Okie Pundit

TRUST, a legislative advocacy group for the state’s transportation infrastructure, reports that transportation received a slight increase of .6% in state appropriations this year, amid near universal agency cuts. For Fiscal Year 2010, the Department of Transportation’s Budget is $208,741,314, an increase of $1,149,866 or 0.6%. Other significant transportation bills passed this past session are: Senate Bill [...]

Republican Clay Clark, a 29-year-old entrepreneur announced this week that he will challenge incumbent Kathy Taylor in November’s mayoral election in Tulsa. Clark says he feels he’s being called to stand up for the beliefs and values of the average citizen of Tulsa.

Despite having a $600 million dollar budget shortfall this year, the Legislature spent $14.4 million dollars on special projects for Oklahoma’s rural areas (the Rural Economic Action Plan – REAP).

President Barack Obama introduced his nomination for the Supreme Court of the United States this morning, Second Circuit Appellate Judge Sonia Sotomayor.  Judge Sotomayor is a noted liberal, activist judge who has made some off the wall statements like, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often [...]

With the end of session, several legislators have set their sights on higher offices. Here’s a quick look at the announced candidates for various state offices that will be on the ballot in 2010 as well as the race for the next Republican leaders in the House and Senate.

Normally the “off-year” sees less controversy than the election year session. But this “off-year” was different. There were plenty of fireworks and fodder for politicos and casual observers alike. And hardly any of it involved the budget (perhaps that will change next year as the budget picture may worsen). It leaves okiepundit.com to wonder, what will the Legislature do to top it next year?

Reeling from his own party’s rejection of his plan to move terrorists out of Gitmo and bring them to the United States, perhaps President Obama can find some allies in the Oklahoma Hosue of Representatives.

Today’s hot political gossip is that former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating may be returning to the Sooner state to run for the US Senate.

Okiepundit.com contacted Keating’s office today and learned that there is no story.

For several years now a coalition of anti-growth environmentalists and railroad fanatics have tried their darndest to throw monkey wrenches and other road blocks in the way of the I-40 re-alignment. This group’s relentless fight against the state’s re-alignment plans have caused undue delays and added costs to the state, which has been working on a master plan to fix the cross-town expressway – one of the most dangerous stretches of interstate in the state.

The race for Oklahoma Lt. Governor got a little bit more crowded today as Republican State Representative John Wright announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for the office. By announcing his candidacy, the term limited legislator from Broken Arrow becomes the first Republican to formally enter the race. He joins Democrats Kenneth Corn, [...]

Congresswoman Mary Fallin is asking fellow Oklahomans to honor those men and women who have died in our nation’s service this Memorial Day by posting a message of support on her campaign website. “We owe them a debt of gratitude that can only be repaid by continuing to remember their service to our country… As [...]

“The profiles of Adam and Kris suggest that this is really a red state versus blue state showdown,” suggested Chris Lehane, a California-based political consultant who worked on the presidential campaigns of Al Gore and John Kerry.

The way Lehane sees it, Adam is the liberal in this race, the hipster from big blue California with a certain progressive flair, including painted fingernails and copious amounts of eyeliner.

Kris is more of a red-state country boy – a baby-faced, guitar-pickin’, churchgoin’ son of the land of Woo Pig Soiee, which voted solidly Republican in the last election.

“It will come down to whether Adam is able to build on the blue-state, progressive wave we have seen building since 2006, or whether this is a last gasp for the red state viewer/voter,” explained Lehane by e-mail.

Former Congressman JC Watts, who is widely rumored to be eyeing a run for Governor but has not yet announced his intentions, won a straw poll tonight in Stephens County.

Following years of dedicated effort, House members today overwhelmingly passed comprehensive changes to the state’s civil justice system that represent an agreement with lawmakers, business advocates, doctors, mineral owners and trial lawyers.

Most Americans agree that our country must do more to achieve energy independence and to produce cleaner sources of energy. There are steps we need to implement over time to change the way we use energy and reduce our use of some types of carbon-based fuels. But if a radical proposal being organized by the [...]

Professional Oklahoma Educators Executive Director Ginger Tinney, of Norman, was presented with the Carol Applegate Education Award recently at the National Right to Work Committee’s annual meeting in Charleston, S.C.

A survey of 500 likely Republican voters conducted by Oklahoma based Wilson Research Strategies shows that JC Watts leads all other Republican candidates for Governor. The survey, conducted May 7-9 asked respondents who they would support if the election for Governor were held today. 39% said JC Watts, Mary Fallin was close behind with 36%. The WRS Survey confirms what most political observers have speculated: although JC Watts has yet to enter the race for Governor, his name recognition and statewide support give him an early edge over the rest of the field.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is yet another example of how liberals cleverly word smith an idea to make it sound so appealing – to make it sound like something it really isn’t.

After five years of trying, today the supporters of Oklahoma’s lemon law reforms had good reason to celebrate

As of late Monday, the conference committee report (CCR) was signed out to bring SB 812 out of conference and back to the House and Senate for a final up or down vote.

Lemon laws should be championed by Republicans, who have always stood for personal responsibility and holding responsible parties accountable, so the resistance to this bill from Senate Republicans was just a little disappointing.

Bill Discourages Detainee Transfers, Strengthens States Rights, Enacts Strict Guidelines for Administration