Coffee Discusses Senate Efforts to Reject Health Care Mandates

Yesterday, Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City), left, held a state Capitol news conference, during which he discussed three recent Senate votes which are designed to safeguard Oklahomans from being forced to participate in whatever federal health care program might be enacted. One measure would allow a statewide vote on so-called Obamacare.

Click here to read journalist Patrick B. McGuigan's report filed at CapitolBeatOK

State's Pro-Life Media Hold Successful Capitol Luncheon

On Thursday, about two dozen pro-life Oklahoma media and nonprofit organizations hosted an educational legislators' luncheon at the state Capitol centered around the sanctity of human life. Many Oklahoma House and Senate members attended and learned about the work of the Oklahoma Pro-Life Media Coalition (OPLMC), which, through its print and broadcast media members statewide, reaches approximately 81.9 percent of all Oklahoma citizens with pro-life news and information.

The keynote luncheon speaker was Valeska Littlefield, director of Hope Pregnancy Center in Tulsa. Earlier, leaders of Oklahoma's numerous CPC and Pregnancy Resource Centers heard a presentation from Dave Everitt, of Gig Harbor, Wash., who is vice president of advancement for Life International. Everitt and wife, JoAnn, traveled to Oklahoma specifically for this annual event.

At the present time, several pro-life measures are working their way through the state Capitol, many designed to solve alleged state Constitutional deficiencies as determined by Oklahoma County district judges in recent opinions. Regardless of the many nuisance legal challenges brought by abortionists to sidetrack new pro-life laws, Oklahoma continues moving forward to protect unborn life and to safeguard women's medical choices. Our state is now ranked as the fourth most pro-life state in the entire U.S., thanks to the efforts of pro-life Oklahomans and the dilligence of state legislators.

Click here to read one media account of yesterday's OPLMC luncheon.

Generation Zero Documentary Explores Roots of Financial Meltdown

One of the most talked about documentaries today is Generation Zero. It was a sleeper hit at both the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend and at the Tea Party convention in Nashville. Sean Hannity devoted his entire Fox News program to the documentary Tuesday night.

The full-length feature examines the roots of the 2008 financial meltdown in the U.S. and posits the idea that what happened is NOT a failure of America's economic system of capitalism, but rather a failure of our culture and the values held by many in the Sixties generation.

For more information about Generation Zero, visit http://www.generationzeromovie.com/ or view the minute-long trailer below.

Big Brother Marches Forward in America

In light of the federal government's ongoing efforts to force a nationwide transition to electronic records for all students in the public schools (assisted in Oklahoma by Education Secretary Kathy Taylor's Race to the Top grant application) and for all American citizens (via President Obama's health care reform proposal) this quote from former Jimmy Carter adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski in his 1970 essay, Between Two Ages: America's Role in the Technetronic Era, literally jumped of the page:

"It will soon be possible to assert almost continuous control over every citizen and to maintain up-to-date files containing even the most personal details about health and personal behavior of every citizen, in addition to the more customary data. These files will be subject to instantaneous retrival by the authorities. Power will gravitate into the hands of those who control information."

McCullough: Lawmakers Must Face Divorce Issue

Rep. Mark McCullough released the following statement today (unedited):

As lawmakers deal with the budget shortfall, they must also face the issue of family fragmentation, state Rep. Mark McCullough said today.

“Clearly, legislation alone will not solve the problem of divorce and family fragmentation, but we cannot afford to ignore the issue as it drains hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars,” said McCullough, R-Sapulpa.

House Bill 2634, by McCullough, would require two hours of pre-marital counseling before the issuance of a marriage license and provide a $45 dollar discount on a marriage license for couples getting more than eight hours of pre-marital counseling. The measure also allows for a “covenant marriage” license and requires court directed pre-divorce education classes for couples with children.

McCullough noted the counseling and divorce education provisions are already in state law, but are permissive and currently do not require participation.

House Bill 2634 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee this week on a 6-5 vote.

However, a similar measure was defeated on the House floor on Monday. House Bill 2543, by state Rep. John Wright (R-Broken Arrow), would have required couples to go through one hour of divorce counseling before they can file for divorce. The measure was defeated 37-57.

“Some are hesitant to support this legislation because of concerns about government becoming involved in this issue,” McCullough said. “Unfortunately, the state is already involved – big time. State government spends more than $400 million every year on the fallout of divorce.”

A recent study, “The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Childbearing” conservatively estimates divorce has a dramatic impact on the cost of state government (largely through public assistance programs) – up to $430 million annually in Oklahoma.

“The bills Representative Wright and I filed each have a simple theme: reasonable, rational, and quite frankly, pretty mild proposals to encourage people to be deliberative about the marriage and divorce process,” McCullough said. “These are two simple proposals that could help Oklahomans that have no real downside.”

A third measure, House Bill 2279, by state Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City), would have slowed the divorce process for couples with young children where just one spouse seeks a “no fault” divorce. That bill was defeated 3-7 in the House Judiciary Committee.

“Representative Kern knew it was controversial to challenge no fault divorce, but her perception is that the consequence of no fault – 40 years on – has been nothing less than catastrophic to the institution of marriage,” McCullough said. “Why not challenge the axiom of no fault’s supremacy?”

McCullough noted that research shows children from broken homes are 12 times more likely to be incarcerated, seven times more likely to live in poverty and three times more likely to be expelled and receive lower grades. They also are more susceptible to substance abuse and mental health disorders.

“Government will not solve this problem but government is already heavily involved,” McCullough said. “We cannot pretend the state does not have role in the increasingly clear problem of family fragmentation.”

HB 2543 Fails in State House Vote

Yesterday, HB 2543 failed to win approval in the state House of Representatives.

The bill, authored by Rep. John Wright (R-Broken Arrow), would have required couples contemplating a divorce to obtain one (1) hour of counseling before a petition for divorce could be filed.

The House vote was 37 for, 57 against, and 7 members were excused. More Republicans voted for the bill than Democrats, but the vote was bipartisan, with some Republicans voting against the bill.

To learn how your particular representative voted, click here and, then, find Feb. 22 vote for HB 2543 on Third Reading.

President Obama's Newest Health Care Proposal

The White House today released its newest health care reform proposal.

The President's proposal mentions taxes at least 35 times, includes new fees for users of brand-name drugs, and continues the move toward a new electronic government database for all our medical information — something that, coincidentally, is now happening to public school students in the realm of K-12 education, as was discussed yesterday by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, at a meeting of the nation's governors.

You can read a PDF summary of the health care prepared by the White House by clicking here and looking for Key Documents February 22, 2010.

A health care reform meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, Feb. 25. President Barack Obama will be attempting to sell Democrats and Republicans on his newest health care reform proposal, which, if approved, still puts America on the path toward a takeover of one-sixth of the economy.

It remains to be seen whether good faith negotiating between Congressional leaders and the White House will be encouraged this Thursday or whether this new meeting is just an opportunity for the President to use Alinsky-style tactics to take proponents of real, free-market based health care reforms to task for their unwillingness to agree to Mr. Obama's newest proposal.

Lady Liberty Enlightening the World

Broadcaster Glenn Beck really knocked it out of the park yesterday at CPAC. If you didn't see the speech, you really owe it to yourself to see the reruns on C-SPAN or to view the entire speech on YouTube.

Here's a snippet. In this clip below, Beck talks about the Statue of Liberty, now we ususally — and wrongly — think of it today, and how it was originally intended to be received when it was given to the U.S. in 1876 by France on the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of our American Independence. It's a "barn-burner"!

Newt Gingrich and Glenn Beck to Speak at CPAC Today

Today, both former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and popular radio talk show host Glenn Beck are scheduled to speak in Washington, D.C., to attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference. For over a quarter of a century, CPAC has been the premier educational and training conference of the Conservative movement.

C-SPAN will carry their speeches live today, Feb. 20th, and we invite you to watch and listen if your Saturday schedule permits.

Gingrich will speak today at 1 p.m. CST. A former history professor, Gingrich is an excellent speaker and always full of ideas and strong opinions.

Beck is scheduled to take the podium at 5 p.m. CST. It is expected that Beck, also a Fox News Channel personality, will talk about the origins and impact of the Progressive political movement of the early 20th century.

He will also likely educate attendees about its continuing huge impact on our nation and its governance, including Progressive assaults on the U.S. Constitution.

If you miss Gingrich and Beck the first time, expect for C-SPAN to replay them later tonight and tomorrow.

Judge Says 2009 Abortion Law Violated One-Subject Rule

Oklahoma County District Judge Daniel L. Owens ruled Friday afternoon in Oklahoma City that a 2009 abortion law, HB 1595, is unconstitutional. The court, writing in Davis vs. W.A. Drew Edmondson, said the law violated the Oklahoma Constitution because it dealt with several different subjects, something the Oklahoma Constituion forbids. Laws must deal with only one subject, Owens said.

Oklahoma lawmakers had bundled several abortion-related pieces of legislation together and passed them as an omnibus measure in 2009, but the judge said that wasn't permitted.

Several of the measures Owens has now invalidated are working their way through the legislative process in 2010, this time as separate bills.

Attorney Teresa Collett, who argued in favor of HB 1595's legality, said she may appeal pending a review of Owen's opinion.

Please Vote for Marriage Network Oklahoma

Marriage Network Oklahoma has an opportunity to win a new Web-site design, courtesy of Element Fusion, and YOU can be a crucial link in helping us to meet this need. Please click on the link below and vote for Marriage Network Oklahoma by Feb. 27th.

http://www.elementfusion.com/2010-giveaway-one-finalists

Also, forward the above link with a short note to all your friends and colleagues, too. Many thanks for voting for Marriage Network Oklahoma! The voting ends Feb. 27th.

State Budget Agreement Reached

Late yesterday, it was announced that Gov. Brad Henry and Republican legislative leaders, Speaker of the House Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, had reached agreement on the state budget for FY 2010. According to their joint news release:

The agreement would spend three-eighths of the Rainy Day fund, or $223.5 million, for the budget shortfall in fiscal year 2010. The remainder of the FY10 shortfall will be filled with other state funds, federal stimulus dollars and revenue generated from previously announced targeted budget cuts to agencies.

The deal would also move a second three-eighths of the Rainy Day fund, or another $223.5 million, into the state’s Special Cash account.

If needed, the funds would be available for appropriation in the fiscal year 2011 to offset the shortfall certified by the Board of Equalization this week.

The agreement will leave one-fourth of the current Rainy Day Fund proceeds in the reserve account. A portion of those dollars could also be accessed if state leaders deemed it necessary later in session.

The agreement also directs additional state funds to education, health care and other areas and preserves a larger share of stimulus dollars for use later in the session.

Pastors, Lay-Leaders Invited to Learn Effective Premarital Preparation at March 4 Workshop

•  How confident do you feel when doing premarital counseling?
•  Do you have a tool to effectively assess a couple in their strengths and needs before marriage?
•  Do you have comprehensive materials to prepare a couple to marry?
•  Would you like to learn how lay leaders can prepare couples for marriage?

Marriage Network Oklahoma is again presenting a training workshop for church and marriage ministry leaders —Preparing Couples for Marriage - "The Foundation of Marriage Ministry"

Workshop will include training for premarital education classes, premarital counseling, resources, and effectiveness

Thursday, March 4, 2010, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Location: 301 NW 63rd St. (just W of Broadway Ext.), Suite 110, Oklahoma City

Cost: $50 person (spouse comes free), MNO partner churches: no charge (partner churches email to register), includes lunch

Deadline for registration: February 26

To register: go to the http://www.marriagenetworkok.net/ , or call Donna Edwards, 405.792.2586, or email donna@marriagenetworkok.net

How Did the Early Christians of Rome Defeat Pagan Sexuality?

That's the interesting topic to be addressed during a free Family Policy Lecture at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. next Thursday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. CST. Thankfully, the lecture will be webcast worldwide by FRC, so you can listen in on the Web if you preregister here.

The speaker will be Dr. Peter Jones., the foremost evangelical scholar on neo-paganism. Dr. Jones, who has advanced degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, and Princeton Theological Seminary, wrote a fascinating book in 2006, The God of Sex: How Worldview Determines Sexuality. The book, which is available here (type Peter Jones in Amazon box), was an exploration of how God's view of sex (after all, He invented it) has been corrupted by today's cultural gatekeepers, who are influenced not by Christian truth, but by Playboy philosophy and neo-pagan spirituality.

Jones, in the book, made a fascinating assertion. He believes the primary goal, related to sexuality, of popular culture, Hollywood, music, new age spirituality, etc., is to convince young people to buy into the idea -- not that they are homosexual or heterosexual -- but that they are personally bisexual. That's why we are seeing things like the infamous on-stage kiss between Britney Spears and Madonna, the emergence of Lady Gaga, etc. Kids are being taught today by popular culture and peers that they can go back and forth like a revolving door between heterosexuality and homosexuality.

It light of this background, it will be wonderful to hear Dr. Jones discuss, How Did the Early Christians of Rome Defeat Pagan Sexuality? Preregister for the Webcast here.

‘Mount Vernon Statement’ Reaffirms Key Foundational Principles

Today, more than 100 leaders of the Conservative movement in the U.S. signed the Mount Vernon Statement, a new recitation of core foundational principles to guide our nation forward in the 21st Century.

What's significant about the Mount Vernon Statement is that it is grounded in fidelity to the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, two defining organic legal documents of the United States of America, which were both adopted by our nation's Founders in the late 18th Century.

Click here to read the Mount Vernon Statement, courtesy of the Family Research Council. If you wish, you can add your name to the document as an expression of your support. Please give this important Statement widespread distribution via email and social media. Thank you.

Do a Good Deed and Help Strengthen Oklahoma's Marriages, Too!!

Will you help us?

This may be one of those good works for you established since before the foundations of the world -- or it may just be a simple good deed. Regardless, you can help strengthen marriages in the Sooner State by taking an extra minute to click on the following link: http://www.elementfusion.com/2010-giveaway-one-finalists

Marriage Network Oklahoma, with whom OFPC partners for marriage ministry, is a finalist (yeah!) in the offer by OKC Website Design company Element Fusion to generously donate a free Web-site design to one of three finalists. The general public votes, beginning today through Feb. 27, to determine what nonprofit organization gets the new Web-site. The winner will be announced on March 1.

As you may know, Marriage Network Oklahoma's vision is to work with Oklahoma's thousands of churches to help them to develop comprehensive marriage ministries within their congregations. In Oklahoma, 76% of couples get married in a church, but after the wedding, many churches do little or nothing to help married couples actually foster and and grow the marriage to which they've committed. MNO is working to change that one church at a time.

Imagine what could happen to this state (and for the cause of Christ) if many thousands of Oklahoma's marriages were strong, healthy, happy, and holy pictures of the love Christ has for His bride, the Church? No divorces isn't our goal -- thriving marriages for the benefit of husbands, wives, and children is MNO's goal. But, it's not going to happen unless Oklahoma's churches are a part of the solution. And actively helping churches to realize this goal is what Marriage Network Oklahoma is all about.

MNO really needs a great, new Web-site to tell our story, and YOU can be a crucial link in helping us to meet this need. Please click on the link and vote for Marriage Network Oklahoma.

Click on the following link: http://www.elementfusion.com/2010-giveaway-one-finalists

Also, forward the above link with a short note to all your friends and colleagues, too. Many thanks for voting for Marriage Network Oklahoma!

Coffee Seeks to Expand Charter Schools in Oklahoma

Several years ago, Sen. Penny Williams (D-Tulsa) authored the first bill to legalize charter schools in Oklahoma. As you know, charter schools are publicly financed government schools, which by law are freed from some of the mandates, bureaucracy, and collective bargining that are a part of what's normal at most other public schools. Charter schools, unlike other public schools, also have the freedom to define for themselves and their students a more targeted curriculum. They can, for example, focus their teaching on math and science ... or music ... or history ... or core knowledge ... or college preparatory ... or performing arts ... or helping at-risk students, etc. — whatever their educational charter authorizes.

Today, numerous charter schools exist statewide, although Oklahoma's charter school law has never been as as favorable to the growth of these cutting-edge, publicly popular schools as were the laws in, e.g., the states of Arizona or Arkansas. That may be changing.

Sen. Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City), the Senate's president Pro Tempore, has announced that he will introduce legislation in 2010 to expand the state's charter school law and to make it legally possible for mayors in the state's two largest cities, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, to authorize new charter schools, as well. Currently, elected school boards must approve a new school's charter before a charter school can begin its operations. Coffee's bill would open up the process a bit by vesting mayors with this authority, too.

OFPC generally believes that charter schools are good for education, good for the children and parents they serve, and we commend Sen. Coffee for his willingness to help Oklahoma's children have more educational choices available to them through an expansion of current statutory law regarding charter schools in Oklahoma.

Interesting Lottery Article

Keith Hazelton penned an interesting article about the Oklahoma Lottery for the Oklahoma Gazette this week.

Hazelton, who is associated with the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University, sounds some of the same themes Oklahoma Family Policy Council did when the state lottery was first being proposed by Gov. Brad Henry and later considered by the state's voters in 2004 (see our 2004 Oklahoma Voters' Guide).

Gambling may or may not be fun entertainment -- may or may not be moral, may or may not be a legitimate tool of economic development -- but it NEVER solves funding problems for public education; that's the experience of the other states that have approved lotteries, and it's becoming Oklahoma's experience, as well.

Click here to read Hazelton's piece in the Oklahoma Gazette.

Pro-Marriage Bills Highlighted at State Capitol

As noted in a previous blog post, OFPC Executive Director Mike Jestes, state legislators, and representatives of the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative  participated in a state Capitol news conference on Tuesday afternoon.

The attendees discussed several pro-marriage bills, which are now working their way through the legislative process. The bills include HB 2279, by Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City); HB 2634, by Rep. Mark McCullough (R-Sapulpa); and HB 2543, by Rep. John Wright (R-Broken Arrow).

Kern's bill would end most instances of easy, no-fault divorce in Oklahoma based on incompatibility (if minor children are affected and spousal abuse is not an issue). McCullough's bill would require engaged couples to obtain at least eight hours of premarital counseling prior to being married. Rep. Wright's bill, which passed out of the House Judiciary Committee late Monday afternoon, would require estranged married couples to obtain one hour of counseling before they could file a petition for divorce.

All these bills -- rather than being meddlesome -- are intended to strengthen marriages in Oklahoma and help to lessen the incidence of family fragmentation, both prior to and after the marital union is established, and particularly when minor children will be negatively affected.

Patrick B. McGuigan with CapitolBeatOK.com features an account of the Tuesday news conference, which can be read by clicking here.

5th District Congressional Debate is Feb. 11 in Edmond

Our good friend, Lt. Col. Stuart Jolly, with Americans for Prosperity - Oklahoma Chapter will be moderating a 5th District Congressional debate tomorrow night, Feb. 11 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. The debate in Constitution Hall (in the Nigh University Center) among several announced candidates for Congress will start at 6:30 and conclude by 9 p.m. Candidates slated to appear include: Kevin Calvey, Jeff Cloud, Rick Flanigan, James Lankford, and Dr. Johnny Roy.

The debate is free and open to the public. If you don't have other plans, this is a good opportunity to learn more about the various Congressional candidates who are seeking to replace Rep. Mary Fallin in the U.S. Congress in January, 2011.

National Marriage Week USA

This week is National Marriage Week USA. It's a week-long celebration of marriage that has be observed worldwide in other countries for about 20 years, but only recently in the USA.

Marriage offers important benefits for men, women, and children, but it's dying in our culture. In 2008, only 57 percent of adults were married, compared to the 78 percent of married Americans in 1970. As cohabitation rates rise, legal assaults and efforts to redefine marriage continue nationwide.

Marriage Week USA is an effort to strengthen the institution of marriage, honor it, and encourage Oklahoma's married couples recommit to their own marital relationships. In Oklahoma, we're fortunate to have groups like the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative, Marriage Network Oklahoma, the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, Eye to Eye Marriage Enrichment Community, and OFPC working full-time to help strengthen marriages in Oklahoma.

This afternoon, OFPC Executive Director Mike Jestes will participate with a number of other Oklahoma marriage movement partners in a state Capitol news conference to highlight Marriage Week USA and to focus some state attention on several pro-marriage pieces of legislation, including HB 2279, by Rep. Sally Kern; HB 2634, by Rep. Mark McCullough; and HB 2543, by Rep. John Wright. Look for the story on tonight's evening news reports.

Happy Birthday, President Reagan

Well, last Saturday, February 6th, marked the 99th birthday of former President Ronald Wilson Reagan (or as he would have described it, "the 60th anniversary of my 39th birthday!") Sadly, he's been gone from us since 2004, but many happy memories of this wonderful good man, his eternal optimism, and his love for this great country can live on through the magic of media.

Here's a touching YouTube spot, set to the music and lyrics of My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, that was put together following Reagan's death by morning radio personality Reid Mullins, of KTOK NewsRadio 1000 in Oklahoma City. Thanks, Reid. Enjoy!

Tim Tebow Ad to Air During Super Bowl Tomorrow

Surely we've all heard by now about the controversy surrounding the upcoming pro-life ad from Focus on the Family, which will air on CBS during the Super Bowl tomorrow. Pro-choice advocates are understandably in a tizzy (e.g., Planned Parenthood, in response, came out with its own online ad), but this is a great advance for the cause of life. In the entire 37 years since Roe v. Wade, can you think of even a single time a major TV network has ever broadcast a life-affirming message — even if it's a paid message?

If you'd like to learn a little more of the back story and details surrounding Tim Tebow's birth, click here.

Will They or Won't They Spend it All?

With a current Rainy Day Fund balance of almost $600 million in state reserves, Gov. Brad Henry proposes to spend almost all of it -- $553 million -- to fund state government operations. In contrast, Republican leaders, including Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, would like to appropriate no more than 3/8 of the balance -- some $234 million, in case the current recession in state revenues continues for another two to three years. Of course, Gov. Henry won't be in office beyond January, 2011, so a lack of state money in future years will not be his problem; he understandably wants to fund the operations of state government well during his watch. But, it seems prudent to OFPC for state leaders to make the hard, necessary cuts today and save as much as possible in the Rainy Day account for any future lean years the state may yet have to endure.

For more on the emerging Rainy Day fund situation, read Patrick B. McGuigan's excellent report at CaptiolBeatOK by clicking here.

Univ. of Penn Study Reports Effectiveness of Abstinence-Only Education

You may have seen news reports this week about a new University of Pennsylvania study, published in the February, 2010, issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. The study by John Jemmott, III, Ph.D. and two other colleagues shows what absinence proponents already know: abstinence-only programs for youth work better to prevent or delay sexual activity than other alternatives. Here's an overview:

Six hundred sixty-two urban African-American kids, both boys and girls, with an average age of 12.2 years, were part of a randomized controlled trial. Some kids received eight hours of character-based, abstinence-only instruction, similar to what is presented in OFPC's KEEP Program. Other children got eight hours of safer sex/condom use instruction. Still others got eight to 12 hours of a comprehensive sex education (CSE) program. Finally, other youth received eight hours of instruction in just a general health promotion course, which did not mention sexuality or contraception at all.

Two years later, only one-third of students who had received the abstinence-only course self-reported having had sexual intercouse, compared with about half of the control group. According to researchers, abstinence-only worked well with these inner-city kids! The other kids that got comprehensive sex ed instruction had just as much sex as the control group; CSE showed no effectiveness to prevent or delay sexual intercourse, although CSE did reduce students' self-reports of having multiple sexual partners.

Here's the significance: the Penn study shows early intervention is important and effective among urban youth to decrease sexual intercourse, STDs, HIV, and pregnancies, and for a long period, in this case two years, following the intervention.

New Taxes to Hit Middle Class Families

A new article posted on The Drudge Report references a host of new "backdoor" taxes that may soon be negatively affecting middle-class families across America, despite the oft-repeated campaign promises of 2008.

Click here to read the article.

OMI Presents Relationship Strengthening Workshop Feb. 6

This Saturday, you and your sweetheart are invited to attend the free Forever For Real Relationship Strengthening Workshop, presented by the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative, at one of four locations in OKC (Express Event Center, 8512 NW Exp), Downtown OKC (Skirvin Hilton Hotel), Moore/Norman (Embassy Suites, 2501 Conference Dr., Norman), or Tulsa (Crowne Plaza Hotel, 100 E. Second). Event time is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The presentation will be essentially the same at each location, and a free box lunch is included.

To sweeten the deal, engaged couples who attend can save $45 on the cost of their Oklahoma marriage license.

For more information, visit http://www.foreverforreal.com/ or call (877) 435-8033.

2010 Oklahoma Legislature Convenes

Today, the Oklahoma Legislature is up and running again, and state legislators face the daunting task of planning for the next fiscal year with $1.3 billion in less revenue than they had to appropriate last year.

To make things even tougher for elected officials, the legislators must factor in the real possibility of much less revenue coming into state coffers for the next two or three years, to boot. Of course, decreasing the size of state government would not be a bad thing for taxpayers (it has already grown significantly over the past several years), but that's not the way many of the politicians at 23rd and Lincoln will think, unfortunately.

As you know, the Oklahoma Constitution mandates a balanced budget (unlike the federal budget which, by the way, the Obama Administration announces has a $1.56 trillion deficit!). Spending cuts will be in view throughout the 2010 Oklahoma legislative Session, but that doesn't mean lots of mischief can't be done or good things accomplished for Oklahoma citizens over the next 4 months.

Please plan to attend the following this week and next:

UPCOMING EVENTS

Rose Day (to promote pro-life public policy) is this Wednesday morning, Feb. 3, 2010, at the State Capitol.

Capitol Day (to promote home education) is the following Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at the State Capitol. OCHEC is encouraging folks to turn out since two anti-home schooling bills have been introduced (HB 3099 and SB 1403).