via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/do-we-need-the-state-to-license-music-therapy
Monday, May 30, 2016
The Failure To Override The Abortion Veto
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/the-failure-to-override-the-abortion-veto
Incumbent Politicians Face Tough Scrutiny
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Sunday, May 29, 2016
Libertarian Sheriff Candidate Strips Live On C-Span
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/libertarian-sheriff-candidate-strips-live-on-c-span
Gary Johnson Survives To Win Libertarian Nomination
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Legislature Gives Welfare Cash To Big Business, But Not Working Poor
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/legislature-gives-welfare-cash-to-big-business-but-not-working-poor
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Accommodating The Growth Of Liberty
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A Battle For Control Of the Libertarian Party
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Friday, May 27, 2016
Oklahoma Republicans Not Welcome, To Some Libertarians
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/oklahoma-republicans-not-welcome-to-some-libertarians
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
May 25th, 2016
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/may-25th-2016
BREAKING: Decorated Veteran Goes To Court To Overturn Election Board Ruling
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Tuesday, May 24, 2016
A Grand Lake Political Debate
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/a-grand-lake-political-debate
Legislative Leaders Find A Budget Agreement
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Opinion: 'Big Tax' Bynum & California Liberalism
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Monday, May 23, 2016
Special Convention Coverage: Libertarian
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/special-convention-coverage-libertarian
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Sooner Republican Assembly Endorses Slate Of Constitutionalist Candidates
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/sooner-republican-assembly-endorses-slate-of-constitutionalist-candidates
Libertarian Front-Runner Chooses Pro-Abortion Running Mate
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Saturday, May 21, 2016
Mary Fallin On Abortion: Then & Now
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Friday, May 20, 2016
OCPA & AFP Team Up With Grassroots For Legislative Victories
John Tidwell of AFP-OK & Jonathan Small of OCPA
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When capitol insiders began smelling massive new tax plans, Americans For Prosperity-OK and Oklahoma Council On Public Affairs decided to gather in every ally they could. they reached out to Grassroots Tea Party groups, Social media groups, and every media outlet they could muster.
The stakes were high.
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Republican Governor, Mary Fallin, begs 2 Democrats to join her in raising taxes.
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 Tea Party Activists mobilized
These Conservative groups found themselves fighting much of the Republican Party establishment, and with no overt support from Republican Party officials. This, despite the fact that just 3 days earlier, the Republican State Convention's rank & file rejected a watered down platform and effectively asserted a very definitive 2015 platform which was to be retained as the party's official position on tax policy and opposition to the growth of government.
When the brazen effort to institute an Obamacare state exchange was added to a Tobacco Tax bill, the activists were on the capitol grounds and ready to expose the cryptic language. Senator Jolley immediately pulled the bill off the docket and called an emergency committee meeting where the clause was stripped. The Tobacco Tax bill was passed that afternoon. The next night, that Tobacco Tax hit a bizarre chain of events in the House. The Democrats in the House staged a "sit in" of sorts. They actually refused to raise any taxes UNLESS an Obamacare state exchange was first agreed to. This bolstered the Tea Party faction in the House to fight any tax increase, insisting that significant cuts in state government be also brought into the negotiations as a condition. |
The dramatic vote was held and the roll left open well over 2 hours. During that time the Republican Governor, herself, was brought into the House chamber where she personally begged and enticed Democrats to raise taxes... and they refused.
Fortunately, the Oklahoma Constitution requires a 3/4 majority for the legislature to raise taxes. But in the end it wasn't close. the 101 member chamber teetered at around 50-50 until the final seconds. that's when Representatives, seeing the failure, switched their vote to 'No', so they could not be found out as being on the side of raising tobacco taxes by $1.50 per pack.
This threw the process into a tailspin. The next issue was then revealed to be a 'shell bill', where the authors would write a massive expansion of the state sales tax, to include most, if not all services.
Tradesmen and their organizations across the state then mobilized. Plumbers, family doctors, Tow Truck drivers, painters, all argued that their hour of work billed to the customer is already subject to income tax. To double the tax on their services (income tax & sales tax) would make their essential services just that much more inaccessible to many of their customers & clients.
The anti-tax forces greatly bolstered the confidence of Tea Party Legislators and their ranks began to grow.
This afternoon, the House went home for the weekend. The leadership was satisfied that they had attained all the new revenues they were going to get. The budget is being crafted and will reflect roughly a 3% drop, over all. But Healthcare and other priorities will be spared any cuts, according to Speaker Hickman and Rep Earl Sears.
Fortunately, the Oklahoma Constitution requires a 3/4 majority for the legislature to raise taxes. But in the end it wasn't close. the 101 member chamber teetered at around 50-50 until the final seconds. that's when Representatives, seeing the failure, switched their vote to 'No', so they could not be found out as being on the side of raising tobacco taxes by $1.50 per pack.
This threw the process into a tailspin. The next issue was then revealed to be a 'shell bill', where the authors would write a massive expansion of the state sales tax, to include most, if not all services.
Tradesmen and their organizations across the state then mobilized. Plumbers, family doctors, Tow Truck drivers, painters, all argued that their hour of work billed to the customer is already subject to income tax. To double the tax on their services (income tax & sales tax) would make their essential services just that much more inaccessible to many of their customers & clients.
The anti-tax forces greatly bolstered the confidence of Tea Party Legislators and their ranks began to grow.
This afternoon, the House went home for the weekend. The leadership was satisfied that they had attained all the new revenues they were going to get. The budget is being crafted and will reflect roughly a 3% drop, over all. But Healthcare and other priorities will be spared any cuts, according to Speaker Hickman and Rep Earl Sears.
OCPA & AFP Team Up With Grassroots For Legislative Victories
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/ocpa-afp-team-up-with-grassroots-for-legislative-victories
Oklahoma Bill Establishes Student's Religious Right To Oppose Transgender Imposition
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The Senate Joint Committee, today; passed SB1619 to establish a right to protect students of religious objections, from being forced to share school showers with students claiming a transgender self-identification. The bill, shepherded by Sen. Gary Stanislawski of Tulsa, directs the state agencies to provide for a student of religious conscience, so they do not get forced to share a mixed sex shower, locker room, or restroom. It was not without opposition, as all Democrats in the Senate chamber opposed it, as did a handful of moderate-left Republicans. Among the Republicans critical of the bill, were Senators, Bice, Holt, & Crain. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: |
Se. Stanislawski makes an impassioned closing speech for religious liberty in public schools.
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SECTION 1. NEW LAW
A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 10-110 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. As used in this section, "sex" means the physical condition of being male or female, as identified at birth by that individual's anatomy. B. If a school district allows: 1. Student restrooms, athletic changing facilities or showers designated for the exclusive use of the male sex to be accessed by members of the female sex; and/or 2. Student restrooms, athletic changing facilities or showers designated for the exclusive use of the female sex to be accessed by members of the male sex, a student enrolled in the school district or the parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled in the school district may request a religious accommodation as described in subsection C of this section. C. A student enrolled at a public school district in the state or the parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled at a public school district in the state may submit to the board of education of the school district a request for a religious accommodation based on the student's sincerely held religious beliefs. The accommodation shall be for the use of restrooms, athletic changing facilities or showers designated for the exclusive use of that student's sex granted to: 1. Any male student who requests or whose parent or legal guardian requests, on a student's behalf, to use a restroom, athletic changing facility or shower designated for the exclusive use of the male sex; or 2. Any female student who requests or whose parent or legal guardian requests, on the student's behalf, to use a restroom, athletic changing facility or showers designated for the exclusive use of the female sex. D. Providing access to a single-occupancy restroom, athletic changing facility or showers to a student who has submitted a request for a religious accommodation or to a student whose parent or legal guardian has submitted a request for a religious accommodation pursuant to subsection C of this section shall not be an allowable accommodation. E. This act creates a private right of action for violations of subsection C of this section. F. The Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma is hereby authorized to represent a school district or employee in a legal challenge to any federal regulation or mandate that requires the school district to implement a policy as stated in paragraph 1 of subsection B of this section and/or paragraph 2 of subsection B of this section. G. The Attorney General is further authorized to intervene in any legal proceeding for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this act. Any court addressing a suit arising out of this section shall, within five (5) days of receiving service of summons, notify the Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma of the pendency of the action. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2016. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. |
Oklahoma Bill Establishes Student's Religious Right To Oppose Transgender Imposition
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Budget Hole 85% Fixed, Says Rep. Earl Sears
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BREAKING - the Daily Oklahoman reports....
Oklahoma House leaders say much of budget hole filled Oklahoma House leaders say most of the $1.3 billion hole in the new fiscal year budget will be closed without the need for any tax increases. Rep. Earl Sears said the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 still will lack about $200 million in revenue that was available last year. Read more at the Oklahoman. |
Budget Hole 85% Fixed, Says Rep. Earl Sears
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Senate President Defends ProLife Bill
Bingman Defends Nathan Dahm's Pro-Life Bill
Senate President Brian Bingman - photo credit: CapitolBeatOK
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 Senator Nathan Dahm - Broken Arrow
As far as the abortion bill, Bingman said that he is pro-life and that the bill's passing was meant to be more than just a message, despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 legalized the procedure.
"The Supreme Court shouldn't be meddling in states' rights affairs. It's a constant battle," he said. "The majority of Oklahomans are conservative and pro-life. That unborn child has rights, too. We want to do everything we can to protect that." |
Read the full story in the Tulsa World...
Senate President Defends ProLife Bill
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The Cockroft Budget
Rep Josh Cockroft, of Pottawatomi County, Comments on Budget ProposalsEditor's Note:
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Josh Cockroft (R-Wanette) issued the following statement today regarding proposals and negotiations that have emerged in budget discussions as the legislative session nears its end:
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“Members of the House of Representatives have worked hard this year to find the right way to address the serious budget shortfall the state is facing. We have remained focused on finding ways to eliminate waste and inefficiencies and streamline state government, while protecting core functions such as education, healthcare, and public safety. Despite the challenges we face today, I believe we have the ability to set our state on a more firm foundation. I pray we choose the right path.
In meetings which House members have been a part of, we have identified around $1.7 billion in reforms in the form of apportionments, pass through dollars, tax credit eliminations or reductions, revolving fund reform, utilization of capital funds, and tax subsidy reform. Many members also continue to push for more line item budgeting processes for state agencies, which would allow greater accountability on how agencies can spend funds. While no member can support every one of these efforts due to the needs and desires of their district, an attempt must be made to seriously reform how we govern, before we look into expanding how much we govern. It is disappointing to me and many other members to find there seems to be more of an appetite to raise taxes and ignore significant reform than there is to address many of the serious issues we face. It’s easy to raise taxes. It’s hard to cut inefficiency and waste. Many within the legislature are pushing the idea that a tax increase upon cigarettes is the only way to help fund our hospitals and nursing homes without cuts. That is false. The legislature has designated money in its budget since the first day of session for the Healthcare Authority to prevent further cuts. The final budget which will be passed this year will have the needed money included. There won’t be any rate cuts. Even if there were, I could not support that budget. Many also claim a sales tax, coupled with a service sales tax increase and changes to teacher’s health benefits, are the only way to provide a quality pay increase for teachers across our state. This is also false. It is entirely possible to provide a pay raise through elimination of inefficiencies without touching teacher’s health benefits or raise taxes on the middle class. I will not vote for any plan that plays games with our teacher’s benefits and salaries while looking to raise burdensome taxes on our businesses and individuals. |
I cannot vote to raise taxes on the people of Oklahoma while turning a blind eye to waste and inefficiency. Raising taxes is a permanent action and should not be done lightly. I am not against tax increases, but only if our house is in order first. It should be the last option. It is high time that we run our state government like we do our family budgets; placing priorities over projects. When our personal budgets run short, the responsible action is to cut back on the least important outflow of income in order to make room for the most important. When we start to act in this manor, more money will be freed up for education, health, public safety, corrections, and other core functions of government.
Today, I call on my colleagues in the House and Senate to realize the serious detriment to our state should these plans pass. You cannot tax your way to prosperity. We must live within our means and run our state efficiently. It would be hypocritical for our state’s leaders who ran on a platform of efficient and transparent government, better funding for our core functions, and elimination of waste to turn around now and fight for a more burdensome and ineffective state government. I hope my colleagues will join me in providing quality leadership for our state. Leadership is not doing the easy thing. Leadership is doing the right and responsible thing no matter how challenging. The people of Oklahoma elected their legislature – a mix of educators, businessmen and women, pastors, lawyers and many other occupations – to stand up and make the decisions which will positively affect Oklahoma in the long term, and not just the short term politically expedient ones.” Rep. Josh Cockroft Wanette, OK |
The Cockroft Budget
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House Takes The Weekend Off
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With No Budget Or Solution To Maintain Spending, the House moved to reconvene Monday morning. This means the state must budget based upon current revenue and what few new revenues(tax increases) they have already passed, or call a special session to make adjustments. The House convened this morning after a very late end to yesterday's business, when they cut the Earned Income Credit for Lower Income parents. Today's business had little to do with any cost-savings legislation. The Senate meets for a Friday afternoon session after a short morning ritual in their chamber. |
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While the 'rank & file' lawmakers may get some time at the lake this weekend, legislative leaders will likely be busy negotiating, plotting, and making deals they hope never gets made public.
The stakes are extremely high. Not only are lawmakers pressured by state agencies, but also by citizens who rely upon them. The potential for a complete shutdown now becomes very real, and the costs of a special session just adds to the financial pressures. The new fiscal year starts July 1st, and the appropriations & Budget must take place to aviod a state government shutdown. |
If you want to reach your lawmaker this weekend, check the lake.
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House Takes The Weekend Off
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Oklahoma Starts Getting 'Smart' On Crime
Parole candidates now get hearings closer to when they qualify to be considered
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The governor's task force on corrections reform has finally begun implementing some simple and effective reforms for saving money while making sure the 85% prison terms are completed.
Speaker Hickman took to the House floor to present HB3159. It allows a candidate for parole to receive a hearing just prior to meeting the 85% completion date of his sentence. Previously, the inmate had to first attain the 85% of the time sentenced to incarceration before applying for a parole hearing. this led to many inmates having to serve as much as 95% of their sentence before a hearing could be scheduled and completed. The hearings and standards for release are not changed. It is simply a coordinated effort let the best candidates for parole go home as soon as they reach the 85% requirement. Democrats and Republicans joined ranks to give this reform a 90-0 unanimous vote of approval. |
Oklahoma Starts Getting 'Smart' On Crime
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Democrats Activate 'Stonewall' Strategy & Assist Tea Party Republicans
Democrat, Donnie Condit & Republican Paul Wesseelhoft
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The most consistent and disciplined caucus at the capitol this week is the House Democrat caucus. These 30 Representatives are refusing to vote for any cost-saving or revenue generating legislation until Oklahoma adopts ObamaCare. The Medicaid Expansion which Obama is pressuring and cajoling states to underwrite, will eventually cost each state hundreds of millions to adopt. This makes the Democrats a very unlikely ally of Tea Party Republicans who insist on cutting state spending instead of raising new taxes. |
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Rep. Donnie Condit (D-McAlester) & Rep. Paul Wesselhoft (R-Moore) have a great partnership in leading the Elections & Ethics Committee. But they also share very identical voting records, this week. And it's not because they see the issues in the same way, but because of the Democrats 'stonewall' strategy, they do both want to hold up new taxes in the current scenario. |
Minority Leader, Rep. Scott Inman leads the House Democrat ranks
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Democrats Activate 'Stonewall' Strategy & Assist Tea Party Republicans
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Senator Jolley Charts An Ever Changing Budget Roadmap
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On the last regular day to raise revenue increases, begins at the state capitol, Budget & Appropriations Chair, Senator Clark Jolley, is faced with a House amendment to his plan for closing the budget deficit by over $100 million.
Rep. Ownbey of Ada successfully amended the Oil & Gas credit for at-risk wells. This will continue to keep $25 million flowing to the assistance of the petroleum industry. There will be a Senate vote again, on the bill with the amended house language. The Senate is likely to try to meet over the weekend, because beginning monday, the legislature is banned from voting to raise any more revenue for the rest of the final week (which concludes on next Friday. Watch the Senate proceedings at: http://oksenate.gov/livechamber.htm |
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Senator Jolley Charts An Ever Changing Budget Roadmap
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House Takes Back Hundreds From Each Working Lower Income Parent, But Restores $25 Million In Tax Breaks To Oil Companies
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In the wee hours of Friday morning, the Oklahoma House Of Representatives stayed up late to abolish a tax policy which former governor Frank Keating fought hard for. The Earned Income Credit has been a way of helping the lower income parents to transition off of government assistance and back to self reliance. But to get the Earned Income Credit, a parent has to hold down a taxpaying job.
But on this day's docket (which spilled over past midnight), The oil producers' lobbyists twisted enough arms at the capitol to get several million in state credits restored to the petroleum industry. And on the same day's agenda, this same body singled out all the lower income parents, to take away a refundable earned income credit averaging around $230 per household, annually. |
Proctor & Enman cited Republican former governor, Frank Keating's effort to help lower income working parents
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SB1604 is a targeted bill which takes money back only from poor working families. These Republicans took away a tax break that Gov. Frank Keating fought hard for.
An odd coalition of Tea Party Republicans and the Democratic Caucus teamed up to try to kill this bill. The working lower income parents just got a few hundred dollars taken from them by the Republicans in the legislature, so the Teacher Union will not pick on the politicians as hard, in the upcoming elections. |
Teachers may get a pay raise, but the students' families may not survive economically. So much for bridging the transition off of govt. assistance!
The House Democrats will surely exploit this decision as a campaign issue, but they are the chief proponents for giving massive pay raises to public school teachers. And the state just simply can't do both. The final vote tally for the bill was 51, in the 101 member House. The Tea Party Caucus in the Capitol seems to be just a few dozen strong, at best. |
House Takes Back Hundreds From Each Working Lower Income Parent, But Restores $25 Million In Tax Breaks To Oil Companies
via Sooner Politics.org - Editorial Read the article at SoonerPolitics.org http://www.soonerpolitics.org/editorial/house-takes-back-hundreds-from-each-working-lower-income-home-but-restores-tax-breaks-to-oil-companies
Thursday, May 19, 2016
The Thursday Morning Legislative Agendas
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Here are the morning dockets for both chambers of the legislature.
Afternoon dockets (and unforeseen surprises) are not yet revealed. |
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House of Representative Docket: |
Senate GENERAL ORDER
HB 3168 By Hickman of the House and Bingman of the Senate State Capitol Building; authorizing Capitol Improvement Authority to issue obligations for repair; effective date. HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO SENATE BILLS SB 1552 By Dahm et al of the Senate and Brumbaugh et al of the House Physician licensure; directing Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision and State Board of Osteopathic Examiners to revoke licenses for performing abortion. Effective date. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS SB 615 By Sparks of the Senate and Thomsen of the House Licensed Dietitian Act; broadening certain definition; providing penalties for violations. Effective date. SJR 68 By Jolley et al of the Senate and Mulready of the House Constitutional amendment; repealing sections in Article XXVIII; enacting new sections in Article XXVIIIA; providing for regulation of alcoholic beverages. Ballot title. HB 2360 By Rousselot et al of the House and Barrington of the Senate Counties; modifying purchasing procedure for certain fire protection districts and fire departments; bond coverage or certain liability insurance; effective date; emergency. HB 3126 By Cockroft et al of the House and Smalley et al of the Senate 9-1-1 emergency services; creating the 9-1-1 Management Authority Act; effective dates. |
OKGOP Names 8 Delegates To National Committees
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The 83 members(43 delegates, 40 alternates) of the Oklahoma GOP delegation to the Republican National Convention gathered late Saturday night to select 8 members from among them, to serve on 4 convention committees. Here are the delegate they chose. |
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Rules Committee:
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Credentials Committee
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Platform Committee
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Permanent Organization
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