To unsubscribe please send an email requesting removal at
ModernPatriot@hotmail.com
Invite your friends to receive the best political cyber-newsletter in Oklahoma. Tell them to subscribe by sending a subscription request to
Cadman12@swbell.net
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
M
odern
P
atriot
C
hronicles
An Eleventh Commandment Free Zone
Vol. 1, Issue 17
December 10, 2002
By Craig Dawkins
Will Republican Legislative Leaders Have the Guts to Cut State Budgets?
Gov. Elect Brad Henry Speaks to State Chamber
Best AM Talk Radio Station in Oklahoma
Lefties Say Media Bias Favors Republicans
Politicians and Government Waste
Copyright@2002, All Rights Reserved.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws." - Tacitus
Surveys! Survey! Surveys! Surveys! Surveys! Surveys!
Should Republican Party legislative leaders agree to tax increases or push for budget cuts in order to balance the state budget? Tax Increase or Budget Cuts.
Go to
www.ModernPatriot.net
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Speaking of Leadership Doing the Right Thing…..
"Action without intelligence is a form of insanity, but intelligence without action is the greatest form of stupidity in the world."
Charles F. Kettering
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Will Republican Legislative Leaders Have the Guts to Cut State Budgets?
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
"I have supported a fuel tax increase and continue to support it."
- State Senate Republican Minority Leader Jim Williamson of Tulsa
State political leaders gathered today to discuss important fiscal reforms at a public affairs forum sponsored by the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce. Tort reform, workers compensation, health insurance and education issues were elevated as important priorities. Responses coming from Republican leaders raise doubts regarding the Republican Party's commitment and resolve not to increase taxes.
The Legislative Leadership Panel included State Senate Republican Minority Leader Jim Williamson of Tulsa, State Senator Jim Maddox-D Lawton, State House Republican Minority Leader Todd Hiett of Kellyville and State House Rep Jari Askins-D Duncan.
The panel spoke about education budgets. Hiett-R pointed out that education should be made a priority saying, "Why not fund education first rather than last?" All on the panel seemed to agree. However, there was no mention of education reform. So I asked the panel to address education reform.
I pointed out that everyone seemed to agree that education is a major priority but that little had been discussed regarding the issue of education reform. I asked the panel if they would support scrapping our current Superintendent structure and replace it with County Superintendents.
Sen. Williamson-R commented, "That would involve the 'C' word." He said rather than cutting budgets across the board, the percentage of the school budget going for administration costs should be reviewed by each school district.
Sen. Maddox-D said, "There are 547 Superintendents in Oklahoma. California has less than 60. We're heavy in administration costs. It is perhaps that second tier administrative costs that need to take a cut."
Are we really to the point where Republican leaders publicly refer to budget cuts as the "C" word? Maddox-D actually stated that a cut was in order. Where are Republicans on the issue of education reforms?
Let's just consider the County Superintendent idea. We would still have more Superintendents than California. We would have 77. But we would have cut 470 Superintendents from the over head. Take 470 Superintendents and multiply by an average salary of $75000 per year. That's $35,250,000 saved for public education. (That's 35 MILLION 250 THOUSAND Dollars for those living in McCurtain County.)
Why can't this be done?????
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Are you Liberal or Conservative? Find out at
www.Politopia.com
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Gov. Elect Brad Henry Speaks to State Chamber
Governor Elect Brad Henry received a standing ovation after he was introduced by Football Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton. The largely business friendly audience welcomed Henry whose speech underscored his awareness of the differences between his agenda and that of the State Chamber membership. Henry stated, "I'm willing to meet you half way but it's up to you. If you sit back and criticize it won't happen and it'll be your fault, not mine."
Henry repeatedly stated his desire to govern in a bipartisan manner and to work with the business community. He also pledged "not to slide back or reverse the progress made over the last ten years. There's been rumors that I'm going to reverse some of the progress." By progress, one would hope he is referring to Right-to-Work. But he didn't elaborate.
Henry also blasted the bickering between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. He said, "Oklahoma City and Tulsa have just got to get over it. Oklahoma City is not in competition with Tulsa or vice versa. Our competition is Texas, Kansas and other surrounding states." Also he said, "We've got to stop bickering both Republicans and Democrats." He described his relationship with Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin as a partnership. He also said, "My staff is excited as a bipartisan team to restore common sense to State Government."
Henry asserted that his office and phone lines would always be open to the business community. He addressed the budget shortfall as being in the top ten nationally. "But these struggles bring opportunities to make the State leaner not meaner" he said. Henry never addressed how he would approach the budget shortfall. But one can't imagine he's not considering a significant tax increase.
Chills went up my spine when Henry said, "It's going to be a lot of hard work. But you're up to it."
That's a frightening quote coming from a Democrat.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Best AM Talk Radio Station in Oklahoma
I'm a talk radio listener. I enjoy news talk radio more than most. Which brings me to the absolutely pathetic situation in Oklahoma City. While I live in the Oklahoma City area, I mostly listen to KRMG in Tulsa. Say what you want about John Erling. Sure he's brash, manipulative, antagonistic and sometimes down right provocative. But he's a good morning radio host. More than I can say for the rolling carousel at Oklahoma City's flagship talk station KTOK. There have been three different morning hosts in OKC in less than six months. But it's not just the morning show that stinks.
At night I can choose from KRMG's line up of Shawn Hannity, Clark Howard and Neil Boortz. About the only show I enjoy in Oklahoma City is Glenn Beck. (He's really great.) He's up against Dr. Laura Schlessinger (on KRMG) who I consider to be radio masochism. Then on Saturday morning, KRMG has a show called "John Erling's Saturday Morning Mess." It's a recap of the great interviews during the week on John Erling's morning show.
The bottom line is that Clear Channel Communications, who owns KTOK in OKC, needs to get on the stick. It's downright awful. It's pathetic. It's UNACCEPTABLE for it to be this bad.
In my opinion, KRMG is the best in the State of Oklahoma. It's not even close.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Lefties Say Media Bias Favors Republicans
Al Gore (the loser) blasted several media outlets saying "that the mainstream press has no mechanism to bring back Americans brainwashed by conservative outlets." UUUUHH….…Say what??
If this is true, this is an amazing admission. Gore's Democrat voters aren't listening to talk radio, watching the news or reading the paper. Gore's Democrat voters are watching the television show "Jack Ass" and listening to FM mind-drool music. They're not connoisseurs of mind stimulating debate. They are entertainment addicted drones who wait for their every four year "terror call".
The terror call goes, "I'm calling from the National Democratic Party to remind you that we are sending a bus to your neighborhood on election day so that you can vote against the Republicans who want to close all the public schools, take away your healthcare, destroy the rain forests, pollute your water, burn your church, drag you to death behind Texas trucks, kick senior citizens out of their homes, bring back slavery, starve your children, burn a cross in your yard, rape your dog and crucify you. Can we count on your support?"
Hyperbole seems to be the only connecting stimulus that is effective in reaching their voters. Except in Oklahoma. Oklahoma is attentively Democratic at the state and local level. Maybe that's the problem in Oklahoma. Maybe we just don't have a loud enough conservative voice here. Ya think??
Gore said, "Fox News Network, The Washington Times, Rush Limbaugh - there's a bunch of them, and some of them are financed by wealthy ultra-conservative billionaires who make political deals with Republican administrations and the rest of the media."
Al has completely lost it. He's still a SORE-LOSERMAN.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Politicians and Government Waste
Thank God for Libertarians. Without them we might never find out about the kind of tax payer abuse that exists. Libertarians ask "Why is a federal health agency funding a 'Club Med' for monkeys?" The National Institute of Health has a plan to spend $24 million on a retirement village for chimpanzees who have been used in medical experiments. The cost is $30,000 per chimpanzee.
Libertarians ask, "Who would have imagined that an agency created to find cures for cancer, AIDS and other debilitating diseases would end up building a $24 million monkey house?"
Libertarians also pointed out that in the last 2 years the federal government has spent:
$750,000 for grasshopper research in Alaska
$2 million to house a worm collection at the Smithsonian museum in Washington, DC.
$400,000 to study manure management at the National Swine Research Center in Iowa.
$4.2 million for a shrimp aquiculture research project in six states.
$400,000 for the Montana Sheep Institute.
In this time of economic slow down, politicians need to cut the insanity in the budgets before coming to American taxpayers demanding more money. And make no mistake, they are coming to demand more money.
Circle the wagons.