The Oklahoma Grocers, Wholesale Marketers and Petroleum Marketers hold their annual convention/trade show every year in late July. I seldom attend the show, because I am usually out of town. It’s always a time to see old friends- independent grocers/food brokers/manufacturer reps- from years gone by. In years past, this show was huge and drew every independent grocer from across the state. I saw Alan Mills, President of Reasor’s Foods, and Les Wease at the show. Even though it has been ten years and I have added several pounds since I saw them, they both recognized me.
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I’ve been in Chicago the last five days at a Federated Foods show and after arriving late last night and spending the night in OKC; I thought I would drop by the trade show before I went to the office. I had no idea the trade associations had already set up the first candidate forum for the winning gubernatorial nominees from last night.

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As I entered the hall, I saw Lt. Governor Jari Askins, (D-Duncan). She hugged me and I congratulated her on her upset victory last night. Jari Askins is one of the most gracious people in politics- no matter what your party affiliation is. That demeanor has served her well in Stephens County and across the state. It will get her some ‘swing’ votes in the upcoming general election. She softens her liberal views with a sweet dispensation. She ain't Nancy Pelosi!
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When I got to the MIO (Made in Oklahoma) booth, I was told that Askins and Congresswoman Mary Fallin, (R-OK) were going to speak to the group at 9am. I found the room and a chair. I saw Fallin enter the room, went over and greeted her. She told me she needed our (SCGOP) support and I pledged it. Fallin would be an infinitely better Governor than Askins would be.
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The trade associations had scheduled this event months ago, stating they wanted to introduce the two nominees to the Oklahoma food industry immediately after the primary. Since this was the first candidate forum, the press was well represented. I sat next the AP reporter, Michael McNutt from The Oklahoman was there and a half dozen other notebook toters along with several videographers.
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Beginning his remarks by saying, “we have the two best candidates in the state,” State Representative R.C. Pruitt, (D-Antlers), an independent grocer who has four stores in SE Oklahoma, served as monitor. He introduced Fallin first and they politely shook hands as she approached the podium. Wearing a royal blue dress suit, Fallin had obviously done her research on the audience. She touted her business background and said she got into politics because she was frustrated by government regulations. She reminded the mostly independent business owners when she was Lt. Governor that she had taken the chair to help get the Right to Work issue on the ballot in Oklahoma. Fallin said Oklahoma government needs to do several things to help independent small businesses. (1) Lower taxes, (2) Limit Government regulation, (3) Reform Workers Compensation (4) Work toward a fair legal system and (5) Educate our children more effectively. “We are not doing a good enough job in education, Fallin said. Not being specific, Fallin rattled off a list of issues like an auctioneer at a sale barn- Cap and Trade, Cardcheck, health care was just some of them. She closed by asking for the group’s consideration and support. It was a good stump speech and she did 'ask for the order.'

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Pruett then introduced Askins and hugged her as she ascended up the stairs to the stage. “I may be one of your biggest consumers,” Askins said. She was referring to the amount of gasoline she has burned crisscrossing the state since she has been running for Governor. But as Lt. Governor she has been criticized for campaigning at taxpayer expense while Lt. Governor, so while it was a great opening line- was it true? Is Askins campaign reimbursing the state for the gasoline she burns going to campaign events? If not, then the taxpayer may be picking up the tab, not Askins.

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Askins said in the sixth grade, her late father Ollie Askins paid her a dollar an hour to post credits and debits in his checkbook. “If I was one penny off, I had to find it- I had to make it balance,” Askins said. “I found out how important that one penny was,” she said.
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Dressed in a black dress with a light blue coat, Askins said she understands the ‘small business attitude.’ “I understand competition,” Askins said. She then related a story of how her brother- Marty Askins- called her when the roof on their abstract company building had collapsed. “It was difficult to convince people we were open when there was crime scene tape around the building and the competition down the street was saying come on over,” Askins said.
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Askins said she wants to see surgical cuts in state government that would be permanent. “I’ve been around long enough to know that reform doesn’t happen when times get flush again,” Askins said. The problem is Askins had twelve(12) years in the legislature to institute cuts. She served in leadership and was the Speaker designate when Republicans took control of the State House in 2004. On Oklahoma being ready to elect a woman governor, Askins said that Oklahomans proved yesterday they were ready. She never directly asked for the group’s vote or support.
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Both candidates spoke about ten minutes and the atmosphere was not contentious or controversial. They even posed for pictures together. After they spoke, they went to a VIP area where the two gubernatorial nominees granted press access. I went in, but didn’t wait to interview either of the candidates. After the press conference, Fallin shook hands with a half dozen people and left. Askins hung around for three hours, getting pictures made with exhibitors in the MIO booth and other booths and several retailers.
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Here are four observations about the first FALLIN-ASKINS candidate forum:
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NO SUBSTANCE! Neither candidate presented any meaty solutions to our state’s budget crisis. Pruitt mentioned during his remarks the retailers at the convention were there because they were products of the ‘survival of the fittest.’ Sorry RC, but that’s not the case. Most of the retailers in the room were C-store and Mom/Pop operations. The independent grocer of twenty years ago is gone and they are continuing to die because of government regulation, an unlevel playing field against big box retailers, and an unwillingness of the next generation to step up and take over the business. Some of the best merchants are gone because of the three factors cited, not because they weren't 'fit.'

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If Fallin or Askins had researched this group, they would have known the history of the associations they were speaking to. In 1980, the OGA was one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Oklahoma. Every Oklahoma city or town had an independent grocer that provided jobs, tax revenue, and the profits stayed in the community. Now Bentonville, AR benefits from those profits. Short sighted thinking by politicans by unleveling the playing field for independent business created that dynamic- creative solutions on 'leveling the field' will.

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Making broad general speeches on how we will change things in Oklahoma sounds good, but we need a specific PLAN OF ACTION to move Oklahoma forward by helping Oklahoma businesses. Pruitt mentioned these small business owners only wanted a 'level playing field.' He's referring to tax concessions that are often made to large big box retailers that are not available to the small business owner. Neither of the two candidates addressed specificially HOW they were going to help small business.
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ASKINS WILL NOT BE A PUSHOVER- In an obvious Republican year, many are already crowning Fallin Governor. Careful! Askins is a shrewd, tireless politico and said in her acceptance speech last night- “I’ve already started campaigning.” She wasn’t exaggerating! Fallin should have stayed at the show and met the ‘regular folks.’ That gets votes, it's fundamental and it’s also the right thing to do. Askins interacts with people well! Several “R”s in the MIO booth remarked how much they liked Askins. VIRTUALLY EVERY PERSON IN THE MIO BOOTH HAD THEIR PICTURE MADE WITH HER! She will get consideration from people that Fallin should have locked up. Many Stephens County Republicans will vote for Askins in November, not because of her politics, but because of her gracious nature. Fallin should soften her image, not hurry through campaign stops and discuss more than issues with those she meets on the campaign trail.
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IT’S FALLIN’S RACE TO LOSE! In 2002, former Congressman Steve Largent was running for Governor. Hale Halsell, a Tulsa grocery wholesaler, was having a food show at Shangri la in NE Oklahoma. I invited Largent to come to the show and meet the grocers, exhibitors and manufacturers at the show. Largent came, addressed the crowd and left just like Fallin. He didn’t engage anyone and unless I took him around to each booth and introduced him, he just stood around. I remarked to a friend that had Frank Keating been in that room, EVERYONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN HIM. Keating is engaging- he has great interpersonal skills. Fallin is not Largent, but on the first day after her nomination, she made a strategic error reminiscent of Largent’s Graff.
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RC PRUETT SHOULD BE A REPUBLICAN! When I ran for State Senate in 2000, RC and his wife Barbara contributed to my campaign. We have dined together at National Grocers Conventions and Shurfine conventions. When Pruett filed for State Representative in 2004, RC sent me an invitation to one of his fundraisers. I was excited, called then GOP Chairman Gary Jones and said, “I have a good friend running for state legislature in SE Oklahoma- a Republican named RC Pruett (Pruett was a Republican in 2000)." Gary told me Pruett was running, but as a Democrat. I called him and asked why. “Steve, I can’t win as a Republican down here,” Pruett said. Registration in Pruett’s district is about 85% Democrat. He is a ‘conservative’ Democrat, but it’s time RC aligned with his values and changed his Party affiliation back to Republican. Come on RC- you know you should do it!

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

COME JOIN THE PARTY!
by Steve Fair

I received several calls this week from Republicans in Stephens County wanting signs for one or more of the twenty six GOP candidates who were on the primary ballot yesterday. Yard signs and printed material were available for most of the candidates at our last county GOP meeting, but if you didn’t attend the meeting, you missed out on getting your sign. Many of those who called wanted to know details about our headquarters- when it would open, hours, etc.
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There seems to be a misconception about how the local county Party operates. Some mistakenly think we are funded by the State or National Party. We receive no funding from the State or National Republican organizations. The Stephens County Republican Party operates as an umbrella organization under their rules, but we receive no funding from them.
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The local GOP headquarters is paid for by donations from the local level. That’s why it’s so important the Stephens County GOP get broad based support from Republicans across the county when we hold our annual Fish Fry. This year’s event (our 6th) was on May 15th and featured former 4th district Congressman J.C. Watts and the Canadian Valley Rangerettes equestrian drill team. Over eight hundred people attended the event in the Stephens County Fairgrounds Rodeo arena. We also honor a local volunteer whose efforts best emulate the late Dr. Gerald Beasley Jr., a former Stephens County GOP Chairman. This year’s Beasley award winner was Wayne Watts. If you didn’t attend, you missed the best speech J.C. Watts has ever delivered (in my humble opinion).
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The profits from the annual Fish Fry go to provide a county Republican Party headquarters to dispense signs and material. Our headquarters is also used by local Republican candidates for their base of operations. Volunteers man the facility during the day and are assigned a variety of tasks to help various campaigns.
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The 2010 Stephens County GOP headquarters will be in the building Radio Shack is leaving on north 81 Hiway. It is directly across the street from Wal-Mart. The Grand Opening of the headquarters will be on Saturday August 21st with a ribbon cutting at 10am. The headquarters will be open Monday-Saturday from 9am until 5pm until after the November 2nd general election. It will be closed on Sunday. The ten GOP candidates for statewide office who won yesterday and several elected officials will attend the Grand Opening. We will have free hot dogs and snacks and you can get your car washed for free. Opportunities for you to get involved in local and statewide campaigns will abound. Stop by and visit with the candidates, grab a hot dog, get your car washed and you can pick up your signs for the general election. With ten statewide races, there are a lot of campaigns looking for help and we will be happy to ‘match’ you up with someone who can use your help.
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One thing you can do when you come to the Grand Opening- write a check to the SCGOP to help pay the expenses (rent/utilities) for providing a headquarters. We don’t charge for yard signs (some counties do) and donations are not required but encouraged. The Stephens County GOP’s last two headquarters have been arguably among Oklahoma’s best and that no doubt contributed to the success of our Stephens County GOP candidates in 2006 and 2008.
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The second thing you can do is plan to attend our monthly GOP meetings. They are held the second Thursday of each month at the Red River Vo-Tech starting at 7pm. The next meeting is Thursday August 12th. We dispense with our ‘business’ and then get updates from the elected officials in attendance. There is always opportunity for Q&A with the elected officials. If time permits we close the meeting with a ‘Town Hall.’ Attendees are given two minutes to express what’s on their mind. The fellowship is good, the information better and the cause eternal. While most people say they are going to get involved ‘sometime,’ sometime never seems to come. As John Philpot Curran, the Irish lawyer/statesman, said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
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Some people say they don’t do Party politics, but without the local GOP Party mechanism, the signs and material you want would have to dispensed by each individual campaign. The Stephens County GOP provides the infrastructure for those campaigns to reach voters in one place. Come join the Party!

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

PRIMARY ELECTION IS PRIMARY!
by Steve Fair

The primary election is next Tuesday and for once, Republicans will have more races on the ballot than Democrats. In Stephens County Republicans will be voting on twelve races and choosing from the twenty-six candidates in the races. Here are the races and the candidates:
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Senator Tom Coburn is up for re-election to his second (and final) six-year term. Dr. Tom has two primary opponents, Kelly Springs and Evelyn Rogers. 4th district Congressman Tom Cole (R-Moore) is running for his fourth term. R.J. Harris from Norman is his opponent in the primary. The winner will be elected for the two-year term since no Democrat filed for the seat.
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The Governor’s race has four Republicans on the ballot. Congresswoman and former Lt. Governor Mary Fallin, State Senator Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso), and two OKC area businessmen Robert Hubbard and Roger Jackson are vying for the nomination. The winner will face the winner of the Askins/Edmondson primary on the Democrat side.
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Five Republicans are on the ballot for Lt. Governor. State Senator Todd Lamb (R-Edmond), State Representative John Wright (R-Broken Arrow), Paul Nosak, Bill Crozier, and Bernie Adler are running for the open seat. It’s an open seat because current Lt. Governor Jari Askins is running for Governor. The winner will face State Senator Kenneth Corn (D-McAlester) in November.
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The State Auditor and Inspectors race has two Republicans- former State GOP Chairman Gary Jones and David Hanigar. The winner will face Steve Burrage in November.
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Ryan Leonard and former State Senator Scott Pruitt are running for Attorney General. The winner will face Democrat Jim Priest in November. In the State Treasurer’s race, voters will choose between former State Senator Owen Laughlin (R-Woodward), and State Representative Ken Miller (R-Edmond). The winner will face Democrat Stephen Covert in the general election. Both of these races are open seats.
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In the Superintendent of Public Instruction GOP primary, Janet Barresi and Brian Kelly are running and the winner will face a Democrat and an Independent in November.
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Mark Costello and Jason Reese are running for Labor Commissioner. The winner will face incumbent Democrat Lloyd Fields who was unchallenged for the Democrat nomination.
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Three Republicans are running for Insurance Commissioner, John Doak, Mark Croucher and John Crawford. The winner will face incumbent Democrat Kim Holland who did not draw a primary opponent.
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Todd Yeager is challenging Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy in the primary. Murphy is running for a full six-year term after being elected to complete the unexpired term of Denise Bode. No Democrat filed, so the winner of the primary will be elected to the office.
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Senator Anthony Sykes (R-Moore) is being challenged by Linda Molsbee of Newcastle in the State Senate District #24 race. The two Democrats who filed for the seat withdrew after filing and an Independent candidate who filed did not live in the district, so the winner between Sykes and Molsbee will be elected to a four-year term.
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Oklahoma has a closed primary system. Only voters who are registered members of a recognized political party may vote for the party's candidates in primary and runoff primary elections. That means only registered Republicans can vote in the GOP primary and only registered Democrats can vote in the Democrat primary. Some states have ‘open’ primaries. An open primary does not require a voter to be affiliated with a political party to vote for partisan candidates. They can select one party’s ballot and vote for that party’s nomination- even if they are not registered in that party. Twenty states have ‘open’ primaries, including Texas. It’s a system wroth with ‘strategy’ and ‘playing with your vote’ and should be eliminated. Thankfully neither major Party in Oklahoma wants an ‘open’ primary.
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Webster defines primary as, “First or highest in rank, quality, or importance; principal.” But unfortunately primary elections are not placed ‘highest in rank’ by most voters. In most primaries, a voter turnout of 40% is considered good. With the great slate of Republican candidates we have on the ballot, the Oklahoma GOP should have record turnout this year for the primary.
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In person absentee balloting has made it more convenient for citizens to vote. You can vote at the County Courthouse on Friday, Saturday and Monday before Tuesday’s election. Polls are open their normal hours on Tuesday from 7am until 7pm.
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Fellow Republican- study the issues and the candidates that will be on the ballot. Vote for the person who you believe best aligns with your values and will do the best job. But first and foremost vote! After all, it’s “primary!”

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

WHERE’S THE BEEF?
by Steve Fair

Last Thursday at our regular Stephens County GOP monthly meeting, sixty plus area Republicans met to hear Scott Pruitt, a candidate for Attorney General, and Senator Anthony Sykes, (R-Moore) speak. Both men have primary opponents, but Sykes has no Democrat opponent, so his race will decided on July 27th. After the two men spoke, a ‘town hall’ meeting was convened. Anyone who wants to speak is allocated two minutes to speak on any subject they wish. Several people exercised their first amendment right and spoke, but one local farmer/rancher was the most passionate.
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John Johnson of the Johnson Ranch in the Empire community believes the American farmer is not being represented in Congress. “We are selling wheat for under three dollars a bushel which is the same price it was in the 1950s. The people in Washington don’t get it. Farmers can’t survive selling crops at a price less than what it costs to produce,” Johnson said Thursday night. “Our kids are not staying on the farm because they can’t make a living on the farm. When are the politicians going to stand up for the American farmer?” Johnson asked.
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Johnson is right- the family farm has been under attack for years. According to Dr. Stewart Smith, senior economist for the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, the farmer in 1900 was doing better than the farmer of today. “The turn of the twenty century farmer was getting 41 cents of every food dollar sold, the farmer of 1990 was getting 9 cents. Net farm income fell more than 38% in the past 13 years and an estimated two million farms will be gone from the land in just one generation,” Smith says. “There is no doubt the domestic farm policy has failed America’s family farmers,” Smith concludes.
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Johnson believes selling to China; the world’s largest market should be pursued. “We (the US) need to be exporting beef to China. If Chinese goods are going to fill up Wal-Mart, we shall have the opportunity to sell our corn fed beef to China,” Johnson said. The ‘corn fed’ part may be the issue. Joel Haggard, Asia Pacific Sr. Vice President of the US Meat Export Federation, says, “China is the only country in Asia where we don’t have any access for beef. China has zero tolerance for pathogens in meat and there are restrictions on allowable feed additives.”
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When asked if China is trying to protect a nearly non-existent beef industry, Haggard said, “They've been unable to come to terms as to what should be allowable products. You've got to look at the risks of the specific product rather than operating a trade regime according to linkages with this product or that product. We think the evidence presented has been ample, and we hope the market opens soon.”
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Meanwhile our trade deficit with China continues to widen. According to the Federal Trade Commission, thru April 2010, the US had exported 27.738 billion in goods and imported 98.754 billion. In 2009, our trade deficit with China was $226 billion.
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Johnson believes the politicians in Washington aren’t willing to put pressure on foreign countries to purchase value added agriculture products. “If we had $10 wheat and $2 per lb. calves, you would see people rushing to get back into farming. Little towns like Walters and Temple wouldn’t have closed store fronts, but they would be thriving.”
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In an August 2009 Time magazine article entitled, ‘Getting real about the high price of Cheap Food,’ it was pointed out the American farmer in 1900 was feeding nineteen Americans. In 2009, that number was up to 129 people because of the corporate mentality in farming. The article also pointed out that Americans spend less than 10% of their income on food, down from 18% in 1966. While the article has a liberal slant, it is worth reading and is available online.
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According to the USDA 46% of the land mass of the US is farmland. In China that figure is less than thirty percent. China is undergoing urbanization and 75% of their population is expected to be living in cities within the next ten years, further decreasing their farmland acreage. That dynamic will force them to import more food- why not from the United States?
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After the meeting adjourned, Johnson was approached by State Senator Don Barrington, (R-Lawton). “He made some great points and I want to get him in touch with some Department of Ag people in Oklahoma City,” Barrington said.
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“I don’t know if anyone listened, but I just had to speak my mind,” Johnson said. Johnson, who was attending his first GOP meeting, got more than two minutes worth and maybe his common sense ideas will jar some politicians to push China to open their country for American beef or more specifically Stephens County, Oklahoma beef.

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

TRANSPARENCY IS JUST CAMPAIGN TALK!
by Steve Fair

When Congress passed the $800 billion dollar federal stimulus package last year along Party lines, they required states to set up a web site where citizens could track the federal stimulus monies in their area. During his campaign President Obama said his administration would be the most transparent in history. On the White House website- http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/TransparencyandOpenGovernment/, it states, “My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.”
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But the President’s campaign rhetoric and statement do not square with reality. Back in March during ‘Sunshine Week,’ the Associated Press issued a review of the first year of the Obama administration. The A.P. found the Obama administration had substantially increased (+49%) the use of the so-called ‘exemption’ to disclosure under the Federal of Information Act from the last year of the Bush White House. It’s clear that transparency and Chicago politics do not go hand in hand. Transparency appears to be just for the campaign trail!
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The feds have a website to track federal stimulus monies- recovery.gov. A zip code can be entered and federal stimulus projects in that area can be viewed. But the federal site has been so inaccurate (inflating jobs/wrong information) and lags so far behind that it has become a joke. Several non-official sites, operated by a variety of organizations (liberal and conservative), are available on the web for tracking the stimulus monies, but their information may or may not be accurate.
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Oklahoma got 928 awards from the federal stimulus bill for a total of $2.42 billion dollars. Thus far, the state has received around 1 billion of the $2.42 billion dollars awarded. Most of the Sooner state’s awards went to infrastructure-roads/bridges/buildings. Oklahoma set up a hotline to report abuse of the federal stimulus monies, but in the year the hotline has been in existence, not much has been reported. "The calls haven't really been fast and furious, but, the money hasn't all been out there that long," said James Finch, FBI Special Agent In Charge. It could be taxpayers didn’t know the number existed. If you know about any stimulus fraud, waste or abuse, call the statewide hotline. That number is 1-877-259-7337.
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But waste and fraud may be a subjective term when you are talking about the federal stimulus monies. Citizens against Government Waste estimates that up to sixty percent of the $800 billion is not related to ‘stimulating’ the economy.
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Congress should never have passed this huge spending bill in the first place. Former Congressman Dick Armey was right when he said, “Taxing moves money and spending moves resources.” In other words, why on God’s green earth would anyone with a pulse believe taking money (taxes) from the most productive side of the economy (private sector), which uses resources efficiently thanks to the invisible hand of the market, and give it to the most unproductive side of the economy (government) who continually wastes finite resources (spending), thanks to the visible boot of the market? But the federal stimulus bill is did pass and become law and it’s our money that is being spent. The American taxpayer has a right to know where and how our money is being spent.
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State Senator Anthony Sykes, (R-Moore) authored SB #1759 which was signed into law by Governor Henry on June 11th. The bill carried an ‘emergency’ provision, meaning the law went into effect immediately. #1759 requires Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Steve Burrage to set up a web site to keep Oklahoma taxpayers informed on where their tax dollars are being spent in regard to the federal stimulus monies. As of this date, the web site is not up and running.
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The job of the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector is to make sure citizens have accountability and transparency from their local and state government. Burrage’s unwillingness or tardiness in getting this site up immediately- as required by law- reflects his lack of commitment to providing transparency for taxpayers. In a Sepember 2009 interview with KWTV Channel 9 Burrage said he was committed to making sure the federal stimulus dollars are “spent free of fraud, waste and abuse.” Until Burrage gets the website up, I guess the talk of transparency was just for the campaign trail!

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

OKLAHOMA’S PROMISE
by Steve Fair

This week, Speaker of the House Chris Benge, (R-Tulsa) announced the approval of sixty-eight interim studies. An Interim study is the assignment of the subject matter of a bill to the appropriate committee for study during the period the state legislature is not in session.
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One of the studies approved by Benge was a request by State Representative Leslie Osborne, (R-Chickasha). Osborne wants to review ‘Oklahoma’s Promise,’ aka Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) a program that helps pay for a college education for children from families that earn $50,000 or less (income averaged over a three-year period). Interested students have to apply for the program no later than in the 10th grade, take certain courses, maintain a 2.5 GPA and make no less than 22 on the ACT test to qualify. The students also have to keep their nose clean and stay out of trouble. Public, private and homeschooled students are eligible for the program. Homeschoolers were added to the program in 2007- eight years after the program began.
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Osborne’s study wants to find out how much Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, aka Oklahoma’s Promise, is costing taxpayers and if the plan is achieving the desired outcome. The study will also look at changes in the program since it was implemented and if the program has been successful. It’s been over ten years since the program began and OHLAP costs the state an estimated twenty million annually. Here are several suggested questions Osborne’s interim study should address.
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First, how many of the OHLAP college graduates are staying in Oklahoma after graduation? Retaining our best and brightest has been a challenge in our state. The primary reason we lose college grads is there are not enough high paying jobs in Oklahoma. You can’t blame Oklahoma graduates for there not being good jobs in the state, but we do need to know if Oklahoma taxpayers are educating other’s state’s workers by funding OHLAP.
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Second, can taxpayers/state government continue to afford to fund OHLAP? More and more students are applying for and qualifying for the free tuition program and with revenue shortages near record levels tough decisions are going to have to be made. No one wants to specifically cut OHLAP, but every taxpayer-funded program must be on the table for consideration in today’s tough economic times.
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Third, what percentage of college students who start under the OHLAP program actually complete college? Nationally fifty percent of students who start college don’t finish. Are OHLAP scholarship numbers similar? A study a couple of years ago showed OHLAP students did better than average. One consideration should be that an OHLAP scholarship recipient repays a portion of the taxpayer funds they got if they decide to drop out?
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Fourth, how successful are OHLAP program graduates? Where are they now and what are they doing? Tracking program grads will give us an idea of whether the program is working according to it’s initial objective which was to educate Oklahomans to move Oklahoma forward.
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OHLAP is not a classic entitlement program because it requires a student to show a great deal of personal responsibility and discipline. But it does cost taxpayers a lot of money and Osborne’s interim study should find out if taxpayers are getting what they paid for.
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A study a couple of years ago showed that OHLAP students had higher ACT scores, grade point averages, and college-going rates than the Oklahoma average. In fact, the OHLAP college enrollment rate of 80% exceeded the national rate for much more affluent students. The study also showed that OHLAP students had lower college remediation rates (27% v. 34%), and higher five-year degree completion rates than all first-time freshmen (47% v. 33%). It will be interesting to see if Osborne’s study reveals similar numbers.
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Oklahoma’s Promise aka OHLAP is helping many Oklahoma kids to get a college education that otherwise they might not get. That’s an honorable thing, but is providing higher education to its citizens a fundamental function of government? In a down economy, Oklahoma may be forced to renege on their ‘promise’ of free college.

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

FISHING BUDDIES!

by Steve Fair

Last week, Governor Henry vetoed Senate Bill #2052 which was authored by House Speaker Chris Benge, (R-Tulsa), and Senate President pro Tempe Glenn Coffee, (R-Bethany). The bill would have consolidated the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Groups Insurance Board and the Oklahoma Employees Benefits Council into one entity called the Oklahoma Health and Wellness Board. The consolidation was expected to save millions-an estimated 15% - in administrative cost alone. SB #2052 would have also set up a competitive bidding process for a statewide HMO. The bill passed both chambers in the state legislature by huge margins.
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Because many state agencies and school districts anticipated the bill becoming law, they built the anticipated savings into their 2011 budgets which means already challenging budgets become more difficult. Some of the largest state agencies will be impacted- The Department of Human Services had factored in $1.2 million in savings, the Department of Corrections $3.7 million.
So why did Governor Henry veto the bill? He says it was because the legislation was rushed and the bill didn’t have input from all the ‘stakeholders’ of health insurance. In his press release after the veto Henry said, “The bottom line is this was questionable legislation at best, drafted in secret and rushed through in the final hours of session.”
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The truth is, the Governor was aware of the legislation and had been for more than a year. Last year, Benge and Coffee created the State Employee Health Insurance Review Working group, which was comprised of a bipartisan group of House and Senate members and the state Insurance Commissioner, Kim Holland. The working group crafted the vetoed legislation based on the recommendations proposed in a report from a national insurance consultant, which was publicly released and sent to the governor in December 2009. Upon the release of the report, the Speaker’s staff also met with the governor’s staff to discuss the report and the potential for legislation.
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"This legislation represents common sense reform that was the result of 15 months of cooperative effort. All stakeholders were involved in the crafting of this legislation and many people gave a lot of time and effort to make this happen. The legislation was supported overwhelmingly in the House and Senate and was endorsed by the state and education employees associations," said Benge. "Rejection of this legislation will allow health care costs to continue to spiral out of control for our state, which is a major concern for every agency and state and education employee in this state. It is inaccurate to say that this legislation was not properly vetted."
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Oklahoma State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland, a Democrat, said “The efforts of the House and Senate working group were thorough, deliberative and inclusive. Our goal was to maintain competitive benefits for our state and education employees and their families while reducing costs to those employees and to state agencies. We accomplished our goal and I am disappointed by the veto."
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Henry's veto, some claim, benefited Dr. John Bell, son of Norman attorney Richard Bell, one of Henry's earliest and most generous supporters. Dr. Bell is connected to an HMO company called GlobalHealth which solicits state employees business. The address for GlobalHealth and Dr. Bell’s office is one and the same. His dad, Richard Bell is Vice President of the Sarkey’s foundation in Norman where first lady Kim Henry serves as Executive Director.
Sarkey’s Foundation President is Terry West, a long time supporter of the Governor. Henry calls West, Uncle Terry. Both he and Bell have traveled to the Amazon twice on elaborate fishing trips with the Governor.
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Richard Bell was involved in the scandal over illegal campaign contributions in the financing of former Governor David Walters' 1990 campaign. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor and agreed to testify against Walters.
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"It is sad that this kind of speculation about the governor's motives(for vetoing SB #2052) are circulating," said a Democratic legislator who did not wish to be identified. "I hope there's nothing to it...the circumstances are curious, though."
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This was ‘no-brainer, win/win’ legislation. It would have streamlined state and education employee’s health insurance programs and saved money for the state and the worker. Health Choice premiums have increased an average of ten percent a year for the past decade and this bill would have slowed down that growth.
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"This is a very important issue to state and education employees, as well as all Oklahoma agencies," said House Speaker-Designate Kris Steele, R-Shawnee. "I intend to study this subject over the interim in preparation for the next legislative session."
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Whether the Governor was helping his fishing buddies out by vetoing SB #2052 may never be known, but as Oscar winning comedian Steven Wright says, “there is a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.”