Senate Kills Campus Concealed Carry Bill

From The Tulsa World ~ The State Senate will not hear a controversial bill to allow certain people to carry concealed weapons on campus, top Senate leaders confirmed Monday. The confirmation from Senator Johnnie Crutchfield, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, came shortly after a governor’s task force on campus security unanimously approved a resolution urging that the bill not be heard in the Senate, after being approved earlier by the House.

Jason Murphey Supports Sally Kern

Republican Rep. Jason Murphey of Guthrie said today he supports embattled Rep. Sally Kern and agrees with her recent criticism of the homosexual lifestyle.

In a prepared statement, Murphey said, "There has been a lot of nationwide attention paid to State Representative Sally Kern's comments regarding what is becoming an obviously well financed and planned attack on traditional family values. Those behind this effort have gone on the attack and suggested that Kern is a hateful person who should resign from office.

"Based on my experience as a member of the House, I believe there are few legislators kinder or more caring than Kern. She is the last person in the House I would think of as hateful. Her soft-spoken kindness may initially mask the fact that she unafraid to fight for what she believes is right. Whether it is asking the tough questions or just being one of the first lawmakers to post a vote against inappropriate spending, she is not afraid to take a tough stand.

"Two years ago, Kern learned that books endorsing the homosexual lifestyle could be made available in the children's section of Oklahoma public libraries. She led the fight to require libraries to segregate these books to keep them away from children. To this date, Kern has been firmly resolved to expose the agenda that places these types of materials in front of our children.

"As part of this ongoing effort, Kern has given a presentation to various groups in which she talks about this agenda and posits that if the homosexual lifestyle is allowed to expand by being openly marketed to our youth, a grave threat is posed to our society. Kern believes, as do I, that America's greatness is because of traditional Judeo-Christian family values. I believe that children need and desire the traditional family environment. Because of the attack on traditional values, too often our children are not being raised in stable households, which is what they so badly need.

"I see this firsthand as a member of the Human Services Committee where I serve with Rep. Kern. Because of the breakdown of the family, there are now 19,000 children in state custody.

"As a member of the Corrections Committee, I know that Oklahoma prisons are filled to capacity and the government struggles to deal with the fallout from the lack of adherence to traditional values.

"There are no easy solutions to these problems because the massive cost falls upon the taxpayers, but these challenges, if left unchecked, will eventually betoo large for the government to handle.

"Rep. Kern has come under attack for suggesting that the breakdown of family values poses a grave threat to our society. Despite enormous pressure, she has courageously refused to back down from her beliefs.

"I appreciate and agree with her stand and consider it an honor to be able to serve with her in the Legislature."

A "Rally For Sally" to support Kern will be held Wednesday at noon inside the State Capitol.

Hugs Project Needs Cash Donations

Oklahoma City's "Hugs Project," which helps our men and women in uniform, has a special request we're being asked to help fill.

An email from The Hugs Project founder Karen Stark relates this: "We have recently been contacted by a young Army LT from Yukon. He and about 80 other Americans are stationed in Basrah, IRAQ where some of the worst fighting is taking place right now. They're asking for our help!!! They're stationed on a non-American base and supplies are difficult for them to obtain. I've promised Jay that we can and will help. I've gotten permission from our board to take care of their needs even if it means sending more than our allocated 25-30 care packages for the week. It's going to mean more money to go shopping too but this unit MUST resoundingly hear from us that WE CARE."

The Hugs Project began as a way to get neck coolers to the troops and has expanded as other needs were discovered. Volunteers make the coolers which are then shipped for distribution.

The most pressing need now appears to be money to purchase the personal comfort items the troops need, and to ship the boxes to them. "We are now sending a larger sized box that costs us $2 more for postage" the advisory notes. "That means that each and every week, we are spending $330 for postage or more than $1,300 each month...if you can donate money that would be a HUGe help. The mailing address is The Hugs Project, PO Box 6761, Edmond, OK 73083."

Visit The Hugs Project website for more information and to donate by credit card via PayPal.

Obama Gains Keep Clinton On Her Heels

WASHINGTON (Fox News) ~ Barack Obama has gained another superdelegate. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar endorsed her Illinois colleague Sunday night, saying in a statement that Obama “has inspired an enthusiasm and idealism that we have not seen in this country in a long time.”

It is the latest development among many that have been putting Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign on its heels.

On Monday, Obama was poised to receive the endorsement of the seven Democrats on North Carolina’s congressional delegation, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Obama also got support last week from Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a key endorsement three weeks before the Keystone State holds its primary.

The Klobuchar, Casey and expected North Carolina lawmaker endorsements are crucial, because all of them will be superdelegates at the August party convention.

The Journal reported that while Clinton still leads Obama in the superdelegate tally, Clinton has won only nine superdelegate pledges to Obama’s 64 since Super Tuesday. Because neither candidate is likely to gain the 2,025 delegates necessary to clinch the nomination before the convention, the candidates have turned toward racking up as many of the approximately 800 superdelegates who aren’t bound by state nominating contests.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean on Friday called for the remaining undecided superdelegates to make up their minds by July 1 in an effort to avert a convention crisis. His comments came the same day Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy said Clinton’s campaign was a lost cause and she should drop out of the race.

The latest Gallup Daily tracking poll (March 27-29; 1,228 Democratic, Democratic-leaning voters; +/-3 percent margin of error) shows Clinton ceding more ground nationally to Obama, who now leads 52 percent to 42 percent.

'Stand Your Ground' Law At Issue In Tulsa Case

Tulsa (By Larry Levy, State Correspondent, The Oklahoman) ~ Defense attorneys are seeking immunity from prosecution for a man charged with manslaughter while defending himself from what police say began as an incident of road rage.

The incident has become a legal quandary for Oklahoma's Stand Your Ground Law, which went into effect in 2006.

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals is being asked to order Tulsa County District Judge William Kellough to hold a hearing to determine whether Kenneth Ray Gumm, 67, should be granted immunity in the death of Dale Allen Turney, 47.

At a preliminary hearing in October, there was testimony that Gumm was driving north on Riverside Drive when tailgated by Turney. Some obscene gestures were made and both vehicles pulled into a parking area along Riverside Park, where both men got out of their cars.

A discovery hearing is set in district court Friday, with a trial scheduled for June 2. The defense presumes the appeals court will act before the trial.

Oklahoma law provides that one does not have to "run as a craven coward,” according to the brief, and the statute allows those under attack to "meet force with force” if in fear of great bodily harm. The state law is also unique, the attorneys wrote, in that a person who uses such force is immune from criminal prosecution. The immunity applies to a person in a home, a vehicle or where an individual "has a lawful right to be.”

In a court filing last December, Jack Thorp, as assistant district attorney, said Gumm "was not in his home or vehicle” at the time of the shooting. Thorp cited a different section of state law from the one the defense mentioned.

Gumm's parked car was blocked by Turney's. The attorney asked the court: "Is the right of self-defense any less for a man confined in the parking lot than the right in a dwelling or vehicle?” Gumm wasn't arrested after the June 10 shooting in a Riverside Park parking lot. The court filing said Gumm used "lawful force as determined by the Tulsa Police Department after its investigation.”

Gumm, a certified armed security guard, had a permit to carry a concealed weapon, the attorneys said.

Defense attorneys said Detective Michael L. Nance, a long-time homicide investigator, told them that he was "pressured” by the district attorney into signing a second affidavit.

Investigators were concerned that prosecution would place "a chill upon the ability of officers to defend themselves,” according to the brief.

A comparison of the two affidavits — the original and the one filed with the Tulsa County court clerk — show 13 points listed as "facts” were reduced to six.

Among the facts eliminated were: Gumm waived his Miranda rights and admitted to the shooting; that Turney was angry, aggressive and pushed Gumm; and a toxicology report showed that Turney had an alcohol content of 0.08 percent. Other "disputed” points also were eliminated from the second affidavit, including: Turney's aggression necessitated the use of deadly force; Gumm's age and physical condition were factors in his decision; being pushed instilled Gumm with "fear of his life;” and that Turney could have taken the gun and turned it against Gumm. Other excluded details include: Gumm kept backing away as Turney kept approaching, at one time telling Gumm, "You're history,” Gumm did not believe he could escape because of his physical condition and was shoved by Turney who was "younger and more robust,” the court filing states.

The appeals court also is being asked to consider that Turney was legally intoxicated and had methamphetamine in his system at the time.

TMRO Poll Results

Fifty-six percent of those who participated in TMRO's poll about Rep. Sally Kern's remarks disagree with the assertion her remarks, and the state's new immigration law, have hurt the state nationally, while 36 percent agree and 9 percent say Kern's remarks hurt while the immigration law has not.

The poll asked, It's been said Oklahoma's new immigration law and Sally Kern's remarks have made Oklahoma a national laughing stock. Agree...or disagree? (and provided these possible answers:) Agree. Disagree. Kern Yes, Immigration law No. Immigration law Yes, Kern No.

Norman Councilman Seeks HD45 Seat

From The Norman Transcript ~ Norman David Hopper, a 6-year member of the Norman City Council, announced this past week that he is a candidate for the Republican nomination for State House District 45. House District 45 is currently held by Democrat Wallace Collins.

Black Congresswoman's Clinton Endorsement Draws Boos At Her Own Texas District Convention

By Wendell Edwards/KHOU-11 News ~ On the campus of Texas Southern University was a Democratic Senate District convention unlike the others being held across the state.

Democrats together, but yet still divided over who should be the Democratic presidential nominee.

And never more was that more apparent than when longtime Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee took the stage.

A majority of the crowd showed its support for Barack Obama by shouting his name and booing the congresswoman, letting her know what they thought of her allegiance to Hillary Clinton.

To some, especially Clinton supporters at the convention, the booing came out of nowhere.

"I was a little surprised there was that kind of activity going on,” said Jeffery, who is a Clinton supporter.

But for those backing Obama, they said it sent a clear message to the congresswoman from her constituents.

"For her to standout against the wishes of her district and be a Clinton supporter, I guess pissed off our delegation,” said Obama supporter Phillip.

For years, Sheila Jackson Lee has been a popular politician in the 18th Congressional district; winning re-election overwhelmingly at least five times since 1995. The district is predominately made of up African American voters.

"It is always tough to go into the face of adversity,” she admitted to the chorus of boos she received Saturday.

But could the disfavor from those who support Obama, hurt Jackson Lee?

"We are somewhat in uncharted waters,” said 11 News political expert Bob Stein. “It simply reflects the fact that Lee is in tough position here. Her district went 90-percent to 10-percent for Obama.”

For Jackson-Lee though, it is all about keeping her word.

"What would I be if I went back on my word to an individual that I've worked with for more than a decade and sat down talked to me about her vision for America,” said Jackson Lee.

LSU Whips Cowgirls 67-52

The LSU Lady Tigers strapped it on the OSU Cowgirls in their Sweet 16 NCAA Women's Tournament game today, 67-52. The game wasn't that close. LSU dominated the second half despite the overall shooting of OSU's Andrew Riley, who scored 26 points (with six 3s), half of OSU's total. In the first half, Riley was the only OSU player with a field goal. Coach Kurt Budke watched in frustration as his team missed 10 straight shots in the first half, some of them point-blank layups. OSU shot only 27.5 percent for the entire game.

Senator Tom Coburn's Mission

By David Arnett, Tulsa Today ~ There are two types of elected public officials at every level of government – those that want to be something and those that want to do something.

An Analysis

Discarding the first as self aggrandizing fools, the next question a citizen should ask is what specifically that official wants to do and how hard is he or she working to accomplish those goals.

Such a study of U.S. Senator Tom Coburn illuminates remarkable honor, courage, intelligence and more than a little attitude.

You should hear him speak in person. He is not out to make friends, but he does. Demanding fiscal responsibility by the federal government is his mission with the clear objective of saving our government from waste and our children from crushing debt.

Read the entire analysis at www.tulsatoday.com.

Tulsa High Schools: Gay-Straight Alliance Network Youth Leadership Summit Planned

By Shannon Muchmore, Tulsa World ~ Local support organizations are launching a regional gay-straight alliance network for area high schools with a youth leadership summit Saturday.

Oklahomans for Equality, Youth Services of Tulsa and the Mental Health Association in Tulsa will present the day of workshops for teenagers, parents, teachers and school administrators at the Youth Services building.

The idea for a network of gay-straight alliances came from evaluating a 2005 needs assessment of the Tulsa lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community.

More than half of the respondents said youth services was a top-five need. Organizers are hoping that about 50 people will attend the summit. Registration is open through Saturday morning.

The workshops are intended to help high school students maintain stability and continuity in their gay-straight alliances, said Mana Tahaie, deputy director of Oklahomans for Equality. "It's really, really important to us that young people have a safe place in their schools," she said.

The regional network will hold meetings for leaders of gay-straight alliances to share ideas and insights. Smaller alliances can receive advice about keeping their programs active and successful, said Julie Trainum, a coordinator for Youth Services. "Then it's not such a struggle each year to start it over again," she said.

The summit will include a keynote speech by state Rep. Al McAffrey, the first openly gay member of the Oklahoma Legislature, and a performance by singer/songwriter Eric Himan. At lunchtime, a drama troupe will present a short play about what it is like to be gay in school. Scripts will be available for students to re-create the production at their own campuses.

"It's very powerful and really shows what that experience is," Trainum said.

The summit will include different tracks for adults and students, as well as divisions based on the level of resources needed for creating or maintaining an alliance. Tahaie said the adult workshops will be open to any of the attendees, but the others will be for students only.

"One of our biggest objectives is to make this really youth-led and youth-driven," she said.

At the end of the day, the students will elect an advisory panel of four to 10 student leaders who will oversee the network during the next school year.

The panel will assist efforts to maintain alliances in the face of leadership changes each semester, said Nate Black, youth outreach services coordinator for the Mental Health Association. It is important for the alliances to persist because lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students are at a particular risk for isolation and bullying, he said. "These kids internalize it," Black said, "because they don't have identifiable people they can turn to for support."

$28,500 Asked Of Dean Event 'Chairs'

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will be in Oklahoma City Monday for a DNC "Join the Party" celebration and fund raising event.

Dean will attend a celebration rally from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Teamsters Union Hall at 3528 W. Reno in Oklahoma City.

Following the rally, Dean will host a fund raising reception and dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Deep Fork Grill, 5418 N. Western, Oklahoma City.

Governor Brad Henry and Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Ivan Holmes will speak at the 5 p.m. rally followed by a presentation by Dean.

"We hope to have 500 attend the "Join the Party" celebration," Holmes said. "We are asking for a $25 per person contribution for the event but everyone is invited to attend even if they are not able to contribute."

Cost of attending the 6:30 p.m. fund raising event at the Deep Fork Grill is $2,500 for Attendees, $5,000 for Partners, $10,000 for Hosts, and $28,500 for Chairs.

For additional information on either event, contact Addy Gross at 202-863-7155 or email grossa@dnc.org or contact Ivan Holmes at 405-427-3366 or email ivanholmes@okdemocrats.org

Education Supplemental Agreement Reached

Governor Brad Henry and legislative budget leaders Rep. Ken Miller and Senators Johnnie Crutchfield and Mike Johnson assured education officials their April budgets will not have to be cut because of a shortfall in the state's 1017 fund.

The governor and legislative leaders today announced an initial supplemental appropriation to the public schools to address the shortfall in the education fund. The bipartisan agreement also contains additional funding for an educational achievement program and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

The agreement includes: Department of Education: $10 million in 1017 shortfall funds; $1.5 million to the Academic Achievement Award program; Corporation Commission: $3.1 million to supplement delayed federal funding.

Henry and budget leaders believe additional money will be needed in the remaining three months of this fiscal year to make up the projected 1017 fund shortfall. But, the priority was to get a first supplemental installment to the school districts before their April budget checks had to be cut. The projected shortfall has decreased since the education department's initial funding request and may continue to do so as actual revenue collections are made. Once they have a better revenue picture later in April, the governor and legislative leaders have committed to provide a second supplemental appropriation to education to address its remaining 1017 fund needs if the initial supplemental proves to be inadequate to address the shortfall.

"This is a good first step to addressing our public schools' immediate budget needs, but it is only a first step," said Henry. "It is critical that we deliver additional funds to common education as quickly as possible to address the remaining school funding shortfall. I commend legislative leaders for their work to date and will work with them to appropriate the additional funds."

"This agreement heads off the April budget cuts for schools that had been planned by Superintendent Garrett, and addresses shortfalls in the Academic Achievement Awards program and for the Corporation Commission," said Senator Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, co-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "As budget negotiations continue, we will monitor the projected shortfall in the 1017 fund and will consider additional supplemental funding when it becomes necessary."

"This bipartisan agreement that includes necessary funding to keep schools across Oklahoma operating shows our commitment to education," Crutchfield, Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said. "In a tight budget year we know we have to work harder to put together the pieces of the budget puzzle and we are committed to doing our part to make certain our schools are on strong financial footing. Once we know with certainty the total shortfall of the 1017 fund we will provide additional supplemental funding to eliminate that shortfall."

"This initial payment ensures our schools will get their full funding for April," said Miller, chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. "Moving forward we will be mindful of additional supplemental needs for the Education Department while also working to craft an overall budget. We are especially pleased to fund the AAA program because that proves our schools are going above and beyond in competing for these awards."

Online Polls Measure Kern Controversy

The McCarville Report Online and Oklahoma Political News Service are among Oklahoma Internet sites seeking today to measure the opinions of readers about the Rep. Sally Kern controversy.

TMRO's poll is posted on the right side of this page and asks, "It's been said Oklahoma's new immigration law and Sally Kern's remarks have made Oklahoma a national laughing stock. Agree...or disagree?" (and provides these possible answers:) Agree. Disagree. Kern Yes, Immigration law No. Immigration law Yes, Kern No. Thus far in this poll, with 65 votes recorded, 60 percent disagree, 29 percent agree, 11 percent voted Kern Yes, Immigration Law No, and none have voted Immigration Law Yes, Kern No.

The OKPNS poll asks, "Is Sally Kern's position on homosexual activism correct?" (and provides these possible answers:) Yes, her views represent those of the majority of her consituents, and she should stand her ground. No, her views constitute "hate speech," and should not be tolerated. Other - Please explain in the comment section. (To participate in the OKPNS poll, go to http://www.okpns.com/.) Thus far in this poll, with 66 votes recorded, 47 percent say No, 47 percent say Yes and 4 percent say Other.

Neither of the polls is scientific and should not be construed as measuring general public opinion; the votes simply reflect the opinions of the few who take the time to vote.

Casey's Obama Endorsement Shakes Clinton

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey endorsed Democrat Barack Obama on Friday, a move that could help the presidential candidate make inroads with white working-class voters dubbed "Casey Democrats" in the Keystone State.

The move shook the Hillary Clinton campaign and a spokesman said Clinton will welcome Casey's endorsement of her "in the general election."

Appearing on stage beside the Illinois senator, Casey told a boisterous rally, "I believe in my heart that there is one person who's uniquely qualified to lead us in that new direction and that is Barack Obama."

Pennsylvania's April 22 primary will allocate 158 delegates, the biggest single prize left in the drawn-out nomination battle between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. Clinton is leading Obama in the state, by 12 points in one poll this month.

Casey is a first-term senator and the son of a popular former governor of the state. Casey is Catholic and, like his father, is known for his opposition to abortion and support of gun rights (both positions at polar opposites of Obama's positions). His support could help Obama make inroads among Catholic voters, who have preferred Clinton to Obama in earlier primaries and strongly favor her in Pennsylvania polls.

Dean Hopes To Avoid Convention Melee

From Cable News Reports ~ Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, hoping to avoid a divisive fight on the convention floor, weighed in on the Clinton-Obama battle Friday by calling on all party superdelegates to declare whom they support by July 1.

The 800 or so Democratic superdelegates will almost certainly decide the presidential candidate, because it’s unlikely either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will gain enough pledged delegates in the remaining primary contests to win the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination outright.

Dean, appearing on CBS’ “Early Show” Friday morning, was asked about the prospects of a vote among the superdelegates before the convention, an idea floated as a way to settle the still undecided Democratic race.

“Well, I think the superdelegates have already been weighing in. I think there’s 800 of them and 450 of them have already said who they’re for,” Dean said. “I’d like the other 350 to say who they’re on between now and the first of July so we don’t have to take this into the convention.”

Graphic courtesy Fox News.

Is Hillary Caught In Another Lie?

From The Hill ~ The former congressman who shepherded the Family and Medical Leave Act through Congress sought Thursday to debunk Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) claim to the legislation, saying she “never had anything to do with it.”

Former Rep. William Lacy Clay, Sr. (D-Mo.) is circulating an email disputing Clinton’s claim that the law is one of her more meaningful domestic accomplishments.

The presidential candidate says she helped lobby for the bill’s passage and signing in 1993.

But Clay, who was joined by Senate sponsor Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), said the bill had already passed by large margins when it passed in 1990 and 1992 before it was vetoed on both occasions by former President George H.W. Bush.

“All we needed was a president to sign it,” Clay said. “The president signed it, and we’re grateful for that but there was no lobbying by him or her.”

The Hill has obtained a copy of the Clay email rejecting Clinton’s claims to have been instrumental in bill’s becoming law. The former congressman writes, “If Hillary played a role in its passage, it was without my knowledge.”

Clay conceded that Clinton might have helped Dodd in the Senate, but given the large margins by which the bill had passed before, Clay said Dodd “just wouldn’t need” the help. Dodd could not be reached for comment.

“She never had anything to with it,” Clay said. “I just don’t think you ought to play games with that kind of stuff.”

Activist Urges Big Kern Turnout On Wednesday

Conservative activist Bunny Chambers (pictured), leader of the Oklahoma Eagle Forum, said today that "The Rally for Sally and Christian Free Speech" will be at the State Capitol in the First Floor Rotunda on Wednesday at noon and she urged attendees to begin arriving at 11:15 A.M. "as there are delays at the security checkpoints when large numbers of people come to the Capitol."

The rally is being held as a counter-point to criticism of Rep. Sally Kern following her remarks critical of the homosexual lifestyle.

"The program will only take about 30 minutes then you can drop off cards to Rep. Kern's office, Speaker Chris Benge's office and Governor Henry's office," Chambers said.

"Please plan on attending and bring your Sunday School class, co-workers and friends with you. Please encourage your entire congregation to join you in attendance. Also, call and encourage your own State Representative (1-800-522-8502) and State Senator (1-405-524-0126) and encourage them to attend. Call Governor Henry's office and ask him to attend.

"In 2004, the people of Oklahoma overwhelmingly (76%-24%) spoke out in support of Traditional Family Values by approving the definition of marriage as being between ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN. Now those values are under attack again by those desiring to devalue marriage and devalue the Word of God. Anyone who dares to speak out in favor of Biblical Values and traditional marriage is accused of 'hate speech' and intimidated into silence.

"Let's pack the Capitol with thousands of people to Stand with Sally and Stand for the Traditional Family."

Boren: Tuition Hike Of 10% Possible

Tuition at the University of Oklahoma could increase by nearly 10 percent for the next school year if the Legislature doesn't budget more money for higher education, University of Oklahoma President David Boren said today. Boren said he hopes any tuition hike will be lower "but if it's not in double digits, it's going to be close to it."

Ethics Commission May Sue For Funding

From www.tulsaworld.com ~ Ethics commissioners are contemplating a lawsuit against the Legislature to force elected officials to adequately fund the watchdog agency created by a vote of the people.

Chairman Don Bingham said Thursday that the State Ethics Commission is the only state agency the constitution specifically states must be adequately funded by the Legislature.

"The Legislature doesn't have to fund the Department of Human Services, or the governor's office, but it must fund the Ethics Commission," said Bingham, a Tulsa attorney.

Bingham said he is not optimistic that the Legislature will come forth with enough funding this session. The commission will wait and see what occurs by the end of session in May, then decide whether to file a lawsuit.

News Media Ignoring 'Rally For Sally'?

Is the Oklahoma news media, which devoted considerable space and airtime to stories about attacks on Rep. Sally Kern following her remarks about homosexuals, ignoring a rally planned by her supporters?

The Oklahoma Family Policy Council announced in an email late Tuesday that a "Rally For Sally" will be held on April 2nd at the State Capitol. Thus far, only Oklahoma City radio station KTOK and The McCarville Report Online have reported the event.

The Oklahoman and the Tulsa World, which made protests about Kern's remarks front-page news and reported extensively on a rally protesting her remarks, have yet to mention the pro-Kern event.

Oklahoma City television stations, which made the Kern protests top-of-the-newscast stories for days, apparently have yet to report on the event.

Nichols Raises $47,500 At Norman Event

Republican State Senator Jonathan Nichols' backers are jubilant after he reportedly raised $47,500 at a Tuesday night fundraiser, setting what they say is a new single-event record for a legislative candidate.

The event was held in the home of Norman businessman and investor Stanton Nelson with Steve Owens and Barry Switzer as headliners.

There were an estimated 120 attendees and Nichols raised $47,500 at the door: "This is a one-day state legislative record" said a source. "No one has ever raised that much money that quickly for a single legislative campaign."

Nichols' campaign warchest is said to now be in excess of $150,000.

Democrat Diane Manchester Drum, a trial lawyer, seeks her party's nomination to oppose Nichols. She is the daughter of the late prominent trial attorney Robert Manchester.

Clinton Tops In Oklahoma Fundraising

By Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World ~ Presidential candidates raised almost $320,000 in Oklahoma during February, and more than one-third of it went to New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The Democrat, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, raked in $110,993 during February, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Her party opponent, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, collected $93,890.

The Presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, brought in $52,970.

Another Republican, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, raised $45,755 in February before dropping out of the race.

Williamson: Lawsuit Reform Possible If Governor Henry 'Will Get Engaged In The Process'

An agreement on lawsuit reform is possible this year if Governor Henry is willing to make a counter-offer to the bipartisan lawsuit reform plans that he rejected during the 2007 legislative session, Senator Jim Williamson (pictured) said today.

“I believe that a meaningful lawsuit reform bill is doable this year if the governor will get engaged in the process and make a formal counter-offer to the bipartisan proposals he rejected last year,” said Williamson, R-Tulsa, the co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

In 2007 Henry vetoed Senate Bill 507, a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill that passed the Senate and House of Representatives. Henry also rejected a second bipartisan compromise that sought to resolve his complaints about SB 507.

“There was a lot of talk last year by the governor and his surrogates about how close an agreement was, yet Gov. Henry still has not provided legislative language to show what he supports. If he truly wants to reach an agreement on lawsuit reform, it is time for Gov. Henry to put his cards on the table,” Williamson said.

Williamson said the need for lawsuit reform is clear, but it is ultimately up to Henry whether Oklahoma doctors and businesses receive relief this year from lawsuit abuse.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Judicial Hellholes report published by the nonpartisan American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) gives Oklahoma a “dishonorable mention.”

Former GOP House Leader Jim Connor Dies

Former Republican House leader Jim Connor of Bartlesville is dead at age 75.

Connor, an attorney, served in the House from 1962 to 1970 and was one of those involved in the 1965 House impachment of then-Supreme Court Justice N. B. Johnson for bribery.

Connor was a key adviser to Republican Governor Henry Bellmon and his successor, Dewey F. Bartlett and carried much of Bartlett's legislative program in the House.

AFT President Rips Kern Attackers

Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth, has condemned what he described as "the unprecedented campaign of vilification against Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern (R), which forced her to have a bodyguard and endure vicious smears against her –– and even her son’s –– character based on an edited version of a speech that was put online by a homosexual activist group.

“The homosexual activist movement engages in hatred and mean-spirited attacks –– in the name of tolerance,” LaBarbera said. “In the name of fighting discrimination, they are trying to destroy a good woman who voiced her Christian belief that activism based on immoral sexual conduct is destructive to America, and harmful to children. Homosexual militants have even sunk so low as to falsely accuse Kern’s son, Jesse, of being a homosexual to embarrass her.”

Report: Kern Gets Conservative Help

From OneNewsNow.com ~ Conservative groups are rushing to the defense of an Oklahoma lawmaker who has been branded a "gay basher" for decrying the homosexual lifestyle.

Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern (R) sparked an angry uproar in many liberal circles recently when she declared that "the homosexual agenda is destroying the nation" and is a bigger threat to the U.S. than terrorism or Islam. She also stated that "studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than a few decades." Kern has subsequently said she meant to say "generations" instead of "decades." (See earlier story)

After a homosexual activist group posted her comments on YouTube, Kern has been accused of homophobia, bigotry and "Republican hate speech," among other things.

Peter LaBarbera with the conservative group Americans for Truth About Homosexuality says a "torrent of homosexual hate" was unleashed against Representative Kern, including some messages threatening physical harm, prompting her to hire a bodyguard.

According to LaBarbera, those attacking Kern did some "careful editing" to a secretly recorded copy of her speech. "For example, they left out the part where she says, 'The book that I base my life upon is God's Word, and it says to love everybody -- and I try to love everybody, but not everybody's lifestyle is equal.' Well," he continues, "they just started with the part where it says 'not everybody's lifestyle is equal.' They didn't want to have Sally Kern on tape saying that she loves everybody."

The Americas for Truth spokesman argues that the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which posted the redacted version of her speech, is trying to make example of Kern. "They are trying to show that if you speak out forcefully against the gay agenda in this country, that you will be demonized [and that] this flood of hate will be unleashed against you -- and that's what they did," he states.

LaBarbera says although it is debatable that the homosexual agenda is a larger threat than terrorism, most social conservatives would agree that homosexual activism is a threat to the U.S.

The Thomas More Law Center has agreed to represent Kern should she face any legal action for her comments.

Lucas Names Josh Driskill To News Post

Congressman Frank Lucas has named Josh Driskell as his new press secretary.

Driskell, who previously served as a field representative for Lucas in the northeastern portion of Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District, began work at the position earlier this month.

“I am glad that Josh will be joining my DC team,” Lucas said. “His work on the district level and his media experience will make him a valuable asset.”

Driskell previously worked on numerous political campaigns in Oklahoma and was news editor of the Mannford Eagle newspaper. He is a graduate of Mannford High School and the University of Tulsa with degrees in political science and history.

Family Association Backs 'Rally For Sally'

The American Family Association is joining those who plan a "Rally For Sally" at the Capitol on April 2nd to show support for Rep. Sally Kern.

The AFA issued an "Action Alert" advising of plans for the rally.

Kern's recent remarks about the homosexual lifestyle created a firestorm of criticism and a rally sponsored by homosexual rights advocates.

Earlier, the Oklahoma Family Policy Council announced the rally in support of Kern and today, the AFA joined in alerting its supporters and asking them to attend.

CQ Press: Oklahoma 8th Unhealthiest State

CQ Press ranks Oklahoma as the eighth unhealthiest state in the nation.

The study reports: "No. 8: Oklahoma ~ The health outlook wasn't always so poor in the Sooner State. In 1993, Oklahoma was in the middle of the pack, instead of topping the list. Its high teenage birth rate, poor prenatal care, high age-adjusted death rate and high percentage of people not covered by health insurance are just some of the factors keeping it there."

Gallup: Democratic Party Split Deepens

From Fox News ~ Many Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama supporters are ready to spurn the Democratic party and vote for John McCain in November if their candidate doesn’t win the presidential nomination, according to a new poll out Wednesday.

Among people who identified themselves as Hillary Clinton supporters, 28 percent said they would vote for McCain if Obama is his opponent, the March 7-22 Gallup Poll Daily election tracking survey found.

The same poll found that 19 percent of Obama supporters would switch sides and cast ballots for McCain if Clinton is the Democratic candidate.

The survey interviewed 6,657 Democratic voters nationwide and had a margin of error of 2 percent.

Family Policy Council Announces 'Rally For Sally'

A public "Rally for Sally" is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2 at the State Capitol, beginning at 11:30 a.m., the Oklahoma Family Policy Council announced.

Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, "has received much public scorn and ridicule (including death threats) from the homosexual community in Oklahoma and across the nation for comments she made in January during a private meeting taking exception to the transformational, anti-family political and cultural agenda of the homosexual movement," the OFPC announcement said.

"Last week, Oklahoma homosexuals and liberal religious leaders held a rally at the state Capitol, calling on state leaders to pass hate-crimes legislation, consistent with the national aims of the gay movement. (Of course, this whole spectacle with Kern was planned and orchestrated by homosexual movement leaders themselves, who have been working secretly since last December to further their political agenda in Oklahoma.)

"Now, Oklahoma citizens are asked to come to the state Capitol to express their support for Kern and for her willingness to affirm traditional, Judeo-Christian values in the public square, at great personal cost.

"Kern's biblically-based values, which are commonly held by an exceedingly large majority of Oklahomans, affirm marriage exclusively between one-man and one-woman and reject the homosexuals' misguided attempts to criminalize the hard-won First Amendment rights of Americans to free exercise of religion and free speech."

Lady Sooners Lose In Overtime 79-75

The Lady Sooners lost to Notre Dame in overtime, 79-75, a win short of making it to the NCAA Women's Tournament in Oklahoma City. Tonight's game was played in West Lafayette, IN. Courtney Paris had her 92nd straight double-double and Jenna Plumley hit six 3-pointers. In overtime, the Sooners surged to a 5-point lead and then lost the lead with bad passes and Notre Dame buckets as a result.

Terrill, Williamson Rap OBA Law Critique

Legislators Jim Williamson and Randy Terrill said today that an Oklahoma Bankers Association critique of the impact of the state's new immigration law is flawed.

“Oklahoma’s economy is stronger and in much better shape than the national economy, and we’re probably doing as well as ever here in Oklahoma," Williamson said. "We certainly aren’t seeing any evidence that HB 1804 is negatively impacting our state economy. In fact, most Oklahomans believe that our state will benefit in the long run from the reforms contained in House Bill 1804,” stated Williamson, R-Tulsa, the Senate author of House Bill 1804.

Terrill, the House author, said the OBA critique "is seriously flawed because it is based on false assumptions."

Williamson added that, “Even if a few businesses are impacted by a departure of illegals from Oklahoma, this will be more than offset by the positives to the taxpayers of Oklahoma. The legislation gets illegal aliens off of welfare, reduces the substantial costs of illegals to public education, and keeps illegals who have left the state from committing crimes or driving in Oklahoma without insurance. All of these public benefits were why the legislation passed by overwhelming margins in the House and Senate."

Reynolds: House Fails To Back Ethics Reform

Rep. Mike Reynolds said lawmakers missed the opportunity today to back their ethics-reform rhetoric with actual funding.

"The Oklahoma House of Representatives had the opportunity to fully fund the state Ethics Commission for the first time in state history," said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. "Unfortunately, it appears the House is paying lip service to the idea of ethics reform instead of real service. The Ethics Commission cannot monitor and protect the integrity of our campaign finance system unless the agency is given a budget that will allow them to truly investigate complaints. That didn't happen today."

During floor activity Tuesday morning, Reynolds offered an amendment that would have significantly increased the Ethics Commission's budget to roughly $900,000 per year. The amendment was defeated twice.

A similar amendment offered by Rep. Lucky Lamons (D-Tulsa), was also defeated twice, Reynolds noted.

"Today's action on the House floor was a setback, but it won't be the last word on ethics reform," Reynolds said. "I will continue this fight throughout the legislative session."

GOP's Jason Nelson Seeks HD 87 Seat

Republican political consultant Jason Nelson will seek the House 87 seat now held by Trebor Worthen, who is not seeking reelection. Nelson filed an Ethics Committeee statement of organization for his campaign committee last Friday.

Nelson joined CMA Strategies as Director of Government Relations in January 2004. Previously, he was Governor Frank Keating's legislative liaison to the Oklahoma House of Representatives during the last three years of Keating's second term. Early in Keating's first term, he served as a policy aide on a wide range of issues including economic development, law enforcement, the environment, transportation and agriculture.

Nelson's statement of organization lists longtime GOP activist Kay Dudley as campaign chair, with former Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys as campaign treasurer.

In 2001, Nelson was a part of the Right-to-Work strategy team, as well as the finance director for the campaign. He was instrumental in raising more than $6 million, the most ever raised by a statewide issue campaign in Oklahoma. In 1998, he was campaign manager for Humphreys' first Oklahoma City mayoral race and deputy manager for Keating's gubernatorial reelection campaign. He was the state director of Bob Dole for President in 1996 and organizational director for Keating's first gubernatorial race in 1994.

He also served as Vice-President of Future Investment Company, a real estate development firm, in 2003 and was a member of the Central Oklahoma, State and National Home Builders Associations.

In 1999, he was a regional political director for the National Association of Realtors in Washington.

Supreme Court Rescinds Access Rules

By John Greiner, Capitol Bureau, The Oklahoman ~ The Oklahoma Supreme Court today rescinded its controversial rules that would limit public access to court information on its Web site and in court files, saying it wanted to give the issue further study and consideration. The rule change was heavily criticized after the court issued the new rules March 11.

The rules, which would have been effective June 10, prohibited placing personal information such as Social Security numbers and birth dates on the Web site and in documents for public viewing in courthouse around the state.

The court said the rules were an attempt to balance privacy rights of individuals who use Oklahoma's court system and public access to courts documents.

OKC Council Approves NBA Team Lease

The Oklahoma City Council today unanimously approved a preliminary lease agreement with the Seattle SuperSonics. The action came as NBA representatives toured the Ford Center and prepared for a 4:30 p.m. news conference at the Skirvin Hotel.

NBA commissioner David Stern and others are here for the tour.

The 15-year lease agreement, contingent on the team's relocation to Oklahoma City, calls for the SuperSonics to pay the city $1.6 million annually to use the Ford Center and another $409,000 per year to be able to re-sell the arena's naming rights.

Clinton's Exaggeration Revealed

Washington (AP) - Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign said she "misspoke" last week when saying she had landed under sniper fire during a trip to Bosnia as first lady in March 1996. She later characterized the episode as a "misstatement" and a "minor blip."

The defense of Clinton came after CBS Television News aired videotape of the airport reception Clinton received in 1996 followed by her remarks last week. The two did not match; the airport reception showed Clinton strolling among the military, shaking hands.

Clinton's attempt to dramatize the event was cited by some as evidence she is a "serial exaggerator."

Lerblance Undergoes Emergency Bypass Surgery

Senator Richard Lerblance underwent emergency heart bypass surgery and is recovering tonight at an Oklahoma City hospital, sources say.

The surgery apparently took place over the weekend.

Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, reportedly has been moved from the intensive care unit at Oklahoma Heart Hospital to a regular recovery room.

Lerblance was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in August 2002. In June 2003, he was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate for District 7.

UPDATE ~ The McAlester News-Capital has these additional details: Lerblance underwent heart bypass surgery on Saturday at Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City. Today, he remained hospitalized while recovering from the procedure, but he said he’s already feeling better. “My main coronary artery was 95 percent blocked,” Lerblance said during a phone conversation from the hospital. “They were able to use a vein in my heart and didn’t have to take one out of my leg. That was pretty cool.”

Lerblance said he will probably get to go home by Wednesday. “I feel pretty good,” he said, relating how drainage tubes and tubes for IV fluids have already been removed from his body.

“We’re self-supporting now,” he said, sounding upbeat.

Lerblance said he had been aware of occasional pain in his chest prior to the surgery.

“The only time it had bothered me was if I exerted myself,” he said.

Lerblance said he had gone in for an angiogram on Thursday. When doctors saw the results, they told him he wasn’t going home and started trying to schedule him for surgery. “I went straight to the hospital,” Lerblance said.

Nail-biter: Cowgirls Advance To Sweet 16

The OSU Cowgirls advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 tonight with a 1-point, no-time-left-in-overtime win over Florida State with little Andrea Riley hitting her second free throw after missing the first one.

Kurt Budke's team swapped the lead almost two dozen times in the see-saw game, which ended with the score 73-72.

Social Worker Wants To Oppose Kern

Oklahoma City Democrat Ron Marlett, a Democrat, said today he will seek his party's nomination to oppose Republican Rep. Sally Kern this fall.

Marlett, 59, made his announcement during a news conference held by the Oklahoma Democratic Party at the Capitol.

Kern won the District 84 seat in 2004 by defeating a Democrat challenger with 67.65 percent of the vote. She ran unopposed in 2006.

Marlett, a social worker at Community Pathways Unlimited, said he had thought about running for the House seat the past couple years, but Kern's recent controversial comments about homosexuals helped him decide to seek the post now.

"I've just been concerned for some time about the damage done by extremes," Marlett said.

Marlett said he disagreed with Kern's views, "but I firmly believe that people have the right to express what they think. I do not believe people have the right to incite violence with their free speech. There are limits to it."

Kern enters the election year with $8,622 in cash on hand, a transfer from her 2006 campaign fund to her 2008 campaign fund, Ethics Commission records show.

Cops: Gun Bans Don't Deter Crime

From The Martinsville (VA) Bulletin ~ Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of Washington, D.C.’s handgun ban, four local law enforcement officials do not think gun bans deter crime.

“I think it’s absolutely insane to think that we can take away a citizen’s right to (have guns) and that is somehow going to make this country a safer place to live,” said Martinsville Police Chief Mike Rogers. “We live in a very violent society with a lot of mean and crazy people who don’t mind robbing and killing people, whether it’s with their hands, a gun, a knife or a baseball bat.”

Rogers said “I hope and pray” the Supreme Court will strike down the district’s 32-year-old ban on handguns. The ban, which has been called the strictest in the nation, is being challenged by a Washington resident.

Supreme Court justices heard arguments in the case on Tuesday. It has drawn attention nationwide because the court has not conclusively interpreted the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms, since it was ratified in 1791, The Associated Press has reported.

If the court upholds the ban, it could lead to more areas attempting to impose similar bans, said Martinsville Commonwealth’s Attorney Joan Ziglar.

Rogers said he opposes the ban because from his point of view, it only hurts law-abiding citizens who own handguns for protection or for sport shooting.

“Anyone who’s fighting to eliminate guns, I don’t care what kind they are, has obviously never experiened someone kicking down the front door of their home at 2 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “Ain’t no need getting out of bed and running to get the broom handle. If someone is breaking into your house, they don’t have water pistols with them.”

Outlawing handguns only makes things easier on criminals, Rogers said, because those who are intent on breaking the law won’t worry about whether a gun is legal or not.

Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry agreed that criminals will find ways to get guns.

“The people who are going to participate in crimes, they’re not going to worry about your restrictions for access,” Perry said. “They’re going to get what they want.”

He said that when localities begin doing things such as banning handguns, it makes it difficult for residents to know whether they are abiding by the law from one place to another. For instance, his office often receives calls from people wondering whether their concealed weapons are allowed in other areas, he said.

“It needs to be a consistent regulation across the board,” Perry said.

He added that whatever the court decides, he will continue to stress the importance of keeping guns safeguarded and out of reach of children.

Two local prosecutors said they expect the court to strike down the handgun ban.

“I think the court will be pro Second Amendment” and strike the ban, Ziglar said.

Randy Smith, assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Henry County, agreed that he expects the court will strike the handgun ban.

The court may say some regulation of handguns is possible, “but a total ban without exception is probably not going to stand up,” Smith said.

For instance, he said the First Amendment guarantees the right to free speech, but that doesn’t mean you can yell “Fire” in a crowded theater. “Also, there are restrictions on the First Amendment in terms of place, time” and other factors, he said.

In Virginia, localities cannot enact a ban such as that in Washington, D.C., Smith said. However, the state code bans certain weapons, such as some assault rifles, and it has more regulations on firearms than many people imagine, he said.

For instance, mufflers and silencers must be registered, illegal aliens and those who have been acquitted of a charge by reason of insanity cannot have firearms, machine guns must be registered and it is illegal to hunt when under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Smith said.

By banning guns, he said, it means “criminals have guns and good people don’t have guns.” He said Great Britain, which bans guns, has one of the highest rates of violent crimes in the world. “Home invasions are commonplace” because criminals know residents are not armed to protect themselves, he added.

Ziglar said she is torn on the issue.

On one hand, “I believe in the Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms. At the same time, I believe people who are property owners in neighborhoods bombarded by gunfire ... deserve to have a neighborhood that is safe to live in,” she said. “In an effort to have safe neighborhoods you have to have a balance in constitutional rights.”

If Washington, D.C., overstepped that balance with its ban, the court will advise it of that, she said. Ziglar is not concerned about law-abiding people having guns.

“Most law-abiding citizens do have guns and don’t cause any problems with guns. They don’t shoot back when there are drive-by shootings and they shoot the wrong house. They run for cover,” she said.

But criminals are not going to follow the law, so making the law more strict will not affect the people it is designed to target, Ziglar added.

Both Rogers and Perry said they will be watching for the court’s decision.

“I think either way, it’s going to have an impact on citizen safety,” Rogers said.

Dean Plans Oklahoma City Event

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will be in Oklahoma City on April 7th.

The event will be an Oklahoma Democratic Party fundraiser at the Teamsters Union Hall, 3528 West Reno, from 5 to 7 p.m. Donation amounts being requested range from $25 to $100, an invitation states.

For more information, contact Maggie Sasso at 202-863-8058 or SassoM@dnc.org.

Ouch! Louisville 78, OU 48

The Sooners were bounced from the NCAA Tournament today in a yawner by Louisville, 78-48.

Obama's New Pastor Decries 'Lynching'

Chicago (Fox News) ~ The controversy surrounding Barack Obama’s former pastor has served only as a rallying cry for the 8,000-member Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, as the church’s new pastor decried the media frenzy as a modern-day lynching that resembles Jesus’ death at the hands of the Romans.

Extremist Views Again In The News

The Rev. Otis Moss III never mentioned the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. by name, but his predecessor was the underpinning of his first Easter sermon on Sunday.

He implied to the congregation that Wright, who has delivered sermons in which he likened the U.S. to the Ku Klux Klan and said it is damned for its state-sponsored terrorism, is facing the same challenges Jesus did.

“No one should start a ministry with lynching, no one should end their ministry with lynching,” he said. “The lynching was national news. The RNN, the Roman News Network, was reporting it and NPR, National Publican Radio had it on the radio. The Jerusalem Post and the Palestine Times all wanted exclusives, they searched out the young ministers, showed up unannounced at their houses, tried to talk with their families, called up their friends, wanted to get a quote on how do you feel about the lynching?” he said.

The Sunday services made clear that the criticism surrounding Wright has not softened the church’s sermons, as the pastors defiantly defended their method of worship.

Lady Sooners Win, Advance To Round 2

Sherri Coale's Lady Sooners advanced in the Women's NCAA Tournament today with a 69-61 win over a scrappy Illinois State team. Courtney Paris made it 91 double-double games and Ashley Paris poured in the points when it counted.

Cowgirls Advance With NCAA Win

Kurt Budke's Cowgirls rode the hot hands of Maria Cordero (23 points) and Andrea Riley (26 points) to an 85-73 win over East Tennessee State Saturday to advance to the Women's NCAA Tournament second round on Monday.

Passport Controversy Takes Bizarre Twist

From Fox News ~ The State Department investigation into how and why the passport files of three presidential candidates were breached is scrutinizing an employee at a Virginia-based company, which is headed by an adviser to Barack Obama’s campaign.

The Washington Times, which broke the news Thursday that Obama’s files were improperly accessed, reported Saturday that the State Department inspector general’s internal probe will include polygraph tests of supervisors to determine whether there was a political motive behind the breaches.

The article said a focal point of the probe will be an employee who works for The Analysis Corporation and is still with the company. The firm is headed by John O. Brennan, an Obama adviser, FOX News confirms. The Times reported he advises the Democratic presidential candidate on intelligence and foreign policy matters.

WARNING: Do Not Click On This Link If You Are Offended By Vile, Threatening Language

Rep. Sally Kern's attackers are revealed in some of the emails she received as a result of her recent remarks about homosexuals. The emails are posted at http://americansfortruth.com/news/now-for-some-real-hate-homosexuals-deluge-rep-sally-kern.html, but do NOT activate this link if you are offended by vile language.

2nd Amendment Bloggers On Fire Today

Irons In The Fire ~ If I'd ever had any thoughts about moving to California...this crap is just one more nail in the already-buried coffin of that idea: Introduced by State Assembly Member Kevin De Leon (D-45), Assembly Bill 2062 puts ammunition sales in the crosshairs. AB2062 would require that law-abiding gun owners obtain a permit to buy handgun ammunition and would impose severe restrictions on the private transfers of handgun ammunition. Applicants for a “permit-to-purchase” would be required to submit to a background check, pay a $35 fee, and wait as long as 30 days to receive the permit. Granola country, times four.

Ron Black ~ In what is probably the biggest surprise in journalistic history, The Oklahoman in the same week hints that the DC gun ban is bad and then turns around and worships at the altar of gun-grabbers David Boren and Roger Webb (UCO) saying that if college students who are 21, active duty or reserve members of the military or passed the CLEET certification are allowed to actually use the Constitutional guarantee to keep and bear arms, our colleges would become the "most dangerous in the country." I say that you can actually smell the bovine fecal matter oozing out of the Dark Tower off of the Broadway Extension.

The Libery Sphere ~ New Mexico Governor and former Democratic Presidential contender Billy Richardson today endorsed Barack Obama for President. I have said all along that Billy lacked the intelligence and judgment to be President, despite his relatively pro-gun record. Today Billy showed the country and the world that I was right. Anyone who is pro-gun would not be supporting Barack Obama, unless they are about three cards shy of a full deck...that is, unless Billy is not really as pro-gun as people think. In addition, I have said all along that Billy is a big government Socialist just like Hillary Clinton. There I was only partially right. He is worse than Hillary. Anyone who hitches their wagon to Obama may as well go ahead and publicly state their affinity with the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, during which the Commies toppled the government and brought in the likes of Lenin and Stalin. But I digress. Billy is an idiot. Would anyone at this point disagree?

Column: Oklahoma Beckons Californians

By Brandon Dutcher and J. Scott Moody In The San Francisco Examiner ~ In the 1930s hardship and adversity forced many Okies to leave their homes and start a new life in California. Perhaps now is a good time for some Californians to leave their home-schools and start a new life in Oklahoma.

Home-schoolers Welcome Here

"California is now on the path to being the only state to deny the vast majority of homeschooling parents their fundamental right to teach their own children at home," said Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), after a recent state appellate court ruling declared that parents don't have a constitutional right to home school their children.

Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, added, "There are going to be a lot of parents forced to make some very difficult decisions if an appeal is not successful."

Parents weighing their options might want to consider the most homeschool-friendly state in the country. For when it comes to educational freedom for homeschoolers, "You're doin' fine, Oklahoma" is a massive understatement.

"Oklahoma law does not require parents to use certified teachers or state-approved curricula, initiate contact with, register with or seek approval from state or local officials, test their students or permit public school officials to visit or inspect homes," HSLDA points out. "If a parent is teaching his children the basic subjects for at least 180 days, the law requires nothing more."

Indeed, HSLDA notes, "Oklahoma is the only state with a constitutional provision guaranteeing the right to home school." The state constitution directs the legislature to provide for attendance at some public or other school—"unless other means of education are provided."

As one delegate to the Oklahoma constitutional convention argued in 1907, "People ought to be allowed to use their own discretion as to how to educate their children."

Not only will ex-Californians be pleased with the freedom to teach their own children at home, they'll be pleasantly surprised at how many square feet they can afford in which to do it.

According to ACCRA, the nation's most respected cost-of-living index, of the 329 U.S. metropolitan areas surveyed in 2007, all the California cities represented are huddled together in the top (most expensive) 20 percent. San Francisco leads the way with a cost of living that exceeds the national average by a whopping 70.9 percent. The most "reasonable" cost-of-living city in California is Bakersfield, at 8.2 percent above the national average.

Oklahoma, on the other hand, is at the other end of the cost-of-living spectrum, with its represented cities falling in the bottom one-third of all cities surveyed.

This cost-of-living difference not only means that your dollar will buy more goods and services in Oklahoma than in California, it also means lower federal income taxes. How so? Because the federal income tax code does not adjust items like the standard deduction, exemptions, or tax brackets for cost of living. As a result, folks in high cost-of-living areas, such as California, suffer a cost-of-living tax penalty.

For example, take a married couple with one child earning $100,000 who purchase a fixed bundle of goods. If they lived in San Francisco, they would need to earn $170,852 to buy that fixed bundle of goods, whereas in Oklahoma City they would need only $92,202. However, the couple in San Francisco would pay 19.8 percent of their income to Uncle Sam, but the Oklahoma City couple would pay only 13.3 percent.

In addition to federal taxes, there is also a disparity between the state and local tax burdens in the two states. On average, California residents pay 11.2 percent of their income in state and local taxes whereas Oklahoma residents pay 9.75 percent—or 13 percent less. Another way to look at the tax disparity: in 2007, California's top marginal income tax rate was 9.3 percent while Oklahoma's was 5.65 percent.

So if you're tired of traffic and high prices, maybe it's time to pack up those moving trucks and get your kicks on Route 66. When your friends and neighbors ask why you're leaving, just tell them, "We'd sooner homeschool."

Brandon Dutcher is vice president for policy at the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, an independent think tank. J. Scott Moody is an OCPA research fellow.

Istook: When Lesbians Team Up With NRA

Former Congressman Ernest Istook of Oklahoma City is out with a WorldNetDaily column noting some strange bedfellows in the current Supreme Court battle over the 2nd Amendment.

"Those upset by the District of Columbia's gun ban were not all redneck pickup-truck owners with gun racks," Istook writes. "Instead, the Supreme Court challenge to D.C.'s law involved maybe the strangest coalition ever seen in Washington."

Read all of Istook's column at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=59353&PHPSESSID=d8egsms1p669k1gn6dfkkkefc1.

The Gadfly NOT On The Amtrak Wall

A post on the Oklahoma blog SoonerThought today about AMTRAK apparently about to be asked to ponder a Kansas City-Oklahoma City route reminds me that a few weeks ago, contemplating a trip to Louisville this spring, I pondered the possibility of taking AMTRAK for the trip.

Not gonna happen.

AMTRAK's biggest problem (you can't get there from here) reared its ugly head and helps explain why so many who might be inclined to ride the rails opt for other means.

Getting from Oklahoma City to Louisville via AMTRAK means more time on Greyhound buses than aboard trains. I kid thee not.

To hook up with AMTRAK's Southwest Chief requires a nine-hour bus ride from Oklahoma City to Kansas City. Then, it's a seven-hour train ride to Chicago, where one hooks up with the 50 Cardinal train to Indianapolis, a six-hour or so trip. Then, it's back aboard Greyhound for an 11-hour bus ride to Louisville. Twenty hours on buses, 13 hours on trains. Hardly the ideal "train trip" one might envision.

Clinton-Obama Slugfest Helps McCain?

(CNSNews.com) ~ The lengthy Democratic primary contest bodes well for Republican chances of holding the White House, a new poll suggests.

As Democratic Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York slug it out for the nomination, many of their supporters -- at least in Pennsylvania, site of the next major primary -- aren't committed to the party's ticket in November, according to a Franklin & Marshall College Poll.

Among Obama supporters, 20 percent said they would vote for Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican nominee, if Clinton beats their candidate for the nomination.

Among Clinton supporters, 19 percent said they would support McCain in November if Obama is the Democratic nominee. (See poll)

The significant number of potential defectors underscores how divisive the Democratic primary has been.

Democrats won Pennsylvania in the 2000 and 2004 presidential races, but it was a competitive state in both election cycles. McCain, meanwhile, has touted his appeal to swing voters.

"Pennsylvania is a must-win state for a Democratic presidential nominee," Nathan Gonzalez, political editor of the Rothenberg Political Report, told Cybercast News Service. "If there is a significant weakness for a Democrat in Pennsylvania, it could indicate a weakness in Ohio or other key states."

Even a few months ago, the presidential race looked like a major uphill climb for any Republican candidate. But recent polls suggest a toss-up between McCain and either Democratic candidate.

Obama and Clinton both have many negatives, which doesn't make the Pennsylvania poll too surprising, said Doris Graber, a political science professor at the University of Illinois.

"Obama is very liberal, more liberal than we've seen on the campaign trail. Also, there is still racism out there," Graber told Cybercast News Service. "Hillary, we've known all along, has strong supporters. But there are also a lot of people who would never vote for her. There is some antipathy from the Clinton years. Some wouldn't vote for her because she's a woman."

Graber believes it is "almost a certainty" that the Obama-Clinton battle will be decided at the Democratic National Convention, which could drive a wedge through the party. "Democratic voters could be persuaded not to vote for a candidate with vulnerabilities," she continued. "A vote for McCain wouldn't be that difficult. He does appeal to the middle."

However, Gonzales cautioned not to read too much into a single poll, or discount the desire of Democratic voters to move beyond the George W. Bush years, of which McCain has become the heir. "This is a very personal and competitive Democratic primary," he said. "Clinton and Obama supporters have trouble seeing themselves with the other now. A healing period will have to happen."

Obama, Clinton, McCain Passport Files Breached; Secretary Of State Rice Presses Investigation

WASHINGTON (AP) ~ The passport files of the three presidential candidates, Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain, have been breached, the State Department said Friday.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the breaches of McCain and Clinton's passport files were not discovered until Friday, after officials were made aware of the privacy violation regarding Obama's records and a separate search was conducted.

McCormack said the individual who accessed Obama's files also reviewed McCain's file earlier this year. This contract employee has been reprimanded, but not fired. The individual no longer has access to passport records, he said.

"We are reviewing our options with respect to that person and his employment status," McCormack said.

The two contractors fired for snooping into Barack Obama’s passport records worked for Arlington, Va.-based Stanley Inc., The Associated Press reports. Earlier this week, the 3,500-person company won a five-year, $570-million contract to support passport services at the State Department.

In Clinton's case, an individual last summer accessed her file as part of a training session involving another State Department worker. McCormack said the one-time violation was immediately recognized and the person was admonished.

The incidents raise the question of whether the information was accessed for political purposes.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke with Obama and Clinton on Friday and expressed her regrets. She planned to speak with McCain as well.

State Department officials headed to Capitol Hill to brief the staffs of all three candidates.

"The secretary has made it clear . . . to them that this is top priority," McCormack said. "There's nothing else that's more important than make sure go through and do this investigation."

Homosexual Activist Urges Kern Attack Be Expanded To Other House Members

Homosexual activist James Nimmo of Oklahoma City is encouraging Democrats to continue their attacks on Republican Rep. Sally Kern by sending emails to her House colleagues and Governor Henry.

Nimmo, in a post on the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, http://www.demookie.com/, writes, "Many of Sally Kern's GOPer colleagues are perfectly willing for her, and her alone, to take all the criticism for her homophobic remarks, while they supposedly support her behind closed doors.... I think Kern's GOPer colleagues who share her enthusiasm for homophobia should also receive some of the spotlight."

A poster using a screen name agreed, adding, "We should be splashing Sally's crap on colleagues who are near her."

An administrator of the forum, Calvin Rees, added, "I also believe that our Democratic Represetatives (sic) should show some outrage."

Nimmo, who once lamented that an airplane carrying Republican U. S. Senator Jim Inhofe over Iraq evaded enemy ground fire and wasn't shot down, urged posters on the forum to send emails to members of the House Education Committee and others.

Bill Richardson Endorses Obama

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, the nation’s only Hispanic governor, has endorsed Barack Obama for president, calling him a “once-in-a- lifetime leader” who can unite the nation and restore America’s international leadership.

Richardson, who dropped out of the Democratic race in January, is to appear with Obama on Friday at a campaign event in Portland, Ore., The Associated Press has learned.

The governor’s endorsement comes as Obama leads among delegates selected at primaries and caucuses but with national public opinion polling showing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton pulling ahead of him amid controversy over statements by his former pastor.

Richardson has been relentlessly wooed by Obama and Clinton for his endorsement. As a Democratic superdelegate, the governor plays a part in the tight race for nominating votes and could bring other superdelegates to Obama’s side. He also has been mentioned as a potential running mate for either candidate.

Image courtesy Tim Reese, www.demookie.com.

Snoopers Accessed Obama's Passport Records

Barack Obama’s campaign is calling for a complete investigation into a reported breach of his passport records by State Department contract employees.

Two employees of contractors have been fired for the breach, according to The Associated Press. A third has reportedly been disciplined. State Department officials are expected soon to address the breach.

Spokesman Sean McCormack Thursday night confirmed instances of what he called “imprudent curiosity” by the contract employees.

McCormack said the department itself detected the breaches, which occurred separately on January 9, February 21 and March 14. He said it was not immediately clear what the contract employees may have seen in the records or what they were looking for. He said he did not know the names of the companies they worked for.

The Washington Times reported that the fired officials used their authorized network access to look up and read Obama’s passport application and other records.

The article said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was told of the breach Wednesday, and quoted one official as saying the FBI is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the matter.

Jones Rips Rice Over Donation He Seeks

Republican State Chairman Gary Jones (pictured) today ripped into Democrat Andrew Rice, saying the U. S. Senate candidate "is having trouble living up to his own rhetoric" because he's seeking a $5,000 special interest donation for his campaign.

Jones said Rice has challenged his supporters to "fight back against special interests and raise him enough money to match the size of one political action committee contribution. But now that Rice has the chance to win one of those $5,000 special interest checks, he’s going all out, challenging his supporters to vote for him in an online contest sponsored by the liberal Progressive Patriots Fund.

“On one hand, Andrew Rice has challenged supporters to fight against special interests. On the other hand, he's going after every left-wing liberal special interest group out there," said Jones. "Rice isn't even a Washington politician, but he's already proving he knows how to play the Washington game: say one thing, do another."

Jones said Rice has a history of championing special interest groups: "Whether it's the ACLU, labor bosses, environmental extremists, MoveOn.org, the Cimarron Alliance Foundation, or Howard Dean's Democracy for America, Rice has been a loyal foot soldier for the liberal special-interests."

Rice seeks the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat now held by Republican Jim Inhofe.

Some Democrats Unhappy Their Bills Weren't Heard

House Democratic Leader Danny Morgan of Prague said today that more Democrat-authored bills have been heard in the House under new House Speaker Chris Benge than in previous years but that some Democrats are disappointed their bills were not heard and are effectively dead this year.

Morgan appeared to stop short of endorsing the remarks of Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes, who today criticized what he said were Republican political decisions to ignore many bills authored by Democrats.

Benge said bills written by Democrats and Republicans didn't make it through the legislative process this year.

McCain Plans April Oklahoma City Fundraiser

Republican John McCain will bring his presidential campaign to Oklahoma City on April 25th for a fundraiser, the Oklahoma Republican Party announced today.

McCain's event will be held in The Skirvin Hilton Hotel. Planned events include a 6 p.m. reception for the host committee, a photo op at 6:30 and a general reception at 7.

Members of the host committee agreed to raise $10,000 each, the announcement said. Those wanting photos with McCain will be required to donate $2,300. Fee for the general reception is $1,000 per person.

For information, contact Alex Lawhon at (703) 650-5576.

Law Center: Groups 'Seek To Criminalize Christians'

In a statement, the Thomas More Law Center of Ann Arbor, MI, says that Rep. Sally Kern "has received over 27,000 vulgar, hate filled e-mails, her life has been threatened, her son falsely accused of being a homosexual, her financial supporters contacted and asked to no longer support her, and a leading homosexual activist entered her husband’s church last Sunday and took notes on her husband’s sermon. At times, as a precaution, a state trooper walks by her side when she enters the State Capitol."

'Legislator Targeted By Radical Homosexuals,' Center's Site Declares

The reason, the statement continues, is that Kern, an Oklahoma legislator, married to a local Baptist minister, spoke at a public Republican club meeting in which she gave information about the political strategies of activist homosexuals to defeat conservative candidates. Her comments were secretly taped, and appeared as a “You Tube” audio clip.

The statement:

Representative Kern expressed her concern that the homosexual agenda was destroying our nation, and that young school children were being indoctrinated into believing that the homosexual “life style” is normal. Her comments caused some of the nation’s largest homosexual groups to target her for political annihilation.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, called Representative Kern “a courageous Christian woman,” and announced today that the Law Center has agreed to represent her in any misguided legal action arising out this controversy. The Law Center will be assisted by its local affiliated attorney, Bill Kumpe.

Said Thompson, “Representative Kern will not back down, regardless of the attempted hate-mongering intimidation by these national homosexual advocacy groups. Their actions are right out of a play-book developed by radical homosexual activists in the 1980s to manipulate and intimidate the majority of Americans into accepting the normalcy of the homosexual life style.”

Continued Thompson, “Radical homosexual groups are attempting to curtail Representative Kern’s constitutional rights to free speech, and use that speech as a platform to push for anti-Christian “hate crime” laws. In effect, their goal is to criminalize Christians and Christian beliefs.”

Thompson observed, “Her comments represent the view of a majority of Americans. All you need to do is look at all of the states that have overwhelmingly adopted constitutional amendments or statutes defending traditional marriages from the homosexual agenda. Christians believe that homosexual acts are acts of grave depravity, contrary to the natural law and under no circumstances can they be approved. However, Christians also believe one must love the sinner, but hate the sin.”

It is a fact that the radical homosexual groups reach into our schools indoctrinating our children.

In one Massachusetts school district, without informing parents, kindergarten and first grade students were read the story King and King -- about 2 princes who fall in love and marry. The last page of the book – undoubtedly shown to the children – ends with a picture of the 2 kings kissing. When outraged parents found out, they sued the school district. Incredibly ─ but not surprisingly ─ the First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the teacher’s right to read the book saying, “Public schools are not obliged to shield students from ideas which potentially are religiously offensive.”

A 24-page pro-homosexual booklet is set to be distributed to all 16,000 school districts in the nation. The booklet produced by the National Education Association and the American Psychological Association falsely tells students that homosexuality is a “normal expression of human sexuality.”

Every year, homosexual rights groups, with the blessing of school officials, sponsor a “Day of Silence” when students and some teachers in schools across the nation remain silent ─ with tape across their mouths ─ throughout the school day. This year it’s on April 25. The stated purpose is to make others aware of discrimination against homosexuals. In reality, it is a means of propagandizing and pressuring students to regard homosexual, bisexual and transgender behavior as normal.

In the Montgomery County, Maryland School district, eighth and tenth graders are taught that homosexuality is innate─ they’re born that way. As if to underscore the point, students are shown a film instructing them on how to use condoms in anal and oral sex. In 2004, Oklahoma voters passed a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as consisting only of the union of one man and one woman by 76%.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

Tulsa 'Peace and Impeachment Vigil' Draws Few

A "Peace and Impeachment Vigil" outside Senator Jim Inhofe's Tulsa office today drew far fewer than the "thousands" organizers expected.

The Oklahoma Political News Service has the story, and video.

Attorney: Lies About Kern's Son May Be Actionable

An attorney with the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, MI told Oklahoma City radio station KTOK today that false claims that Rep. Sally Kern's son is a homosexual may be actionable.

The center has agreed to represent Kern if any legal action is filed against her as a result of her recent controversial remarks about homosexuals.

The attorney, Brian J. Rooney, told KTOK's Reid Mullins the center is representing Kern at no charge. He said Tulsa attorney and blogger Bill Kumpe will be the local attorney representing Kern.

The allegation about Kern's son came as Kern's opponents sought to portray her as a hypocrite and belittle her and her family.

Whether the claim that Kern's son, Jesse, is a homosexual constitutes libel under the law is open to question. The original allegation, so far as can be determined, was posted on the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, http://www.demookie.com/, and then was picked up by numerous homosexual and social commentary websites and blogs. Jesse Kern subsequently denied, in a Tulsa World interview, that he is a homosexual.

GLBT Group Endorses McAffrey, Roth

The controversial Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed State Rep. Al McAffrey (left), Oklahoma City Democrat, and Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth (right), Democrat, the former Oklahoma County Commissioner facing his first statewide race for office. Roth, the first openly gay public official to seek statewide election, was appointed to the Corporation Commisison seat by Governor Brad Henry when Republican Denise Bode resigned.

McAffrey is an outspoken gay rights activist who is a Navy veteran and former Oklahoma City police officer. He was elected to the House two years ago.

Clinton Regains Poll Lead Over Embattled Obama

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Hillary Clinton has reclaimed the lead from Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential race for the first time since early February, a new national poll out Thursday suggests.

In the latest Gallup daily tracking poll, Clinton holds a 7 point lead over the Illinois senator, 49 to 42 percent. That lead is outside the poll’s statistical margin of error of 3 points — the widest gap between the two candidates in weeks.

Clinton's last lead was in a Gallup poll taken just after the round Super Tuesday contests, and the two candidates have been statistically tied since. But Obama has held a numerical lead over Clinton for most of that time, and started to decline in the tracking poll late last week — a sign the uproar over his former pastor's sermon's may be taking its toll.

The latest tracking poll was conducted March 14-18, almost entirely before Obama gave a widely praised speech on his relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah White and race relations in America.

But according to Gallup's Jeff Jones, "the initial indications are that the speech has not halted Clinton's gaining momentum as she led by a similar margin in Tuesday night's polling as compared to Monday night's polling."

A new Gallup poll also showed apparent Republican presidential nominee John McCain leading both Democrats, a sign Clinton and Obama's continued back-and-forth is benefiting the Arizona senator. McCain holds a 4 point lead over Obama (47-43 percent) and 3 point lead over Clinton (48-45 percent). That poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

OBAMA CAMPAIGN PULLS PANTHER PLUG

From Fox News ~ Barack Obama’s campaign has removed an endorsement by the New Black Panther Party from its Web site, one day after the Illinois senator delivered a speech calling for improved race relations in America.

“The page in question has been removed from our campaign Web site,” Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor told FOXNews.com after inquiries about the endorsement. “It’s our policy with any content generated by a group that advocates violence.”

The blogosphere was buzzing Wednesday about whether his campaign planned to remove the Panther posting.

The New Black Panthers, who inherited their name from the Black Panther Party of the 1960s, had the page on the Obama campaign’s public forums. The group’s message said it is backing Obama because he “represents ‘positive change’ for all of America. Obama will stir the ‘Melting Pot’ into a better ‘Molten America.’”

Obama spokeswoman Tiffany Edwards said before the campaign removed the endorsement that that section of the Web site “has nothing to do with us.”

“People can form their own groups,” she told FOXNews.com. “It’s not something that the campaign — it’s not something that we’ve done.”

Malik Zulu Shabazz, who has led the group since 2001, told World Net Daily later Wednesday that the Obama posting was removed for understandable political reasons.

“It’s the game of politics,” Shabazz told World Net Daily, which originally broke the news of the Web page.

“The Obama camp’s move to remove our blog doesn’t mean much because I understand politics. We still completely support Obama as the best candidate.”

The NBPP is identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a tolerance education organization, as an extremist hate group. The Anti-Defamation League calls NBPP “the largest organized anti-Semitic black militant group in America. … Under Shabazz, the group continues to organize demonstrations across the country that blend inflammatory bigotry with calls for black empowerment and civil rights.”

Obama's Pastor, Panther Leader On Same Page?

The Anti-Defamation League for years has tracked the comments of the leader of the New Black Panther Party (NBPP), Malik Zulu Shabazz (pictured) and some today draw parallels between his comments and those of Barack Obama's former pastor. The NBPP has endorsed Obama and he maintains their endorsement on his campaign website. The Anti-Defamation League reports the following on its website:

Malik Zulu Shabazz in His Own Words: Malik Zulu Shabbaz is the leader of the racist and anti-Semitic New Black Panther Party.

After being denied entry to Canada (May 15, 2007): "Canada is on Malik Shabazz alert. B'nai B’rith has won this one, and I'm starting to see the power of the Jewish lobby in Canada, full force. I thought Canada was free."

During a protest against the 400-year celebration of the settlement of Jamestown, VA (May 12, 2007): "When the white man came here, you should have left him to die."

On The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel (March 10, 2006): "If you start with the negative images that have been created of blacks, many of them were perpetrated by those who say they are Jews. The Jews have taken the entire state of Israel, West Bank, and Gaza, all of that is stolen territory. And they are the reason that someone else would blow themselves up. It is not the Palestinians' fault. It is the fault of the Zionists."

At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (February 17, 2005): Shabazz said that “Zionism is racism,” “Zionism is terrorism” and “you cannot be a real Jew and a Zionist at the same time.” He called Israel a “terrorist state” and said that he doesn’t “blame” Hamas, Hezbollah or Islamic Jihad for the Middle East conflict. Shabazz also endorsed various books, including The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews, an Nation of Islam publication that argues that the history of slavery in the New World was dominated by Jewish ship owners and merchants, and The International Jew, a four-volume anti-Semitic work first published in the 1920s written by Henry Ford.

Addressing the protesters at the Million Youth March in Brooklyn, New York (September 6, 2003): "We got youth all over the world. You got youth in Palestine, Palestine you know originally belonged to Black people. That land has been occupied by the Zionist devils. Now you got people 14, 15, 16 years old giving up their lives to free their people."

At a press conference in Morristown, New Jersey (July 3, 2003): "If 3,000 people perished in the World Trade Center attacks and the Jewish population is 10 percent, you show me records of 300 Jewish people dying in the World Trade Center…We’re daring anyone to dispute its truth. They got their people out."

During a protest in front of the B’nai B’rith building in Washington, D.C. (April 20, 2002), Shabazz led chants of: "death to Israel," "the white man is the devil," and "Jihad." Shabazz also said, "Kill every goddamn Zionist in Israel! Goddamn little babies, goddamn old ladies! Blow up Zionist supermarkets!"

At the National Press Club in Washington, DC (October 31, 2001): Zionism is racism, Zionism is terrorism, Zionism is colonialism, Zionism is Imperialism, and support for Zionism is the root of why so many were killed on September 11. We have to make it plain that Zionists control America, lock stock and barrel, the European Jews have America under control, lock, stock, and barrel, the media, foreign policy.

Outside of former President Bill Clinton's Harlem office on (April 13, 2001): "We will not allow some cracker named Bill Clinton to set the stage and the pace to drive black people out of Harlem."

Obama Faces Firestorm Over Panther Endorsement

From News Reports ~ A day after Barack Obama delivered a speech calling for improved race relations in America, the blogosphere was buzzing Wednesday about whether his campaign planned to remove an endorsement by the New Black Panther Party from his Web site and the scrutiny means there's new heat on Obama.

The New Black Panthers, who inherited their name from the Black Panther Party of the 1960s, has a page on the Obama campaign’s public forums that says it is backing Obama because he “represents ‘positive change’ for all of America.

Obama will stir the ‘Melting Pot’ into a better ‘Molten America,’” the group says.

The NBPP, which has been led since 2001 by Malik Zulu Shabbazz, is identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a tolerance education organization, as an extremist hate group. The Anti-Defamation League calls NBPP “the largest organized anti-Semitic black militant group in America. … Under Shabazz, the group continues to organize demonstrations across the country that blend inflammatory bigotry with calls for black empowerment and civil rights.”

Identified on the NBPP website as its "minister of justice" is Imam Akbar Bilal (pictured).

The NBPP lists on its Web site a 10-point plan for full employment for black Americans as well as housing, education, free health care and an end to the death penalty.

In addition, it demands slavery reparations, the release of all black prisoners from American jails, trials of blacks only by all-black juries, an end to all black cooperation with police departments, exemption for blacks from the all-volunteer U.S. military and a separate country for African-Americans.

“We believe that Black People should not be forced to fight in the military service to defend a racist government that holds us captive and does not protect us. We will not fight and kill other people of color in the world who, like Black People, are being victimized by the white racist government of America,” the Web site reads.

In February 2006, national columnist, television commentator and blogger Michelle Malkin had this about the NBPP's leader, Malik Zulu Shabazz, and its minister of justice, Imam Akbar Bilal, and a protest event in Washington: "Speakers Include: Attorney Malik Zulu Shabazz, Imam Akbar Bilal, Imam Abdul Alim Musa, Imam Mohammed Asi, Hodari Abdul Ali, and other community and Muslim leaders who will speak in solidarity with the worldwide Muslim Ummah (Community) that is fighting against the intentional debased attack by the Danish and western peoples against Islam. The participants recognize this as an escalation in the American-European War against Islam and the Muslims. Sponsored by a coalition of Muslim groups and the New Black Panther Party."

Coffee, Morgan Issue Rare Joint Statement

The Oklahoma State Senate passed a resolution today protesting any federal cuts to the budgets of Oklahoma's District Attorneys and in a rare joint statement, Democrat and Republican leaders spoke in favor of the resolution.

The resolution was authored by Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City) and President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan (D-Stillwater).

Action on Senate Resolution 57 follows last week's press conference where district attorneys around Oklahoma joined Coffee and Morgan to raise awareness of proposed federal budget cuts they said would have a devastating effect on the operations of district attorney offices throughout Oklahoma and create gaping holes in programs aimed at making Oklahoma one of the safest places to live, work and raise a family.

"Public safety should be the number one priority of government and we are committed to seeing it funded. District attorneys are critical to keeping the public safe from crime," Coffee said. "We have authored this resolution asking Congress to restore the public safety budget cuts. The federal government should not try to balance their budget on the backs of public safety."

Morgan echoed his support to strongly oppose Congress from cutting the budgets of key public safety personnel not only in Oklahoma, but around the country.

"Government's greatest moral obligation is to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens," Morgan said. "In the state senate we have in the past, and will continue to make public safety a top priority when writing the state budget. Even in a tight budget year, we have to keep all options on the table to ensure the public safety needs of this state are adequately met."

'Progressive Patriots' Tout Rice Candidacy

The Progressive Patriots Fund (PPF), an entity devoted to helping elect liberals, is touting the candidacy of State Senator Andrew Rice for the Democratic nomination for the U. S. Senate.

The PPF features Rice in a lineup of Senate candidates and asks visitors to its website to vote for the candidate of their choice; the winning candidate receives a maximum $5,000 campaign donation from PPF, which already has donated $1,000 to Rice. Rice's campaign today is advising others on the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, www.demookie.com, on how to vote repeatedly for Rice.

Honorary Chairman of the PPF is Wisconsin liberal Senator Russ Feingold (pictured), an advocate of gay marriage and a lifetime 98-percent liberal as rated by Americans For Democratic Action (ADA).

Inman Criticizes Caudill Over SSN 'Security Breach'

Oklahoma County Clerk candidate Stan Inman said today that "a recent breach of the public's trust by the Oklahoma County Clerk has cost taxpayers millions of dollars and could potentially leave the county open to lawsuits that could cost taxpayers even more."

State and Federal law enforcement agencies are investigating the legal ramifications of the apparent unlawful publication of more than million social security numbers, tax identification numbers and private information of Oklahoma County residents, Inman said in a news release.

"Carolynn Caudill is to blame for the biggest security breach in Oklahoma County's history. I was taught to do things right the first time, there was no rush to publish these documents. By her very own actions, hiring a firm to go back and redacting the social security numbers is an admission that she has made an egregious mistake," said Inman, a Republican like Caudill, and a former county commissioner.

"This didn't just happen overnight. They've been on the internet for almost two years. It's an ID thief's dream come true," added Inman.

Caudill's office, Inman said, is responsible for the unlawful publishing of the numbers, leaving the county open to lawsuits over potential and real identity theft.

"Publishing almost a million social security numbers on the Clerk's website is likely to lead to lawsuits against the county. The way I read the 1976 amendment to the 1974 privacy act; this is clearly an irresponsible act on the Clerk's part," continued Inman.

"The monies used to correct her mistakes could have been used to fix road and bridges in Oklahoma County. As your next County Clerk, I will not be so frivolous with your personal information and will make sure taxpayers' money is spent properly and effectively," stated Inman.

Supreme Court Majority Indicates Readiness To Declare That 2nd Amendment Provides Individual Right To Firearms

From The Washington Post ~ A majority of the Supreme Court indicated a readiness yesterday to settle decades of constitutional debate over the meaning of the Second Amendment by declaring that it provides an individual right to own a gun for self-defense.

Such a finding could doom the District of Columbia's ban on private handgun possession, the country's toughest gun-control law, and significantly change the tone and direction of the nation's political battles over gun control.

During oral arguments that drew spectators who had waited for days to be in the courtroom, there was far more skepticism among the justices about the constitutionality of the District's ban on private handgun possession than defense of it.

Justices balanced the commands of a Constitution written more than 200 years ago with the modern-day questions presented by a gun ban that, it was argued, either prevents the law-abiding from a means of self-protection or keeps more guns off the streets of the nation's capital.

The court seemed swept up in the historic nature of its endeavor, examining a part of the Constitution that most believe has never been clearly defined. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. encouraged the lawyers to keep talking well beyond the scheduled 75 minutes.

For all the references to Lord Blackstone and the English Bill of Rights and the Framers' intent, Roberts was succinct in describing how he might view the District's arguments that its gun law is reasonable.

"What's reasonable about a total ban on possession?" he asked Washington lawyer Walter E. Dellinger III, who represented the city.

The clauses of the Second Amendment -- "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed" -- have long vexed constitutional scholars. The Supreme Court's last major ruling on the subject, in 1939, stressed the militia-related aspects of the provision.

Roberts quickly signaled his disagreement. "If it is limited to state militias, why would they say 'the right of the people'?" he asked.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, often the deciding vote on the divided court, was next. "In my view," he said, "there's a general right to bear arms quite without reference to the militia either way."

Kennedy expressed, at least three times during the argument, his disbelief that the Framers had not been also concerned about the ability of "the remote settler to defend himself and his family against hostile Indian tribes and outlaws, wolves and bears and grizzlies and things like that."

Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel A. Alito Jr. also lent support to the individual interpretation. Justice Clarence Thomas was silent during the arguments, as is his custom, but has previously expressed such a view.

From the District's point of view, deciding there is an individual right would be answering only half the question. Dellinger argued that it is reasonable for the city to ban the "uniquely dangerous" handgun, which "can be taken into schools, into buses, into government office buildings, and that is the particular danger it poses in a densely populated urban area."

The D.C. law, passed in 1976 shortly after residents received the right to govern themselves, also requires that rifles and shotguns kept in private homes be unloaded and disassembled or outfitted with a trigger lock.

Those challenging the law disagree with the District's contention that it provides residents with access to a firearm for self-defense purposes. Several justices agreed.

"How could the District code provision survive under any standard of review where they totally ban the possession of the type of weapon that's most commonly used for self-defense?" Alito asked.

The more liberal justices were most sympathetic to the city. Justice John Paul Stevens repeatedly said that only two states at the time of the framing of the Constitution had individual-right guarantees, and most mentioned the need for guns to provide a "common defense."

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted that even Lord Blackstone had said gun rights were subject to law and, thus, to restrictions. Justice Stephen G. Breyer was the most aggressive in making the case that local governments may have leeway in restricting gun ownership, based on their own circumstances.

Clinton's '3 a.m.' Ad Won Few Converts, Survey Finds

By Aaron Blake, The Hill ~ Despite all the hoopla over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) “3 a.m.” ad, political insiders say she suffers from a lack of credibility in the spot, and independents were not swayed by her message, according to a new survey.

The ad, which questions whom people would want to answer a phone ringing in the White House during the early morning hours when “something’s happening in the world,” has crystallized Clinton’s argument that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) lacks experience.

A survey of 220 political insiders by Wilson Research Strategies of Washington and Oklahoma City, however, shows reviewers gave the ad a 4.3 out of 10 for its credibility and a 4.5 for its appeal. Independents were especially harsh, giving it a 4.4 overall.

Some observers have argued that such attacks on Obama might backfire in the general election.

A Zogby poll this week showed Americans, by a wide margin, would rather have GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) answer the 3 a.m. call than either Democrat. McCain led Clinton 55-37 and Obama 56-35 in that category, while Clinton and Obama were virtually tied.

Republicans and Democrats rated the ad highly for strength of message and memorability, and each gave it a 5.6 overall.

Obama’s response ad, in which he lays out his foreign-policy credentials and his vote against the Iraq war over the sound of the ringing phone, earned slightly higher marks, including a 5.8 overall from Democrats and a 5.3 from independents.

“Clinton’s 3 a.m. ad is not as effective as media coverage made it out to be,” said Wilson political director Tyler Harber.

Lottery Faces Financial Crisis, Trustee Reveals

By Tony Thornton, Staff Writer, The Oklahoman ~ The Oklahoma lottery faces a financial crisis unless legislators remove a requirement that guarantees the state 35 percent of all sales beginning next year, a lottery commission trustee said Tuesday.

By a 4-0 vote, the lottery's board of trustees renewed an earlier request to legislators to remove the stipulation.

Currently, 30 percent of all lottery sales are designated for public education. That figure jumps to 35 percent in the lottery's third year, according to legislation that put the lottery in place.

"I think we'd have a crisis if it's not changed," trustee James Orbison said. "And I'm afraid it's not going to be changed."

For the entire story, go to www.newsok.com.

AFL-CIO Joins Sierra Club In Endorsing Andrew Rice

The Oklahoma chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) has endorsed State Senator Andrew Rice for the U.S. Senate, Rice's campaign announced today.

The AFL-CIO joins the Sierra Club, MoveOn.org and other liberal groups in backing Rice, who seeks the Democratic Party nomination for the U. S. Senate.

Rice appears to be putting together the same coalition of liberal groups that has attempted to defeat conservative, incumbent Republican Senator Jim Inhofe in the past.

Describing Rice as "a good friend of the working men and women of Oklahoma," AFL-CIO President Jimmy Curry said his organization, representing more than 35 affiliated labor organizations in Oklahoma, will work this year to defeat Inhofe.

"I am extremely grateful to have the full support of the largest organization representing working men and women in our state," Rice said today. "I look forward to working with all business and labor organizations in the state to ensure that Oklahoma working families have access to health care, wages that keep pace with inflation and retirement security."

Obama Condemns Pastor's Controversial Remarks

From Fox News ~ Barack Obama roundly condemned the remarks of his controversial pastor on Tuesday but also took several steps to explain why the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.’s incendiary rhetoric is still valid.

Going to great lengths and several times repeating his reason for his continued association to Wright and his membership at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Obama said the pastor introduced him to his Christian faith and continues to perform God’s work on Earth.

Obama's remarks came in a speech in Philadelphia as he grappled to regain control of the controversy that's engulfed his campaign.

“As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. … I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother,” Obama told an audience at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Hoping to thread a tough needle, Obama is seeking to return his campaign to the place it was until about a week ago, before his image was tarnished by the details of his relationship to Wright, who has been Obama’s spiritual adviser for 20 years.

Protesters Seek Kern Apology; She's Not There

Protesters gathered today at the Capitol to ask Rep. Sally Kern to apologize for her recent remarks about homosexuality. Kern was not at the Capitol during the protest.

One of the organizers of the event was Oklahoma City Democrat James Nimmo, a homosexual activist who last August posted a message on a Democrat forum lamenting Republican Senator Jim Inhofe's escape from harm when a plane on which he and other members of Congress were passengers was fired on over Iraq.

The Rev. Jim Shields, a retired United Methodist minister who lives in Kern's district that covers parts of west Oklahoma City and Bethany, called on the Republican legislator to hold meetings in the district to talk with gays and Muslims.

If Kern doesn't do those things, then she should resign, said the Rev. Loyce Newton-Edwards, assistant pastor of the Open Arms United Church of Christ and president of the Oklahoma City chapter of PFLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

Supreme Court Focuses On 2nd Amendment

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court appeared ready Tuesday to endorse the view that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own guns, but was less clear about whether to retain the District of Columbia's ban on handguns.

The justices were aware of the historic nature of their undertaking, engaging in an extended 98-minute session of questions and answers that could yield the first definition of the meaning of the Second Amendment in its 216 years.

A key justice, Anthony Kennedy, left little doubt about his view when he said early in the proceedings that the Second Amendment gives "a general right to bear arms."

Read the entire story at www.newsok.com.

Terrill Readies English-only Amendment

Rep. Randy Terrill of Moore said Tuesday he will propose an amendment making English the official language of Oklahoma.

He said he will offer the "official English" requirements in an amendment he plans to file to a Senate bill. It could be heard in a House committee as early as next week.

Terrill says the plan would require that all official state government business be conducted in English and would prevent the state from having to deliver taxpayer services in a language other than English.

The proposal would create a new constitutional amendment and would have to be approved by voters in a statewide referendum.

The measure provides exceptions for American Indian tribal languages. English-only legislation died last year after it was opposed by tribal officials.

Terrill's proposal comes shortly after U. S. Senator Jim Inhofe introduced new federal legislation to make English the national language of the United States. Answering continued calls for Congress to unite the country under the common language of English, Inhofe introduced S. 2715, the National Language Act of 2008, on March 6.

Safe States: Gun Ownership 'May Keep Some In Line'

In a listing of the nation's safest states (Oklahoma ranked Number 34, up from 36 a year ago), AOL has this to report about Montana:

No. 7: Montana Some credit Montana's low crime rate to the high level of gun ownership. Since most criminals are looking for easy targets, this may keep some in line. The Treasure State has lowest burglary rate in the country. Rankings in Crime (out of 50) ~ Assault: 28, Burglary: 50, Murder: 42 (tie), Motor Vehicle Theft: 41, Rape: 31 Robbery: 47.

New Polls Show Presidential Race Dead Heat

A new CNN/Opinion Resarch poll released today shows Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are locked in a dead heat with the Arizona Senator John McCain in the race for president. If Obama were to win the nomination, he would get 47 percent of the vote compared to 46 percent for McCain, the poll shows; that's a statistical tie given the poll's 3 percentage point margin of error. Should Clinton win the nomination, the poll suggests she would get 49 percent compared to McCain's 47 percent, another statistical tie.

A new Zogby poll shows McCain slightly leading either Clinton or Obama.

Marine Reservist Won't Face Flag Rescue Charges

A U.S. Marine Corps reservist and veteran of the war in Iraq won't be charged for ignoring police requests and wading into a protest to rescue an American Flag.

Ray Modisette, 20, said he was reacting to a war protester who was stuffing an American flag down her pants when he charged into a crowd outside Tinker Air Force Base last week.

Midwest City Assistant City Attorney Randal Homburg said he thinks there are grounds to prosecute Modisette for an act of civil disobedience, but he said that at the request of police, he's declining to file charges.

Modisette of Shawnee was arrested Friday afternoon on a complaint of interfering with official police process.

"We believe the act was emotional and not really deliberate," Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said. "It caused us to take action, but we hated to have to do it."

Modisette was leaving Tinker Air Force Base in his car Friday when he saw the protester with the flag. He said he turned around and headed for the crowd to get the flag. He was handcuffed after ignoring several requests by officers to move away from the small group of demonstrators from Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas.

Dozens of persons donated money to pay Modisette's $850 bail, although he won't need it; his bail is being refunded. Modisette said he posted the bail with money he earned during a tour of duty in Iraq.

Florida Democrats Abandon Do-over, Toss To DNC

Tallahassee, FL - Facing strong opposition, Florida Democrats on Monday abandoned plans to hold a do-over presidential primary with a mail-in vote and threw the delegate dispute into the lap of the national party.

Andrew Lester Hired As Impeachment Counsel

Edmond attorney Andrew Lester was hired today to serve as special counsel for the House committee looking into possible impeachment proceedings against state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan.

Lester, of the firm Lester, Loving and Davies, will start work immediately going over evidence in the case and talking with federal prosecutors, Rep. Rex Duncan, committee co-chairman, said today.

Lester's firm was among 10 law firms considered and among four finalists, said Duncan, R-Sand Springs. It helped that the law firm, with about 10 members, is big enough to handle the job, has a former state attorney general, Susan Loving, as a member, and that Lester has committed the time to make the committee's work a priority, Duncan said.

Lester will be paid at least as much as the special counsel who was hired four years ago in the impeachment query against state Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher. The special prosecutor in that case was paid between $250 and $275 an hour, officials said.

Murphey Donates $8,421 To Guthrie Support Group

Guthrie Republican Rep. Jason W. Murphey has presented a donation of $8,241.92 from his legislative salary to officials from Crossroads, An Open Door For Life Choices, Inc., located in Guthrie.

Crossroads provides faith-based, pro-life counseling and support services to expectant mothers.

Murphey said that Oklahoma legislators are the third-highest paid, part-time legislators in the nation, making more than double the regional average.

Murphey said he made the donation, the difference between Oklahoma lawmakers' salaries and the salary of the average working Oklahoman when Murphey was first elected to office, to emphasize that legislators in Oklahoma should not be paid more than other legislators in the region and to illustrate the importance of pro-life services such as Crossroads.

Senate Communications Division, Info Systems Department Honored With 'Sunshine' Awards

Freedom of Information Oklahoma, a statewide organization actively supporting organizations and individuals working to open records or provide access to government, has honored the Directors of the state Senate Communications Division and Information Systems Department with its annual Sunshine Award.

Malia Bennett has been the Senate’s Director of Communications since 2003. The Communications Division works with all 48 members of the Senate, and assists media and the public by providing information on the business of the Senate.

John Warren is the Director of the state Senate’s Department of Information Systems. The department provides technical support to all members of the Senate and staff. Warren has been Director of the department since 1998.

Given annually to a public official or governmental institution that has shown a commitment to freedom of information, the Sunshine Award was presented to Bennett and Warren by the organization for introducing a variety of innovations to give the public greater and more efficient access to the activities of the Senate.

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said the award was an honor that both staff and Senators can be proud of.

“We take great pride in making an emphasis on open and transparent government a priority at the state Senate,” said Morgan, D-Stillwater. “Our communications and information systems departments have been proactive and innovative in developing a variety of features to provide the public with greater access to the business of the Senate. This is a well-deserved honor for our staff.

Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee said he was pleased that Bennett and Warren had been selected for the honor.“We are committed to providing the public with an accessible and open state government,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“Our staff has also worked hard to further that goal, and we are proud that they have been honored with this award. The Senate will continue working to find new and innovative ways to provide the public with government information.”

The organization lauded Bennett and Warren for their efforts to take advantage of new technologies to further the goal of providing those who cannot be at the Capitol with as much information as possible. Since launching the Senate website in 1996, the two departments have worked together to offer digital audio to allow reporters from all media access to in-depth information and the legislative process.

Additionally, the Senate unveiled streaming video from the Senate Chamber and the two largest committee rooms so the public can observe and hear Senate business each day the body meets.

In 2005, the Senate made wireless internet access available throughout all areas of the Senate. The group also praised the Senate for adding innovations such as the posting of all floor votes in real time, and access to all legislation, schedules and a number of publications.

Fisher Faces August 18th Tulsa Trial Date

Former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher faces trial on a charge he filed a false state tax return on August 18th in Tulsa. Fisher, 68, already is in prison for embezzling campaign funds and lying on a campaign report. He also faces a bribery trial in Oklahoma County on May 19. Fisher is charged in the tax case with filing a false state tax return that understated his 1999 income. The state claims he should have paid an additional $4,688 in state taxes.

McMahan Impeachment Committee Meets Today

A House committee looking into possible impeachment proceedings against state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan is scheduled to meet today at the Capitol.

House Speaker Chris Benge said the Republican co-chairman of the committee told him it is possible the work could be finished before the session ends May 30.

The Democratic co-chairman, Rep. David Braddock of Altus, said members are expected to discuss and perhaps make a decision on hiring an outside attorney to head up the investigation.

"We're going to try to follow the process that was followed with the (Carroll) Fisher (impeachment committee) meetings,” Braddock said. "That was a good format.”

Whether the committee will address McMahan's absence from his office since the federal indictment isn't known; some argue he has abandoned the office and thus, is subject to removal on that grounds.

McMahan and his wife, Lori, have been indicted on federal charges of mail fraud, bribery and conspiracy. Their trial is set for June.

It took about four months for the Fisher impeachment committee to complete its work but the McMahan committee's Republican co-chairman, Rep. Rex Duncan of Sand Springs, believes it won't take that long.

If the committee recommends removal, the full House will vote on articles of impeachment and the case moves to the Senate for a trial.

Obama Denies Assertion He Heard Hate Sermon

Barack Obama today denied, again, that he was present last July 22nd when his pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preached hatred of America. The new denial follows a report on http://www.newsmax.com/ that Obama was in the pews when the minister blamed the “white arrogance” of America’s Caucasian majority for the world’s suffering, especially the oppression of blacks.

News reports indicate Obama was in Miami, Florida that Sunday, arriving early in the afternoon for a speech.

Obama has sought to separate himself from his pastor’s incendiary remarks, issuing a statement Friday rejecting them as “inflammatory and appalling” but failing to renounce Wright himself for his venomous and paranoid denunciations of America.

In his press release, Obama claimed, “The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity [United Church of Christ] or heard him utter in private conversation.”

Appearing on cable news shows this past weekend, Obama claimed when he saw recent videos that have Wright making such comments as “God damn America,” he was “shocked.” Obama implied that the reverend had not used such derogatory language in any of the church services Obama attended over the past two decades.

If Obama’s claims are true that he was completely unaware that Wright’s trademark preaching style at the Trinity United Church of Christ has targeted “white” America and Israel, he would have been one of the few people in Chicago to be so uninformed. Wright’s reputation for spewing hate is well known.

Jim Davis, a freelance writer for NewsMax, wrote last August that Obama was present in the South Side Chicago church on July 22 last year and that report was cited as evidence Obama was being less than truthful.

In his sermon that day, Wright tore into America, referring to the “United States of White America” and lacing his sermon with expletives as Obama listened. Hearing Wright’s attacks on his own country, Obama had the opportunity to walk out, but Davis said the senator sat in his pew and nodded in agreement. Addressing the Iraq war, Wright thundered, “Young African-American men” were “dying for nothing.” The “illegal war,” he shouted, was “based on Bush’s lies” and is being “fought for oil money.”

Obama’s most famous celebrity backer, Oprah Winfrey began attending Wright’s church in 1984. Last year, Newsmax magazine reported that Winfrey abruptly stopped attending years ago, and suggested that she did so to distance herself from Wright’s inflammatory rhetoric. She soon found herself a target of Wright, who excoriated her for having broken with “traditional faith.”

The Reverend Wright’s anti-white theology that Senator Obama expressed surprise over is evident on the church’s website. The site says the congregation subscribes to what it calls the Black Value System, which is described as a disavowal of “our racist competitive society” and the pursuit of “middle-classness.” That is defined as a way for American society to “snare” blacks rather than “killing them off directly” or “placing them in concentration camps,” just as the country structures “an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.”

High Court To Hear DC 2nd Amendment Arguments

From Fox News ~ The nine justices of the highest court in the land will meet Tuesday to hear arguments on who the Founders Fathers intended when they called for the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms: a well regulated militia or all individuals.

Tuesday's arguments in front of the Supreme Court — the focal point for gun rights advocates and foes alike — will be the first significant Second Amendment case in front of the high court since 1939. Supporters and opponents are equally excited and concerned by the prospect of what the court’s ruling —expected by June — could mean for individuals seeking clearer laws on the right to bear arms.

Washington, D.C., the nation's capital and one party to the case, argues its handgun ban “is a governmental duty of the highest order.” The contrary argument claims the city's law is “draconian” in its infringement of Second Amendment rights, which states, "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Oklahoma Sierra Club Endorses Andrew Rice

The Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club has joined its national office in endorsing State Senator Andrew Rice for the Democratic nomination for the U. S. Senate.

The Sierra Club joins MoveOn.org, the League of Conservation Voters and other liberal groups in endorsing Rice, who hopes to challenge conservative Republican Senator Jim Inhofe in November.

“We are very pleased to announce today that the Sierra Club has officially endorsed Andrew Rice for U.S. Senate,” said Charles Wesner, Chapter Political Chair. “We are confident that he will continue work to protect Oklahoma’s environment, for our families and for our future.”

“I am proud to have the endorsement of the Oklahoma Sierra Club,” Rice said.“We share a genuine interest in promoting responsible use of earth’s natural resources. I look forward to working with all Oklahomans to restore and protect our wildlife and their habitat.”

Obama's Church Joins Former Pastor Controversy

From Fox News ~ The Chicago church attended by Barack Obama is fighting back against media coverage of its controversial pastor, issuing a statement on Sunday, saying reports on the inflammatory remarks by Rev. Jeremiah Wright are an attempt to attack “the history of the African American church.”

“Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.’s character is being assassinated in the public sphere because he has preached a social gospel on behalf of oppressed women, children and men in America and around the globe,” the leaders of Trinity United Church of Christ wrote Sunday in a statement distributed to the media.

Claiming that Wright’s 36 years as pastor of the church — the largest United Church of Christ congregation, with 8,000 members — is being demeaned, Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president, said, “It saddens me to see news stories reporting such a caricature of a congregation that has been such a blessing to the UCC’s Wider Church mission … It’s time for us to say ‘No’ to these attacks and declare that we will not allow anyone to undermine or destroy the ministries of any of our congregations in order to serve their own narrow political or ideological ends.”

Neither Wright nor Obama was present at the church on Sunday, but all of talk news has been on the subject of the pastor, whose many sermons have been captured on video and replayed across television and the Internet over the past few weeks.

Some of the more flamboyant sermons have included statements saying that the U.S. created the AIDS virus to kill African Americans and that the United States was asking for the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks because it had supported “state-sponsored terrorism” against black South Africans and Palestinian Obama’s campaign has tried to distance the candidate from his Wright, the man who coined the phrase “the audacity of hope” that became the title of Obama’s bestselling book.

Speaking in a conference call on Sunday, Obama’s advisers acknowledged that the pastor was supposed to speak at the announcement of Obama’s presidential campaign last year, but was cut in part because they knew he was controversial, and didn’t want him to become a target or distraction, both of which he nows appears to be.

Garbage In, Garbage Out Part II: No Apologies To Sally Kern's Son From Gay, Liberal Bloggers For False Claims

Gay and liberal bloggers who participated last week in untrue, savage attacks on the son of Rep. Sally Kern have yet to apologize to him despite his own assertion he's not gay and proof that a 1989 court document does not involve him.

In fact, The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has continued the attack, with some posters ridiculing Jesse Kern's assertion he's not gay and belittling posters who try to set the record straight. The PerezHilton blog, a haven for liberal thought laced with obscenities, hasn't apologized either. Nor has the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, which first made the erroneous assertion, or The Lost Ogle, an obscure local social blog that picked the "story" up from the PerezHilton blog and seems to consider the attack on Jesse Kern as nothing of concern. The Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum did, at least, acknowledge the person named in the 1989 document is another Jesse Kern and not Sally Kern's son.

Southern Baptists Rise To Kern's Defense

The controversy over Rep. Sally Kern's widely-publicized remarks about homosexuals today moved from the media to the pulpit, as some Southern Baptist church pastors suggested church-goers let Kern know of their support for her.

That follows an email issued last week from the office of Dr. Anthony Jordan (pictured), executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, in which he urged "DOMs," or church directors of missions, to support Kern; her husband, Steve, is pastor of Olivet Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

The email from Jordan's office:

From: Leininger, Lisa [mailto:lleininger@BGCO.ORG] Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:23 PM To: DOMs Subject: Representative Sally Kern Good afternoon,

Dr. Jordan has asked me to pass along the contact information for Representative Sally Kern. As most of you know she has been under some very tight scrutiny lately about standing up against homosexuality. Many requests have been made to Dr. Jordan regarding what we can do for her as a fellow believer and southern Baptist. He would like you to share this information with all your churches inviting them to contact Rep. Kern via e-mail or a phone call to encourage her and offer support during this trying time. If you have any questions or if I can help you in any way please let me know.

Thank you for all you do! Have a great weekend! Representative Sally Kern sallykern@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7348

Kern has been under fire from The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and other gay lifestyle entities whose members have flooded Kern with emails and phone calls protesting her remarks.

Federal REAL ID Act Raises State Costs, Concern

By D. R. Stewart, Tulsa World ~ A three-year-old U.S. law, little known and less understood, requires Oklahoma and the other states to overhaul driver's licensing systems and issue licenses meeting federal standards over the next decade.

The REAL ID Act of 2005 requires the states to reissue more than 240 million driver's licenses, beginning in 2010, at a cost of millions of dollars to each state. But a much greater cost, civil libertarians say, will be the further intrusion of the federal government into citizens' lives and the erosion of privacy rights.

"REAL ID has real problems, and it's real bad for America," said state Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso. "It's a blatant violation of the 10th Amendment."

Read the entire story at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080316_1_A1_Oklah88657.

Obama Widens Delegate Lead Over Clinton

Des Moines, Iowa ~ Democrat Barack Obama expanded his lead in delegates over rival Hillary Clinton on Saturday, picking up at least seven delegates as Iowa activists took the next step in picking delegates to the national convention.

Half the 14 delegates allocated to John Edwards on the basis of caucus night projections switched Saturday and Obama got most, if not all, of them.

Iowa Democratic Party officials said that with more than 86 percent of the delegates picked, Obama claimed 52 percent of the delegates elected at county conventions on Saturday, compared to 32 percent for Clinton. About 16 percent of the delegates picked at Saturday’s conventions were sticking with Edwards, even though he’s dropped from the race since Iowa held its caucuses in January.

Democratic Party projections said the results mean Obama increased by seven the number of delegates he collects from the state, getting a total of 23 compared to 14 for Clinton and seven for Edwards, with one to be decided.

Twelve automatic delegates bring the state’s total to 57. Obama has been endorsed by four of those and Clinton three, with the remainder uncommitted.

Counting Iowa’s results Saturday, an Associated Press delegate tally showed Obama with 1,610 delegates and Clinton with 1,496.

Third Possible Opponent Eyes Rinehart Post

Embattled Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart has two opponents and may be about to get a third.

With Republican J. D. Johnston, the former mayor of Bethany, and Democrat Jim Dickinson of Choctaw already running against the Republican incumbent, Republican Brian Maughan reportedly is considering the race as well.

Maughan, who now works for At&T , served as the director of economic development for Oklahoma County District 2 and as a public information officer for Oklahoma County Emergency Management and Oklahoma County District 3. He's a former field director, consultant and fundraiser for the Oklahoma Republican Party and holds associate’s degrees in public relations and journalism and broadcasting from Oklahoma City Community College.

Dickinson ran against Rinehart in 2006 and got 47 percent of the vote.

Rinehart faces prosecution on charges related to the financing of a previous campaign.

Some Clinton Donors Tell DNC They Want Refunds

Democrats in Michigan and Florida struggle to resolve the impasse over their disputed January primaries, coming up with a plan to hold a June primary in Michigan while remaining deadlocked in Florida, and some donors to Hillary Clinton want their money back if the snafu isn't resolved in Clinton's favor.

Reflecting how tense the situation has become, influential fund-raisers for Clinton have stepped up their behind-the-scenes pressure on national party leaders to resolve the matter, with some even threatening to withhold their donations to the Democratic National Committee unless it seats the delegates from the two states or holds new primaries there.

The committee penalized Michigan and Florida for holding their primaries early in violation of national party rules, barring their delegates from being seated at the Democratic convention this summer. But with the Democratic contest now a scramble for every remaining delegate, the allocation of delegates from the two states could have a substantial impact on the nomination.

Clinton won the primaries in both states, but the contests were not sanctioned by the party, neither candidate campaigned in the states and Obama did not even put his name on the ballot in Michigan.

Pushing to seat the Florida delegates, at least one top Clinton fund-raiser, Paul Cejas, a Miami businessman who has given the Democratic National Committee $63,500 since 2003, has demanded Democratic officials return his 2007 contribution of $28,500, which they have agreed to do.

“If you’re not going to count my vote, I’m not going to give you my money,” said Cejas, who was the United States ambassador to Belgium from 1998 to 2001.

Christopher Korge, a Florida real estate developer who is another top fund-raiser for Clinton, held an event last year in his home that brought in about $140,000 for the national party, which was set aside in a special account for the general election battle in Florida. But he told committee officials this week that if Florida’s delegate conundrum was not settled satisfactorily he would be asking for the money back.

“If we do not resolve this issue,” Korge said, “I think it’s safe to say there will be a request for a return of $140,000.”

The anger from Clinton fund-raisers seems to emanate mostly from Florida, where the impasse appears farthest from resolution. Democratic Party officials in Michigan on Friday proposed a new primary election on June 3 to make up for the January election.

Clinton, Obama Take It Up A Notch, Blast Each Other

From News Sources ~ Top aides for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) attacked Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) Saturday in response to a new report that Obama has received $250,000 in campaign contributions from indicted fundraiser Tony Rezko since 1996.

Clinton strategist Mark Penn called on the Obama campaign to fully disclose any involvement between the Illinois Senator and Rezko following the story published in the Chicago Sun-Times.

“We tend to learn more in dribs and drabs,” Penn told reporters in a conference call, adding that the rate at which information is coming out is in “direct conflict” with the kind of “transparent candidate Obama claims to be.”

When asked why the Clinton campaign is pushing the Rezko story so hard given the controversial business relationships the Clinton’s have had, Penn cited the numerous books written on the New York senator and said “her life is an open book.”

Deputy communications director Phil Singer echoed Penn’s claims. “Sen. Obama has not always been as straightforward as he would like the public to think he has been,” Singer said. “Obama needs to answer some basic questions including why does his story keep changing.”

Reporters jumped on the call for transparency, pointing out that the Clinton campaign has yet to release some post-White House tax returns. Addressing the returns Singer reiterated that the campaign will release the documents “on or around April 15.”

Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor called the Clinton campaign demanding the release of documents “the height of hypocrisy.”

“Democrats across the country should be very concerned about Senator Clinton’s refusal to offer a full and complete accounting of what could be lurking in this financial information and what that would mean for our party when we run against Senator McCain in November,” Vietor said.

The Gadfly Wearing The Green

All Green: I'll be wearing the green today for the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Oklahoma City. As for the past 10 years or so, I'll be sharing the master of ceremonies duties with my radio friend of many years, Dink Bernardy. The parade's always fun and at last year's, we had an estimated 15,000 lookers. Today, however, I suspect the crowd won't be as large due to the weather. As this is written, wind out of the north at 20, temp 47. Last year was sunny, balmy and almost windless. The parade begins at 1 and winds through downtown to Bricktown.

Obama Meets Firestorm By Rejecting Pastor's Remarks

Barack Obama on Friday answered critics’ calls to condemn controversial sermons by his longtime Chicago pastor, issuing his firmest denunciation to date and describing the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.’s anti-U.S. remarks as “inflammatory and appalling.”

Obama said he never personally heard Wright preach the statements at the center of the controversy, but he first learned of them when he launched his presidential campaign.

“Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy,” he said in the statement. “I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it’s on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.”

The statement came as critics called on the Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate to do more to distance himself from Wright, Obama’s longtime pastor and spiritual adviser. Obama has attended the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago for 20 years, and initially stopped short of a full repudiation.

Cargill: Reynolds Spins 'Web of Deceit About Me'

State Rep. Lance Cargill (R-Harrah) issued the following statement in response to the claims of Rep. Mike Reynolds (R-Oklahoma City):

“In an open forum of the Ethics Commission today, Rep. Mike Reynolds apparently accused me of being behind an effort to pass legislation to fire the director of the Ethics Commission and install a gubernatorial appointee.

“That claim is 100 percent false. I am not the author of that bill – Rep. Ken Miller is – and Rep. Miller has informed the press that I have never even had a conversation with him about this bill. This is just another example of the completely false and reckless attacks that are par for the course for Rep. Reynolds.

“I was not even aware of any such provision until today. As it turns out, Rep. Reynolds was alluding to a section that would make all executive branch agency directors, such as the Ethics Commission, gubernatorial appointees.

“Reynolds claimed before the Commission that he had saved them from the bill. But to further highlight Rep. Reynolds’ deception on this issue, far from ‘saving’ the Ethics Commission, he actually voted FOR the bill!

“I have serious concerns about Rep. Reynolds’ actions apart from just these false statements. He often makes charges against political officials of both parties, yet routinely appears before the commission to make statements of a nature that suggests he is attempting to curry favor with them. His false and misleading claims about saving the commission from my supposed attempts to hurt them are just the latest example. In a court of law when cases are pending, litigants are not allowed to talk to judges or attempt to influence them in any way. Rep. Reynolds’ actions at the Ethics Commission appear to violate that principle.

“Finally, earlier today, in an article that appears to have had no fact checking, the Tulsa World reported that the commission ‘applauded Reynolds’ during Friday’s meeting and demanded that lawmakers explain their actions, apparently believing Reynolds false claims. There is no better proof than his actions today that the commissioners should be very careful about believing anything Rep. Reynolds says. His track record of distortions and political dirty tricks is long. And today Reynolds spun a web of deceit about me for the commission that was completely false and reckless.”

Caudill Memo Addresses ID Number Controversy

Oklahoma County Clerk Carolynn Caudill today sent a memo to the Board of County Commissioners as controversy over the existance of federally-protected identification numbers on her website continued.

Caudill's memo says that redaction work by the firm AmCad was "received this afternoon...and by this afternoon redacted documents will be on the County Clerk's web page."

On Wednesday, commissioners approved her request to use HTC Global Inc. to perform redaction services. Today, Caudill said AmCad's contract was awarded in June 2007.

Caudill's memo: This is to give the Board of Commissioners and the citizens of Oklahoma County an update of the County Clerk’s project to redact social security numbers from county property records in the recorder of deeds department.

We will receive the final shipment of redactions from AmCad this afternoon. We are now in the process of placing the redaction coordinates on the documents and by this afternoon redacted documents will be on the County Clerk’s web page.

We are confident in the quality of AmCad’s work from quality assurance checks we performed during the test phase of the project. AmCad has also given us a five year warranty to correct any errors we may find.

We will continue to perform quality assurance on redactions to ensure the highest percent accuracy. The public as always can continue to contact us with a redaction request using our online form if they discover a social security number.

I appreciate the support shown by the Board and other county officers during this long process. The redaction bid with AmCad was awarded on June 20, 2007.

I want to finally assure the Board and the citizens of Oklahoma County that I will continue to work within the law to be proactive on privacy issues while balancing the public’s right to easy and unfettered access to their public records. I have been a leader in this area and am a strong proponent of transparency in government and open records. These records belong to the people.

It is my hope with “Sunshine Week” spotlighting the Open Records Act next week that all across the state open and honest discussions can be held about what legislative changes may need to be made to balance open public records with an individual’s right to privacy.

County Officials Consider Request That Caudill 'Take Down' Website Containing Protected ID Numbers

Some Oklahoma County officials are considering asking County Clerk Carolynn Caudill to "take down" her website until the redaction of an estimated 870,000 Social Security numbers is completed. And there's new concern being expressed today about other private numbers that appear in documents on her site.

An official said he's surprised Caudill hasn't taken the site down already, although another said shutting the site down would "create chaos" among those who rely on it for document research.

And it's not just the availability of the Social Security numbers that now draws concern; the clerk's website contains millions of documents, some of which contain federally-protected taxpayer ID numbers, employer ID numbers and tax ID numbers.

Availability of the numbers on Caudill's website was revealed earlier this week by The McCarville Report Online.

Caudill has since defended her inaction in redacting the private identifiying numbers, saying the responsbility to do so is that of any agency that files legal documents with her office. But two years ago, while bragging about the posting of the documents online, Caudill indicated the Social Security numbers would be redacted. She made a similar statement a year ago. Only on Wednesday did her request to retain HTC Global, Inc. to redact the numbers reach county commissioners, who approved the $29,900 contract.

Redacting the numbers is to begin immediately, but with so many documents to be processed, there's fear the county is open to lawsuits over possible identity theft or violation of the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 as amended in 1976. That Act prohibits the disclosure of all federal identification numbers.

County commissioners meet next Wednesday. Caudill's website could come up during a public comments section, or in a section reserved for comments by commissioners.

Kern's Son Puts The Lie To The Lie

By Mick Hinton, Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ The son of a state lawmaker who has condemned homosexuality as a worse threat to the U.S. than "terrorists or Islam" said Friday he wants it known that he is "straight and not gay."

Jesse Kern, son of Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said information purporting that he is gay, which has appeared on several blogs, is damaging to himself and his family.

Kern, 31, said he feels the media has a responsibility to seek out the truth, then report it.

Kern, who said he is affiliated with the Des Moines School of Metaphysics, said that he chooses to be celibate, but he is not homosexual.

"First of all, no one's sexuality is anyone's business. It is not even my mother's business," he said. "I practice celibacy to give to my God," he said.

Kern said metaphysics helps teach him such things such as concentration, which has helped him keep focused with all the adverse publicity surrounding his mother's comments.

Kern said his mother's comments apparently were taken out of context. He has not chosen to listen to the audio version that has been disseminated widely throughout the nation.

Kern's views differ from those of his mother, although he applauds her for standing up for what she believes, and thanks his parents for his good upbringing. His father is a Baptist minister in Oklahoma City.

He said the purpose of sex is reproduction, and it is the function of the animal body."But we are more than animals, and we can use sex for a tool of deep relationship with another person."

Kern added that what is more important than whether it be a relationship with someone of the same sex, is that there "needs to be honor in any relationship whether it is a straight or gay relationship."

Legislation Would Harness Oklahoma Wind Power

The Oklahoma wind that state residents complain about could reduce electricity bills and provide eco-friendly energy alternatives at the same time thanks to the passage of House Bill 2813.

The bill, authored by Rep. Weldon Watson and requested by Rep. Gus Blackwell, will allow an electric utility company to recover the costs of building high voltage transmission lines to carry electricity produced by wind farms in Western Oklahoma.

The measure stemmed from discussions led by the Oklahoma Electric Transmission Task Force chaired by Corporation Commissioner Jeff Cloud.

The Southwest Power Pool (SPP), a multi-state regulator of electric transmission including Oklahoma, also participated in those task force meetings.

"Oklahoma's demand for electricity continues to grow and there is little opportunity for new construction of coal or nuclear power generation in the near future," said Blackwell, R-Goodwell. "The SPP has indicated that Oklahoma has the potential to be a major supplier of wind energy based on wind and transmission studies that project demand out through 2050. Failing to take advantage of this opportunity is not simply shooting yourself in the foot; it's shooting yourself in the head. This is a win-win-win situation for the consumer, for the environment and for the economy."

"This bill is a way to jump start the growth potential of wind power in the state. Currently, we have 14,000 megawatts of electricity being produced by Oklahoma power generators. We have 4,000 more megawatts from wind either already built or in the planning stages in Western Oklahoma. The potential is 20,000 megawatts for using wind power," said Watson, R-Tulsa.

Several companies have indicated an interest in building wind farms in the area, Watson indicated, and once they start the SPP will spread the cost of transmission to other users of that transmission reducing costs to Oklahoma ratepayers. He also said there is also great potential for carbon credits that will reduce fuel costs for ratepayers.

"Our state song mentions that 'the wind comes sweeping down the plain' in Oklahoma. That wind that has been immortalized in song and lore will become famous now for its energy potential," said Watson.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission will have ultimate authority for any activity electric utilities may take as a result of the legislation.

House Bill 2813 passed the full House this week 88-0 and now goes to the Senate for a hearing.

WILD Oklahoma Adds Lawton TV Station

WILD Oklahoma television, radio and Internet programming has added another station, KSWX in Lawton beginning April 27th, 10:30am Sunday mornings. WILD Oklahoma is the creation of broadcaster, political consultant and blogger Ron Black. The show has been airing on Oklahoma City’s Fox affiliate, KOKH Fox 25. WILD Oklahoma has a radio branch as well, airing Sunday afternoons at 4pm in Oklahoma City on News Radio 1000 KTOK, in Cushing on KUSH AM1600 and in Guymon on KGYN AM1210.

Obama's Spiritual Adviser's Remarks Draw Fire

Barack Obama’s longtime pastor once questioned America’s role in the spread of the AIDS virus and suggested that the United States bore some responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Confronted with the content of some of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.’s sermons, parts of which have been aired this week on FOX News, the Obama campaign continues to pull away from the pastor’s rhetoric, but is stopping short of a full repudiation.

Wright has retired as leader of Trinity United Church in Chicago; he delivered his last sermon there in February.

Obama has attended the church for 20 years and calls Wright his spiritual adviser.

Wright’s supporters say his Afro-centric sermons accurately portray black America and contend his sermons are widely studied by theologians. But critics are now calling attention to some of his words from the pulpit.

Legislative Leaders Ponder SuperSonics Tax Package

From The Associated Press ~ While the Legislature in Washington has put off until next year a proposal to fund renovations to the Seattle SuperSonics' arena, lawmakers in Oklahoma are working on a tax incentive package to lure the NBA franchise.

Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said he has agreed to be the author of a bill that would provide incentives only if the SuperSonics relocated.

"I don't have the language yet, but we're working on it," Coffee said. "In general, there are some costs to relocating the Sonics to Oklahoma City."

Coffee said the incentive would likely resemble the state's Quality Jobs Act, which gives rebates to companies for creating jobs, and the cost would be recovered when the SuperSonics and their opponents pay income taxes for games played in Oklahoma.

Democratic Senate leader Mike Morgan of Stillwater and House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, have also been involved in discussions with Coffee. The lawmakers said the SuperSonics approached them about enacting the tax breaks.

Caudill Estimates 870,000 SSNs On Her Website

Oklahoma County Clerk Carolynn Caudill estimates there are 870,000 Social Security numbers available on her website. Some of the numbers accessed by The McCarville Report Online are duplicates, involving multiple documents filed in the name of the same person.

She offered the estimate in an interview with news anchor Andrew Speno of Oklahoma City's Fox 25 News. View the interview at http://www.okcfox.com/players/news/top_stories/vid_839.shtml.

Availability of the Social Security numbers became known earlier this week. Caudill says she's not responsible for the apparent violation of the Federal Privacy Act; she says the agencies that file the documents, such as tax liens, uniform financing contracts and other legal documents are responsible because they didn't redact, or remove, the numbers before filing the documents with her office.

However, two years ago when Caudill announced the documents were being uploaded to her website, she said Social Security numbers needed to be redacted; she repeated that need a year ago.

On Wednesday, the Board of County Commissioners approved her request to hire HTC Global to perform the redactions at a cost of $29,990.

Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund Targeted Kern

The group claiming credit for making public a recording of Oklahoma City Republican Rep. Sally Kern is The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender public officials in American political life.

From The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund: A video of anti-gay remarks made by an Oklahoma lawmaker and posted on YouTube.com by The Victory Fund has been viewed more than 500,000 times as of this writing.

The Victory Fund, several research sources report, provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly gay and lesbian candidates and officials across the United States, helping them win elections at local, state and federal levels. Founded in 1991, The Victory Fund has successfully helped elect several hundred openly LGBT candidates to Congress, state legislatures, school boards, city councils and more. The organization also offers programs and training to elected officials.

It is known for its ability to generate thousands of emails to those who oppose its views or openly criticize the homosexual lifestyle.

The Victory Fund endorses dozens of openly LGBT candidates each year, increasing exposure to potential donors and providing both strategic and material support, one research site reports.

Past and present endorsees include Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Congressman Barney Frank, Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, Alabama State Representative Patricia Todd, Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, and Oregon Supreme Court Justice Virginia Linder.

In 2006, 67 of the group's 88 endorsed candidates won their elections.

The Victory Fund is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and one of the nation’s largest non-connected PACs.

For more information on The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, go to http://www.victoryfund.org/endorsed_candidates/profile/candidate:109.

House Passes Concealed Carry Legislation

From www.tulsaworld.com ~ The House today easily passed a weakened bill that would allow military veterans and trained law enforcement personnel to carry concealed weapons onto college campuses.

Before the bill was passed, 65-36, it was stripped of more liberal provisions that would have allowed anyone age 21 or above with a concealed carry permit to be armed on campus.

Lawmakers argued over whether arming some students would make campuses more safe or dangerous.

Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, who noted the National Rifle Association supports the bill, said, "We're not going to tell a veteran that he cannot defend himself."

Rep. Ray McCarter, D-Marlow, urged fellow members to vote for their constituents rather than worry about what grade they were going to get from the NRA.

"Shame on the NRA for putting us in this position," he said.

Another lawmaker won passage of a related bill that also was watered down before being approved.

House Bill 2232 by Rep. Jerry Ellis originally would have allowed anyone 18 and above to carry a concealed weapon if the person had undergone eight hours of training and received a permit. Ellis, D-Valliant, amended the bill to cover only those age 18 and on active military duty or a member of the National Guard or military reserve. His bill was approved, 91-9.

Coffee Lauds Passage Of Education Reform Agenda

Major components of the Senate Republicans’ education reform agenda received bipartisan support in the Oklahoma Senate on Thursday.

The Senate voted in favor of a tax credit for private school scholarship programs, an expansion of charter school sponsors to include federally-recognized Native American tribes, and a pilot program that would deregulate 10 public school districts.

“These reforms are critical to improving education in Oklahoma,” stated Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “We’re very happy to see bipartisan support for the Senate Republicans’ plan to improve education for the children of Oklahoma.”

Records Commission Chairman Says County Clerk's SSN Disclosure Is A 'Clear Violation' Of Privacy Act

The chairman of the Oklahoma Archives and Records Commission, Richard Engle, said today the disclosure of Social Security numbers on Oklahoma County Clerk Carolynn Caudill's website is a "clear violation" of the Privacy Act.

Engle, contacted by The McCarville Report Online and asked about the controversy, said, "There's no doubt it is a violation of the Privacy Act. There is no doubt that the county clerk had access to that information. She knows what is appropriate."

Engle said the Archives and Records Commission sets rules but has no authority to take any action.

He explained that the U. S. Privacy Act and state laws prohibit such disclosure but the Archives and Records Commission's only duty is to set rules governing how documents are treated.

He said the posting of Social Security numbers by any governmental subdivision is "a violation of the public trust."

He said the "next step is for the district attorney, attorney general" to consider what action is appropriate.

He said the public disclosure of the numbers creates "an opportunity for a class action lawsuit that obviously would be quite expensive for the county."

Earlier this week, The McCarville Report Online entered the clerk's website and was able to view the Social Security numbers of dozens of prominent residents of Oklahoma County. It appears that tens of thousands of the numbers can be viewed.

From Bad To Worse? SSNs Apparently Provided To Foreign Nationals In Firm's India Office

Concern is being expressed today by the appearance that foreign nationals will be given open access to the Social Security numbers of thousands of Oklahoma County residents under a contract approved by the Board of County Commissioners at the request of County Clerk Carolynn Caudill.

The Social Security numbers are contained in documents posted on Caudill's official website for about two years; it was not until recently, however, that the ease with which the numbers can be obtained was realized. The McCarville Report Online's story on Tuesday was the first public disclosure.

Since then, officials have been contacted by some who are concerned about how easy it is to obtain their Social Security numbers. Among those contacted is Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, whose SSN is easily obtained on Caudill's site.

The disclosure of Social Security numbers by any public official appears to be prohibited by federal law.

Caudill defended herself, and the posting of the SSNs, in an interview with Fox 25 News anchor Andrew Speno. View the interview at http://www.okcfox.com/players/news/top_stories/vid_839.shtml.

Despite Caudill's past statements, the numbers have not been redacted, or blacked out or removed, and it was only on Wednesday that her request to hire a firm to conduct the redacting was approved.

The firm recommended by Caudill is HTC Global Inc., based in Troy, Michigan, which uses IT personnel in its foreign offices, including those in China, India and Malaysia, to perform much of its Internet work. The firm's website identifies its office in Chennai, India, as its "base for our offshore project and production work."

An email to R. Ravi Shankar at HTC Global in Michigan asking for information has not yet drawn a response. Other contacts listed for the company in Oklahoma County documents are Natraj Kumar and Rajesh Raghavan.

The company's website provides the following information: "Established in 1990, HTC is an Inc. 500 Hall of Fame company offering proven information technology solutions to our global customers. As a leading information technology solutions provider, we help our customers reach out to their clients, employees and suppliers through cutting edge technology solutions built with SEI-CMM Level 5 and ISO-9001:2000 compliant processes. We are based in Troy, Michigan. We have international offices in Sydney (Australia), Singapore, Mumbai and Bangalore (India), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Our Global Delivery Center in Chennai, India provides the base for our offshore project and production work. Staffed by a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals, HTC offers business specific solutions in the following verticals - Automotive and Manufacturing, Healthcare, Insurance and Finance, Retail, Technology, Publishing, Government , Telecom, and Energy and Utilities. HTC is a certified Minority Business Enterprise recognized by the Michigan Business Development Council (MMBDC)."

HTC Global, documents on file at the county show, is charged with reviewing any redactions made by a previous vendor, AmCad. The documents do not appear to contain any requirement that the records provided HTC Global be kept confidential. There is reference to the information being provided via a "secure" server.

Stan Inman, former county commissioner who is a candidate for the Republican nomination for county clerk against Caudill, said the firm's foreign connection "makes this a worldwide disgrace."

He said providing the Social Security numbers is an "ID theft goldmine."

"This opens the county up to lawsuits about ID theft," Inman said of the posting of the numbers. "Once out, you can never get them back."

Inman said, "The scary part of it (use of the company with worldwide technicians) is that anyone can get a Social Security number and get into this country."

Statewide Term Limits Proposal Passes Senate

The Oklahoma Senate voted today to send a proposal for term limits for statewide officials to a vote of the people. Senator Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, successfully attached an amendment to SB 1987 for a legislative referendum that would place a 12 year limit on the terms of Oklahoma’s statewide elected officials. Brogdon’s proposal was adopted on a bipartisan 26 to 22 vote, with 2 Democrats joining all 24 Republican senators in support of the amendment. After adoption of the amendment, the Senate voted 31 to 17 for SB 1987.

Caudill Blames Document Filers For SSN Revelations

Oklahoma County Clerk Carolynn Caudill tells Oklahoma City's Fox 25 News that she's not to blame for documents on her website that reveal the Social Security numbers of thousands of Oklahoma County residents.

Caudill said the blame rests with those who file the documents.

Caudill reacted to questions from Fox 25's Andrew Speno following Tuesday's revelation on The McCarville Report Online that the Social Security numbers could easily be found on her website.

Caudill acknowledged she said more than a year ago that the numbers needed to be redacted and that she promised two years ago when the documents were uploaded onto her site that the numbers should be redacted.

Oklahoma County Commissioners on Wednesday approved Caudill's request to hire a Michigan firm to redact the Social Security numbers.

Former County Commissioner Stan Inman, who is running for the clerk's office this year, told Speno the cat's already out of the bag and anyone who wanted to obtain Social Security numbers has long had the opportunity to do so. He described the posting of the documents with the numbers included as "irresponsible."

Watch Speno's interview at http://www.okcfox.com/players/news/top_stories/vid_839.shtml.

Coburn Prepares Pork Barrel Frontal Attack

From The Hill ~ Earmark foes are preparing to force a vote that would oblige senators to disclose all campaign contributions connected to their pet projects.

As the battle over the budget heats up, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and other senators are readying an amendment in case Democrats propose an alternative to a Republican-led moratorium on earmarks, as Coburn suspects.

Developer Pleads Guilty, Will Testify Against Rinehart

Norman developer Jerl Methvin pleaded guilty to funneling improper campaign contributions to Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart and will testify for the state against Rinehart, who faces trial on September 22nd.

Methvin is the second person to plead guilty in the case. Earlier, Midwest City engineer Robert Larkin was placed on a three-year deferred sentence after pleading guilty and agreeing to testify against Rinehart and his former campaign manager, former State Rep. Tim Pope.

Methvin was given a six-month deferred sentence and ordered to pay court costs. He admitted making a donation to a political candidatein excess of the legal limit of $5,000.

Benge Says Ethics Reform Work Will Continue

House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, released the following statement in response to the passage today of ethics reform legislation, House Bill 2196, the Clean Campaigns Act: “I commend my House colleagues for moving this issue forward in a constructive way. We will continue to work on the bill throughout session as we attempt to craft a comprehensive ethics package. I pledge to work with all members to put together a fair and equitable ethics bill that all members can be proud of when the process is complete.”

Rep. David Dank (R-Oklahoma City), who has made ethics reform a chief goal, reacted with this statement: "I want to thank my House colleagues from both parties who voted to advance this important reform measure. The two key elements in the bill include a ban on contributions during the legislative session to erect a barrier between fundraising and lawmaking, and the prohibition of money transfers between political action committees. These elements emerged intact.

"Ethics reform remains a central goal of this session, with strong bipartisan support in both houses. We are well on our way to enacting this bill into law and to restoring the public's faith in the way we do business here at the Capitol. I intend to push for final passage of the bill at the earliest possible date."

Terrill: Democrats Refuse Grocery Sales Tax Cut

House Democrats procedurally killed an amendment today that would have eliminated the state sales tax on groceries in Oklahoma.

Rep. Randy Terrill (left), author of an omnibus tax cut bill that passed today, attempted to suspend the rules to file an amendment to his bill that would have ended state sales tax on groceries. A suspension of rules takes a two-thirds vote of the House. But, the suspension failed because 42 House Democrats either voted against or failed to vote to add the amendment to the bill.

"Their unwillingness to suspend the rules came as a shock and surprise to me given that they have previously voiced support for the removal of the sales tax on groceries," said Terrill, R-Moore. "Refusing to allow the rules suspension for the purpose of attaching an amendment to do just that is hypocritical to say the least. What I find particularly surprising is that Rep. Richard Morrissette, who earlier in the day proclaimed his support for the sales tax elimination, refused to vote though he was physically present in the House chamber, even after being reminded that failure to vote is a direct violation of House rules."

House Democrats also killed the emergency on the bill, which means the back-to-school sales tax expansion will not go into effect for the school year this fall.

"Apparently House Democrats want to see Oklahoma parents paying state sales tax on school supplies for at least another year," said Terrill.

House Approves Sales Tax Holiday Expansion

The House has voted to expand the sales tax holiday for parents making back-to-school purchases for their children.

House Bill 3358, by Rep. Randy Terrill, expands Oklahoma's"sales tax holiday," conducted the first full weekend of each August, to include a tax break on school supplies.

The legislation also reduces the franchise tax on small businesses and guarantees the income tax cuts promised by Governor Henry and the Legislature in previous sessions.

House Bill 3358 would repeal the state's 4.5 percent sales tax on the purchase of school supplies so long as the combined purchases total no more than $100.

The holiday would cover items including binders, book bags, calculators, tape, crayons, erasers, glue, highlighters, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, rulers and many other items.

The current tax holiday applies only to sales of clothing and footwear valued at less than $100 apiece.

Garbage In, Garbage Out: The Lost Ogle Gets It Wrong

Rep. Sally Kern's remarks about homosexuals have spurred numerous attacks on her, including the false accusation that she has a gay son and today, a local blog titled "The Lost Ogle" perpetuates the lie by quoting an out-of-state blog that specializes in publishing garbage.

The assertion that Kern has a gay son surfaced in Oklahoma on the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, http://www.demookie,com/, last week, when posters claimed a court document from Shawnee proved it and attempted to portray Kern as a hypocrite. The 19-year-old document, however, concerns a man who was an adult at the time and not Kern's son, who was not yet even a teenager in 1989, a check of the record (from the Oklahoma Supreme Court Network) shows.

To DemoOkie's credit, administrator Tim Reese finally checked into the assertion (as did TMRO and found it to be untrue) and essentially ended the string by reporting, "I think the OSCN.com link is a different one. I think Sally's son is Jessa A Kern , 31 from Shawnee. The OSCN Link is for a different Jesse Jacob Kern...." To Reese's discredit, he's the one who started the string in the first place by posting the assertion without checking it out.

In other words, a careless assumption that the record involved Kern's son, without determining it to be true, has resulted in a black eye not for Kern but for those who attack her and her family. ~ Mike McCarville

Ferraro Exits Clinton Campaign Over Obama Remarks

Geraldine Ferraro stepped down Wednesday from an honorary post in Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign amid a controversy regarding her comments that Barack Obama wouldn't be succeeding in the presidential race if he weren't black.

Ferraro, one of Clinton's top volunteer fundraisers, had fought suggestions that her remarks were racially-tinged and for several days refused to apologize. Clinton said she disagreed with the remarks, but took no action herself to remove Ferraro from the campaign.

Senate Passes Right To Fish And Hunt Resolution

The State Senate unanimously passed Senate Joint Resolution 38 by Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee that acknowledges the inherent right of Oklahoma citizens to hunt and fish.

The resolution will add a new section to the State Constitution that gives all Oklahomans the right to hunt, trap, fish, and take game and fish. The legislation would not allow state laws to prohibit anyone from engaging in such activities.

“Our state has a rich hunting and fishing heritage that deserves protection. Sadly, the rights of hunters and fishers are under attack across the country. For example, in some states, animal rights activists are trying to halt fishing by seeking legislation declaring that fish feel pain. To protect Oklahomans from this kind of nonsense in the future, SJR 38 gives the people of Oklahoma a chance to vote to add the right to hunt and fish to the protections of our constitution,” Coffee said.

Senate Approves Religious Expression Measure

Senator Jonathan Nichols has won overwhelming approval for a measure to protect the right of victims to discuss their religious beliefs or reference the bible when giving impact statements in court. The measure, Senate Bill 2004, was approved Wednesday 43 to 2.

Nichols said he filed the legislation in response to last year’s decision by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to overturn the death penalty in the Trooper Nikky Joe Green murder trial.

The Court reversed the imposition of the death penalty for Green’s killer, Ricky Ray Malone, in part because Green’s widow referenced God and the Bible in her impact statement.

“There was absolutely nothing in state law that prevented Mrs. Green from discussing her faith during her impact statement,” said Nichols, R-Norman. “”My legislation protects the rights of victims to talk about their belief in God or the Bible.”

Military Income Tax Break A Step Closer

Oklahoma military members are one step closer to getting an income tax break with approval of House Bill 2706, by Rep. Fred Jordan, would increase the income tax deduction formilitary income from $1,500 to $5,000 for all active, reserve, and National Guard service members.

With the new $5,000 exemption, Jordan said 75 percent of National Guard members and reservists will pay little to no state tax on their military income.

Senate Approves Lottery Privatization Bill

The Senate today approved a bill that could privatize the state’s education lottery.

Senator John Ford said the lottery has not made as much money for education as supporters had claimed. He said privatization might create a more efficient operation.

"Senate Bill 2173 calls for the creation of an eight-person Oklahoma Lottery Asset Review Board to determine whether privatization could result in better revenues for education,” Ford said. “If six of the eight members agree that it would and the governor then concurs with their findings, a private company would then take over the operation of the lottery.”

Ford, who represents Craig, Nowata and Washington Counties, said the state would still maintain ongoing oversight. If the company failed to meet the terms and standards negotiated by the Lottery Asset Review Board, the state would terminate the contract.

Ford said his legislation would not change the current distribution of the Oklahoma Education Lottery Trust Fund. The measure now goes to the House for further consideration.

GM Plant Acquisition Bond Issue Vote Date Approved

The Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners today unanimously approved setting a May 13, 2008, election date for a five-proposition bond issue totaling $84.5 million. The largest portion of the bond vote is a $55 million proposition allowing Oklahoma County to acquire the former Oklahoma City General Motors plant for use by Tinker Air Force base.

The County plans to enter into a long-term lease agreement with Tinker Air Force Base for use of the facility, but Oklahoma County voters must first approve the $55 million General Obligation bond issue.

The average cost to approve Tinker’s expansion into the plant for property owners of a $100,000 home in Oklahoma County is 82-cents per month for the 15-year bond.

Oklahoma's Metro Roads Among Nation's Worst

A new national study shows that major roads in Oklahoma's metro centers are among the nation's worst, Rep. Mike Thompson said today, adding that the report shows the need to ensure more tax dollars are used for road repair and maintenance.

He has filed legislation this year, House Bill 3342, to require that all car tag and other motor vehicle fees now diverted to other uses be dedicated to road maintenance.

"It's time for our road taxes to start funding road repair," said Thompson, an Oklahoma City Republican who chairs the House Transportation Subcommittee. "It's a simple concept that the majority ofOklahomans endorse - as many as 81 percent of Oklahomans support thisproposal in some polls."

According to TRIP, a national transportation research group, Oklahoma's roads are among the worst in the nation.

TRIP's report, "Keep Both Hands on the Wheel: Metro Areas With the Roughest Rides and Strategies to Make Our Roads Smoother," ranked Oklahoma City in the top 10 metro areas with the greatest share of major roads and highways with pavements in poor condition.

The report found that 41 percent of major Oklahoma City roads are in poor condition and that 40 percent of roads in Tulsa are just as bad.

Interstates, freeways and other critical local routes were included inthe state.

TRIP estimated that Oklahoma drivers pay additional expenses for vehicle maintenance as a result of Oklahoma's bad roads. The report estimates drivers pay an additional $682 per year because of Tulsa's crumbling roads and an additional $661 in Oklahoma City.

"Bad roads are an in direct tax on working families," Thompson said. "It's time we used the direct road taxes they already pay up front to improve the state's highways and bridges."

Thompson's bill passed the House on a 99-0 vote and now awaits a vote from the state Senate.

Lottery Redistribution Bill Wins House Approval

The House today passed a bill that will change how money from Oklahoma's lottery is distributed to public schools.

The bill, by Midwest City Republican Rep. Gary Banz, was approved by a vote of 85-16. It now goes to the Senate.

House Bill 1441 would require that lottery money for public schools be collected first and then distributed to schools based on the number of students in each district. School districts would receive monthly lottery payments, according to an amendment filed with the bill.

Estimates now are made on how much the lottery will bring in and then the money is included in the state's school funding formula, making it difficult to determine how much each individual district receives from the lottery.

Is It Desperation Time In The Clinton Campaign?

From The Hill ~ After falling further behind in the delegate count Tuesday night, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) intensified her push Wednesday morning to seat delegates from Michigan and Florida.

The Clinton campaign has apparently decided that there are two options they would accept: “Either honor the results or hold new primary elections.”

The Clinton campaign sent a letter to rival Sen. Barack Obama’s (Ill.) campaign manager David Plouffe Wednesday, asking the Obama campaign “to join us in our efforts to ensure that these votes are counted.”

In addition, at a speech Wednesday morning at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Washington, Clinton said that Michigan and Florida primary voters “are in danger of being excluded from our democratic process and I think that’s wrong.”

Repeating her assertion that the votes should either be counted or new elections should be held, Clinton said: “I don’t see any other solutions that are fair and honor the commitment that 2 and a half million voters made in the Democratic primaries in those two states.”

In the letter to Plouffe, Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams said the campaign is “in active consultation with all of our supporters in Florida, including members of Congress.

“In Michigan, we are in active consultation with the committee appointed by Gov. [Jennifer] Granholm,” Williams wrote.

For its part, the Obama campaign noted in a memo Wednesday morning that the Illinois senator’s wins in Mississippi Tuesday night and Wyoming last Saturday have effectively erased whatever delegates Clinton won back with her victory in Ohio last week.

The Obama campaign said Clinton continues to face a nearly impossible mathematical challenge, and she is grasping at straws in her search for delegates.

CNN Confirms TMRO's Report Of Obama Texas Win

From The Political Machine ~ The Texas Secretary of State will release the official results of the Democratic primary on March 29th.

But if initial estimates hold, Barack Obama will beat Hillary Clinton in the race for delegates.

CNN confirms what others, including The McCarville Report Online (March 6, March 8), have been reporting for days: (CNN) — Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has won the Texas Democratic caucuses and will get more delegates out of the state than his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, who won the state's primary, according to CNN estimates.

While Clinton won the state's popular vote, Obama racked up more caucus support, so that, now that the dust is settling, the Lone Star state's delegate total reads: Obama: 61 delegates from the popular vote + 38 delegates from caucuses = 99 delegates. Clinton: 65 delegates from the popular vote + 29 delegates from Caucuses = 94 delegates.

So news people can now stop saying "two big wins in Ohio and Texas."

Big win in Ohio, sure, but not Texas. Yes, Clinton could still pull it out, but that seems increasingly unlikely. A further analysis of the delegate race over at DailyKos reveals that Clinton's supposedly big week has actually resulted in a net loss of 15 delegates to the front-runner. That's right, Obama continued to widen his delegate lead. Add to that another 6 delegate cushion after Mississippi, as well as another 99,000-vote-advantage to buttress Obama's overall lead in the popular vote, and one gets the feeling that Obama's momentum didn't really subside as much as was reported.

Concealed Carry Applications Soar In Colorado

Colorado Springs, CO ~ Applications for concealed-weapon permits have skyrocketed in Colorado, with the increase fueled by everything from heavily publicized mass shootings to routine renewals, according to the state's sheriffs.

In 2007, 9,880 people statewide sought permits, compared with 6,649 people in 2006 and 6,670 people in 2005, according to the County Sheriffs of Colorado.

And the surge has continued into 2008 in several counties.

Law-enforcement experts have different ideas on why more people want to carry concealed weapons. Some believe it is due to a rash of violent outbreaks at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University and a mall in Utah.

Some sheriff's offices believe churches concerned about protecting their flocks are seeking concealed-carry permits. Another official believes many of the initial batch of five-year permits in the state are expiring soon and that people are simply renewing applications. Those seeking permits are not required to explain why they want to carry a weapon. Whatever the reason, the trend is real.

Applications for concealed-carry weapon permits in El Paso County rose 87 percent in 2007, fueled partly by several highprofile violent incidents locally and nationwide, said Sheriff Terry Maketa.

Permit applications rose 50 percent statewide and more than doubled in 18 of Colorado's 64 counties, according to a report issued Monday by County Sheriffs of Colorado.

Executive Director Don Christensen downplayed violence as a reason permit applications were up, noting the 2003 law mandating statewide concealed-carry permitting required that anyone who had a local permit before the law went into effect had to renew it by June 2007.

But Maketa said that of the 2,101 permits issued in El Paso County in 2007, roughly 75 percent were from new applications rather than renewals. El Paso County issued the highest number of concealed-weapon permits of any county in the state in 2007, but it is also the most populated, according to the 2006 Census.

Maketa said the greatest spikes in applications over the past year have come right after well-publicized incidents of violence.

After the February 2007 mall shooting in Utah, applications rose from 81 in February to 191 in March. Then, after the April rampage in which a gunman killed 32 people at Virginia Tech, applications went up from 174 in April to the year's monthly high, 210 applications, in May.

The trend continued after the December shooting of two sisters at New Life Church. Applications rose from 123 in December to 171 in January to 294 in February, according to figures from the Sheriff's Office.

The spike in the number of murders in Colorado Springs and a spate of legislative bills that cut into gun rights last year also factored into the equation, Maketa said.

He said he is not concerned about the growing number of legally armed people in the county. In fact, he said he believes law-abiding citizens make the region safer by getting the permits.

"Actually, I wish it was a higher number, because I know from experience that offenders in the jail system tell me they avoid crimes against people because they know there is a very high concealed-carry rate," Maketa said.

"People want to defend themselves," said Doug Davis, president of the Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition. "That's why they get permits."

State's Unemployment Rate Declined In January

State officials say Oklahoma's unemployment rate fell slightly in January.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission released figures that show the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the state declined by 0.1 percent to 4.2 percent in January.

Hooker Brings Spitzer To His Knees

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned today after being told he'd likely be impeached for his involvement with a high-dollar hooker and the expensive call-girl service with which she was linked.

The scandal that brought the former New York attorney general to his knees erupted when documents linking him to the prostitution ring were leaked to New York newspapers. Spitzer, a Democrat, built his career as a crusader against all things criminal and immoral; today, he admitted he'd failed his own test.

Democrats Get Nasty As Ferraro Plays Race Card

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama assailed as "slice and dice" politics Geraldine Ferraro's assertion that he wouldn't be where he is in the presidential race if he weren't black.

It's the latest exchange in what has become a nasty back-and-forth between the two Democratic trailblazers - Obama, seeking to be the nation's first black president, and Ferraro, who was the first woman on a major party presidential ticket in 1984 - continued for a second day as they made appearances on network and cable morning news programs.

"Part of what I think Geraldine Ferraro is doing, and I respect the fact that she was a trailblazer, is to participate in the kind of slice and dice politics that's about race and about gender and about this and that, and that's what Americans are tired of because they recognize that when we divide ourselves in that way we can't solve problems," Obama said on NBC's "Today" show.

Ferraro, who was Walter Mondale's vice presidential running mate, said Wednesday that her remarks were not racist and had been taken out of context. She accused Obama's campaign of twisting her remarks to undercut his rival for the Democratic nomination, Senator Hillary Clinton.

Clinton said she disagrees with Ferraro's remarks, but she has not cut ties with her as Obama did with an adviser whose comments about Clinton being a "monster" set off another firestorm.

Rinehart Draws Democrat Opponent In Reelection Bid

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart has another opponent this year, and he's no stranger.

Jim Dickinson, a Harrah Democrat, ran against Rinehart in 2004 and got 47 percent of the vote against the incumbent Republican. Dickinson is a former Harrah city councilman who owns a construction business.

Also opposing Rinehart is Republican J. D. Johnston, the former mayor of Bethany.

Rinehart's tenure has been marked by controversy; he faces multiple felony charges as a result of allegations made about the financing of his 2004 campaign.

No Black Bear Hunt After All, Dorman Says

From The Associated Press ~ Legislation that would have created a special license for hunting black bears in Oklahoma will not be heard in the House over concerns about conservation of the animals, which were almost extinct from the state a century ago, the measure's author said Tuesday.

"Smokey and Yogi are safe for one more year," said the measure's author, Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs.

Dorman's bill would have created a new licensing procedure within the Department of Wildlife Conservation for hunting black bears. Conservation officials have said the bears' numbers have rebounded in southeastern Oklahoma and that they are becoming a nuisance in some areas. But Dorman said re-examination of the black-bear population indicates that there are too few in the state to sustain an annual hunt.

Made-in-the-USA Flag Bill Passes Senate Unanimously

The State Senate unanimously approved a bill that requires state agencies and public school districts to purchase and display American and Oklahoma flags that were manufactured solely in the United States.

Senator John Sparks, author of Senate Bill 2070, said the plan is patriotic and is the right thing to do as a sign of support for Americans who have served and are currently serving in the armed forces.

With votes still being counted, Barack Obama appears headed to a double-digit win over Hillary Clinton in Mississippi's Democratic primary for president.

Republican John McCain also appears an easy victor and with about 30 percent of the vote counted, had about 80 percent of the GOP vote.

Coburn Rips IRS Check's-in-the-mail Letter

Senator Tom Coburn today expressed his frustration with a reported Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plan to waste $42 million in taxpayer dollars to tell individuals they might receive an economic stimulus check.

Coburn’s comments come after reports that the IRS will spend nearly $42 million to send a single letter to individuals who filed a tax return and may receive a tax rebate check from the federal government.

“There is no need to spend $42 million on a letter to tell individuals they will be receiving a check from the federal government. Perhaps the IRS should also inform taxpayers of their share of the $9 trillion national debt, which as of today is more than $30,000 per American. Congress should be ashamed of itself for approving a ‘stimulus’ bill that included funding for this wasteful mailing. The IRS should instead ask Congress for permission to use this funding to crack down on fraud and close the tax gap,” said Coburn.

Sykes' 'Tagging' Bill Wins Senate Approval

The Senate on Tuesday approved a measure to increase penalties for the malicious injury or destruction of private property.

Senator Anthony Sykes, author of the legislation, said the bill is a response to the growing problem of ‘tagging’, or the defacing or destruction of property with graffiti.

Sykes said the crime is not only becoming an increasingly more frequent nuisance in urban areas but is also occurring in Oklahoma’s smaller communities.

“This is no longer a problem limited to our metro areas,” said Sykes. “It’s spreading through the state’s rural areas and it’s important that we establish stronger penalties to create an adequate deterrent. This bill would ensure that prosecutors have the ability to hand out punishment fitting the crime.”

The bill would establish a felony for damage, defacement or destruction resulting in an aggregate loss greater than $1,000.

Sykes explained that under current law, a criminal may commit numerous ‘tagging’ violations and be charged with a series of misdemeanors. Under SB 1663, District Attorneys would be able to charge offenders with a felony if the aggregate damage meets the $1,000 threshold.

Leftwich's GPS Tracking Bill Gets Senate Approval

A bill proposing the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) to protect domestic abuse victims passed by a unanimous vote today in the Oklahoma State Senate. Authored by Senator Debbe Leftwich, D-OKC, Senate Bill 2163 uses available technology to better protect Oklahoma citizens.

Leftwich said using all available resources and cutting-edge technologies to make Oklahoma safer is responsible government.

“I truly believe this law will provide a higher level of defense and protection to victims of domestic abuse and violence,” Leftwich said. “Too many victims continue to be harassed and preyed upon even after successfully obtaining a court-issued restraining order against their abusers.”

Leftwich said the GPS devices, which will be issued by court order to violent offenders who have repeatedly violated protection orders, will automatically notify both the law enforcement officials, employers and the victim should a violent predator breach geographic boundaries set by the court.

Bill For New License Plates Advances In House

After almost two decades of the same license plates, legislation requiring a redesign and reissuance of Oklahoma plates overwhelmingly passed the House today.

House Bill 3326, by Rep. Ken Miller, creates a new license plate to be issued to Oklahoma vehicles in 2009 and would be the first new tag design in almost 16 years.

“The public safety of the people I represent is of utmost importance to me,” said Miller, R-Edmond. “When the Department of Public Safety tells me they need this tool, I will respond.”

License plates have a shelf life of about five years before the design material starts to deteriorate, said DPS Commissioner Kevin Ward. New plates would allow law enforcement to more easily enforce payment of motor vehicle taxes and also detect and apprehend persons who are using automobiles in criminal activity.

House Advances Information Office Bill

Technology expenses for state agencies could soon be minimized thanks to legislation approved by the Oklahoma House today.

House Bill 3145, by Rep. David Derby, R-Owasso, creates an Office of Information Services to be operated and administered by a Chief Information Director.

The bill also removes the current Information Systems Division from under the Oklahoma State Finance Office and creates a separate centralized Information Systems (IT) Division.

The Office of Information Services will have jurisdiction over the technical infrastructure of the state.

Spitzer's Call Girl Tab: $80,000

Compiled From News Reports ~ New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer faced a crescendo of calls for him to step down Tuesday as sources told The Associated Press that Spitzer had paid tens of thousands of dollars as a repeat customer of a high-priced prostitution service.

The Associated Press, quoting unnamed law enforcement officials, said Spitzer's running tab for the trysts could have been as high as $80,000.

Earlier Tuesday, the New York Post reported that Spitzer has been soliciting prostitutes at least since 2002, according to unnamed sources.

Supreme Court Limits Internet Public Records Access

By John Greiner, Capitol Bureau, The Oklahoman ~ Oklahomans’ access to court records on the Internet will be limited by rules adopted by the Oklahoma Supreme Court today.

The court said individual pleadings and other recorded documents filed in state court actions shall not be publicly displayed on the Internet. (The court specifically noted the inclusion of Social Security numbers on some documents.)

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People wanting to see this information can go to the courthouse and view it, the court added .

The rules are effective June 10.

Supreme Court Justices Yvonne Kauger and James Edmondson dissented, saying the court's decision was made with input only from court clerks while others affected by the decision -- attorneys, judges, the Legislature and the public — were not consulted.

"Courts have a responsibility to balance the risk of harm that may be rendered by the disclosure of sensitive information with the need for a fully open court record,” the dissenting opinion stated.

"I think the court and court clerks underestimated the popularity of access to those records. The public and all kinds of businesses and individuals are going to scream," said Mark Thomas of the Oklahoma Press Association.

Oklahoma County Clerk's Records Reveal Social Security Numbers; Carolynn Caudill Seeks Redaction Service

The Social Security numbers of thousands of Oklahoma County residents are available on County Clerk Carolynn Caudill's website to anyone who wants to look, apparently in violation of federal law.

The numbers are contained on numerous documents filed of record in the county and are easily found by anyone with computerized research experience.

Despite the ease with which the numbers can be found, there are no reports yet of identity theft as a result so far as could be determined.

The McCarville Report Online found the Social Security numbers of numerous prominent Oklahoma County residents with ease and in no case did we find a document where the Social Security number had been redacted, or blacked out, as is required under federal law.

In December 2006, The Oklahoman reported on Caudill's efforts to make all county records available online. The story, in part: Almost all of some 8.7 million documents — 17 million pages — are online, from mortgage documents, mineral deeds, liens and other legal "papers,” from original land patents granted after the Land Run of 1889 to last week’s property deals, said Mark Mishoe, chief deputy for County Clerk Carolynn Caudill. Universal Commercial Code documents, business and financial filings used to secure collateral, also are online for the entire state, since by statute most UCC filings in Oklahoma go to the Oklahoma County clerk. It’s taken five years, but Caudill said people in real estate and the oil-and-gas business, among others, say the process has been worth it. The conversion cost about $2.5 million — from a $5 fee assessed since 2000 on most documents filed.

While the Social Security numbers appear to have been available for several years on the clerk's site, it's been only recently that others have discovered them. Those discoveries apparently resulted in protests made to Caudill, who at tomorrow's Board of County Commissioner's meeting will request a requisition of almost $30,000 to hire a firm to begin redacting the numbers.

The board's agenda contains this item:

28. Discussion and possible action for approval of Statement of Work, HTC Global Services Inc., Redaction Quality Check Services. The scope of this project is to perform the quality check services on the redacted images provided by AMCAD and deliver the updated CVS files along with reports. Requisition No. 10807356 has been issued to HTC Global Services, Inc. in the amount of $29,900.00 from County Clerk’s Records Mgmt. & Preservation Fund/County Clerk/Professional Services Other (1152/1700/54455), contingent upon encumbrance of funds. Requested by Carolynn Caudill, Oklahoma County Clerk, and approved as to form and legality by John M. Jacobsen, Assistant District Attorney. (Document Received)

The Federal Privacy Act was amended in 1976 to require that Social Security Numbers be kept confidential by the local, state and federal government agencies that collect them and that the SSN not be disclosed, and it provides the same penalties for unlawful disclosure as for disclosure of a federal tax return: 1976 AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL PRIVACY ACT OF 1974 42 U.S.C. '405(c)(2)(C) (i) It is the policy of the United S