"Oklahoma!" Elevator Speech

Just back from the DNC winter meeting and time with the other 50 state chairs and the other 390 DNC members. There's something about wearing those oversized name tags and credentials in an elevator that is quite amusing. So you're standing there in the elevator and someone says to you, "you from Oklahoma?" And you respond, "yes, Oklahoma" and sometimes it's "yes, Boomer Sooner." The follow up is generally something like this, "I know someone from Oklahoma" or "oh, yeah, you have tornadoes there." Then the elevator door opens and there's no time to brag on our great state. If there were time, what would you say about Oklahoma? What do people know about Oklahoma?

The Tulsa World has a story about just that based on a survey done by Zogby in December. Read the story here.

Overall 47% of Americans surveyed have a favorable impression of Oklahoma, an impression much improved in the past few years as both public and private groups have aggresively worked to promote a favorable impression that will ultimately bring new jobs and economic opportunities to our citizens.

So what's your "elevator speech" for Oklahoma? What can you say about Oklahoma in the time it takes to ride up a couple of floors in an elevator with strangers? Is it Oklahoma the Big Friendly? Is it Oklahoma home of 39 federally recognized Indian tribes? Is it Oklahoma farms, football, and a future in medical research?

Now at the DNC meeting the follow up question is often "red or blue?" How will we answer that in 2008? Will it be red or blue? It's up to you, Democrats, to make it what you want. It's your time to claim this state for the people. Think about your Oklahoma elevator speech then work on your Oklahoma Democrat elevator speech. This is our time. Going up?

(The music of "Oklahoma!" the tragedy of the Oklahoma City bombing, football, American Indians and oil are how most Americans think of the Sooner State, according to a recent Zogby International poll. "Oklahoma!" photo courtesy The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization; photo illustration by DAVID CARMAN / Tulsa World)

House Democrats Set the Record Straight on House Rules Amendments; Call for Rules Promoting Ethical Behavior in the House

On February 5th, the first day of the Legislative session, House Republicans refused to change the House rules to allow for a more open and honest government.

“I’m very disappointed that Speaker-Pro Tempore Gus Blackwell had to take such a partisan stand yesterday,” said Democratic Floor Leader James Covey, D- Custer City. “We had a real opportunity to allow for more open debate and an ethically sound House of Representatives.”



While House Republicans allowed most of the amendments to be considered, they were voted down along party lines. However, the amendment to restrict the use of Political Action Committees, or PACs, was not heard and immediately thrown out by the House Republicans.

“It is a conflict of interest for a committee chair to have a PAC while overseeing legislation in committee,” said Representative Richard Morrissette, D- Oklahoma City, the author of the PAC amendment. “The difference between a candidate campaign account and a PAC is that a PAC can donate to other candidates. PACs are routinely used to funnel money during election cycles. It is unethical for this practice to continue and that is why we proposed the amendment yesterday.”

“The issue was not discussed in our meetings with the Leadership before the Rules were brought before the whole House,” said Covey. “The Democratic Caucus thought that the issue was important, so we proposed an amendment before the whole House.”

“House Democrats will not be satisfied until there are rules that allow for open debate and promote ethical conduct for the members of the House.”

Eastern Oklahoma Democratic Lawmakers Weigh In on Upcoming Session

Rep. Glen Bud Smithson, Rep. Ed Cannaday, Sen. Kenneth Corn and Sen. Jim Wilson (pictured at right) are pushing education, healthcare coverage and economic development in the 51st legislative session. Read the full story here.

Leftwich Bill Protecting Volunteers From Lawsuits Passes Out of Senate Committee

A measure that will exempt volunteers who provide transportation services for charitable organizations or not-for-profit corporations from liability lawsuits passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.

“This bill will provide protection for the volunteers who drive senior citizens to and from hot lunch programs and take them to the grocery store to do their shopping,” said Senator Debbe Leftwich, author of the legislation.

Read full story.

President’s Budget Ignores Concerns of Oklahoma Working Families

President Bush's 2008 budget will cut millions of dollars from critical education, health care, homeland security, and law enforcement programs in Oklahoma, according to analysis by the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress. While the President's $2.9 trillion budget does little to address the rising economic insecurities that middle class Americans are facing, it slashes millions from programs that are essential to thousands of Oklahomans. President Bush's new budget shows that he continues to ignore the will of the American people and by advancing a radical agenda that has already been rejected by the vast majority of the American people. A Newsweek poll last week found that 58 percent of American simply want the Bush Presidency to end.



As in previous years, President Bush has tried to sneak his Social Security privatization plan into the budget, which would undermine the retirement security of 436,100 Oklahomans. The President's budget request seeks to eliminate the Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) program and the Justice Assistance Grants program, which together provided more than seven million dollars in funding to help keep Oklahoma communities safe. While the Democrats in Congress have saved the Community Development Block Grant Program from elimination in each of the last two years, President Bush has it on the chopping block again, risking over $30 million in community development funds for Oklahoma.

"President Bush's budget shows that he still has no interest in listening to the will of the American people," said Oklahoma State Democratic Party Chair Lisa Pryor. "Last November, the voters demanded real change and real leaders who put working families first. Yet, just like all his previous budgets, President Bush's budget this year offers more of the same cuts to programs that are critical to Oklahoma’s working families. If Oklahoma Republicans like Senators Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe and Representatives Tom Cole, Frank Lucas, Marry Fallin and John Sullivan are serious about doing the work that Oklahomans sent them to Washington to do, they should join Oklahoma Democrats and U.S. Congressman Dan Boren in fighting President Bush's reckless and irresponsible budget cuts."

See how the Bush budget truly effects Oklahomans.

Coburn, Inhofe Block Vote on Bush's Escalation of Iraq War

Republicans in the U.S. Senate, including Oklahoma’s Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe, yesterday blocked an up- or-down vote on a resolution condemning the President's escalation of the War in Iraq and his refusal to offer a new direction that the American people demanded in November. While 70 percent of Americans disapprove of President Bush's misguided strategy in Iraq, both Democrats and Republicans have voiced opposition to the escalation. Yet, Senators Coburn and Inhofe still cling to the same "stay the course" strategy that continues to be advocated by President Bush.

"Every day Oklahoma’s brave men and women are serving our country in the war in Iraq. This is the most important issue facing our nation. The people of Oklahoma have made it clear where they stand, now they have a right to know where Republicans like Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe stand on the President's escalation of the Iraq War. Yesterday, they joined the rest of the Republicans in Washington in giving a green light to the President's plan by blocking an up-or-down vote on a resolution condemning the President's plan to escalate the Iraq war,” said Oklahoma Democratic State Party Chairman Lisa Pryor.



She said Oklahomans and its brave men and women in the military deserve a new strategy, not more obstruction by Republicans who insist on clinging to a failed, stay the course strategy.

“That is why Democrats to voted hold President Bush accountable for his plan to continue to escalate the war in Iraq by forcing our troops to police a civil war,” Pryor said. "By sending more troops into the middle of the Iraqi civil war, the President is not just ignoring the will of the American people, he is ignoring the lessons of history, the advice of military experts and the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. I call on Senators Coburn and Inhofe to join Democrats in calling for a forward looking plan in Iraq that turns over the country to Iraqis and gets our brave men and women out of the crossfire of their civil war."

ODP Celebrates Black History Month

Oklahoma City, OK- Feb 02, 2007 The observance of Black History Month offers all Oklahoma Democrats an opportunity to celebrate the great accomplishments and valuable contributions of African-Americans to the development of America.

“We are stronger as a nation and we are stronger as Democrats when we respect and honor all people. The celebration of the cultural and personal achievements of African Americans throughout history binds us together and inspires us to work more diligently toward securing equality for all Oklahomans,” said Lisa Pryor Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman.



“As Democrats, we are especially proud of the deep connection and history between the African American community and the Democratic Party. From the civil rights movement to the modern struggle for social justice, Democrats are committed to ensuring that African Americans join all Americans in achieving the American dream. It is in this same spirit that we will continue to fight for equality and justice and speak out against discrimination and bigotry as we celebrate Black History all year round."

Pryor said the contributions of African Americans to our nation and our quality of life is obvious and important to all Oklahomans. She said, “our history is one with many diverse cultures co-existing under a common patriotism. As we celebrate we are reminded of the added richness that this diversity brings to our national story and the hope of the American dream, which crosses both racial and ethnic lines.”

FY 2008 Executive Budget

Read Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry's FY 2008 executive budget on the Office of State Finance's website here.

Read the executive summary below:

Executive Summary

In laying the foundation for Oklahoma’s second century, the Governor has proposed
innovative programs to position Oklahoma to compete in the global economy. The
Governor remains committed to ensuring that State programs are appropriate, effective and efficient.

Positive growth in the private sector depends on a government infrastructure that provides a foundation that is supportive of their development. This includes:

Education – Increased access to early childhood education and higher
education and skills training to prepare the workers of the future;

Health Care – Increase the number of children and working adults with
insurance to promote better health and reduce the burden on health insurance
premiums from the cost of uncompensated care;

Workforce Development – Creating innovative and collaborative efforts to bring
together appropriate government agencies to establish a flexible system to
enable workers to obtain the foundational skills they need to be trainable for the
job requirements of the global economy;

Economic Development – Continued development of new economic opportunities
through the EDGE endowment, the Opportunity Fund, OCAST and the
establishment of an Oklahoma Bioenergy Center to be the premier national
institution to research and develop the biofuels of the future;

Safety and Security – Protecting Oklahomans by being smart on crime as well as
tough;

Oklahoma continues to be ranked as one of the most pro-business and family-friendly states. Expansion Magazine ranks both Oklahoma City and Tulsa in their top 20% cities for quality of life for manufacturing companies to grow and prosper. Both Oklahoma City and Tulsa were also ranked among the top 50 Hot Spots for expansions and locations by the same publication.
Oklahoma was also rated 5th in the nation for High-Tech job growth according to a FDIC study with aerospace industry clusters leading the way. Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Oklahoma’smajor cities among it top 20 “Hottest Cities for Entrepreneurs”

Here are just a few highlights of Oklahoma’s economy:

• Oklahoma’s per capita income increased 5.4% between 2004 and 2005, which ranked
the State 7th in the nation according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Since the 2003 economic recession, Oklahoma has created 95,800 jobs.

• Between 2004 and 2005, Oklahoma’s economic growth equaled 8.6%, eighth in the
nation.

Some of the most notable employment announcements taking place in Oklahoma include: MG
Motors locating its North American Headquarters in Oklahoma City, a major manufacturing facility
in Ardmore and engineering facilities in Norman. A host of other companies chose to locate all
across the Sooner State including 150 new manufacturing jobs in Durant, Smithfield Beef in Texas
County, Sigma Corporation in Seminole and Boral Bricks in Union City.

Building on these successes, the Governor proposes the following major initiatives:

Education: improve student achievement, enhance teacher pay, expand Oklahoma’s
early childhood education opportunities to include three year olds, establish a
permanent funding source for OHLAP, aid disadvantaged pre-school age children
through public-private partnerships such as Educare, shore up our Teachers’
Retirement System and provide funds to Oklahoma’s colleges and universities to
eliminate the backlog of endowed chairs;

Health Care: ensure affordable prescription drugs by allowing the re-importation of
American-manufactured pharmaceuticals, provide health insurance for children of low-
income families up to the maximum income level allowed by federal law and increase
the income eligibility limit to the maximum allowed by the federal government for Insure Oklahoma which helps employers provide health insurance for working Oklahomans;

Workforce Development: Expand the delivery of an industry accepted workforce
readiness certificate to insure all Oklahomans possess the basic skills required for the jobs of the global economy. Allocate $5 million in training grant incentives to help currently employed workers upgrade their skills and establish 3 new “Advantage”
Centers where economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, OESC offices as
well as colleges and career technology centers can collaborate to help entrepreneurs, job seekers and businesses seeking to expand.

Economic Development: Appropriate $50 million additional money to the EDGE
endowment and $15 million additional money to the Governor’s Economic Opportunity
Fund to encourage further research and investment in Oklahoma and establish an
Oklahoma Bioenergy Center to bring together top scientists to research and develop
the biofuels of tomorrow.
Safety and Security: expand the use of drug courts, mental health courts and other
treatment programs designed to divert people with mental illness to treatment rather
than jail; provide inmates with substance abuse treatment to halt the prison revolvingdoor; and develop specialized treatment programs for methamphetamine addicts.

This executive summary provides an overview of these major initiatives and a summary of the FY- 2008 Executive Budget.

Words Matter

Gov. Brad Henry's 31-minutes state of the state address included the following:

"people" 7 times
"children" 11 times
"education" 9 times
"public" 6 times
"family" 3 times
"energy" 5 times
"citizens" 4 times

2007 State of the State Address

State of the State Address
Governor Brad Henry
February 5, 2007

On the Move

This is a historic time. On the cusp of our state’s second century, we gather here, chosen by the people of Oklahoma to chart a course for our future: a course not solely for the coming legislative session, but for the next 100 years.

Oklahoma is on the move. Indeed, it always has been. From our flowing rivers to waving tallgrass prairies, from our bustling cities to cutting-edge research at our colleges and universities, Oklahoma is a state defined by motion.

How appropriate, then, that ours is the only state settled by a land run – thousands of schooners, horses and runners charging across the plains at the crack of a gun. Cities sprang up overnight where the day before stood only prairie and the promise of a vibrant tomorrow.

We remained a people on the move. It was an Oklahoman, Cyrus Avery, who came to be known as the Father of Route 66 for his work in creating the famed “Mother Road”; and, fittingly, Oklahoma boasted more miles of the celebrated highway than any other state. Aviation pioneers like Wiley Post and Clyde Cessna hailed from this land, and more astronauts came from Oklahoma than from any other state.

And no wonder. Oklahomans are visionary, creative, industrious. We are tenacious and resolute, traits we have exemplified again and again over the last century – most recently last month, when massive ice and snow storms battered our state.

The damage was staggering, but not insurmountable. At one time, more than 125,000 homes and businesses were without power. Many had no heat, and some communities temporarily lost the capability to provide fresh water to residents.

But as we always do during times of adversity, Oklahomans pulled together to help those in need. They saw what needed to be done, and they did it.

We are a people who forge ahead, but we also hold true to the fundamentals that define us. We dream big, but we stay firmly rooted in our faith and our families. It is faith that gives us strength, and our families that give us comfort.

I would like to take a moment to introduce the source of my own comfort and inspiration, my family.

My family is always at the forefront of my thoughts, just as I suspect each of you consider your families and loved ones to be your top priority. I imagine that’s what led most of us to public service. We are here to see that Oklahoma remains a place for families to thrive and prosper. We all have hopes and dreams that the Oklahoma family will reach unparalleled heights of prosperity and accomplishment.

Oklahoma momentum

And so we find ourselves uniquely positioned in this, our centennial year, to make such dreams a reality. Just as our adventurous pioneer spirit characterized Oklahoma’s first century, so, too, will today’s actions bring shape and definition to Oklahoma’s second century. Now is the time to build upon our unique heritage, with a reverence for Oklahoma’s proud past and an enthusiasm for a fantastic future.

And we are well-positioned for even greater things. Oklahoma is booming, competitive in the global economy, and a leader in energy and biotech, aviation and aerospace. We’ve seen 100,000 new jobs created in less than four years. Unemployment is low. Our economic and per capita income growth consistently ranks among the best in the nation. Our early childhood education programs are hailed as the finest in the entire country. College enrollment is at record levels.

I am proud of all that we’ve accomplished together these past four years. But, as I said in my inaugural address, it’s now time to build on our momentum. Before us is an incredible opportunity to create positive, enduring changes that will define Oklahoma’s second century and help usher in a bright and brilliant tomorrow.

And a great future begins with a great education. As Proverbs 16:16 tells us, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!”

One of the most important things we can do for our children is to give them the tools early on to succeed in school. The child who begins late or falls behind may never catch up in today’s fast-paced educational environment. And yet, experts tell us that perhaps as many as half of all children entering kindergarten are not emotionally or intellectually ready for the challenges of school.

The benefits of early childhood education are numerous and well-established. Children who participate are more likely to display stronger reading skills and perform better in school. They are more likely to graduate from high school and go to college. They are less likely to have disciplinary problems, require remediation or end up in our corrections system. One study even notes that for every dollar spent on such programs, taxpayers save another $7 in public assistance costs.

Fortunately, Oklahoma has taken the lead. Our early childhood education programs for 4 year olds are considered the best in the nation. That success is due to the hard work of dedicated organizations like the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness, as well as strong preschool proponents like Tulsa’s visionary businessman, George Kaiser – and, my personal favorite education adviser, Kim Henry.

Now it’s time to move to the next level. I ask that you join me in launching efforts to ensure that each school district can ultimately offer the option of early childhood education for every 3 year old in Oklahoma. Let’s give parents that opportunity and help make sure that our youngest generation receives the essential tools for future success.

But disadvantaged children need even more help. For them, there is real promise in offering more intensive programs such as Educare, which is doing so much for at-risk children in the Tulsa area. This program has been so successful that the Inasmuch Foundation and the Kaiser Foundation are now bringing it to Oklahoma City. The Kaiser Foundation has indicated it will match up to $15 million in funds invested by the State of Oklahoma in this public-private partnership. We can leverage taxpayer dollars – and double our money – to bring critical help to the children who need it most.

In the global marketplace of the 21st century, a college or CareerTech degree is more crucial than ever before. But many young people find it a challenge to obtain even a high school diploma.

We are capable of doing better. This session, I ask you to support tough legislation to ensure that every Oklahoma teenager completes high school. Let us resolve that within five years Oklahoma will boast the highest high school graduation rate in the entire country.

We must also work toward producing more college graduates. Fortunately, we’re making great strides. College enrollment continues to increase, and the number of our college graduates has risen by more than 20 percent since 2002.

We need to capitalize on that momentum. One of the best ways to do so is through our Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. Also known as Oklahoma’s Promise, it makes a simple, but profound, pledge to eligible students. If you take a challenging curriculum, make good grades and stay out of trouble, the State of Oklahoma will pay for your college education. Students who participate in Oklahoma’s Promise are more likely to graduate from high school and go to college. They are less likely to need remediation and more likely to earn a college degree.

It’s time to secure a permanent, dedicated funding source for Oklahoma’s Promise. It’s academic: If we can get more young people in this scholarship program, we will produce more college graduates in Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s Promise is worth keeping our promise to Oklahoma students.

Three years ago, we embarked on an ambitious journey to increase teacher pay to at least the regional average. We agreed that no longer would Oklahoma stand by and allow neighboring states to lure away our best and brightest educators. This year we must reaffirm our commitment to our teachers with a pay raise.

And our commitment to teachers must be long-term. All of us know the teachers’ retirement system has become a gaping budgetary hole that threatens the fiscal stability of our future. Will Rogers once cautioned that when you find yourself in a hole, the first step is to stop digging. Sensible advice. This year, let’s begin serious work to shore up the teachers’ retirement system and ensure its future viability for Oklahoma educators.

Our colleges, too, deserve special attention. Oklahoma has made good headway toward eliminating the backlog of endowed chairs. Let’s cleanup that backlog this session with a $75 million bond issue that will leverage another $75 million in private donations.

Education is only the first step to the future. A prosperous Oklahoma is a healthy Oklahoma, and among the most urgent issues facing us today is health insurance. Nearly one in every five Oklahomans is uninsured. That isn’t their problem; that’s everyone’s problem. Citizens without health insurance end up in our emergency rooms, and the cost of their medical treatment is then passed on to the insured in the form of higher premiums. In fact, healthcare experts report that 30 percent of premium increases are due to such cost-shifting.

That we have so many uninsured is unacceptable, especially when it comes to our children. During a prayer service before my inauguration last month, I had the honor of hearing from a number of religious leaders. Among them was Bishop Robert Hayes, leader of the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference.

Declaring that he was speaking for those who could not speak for themselves, Bishop Hayes issued a challenge to all of us when he said, “If representatives from government, religious and secular communities work together, we can send a very clear message to the people of Oklahoma in this, our centennial year; that our children are our priority – and if that is the case, what Oklahoma will receive in return will be more than we could ever dream or ever imagine.” Bishop Hayes made it clear that it’s our moral responsibility as policymakers and private citizens to make children our priority. And he’s right. Our children must be our priority.

Together, let’s make sure that Oklahoma’s Medicaid coverage includes every child who can be covered under the federally-imposed guidelines. By increasing eligibility to the maximum allowed, we can ensure healthcare coverage for 42,000 more Oklahoma children – and our federal partner will pay for more than two-thirds of it.

We must also help our small businesses and hard-working families cope with the rising costs of health insurance. The Insure Oklahoma program has been an innovative tool in providing health coverage to eligible workers. Under this first-of-its-kind program, the state pays 60 percent of the insurance costs, the employer pays 25 percent and the employee pays the remaining 15 percent. Insure Oklahoma has won national accolades and just recently was recognized by the Bush Administration as an example of the type of creative initiative needed to increase health insurance coverage.

This session, I propose that we increase Insure Oklahoma’s eligibility to the maximum limit allowed by the federal government. That change means as many as 118,000 uninsured Oklahomans could make use of this exciting program to obtain health insurance.

Oklahoma seniors continue to carry the burden of high prescription drug costs. Currently, American seniors – many on a fixed income – are subsidizing pharmaceutical companies by purchasing medicines that can be bought in other countries for far less money.

That is unfair, unwise and unconscionable. The health of Oklahomans, especially the health of our valued seniors, is too important to delay action any longer. This year, I again urge you to allow the re-importation of American-made prescription drugs from Canada and other industrialized nations, and deliver them to Oklahomans at substantial savings. Pricing our seniors out of good health is too great a price to pay.

Our economic health is also a top priority. Today’s economy is a global economy, an accelerated economy in which innovation and invention are no longer luxuries, but necessities.

Oklahoma is meeting that challenge with dynamic initiatives like the EDGE Endowment and the Opportunity Fund, programs that nurture the best jobs of today and tomorrow. Already, we’ve reaped dividends from these initiatives. The Opportunity Fund was a major factor in the decision by MG Motors to build an assembly plant in Ardmore and locate its North American headquarters in Oklahoma City.

Let’s build on that progress this session with significant deposits to EDGE and the Opportunity Fund from surplus revenues. In addition, let’s provide bonding authority of up to $200 million for the Opportunity Fund to help secure the best jobs of the future.

As the United States works to reduce a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, Oklahoma is ideally suited to play a defining role. Our state’s vibrant oil and gas industry has made Oklahoma a worldwide force in energy, and that proud industry also embraces biofuels as an important energy source of the future.

I ask for your support in the creation of the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center. This world-class facility will bring together the top scientific talent in Oklahoma to undertake research in, and development of, biofuels.

The possibilities are limitless. Not only will the Bioenergy Center be a tremendous investment in a diversified economy, it will mean a cleaner environment, thousands of high-paying jobs and a significant revitalization of rural Oklahoma. Our state has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish itself as a global leader in this fuel of the future -- but we must act now.

Economic health means more than available jobs; it means ensuring a workforce with the skills necessary for those jobs. We have made great strides in this arena. Much of the credit must go to Steve Hendrickson of Boeing, as well as Deputy Secretary of Commerce Norma Noble. They’ve done yeoman’s work with the innovative Council on Workforce and Economic Development.

But there is more to do. According to a recent survey of employers, 39 percent delayed expansion due to worker shortages. That’s why I urge you to help guarantee that our workforce has the training necessary to receive a Career Ready Certificate. This certificate would assure employers that Oklahoma’s workforce has the fundamental skills necessary for the workforce of tomorrow.

Most of us in this chamber are here because our constituents sent us here. They placed their trust in us, and in return we must pledge to them a government of complete openness and transparency.

Every Oklahoman deserves to know how their tax dollars are spent. This year, I ask for your help in establishing an easily accessible Web site in which citizens can see exactly how their money is spent. We demand accountability of state agencies and departments, and it’s only fair that voters demand accountability from us.

Public safety is also of critical importance, and that means a rigorous enforcement of law that protects the public and punishes criminals. And yet the reality is, year after year, our state prisons fill to capacity, taking up space for violent criminals and draining millions of tax dollars that might instead be used for programs proven to reduce recidivism and lower crime.

The most basic function of government is the protection of its citizens. For too long, however, we have administered a one-size-fits-all approach that addresses the symptoms of crime, and too few of the causes. Being tough on crime and being smart about crime are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are one and the same when it comes to aggressive programs to treat people with substance abuse and mental health issues. That means punishing low-level, non-violent offenders in a more effective way that better protects public safety. It also means requiring them to seek treatment for their addictions and work to pay restitution and the cost of their sentencing.

In many cases, drug and alcohol addiction leads to other offenses. While incarcerated, many inmates do not receive the substance abuse and mental health treatment they need, and upon release, they return to old neighborhoods, old friends, and old habits. They are all but assured of returning to prison.

However, there is a smarter way. If we act now to end this vicious cycle, we can create substantial savings over time and make our streets safer for all Oklahomans.

The time is now

I am excited about the challenges and work ahead. Together we have achieved much on behalf of our state, but our task is not yet complete – not by a long shot.

There are some skeptics who predict little of worth will come from this legislative session. They expect to see only political gamesmanship and partisan bickering.

But I don’t believe that, and I hope you don’t, either. Divisiveness destroys success, and too much is at stake for us to surrender to the pitfalls of partisanship. There is no glory in gridlock, but the rewards of working together – of joining forces on behalf of our fellow Oklahomans – are truly without limit.

The winter storms of last month are a powerful reminder of what can happen when Oklahomans pull together. When the storms knocked out power in much of McAlester, the hospital’s emergency room became swamped with patients. A general practitioner in town, Dr. Gregory Rogers, decided he needed to do his part to help. While much of McAlester was at a standstill, Dr. Rogers opened his office to treat any and all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. And because there was no power, he worked by flashlight and candlelight. He simply did what he had to do.

Dr. Rogers and his wife Judy are with us in the gallery today, and we are honored by their presence.

In this magnificent year of our centennial, each of us is privileged to witness this moment in history first-hand. But we must do more than merely stand by as idle eyewitnesses to history. We must be the movers and makers of history. We must be the agent for change and the engine that propels Oklahoma forward.

I’ve offered several ideas that I believe will move us forward. Other ideas will come, and they are welcome. But let us work together to find common ground and begin a successful second century in the Oklahoma way.

This is a historic time. Our vision and our actions must be no less historic.

God bless you and God bless Oklahoma.

Legislative Primer

The Alliance for Oklahoma's Future has a great primer on the legislative appropriations process. Keep it in mind as you read about the budget battle between the Democrats and Republicans this session. Odd isn't it that Republicans talk about the taxpayers and consumers while Democrats keep an eye on citizens.

Here's the link: www.okbudgetalliance.org/presentations/OK_LegPrimer_2007.pdf

Bush's Proposed FY 2008 Budget

"With the $2.9 trillion budget he submitted to Congress, Bush signaled he would attempt to squeeze spending on health care, education, housing and other domestic programs important to the Democratic majority for the duration of his term. Overall domestic spending would be held below the rate of inflation in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 and frozen thereafter."

Source: Washington Post

AP: Clinton early favorite in Oklahoma poll

A new Oklahoma poll shows U-S Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain are early favorites among Oklahoma voters for the 2008 presidential nominations.

The poll for the Tulsa World and television station K-O-T-V showed Clinton was the preference of 28 percent of 420 Democrats surveyed, followed by former U-S Senator John Edwards at 23 percent.

On the Republican side, McCain was favored by 25 percent of the 288 Republicans surveyed, giving him an 8-point lead on former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Seventeen percent of Democrats and 12 percent of Republicans were undecided.

The telephone poll by SoonerPoll-dot-com was conducted January 19th through 21st. The margin of error for questions asked of all respondents is plus or minus 3-point-5-8 percent.

The margin of error for the question asked of Republicans only is 5-point-7-7 percent. The margin of error for the question asked of Democrats only is 4-point-7-8 percent.

Bush administration Accepts Global Warming Science.....Finally;
Oklahoma's Senator Inhofe the Last to Hang on to Conspiracy Therory

Senator Jim Inhofe is clearly of touch with the reality and American voters. He still stubbornly denies that Global Warming is very real and very a very critical issue facing future generations of Americans. He prefers to chalk up shifting global conditions as manifestations of the Weather Channel.

Read the story in the Washington Times.

MCLB

Bush's hallmark education initiative NCLB has not delivered and many American children have been left behind. Now, he expects us to believe his budget will be good for America. It will not, in fact it is MCLB --- the Middle Class Left Behind.


THE BUSH BUDGET:

More Debt, Deception and Unfairness for the Middle Class

More Debt

President Bush has the worst fiscal record in history, having turned record surpluses into record deficits. His new budget is more of the same, calling for a substantial increase in debt that would force taxpayers to spend billions more on interest to foreign creditors.

* Federal debt will increase by $3.2 trillion since 2001 (to $9 trillion by end of FY07).

* Debt owed to foreigners has more than doubled, to over $2 trillion.

* Over 5 years, the Bush budget, even using its own numbers, increases debt by $2.5 trillion and forces taxpayers to pay $1.4 trillion in interest, much to foreign creditors.

* Budget continues to reject strong pay-as-you-go rules that worked in the 1990’s.

More Deception

The President’s budget, once again, is based on deception and phony numbers. It hides huge costs and uses gimmicks that assume large savings without explaining their impact.

* Fails to account for full costs of Iraq war beyond 2008.

* Assumes deep future cuts in domestic priorities like education, without details.

* Ignores costs of fixing alternative minimum tax (AMT) beyond 2007.

* Hides long-term costs of proposals (e.g., delays Social Security privatization to 2012).

More Unfairness for Middle Class

While the middle class struggles with stagnant wages and rising prices, the President’s budget would only make matters worse...

* Underfunds State Children’s Health Insurance Program, jeopardizing existing health coverage and leaving millions of kids uninsured.

* Cuts about $300 billion over 10 years from Medicare and Medicaid.

* Increases Medicare premiums for many seniors.

* Threatens existing private health coverage; fails to help uninsured; drives up premiums.

* Cuts education funding by $2.3 billion in FY08 alone.

* Shortchanges veterans by cutting VA appropriations by $3.5 billion over 5 years.

* Weakens security protections by cutting first responder grant programs.

At the same time, the President insists on spending hundreds of billions for handouts to multi-millionaires and special interests like the oil and gas lobby...

* Tax breaks for those with million-plus incomes: more than $160,000 per year

-- Cost over ten years: $739 billion

* Continues wasteful tax breaks for oil and gas industry and royalties for oil industry.

* Continues Medicare overpayments to HMO’s and other managed care plans.

* Grants drilling rights in Alaska wilderness (ANWR) to energy industry.

* Continues tax breaks for multinational corporations that outsource jobs overseas.

* Privatizes Social Security, requiring deep benefit cuts and massive debt.

Democrats Will Reverse Course

Democrats will seek to work with their Republican colleagues to produce a bipartisan budget that is fiscally responsible and that puts the middle class first.

* Return to the tough pay-as-you-go budget discipline of the 1990’s.

* Balance the budget with real numbers.

* Put interests of the middle class over those of lobbyists for powerful special interests.

* Invest in high priorities like health care, education, and terrorism prevention.

* Work with members of both parties in a genuine effort to craft a bipartisan approach.

Talking Points

Key Point: It is troubling that the Republican leadership would filibuster a
debate on the most important issue facing the country: the war in Iraq.
President Bush is escalating the war against the opposition of a bipartisan
majority in Congress, his own military commanders, and an overwhelming
majority of Americans. Escalating the war will not make this country safer,
and the American people deserve to know where every member of this Congress
stands. Republicans owe it to the American people to allow this debate to
begin.



Iraq

America's Intelligence Community has concluded that Iraq is in civil war or
worse, and that the President's plan is unlikely to succeed. The
Congressional Budget office says the plan is unsustainable

President Bush is escalating the war against the advice of his own military
commanders, a bipartisan majority of Congress, and an overwhelming majority
of the American people.

Republicans are obstructing the Senate from debating the most important
issue facing America today. Republicans owe it to the American people to
allow this debate to begin. They rejected three compromises to permit the
Senate to vote on the President's plan:

* Senate Democrats offered to schedule a simple majority vote on the
McCain/Graham resolution supporting the President's escalation.
* Senate Democrats then offered the Republican leadership simple
majority votes on the Gregg resolution and on a resolution stating that the
Senate does not support the surge and demands that the troops deploying to
Iraq receive the body armor and other equipment they need.
* Senate Democrats offered to schedule supermajority votes on the
bipartisan resolution and the McCain/Graham resolution.

Republicans refused all compromise.

Congress will always stand up for the safety of our troops and the security
of our nation. President Bush is sending more troops into a civil war
without a plan for victory or the armor and equipment needed to keep them
safe. Standing up for our troops and our nation's security means standing up
for a real change of course in Iraq.

A bipartisan resolution should serve as the basis for the first real debate
on the President's flawed Iraq war policy since the war began nearly four
years ago. The American people deserve to know where every member of
Congress stands on the President's plan to escalate the war. Republicans
should stop this filibuster and allow this debate to begin.

Gov. Henry Outlines Bold Agenda in State of the State Address; Challenges Lawmakers to Build on Historic Opportunity

Gov. Brad Henry today outlined an ambitious agenda in his fifth annual State of the State address with initiatives to strengthen education, provide greater access to adequate healthcare, create high-paying jobs, reduce crime and advance high-tech research and development. In his 31–minute address to a joint session of the Oklahoma State Legislature, Gov. Henry challenged lawmakers to aim high and take the necessary actions that will lead Oklahoma to unparalleled heights of accomplishment and prosperity.

“We find ourselves uniquely positioned in this, our centennial year, to make such dreams a reality,” the Governor said. “Just as our adventurous pioneer spirit characterized Oklahoma’s first century, so, too, will today’s actions bring shape and definition to Oklahoma’s second century. Now is the time to build upon our unique heritage, with a reverence for Oklahoma’s proud past and an enthusiasm for a fantastic future.”



Gov. Henry offered sweeping proposals for education. He said he will push for an initiative to offer voluntary early childhood education for all 3-year-old children, building on Oklahoma’s nationally acclaimed preschool programs for 4 year olds.

“The benefits of early childhood education are numerous and well-established,” Gov. Henry said.

“Children who participate are more likely to display stronger reading skills and perform better in school. They are more likely to graduate from high school and go to college. They are less likely to have disciplinary problems, require remediation or end up in our corrections system. One study even notes that for every dollar spent on such programs, taxpayers save another $7 in public assistance costs.”

The Governor also advanced measures to bolster public-private partnerships aimed at helping disadvantaged children, dramatically reduce high school dropouts, shore up the beleaguered teachers’ retirement system and raise teacher pay to the regional average.

In addition, Gov. Henry asked lawmakers to support a $75 million bond issue to help cleanup a backlog of endowed college chairs. Moreover, the Governor said it is time to find a permanent, dedicated funding source for Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship program. Also known as the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, OHLAP covers college tuition for eligible students who meet certain criteria.

“It’s academic: If we can get more young people in this scholarship program, we will produce more college graduates in Oklahoma,” he said. “Oklahoma’s Promise is worth keeping our promise to Oklahoma students.”

In the healthcare arena, the Governor urged legislators to expand Medicaid coverage to include as many as 42,000 additional Oklahoma children. Similarly, he said he wants to increase eligibility for Insure Oklahoma, the state’s innovative health-insurance premium assistance program. The Governor noted that about 20 percent of Oklahomans are uninsured.

“That isn’t their problem; that’s everyone’s problem,” he stressed. “Citizens without health insurance end up in our emergency rooms, and the cost of their medical treatment is then passed on to the insured in the form of higher premiums. In fact, healthcare experts report that 30 percent of premium increases are due to such cost-shifting.”

Gov. Henry also renewed his call to let Oklahoma seniors purchase U.S.-manufactured pharmaceuticals re-imported from Canada and other industrialized nations.

“Pricing our seniors out of good health is too great a price to pay,” the Governor said.

He put forth several items to boost economic development and job creation. He urged lawmakers to establish a Career Ready Certificate program to improve Oklahoma’s workforce, as well as tap surplus revenues for significant contributions to the EDGE Endowment and Opportunity Funds.

Looking to the emergence of biofuels as a viable renewable energy, the Governor proposed the creation of an Oklahoma Bioenergy Center to make the state a global leader in biofuels research and development.

“Not only will the Bioenergy Center be a tremendous investment in a diversified economy, it will mean a cleaner environment, thousands of high-paying jobs and a significant revitalization of rural Oklahoma,” said Gov. Henry. “Our state has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish itself as a global leader in this fuel of the future -- but we must act now.”

Public safety is also a critical part of Gov. Henry’s legislative agenda. He told lawmakers that “being tough on crime and smart about crime are not mutually exclusive” when it comes to requiring substance abuse and mental health treatment for inmates who need it.

“In many cases, drug and alcohol addiction leads to other offenses,” he said. “While incarcerated, many inmates do not receive the substance abuse and mental health treatment they need, and upon release, they return to old neighborhoods, old friends, and old habits. They are all but assured of returning to prison. If we act now to end this vicious cycle, we can create substantial savings over time and make our streets safer for all Oklahomans.”

The Governor also asked legislators to improve government transparency and openeness by establishing a user-friendly Web site that shows exactly how tax dollars are spent.

"We demand accountability of state agencies and departments,” Gov. Henry said, “and it’s only fair that voters demand accountability from us.” Finally, he called on legislators of both parties to work together in a spirit of bipartisanship. There is no glory in gridlock, but the rewards of working together – of joining forces on behalf of our fellow Oklahomans – are truly without limit,” the Governor said.

"In this magnificent year of our centennial, each of us is privileged to witness this moment in history first-hand. But we must do more than merely stand by as idle eyewitnesses to history. We must be the movers and makers of history. We must be the agent for change and the engine that propels Oklahoma forward.”

Gov. Henry’s speech was interrupted for applause on 24 occasions.

What Does Barack Obama Have to Do to Prove That He’s a ‘Mainstream’ American?

Deborah Mathis, BlackAmericaWeb.com

Which word in the following now-infamous comment got Joe Biden in trouble last week?

“You’ve got the first sort of mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” Delaware’s senior senator said to the New York Observer, explaining the appeal of fellow Democrat Barack Obama. “That’s a storybook, man.”

The dust-up has been over, variously, “first,” “articulate” and “clean.”

What about the other black Americans who have run for president -- New York Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in 1972, Jesse Jackson in 1984; Alan Keyes in 1996; Al Sharpton and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun in 2004? Weren’t they articulate? weren’t they clean?

Biden’s statement implies that they weren’t in his view, hence the thunderstorm surrounding “first.”

But, people who know Biden and his record dismiss the idea that he had any disparaging thoughts in his head when he said what he did. Obama is articulate, though you have to wonder why that was outstanding enough. And he is clean, as in untainted by scandal and unencumbered by dirty laundry. It says something that the one attempt to smear him was a half-baked report by conservative-leaning, Republican-coddling news outfits intimating that Obama got some hate-America indoctrination in his youth. Those stories hung on for a couple of days, were debunked and died.

And “first”? Truth be told, Obama is the first black American to run for president with no ties to an anti-establishment movement or civil disobedience, accepted largely for “the content of his character” rather than having to fight his way through a thicket of stereotypes. It’s not their fault that black people of a certain age didn’t have that advantage. For Obama to be the first “mainstream African-American” candidate after 400 years of racial cohabitation is a deserved indictment of the society.

The one part of Biden’s precarious statement I can’t explain is “sort of.” How in the world can Barack Obama rate only as “sort of” mainstream?

Undergraduate school at Occidental and Columbia; law school at Harvard, where he was president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review; a lecturer at the University of Chicago; a duly elected member of the Illinois State Senate; now a member of the world’s greatest deliberative body; a husband and father of two.

What must he do -- show his Sam’s Club card to prove his mainstream bona fides?

Obama not only swims in the American mainstream; it could be said that he resides in its deep end. But because he has not had the same struggle as the black men and women who preceded him in the presidential arena, some folks eye Obama warily. “Is he black enough?” is being whispered from corner to corner.

Lest we forget, Obama is the embodiment of what the movement has been about. Hell has been raised, blood has been shed, tears have been spilled, nights have been lost in jail, and hope -- Lord, hope -- has been kept alive for this very event: That one day someone would be able to seize an opportunity from the inside rather than to beat down the door.
Barack Obama is black and mainstream. No sort of about it.

Joint Session Today

When Gov. Brad Henry delivers his State of the State Address today in the State House chambers Lt. Gov. Jari Askins will preside over the first meeting of the joint session of the 51st Legislature. Askins is also expected to preside over the Senate this morning prior to the joint session.

To view the Oklahoma State Senate in session click here.

To listen to the Oklahoma State House in session click here then click on the state capitol image.

Nothing Positive From Republicans

On am 1000 KTOK's "Mullins in the Morning" program every Monday at 7:35 a.m., I debate former GOP State Representative Doug Miller. Today as I expected the topic was the DNC winter meeting that showcased our Presidential candidates, and as usual most of the angst on the other side was about Hillary. I don't know what scares the other side more-that she is a Clinton or that she is a woman! Most of their concerns were on wartime issues. But I even managed to get the host of the show to agree that what we are doing in in Iraq isn't working, and it is time after all these years for the Iraqi people to start solving their own problems. I note that their seems to be little pride, enthusiasm, or positive energy on the other side of the aisle when we discuss their slate of candidates...for good reason. One other note-yes, we had prayer leaders from several different religions at the meeting, and not just Christians. We are an inclusive party, and at every level we try to reach out and make everyone feel welcome. It is the right thing to do, and I am always proud of our efforts to let everyone get to share in the American process!

Inside Out, Outside In

(Today's WaPo page 1 story about Obama features comments from Dodd, Clark, and Clinton folks. I can tell you, after hearing all of the Democratic presidential candidates in DC over the weekend that nothing is inevitable and organization does matter. And as Richardson said Saturday, there's a simple way to fix things for America "elect a Democratic President." Click here to read the story or continue reading below.)

Obama Confronts 'Outsider' Dilemma
How to Win Without Losing His Identity

By Anne E. Kornblut
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 5, 2007; A01

In the nearly three weeks since Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) made his unofficial debut as a presidential candidate, his senior advisers have been holed up in a temporary office on Connecticut Avenue NW, feverishly working to translate the huge excitement about his candidacy into a political strategy.

For all the buzz about his running, Obama did not enter the race with the conventional weapons of a presidential candidate -- a deep database of donors, a tactical road map for winning primaries or even a sign marking the entrance to his ad hoc campaign headquarters. Obama is only now starting to build a political infrastructure that matches his growing support.

But the challenge for Obama is not just assembling the nuts and bolts of a national campaign on the fly. He must, his advisers believe, do so in a way that reflects the distinct, next-generation message of his candidacy, or at least avoids making him look like every other politician in the race. "I would sooner lose the race than lose having him the way he is," said David Axelrod, his chief media strategist.

While acknowledging that there are "certain immutable realities of the process," Axelrod insisted that "the kind of things we do over time will be emblematic of the campaign that we're running. And if we are doing it right, they won't be identical to everyone else's."

That vague mission -- not unlike the one that faced both Howard Dean and retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark as relative outsiders who came late to the 2004 presidential race -- is in the hands of a growing group of respected, if not exactly unconventional, operatives who have had to spend an inordinate amount of time in the past few weeks simply mastering logistics. Led by David Plouffe, the campaign manager, the team spent the day of Obama's exploratory-committee announcement answering phones and taking down volunteers' phone numbers.

Now the advisers are beginning to implement a broader strategy. In contrast to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who spent the first two weeks of her official candidacy trying to project strength and inevitability, Obama will seek a more pared-down image that focuses on the substance of his message ("the audacity of hope," as his book title put it) rather than on proving his ability to win a general election.

Obama gave a glimpse of how his campaign will look and feel on Friday, when he delivered somber remarks at the Democratic National Committee meeting that left the audience hushed at points. No one passed out "Obama" posters; the candidate took the stage without any music, unlike some other Democratic contenders who bounded to the dais to the blaring sounds of rock-and-roll oldies.

"There are those who don't believe in talking about hope," Obama told the crowd. "They say, 'Well, we want specifics, we want details, and we want white papers, and we want plans.' We've had a lot of plans, Democrats. What we've had is a shortage of hope. And over the next year, over the next two years, that will be my call to you."

From Washington, Obama headed to Fairfax for an event that his advisers said illustrated his campaign strategy even more directly: a student rally organized through the online networking site Facebook.com. Thousands of students attended the Web-driven event at George Mason University -- evidence, the Obama campaign said, that the popularity of its candidate will spread virally through the electorate rather than as a result of paid television ads or campaign mailings.

"Our campaign will never be the most rigid, structured, top-down, corporate-type campaign in this nomination battle," said senior Obama adviser Robert Gibbs. "There are plenty of other people that can do 'politics as usual' far better than we can. But I hope we have a campaign whose support continues to expand even faster than you can put a fence around it."

Matt Bennett, a senior adviser to the Clark campaign in 2004, described the phenomenon as trying to "ride a tiger."

"It's the toughest thing to do in presidential politics, which is to walk the line between maintaining your genuine attractiveness to the grass roots and becoming a credible national candidate, because often those things are in direct conflict," he said. "He is the candidate that is exciting this huge mass of people, and he cannot let them down in a fundamental way. But he has also got to do the blocking and tackling that candidates do."

To that end, the Obama campaign spent the weekend moving its headquarters to Chicago (far away, they note, from the sprawling Clinton offices on K Street) and organizing Obama's official campaign debut this Saturday in Springfield, Ill.

And they are already bumping up against the realities of riding his booming grass-roots support while obeying the conventions of running for president. Logistical concerns, such as how much time to spend campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire, are at odds with the imperative for him to prove his seriousness in the Senate.

The task of raising millions of dollars to survive the primaries is competing with Obama's core image as a fresh face -- a familiar dilemma for a professed outsider, but one that his advisers and rivals alike believe he can overcome.

Perhaps most important, Obama's strategists are scrambling to manage expectations. "Given the need to build a fundraising infrastructure and the fact that we do not accept contributions from federal lobbyists and political action committees, raising $8 to $10 million in the first quarter would be great news," spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said.

"An Obama campaign clearly has tremendous fundraising potential in the long term," Pfeiffer said. "But it is absurd to assume that we should raise as much or more than others who have been building fundraising networks for years and years."

Rivals in the Democratic contest contend that he could raise as much as $40 million, potentially raking in $1 million in a single Hollywood fundraiser, and will all but fail an early test of his viability if he comes up with less than former North Carolina senator John Edwards before April. Edwards is expected to raise as much as $15 million in the first quarter, and Clinton is expected to raise as much as $30 million, though both of those campaigns, like Obama's, insist they could take in less.

"By all accounts, Obama is poised for a huge fundraising quarter," said Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson, predicting that Obama will raise $25 million or more. Wolfson played down the notion that Obama's campaign needs time to get up to speed. "You can build an operation fairly quickly if you know what you're doing, and I suspect they know what they're doing," he said.

Still, Clinton spent more than $30 million during the 2006 election cycle, much of it on building an infrastructure, including a donor database, that could be used in her presidential bid. That puts a gulf between her and her rivals, including Obama. "Nobody has ever come to the table with the built-in advantages that Hillary Clinton has," said Jim Jordan, a Democratic strategist advising Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) in the race. "She has had decades to build this organization, and clearly has been running for president more or less for six years, on top of everything else that was previously built for her husband."

Obama "started later than other people, and that's going to show for a while," Jordan said. "But ultimately that's not what's going to decide whether he wins."

Instead, he and others said, Obama will rise or fall on his ability to continue coming across as the candidate who is different, new and charismatic.

"If he tries to run a traditional campaign -- that is run, staffed, managed and operated in a traditional way -- he is playing to his opponents' strengths, both in terms of going head-to-head where they're going to be really strong, but also in terms of undermining a good chunk of his message," said Chris Lehane, a former spokesman for Al Gore who is not currently on the payroll of any presidential campaign.

It remains to be seen how the kind of nontraditional campaign Lehane envisions would work in a round-the-clock news environment. Would Obama decline to respond to attacks? Or to skewer his rivals? Or to answer activists' questionnaires? Or to give detailed answers about his views on policy? Or to play pop music and blast red-white-and-blue confetti at his events?

For now, the answer is yes.

"I think he is very focused on the fact that he doesn't want to lose his essential self in this process, and if he does -- and if what he projects and delivers is just more of the kind of politics people have become accustomed to -- it would be a disappointment to him, and to them," Axelrod said.

"It's not just how he delivers the message but how we deliver the message, and what kind of relationship we develop with our supporters," he said. "If this campaign is what it should be, this is not going to be the hoisting of an icon. It's going to be the movement of millions of people."

Candidate Soundtracks

Check out the musical introduction selections the Democratic presidential candidates made for themselves at the DNC winter meeting this weekend.

From "Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" to "Reach Out" and "Lean on Me" to "I Won't Back Down."

By NEDRA PICKLER

WASHINGTON (AP) - Everyone needs a soundtrack - even politicians.

The presidential candidates who addressed the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting Friday got to choose their tunes, and it was an eclectic mix that reflected personal favorites and not-so-subtle messages.

Some candidates requested two songs, one that blared as they approached the stage and another that played as they left the podium.

The selections:

_John Edwards: "This Is Our Country" by John Mellencamp.

_Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut: "Get Ready (Cause Here I Come)" by the Temptations and "Reach Out," also by the Temptations.

_Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York: "Right Here, Right Now," by Jesus Jones and "Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

_Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio: "America the Beautiful"

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois decided against using any music in keeping with the somber tone he sought to convey.

Wesley Clark, who hasn't indicated whether he will run, entered to Johnny Cash's "I Won't Back Down."

Westward Home

Headed home this morning early from the DNC Winter Meeting. Great speeches, better conversations, long meetings, important discussions about our party and the future of our country.

My head is spinning with ideas for action for Oklahoma Democrats as we approach our organizational meetings (precinct, county, district and state) next month. One thing for sure, our party needs energetic working leaders who are dedicated to making things happen at all levels. The DNC staff and leadership are reaching out to truly partner with our states and their commitment to building the party is greatly appreciated. Special thanks to Pam Womack, DNC Political Director, for her strong leadership for the Partnership Project and the 50 State Strategy.

Partybuilding is a top goal for new Democratic Governors Association (DGA) chair Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius who spoke to the state chairs yesterday. A strong party organization and collaborative leadership, she said, have proven that there is now "nothing the matter with Kansas." And she promised to take that message to the 28 Democratic governors and challenge them to join with her in building the Democratic Party. (Sebelius follows New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as the leader of DGA. Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry serves on the Finance Committee for the DGA.)

Oklahoma Historical Society
2007 Black History Events



Saturday, February 10, 2007
“A Toast to the Tall Man” – Ben Tipton

Saturday, February 17, 2007
“I Remember 2nd Street” - The Heart of Black Oklahoma City
Mary Ann Moore, Artist

Saturday, February 17, 2007
OHS Black Heritage Committee & Soiree Dance
“An Evening of Elegance and Splendor”
Featuring Recording Artist – Eldredge Jackson


All events will be held at the Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N. Laird Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

For more information, see the attachments and/or contact Bruce Fisher at 405 522-5049 or brucefisher@okhistory.org

Watch the DNC meeting

Don't forget that CSPAN will cover the General Session of the DNC Winter Meeting this morning. Tune in to hear Democratic Presidential Candidates Gov. Bill Richardson, Gov. Tom Vilsack, Mike Gravel, and Sen. Joe Biden.

Click here to see photos and video from yesterday's events.

http://www.democrats.org/a/winter_meeting_2007/

State of the State


Democratic Governor Brad Henry will deliver the annual State of the State Address at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 5th at the Oklahoma State Capital. OETA and KWTV will be carrying the speech live. Monday is also the opening day of the legislative session.

Go Red for Women

Today is the National "Go Red for Women" Day, and I'm wearing red today to support the fight against heart disease! Put on something red and show your support. Find out more at the American Heart Association website.

"In Chief"

Hope some of you watched this morning's proceedings from the DNC Winter Meeting in DC on CSPAN or through the DNC's video streaming site.

Rules of engagement for this morning's speeches by presidential candidates provided for a 1 minute introduction, 30 seconds of music and 7 minutes of speaking. Each of the candidates we heard this morning: Chris Dodd, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Wes Clark, Dennis Kucinich, and Hillary Clinton have their talking points down and clearly have broad and specific themes they are testing here.

I was chiefly struck by several things --- Obama could easily be tagged as our "Inspiration in Chief" while Edwards is our "Storyteller in Chief". Kucinich would be our "Peacenik in Chief" in contrast with Wes Clark who could be "Commander in Chief."

Hillary and Dodd were more difficult to tag but both had much to offer the crowd today.

All of the candidates pointed out how this administration's mantra should be MCLB --- the Middle Class Left Behind. We are clearly facing some deep cultural and economic divides that will take ACTION, not rhetoric, LEADERSHIP not lies to restore America's promise.

Obviously some of the candidates stuck with their script and rehearsed lines while others spoke from their heart about America and the choices ahead of us.

Two common threads were "Stand Up, Speak Out" and "Faith, Strength and Integrity" supported by Clark's references to "Duty, Honor, Country."

There's much more to come. Stay tuned.

Tulsa World: Bush's rating continues to slide in state

A poll shows that less than half of Oklahoma is happy with the president. President Bush's approval rating in Oklahoma is below 50 percent for the first time since he took office, according to a survey of 752 voters conducted Jan. 19-21.

Forty-seven percent said they approve of the job Bush has done as president, with an identical share saying they disapproved. Six percent were undecided.
Bush's approval rating was 52 percent in October and 59 percent in January 2006.



"The bottom line is, he continues to slide," said poll consultant Al Soltow, University of Tulsa vice president for research. "He peaked at 89 percent at the end of 2001, was at 77 percent in (early) 2003, and it's been a steady decline since then."

Despite the drop, Bush remains more popular in Oklahoma than just about anywhere else in the country. A Gallup Poll conducted the week before the Oklahoma Poll put Bush's approval rating at 35 percent nationwide.
While the war in Iraq has dominated the last four years of Bush's presidency, it apparently is not the sole reason for his loss of support among Oklahomans. Soltow pointed out that Bush was given somewhat higher marks for his handling of the war on terrorism than for his job performance as a whole.

"The numbers suggest Bush's over all decline has more to do with domestic issues than foreign policy," said Soltow.

Fifty-three percent said they approve of Bush's handling of terrorism.

"Saddam had to be taken out," said one of Bush's supporters, Sarah Martin of Broken Arrow. "I think we would have had problems here if we hadn't. If the commanders say we need more soldiers, then that's what we should do."

Ila Barnard of Tulsa is at the other end of the spectrum.

"We went over there for no reason -- not the right reason, anyway," she said. "We didn't have no business going over there in the first place."

Responses about Bush and the Iraq conflict broke along party lines, as 75 percent of registered Republicans approved of the president's overall job performance. Seventy-eight percent of Republicans say he's done a good job in the war on terror.

But among registered Democrats and independents, many of whom have voted Republican in the recent past, Bush's approval rating is below 30 percent.
Foster Berry of Tulsa, a registered Democrat who says he usually votes Republican, said he's still behind Bush but concedes that "he's falling short in some areas -- but most presidents do at some time."

There are also striking divisions along geographic and economic lines.
Less than 39 percent of respondents with annual household incomes of less than $50,000 gave Bush a favorable rating, compared with almost 54 percent for those in higher income brackets.

Fifty-six percent of the under-$50,000 sample said the Iraq invasion was a mistake from the start, compared with 42 percent in higher income brackets.
By similar margins, lower-income Oklahomans were less likely to support sending more troops to Iraq, approve of the president's war on terrorism or believe additional troops can stabilize Iraq.

"It's the old story," said David Bryson, a disabled Vietnam War veteran who lives near Muskogee. "Rich man's war, poor man's fight.
"To me, there's not one drop of American blood that should have been spilled there. War creates money, money for the rich. War boosts the economy."

Barnard, clearly agitated, said: "I almost get angry when I think of the loss of life. I do get angry; there's no 'almost' about it. And what have we gained? Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Geographically, Bush's support is highest in the west and northwest and least in the east and southeast. In the seven-county Tulsa metropolitan area, Bush's approval rating is down to 43 percent -- 12 points lower than in the seven-county Oklahoma City metro area.

In the rural Second Congressional District, covering the eastern one-third of the state, Bush's approval rating is at 33 percent, comparable to national levels.
In the First District, made up of Tulsa, Washington and Wagoner counties, the president's support is 46 percent.

Overall, Tulsa is noticeably less supportive than Oklahoma City is of Bush and his Iraq policy. Thirty-eight percent in the Tulsa metro area said they support sending more troops to Iraq, compared with 48 percent in Oklahoma City; 52 percent in Tulsa said the initial invasion was a mistake, compared with 39 percent in Oklahoma City.

Pamela Pentecost of Tulsa said she supports the president but wants the war to end.

"I like him as a man," she said. "I like a lot of things he's done. I'm not crazy about the war, but in general my life is better."

Paul Humphries III of Grove said Bush has "probably done everything right except one thing. When he saw they were going to have an insurgency (in Iraq), he maybe should have hit it harder.

"The Democrats have been so against this war, they've been against whatever he wants to do."

The History of Black History

Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as "Negro History Week" and later as "Black History Month." What you might not know is that black history had barely begun to be studied-or even documented-when the tradition originated. Although blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that they gained a respectable presence in the history books.

Blacks Absent from History Books

We owe the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of black history, to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Born to parents who were former slaves, he spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines and enrolled in high school at age twenty. He graduated within two years and later went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. The scholar was disturbed to find in his studies that history books largely ignored the black American population-and when blacks did figure into the picture, it was generally in ways that reflected the inferior social position they were assigned at the time.

Established Journal of Negro History
Woodson, always one to act on his ambitions, decided to take on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. He established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history.

Woodson chose the second week of February for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the black American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. However, February has much more than Douglass and Lincoln to show for its significance in black American history. For example:

by Elissa Haney

Black History Month


"Freedom is never given: it is won."
-A. Philip Randolph

Good Morning from DC

There are bloggers all over the place here. They have special credentials just like the PRESS. Daily KOS has some people here, I checked it today and what caught my attention was the entry about the Oklahoma National Guard.

I'm starting the day at the Veterans and Military Families Council meeting. Our state version will meet at the ODP next Saturday.

Yesterday I attended the Rural Caucus. Gov. Dean answered questions for half an hour then opened the floor for comments. Sitting next to Ben was a man from southwest Virginia who said what we have here is a culture war and that we Democrats need to reach deep into our culture and talk about it with folks. He said it more eloquently. Then Ben followed up with an Oklahoma example and referenced a book he'd read by Dave "Mudcat" Saunders. The meeting chair told us that was our homework for the next meeting. The gentleman next to Ben said under his breath, "I'm Mudcat." Indeed he is. Check him out here. Ben and I agreed we have our own version of Mudcat in Hugh Graham from Atoka.

Time for breakfast and the first meeting. More later.

Oklahoma DNC members

Pictured above are five of Oklahoma's six DNC members: Lisa Pryor, Jay Parmley, Betty McElderry, Ben Odom, and Kalyn Free. Parmley and Free were both appointed by DNC Chairman Howard Dean in 2005 as At-Large members. Parmley works for the DNC in Mississippi. Kalyn directs INDN's List. Not pictured is Tulsa attorney and DNC committeeman Jim Frasier.

Obama

As reported earlier Sen. Obama hosted an event tonight for DNC members. He shook hands with most everyone in the room then shared just a few words with the crowd. We literally bumped into the Senator and his entourage as we were walking downstairs to the event. I snapped this photo of him with Kalyn Free and Ben Odom.

Tom, Christie, and a tank of gas

This was in the email today:

Dear Lisa,
When Tom first ran for governor in 1998, David Yepsen, columnist with the Des Moines Register, called our campaign “Tom, Christie, and a tank of gas.”
After 8 years of hard work, together we have turned Iowa blue. We have come a long way from having just a tank of gas. We are now traveling all across the country, and Tom is actively promoting real solutions to stop the escalation in the Iraq War and make our country energy secure.
Along the way, many supporters ask: How can we help?
The answer is simple.
Tom and I have hosted countless potluck dinners and meetings at our home on North Main Street in Mt. Pleasant. We’d do it to welcome new neighbors, raise money for the local schools and even organize Tom’s early campaigns.
Well, now that our national campaign has outgrown our house, I’m writing to ask you to join us and bring the campaign into your home.
I hope you will join us and host a Main Street Meeting for Tom:
http://www.tomvilsack08.com/mainstreetmeetings
The most important thing you can do to help is to take the lead in your hometown. Our organizers will help you put together your own Main Street Meeting.
This is a national campaign to change this country –- so please invite your friends and neighbors and introduce them to our campaign.
Our family will be spread throughout the country -- Tom will be in New Hampshire, I’ll be in Iowa with our son Jess, and our other son, Doug will be in Colorado -- and we hope you will join us via conference call.
Will you sign up to host a Main Street Meeting for Tom now?
http://www.tomvilsack08.com/mainstreetmeetings
Our campaign is not about huge rallies and expensive ads. We will win by organizing Americans everywhere who are ready for a President who has the courage to bring our troops home from Iraq and find innovative solutions to make America energy secure.
The conversations that we will have in living rooms like yours are how we will build our campaign and how we will win in 2008.
Please join us on Saturday, February 26 by hosting an event. Invite your friends, family and neighbors over for an important first step in changing our country in 2008.
http://www.tomvilsack08.com/mainstreetmeetings
Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
Christie
P.S. Tom will deliver a speech at the Democratic National Committee’s Winter Meeting. You can watch the speech live on C-SPAN on Saturday, February 3 at about 9:20AM CST. I hope you are able to watch!

DNC Winter Meeting Day 1

We arrived safely in DC, after de-icing the plane in OKC, and arrived at the hotel shortly after security cleared from this morning's National Prayer Breakfast held here.

Great to be here with so many Democrats from across these United States. The city has a different feel from the last time I was here...before the November elections. Everyone is excited about the great progress made by Speaker Pelosi and the House Democrats but that excitement pales next to the energy going into the presidential candidates this weekend.

Tonight Sen. Obama is hosting an event here at the hotel, and yes, the energy is Mick Jagger electrifying but not surpassed by the energy coming from Hillary's campaign. (Think about it, how many presidential candidates actually can campaign using their first name? There's Joe, Dennis, Chris, Wes, John, Mike, Bill, Tom, Barrack and Hillary.)

I received an email from Wes Clark's PAC providing the link for the DNC's streaming video of the speeches tomorrow and Saturday. The link is http://www.democrats.org/wintermeeting2007.html for those who want to follow the events as they happen here. Yes, the General will be speaking.

We'll attend the Rural caucus later today. Our National Committeewoman Betty McElderry serves on the Resolutions Committee and they are meeting this afternoon. I read the proposed resolutions on the plane again. We'll vote on them later in the weekend and I'll post them here once they pass. Several are directly related to Iraq while others address voting suppression and secure elections. (We are really fortunate in Oklahoma to have the paper and scantron ballots. Too bad other states aren't using the same. I know we are going to upgrade software soon, sure hope we are satisfied with it as we've been with the current version. Believe it or not some states use a variety of different voting machines throughout the state, we use the same one in every precinct. The mood here is that we will NOT ALLOW another election to be stolen.)

More later tonight!

FEC: Republican Tom Coburn Campaign Committed Violations

The Federal Election Commission says Republican Senator Tom Coburn's 2004 campaign violated federal campaign laws. An FEC audit says the campaign accepted more money than allowed from political action committees, failed to file last-minute contribution reports and didn't provide required information on nearly 20 percent of individual contributors. The audit did not say if the FEC will ask for fines against the campaign. A spokesman for Coburn says the campaign does not contest the findings and has taken steps to make sure it complies with federal laws.

State Reprensentative Anastasia Pittman sents letter to Constiuents in House District 99




Dear Constiuents:

Happy New Year!

I am honored to serve as your newly elected State Representative for Oklahoma City. I am proud to serve House District 99.
I am excited about the upcoming year as we celebrate our state in its Centennial Statehood of 100 years. Session for the 51st Legislature will begin in February. My primary focus will include legislation in the following areas: Health, Senior Issues, Criminal Justice, Education, and Economic Empowerment.

I am pleased to announce my appointment to the following committees: Banking Subcommittee, Aerospace & Technology Subcommittee, Human Services Committee, Elderly & Long Term Care Subcommittee, and Health Committee. These committees are at the heart of our district and will allow us to move in a new direction of vision, leadership, and prosperity as we begin our second century in Oklahoma.
We will embrace a new way for you and your family to communicate ideas, suggestions and concerns through “100 Ideas for Oklahoma Innovations for the Second Century.”
You may contact me directly at the above address or access the website for ideas or concerns at 100ideasok.org and provide your responses online.

The selection of the best ideas for Oklahoma will begin immediately and the final 100 ideas for Oklahoma will be published in the future.
I look forward to speaking with you and getting to know more about the issues that concern you and your family as we work together to build a great “Foundation for the Future.”

Respectfully,

Programs stresses health care, wages, education, illegal immigration

Expanding health care, raising the minimum wage and cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants are among the items being pushed by state Senate Democrats. Leaders held a news conference to announce their "Oklahoma Rising" agenda, a play on a new song celebrating the state's 100th birthday.

Shawnee state Senator and Democratic Floor Leader Charles Laster (pictured) says he and his colleagues would be focusing this year on making health care more affordable to families struggling to make ends meet and giving students more access to a college education.

Read the complete AP story. Read the Senate Democrats media release.