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.