June 17, 2008
The Oklahoma State Capitol: Laughable and Laudable
By CIB
Even though most would agree that this session was far from memorable there are always people and events that are worth praising or that make one laugh. This installment will take a look at a few of the more noteworthy in each category in recent history. Just for fun we will juxtapose the most laughable and laudable to highlight each.
The Laudable Capitol Press Corps versus the Laughable Local Network Affiliate Television Stations
Even the capitol press has been (and is) populated by quite a few characters. They are generally hard working and dedicated folks that come to work every day and cover a difficult subject that most Oklahomans and even many of the reporter’s editors don’t understand. Often their insightful stories are given misleading headlines by unknowing editors and less knowledgeable “investigative reporters” and ill-informed columnists get the best spots in the paper.
Many of the longtime reporters such as the Daily Oklahoman’s John Greiner, the World’s Mick Hinton or the AP’s Ron Jenkins have covered the legislature, the budget process, lobbying and special interests and the electoral process for decades. They know their way around the capitol, how leaders make decisions, and how everything from the revenue forecasting process works to which lobbyists bring the food and other goodies to the caucus meeting. Reporters like the World’s Barbara Hoberock and the Oklahoman’s Michael McNutt also know the ins and outs of the executive branch at the State Capitol. They all deserve a tip of the hat for the often thankless work they do.
At the other end of the spectrum are the clueless local television reporters that are sent at times to cover the state capitol. No Oklahoma City or Tulsa station has a Capitol Bureau anymore so mainly young, attractive nitwits are sent to the Capitol once or twice a session to either create a story based on wrong information or cover a story that is developing in a poor or superficial way. Most of these folks don’t even know where to park at the Capitol much less know how to find out what is really going on. News 9 in Oklahoma City used to do a pretty respectable job now they may be the worst. Last year they sent one of their crack journalists to do story about the “hole in the state budget”. The silly reporter whose name probably should not be mentioned (Rosa Flores) completely missed what was really going on with tax cuts, under funding of education, major transportation finance changes and pork barrel spending just to name a few. Instead she locked in on an error in a staff document prepared for a House Appropriation Committee. The document did indeed contain an error but had nothing to do with a “hole” in the state’s budget. One might compare this event with a critic finding a misspelling in “about the author” section on the dust cover of best selling book and writing the entire review about the dust cover problem. Since this is a world where no bad deed goes unrewarded Rosa’s story ran as a Sweeps Week promotion with some bad acting by Kelly Ogle included. Rosa now has a new job in the bigger Houston Media Market.
(Just in case you were wondering I would place the OETA coverage with the Capitol Press – not with the network nitwits)
Here are a couple of other laughable and laudable juxtapositions:
The Laudable Commissioner of Mental Health and the Laughable Oklahoma Observer
The Oklahoma Observer has been both laughable and laudable in the past, as have been many other publications, but they clearly crossed over to laughable in recent issue that savaged Commissioner of Mental Health Terri White.
For a publication that has stated that its mission is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable it certainly went off course on this one. The article that was filled with personal gossip and innuendo was a misogynist rant that basically said that the Commissioner shouldn’t be the Commissioner because she is an aggressive younger woman (read bitch). The Observer would not name sources of their gossip and their only fact was that they thought a piece of equipment that the Commissioner had considered purchasing was not as important as some other agency programs made her incompetent as well as being a bitch. They also claimed she is incompetent because she is not a medical doctor. I guess all hospital administrators including the great Stan Heupfeld at Integris are incompetent because they have Health Administration degrees instead of MDs. If the Observer staff could pull themselves away from the snack bar coffee long enough they would have noticed the trend to install professional administrators at all kinds of health care organizations since doctors usually don’t manage people or money well and are too arrogant to actually ask lowly legislators for the money they need.
While Frosty and/or Arnold were not doing their research (no Frosty sitting at the snack bar in the Capitol gossiping with other old codgers does not constitute research) Commissioner White (who has a masters degree in Social Work Administration by the way) has been loudly and effectively communicating the cause of mental health across the state and has quietly done better from a funding stand point for mental health than the doctor who preceded her -- even in bad budget years.
The Laudable Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland and the Laughable Tom Daxon
Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland has undertaken an extensive research based State Health Care Coverage Initiative utilizing the best financial minds, state and national health care experts and academics and practitioners with ideas across the political spectrum. On the laughable side the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs has hired failed gubernatorial hopeful, ousted Republican party chair and general moron/Neanderthal Tom Daxon to create a phony free market health care fix (read I need a job and money so I will write anything for the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs regardless if it is stupid and embarrassing in content). Daxon said his plan will deregulate health care and allow insurers to develop plans to tie cost more closely to risk. Memo to Daxon – that will increase the number of people without health insurance. People with pre-existing conditions, genetic maladies, the poor, those without a risk pool to join will absolutely be unable to get insurance. This will guarantee Oklahoma will have the worst uninsured rate in the nation. Holland, a successful insurance executive before her election will develop a plan that is market based, has choice and expands coverage to all citizens. Look for her plan to move forward and his plan to be used to raise right wing crank money for OCPA.
The Laughable Golden Buffet versus the Laudable Public Access to Live News Coverage
Finally, there is a rumor about the capitol that could become a future laughable event. Actually it’s more than just a rumor as the actual architectural drawings have been seen and contractors have been observed assessing the remodeling project – plans in hand.
It seems the House Republican Caucus is getting ready to renovate their 4th floor meeting room (432A). The renovation will involve the elimination of the electronic media room and the installation of state-of-the-art buffet serving tables for the Caucus to feast upon the lobbyist bounty while working on their next strategy in the soon-to-be more elaborate and comfortable digs of 432A.
I personally find their choice of locations even laughable –next door to the appropriations chair (where the money gets dispensed) and across the hall from the Press Room and the Snack Bar. Wonder if they think the aroma from the Golden Buffet delicacies will somehow be disguised as they intermingle with the snack bar chili dogs? And do they really think the Press Room hounds aren’t going to be keenly aware of who’s catering/sponsoring on which day?!
If this goes through as it is apparently planned, it will be an all time laughable example of use of public funds gone wrong – sad – but laughable. (Perhaps the legislature should not continue to enjoy their immunity from purchasing and accountability policies.)
Makes you wonder if the voting public will ever figure out why they’re no longer getting radio and television coverage of important announcements and events? Maybe not, as they will probably be too busy eating bologna sandwiches trying to save enough money for a tank of gas, braces on the kids teeth and college tuition for junior.
It might also be interesting to compare the menu served daily at the fourth floor Golden Buffet to that served on the school lunch programs… That’s something that could make for good reading in the hometown newspapers.
One last thought: I wonder if they’re going to have a salad bar? Some of them could afford to “cut down” a bit… possibly applying the no-growth philosophy to their waistbands as well as the budget.
May 18, 2008
Session Awards - 'And the winner is...'
By Randy, Paula & Simon (or not)
With such an uneventful legislative session drawing to a close it's time already to give out some session awards.
Best Legislator (Senate and House)
The nominees are Harry Coates, Chris Benge and Johnny Crutchfield
Coates has been voice of reason on the immigration issue all session long despite intense pressure from fellow Republicans to back off. Coates has been statesman like while his colleagues have been demagogues.
Speaker Benge may have had the toughest job in the capitol trying to bring order to the intrinsically unruly house after former Speaker Lance Cargill’s tax troubles, ethics troubles and rumored personal life troubles imploded his speakership. Benge has had to guide a divided caucus that is much more reactionary and less pragmatic than him.
Senator Crutchfield has had to manage an appropriation process in an election year while bringing Republican Co-chair Mike Johnson up to speed without appearing condescending. To make matters worse no new money meant he could do very little to keep his own caucus happy and appease democratic interest groups.
The winner is Speaker Chris Benge. No one could have expected things to go as well as they have given the turmoil at the start of the session. Give an assist to his successor as appropriations chair, Ken Miller, for rapidly growing into that job and being one of the few members who made Benge’s challenges a little easier.
Best Staff Person (Senate and House)
Randy Dowell, Senate Fiscal Director- Dowell has had the unenviable job of serving both Republican and Democratic Appropriations Chairs of the Senate and serving as sort of a technical go-between with the political staffs of each Caucus. He appears to have the trust and respect of both – no small feat.
Chad Warmington House Chief of Staff – Warmington, a relative newcomer to the Capitol has already survived three speakers and a very contentious caucus – he must be doing something right. He seems to move well between political and strictly administrative decisions.
I’m going to wimp out and call this one a tie.
Worst Legislator (Senate and House)
The nominees are Lance Cargill, Randy Terrill and Jim Williamson, Sally Kern. This category has candidates that are dumb, dumber, dumbest and just plain mean.
No one has ever risen faster and then crashed and burned as fast as Lance Cargill.
Randy Terrill may be getting some political traction in the short run but butting heads with the likes of Aubrey McClendon and other business leaders is not the way for a Republican to advance their political career in the long run.
Sally Kern has done more damage to the state’s cultural and business image in her short legislative tenure than Gene Stipe did in 5 decades –that’s impressive in a negative sort of way.
Jim Williamson is nominated here really as a sort of lifetime achievement award. He is mean and nasty not only to other members (he drove Senator Nancy Riley into the arms of the Ds thus creating the tie we have now in the Senate) but he has threatened professional staff with their jobs when or if the Republicans take over.
The winner is Lance Cargill for sheer velocity of stupidity. Many others have made the same mistakes – but not in such an incredibly condensed period of time.
Worst Staff Person (Senate and House)
There are probably some nominees in this area but the quality of the House and Senate Staff, particularly in the professional fiscal, bill drafting and committee staffs areas, is uniformly good.
Some of the leadership staff probably deserves to be nominated in this category but I don’t want to sully the rest of the staff with their inclusion in the list.
Best Job by a Lobbyist
Jami Longacre- While the outcome of transportation funding is uncertain Ms. Longacre managed a very modern lobbying effort on behalf of the TRUST Organization that would be worthy of Washington D.C. TRUST which stands for Transportation Revenues Used Strictly for Transportation put forth a dual platform campaign that utilized both the old style capitol cajoling, access and fundraising help along side a sophisticated media campaign on television and radio aimed at getting grassroots support for their issues. Expect to see more groups copy this method.
Wild Card Nomination – The No Helmet Law Hells Angels Guys and their Biker Chicks that come to the Capitol every year. No one can ever argue with their effectiveness at lobbying. Fear of physical harm is still a useful lobbying device at times.
Ms. Longacre should win this category but I am afraid the bikers will hunt me down and kill me; so I am calling this one a tie also.
Worst Job by a Lobbyist
Nominees are
The pro-lifers led by screwball Tony Lauinger. These zealots think they will sway people’s views by showing gross photos and videos. Sure they have made nominal progress on their issue over the years but there really isn’t a policy issue in this area to be resolved at the state level. They are despised by many of those that vote for them. Good lobbyists build respect of opponents, develop coalitions, understand that not everyone that opposes them is evil and don’t destroy political lives of well intentioned legislators over a single issue.
The Minute Men- Randy Terrill’s unemployed brown shirt army of rednecks, hate mongers and other creeps. If these guys didn’t show up at the capitol so often or on the news, more middle class people might buy into the immigration rhetoric. Seeing these guys gives pause to many people who might be inclined to the anti-immigration message.
The Kernservatives – Sally Kern’s geriatric army of gay bashers who descended on the Capitol to defend her attack on gays as more dangerous than terrorists. Sure they bused in a couple hundred of these old coots but it is unlikely that most of them will be alive for the next election.
Home Schoolers- Every year I see those news stories about how a home schooler won the national spelling or geography bee (they don’t always win but they sure promote it when they do) and start thinking maybe there is a larger role for home schooling in education reform. Then the strange looking, socially inept parents and students descend upon the capitol and I remember that’s who those people are. In a global economy successful students will need to collaborate on software projects with colleagues in Mumbai – not just spell it and find in on a map, while they wash their prairie dresses with lye soap out in the hinterlands.
The winner is – the Pro-lifers. Their full sized movie screen presentation of blood and gore in the Capitol rotunda this year brought snack bar sales to a halt.
May 16, 2008
Business as usual …stupidity reigns supreme
By More-Moderate-than-Stupid
I listen to the House on a daily basis as a concerned citizen of Oklahoma and most days I think they do okay. Then there are times when I wonder how did these yahoos get elected to serve the public? Most of the time I let it go but twice now there have been incidents which are inappropriate for public servants to broach when they should be doing the people’s work.
Let us start with the doling out of the Mouth of the House award. I can understand having fun with your fellow House members, but there is a point when it gets out of hand. I am not sure who said it but that person crossed the line when he introduced Representative Terrill (no matter your feelings for him or his immigration beliefs) as Randy “he’s never met a Mexican he liked” Terrill. I don’t care if you say it jokingly – that is racial and wholly inappropriate for anyone to say…much less an elected official. Mr. Speaker, had I been in the Chamber when that comment was made I would have booed it…
Secondly, let’s discuss Friday’s inappropriate actions and stupidity. For those who may not know, you can purchase a replica of a bull’s body part to hang from your truck hitch…which is disgusting enough in itself.
I can hear the conversation in all of those family sedans now…"Mommy, what are those hanging from the back of that truck?" How would you like to answer that question from your 4-year old?
But to buy a set to hang from another Representative's vehicle (and to jokingly refer to said Representative as the “moral compass of the House" as a practical joke and then having a citation read on the House floor about it is totally disgusting and unsuitable…especially for people whose salaries are paid with my tax dollars! What they do on their own time is their business but to announce it on the House floor, when there are elementary children in the gallery, really offends me! And the very fact that Representative Armes read the citation himself proves my point!
I, for one, think that we as citizens should write to our State Representative about the improper use of their time on the House floor. There are much more important things they should be dealing with then giving out silly, useless awards and discussing bovine genitalia. We need to tell our elected officials that we do not appreciate this kind of behavior! It us up to us as the taxpayers to remind them of their job! Shame on Speaker Benge for letting these kind of things take place!
May 6, 2008
Early Handicapping of the Fall Electoral Season
By Poll Watcher
With the 2008 legislative session all but done and most of the money parceled out it appears only a few major issues are left to address.
Will there be a major bond issue for roads and state government?
Will an Official English bill further disgrace this state and make it more uncompetitive in the global economy?
Will Tort Reform rise from the dead to make one last appearance?
Is there anything else the legislature could give to millionaire basketball players and billionaire NBA owners we so covet?
We'll have to keep an eye on all that but in the meantime it is more interesting to turn our attention to the fall elections.
Since the television talking heads have sliced and diced the presidential election into every form of political analysis known to man or alien we will leave that one alone for now. Suffice it to say that Oklahoma’s record of not voting for a Dem for President since LBJ will stay in tact. If will be interesting to see if the general lack of enthusiasm for McCain will suppress GOP turnout however.
The following is a link to the state election board’s list of offices to be filled:
eCapitol’s iVote will also be a good source after the filing deadline on June 2 also.
U.S. Senate: Expect Jim Inhofe to crush Andrew Rice in the U.S. Senate Race. After winning Bernest Cain’s old State Senate Seat Rice has his eyes set on the U.S. Senate. He will find that Inhofe is not only one of the dirtiest campaigners in state history but also one of the most effective. Rice is ill-prepared for a state wide race having run only in one of the most liberal State Senate districts in Oklahoma. He will find that his latte sipping ways will not resonate with suburban cultural conservatives, rural ag types or even yellow dog democrats in southeastern Oklahoma. Many Democrats are hopeful he does not challenge Inhofe too strongly thus engaging more of the Republican base in a year when Democrats further down ticket may benefit from lower conservative turnout.
U.S. House: Expect no changes unless someone dies, gets indicted or just gets a higher paid job lobbying or running a special interest group. Watch Boren, Fallin and Cole in 2010 for Governor however.
Corporation Commission: Jim Roth versus one of two lesser known Republicans should be interesting. Roth, the former Democratic County Commissioner from Oklahoma County has positioned himself well. He is smart and hardworking and has garnered the financial backing of big shot energy Republicans such as Chesapeake’s Aubrey McClendon with his denial of a coal fired electricity plant. Will those moneyed Republicans leave Roth high and dry for a more traditional candidate such as Rep. Rob Johnson when the going gets tough on cultural issues?
The other seat should be an easy win for Republican Jeff Cloud if he chooses to run. There are rumblings he may take a more lucrative private sector position.
Oklahoma State Senate- The Senate will go Republican but just by a hair- 25-23 with Mike Morgan’s termed out seat going to former OSU President James Halligan. Halligan is being supported by new President Burns Hargis, Marilyn Strathe, former acting president and other old guard OSU administrative types and Athletic Director Mike Holder (AKA Boone’s Bitch). The Word is that Halligan is not in good health and is slowing in body and mind. Halligan who could not be considered a “movement conservative” would support OSU at the capitol but it is uncertain where his other interests might lie. The erstwhile conservative might not even be able to fill out his term according to some who are watching the situation carefully. That seat could easily switch back to the dems in the next election or even before.
Oklahoma House of Representatives – House Ds will gain one or two seats because of low Republican turnout and the arrogance of the former house leadership under Lance Cargill. Even though some Ds were caught not paying or paying their taxes late the brunt of the public’s ire will fall on the Republican tax hypocrites. Lance Cargill will become their albatross just as Gene Stipe has been the Dems problem for years. Even a three to one fund raising advantage will not help the Rs gain seats this year. Still they will retain power and hopefully be a bit chastened for the experience.
Early Speculation on the Governor’s Race in 2010 - Attorney General. Drew Edmonson, who has bumper stickers out already that say “Edmonson 2010” with no identifying office, appears to be the early leader. Many guess that Lt. Governor Jari Askins, Treasurer Scott Meacham or Congressman Dan Boren won’t run if Edmonson declares. One scenario that could throw a wrench into those plans would be if Obama wins the White House and puts supporter Governor Brad Henry into a Cabinet position or Judgeship before his term ends. Askins would then become the likely Democratic candidate as an incumbent occupying that position.
On the Republican side look for U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, Congressman Tom Cole, Congresswoman Mary Fallin and State Representative Randy Terrill to all give the Governor’s Mansion a look.
April 29, 2008
'Can’t Count Morgan' Rides Again!
By Republican Insider
In the 1929 Rose Bowl a California player named Roy Riegels scooped up a Georgia Tech fumble and ran the wrong way toward the Bear’s goal line. He was tackled by his teammates on the 1 yard line but on the ensuing play Cal attempted a punt to regain field position and it was blocked for a safety. Georgia Tech won the game 8-7. Riegels was forever known as “Wrong Way Riegels”.
What has all this got to do with Oklahoma politics? Nothing really - except that we have our own version of “Wrong Way Riegels” apparently calling the plays for the Oklahoma House of Representatives long after he should have graduated that body.
A few years ago current Senate Leadership Advisor Fred Morgan was Minority Leader Fred Morgan in the Oklahoma House. As the waning days of Democratic power drew close, and then Speaker Larry Adair was hanging on by a thread, Fred Morgan had a brilliant idea. In a bid to speed things up a bit and become the first Republican House Speaker in decades Rep. Morgan had lined up a secret vote to take power from Adair. According to inside sources Morgan was so sure he had the votes lined up to become Speaker he had already informed staff and was picking out furniture and paint for his new office.
One of the most important skills any legislative leader must have is to effectively and definitively count votes. Morgan lacks that skill. His bid to unseat Adair was defeated and Morgan termed out without ever becoming the Speaker or seeing his caucus gain power. Like “Wrong Way Riegels” his maneuver became part of legislative lore and he became “Can’t Count Morgan”
Where the two stories diverge however is unlike Riegels, whose college football career ended and he faded into the mists of time, Morgan has resurrected himself as a political strategist and convinced current Co- President Pro Tempore Glen Coffee that his counsel and experience are needed for the Republicans to take control of the Senate – and perhaps clear his name as a bungling political strategist.
This last week has proven that Morgan’s quantitative skill set has not improved significantly.
In one of the most harebrained schemes seen in years at the state capitol Morgan convinced Coffee that they would have the votes in the House to amend a Tort Reform measure, that had been successfully vetoed in the past by Governor Henry, into a referendum that would dramatically lower attorneys’ fees for plaintiff’s counsel in tort cases. Morgan reasoned that such a measure would have a doubly good impact for the Repubs – As a referendum the measure would get to by-pass Henry’s veto pen and go straight to the people thus giving the Republicans a win they could crow about to voters and financial supporters in the fall of this year. It could also effectively tie up the Trial Attorneys’ time and money fighting the state question and divert them from helping Democratic legislative candidates.
There was only one apparent problem with Morgan’s scheme. He sold it to the House Leadership but neither the House leaders nor Morgan bothered to tell bill authors or rank and file what the strategy was.
When the strategy started to take place on the House floor it resembled a circular firing squad for Republicans more than a legislative tactic. The author of the bill rebelled, Republicans members that weren’t in on the tactic voted against the measure and complete confusion embarrassed Speaker Benge and House Majority Leadership. In short they didn’t have the votes.
The end result is that a measure to carry the Republican holy grail of tort reform is now completely out of commission for the session, trust between the House and Senate Republican Leaders (never strong to start with) has exploded and “Can’t Count Morgan’s” legend has grown enormously.
Will Coffee keep Morgan on after this amazing blunder?
Will the Senate Republican Caucus figure out that a man that “Can’t Count” is negotiating this year’s budget for them?
Will the press ask why the Senate Republicans think it is wise to pay Morgan nearly $14,000 per month to advise them on how to make fools of themselves?
Stay tuned for the answer to these, and many other interesting questions, as the last few episodes of the 2008 Oklahoma legislative session wind down.
April 21, 2008
Spies, Revenge and Money at the State Capitol
By Oklahoma's Own 007
Richard Nixon would have been proud. The anti-immigration “plumbers” broke into Senator Harry Coates’ office to steal documents they believed would prove that Coates, Chesapeake Energy’s Vice President Tom Price and a host of lobbyists were in engaged in an un-American conspiracy to weaken the provision of HB 1804. Heaven forbid a group of people would get together and share ideas about legislation –what could that lead to next?
What the spies procured was a printed out e-mail with some of Senator Coates notes on it. They turned the documents over to a blogger operating out of Missouri who posted the documents on his website
www.okpns.com along with some hateful comments about Price, Coates and some of the lobbyists. The blogger says he has no idea who sent him the information but the site is clearly an organized front for hate.
Fortunately for all of us, these spies must have been trained at the old “KAOS” headquarters because even Maxwell Smart could trace these guys.
What the bungling paper thieves forgot was that the capitol has plenty of electronic eyes and that everyone coming or going from Senator Coate’s office is on tape. There was a bi-partisan meeting of Senate leaders Coffee and Morgan to look into this breach of Senator’s office and the OSBI has been brought in to investigate. I hear they have a pretty good idea about who might have done it. Rep. Randy Terrill had better hope that person does not have any clear ties back to him.
Speaking of Terrill getting himself into potential trouble he may have been tugging on superman’s cape too many times. Terrill also led the charge last week against Oklahoma City getting an NBA franchise. While publicly he said his opposition was based upon an aversion to corporate welfare and millions for millionaires, privately it is known that he hates Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake so badly over McClendon’s opposition to his immigration bill that he will do anything to get even.
What he is really doing is making McClendon and his partners see that moderate Republicans and even Democrats are more pro-business than the hard right of the Oklahoma Republican party. Expect to see a well funded opponent to Terrill in the Republican primary this fall.
There is an old saying that the people who inhabit the City of Moore are – well – Morons. While this is absolutely NOT true, the City’s efforts to eliminate that label through education and economic growth have been stymied in recent years in that they are represented by not only the ignominious Randy Terrill but equally gray matter challenged Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson. Senator Wilcoxson as co-chair of the Senate’s Education Committee successfully blocked former House Speaker Larry Adair’s nomination to the State School Board. Despite Adair’s nomination by Governor Brad Henry, who has time and time again shown himself willing to work both sides of the aisle and Adair’s stellar qualifications, Wilcoxson and her henchmen on the Committee would not consider Adair. This was especially galling to the Governor, who on matters of education has not only supported education interests but also angered the education establishment, with performance based reform legislation such as his Achieving Classroom Excellence (ACE). Henry didn’t want a rubber stamp for the education establishment but a thoughtful, trusted, well qualified person who could move education forward by navigating the political and policy thickets. Adair showed he could do that better than most in his time as Speaker and he has a graduate degree in Education to boot. Wilcoxson, who claims to be a former Teacher of the Year (but her name does not appear on any of the award plaques so honoring teachers at the State Department) said he was not qualified because he doesn’t agree with her views on education reform.
It is rumored the Democrats have an interesting revenge vote planned for the good Senator from Moore.
