House Approves Legislation to Combat Organized Retail Theft OKLAHOMA CITY (April 25th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives today approved legislation to reduce criminal activity in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1450, authored by Rep. John George, R-Newalla, lowers the felony threshold for theft from $1,000 to $500, defines organized retail crime, and sets penalties based on stolen property value. Read more ..read more

Budget plans includes worthwhile items By Jonathan Small The Oklahoma House of Representatives and Senate have both unveiled their state budget plans for the pending fiscal year. Each side has included goals that merit praise. The House budget plan includes a quarter-point reduction in the state’s personal income tax, which would reduce our top rate from 4.75 percent to 4.5 percent. Because the personal income tax is a penalty on work and investment, the tax depresses economic growth. The lower the rate, the better the job creation and opportunity for all Oklahomans. While the best rate wou ..read more

It is worth noting that this "fix" legislation exists because the legislature passed a bill several years ago without considering the ramifications contained in it in the first place, as so often is the case: Dash cam view just prior to vehicle slamming into car on shoulder Pro Tem Treat Applauds House for Passing Car Tag Legislation Senate Bill 2035 was authored by Pro Tem Treat after son’s near-deadly accident OKLAHOMA CITY (April 23rd) – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today applauded the Oklahoma House of Representatives for passing Senate Bill 2035, legislation he au ..read more

Drummond comments on audit findings, calls for Zumwalt resignation OKLAHOMA CITY (April 23, 2024) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following statement today in response to the latest audit findings of State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd: “The audit findings released today show troubling and all too familiar patterns of mismanagement, costing taxpayers millions as a result. Today’s report confirms my previous order of an investigative audit of OMES, which is sorely needed and long overdue. Read more ..read more

Bill Making OMES Subject to Central Purchasing Act Sent to Governor OKLAHOMA CITY (April 25th) – A measure making Oklahoma's state employee management agency and the Chief Information Officer subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act has been sent to the governor's desk.   House Bill 3057, authored by Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, would require all purchases of equipment, products and services within the Information Services Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) and the Chief Information Officer to be subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act a ..read more

Drummond praises Gov. Stitt for signing crime-fighting bills, urges signing of HB 4156 OKLAOMA CITY (April 24, 2024) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond today praised Gov. Stitt for signing two bills into law that are critical for cracking down on crime. Drummond also urged the Governor to take swift action in signing House Bill 4156, the immigration reform legislation Drummond called for weeks ago.  Read more ..read more

Oklahoma's official government watchdog, State Auditor Cindy Byrd, is out with an absolutely scorching audit of OMES, finding all sorts of improprieties: FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT UNCOVERS OMES LACK OF OVERSIGHT “I believe Oklahoma is rapidly becoming a no-bid state. This is a grave disservice to the taxpayers.” OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 23, 2024) -- Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector (SAI) Cindy Byrd today released the Federal Single Audit of expenditures made during FY 2022. This annual audit is a federally-mandated examination of whether the State of Oklahoma spent federal grant money ..read more

I was in a store just the other day and overhead a cashier and customer discussing how kids don't learn cursive any more, and the need for them to have this skill. Looks like they weren't the only ones thinking this! Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society Cursive handwriting bill signed into law OKLAHOMA CITY (April 24th) – Oklahoma House Representative Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, had his bill HB 3727 signed into law yesterday by the Governor. The bill’s Senate author is Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa. The bill requires cursive handwriting instruction for students in third ..read more

Glad to see this project taking place, as it would be a very helpful tool, especially around judicial retention vote time: OCPA Announces Oklahoma Judicial Scorecard Who are the nine justices on the Oklahoma Supreme Court? How have their rulings impacted Oklahoma's ability to attract and keep jobs—and job creators—in our state? Have the Court's rulings strengthened or undermined the rule of law and Oklahoma values? These are some of the questions that will be covered by the Oklahoma Judicial Scorecard, a new project announced today by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. In what is often ..read more

Continue to pray for peace in Jerusalem By US Senator James Lankford (originally published in the Tulsa World) In the past six months, the Iranian regime has launched thousands of rockets at Israel through its proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. Iran has also launched hundreds of attacks on American forces in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Now, Iran has directly attacked Israel. In addition to the ongoing threat now hurled at Israel from Iran, the US should clearly oppose the violence of Hamas terrorists and support the freedom for every hostage in Gaza. Some in Washington, DC, and arou ..read more