Oklahoma Greens Mark 10th Anniversary

Activism & awareness, Community Voices, Events, Features, Oklahoma Politics, Politics No Comments
Oklahoma Greens Mark 10th Anniversary

Reposted from okgreens.org:

You’re invited!

Green Party of Oklahoma 10th Annual State Convention
July 28, 2010, 4-6 p.m.

Best Western, 1200 North 8th Avenue, Stroud, OK
(located right off of the Turner Turnpike/I-44, for a map to the location please go to: http://goo.gl/maps/rlfBW )

All Green Party members and friends are welcome to attend and participate in our discussions, but our bylaws limit voting to those who have been Green Party members for at least 30 days.)

Agenda items include: discussion of endorsements for 2012, local chapter caucus meetings to choose delegates to the state cooperative council, and discussion on how to engage in organizing for Green issues in Oklahoma — as well as other topics and concerns brought by those attending.

Our meeting will be held in the Club Room of the hotel restaurant. (the restaurant waitstaff will be available for anyone who wants to order something to eat or drink during our meeting).

Following the convention, an informal social hang-out will be happening at the nearby Rock Cafe (a route 66 landmark in downtown Stroud).

We hope to see you there!

James Branum
Acting Secretary on behalf of the GPOK Cooperative Council

Oklahoma’s best known homophobe joins Chick-Fil-A controversy

Business News, Features, LGBT, Oklahoma Politics , , 4 Comments
Oklahoma’s best known homophobe joins Chick-Fil-A controversy

You can’t possibly be surprised that our state’s premier drama queen felt the need to weigh in on this pressing national issue with a press release calling for public demonstrations of moral outrage.

Kern Urges Oklahomans to Support Chick-Fil-A

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Sally Kern is urging Oklahomans to support Chick-Fil-A and to participate in the Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day event scheduled for next Wednesday.

“Chick-Fil-A is a company that has incorporated traditional values into its business model, the same values that a large majority of Oklahomans adhere to,” said Kern, R-Oklahoma City. “This is a company that respects its employees and customers and creates jobs for young people. The hate and intolerance they have been subjected to in the past week is astonishing, and I encourage Oklahomans to rally behind this company and show our support.”

Kern noted that voters overwhelmingly passed a state Constitutional amendment in 2004 that stated that prohibited same-sex marriage and declared marriage to be between one man and one woman.

“Seventy-six percent of Oklahoma voters believe that marriage is an institution for one man and one woman,” said Kern, noting the percentage of voters who approved the state question. “What the owner of Chick-Fil-A said is nothing controversial to Oklahomans.”

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has created the “Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day” Facebook page to encourage citizens across the nation to support the company by dining at their local franchises on August 1. So far, more than 290,000 people have indicated they plan on participating nationwide.

According to the company’s website, there are 13 locations across Oklahoma.

Maybe gay-friendly Okies need to stage their own actions at the restaurants next Wednesday, to give those who follow Kern’s advice a real show.

Just don’t buy anything.

BREAKING: Personhood Act dead in OK state legislature

Oklahoma Politics, Women No Comments

From a press release issued moments ago:

Speaker comments on personhood bill

House Speaker Kris Steele today issued the following statement on Senate Bill 1433, the personhood bill:

“The House Republican Caucus voted today not to hear the personhood bill on the House floor. This decision was not made unilaterally, but as a caucus collectively. I accept the will of our caucus. The fact is this bill sends a statement Oklahoma has already made. We’re already perhaps the most pro-life state in this country, having passed at least 30 various pro-life measures in the past eight years alone. You will not find a bigger friend of the unborn than this Legislature, but this bill would not have any substantive policy effect.” – House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee

ALEC protested in OKC during reception hosted by Gov. Fallin

99%, Activism & awareness, Events, Oklahoma Politics 1 Comment

The American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC, is a “nonpartisan” organization that works to have “pro-business” legislation passed in state legislatures. Yet somehow ALEC legislation keeps seeming to restrict voting by Democratic-leaning citizens, limit reproductive rights, and generally curtail or eliminate other progressive policies.

So, of course, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and other state GOP leaders are all over it. But their soiree was greeted by demonstrators holding signs and banners while chanting “We want democracy, not a corporatocracy.”

There were about 30 demonstrators at the protest, which was organized by MoveOn.org Oklahoma City chapter, Change Oklahoma and Occupy Norman.

Photo slideshow by New Media Active.

Senate Committee Rejects Amendment to Require Drug Tests for Legislators

Oklahoma Politics, Politics , 1 Comment

This press release is from the office of Rep. Mike Shelton:

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 27, 2012) Some lawmakers have no qualms subjecting to drug tests citizens who receive taxpayer dollars, but they are apparently unwilling to submit themselves to the same indignity.

HB2388 by Senator David Holt, and Rep. Guy Liebmann, both Republicans from Oklahoma City, would require drug testing for recipients under the program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

TANF is funded by a block grant from the federal government. Recipients of aid must work at least 30 hours per week to continue to receive assistance.

Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, filed an amendment to the bill on the House floor which would have required legislators to take a similar drug test to run for office. The bill, with the amendment, passed the House 82-6. The House author of the measure, Rep. Liebmann, also supported this language.

However, yesterday in the Senate Health and Human Services committee, Sen. Holt removed the language requiring legislators to take drug tests before moving the bill to a vote.

The bill passed along partisan lines by 5-3, and now awaits a hearing by the full Senate.

“This is a disappointing development,” said Rep. Shelton. “If citizens are required to undergo drug tests, then so should potential legislators who are entrusted with decisions critical to the welfare of our state.”

According to news sources, when the bill arrived in the Senate, Sen. Holt dropped the amendment from the legislation, describing it as a “stunt.”

Of interest, in the 2010 legislative session, the Senate passed by a 44-0 vote SB1392, by Senator Anthony Sykes, R-Newcastle. That bill contained an amendment to require all state elected officials to undergo the same standards of drug testing.

“Sen. Holt claimed that the amendment to HB2388 was a ‘stunt,’’ said Rep. Shelton. “If this is such a stunt, then why did 44 members of the Senate vote to approve the same thing back in 2010?”

SB1392 bill was never granted a hearing in the House, and subsequently stalled for the session.

“It is hypocritical of us as lawmakers to take state pay, and conduct the state’s business, but ask those who receive benefits to take a drug test, but then refuse to take the same drug test ourselves,” said Rep. Shelton. “I plan to re-submit this amendment when the bill comes back to the House for final consideration.”