companies” (NACs) on the exchange. NACs are a novel corporate structure designed to take land off the market to prohibit productive economic uses, which would have negative effects on domestic oil and gas exploration and production he said in a statement today.

“The strict requirements for NACs would have significantly halted the development of natural resources, particularly energy exploration,” Drummond said. “Such a move would have had severe economic consequences for Oklahoma. I applaud the NYSE for listening to the counsel of this coalition of attorneys general and withdrawing this ill-advised and illegal proposed rule change.”

NACs are a new, untested corporate structure created to lease so-called “ecological performance rights” from landowners, including the federal government. NACs manage “natural assets” in lieu of generating revenue. Any “revenue-generating operations” an NAC engages in must be both “sustainable” and consistent with “its primary purpose” of protecting nature. 

Drummond had signed on to a Jan. 9 public comment letter joined by 24 other states.

Ultimately, NACs can lock up lands from economic uses such as oil and gas exploration, agriculture, logging or mining. The proposed rule change would have allowed NACs to raise capital through listing stock on the NYSE.

In the comment letter spearheaded by attorneys general in Utah and Kansas, the coalition had urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to disapprove the would-be change. They contended the proposal ran contrary to law, exceeded the SEC’s statutory authority, violated the major questions doctrine, and was bad policy. 

The letter was also joined by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.  

Read the letter here.

,Drummond commends New York Exchange
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.

Tuesday, GOP State Vice Chairman Wayne Hill called an official meeting of the State Committee for January 27th in Oklahoma City.

Beginning his call with notice that the “State Committee is the supreme authority of the State GOP,” Hill notes an internal struggle in Oklahoma’s Congressional District 3 and apparent betrayals by GOP elected officials. Hill writes, “Our ‘Republican’ Oklahoma Labor Commissioner, Leslie Osburn, supports LGBTQ ideology and chaired an organization indoctrinating our children. Our ‘Republican’ US Senator, James Lankford, worked on language for a bill with Chuck Schumer to allow more illegals into our country and further compromise our border.”

Hill further explained on OKGrassRoots.com, “The mechanism we use to make decisions is through State Committee meetings. Each member has the right to bring motions and written motions (resolutions) to the meetings, where the committee can debate and vote. What passes the State Committee is the official position of the OKGOP. We met at the joint call of myself and the Chairman in July, where the Chairman laid out dates for quarterly meetings. We met in October, but unfortunately, the Chairman did not call the meeting that had been scheduled for January 13th.

“In our state rules, it says that each member has a “sacred and inviolate” right to “participate in the official affairs and governance of the Republican Party” and that right shall not be abridged (OKGOP Rule 3(a)). I take that responsibility seriously and want to give you the opportunity to participate at the State level in decisions that will impact the OKGOP,” to read more of Hill’s post on OKGrassRoots.com, click here.

,GOP State Committee Called
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.

Oklahoma, like most states, has a compulsory education law. If you don’t homeschool or send your child to a private school, you are required to enroll your child in a public school. Failure to do so means you can face fines and up to 15 days imprisonment on a third offense.

But if parents enroll their child in the “wrong” public school, they can face up to one year in jail.

Put simply, the potential consequences for neglecting a child’s education are far less severe than the consequences for trying to get your child in a safer public school with a better academic atmosphere.

Fortunately, one lawmaker wants to put an end to that mixed message.

Currently, if a parent tries to enroll their child in a public-school district by falsely claiming to reside in that district, the parent can face up to one year in jail and a $500 fine.

Senate Bill 1566, by state Sen. Ally Seifried, would get rid of that penalty.

That’s the right move. The state should not penalize parents for trying to keep their children safe and educated – particularly families facing obstacles who are often ensnared by this type of law.

In 2011 in Ohio, Kelley Williams-Bolar was found guilty of two third-degree felonies and faced five years in prison for each count because she used her father’s home address to enroll her daughter in a better school.

Williams-Bolar was a black single mother who also worked as a teaching assistant for kids with special needs.

Similarly, in 2011, a homeless mother who used a friend’s address to register her child in the Norwalk, Connecticut district, was charged with first-degree larceny and faced up to 20 years in prison.

In 2019, a staff member at Union Public Schools in Oklahoma demanded to inspect a 12-year-old girl’s bedroom to establish residency.

Williams-Bolar’s sentence was suspended, and she instead served 10 days in jail. But losing 10 days of income is still a dramatic financial penalty for a single mom living in an area with many obstacles.

Oklahoma policymakers authorized open transfer between public school districts to create more opportunity. Unfortunately, many suburban districts have thrown up barriers to admission for the often-low-income parents trying to flee bad urban districts like Oklahoma City and Tulsa, where a majority of schools are D and F schools. That means some parents may resort to desperate measures to save their children.

Those families pay taxes, including income, sales and gasoline taxes, that directly and indirectly fund schools. We should not act as though their lack of an expensive home in a better neighborhood consigns them to second-class citizenship.

And schools that fail to educate children—as state testing unfortunately shows happens far too often in Oklahoma—should not be rewarded by giving them the ability to effectively hold poor families captive with the threat of prosecution.

About the author: Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.

,State should not penalize parents
Click on this headline to read the full report at Tulsa Today.