JANUARY 25, 2007
On The Cover
Immigration Reform Folly: Meddling Lawmakers?
By Arnold Hamilton
As the 2007 legislative session opens, a showdown looms over immigration reform, sharply dividing natural allies – think big business and Republicans – and stirring acrimonious, sometimes racially charged debate over the changing face of Oklahoma. And to what end?
What’s Inside
Frosty’s Notebook: Catholic Lite
By Frosty Troy
A new survey of American Roman Catholics has found strong support for the Pope and U.S. bishops, but disagreement over church positions such as whether priests should marry.
Big GOP Tax Cuts Would Be A Mistake
Republicans have filed bills that would gut the state budget by more than a third because there is no plan to replace the revenue loss. The most draconian measure is House Bill 1040 by House gadfly Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-OKC. It would slash the 5.65% income tax, phasing it out.
Coalition Will Work On New Farm Bill
In an effort to help build support for USDA Natural Resource Programs in the next federal farm bill, over 20 wildlife, environmental, civic and landowner organizations, along with several state agencies and private businesses, have announced the formation of the Coalition for Conservation.
Oklahoma’s Prison Crisis Still Growing
Oklahoma should consider sentencing reform as an alternative to building more prisons, said Sen. Richard Leblance, chairman of the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission.
Until America’s Color Blind, Schools In Bind
By Danny M. Adkison
If you know there is something you should do and you don’t do it you have sinned. That, according to the last verse in Chapter 4 of the New Testament book of James, is what is called a sin of omission rather than a sin of commission. The distinction has plagued race cases in America for over 100 years.
Lawmaker Wants To Rein In Regents On Skyrocketing Tuition
The Disabled Face Job Discrimination
GOP Bill Seeks To Lower Medical Costs
282 Teachers Achieve National Certification
Teacher Retirement Funding Is In Crisis – $7 Billion Short
Jackson Leads National Group
Public Forum
Silly Sally Says Special Sessions Superfluous
By Karen Webb
First we should define superfluous for state Rep. Sally Kern, R-OKC, because she likely will think it is an effort to homosexualize Oklahoma. She thinks everything anyone says that she doesn’t understand or disagrees with is part of the gay agenda to send the entire state to hell.
Black Indians Deserve To Remain Cherokees
By Fannie Bates
I am a third generation Oklahoman. My grandmother, Irish/Cherokee, walked to Oklahoma from Alabama in 1896.
Silent No More: Time To Fight America’s Tyrant
By Colin T. Bent
I am uncertain about the feelings of my fellow citizens but in my eyes the ideals of this democracy called the United States of America have taken a blow from which it probably will never recover.
Observations
Not True
New State Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-OKC, claims there is a “large number of frivolous lawsuits.” To put it kindly, that’s false.
Sooner Shame
It is humiliating that the federal government has filed a lawsuit against Oklahoma for failure to protect juveniles at the Lloyd E. Rader Center at Sand Springs.
Just Do It
One of the first acts of the new Legislature ought to be passage of the measure to regulate all-terrain vehicles.
NCLB Flops
According to a recent Gallup Poll, 58% of Americans believe the five-year-old No Child Left Behind law has either harmed or had no effect on schools, compared with just over a quarter who believe it has helped.
Well Done
A tip of our editorial hat to Ken Neal, 71, leaving the post as editorial page editor of the Tulsa World, surely the closest thing to fair and accurate commentary published in Oklahoma.
Cheating
The cheating epidemic in America should give the country pause. It’s not just athletes, although they claim the headlines. It’s a broad spectrum of America.
Silly Sally
A silly constitutional amendment filed by Rep. Sally Kern, R-OKC, would force state lawmakers to take a pay cut if a special legislative session is required to complete the state budget.
