Oklahoma State Senator Rob Standridge files school choice legislation to better protect students
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Oklahoma State Senator Rob Standridge files school choice legislation to better protect students1/21/2021
State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed legislation aimed at providing greater educational choice for families dealing with bullying and health issues, particularly during the pandemic.
“The physical and mental health of Oklahoma students is the focus of each of these bills. We should always put children, their futures, and what their parents believe is best, above all else. While families with greater resources have options, others do not,” Standridge said. “These bills are an attempt to give more choice to families whose children are at risk due to health concerns or as a result of bullying.”
Senate Bill 221 creates the Wellness Scholarship Program Act, which would provide scholarships to attend a private school of choice for parents who have health-related concerns. Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, the scholarship would be awarded to a student if their parent or legal guardian is concerned the child is in danger of contracting an infection, including, but not limited to COVID-19, or if they are concerned the student could pose a risk of exposing school employees to an infection.
“I commend all who have worked tirelessly to provide the best possible outcomes for children who absolutely need to be in school in person. Unfortunately, many families have been in a no-win situation due to the health risk to their child or another vulnerable family member,” Standridge said. “In addition, many are concerned about the health of their teachers. The Wellness Scholarship gives parents much needed options to choose a school with a different approach to the health and wellness of their children.”
Senate Bill 222 creates the Hope Scholarship Program Act, providing scholarships to attend a private school of choice for students who have experienced bullying. Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, the scholarship could be awarded to a student if they’ve been the victim of harassment, intimidation or bullying a minimum of three times within a school year. There must be written documentation with confirmation from a licensed mental health professional or physician.
“I have conducted interim studies on bullying and visited at length with parents and students about how damaging this can be. It can affect a child’s mental and physical health, and I’ve talked to grieving parents whose children took their own lives because of bullying,” Standridge said. “My goal is to give more families the choice they need to better protect their children.”
Oklahoma State Senator Rob Standridge files school choice legislation to better protect students Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
0 Comments
Senator George Young of Oklahoma City introduces legislation requiring racial impact statements1/21/2021
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
State Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, has filed legislation to require racial impact statements for specific Senate and House bills, a move he says can help reduce the disproportionate impact the state’s criminal justice system has on minority communities.
Senate Bill 209 would require a racial impact statement for any piece of criminal justice legislation that creates a new offense; significantly changes an existing offense; changes the penalty for an existing offense; or changes existing sentencing, parole or probation procedures.
Under the measure, a racial impact statement would have to be filed with the chairman in order for a bill fitting the criteria to be heard in committee.
“Appropriations bills that could have a fiscal impact are required to have fiscal impact statements attesting to this in order to be heard, a step that is in place to protect the legislature from passing something that could have unintended consequences,” Young said last week, in a legislative press release sent to The City Sentinel, CapitolBeatOK and other news organizations.
“A racial impact statement would be no different than this. The legislature needs to know if they could be disproportionally impacting specific minority or ethnic groups with certain bills.”
Six states – Oregon, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Connecticut and New Jersey – require racial impact statements for criminal justice legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Six additional states have established committees or commissions to address racial and ethnic disparities, including Texas, Kansas and Missouri. Oklahoma has no racial impact system in place, the legislative press release stated.
Under the measure, each racial impact statement would be drafted by the Oklahoma Statistical Analysis Center at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation with help from the Department of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Services and the Office of Juvenile Affairs. Each racial impact statement would include the estimated number of criminal cases per year the legislation would affect; the impact of the bill on a minority; and the impact of the bill upon correctional facilities and services; and other matters deemed relevant to the bill at issue.
“It’s no secret that incarceration disparities exist and are deeply ingrained in our criminal justice system,” Young said.
“The events that unfolded just last year across the nation further magnify that we still have a long way to go to achieve true racial equity. Requiring racial impact statements is just one way we can work to bridge the gap of disproportionate incarceration in our state.”
Senator George Young of Oklahoma City introduces legislation requiring racial impact statements Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Darla Shelden, The City Sentinel
OKLAHOMA CITY – Twenty-two outstanding Oklahoma mentors are being recognized by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence (OFE) and their community mentoring organizations during National Mentor Month in January. Two individuals from Oklahoma City were honored.
The honored mentors were submitted by their respective mentoring organizations across the state.
Each received certificates of achievement from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. The certificates are being presented in the communities where the mentors volunteer.
Recognized mentors from Oklahoma City include Jolene Ingram (https://ift.tt/3bV4qos), a retired community volunteer and the outstanding mentor for Whiz Kids Oklahoma and Nancy Nathaniel (https://ift.tt/3qDf1bE), a retired community volunteer, has been named the outstanding mentor for the Integris Positive Directions Mentoring Program at Stanley Hupfeld Academy.
“Jolene is loyal, kind, intelligent, articulate, loving, wise and fun,” said Amy Bruce, operations manager for Whiz Kids. “She has supported Whiz Kids and her mentees financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually during her time with our organization,” Bruce continued.
Due to injuries from a childhood auto accident, Jolene has limited mobility. Her mentee, That That, also lives with a disability which has allowed Ingram to empathize and connect with her. In addition, Jolene has a special way of connecting with students who have struggles and need extra confidence and love.
“Jolene is always ready, always available and always on time for her mentee or any student at our site that needs her as a sub,” Bruce added.
Nathaniel has been mentoring with the Integris Health Positive Directions Program for 22 years. She and her mentee Jade have been matched for three years.
“Nancy’s dedication to mentoring is inspiring. She loves watching children grasp a new concept and helping them learn,” said Kathy Lowder, mentor program coordinator. “During her time with our program she has always found a way to forge a special bond with her mentee, making special effort not to miss a birthday or special moment,” Lowder said.
Emily Stratton, executive director of the Foundation for Excellence said, “We salute these outstanding mentors for the important role they play in helping young people achieve better academic, social and economic futures. Oklahoma mentors are truly changing lives!”
The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is a statewide nonprofit that recognizes and encourages academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools. Through its statewide mentoring initiative, the foundation promotes the growth and development of quality youth mentoring programs.
OFE works with school districts and mentoring organizations to promote mentoring as a positive step toward academic success.
“Through a statewide survey of mentoring organizations, we found that the most positive program outcomes were improved academic performance, positive mentor-mentee relationships, improved behavior, increased self-esteem and greater enrichment opportunities for participating youth,” Stratton said.
“Mentoring also helps students develop resilience and feel supported as they face difficult life challenges,” Stratton added.
National Mentoring Month is a campaign sponsored by MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership (https://www.mentoring.org/) to celebrate the power of mentoring relationships and recruit new volunteer mentors. The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence provides a directory of mentoring organizations across the state seeking volunteers.
Honored mentor bios and program descriptions are listed online (https://ift.tt/3oWvVlf) by their hometown and the city in which they mentor. For a list of all honored mentors, visit okmentors.org .
22 Oklahoma Outstanding Mentors, 2 from Oklahoma City, honored during National Mentor Month Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Commentary by Patrick B. McGuigan
Subject to revision, from your humble servant:
Before I get ‘canceled’ or deathly ill or incapacitated, or my words become inaccessible to your eyes, here is a first edition – a shared first draft – of the best and worst of everything according to … me. This includes observations about misunderstood or underappreciated persons or events in our shared history. I have restrained myself, somewhat, in listing the worst, to allow further reflection as time goes by.
As new federal officials prepare for executive and legislative power in America, this ‘best and worst’ list her has categories to reflect my personal understanding, informed by a lifetime of reflection and action, of partisan and philosophical diversity.
This is broader than a mere “best and worst” listing of annual “top 10 stories” as I have shared in most recent years. for most recent years. There are some nuances here, I hope serving as an outline of one man’s life and times.
This listing does not consistently follow strict rules of punctuation (a period to end sentences).
I beg your understanding that, like the late William F. Buckley, Jr., I am “a conservative in all things, save my choice of friends.” Hopefully, there will be more to come. Remember the teaching of the late Leland Gourley: An editorial or commentary is just one person’s opinion. (Hopefully informed.)
The World (of recent centuries)
The worst world government: The communist-fascist regime running the Peoples Republic of China
Most Favored Nation outside the U.S.: Republic of China (on Taiwan)
Second most favored nation outside the U.S.: Israel
Most important friendship in modern history: John Paul II and Ronald Reagan (also in ‘America’ category)
Greatest Writer of the modern era: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Greatest U.S. Writer of the Twentieth Century, among the world’s greatest: Ralph Ellison
Best underappreciated American Novel: ‘Joan of Arc,’ by Mark Twain
Greatest American Jewish leader of the modern era: Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, the Rebbe.
Worst recent erosion of political liberty and suppression of human creativity: India's suppression of Kashmir's autonomy
Best popes of my lifetime: John XXIII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI
Greatest saint of my lifetime: Teresa of Calcutta
Best non-American leaders in my lifetime: Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, Menachem Begin of Israel, Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan
Runners-up, best non-American leaders in my lifetime: Lech Walesa of Poland, Nelson Mandela of South Africa
Best instrument for human government yet devised: The U.S. Constitution
Best U.S. Constitutional Amendment: The First, including protections for “the press”
America in ‘the best of times, and the worst of times’
Best Year: 1776
Worst Year: 1619
Darn good years: 1981-1993
Awful Year: 2020, specifically including COVID-19 and the health and cultural devastation it brought.
Worst day in recent American history: January 6, 2021
Least Honored Personal Liberty of the Modern Era: The right to be different, and to think for yourself.
Underappreciated significant moment in U.S. History: Teddy Roosevelt’s meetings with Booker T. Washington
Best U.S. President Since George Washington: Ronald Reagan
Best Supreme Court nominee in modern history: Robert H. Bork
Best Underappreciated U.S. Supreme Court Justice: Joseph Story
Second Best Underappreciated U.S. Supreme Court Justice: William Howard Taft
U.S. President who got the rawest deal ever when he sought reelection: William Howard Taft
Best Democratic appointee to U.S. Supreme Court in the modern era: Byron White
Best unsuccessful Republican presidential candidate in my lifetime: Pete du Pont
Best Journalist of the American pre-Revolution Era: Benjamin Franklin
Greatest Founding Father: James Madison
Best American Journalists of the Twentieth Century: David Broder, Robert Novak
Best current U.S. Supreme Court Justice: Clarence Thomas
Best U.S. Vice President in my lifetime: Mike Pence
Most Underappreciated Vice President in my lifetime: Dan Quayle
Best U.S. Attorneys General in my lifetime: Edwin Meese III, William Barr
Honorable Mention for best modern Attorney General: Richard Thornburgh
Best single Donald Trump Decision: Nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court
Worst Donald Trump Decisions before January 2021: Rhetoric and Policies on Immigration.
Best Trump Cabinet Member: Betsy DeVos
Best U.S. and Oklahoma public policy trend of the last decade: School Choice
Most redeeming features of the American politician known as Joe Biden: Past support for both Israel and Taiwan, and some of his personnel choices while serving in the U.S. Senate.
Least redeeming features of the American politician known as Joe Biden: Abandonment of his early moderate temperament and policy inclinations. Other than that, don’t get me started. …
Best Democratic politicians of my lifetime: Robert Casey, Sr., Paul Tsongas, Paul Simon, Tulsi Gabbard
Best U.S. Civil Rights Leaders: Frederick A. Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Most underappreciated U.S. Civil Rights Leaders: Ralph Abernathy, Clarence M. Pendleton, Jr., Professor William Allen
Best American film-maker: Frank Capra
Best contemporary American film star: Denzel Washington
Best Journalist of the American pre-Revolutionary Era: Benjamin Franklin
Best American journalists of the Twentieth Century: David Broder, Robert Novak, William F. Buckley, Jr., Robert Sengstacke Abbott
Best American Newspaper Columnist of this era: Cal Thomas
Second best American Newspaper Columnist of this era: Peggy Noonan
Third Best American Newspaper Columnist of this era: Star Parker
Best American news and information source today: National Review
Best American liberal or ‘Progressive’ journal of opinion, for many decades: The Nation Magazine
Best friend in journalism I will never forget: Russell Perry
America’s Worst “News Media” Institution: Columbia Journalism Review
Most disappointing but expected mainstream news management decision of 2020: The New York Times’ firing of “op-ed” editor Bari Weiss
Best Democratic U.S. President: Grover Cleveland
Best Democratic U.S. President since Cleveland: John F. Kennedy
Best Democratic U.S. President between Cleveland and Kennedy: Harry S. Truman
Best underappreciated Democratic president: James K. Polk
Best underappreciated U.S. Republican president: Gerald Ford
Worst Democratic U.S. President since James Buchanan: Bill Clinton
Worst President in U.S. History: James Buchanan
Second worst President in U.S. History: Andrew Jackson
Worst presidential decision of the Nineteenth Century: Jackson refusing to honor U.S. Supreme Court decisions impacting Indian Country
Most important friendship in modern history: John Paul II and Ronald Reagan (also in world category)
Best Reagan Administration Official: Clarence M. Pendleton, U.S. Civil Rights Commission
Best Clinton Administration Official: Jane Alexander, National Endowment for the Arts
Most tragic conflict in U.S. History: The Civil War
Best presidential address of all time: Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg
Second best presidential address of all time: Ronald Reagan’s farewell address
Worst judicial decision of the 1970s: Roe v. Wade
Worst judicial decision pre-Civil War: Dred Scott v. Sanford
Worst FDR policy: Internment of Janpanese-Americans
Best judicial dissent in American History: Justice John Marshall Harlan in the Plessy v. Ferguson case
Most disappointing Supreme Court justice, but a good and decent human being: David Souter
Most impressive and appreciated journalistic comments of the past year: Glenn Greenwald and other reporters who defend the New York Post’s news stories and commentaries last fall
Most distressing economic development: Collapse of the business model for American newspapers
Most depressing and accelerating trends in American Higher Education: Suppression of conservative and libertarian voices for human liberty and dignity, ‘cancel culture’ mindset
Oklahoma and its capital city
Best Oklahoma Governor: Dewey Bartlett
Best Oklahoma Democratic Governor: Raymond Gary
Most gentlemanly Oklahoma Governor: Brad Henry
Best one-time co-teacher I ever worked with: Kim Henry
Best co-teacher I ever worked with: Bradi Bullard Brown
Best boss I ever had in education: Dr. Dan Selakovich, Oklahoma State University
Best current Oklahoma Supreme Court member: Justice Matthew John Kane
Best past Oklahoma Supreme Court member: Chief Justice Matthew John Kane
Best Oklahoma statewide elected official in the modern era: Commissioner of Labor Brenda Reneau
Best high school friend who became a legal ‘player’ in state, national and world events: Vicki Miles
Best Oklahoma Rabbi: Ovadia Goldman
Best contemporary Oklahoma Jewish leader: Edie Roodman
Best Oklahoma physician with whom I sometimes disagree politically: Eli Reshef
Best annual event I miss the most: The Oklahoma City Gridiron Shows
Best gig in journalism for which I was not paid: News9 Capitol Reports for eight years
Best Oklahoma Catholic Priest in My Life: John A. McMenamin
Best Oklahoma Speaker of the House: Kris Steele
Best Teachers I ever had: Sisters of Mercy (John Carroll School) Sister Margaret Landis (McGuinness High School), Odie B. Faulk (Oklahoma State University)
Most Important legal decision in Oklahoma History: McGirt vs. Oklahoma
Worst Moment in Oklahoma History: Tulsa Race Riot/Massacre (there are other possible choices)
Worst Constitution Changes in Oklahoma state history: Reversing the Teddy Roosevelt provisions of 1907 to establish “Jim Crow” in state constitutional and statutory provisions
Best Christmas Parties: Robert A. Henry
Fondest non-family memory: Singing with Antonin Scalia at the home of Robert and Jan Henry
Second place – Fondest non-family memory: Trip to Israel
Third place -- Fondest non-family memory: Five years as volunteer and annual ‘guest principal’ at Martin Luther King Elementary
Best Oklahoma Museum Administrator and Leader: Bob Blackburn
Best Contemporary Oklahoma Historian: John J. Dwyer, Red River Press
Best Oklahoma City Neighborhood: Crown Heights
Second Best Oklahoma City Neighorhood: Asian District
Most essential yet aggravating Oklahoma legal entity: Oklahoma ACLU
Best Oklahoma ‘think tank’ – Oklahoma Council of Public Policy
Best Oklahoma public policy leader: Jonathan Small, OCPA
Best friend who helped me stay in journalism: David Arnett
Best Editor I ever had: Brandon Dutcher
Favorite persistent online critic of my current work in journalism: C.W. Tracy
Favorite online fan of my current work in journalism: Jeanne PaulsonYoung Boozer
Unexpected blessing during my years at the state Capitol: Getting to know Frosty Troy well enough to have coffee and conversation in the morning without calling each other names.
Legal Eagle I miss the most: Yvonne Kauger
Best friend ever on the Oklahoma Supreme Court: Marian P. Opala
Best Oklahoma law school: Oklahoma City University
Best Church: Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Best Church Memory: Coaching soccer for eight years at Bishop John Carroll School
Best Contemporary Oklahoma Journalist and Historian: Steve Byas
Best Oklahoma journalist on the ‘Progressive’ liberal end of things: Arnold Hamilton
Best Oklahoma newspaper: The Oklahoman under Ed Kelley’s leadership
Best Oklahoma Radio Journalist: Billie A. Rodely
Best Oklahoma Television Journalist: Alex Cameron
Best Boss I ever had: Edward L. Gaylord
Next Best Boss I ever had: Connaught “Coyne” Marshner (actually during my D.C. days)
Best current local reporter: Steve Lackmeyer
Best current local liberal reporter: Darla Shelden
Best former editor of The City Sentinel newspaper: Stacy Martin
Best former Internet director for CapitolBeatOK: Joni Menton
Best former advertising director, The City Sentinel: Robin Dorner
Best Liberal Oklahoma Journalist: Edith Kinney Gaylord
Best Oklahoma City Mayor: Patience Latting
Best Oklahoma political campaigns: Mickey Edwards 1974, 1976
Best Oklahoma statewide elected official: Brenda Reneau
Best Oklahoma Legislators: Vicki Miles, Jason Nelson, George A. Young, A.C. Hamlin, David Dank
Best current liberal state legislators: Mickey Dollens, Kay Floyd
Best Oklahoma Civil Rights Leaders: Clara Luper, Hannah Atkins, Robert Ruiz
Best Oklahomans now in Congress: James Lankford, Stephanie Bice, Kevin Hern
Worst Oklahoma Legislators now and in the past: Don’t get me started
Most Important Unsolved Mystery: Contents of the 2019 OU Board of Regents investigative report
Worst Oklahoma Status Quo: Over-incarceration
Second worst Oklahoma status quo: Lack of accountability and fiscal mismanagement in Oklahoma Higher Education
Most overdue Oklahoma public policy reform: Aboltion of the Death Penalty
Second most overdue Oklahoma public policy reform: Criminal Justice Reform
Best McGuigan gubernatorial endorsement: Joe Dorman in 2014.
Best Oklahoma Cultural Organization: Paseo Arts Association
Best Art Gallery: Paseo Gallery One, Susan Cromer Yback (and David)
Best Friend on the Paseo: Lorrie Keller, Theatre Upon a Star Dance Swan
Best Arts Administrator: Amanda Bleakley
Best regular contributors to The City Sentinel newspaper: Nyla Ali Khan, Steve Fair, Joe Dorman.
Best wine: Grenache
Best Books: Bible, Solzhenitsyn, especially ‘One Day in the Life,’ William B. Buckley’s books (most of them), Allen Drury’s Novels, The Chronicles of Cadfael, and classic (pre-1970s) Science Fiction.
Best wine company: McGuigan (Australia)
Best Oklahoma City Restaurant: Golden Palace
Best restaurant I have missed the most in the last year: Golden Palace.
Conclusion
God’s greatest gift: Jesus, Love, and Salvation
Greatest Jewish Philosopher ever outside the Bible: Moses Maimonides
Greatest Christian Philsopher Ever outside the Bible: St. Thomas Aquinas
Most precious people: My wife and my family, including the in-laws (and out-laws – teasing).
Best. Job. Ever: Grandfather of 10
Next. Best. Job. Ever: Father of Four
A Legacy beyond words: The example of my parents. The companionship while growing up of my four sisters. The model of good priests, rabbis and other ministers through every year of my life.
Most deeply appreciated: Tolerant and intelligent readers.
My best and fondest hope: The liberty to revise and expand this, as time goes by.
Note: A member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, Pat McGuigan is founder of CapitolBeatOK.com, an online news organization, and publisher/editor of The City Sentinel, an independent, non-partisan and locally-owned newspaper in Oklahoma City.
The Best and Worst of Everything, and other points worth making: The First Edition Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Executive Director Melinda Fruendt recently announced the recipients of the 2020 Executive Director's Award.
Fruendt honored Lyuda Polyun, policy development and program standard's administrator, and Stephanie Roe, DRS project coordinator.
Polyun, a resident of Oklahoma City, was recognized by Fruendt for “her exceptionally high degree of courage in her leadership abilities.”
“She is a trusted leader who earns the respect and loyalty of subordinates,” Fruendt said. “She excels in conveying her knowledge to others. Overall, Lyuda is a visionary thinker and planner. She promotes a strong vision of DRS' future.”
Fruendt honored Stephanie Roe, of Edmond, “for the high priority to partners and stakeholders with whom she works side by side.”
“She delivers consistently high performance on a multitude of projects,” Fruendt said of Roe. “She views problems as opportunities. She is a strong supporter of and works incredibly hard to represent all DRS programs and services.
“She is a true ambassador for DRS. Stephanie excels in intercommunications and interactions, as well as in facilitating group discussions and meetings. Overall, Stephanie is able to turn visions into reality to inspire future success,” added Fruendt.
The awards were presented at a recent meeting of the Commission for Rehabilitation Services. The Commission (https://ift.tt/3ip5J0b ) is the governing board for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), which serves more than 88,000 Oklahomans with disabilities each year through vocational rehabilitation, employment, independent living, educational programs, and the determination of medical eligibility for disability benefits.
DRS is comprised of five program divisions, Vocational Rehabilitation, Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Disability Determination, Oklahoma School for the Blind and Oklahoma School for the Deaf. These divisions operate dozens of programs that help Oklahomans lead more independent and productive lives.
In February, proposed rule changes potentially affecting several programs for Oklahomans with disabilities will be the focus of a public hearing held by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council.
The public is encouraged to attend in-person at the Department of Rehabilitation Services State Office, 2nd floor conference room at 3535 NW 58th St., in Oklahoma City or through Zoom on Monday, Feb. 8 from 2 – 3 p.m. or via on-line Zoom Meeting (Meeting ID: 922 7601 9587, Passcode: 084037).
On Tuesday, Feb. 9, the public can attend via on-line Zoom meeting only from 5 – 6 p.m. (Meeting ID: 924 9848 3059, Passcode: 115266). Find you local number (https://ift.tt/3bOUblu ) or join by Skype for Business.
Programs affected by the proposed new rules are administered by DRS and include vocational rehabilitation and employment services for Oklahomans with all types of disabilities.
To connect to the DRS office in your area call 800-487-4042 or visit the Office Locator page (https://ift.tt/35PnIrn). For more information, visit okdrs.gov
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Executive Director Awards announced Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
On Wednesday, January 13, President Donald Trump became the first United States president to be impeached twice. He was charged with ‘incitement of insurrection,’ in conjunction with the overrun of the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-California, had given Vice President Mike Pence an ultimatum to invoke Section 4 of the 25th amendment within 24 hours or the U.S. House would precede with impeachment.
Pence said he wouldn’t invoke the 25th. After little debate, the vote to impeach was 232-197 with 10 Republicans joining all the House Democrats, with 4 Republicans not voting on the resolution. All 5 Oklahoma House members voted against impeachment.
Four observations:
First, impeachment is a ‘political,’ and not a legal, action.
While seldom used in the past, Democrats have used it twice in one year.
Alan Dershowitz, one of Trump’s lawyers at his first impeachment, but who endorsed Biden for election in 2020, said, “Trump has not committed a constitutionally impeachable offense.” Dershowitz said the Democrats had ‘weaponized’ the impeachment process, which is not its purpose.
During her speech presenting the charges, Speaker Pelosi, D-California, quoted Abraham Lincoln and the Bible. “He (President Trump) must go. He is a clear and present danger to the nation that we all love,” she said.
U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, spoke on the floor Wednesday. “I can think of no action that is likely to further divide the American people than the action we're contemplating today,” Cole said.
Now the articles move to the Senate, where Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York said he will push to convict Trump, even after he is gone from office.
Why? Because a conviction would prevent Trump from seeking federal office.
Second, why do the Democrats (and some Republicans) want Trump out of politics?
They claim its because of his loud mouthed, shoot from the hip, in your face behavior but that is just part of it. The establishment fears the movement Trump has created – one that puts America First. They hate his policies as much as they do his personality. What they fail to understand, it that whether Trump is the leader of the movement or not, Washington has likely changed forever.
Third, an effectual, successful movement is greater than one man.
Donald Trump is clearly a cult of personality. There may not be a populist to ever recreate what he has done. His ability to fire up people who haven’t been engaged in politics/government is unprecedented. But the truth is many involved in the MAGA movement have zeal but not according to knowledge.
If they stay hooked up and their involvement results in changes in government -- at all levels -- over the next decade in America, then the movement has been successful. The proficiency of an effective movement is it doesn’t die when the excitement dies down.
The accomplishments of the Trump four-year term were impressive:
Appointment of three members of the Supreme Court of the United States, over 200 federal judges confirmed, multiple successes in foreign policy, strong economy, and reduction of government regulations on businesses.
But the national debt under Trump increased at its highest rate ever. The federal government footprint grew by 20 percent. That isn’t conservative.
Republicans need to be objective and realistic and not practice blind loyalty to a cult of personality. A movement is bigger than one person -- or it should be.
Note: Steve Fair is Chairman of the Republican Party in Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional District. His commentaries appear frequently on CapitolBeatOK.com, a news website based in Oklahoma City. Steve can be reached by email at [email protected] . His blot is stevefair.blogspot.com .
Bigger Than One Person: A Commentary Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Oklahoma City -- Monday (January 11) was a tough day.
Then, came Tuesday (January 12). It wasn’t much better. Then, there was Wednesday (January 13) – and that was just about the worst – at least since the previous Wednesday, which absolutely was the worst.
As the children’s song goes, when they’re learning the days of week: “Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then the week is done.” Each of those days was bit better than the first three, at least this last week.
And then came Sunday. At my home church, the Catholic Cathedral (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) in Oklahoma City, the first reading was the glorious tale from the first Book of Samuel, the third chapter.
The night was on, and Samuel the young Temple apprentice was trying to sleep. Someone called to him. He ran to Eli -- his “Boss” I guess you could say -- and said, “Here I am. You called me.” The same thing happened more than once.
Samuel was, the good word says, “not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him yet.” After a couple of exchanges that night, Eli realized something was up: “Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, ‘Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply: Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”
Again he was called -- “Samuel, Samuel!” – and he answered as directed. And he listened.
After that, “Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.” (New American Bible translation).
Sunday, January 17, at mid-day, I caught up with George E. Young, Sr. Lots of folks call him state Senator George Young, D-Oklahoma City.
I’ve known him long enough that sometimes I start conversations asking: “Preacher, what part of the Word did you teach from today?”
Every year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday comes around, and hits its stride when Pastor Young rises, whatever the venue, to speak. This year, he was given pulpit time at St. John Missionary Baptist on Kelley Avenue in Oklahoma City.
He spoke about freedom, about God’s promise to those who are afflicted, and other things.
His inspiration, he told me, came from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 4, verses 1-20.
The words are:
“When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.” (New Revised Standard Version)
That story is sometimes considered a preface to the rejection of Jesus by his own people, in Nazareth. Pastor Young and I talked about that for a bit.
Then we talked over some of his legislative proposals at the State Capitol this year. And then, we chatted for a time about recent troubles in this land we love. No surprise, we were not in all matters at the same place or of the same views. But familiarity and long years of shared struggle has not bred contempt between us, but brotherly love.
I mentioned I was preparing a story about another one of his new bills. And I asked him about the health of a mutual friend.
Just normal things between two men who have been around the block, been through times of trial, and value the solace of comfort from a friend.
Some years ago, I came to the same place as Pastor Young concerning the important issue of capital punishment. And, I’ve long supported criminal justice reforms he finds agreeable.
It’s a two-way street. Two guys who, after years of initial, wary assessment, long ago took down the walls and decided to walk on, in trust, until the end. These last few months we each lost people we care about, sooner than anticipated.
Formal business done, I asked him to close our time over the phone.
The reporter and the politician, the Catholic and the Protestant, the conservative and the liberal, the teacher and the preacher, ended with a word of prayer.
He asked for God’s blessing upon each of us, on those we know and love, on our leaders and their followers, on our state and our nation.
He asked for wisdom, and for unity. And I said, Amen.
In the course of human events, I’m glad to know him.
In times such as these, I am thankful to the Lord to know His servant, George Young.
And, to one and all: Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
The Good Word from Rev. George E. Young, Sr. Luke: 4:16-20 (NRSV) and other matters Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Pat McGuigan
Memories updated, Spring 1993 – They were vivacious, like most kids from kindergarten to fourth grade. After lunch, they just couldn’t help themselves.
A child would start to run down the school hall, toward the door, the playground and the outdoors. Principal Wilbur House, Ph.D., blew a whistle to get attention. He made them walk. Simple lessons were part of every day there.
Built in 1922, some called the facility "run-down. " It looked the way public schools looked in Oklahoma City before the MAPs for KIDS project brought physical plant improvements. It was clean and pleasant, full of people teaching in trying times.
Teachers there were certainly challenged.
In a good run of class time, a teacher could get as much as 90 seconds without an interruption. At every school where I spent time, the attention span of TV kids was short (and likely is even shorter in these Internet days).
The number of inappropriate behaviors acted out in an hour would be daunting to less patient souls, so the teachers at MLK and most sites did well, many days, to keep control and keep learning going for most kids. These were good people.
Students attending the old Martin Luther King Elementary in Oklahoma City three decades ago had more than their share of challenges.
Nelia Haynes, third-grade teacher, asked them what problems, good and bad, a newspaper editor might have to write about and think about every day.
The list of good things they gave was modest: "We're learning every day" one girl offered. And "We can help each other" another observed.
Bad things: A lot of shootings nearby. Too much fighting. People who spent a lot of time "talking bad about each other," and not getting along. People getting hurt. Too many robbers. Rodney King got beat up.
Gangs, and "all these babies who don't know who their daddy is. " Child abuse, and "men snatching kids" -- to which one boy rejoined, "women do it, too. " The kids’ solutions: People need to have meetings to talk about how to get along together. "Call the police, if you need to. " They need a neighborhood watch program.” "Take care of your own business. " If someone wants to fight, "just walk off. " "Bad parents should be put in jail. "
Haynes asked what kind of person an editor should be. They told me: Someone fair, cheerful, bright, nice, understanding – and "a sharer. "
Memories and hopes were formed during visits then, and in the years after.
A well-stocked library. A group of 15 kindergarten children walking across the playground, on their way to lunch, loudly singing in unison their ABCs.
Once, sitting at lunch with 15 girls and one boy, I asked each to name a favorite book. Between giggles, each gave one, mostly titles you'd get at any other school: "Hop on Pop," "Green Eggs and Ham," pickles poetry, and stories about older children.
I spent part of one day that spring teaching two classes of third-graders (an hour each, some 30 kids in all) about newspapers. Most already understood basic newsroom terms (reporters, columnists, editors, artists, editorial writers, sports, photographers, advertising) and could use the words correctly in a sentence.
Another visit included an hour in lab with three boys and one girl, children who had trouble with both reading and writing. With patience and adult time, they could learn to read, write and think for themselves.
To be sure, students at MLK Elementary faced many challenges, back in my days there. Family problems and social difficulties for many, yes. – but Principal House provided an environment where teachers could teach and kids could learn.
Watching him work the halls led me to deem him Joe Clark (the famous New Jersey principal, now deceased), but without the baseball bat. House diplomatically said, "We believe in firm discipline. " He was that site's ultimate authority, but little ones approached him for hugs.
Given time -- their own, that of teachers and of adults who would both listen to their dreams and require of them the work needed to make life better – they had a chance to turn out fine. But did enough of adults give them enough time, and examples?
On my first day at MLK, a soft-spoken little guy asked me, "Did you come to see how good we ain't? "
“No, son,” I corrected him.
“I came to see how good you are.”
I met the same little guy on a later visit, in Shawn Alyea's laboratory for learning-disabled children. It was a struggle at times, but the little guy read, from a pleasant story appropriate to his age and discernment.
On most of my days at MLK, nothing startling happened.
Just some kids, reading.
* * *
Time passed, and I through the spring I spent more time with the students and teachers.
Haynes, the third-grade teacher, sent a note in response to one of my personal columns, crafted after some of visits.
We had spent time talking about journalism and about good writing.
Haynes wrote:
"Thank you for sharing the skills needed and required for ... becoming a successful editor with my third year class at Martin Luther King. You have gained many friends here. ... The boys and girls have listed adjectives and synonyms to describe you. "
Here are excerpts from a poem her pupils sent to The Oklahoman, in the form of a letter to the editor: ...
You were so kind to take the time
To visit our class and bring us sunshine.
You are so special, and a good teacher too
We didn't get bored listening to you. ...
We really appreciated your kindness on that day
For listening and letting us voice our concerns in our own way.
More adults like you should stop and let kids share ...
Because everyone should realize that children can care. ...
We are really having fun today
Writing about you is exciting and is play.
Everyone is smiling and adding words to the list
Making certain we don't miss a word or clue.
Your name is tricky, yes, indeed
But all of us have enough to please
As we end our thank-you note
We hope you enjoy every word we wrote. ..
To read the article that you wrote about us
You are a dear friend we'll always trust. ...
With love, Ms. Nelia B. Haynes' Class.
Perhaps I vaguely resembled the man the children described, but I read their words with a knowing heart.
The students at Martin Luther King Elementary (1993) were describing themselves.
NOTE: This essay is adapted from commentaries that first appeared in The Oklahoman in 1993.
Memories from days at the old Martin Luther King Elementary in Oklahoma City Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
Sen. Roger Thompson, Budget Breakdown
In the weeks leading up to the legislative session, the spotlight is on budget hearings, so in this report, I’d like to focus on the appropriations process, including the work of the appropriations subcommittees.
There are six appropriations subcommittees in the Senate. Those include Education; General Government and Transportation; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources and Regulatory Services; Public Safety and Judiciary; and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Select Agencies.
Subcommittee members have the responsibility of analyzing agency budget requests and reviewing agency program performance measures. They answer questions about agency programs for constituents and are responsible for negotiating terms of the appropriation and budget limit bills. I communicate with our subcommittee chairs throughout the interim, but during the session, I hold weekly meetings with them to discuss the budget, agency requests, and negotiations between our chairs and their house counterparts.
October 1 is the deadline for agencies to submit their budget request to the governor and the Legislature, although this year, the deadline was extended to November 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In any given year, the requests for funding typically exceed the resources available to appropriate, but unlike the federal government, Oklahoma’s constitution requires our Legislature to write and pass a balanced budget.
Additionally, we must prioritize those resources to ensure we are funding the core services our citizens depend on. The work of our subcommittee chairs and their members is essential to those efforts.
In January our appropriations subcommittees begin their analysis of agency program performance measures and begin filing related reports. No appropriations can be made to an agency until these reports have been filed.
Those hearings are currently underway in the Senate. The schedule for upcoming meetings and links to live video can be viewed at https://ift.tt/3ihZmM9. These hearings give agencies an opportunity to explain how their appropriations for the current budget year are being utilized and to discuss their budget requests for the coming fiscal year.
The governor submits his budget recommendations to the Legislature on the first day of session which will be February 1 this year. Later in the month, the Board of Equalization meets for certification of revenues.
While the Board makes a preliminary certification in late December, it is the February estimate the Legislature is constitutionally required to follow, unless a bill is approved by both chambers and signed by the governor to increase or decrease revenue.
From February through April supplemental appropriations are considered for the current fiscal year. Subcommittees hold budget hearings for the upcoming fiscal year, and vote on substantive bills with fiscal impacts. This is the best time during the session to talk to legislators about budget issues.
From late April to May the subcommittees receive their budget allocation and convene the General Conference Committee on Appropriations (GCCA). At this point, the Senate and House Appropriation Subcommittees have decided most of what they want to fund, and it is time to work out their differences.
By May the Legislature begins filing appropriation bills. During session, the governor has five days to sign or veto a bill or it becomes law without his signature. If the bill is passed during the last week of session, the governor has 15 days to sign it or it becomes a pocket veto. Under the constitution, the legislative session must end no later than 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May.
All our committee and subcommittee meetings, as well as floor sessions, are livestreamed and archived on our official website at www.oksenate.gov . You can also view or download complete texts of bills, agendas and more. In addition, each year we publish a Fast Facts reference guide with convenient facts, figures and graphs about Oklahoma’s state budget as well as information on state government programs, taxes, demographics and state rankings.
It’s available on our website at https://ift.tt/3bOafUC. .
NOTE: Thompson is a Republican from Okemah. He is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. CapitolBeatOK.com, a news service in Oklahoma City, frequently posts information, analysis or commentary from members of the state Legislature.
Budget Breakdown: Oklahoma State Appropriations Process Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt has recently announced that the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home in Jackson, Mississippi has been named the newest national monument in the National Park System.
In the 1950s and 60s, Medgar Evers, a World War II veteran, was a field secretary for the NAACP. Together Medgar and his wife Myrlie fought for the desegregation of the University of Mississippi, for voting rights, and the desegregation of public facilities.
“It is an honor to establish the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument,” said Secretary Bernhardt.
“Medgar Evers was a true American hero who fought the Nazis at Normandy and fought racism with his wife Myrlie on the home front.
“It is our solemn responsibility as caretakers of America’s national treasures to tell the whole story of America’s heritage for the benefit of present and future generations,” Bernhardt said.
“The life works of these great Americans helped shape our nation in making the United States a more perfect union, and for that, we should all be grateful.”
Evers managed much of his activism out of his home as he and his family lived with constant threats and harassment.
Medgar was gunned down in the driveway of his home by a white supremacist on June 12, 1963, less than 24 hours after President John F. Kennedy made his famous address to the nation on the issue of civil rights and proposed legislation that would become the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“We at the National Trust applaud the administration for its designation of the historic Medgar and Myrlie Evers home,” said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.
“With this inclusion in our national parks system, more Americans will learn about the remarkable activism and often overlooked contributions of this great American family,” Leggs said. “Their civil rights leadership must be told and interpreted for present and future generations.”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded nonprofit organization, that works to save America’s historic places.
Prior to becoming a National Park, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017. The home was acquired by the National Park Service by way of conveyance from Tougaloo College in June of this year.
"We are so pleased that the National Park Service has made our family home in Jackson, MS, a National Monument,” said Reena and James Van Evers, the two surviving children of Medgar and Myrlie Evers. “Our parents sought justice and equality for all Mississippians and knew such change locally would impact globally. Living a life of service, our parents didn't make sacrifices for accolades or awards.
“Our father fought for his country during World War II, and our mother equally served on the battlefields here in America. The battle continues to ensure that all Americans deserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
“We are delighted that our house, always enclosed in love and respect, is nestled in a community that provides hope and opportunity,” Reena and James stated. “It's still serving as a reminder of our divided past and an educational tool to bring knowledge, excellence, and positive participation to all who visit to study icons in American history: our parents, Medgar and Myrlie Evers."
The three-bedroom, ranch-style house was built in 1956 as part of Jackson’s Elraine Subdivision, developed by African American entrepreneurs Winston J. Thompson and Leroy Burnett.
Elraine Subdivision was the first post-World War II modern subdivision designed for middle-class African Americans in Mississippi.
“In preserving the Medgar and Myrlie Evers home, our nation rightly acknowledges the gross inequities faced by the Evers’ family as well as their legacy of struggle to create a more free and fair United States for all,” Leggs added.
For more information regarding the National Trust for Historic Preservation, visit savingplaces.org.
Home of civil rights activists Medgar and Myrlie Evers named the newest national monument in the National Park System Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK |
Pat McGuiganThe dean of all Oklahoma Journalism, Mr Patrick McGuigan; has a rich history of service in many aspects of both covering the news and producing the information that the public needs to know. Archives
September 2021
Categories |