COMANCHE COUNTY DEMOCRAT

GOV HENRY TO BE IN LAWTON MONDAY

Governor Brad Henry is scheduled to be in Lawton on Monday, October 1st. He will be at the Great Plains Museum meeting room from 3:15 pm to 4:30. The public is invited. This is part of his 77 county tour 2006.

AARP SPONSERS GOV CANDIDATES DEBATE

Governor Brad Henry and his challenger, Congressman Ernest Istook, will debate at 7 p.m. October 23rd on KOCO . The event also is sponsored by AARP Oklahoma. It will be held in Constitution Hall in the Nigh Center on the University of Central Oklahoma campus in Edmond. Organizers hope more than 500 people attend. Tickets are free and are available on a first-come, first-served basis the night of the debate. Henry is seeking his second term as governor after winning a first term in 2002 by upsetting Republican front-runner Steve Largent. Istook is giving up a safe seat in Congress to challenge Henry.

CLARK GOES WEST TO UCLA

Link: Wesley Clark to join UCLA campus.

Look out for those Pac 10 Refs.. They have to be Republicans.

EDMONDSON WEB SITE IS UP

http://www.edmondsonagain.com/

SPIRIT OF SURVIVAL MARATHON - Medicine Park

A premier distance running event is planned to take place in the Medicine Park/Wichita Mountains Refuge on October 14-15. Runs include Mountain Marathon, Holy Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, Big Rock 10 K, Mount Scott 10K, Prairie Dog Scamper, Family Fun Run, Spirit of Survival Victory March.

If you are familiar with the area, these are no picnic in the park events. Prize money is going to be the best on the running circuit

I would recommend you park in the School House Slough area of Lake Lawtonka. Shuttle buses will take you to the Medicine Park area. Parking will be almost nonexistent in MP on these days. Lots of eating places and shops in MP and at the I44 exit.

Directions to School House Slough:  5 miles north of Lawton on I-44, 4 miles west on SH-59,
1 1/2 miles north on SH-58. If you are coming from the North on the Turnpike, take the Medicine Park exit (Love's Country Store), 4 miles west on SH-59, 1 1/2miles north on SH 58. Speed limits are enforced.

See the Spirit of Survival Marathon web site at: http://www.spiritofsurvival.com

Editor: Why is this on this web site? This will be one of the bigger events between now and election day and candidates should be out there with crews and signs campaigning.

TYNER CORNBREAD AND BEANS IS(ARE)(WAS)(WHATEVER)IN

Link: The Norman Transcript - House candidates hope to turn state blue.

IMMIGRATION: COSTS AND CARING

Link: The Norman Transcript - Immigration: Costs and caring.

While polls indicate tht the public is concerned about the immigration issue, Daisy and the Transcript are the only ones here in Oklahoma are getting the facts at the state level.

OKLAHOMA SENIORS GETTING DUNKED BECAUSE INHOFE AND COBURN REFUSED TO CLOSE MEDICARE DONUT HOLE

For Immediate September 22, 2006

Bush Republicans in the Do-Nothing Congress blocked Democratic efforts to fix critical flaws in the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, the average senior will begin hitting the so- called "donut hole" in the plan's coverage tomorrow, costing seniors and people with disabilities throughout Oklahomas thousands of dollars in out-of- pocket expenses.

The "donut hole" is a result of the fact that the plan was crafted in such a way that Medicare pays 75 percent of the participant's first $2,250 in annual prescription drug costs, but forces them to pay all of their drug costs between $2,250 and $5,100. Nearly 88 percent of Part D enrollees, roughly 7 million Americans, will fall into the donut hole, according to a new report issued by Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee, According to the report, 88,961 (83%) of Oklahoma's 107,145 Medicare beneficiaries will fall into the donut hole.

Oklahomas Bush Rubberstamps in the Republican Do-Nothing Congress could have closed the donut hole by joining Democrats in passing legislation to fix the Medicare Part D plan. Instead, Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn voted to kill a Democratic amendment in the Senate. "The fact that the Bush Congress passed a fundamentally flawed prescription drug plan that only benefited their drug company cronies was inexcusable, but the refusal of loyal Bush Rubberstamps like Inhofe and Coburn to join Democrats in trying to fix this mess was an absolute tragedy," said Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Lisa Pryor. "Time after time, Inhofe and Coburn have put their partisan loyalties and special interest friends ahead of the people of Oklahoma. With thousands of our seniors falling into a donut hole that the Bush Republicans refused to close, the need for a new direction in Congress could hardly be clearer, Pryor said.

Democrats are committed to providing a new direction in health care policy-one that puts working families ahead of the special interests, fights to reduce the cost of health care, and works to create a health care system that works for everyone."

BAYH WEB SITE OPENED

Presidential Candidate
Evan Bayh has opened a web site at :

http://www.allamericapac.com

DEMOCRAT HEADQUARTERS OPENS

Comanche County Democrat Chair Mike Weddington announced that the County Headquarters has been opened at 816 West Gore Blvd. here in Lawton. The purpose of the headquarters is the create a communications and supply center for the general election. It is staffed by experienced volunteers who should be able to supply answers to most of your questions or find someone who can. All of the candidates have left signs and campaign materials for distribution to interested and responsible parties. If you want signs for your candidates in your yard please let us know.

Telephone number is: 580 250 1554

The Party wishes to express its appreciation to Allen Johnson for making the location available and to the Lawton Firefighters for the large location sign.

PHOTOS TO THE LEFT IN ALBUMS (Click on Photos to Magnify)

NEWBIE SENATORS CHANGING WASHINGTON

Newbie Senators Changing Washington

September 18, 2006

Some politicians go to Washington and quickly become immersed in the establishment. But this year, two freshman U.S. Senators are changing the way Washington operates.

In 2004 Oklahoma and Illinois both elected new people to serve in the "World's Most Exclusive Club"--otherwise known as the U.S. Senate. Ever since, Oklahoma's Tom Coburn (a Republican) and Illinois' Barack Obama (a Democrat) have been collaborating to reform the legislative system.

This week, their efforts paid off when the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, which was co-authored by the two newbie Senators, passed both the U.S. House and Senate. President Bush has promised to sign the bill into law.

The bill (what Sen. Coburn calls the "Google Government" bill) would require the federal government to establish a website listing every person and group, along with their location, that receives federal grants and contracts. This database will allow every person to cast a more watchful eye over how the federal government spends our tax dollars, and consequently hold our elected officials accountable.

Naturally, establishing such a database is not free. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the website will cost $15 million over the next five years. But the increased transparency of federal spending could lead to savings that dwarf this amount. After all, it is a lot easier to waste money when no one knows how it is being spent. Like mold, wasteful spending dislikes the sunshine.

Of course this bill is far from a panacea for Congress' spendthrift ways. Congress still needs to act to eliminate the special "earmarks" that allow members to spend millions of dollars on wasteful pork projects. The Citizens Against Government Waste (www.cagw.org)--a conservative government watchdog group--notes that earmarks have exploded over the last few years to a record $29 billion in 2005! Last year taxpayers helped fund such notable events as the World Toilet Summit and the Teapot Museum in Sparta, North Carolina.

Not surprisingly, the Republican-leadership in Congress is unwilling to make substantial reforms to the appropriations process. Instead of eliminating earmarks altogether, this last week House Republicans announced that for all earmarks this year (and only this year), they will link every earmark with the Member who requested it. Far from being a step forward, this move allows those Members who brag about the pork they bring to their home districts to now have evidence to support their claims!

To me though, this is evidence that we need new leadership in Congress. We need leaders from both political parties to be less concerned about Republicans and Democrats, and be more concerned about right and wrong. We need leaders who will fight against waste, and for a brighter future. This week, Sens. Coburn and Obama gave me hope that those leaders exist.

Mickey A. Hepner, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Director of UCO Policy Institute
University of Central Oklahoma
Department of Economics
100 N. University Dr.
Thatcher Hall, Room 222
Edmond, OK 73034-5209
Phone: 405.974.2829
Fax: 405.974.3853
www.busn.ucok.edu/mhepner

ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN INHOFE?

Jim “ Iraq is nothing short of a miracle” Inhofe Could Take Over Armed Services Committee

There has been much speculation lately over which Senators would take over which committees when Congress convenes next session. Due to term limits, some senators are being forced to step down and others will rise to the helm. Interestingly enough, this could mean the end of Jim Inhofe’s reign as Environment and Public Works Committee chairman, but unfortunately could elevate him to the powerful position of Armed Services Committee chair. Yes, that’s right, the same man who called what’s happened in Iraq “nothing short of a miracle” would be in charge of all defense related issues.

According to a recent story in Roll Call, Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) will have to step down as Armed Services chairman due to Republican term limits. But, according to the article, “Warner may have the option to oust Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) from the chairmanship of the Environment and Public Works Committee, because Warner outranks him.”

Now, I know what you’re thinking…this calls for a celebration! But don’t whip out those party hats just yet. When Warner steps down, Sen. John McCain is expected to take over. But, McCain is largely expected to run for president in 2008, and many have questioned whether or not he can juggle such an important chairmanship while running for the highest government office in the country. So, another senator may have to take over for him. “And, eventually, if McCain remains a viable candidate in the presidential race, he could take a leave of absence from the chairmanship and choose an interim successor. One option may be Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the third-most-senior Republican on the committee.” (Arizona Republic, 9/19/06)

That’s a little bit scary. Jim Inhofe doesn’t exactly have the sanest record when it comes to defense. Just for fun, let’s review:

Inhofe claims that what’s has happened in Iraq is “nothing short of a miracle”
Recently, Inhofe said that “what’s happened [in Iraq ] is nothing short of a miracle.” This has largely been contradicted by both newspapers and testimonials from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. This, even though Inhofe has been to Iraq 11 times. ( Tulsa World, 8/22/06)

Inhofe said “civil war is not going on” in Iraq.

Earlier this month, Inhofe gave a grossly inaccurate picture of the state of the Iraq war on the Senate floor. He argued that immense progress had been made, that violence was not, in fact, quickly escalating, and that Iraqis were actually quite happy about the American presence. “Civil war is not going on,” Inhofe insisted. (Congressional Record, 9/6/06) This in the face of a dismal Pentagon report that asserted, “Conditions that could lead to civil war exist in Iraq , specifically in and around Baghdad , and concern about civil war within the Iraqi civilian population has increased in recent months.” (Associated Press, 9/1/06)

Inhofe was more “outraged by the outrage” over the Abu Ghraib prison controversy than by the abuse itself.

During the hearings on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in 2004, Inhofe created quite the stir when he said he was fed up with all the “humanitarian do- gooders” making such a fuss over the inhumane treatment of prisoners. ( Washington Post, 5/12/04) He said he was “more outraged by the outrage” than by the treatment of the prisoners. ( New York Times, 5/12/04)

Inhofe is displeased with the conditions at Guantanamo …because they’re too nice!

After visiting the compound at Guantanamo Bay , Inhofe said that the conditions were much better than the prisoners deserved. “We’re dealing with terrorists here,” he said. ( Wichita Eagle, 1/26/02)

Inhofe suggested that the 9-11 attacks were a form of divine retribution against America for failing to defend Israel

In a speech on the Senate floor in 2002, Inhofe explicitly suggested that the 9-11 attacks were a form of divine retribution against the US for failing to adequately defend Israel . “One of the reasons I believe the spiritual door was opened for an attack against the United States of America is that the policy of our Government has been to ask the Israelis, and demand it with pressure, not to retaliate in a significant way against the terrorist strikes that have been launched against them." He went on to cite the most important reason for defending Israel : “Because God said so.” (Congressional Record, 3/4/02)

Really? This is the guy they’re going to choose to serve as the chair of the Armed Services Committee? Be afraid, be very afraid.

Cross-posted at SenateMajority.com

Tori Wender

Senate Majority Project

202-204-9054

twender@senatemajority.com

www.senatemajority.com

JIM IN HOT WATER - Controversial Author Invited

It seems Jim Inhofe is up to old tricks in the Environment and Public Works Committee. Tomorrow, the committee Inhofe chairs will hold a hearing on the Asia-Pacific Partnership, a six country agreement to boost private investment in climate technologies. The partnership is designed to help member nations reach strategies for improving energy security, reducing pollution, and addressing climate change.

Inhofe has decided to invite as his star witness Bjorn Lomborg, controversial author and professor, best known for his book The Skeptical Environmentalist, which was widely criticized by environmental scientists. (Greenwire, 9/18/06) Looks like this could be a Michael Crichton repeat!

The Skeptical Environmentalist challenged the claims of the world’s environmentalists, characterizing them as grossly exaggerated. The book received much criticism from the scientific community. (Oregonian, 8/21/06) In fact, after a group of scientists brought formal complaints against the assertions made in the book, the Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty, a body under Denmark ’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, found that the book was scientifically dishonest, citing among other things: fabrication of data, distorted interpretation of conclusions, plagiarism, and deliberate misinterpretation of others’ results. (BBC News, 12/22/03)

A number of science publications, including Scientific American, Grist, and Nature Magazine published extensive criticism of the book. The Nature critique argued, “the text employs the strategy of those, who, for example, argue that gay men aren’t dying of AIDS, that Jews weren’t singled out by the Nazis for extermination, and so on.” (Nature, 11/8/01)

In addition, the Union of Concerned Scientists strongly criticized the book, claiming it to be “seriously flawed and fail[ing] to meet basic standards of credible scientific analysis.”

It is no wonder that Jim Inhofe, renowned climate change skeptic, invited someone like Bjorn Lomborg to testify at a hearing concerning climate change and pollution reduction. After all, this is not the first time this has happened. In a 2005 Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on climate change, Inhofe called as his star witness author Michael Crichton, and tried to make his book, State of Fear, required reading for all senate members, arguing, “while ‘State of Fear’ is a novel, it is fiction, the footnotes are incontrovertibly scientific.” (Congressional Transcripts, 9/28/05)

In fact, the book had been largely dismissed by the scientific community and the science employed in the book was dismissed as distorting actual research. “The best face I can put on this is he doesn’t know what he’s doing. The worst is that he’s intentionally deceiving people as he accuses environmentalists (of doing) in ‘State of Fear ,’” said NYU physics professor Martin Hoffert. ( Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 1/28/05)

With Inhofe at the helm and skeptic Bjorn Lomborg the featured guest, this promises to be a circus hearing aimed largely at debunking the current science on climate change and global warming.

Tori Wender

Senate Majority Project

202-204-9054

twender@senatemajority.com

www.senatemajority.com

OPEN DOOR POLICY - by Rep. Joe Dorman

It is now the school year in full swing and many activities are gearing up. I know the Elgin FFA Labor Auction is set for Saturday, September 30th and many other school groups are starting to get their activities coordinated. Thursday, September 21 will be Cyril's Centennial, so try to make it out to their celebration. Hard work has been put into both these events and I know you will not be disappointed if you can make it.

I had the privilege this past week of attending several events in Washington, D.C. The State Chamber of Commerce held briefings regarding Homeland Security and potential new laws at the federal level. I was the only state legislator to attend these meetings and was honored to represent our area. This trip came out of my campaign account, so no government dollars covered this trip. I felt it was important to partake in these discussions and learn more about these upcoming issues.

The interim study regarding PTSD went very well and I hope we will see movement towards adequate funding on this issue. I have two upcoming studies regarding education issues that will be held over the next two weeks. These studies allow for legislators to learn more about the issues that could possibly be legislation in the upcoming year.

Last week, I had the honor of speaking to two different schools regarding civic involvement. I spoke to Ninnekah on Friday morning regarding Constitution Day and the importance on being active in voting. I also spoke to Mid-America Career Tech about civic involvement and the importance to participating in community activities. These students are preparing for careers and they also need the interaction with charities and civic groups to round out their education. Career Techs provide a great opportunity to advance towards a selected career and we are fortunate in Oklahoma to have the best system in the nation.

It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. I can be reached locally at (580) 476-2626, my e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work.

CHANNEL FLIPPER - Obama Causes Political Storm in Iowa

C Span covered Obama's trip to Iowa where he appeared on behalf of a Iowa candidate whose name I can't remember. The channel showed over six hours of repeats of his speech and interaction with crowd. He's not ready for prime time but he sure is getting there. The Iowa voters may be still looking for the fresh face.

MEETING LOCATION CHANGED

Meeting place for the September 18 Comanche County Democrats has been changed to Crockett's Smokehouse 1508 West Gore Blvd. Meeting will begin at 6:30.

SENATE REVIEW by Senator Randy Bass

There are many responsibilities that come with serving you in the State Senate that I especially enjoy. Among those are being invited to participate in events throughout the district that add so much to the quality of life here in District 32. These events promote tourism, the arts, culture, food and a spirit of community.

Later this month I'll be participating in the 27th annual International Festival in Lawton. Cultures from all over the world will be represented at the festival, which begins on Friday, September 22nd and runs through Sunday, the 24th. The three-day festival kicks off at the Lawton Public Library Plaza at 4th Street and B Avenue.

This festival makes it possible for all of us to learn more about many of the cultures represented in our great state and experience their food, art, music, dances and more. One of the most special events taking place during the International Festival will be on Friday the 22nd "with a Naturalization Ceremony where area residents will officially become American citizens.

While the main events begin on the 22nd, there is an event coming up this weekend that will usher in the festival. On Saturday evening, September 16th, there will be a kite flight. There is a long tradition of kites in countries like Bali and Thailand and in the Polynesian islands. In Korea kites are flown to announce the birth of a child. In Japan, colorful windsocks are flown on Children's Day. Now these traditions will be celebrated each year as a kick-off to our own International festival. The kite flight will begin at 5 p.m. If you'd like to come, bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets blankets and of course kites. At 7 p.m., on the Percussive Arts Society and Museum's patio, the 77th Army band will perform a free concert.
There will be many more performances throughout the festival the following weekend, including music by a Celtic group from Texas called Beyond the Pale, Brave Combo, The Dallas Czech Orchestra, the Polka Kings and more. There will be dancers performing traditional dances of Mexico, the Ukraine, Hawaii, as well as demonstrations of martial arts, clowns and other entertainers.

This is an educational, fun event with something for everyone to enjoy. I hope that you'll plan to attend the International Festival this year—and make plans to return next year.

As always if you have a question about a legislative matter, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (405) 521-5567 or by email at bass@oksenate.gov

STEPHENS COUNTY DEMS OPEN HQ

Link: The Duncan Banner - Local Dems open headquarters.

HOWARD AND BILL SAY - Volunteer to be a HQ Host

Howard and Bill need some experienced volunteers to act as hosts at the Democratic Headquarters. Right now it looks like the hours will be 10:00 to 6:00 Monday through Friday. If you are looking for a way to get active in local politics, pair up with a veteran and get some experience. Duties include greeting people, registering guests, handing out materials, assembling signs and help keep the place neat and clean.

Call Chair Mike at his telephone numbers listed on the web site or volunteer at the monthly meeting Monday night.

JIM IN HOT WATER - Crusade Against California Dropped

http://jiminhotwater.blogspot.com/2006/09/inhofe-drops-his-crusade-against.html

Inhofe Drops His Crusade Against California …For Now

Last week, Sen. Jim Inhofe announced that he had introduced an update to the Clean Air Act to “improve air quality for the dirtiest areas of the country.” The bill, entitled, the Clean Air Attainment Enforcement Act, was nothing more than a veiled attempt to get back at California for enacting an apparently offensive global warming legislation.
According to Inhofe’s press release, “This bill is a narrow amendment that targets only those areas of the country that are out of compliance with multiple pollutants and will not come into compliance by their attainment deadlines.” What the release doesn’t mention is that, according to the EPA’s ozone designations, the only areas affected by this legislation are the Los Angeles Basin and the San Joaquin Valley . This move came just a week after California enacted a ground breaking bill to cap emissions on manmade greenhouse gases, which Inhofe failed to hide his disdain for. As the Contra Costa Times notes, if Inhofe were anyone else, “he’d be on his dust farm throwing a tantrum.”

Apparently Inhofe realized he wasn’t fooling anyone, because, according to today’s Environment and Energy Daily, he has removed the bill from the committee’s markup agenda. Democrats objected to the bill and argued Inhofe “had not properly vetted the measure.” (Environment and Energy Daily, 9/12/06)

Perhaps Inhofe has dropped his retaliation war for now, but we’re assuming there’s much more to come from Senator Inhofe, (R-Exxon).

Tori Wender

Senate Majority Project

202-204-9054

twender@senatemajority.com

www.senatemajority.com

HQ NEEDS VOLUNTEER FIXUP HELP

County Chair Mike Weddington told us that a County Headquarters had been obtained. It will be at 816 West Gore. He would like to have some volunteers fix it up of the Grand Opening which will be our next meeting date. Please contact him for further details at the telephone number on the web site.

LOOKINGGOOD LOOKS UGLY

Link: In a Pivotal Year, GOP Plans to Get Personal.

"When you run in an adverse political environment, you try to localize and personalize the race as much as you can," Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said. In a memo released last week, Cole, who is running to succeed Reynolds at the NRCC, expanded on that strategy. The memo recommended that vulnerable incumbents spend $20,000 on a research "package" to find damaging material about challengers and urged that they "define your opponent immediately and unrelentingly."

ENCOURAGE 18 YEAR OLDS TO REGISTER

Need a way to encourage an 18 year old to register to vote? Think registering to vote will take too much time?

Now registering to vote is as easy as voting for American Idol. Using your cell phone, text the keyword "okdems" to 75444. Once you have texted "okdems" you will recieve a text message back from them, asking you a few questions. Simply text your answer back to them, and they will send you a form in the mail! Becoming a registered voter has never been easier!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor

The DNC has launched a new "Partybuilder" online tool that can help you write those letters to the editor that you've been rolling around in your head. Click here to access the tool Partybuilder.

Once you've sent your letter, let us know so we can look for it in print, and if it doesn't appear, we'll publish here on this blog.

ECONOMIC POLICY WEEKLY - New Leadership in Healthcare

Fax: (405) 974-3853

Editor: Be sure to visit this web site:

www.busn.ucok.edu/mhepner

Commentary on Today's
Economic Issues by Mickey Hepner, Ph.D.

Number 2006-35
September 11, 2006

A new government report last week confirmed that more Americans are losing their health insurance. Unfortunately, with the current leadership in Congress (in both political parties) nothing will be done to help them.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its annual report on health insurance coverage and reported that in 2005 there were 46.6 million uninsured Americans (up from 45.3 million in 2004). For children, the story is not any brighter. The Census Bureau estimates that 8.3 million children went without health insurance in 2005 compared to 7.9 million just one year earlier.

Knowing that people without health insurance are less likely to seek the health care they need, one might think that both Republicans and Democrats would be eagerly seeking some real solutions to this crisis. Yet, neither party is working towards a solution that will actually work. Democrats blame employers for not covering every worker. Republicans just bring up the war on terror.

The solution to this problem requires a major overhaul of the current health insurance system. Specifically, we have to acknowledge that employers should not be responsible for providing health insurance to employees. (I will pause here for a moment to give you a chance to get over your initial shock to my statement.)

Before you snap off your reply that I have finally succumbed to some sort of intellectual paralysis, let me defend myself. I know that nearly 60% of the population relies upon employer-sponsored health insurance...and that moving away from this system would be a dramatic change. However, I also know that our current system has too many holes, and too many problems.

For example, Starbucks spends more on employee health care than it does for raw coffee beans! Rising health care costs comprise the fastest growing portion of business costs in America today. And because many foreign firms do not face this same pressure, the rising costs place American firms at a severe disadvantage to their foreign competitors. Expecting these firms to pay even more to cover even more workers is unrealistic.

It is also inefficient. For most Americans (including me), their health insurance coverage is determined by their employer. If you ever change employers, you must also change your insurance. If you work for a small employer your insurance is more expensive than if you work for a large employer because the larger group can distribute the risk over a larger population. It does not have to be this way.

Imagine if every Oklahoman was pooled together into a giant insurance purchasing pool. Different insurance companies, offering different insurance plans, would offer those plans to every individual in the state at the best group plan rates (after all there would be 3.5 million Oklahomans in the group--much larger than any group health plan in Oklahoma today). Under such a scenario, every Oklahoman would be eligible to purchase health insurance at the most affordable group rates. If you ever change employers...there would be no need to change your insurance.

Of course there are some significant obstacles to this plan. First, Congress needs to authorize the formation of these statewide purchasing pools. Second, Congress needs to end its favorable treatment of employer-sponsored insurance plans. Currently, employer-sponsored health insurance payments are deductible from federal and state income taxes. However, other methods of purchasing health insurance do not receive this same treatment. We can change this to make all health insurance purchases tax deductible. Essentially, instead of giving the tax deduction to employers who offer health insurance...we should give the deduction directly to workers so they can purchase the health insurance they need.

Now some fear that a move away from employer-sponsored health insurance would result in firms no longer offering health insurance, and therefore would reduce the total compensation of workers. While it is true that fewer firms would offer health insurance, employee compensation would not fall. After all, the firms have already agreed to a certain level of compensation for each worker already (some in wages, some in benefits). All that would change is the composition of that compensation. The level of compensation would be unchanged. Employers would simply pay more in wages since they do not have to pay as much in benefits...leaving total compensation unchanged.

This proposal would make health insurance more affordable, more flexible, and most importantly more available for all Americans...all without expanding the role of government in our healthcare system. As a result, we would begin to see the number of uninsured Americans begin to fall. Today, we can see the promised land where every person has access to quality health care. Unfortunately, our current leaders aren't willing to take us there.

Feel free to submit your comments to mhepner@ucok.edu.

The views and opinions expressed on this page are strictly those of the author.

SENATE PASSES COBURN-OBAMA BILL (I did not make this up.)

Link: .: United States Senator Tom Coburn :: Welcome :..

ROADS SCHOLAR IS DECIDED TO BE THE SMART THING TO DO

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I have decided, Primary voters have decided, and in November voters will decide again.

In reference to the front page article “County Travel Questioned” in the September 3, 2006 issue of the Sunday Constitution. First off, show me a business that does not promote continued education and I’ll show you a failing business. Continued education, training and enhancement of personnel is performed in the offices of doctors, lawyers, educators, manufacturers, bankers, athletes, travel agents, military, state and federal elected officials and even journalists. In addition, it is proven that these personnel enhancements are ranked near the top of factors contributing to employee job satisfaction. As an elected official it is the Western District Commissioner’s responsibility and decision to determine who should be trained and what training will best benefit the residents of the Western District. It is somewhat ironic that the lead story in the Business section of the same edition of the Sunday Constitution invites business managers to attend a “laugh while you work” seminar sponsored by the Great Plains Technology Center. The article even points out that any Human Resource professionals attending can receive continuing education credit. Yet Commissioner Ulrich has to justify sending employees to various training classes, including safety training.

To address another point included in the article, at least one group of Western District citizens, living southeast of Cache, chose to pay for their county road to be chipped and sealed. Had nothing been done the county would have the continued expense of regular grading and maintenance of this road. Now that the road is chipped and sealed, it is no longer an ongoing expense for the county. This road was accepted by the previous Western District Commissioner as a gravel (dirt looking) road. When taxpayers living along this road approached Commissioner Ulrich about chipping and sealing this road, a meeting was called with all residents of Logue Road. With all residents in attendance, Commissioner Ulrich explained the lack of funding available and offered a compromise. This compromise was also the same idea the former Western District Commissioner had come up with. This compromise involved the residents of Logue Road assisting with the costs of the estimated $12,000.00 project. It only made sense for the Western District as the cost of maintenance and grading was a continuous expense. Now this road will not need maintenance for several years. Susan Ulrich made a sound, feasible and economic decision for a problem affecting taxpayers in her district. This is also known a business decision and isn’t that what voters want her to do? The continued housing growth and enhancement to roadways play a major role in the county. Property that was once on the County Property Tax Rolls at $800.00 an acre is now listed at hundreds of thousands of dollars. This only gives the county government more money to operate, but the district doesn’t get any of that to improve roadways. The dollars for roadways come from gasoline tax. If it weren’t for the improvement of roads, we would still be driving on dirt roads and may as well be in horse drawn wagons.

Getting back to the original point of the cover article, in business, management personnel may attend training for a job or subject that they may never personally utilize hands on. However, the knowledge of how, when and where is needed to ensure the greatest benefit of an expenditure, such as road repair and maintenance. The voters have elected Susan Ulrich to make those decisions on which personnel should attend training for the Western District. I applaud Commissioner Ulrich’s decision to make sure that her personnel are well trained, so they will be able to make knowledgeable choices and decisions in their jobs. Just because those that attend are females, does not mean they will not ever utilize the training. The office workers may never repair any machinery, spread gravel, pour concrete or chip and seal dusty roads, but if called upon to do so, they could. The more likely scenario would be that one of these office workers may be questioned about a process or procedure having to do with road maintenance or repair. They are now trained to give an intelligent and educated answer to those questions. Being a certified Road Scholar does not necessarily mean that they must perform the work, just like being a certified engineer does not mean they construct the building. The benefits of the training attended by Western District personnel will be determined by the progress, safety of personnel and funding of roads in the Western District. As stated in the article “you decide”, we in the Western District will decide in November on Election Day.

Proud Former Lawtonian,
Proud Current Cache Resident
Proud Comanche County Resident
Proud Team Player for SW Oklahoma
And Respectfully,
Eddie Dabney

WE WANT FREE WIRELESS-WE WANT FREE WIRELESS

Link: News from PC Magazine: Silicon Valley to Get Free Broadband.

JIM IN HOT WATER - Disses ethanol

At a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing yesterday on the possible use of ethanol, Sen. Jim Inhofe made clear his refusal to invest in alternative fuel production.

“Corn cannot be the answer,” Inhofe said, suggesting that consumers would pay additional costs as a result of ethanol production. (Reuters, 9/7/06)

What is more telling is the amount of money Inhofe has received from the oil and gas industry since he has been in office; perhaps that is who he is protecting. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Inhofe has received nearly $900,000 from the industry since 1989. Seems it would be in his best monetary interest to hate the corn…

Yet even President Bush, arguably one of the largest receivers of oil money, has endorsed the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel source. In an energy speech last year, Bush said:

“We've got to be aggressive about finding alternative sources of fuel. And one such source is ethanol. Ethanol comes from corn -- and we're pretty good about growing corn here in America , we've got a lot of good corn growers. Therefore, it makes sense to promote ethanol as an alternative to foreign sources of oil. Ethanol can be mixed with gasoline to produce a clean, efficient fuel.”

Sick of paying record gas prices while the oil and gas companies reap the benefits? Then give old Inhofe a shout. I’m sure he’d love to hear from an angry constituent.

Tori Wender

Senate Majority Project

202-204-9054

twender@senatemajority.com

www.senatemajority.com

KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION SURVEY - Perscription Drug Law Helps

Link: Yahoo! Mail Beta, geezerwebnut.

DEMOCRATS LAUNCH CHRISTIAN WEB SITE

Group hopes to dent advantage for GOP

By Frank James
Washington Bureau
Published September 6, 2006

WASHINGTON -- A group of Christian Democrats seeking to compete against Republicans for the vote of religious Americans has started a Web site meant to serve as a forum for like thinkers and a political tool to raise money and volunteers for Democratic candidates who share their values.

The new site, FaithfulDemocrats.com, is partly the brainchild of David Wilhelm, a former Democratic National Committee chairman who also managed campaigns for Mayor Richard M. Daley and President Bill Clinton.

Jesse Lava, another co-founder who worked for Wilhelm at the DNC and is an Evanston native, is the site's executive director.

"The seed was planted after '04 when there was a lot of hand-wringing going on and a lot of people were wondering how on Earth Democrats failed to convey a sense of faith and values in that election," Lava told reporters in a Tuesday teleconference.

"What David and I believed was what we needed was some vehicle that would help shape the national debate on faith and politics," Lava said.

"So the main thing was to help reframe the values debate to be beyond wedge-issue politics, beyond fear and division and more focused on justice and the common good," Lava said. "So our site is explicitly a Christian community. It is explicitly a Democratic community."

Lava said the site's founders hoped it would be a place where Christian Democrats could share ideas through blogs and other features and organize efforts to boost particular candidates who reflect their values.

National surveys have repeatedly shown that the most frequent churchgoers tend to be Republicans while those who attend church less frequently are more often Democrats.

The exception to that would be African-Americans, who comprise one of the strongest constituencies within the Democratic Party's base despite as a group having very high rates of church attendance.

Republicans have appealed to religious voters, particularly Christians, by prominently campaigning against abortion, gay marriage and other issues.

For years, progressive Christian groups such as Sojourners have tried to swing the debate away from those wedge issues and more toward such social justice issues as poverty and health care for those without insurance.

The creators of the new site say they intend to be more overtly partisan than Sojourners, filling a niche that had gone unoccupied.

This week, the group is focusing on helping Democrat Bob Casey, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania against Republican incumbent Sen. Rick Santorum. Casey holds a substantial lead in the polls over Santorum.

The goal is to use the site to raise money and volunteers for Casey this week and other candidates in future weeks leading up to the Nov. 7 elections. While the Web site's organizers hope to have an impact on the upcoming midterm election, their focus is particularly aimed at the 2008 presidential election.

One of FaithfulDemocrats.com's leaders is a Tennessee Democrat, Roy Herron, his party's leader in the state Senate.

A folksy anti-abortion advocate, Herron is a former minister who probably would be an attractive candidate to numerous people who attend the huge, conservative-oriented churches that have provided significant support to GOP candidates.

"I'm tired of politicians and partisans and preachers spelling God G-O-P," Herron told reporters Tuesday. "Now many Americans think Jesus never rode a donkey and today only rides an elephant. The truth is God cannot be held hostage by a political party. And American Christians should not be, either."

FaithfulDemocrats.com's advisory council includes such Democratic political figures as Mike McCurry, who was Clinton's press secretary, and Minyon Moore, who advised Clinton and Jesse Jackson Sr.

It also includes well-known clergymen such as Chicagoan Rev. Leon Finney, president of the Woodlawn Organization and pastor of Metropolitan Apostolic Church, and Rev. Jim Wall, an activist who also was editor of Christian Century.

JIM IN HOT WATER - Iraq Distortions

Sen. James Inhofe from Oklahoma took to the Senate floor this evening to give a grossly inaccurate picture of the state of the Iraq war. Inhofe argued that immense progress has been made in Iraq , that violence was not, in fact, on the rise, and that Iraqis are quite happy about the American presence there. “Civil war is not going on,” said Inhofe. He could not have been more wrong.

On Friday, the Pentagon released a rather dismal report on the progress that has been made in Iraq . According to the Associated Press, Iraq is experiencing a rising tide of sectarian violence, and increasing security problems. From the report, “Conditions that could lead to civil war exist in Iraq , specifically in and around Baghdad , and concern about civil war within the Iraqi civilian population has increased in recent months.”

The report also detailed how optimism among Iraqi citizens has declined as well, contrary to what Inhofe said on the floor. When asked if things will be better in the future, the number of respondents answering positively has been steadily declining, according to polling in the report. (AP, 9/1/06) Doesn’t exactly sound like the pretty picture Inhofe painted.

Inhofe went on to say that the only reason the Democratic senators were expressing this criticism is because they are all running for president. In fact, only two senators even rumored to be running for president had spoken thus far, Senator Clinton and Senator Kerry. Others included Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Carl Levin, Edward Kennedy, Mark Dayton, Barbara Mikulski, Tom Harkin, and Frank Lautenberg. Inhofe must be reading some pretty strange newspapers if he thinks they’re all running for president…

At the end of his speech, Inhofe urged his colleagues to keep politics out of the debate:

“The greatest possible disservice we can do, not just to the Iraqi people, but to our troops over there, is to use Rumsfeld and the war politically, for advancement.”

This from a Republican? Maybe Inhofe should direct his comments elsewhere, like to those in his own party, as they have openly admitted that they will use the issues of national security to better their chances of winning in November.

Sadly, Inhofe’s mischaracterizations shouldn’t be all that surprising. After all, it is certainly not the first time this has happened. Remember that “nothing short of a miracle” comment?

Tori Wender

Senate Majority Project

202-204-9054

twender@senatemajority.com

www.senatemajority.com

CANDIDATES FORUM SET FOR OCTOBER 17

On Oct 17, 2006 the League of Women Voters will host a candidates forum at 6:00 PM.
The location for this event will be at the Great Plains Technology Center. The county party will actively promote this event and I ask that all Democrats come and support our candidates. This will be a non-partisan forum and will be moderated by a neutral party (probably Jan Stratton). Candidates from both sides of the aisle will be in attendance. Hope to see everyone there.
Mike Weddington
Comanche County Democratic Party
Chair

ECONOMIC POLICY WEEKLY

Commentary on Today's Economic Issues by Mickey Hepner, Ph.D.

Number 2006-34

Earned Income Credit is Better Alternative Than Increasing the Minimum Wage

September 4, 2006

This is the last in a series of four columns on the minimum wage.

Faithful readers by now know that I am not a big fan of increasing the minimum wage. This does not mean though, that I think we should ignore the plight of those families living in poverty. There are just better alternatives to help them than by increasing the minimum wage.

Raising the minimum wage forces firms to pay higher wages for the lowest-paid workers in our society. In the worst-case scenario (which most economists believe is the most likely), firms respond to these higher costs by reducing the employment opportunities for minimum wage workers. In such a case, raising the minimum wage actually harms the very people it is designed to help.

In the best-case scenario (which a few economists believe is the most likely) there would be limited job losses. Instead, these optimists argue that most of these low-wage workers would enjoy the benefits of higher wages, thereby dramatically improving their standard of living. But even in this best-case scenario, the true benefits to low-wage workers are more illusory than real.

You see, families that attempt to support families on minimum-wage incomes usually rely upon government programs to help provide the food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare that their children need. They participate in government programs like TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), Food Stamps, Housing Subsidies, Childcare subsidies, and Medicaid). But all of these programs reduce benefits as incomes rise.

Thus, even if earnings rise for these low-wage workers as a result of raising the minimum wage, they will face a reduction in government benefits. How much of a reduction? For every $1 increase in earnings, workers lose up to 50 cents in TANF benefits, 30 cents in food stamps, and another 30 cents in housing subsidies. When one considers the additional reductions in childcare subsidies and Medicaid benefits, the total amount of family resources changes very little even if earnings rise substantially.

In short, raising the minimum wage likely harms minimum wage workers. But even in the best-case scenario the policy provides only minimal benefits—hardly the characteristics of an efficient policy. If the goal is to put more money in the pockets of our neediest families, then I have a better idea—expand and reform the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC):

The EITC is a refundable tax credit for low-income families (predominantly families with children). By increasing the size of the tax credit, more families will have more money to spend. Furthermore, we can aid families by reforming the operation of this credit. Currently over 99% of EITC credits are claimed after a recipient files their income taxes. Thus, the credit earned from January to December of 2006 is not received until after the taxpayer files their taxes in April of 2007.

But it does not have to be this way. We can change this program so that eligible taxpayers immediately receive their EITC benefits by adjusting their income tax withholding levels (much like eligibility for the Child Tax Credit affects tax withholding)--putting more money immediately into the pockets of needy families.

Whenever I tell people that I oppose raising the minimum wage, I often notice a look of surprise and wonder as to how anyone could be so indifferent to the plight of the poor. But, my opposition is not due to any lack of compassion...I just know a better way to help.

Feel free to submit your comments to mhepner@ucok.edu.

 

Join the EPW Mailing List

 

Back to Economic Policy Weekly

 

The views and opinions expressed on this page are strictly those of the author.

 

OPEN DOOR POLICY - by Rep. Joe Dorman

     I hope everyone had a great Labor Day!  It was nice to have the rain and no one really minded walking in the parades as it came down.  I was over in Henryetta Monday for the celebration and enjoyed watching the Elgin band perform there.  This is the largest Labor Day parade in the state and the marching band did an excellent job entertaining the crowd.

     Interim studies are about to begin around the Capitol.  My first one will be heard next Tuesday morning and will involve a look at programs offered to veterans regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  This impacts soldiers and used to be referred to as shell shock.  We are looking at the different levels suffered by our troops, percentages affecting returning soldiers and aid offered to them at both the state and federal levels.  Senator Randy Bass has also requested a similar study for the Senate to review.

     This past week, it was an honor to be invited to partake in the Living History Day in Fletcher.  Among the various booths teaching old-fashioned ways of living were square dancing, clothes washing and a display of antique tractors put on by the Poor Boys Tractor Club.  There was also a hand-stamped commemorative postmark celebrating the day that students could get on envelopes and the postmark stamp will be preserved in the local museum.  There were over 700 grade school students that visited this event and learned quite a bit about how their ancestors used to live.  It's these events in rural Oklahoma that better teach the kids about life and how things have changed.  Thanks to everyone that put on this very successful event!

     It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. I can be reached locally at (580) 476-2626, my e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work.

WIRELESS HIGH SPEED GOES METRO IN KNOXVILLE, TENN

New System Will Also Serve Residential Customers

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 5, 2006 -- XxPansion Networks, Inc. today announced that it has officially launched its new wireless high-speed Internet service in metro Knoxville, Tenn.

The wireless system has been running since mid-May of this year, and XxPansion Networks has spent the past few months fine-tuning the system. The commercial system is capable of handling 54 Mbps full duplex (upload and download speeds). The network is currently being used by clients located in two buildings in downtown Knoxville, including one of the tallest buildings in town.

XxPansion works to bring high-speed Internet access to all communities -- whether urban, suburban or rural. The company also offers state-of-the-art Web-design services.

"We want to provide service not only to large urban centers, but also to rural and remote areas," said David Hilliard, president of XxPansion Networks. "The Internet has become a key part of our culture, and, really, everyone -- particularly businesses and government agencies -- should have fast and reliable Internet service. But the fact is that many rural areas just don't have high-speed Internet access."

XxPansion is now working on the next phase of its high-speed system in Tennessee. The new system will be located in Tellico Plains, Tenn., in Monroe County. XxPansion plans to have a system up and running in four more areas around Knoxville by the end of the year. Once the Monroe County area is online, XxPansion will begin to focus on other areas such as Loudon County, Sevier County and Anderson County. Hilliard added that the company plans to ultimately set up wireless networks in seven or more counties.

XxPansion Networks offers various services such as data storage, Web design, and Internet training. Web-design packages start at $599, and Web-hosting packages range from $14.95 to $99.95 a month. Most hosting packages come with free set-up. XxPansion also provides several customizable e-commerce options, including e-catalogs, inventory management, vendor management, online payment gateways, and shopping utilities.

For more information about XxPansion Networks' commercial and residential services, email admin@xxpansion.net, visit the company's website at http://www.xxpansion.net, or call (865) 934-2130.

About XxPansion Networks, Inc.

XxPansion Networks has been helping businesses conduct better business for more than five years. The company strives to provide reliable and affordable Internet service to all communities, regardless of size or location. The company offers a number of services, including high-speed Internet access for homes and businesses, Web development and design, and computer repair and training. Clients can choose from a variety of Internet packages, as well as receive multiple e-mail accounts, personal Web space, and a state-of-the-art spam filter system. XxPansion Networks also provides dedicated Internet connections, so users can get online anytime without the hassle of busy signals and without waiting. The company has the knowledge and experience to help any business or individual access the Internet, design a site or enter the world of e-commerce.

Contact:

David Hilliard
XxPansion Networks, Inc.
(865) 934-2130
admin@xxpansion.net
http://www.xxpansion.net/

TV ROOF DANCER NEEDS TO CALM DOWN AND FOLLOW THE LAW

Editorial Opinion:

The TV roof dancer and bottle smasher personality needs to calm down and follow the law. The estimate and justifiable need for 911 funds is clearly a legitimate expense in the Comanche County Commissioners budget. A negotiated amount on a 911 system mandated by law is clearly a needed budget item. Show some comman sense J.P.. Your position will lead to one of the "frivolous law suits" the neocons shout about.

geezeweb

James M. Fullerton

NOT GOD'S PARTY

Link: The Democrats and religious voters. By Amy Sullivan - Slate Magazine.

Not God's Party

SENATE REVIEW by Senator Randy Bass

Oklahoma has won national acclaim for our efforts to make early childhood education more widely available, including kindergarten for 4-year-olds and all day kindergarten for 5-year-olds.

In recent years, there has been increasing support across the nation for quality early childhood programs. As we learn more about the importance of such programs for brain development in babies and toddlers, we have seen that such efforts better prepare children for success in school and throughout their lives.

This past session, I had the privilege of supporting legislation calling for a private/public partnership to further enhance Oklahoma's early childhood education, with a pilot project that would begin even earlier, helping children from birth to 3. The proposal called for an investment of $5 million state dollars to be matched by $ 10 in private donations.

The pilot program has been approved by the State Department of Education and will expand the availability of a comprehensive program known as Early Head Start. This program targets a wide-range of areas from children's development, including health, cognitive and language development to family development, including parenting, home environment, family health, parent involvement and economic self-sufficiency.

Currently, there are an estimated 35,000 Oklahoma children ages birth to three living at or below the federal poverty level. Even though they're all eligible for Early Head Start, there are only 844 federally funded slots available in the entire state, and federal funds are declining. This pilot program will increase the total number of funded slots in Oklahoma by 17 percent and will improve the quality of 61 percent of the existing slots. It is my hope that future legislators will build on this pilot program and continue to increase the availability of Early Head Start.

When we ensure more Oklahoma children are better prepared for school, we are helping give them the tools to succeed in elementary school on through high school. Those children will then have the academic skills necessary to go on to college or pursue a degree through a career-tech center. Not only are they going to have the educational background needed to go after high paying jobs, having a more educated workforce will attract new businesses that offer those higher salaries. Quality early childhood development programs not only enhance that child's life—

ultimately, it will help us attract more jobs and industry to our state. It truly is a win-win investment for Oklahoma.

As always if you have a question about a legislative matter, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (405) 521 -5567 or by email at bass@oksenate.gov.

LAWTON SIGN ORDINANCE

Sign Law

These guide-lines are extracted from the Lawton Sign Ordinance. The City of Lawton welcomes and supports the democratic electoral process. While supporting the upcoming elections it would like to maintain a clean and safe community by asking that we comply with the Sign Ordinance. As a reminder and summary of the sign ordinance that specifically addresses the proper placement of political signs in Section 18-9-1-908 the following informantion is provided: Political signs are permitted in all zoning districts. Maximum area shall be thirty-two (32) square feet in sign area. Maximum height shall be six feet. No portion of a sign shall overhang or extend past a property line. Signs will not be erected in the public right -of-way, medians or sight triangles. Signs shall not be illuminated. Signs shall be constructed as either ground mounted or pole signs. Political signs may be placed no more than sixty (60) days prior to an election. Candidates shall be responsible for removing signs within thirty (30) days afte rthe election. The property owner shall be responsible for removing political sign if signis not removed after the thirty (30) day period. A permit is not required for political signs. If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact Neighborhood Services at (580) 581-3467 Anthony F. Griffith Neighborhood Services Supervisor. Editors Note: Public Right of Ways usually extend 10 feet back from the street curb. September 6th is the first day signs should be placed.

HOBSON PREDICTS DEMS WILL KEEP CONTROL OF SENATE

Link: The Norman Transcript - Hobson predicts Dems will keep control of Senate.

QUARTER AND NICKLES DEBATE AT MELTING POINT by Tim Mauldin, PhD

"Our Campaign Will Give Them

No Quarter!"

Sparks are flying in an ongoing campaign and one of the leaders indicates that their campaign will give their opponents no quarter.  The group is conducting a write-in campaign to put Will Rogers on the State's Official Quarter.

The campaign has been heating up.  "One of our opponents, believed be to a follower of Senator Nickles, has been making vicious attacks!" Penny Cash said.  Cash is head of the group.  "We're buffaloed about what the Nickles campaign is doing!"  She added.

"We have even heard they are conducting a malicious and clandestine telephone poll asking voters if they would vote for the Will Rogers Quarter if they knew that Will Rogers was a known Thespian?"

Cash said the campaign has changed for the worse, but promises to fight back. "We're going to give them our Two Cents.  We've organized a 529 group, "Citizens for Funny Money."

"And, we're launching our own covert push-pull poll and we're asking voters if they would vote for a known Numismatist!  We know a fact that one of our opponents is a closet Philatelist.

"We're going to stamp them out!" Cash added.

* * * * *

For additional information:  http://www.gov.ok.gov/coin.php

Editor's Note: I always felt Alfalfa Bill Murry and Victor Wickersham did not get the national recognition they deserved.

JIM IN HOTWATER

http://jiminhotwater.blogspot.com/

Calling Michael Crichton…Jim Inhofe Stands Steadfast Against California’s Emissions Capping, Calls for More Hearings

Well it didn’t take long for global warming champ Jim Inhofe to come out against California’s landmark legislation to control greenhouse gases.  Yesterday’s Congressional Quarterly reports that Inhofe has labeled the bill a “job-killer” that would cost the state more than it’s worth.

“The impact of this ‘symbolic’ legislation is a steep price to pay for the thousands who will lose their jobs and for the disadvantaged communities which will suffer because of this bill.” (CQ Today, 8/31/06)

This statement couldn’t be farther from the truth.  The legislation, in fact, is anything but “s