Time to re-evaluate the number of Institutions of Higher Learning!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

HIGHER ED NEEDS TO LEAD CHANGE!

by Steve Fair

     The Higher Education lobby in Oklahoma says Sooner tax payers are not funding higher education like the rest of the country.  University of Oklahoma President David Boren and University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz both were quoted as saying that Oklahoma ranked ‘dead last’ in the U.S. in funding higher education.  Turns out that ain’t so.

     Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small said, “These claims are not supported by the facts.”  Small cited a study by Illinois State University on Higher Ed funding which shows Oklahoma ranks #31 among the 50 states.  The funding report, which has been published since 1960, is non-partisan.  Small asked Boren and Betz to retract their statements.   

     Oklahoma Higher Education has taken $112.2 million in cuts this year and next years budget has over $35 million more in cuts.  "These severe budget cuts have resulted in forced furloughs and the reduction of academic programs, personnel, student services and college degree completion initiatives," Oklahoma state Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson said. Still Oklahoma Higher Ed will get $866 million in taxpayer money next year or about 12.5% of the total budget.  To compensate for the loss in appropriated monies, the State Board of Regents will consider increasing tuition and fees by an average of 5%.  The regents estimated the increase will cost full-time college students in Oklahoma about $400 more per year. 

     According to the U.S. Department of Education, Oklahoma has the ninth worst college six year graduation rates in the country.  Nationally 44% of students who start college end up with a sheepskin.  In Oklahoma, that number is less than 30%.  Among the 4 year regional universities, Cameron University has the lowest graduation rate- around 20%. 

     First, Oklahoma Higher Education should be audited.  If it’s true they are underfunded, then the audit will show that.  If there is waste, it will show that.  Let the chips fall where they may.        

     Second, Higher Education should proactively initiate consolidation.  Oklahoma has eleven regional universities, twelve community colleges, plus OU and OSU.  Many of those institutions have satellite campuses.  That is a lot of brick and mortar.  Each one has a ton of faculty and staff making good salaries with benefits.  With the growth of ‘distance’ learning, is it prudent for Oklahoma taxpayers to fund all this infrastructure? 

     Third, when will education (common ed or higher ed) come to the table with a plan that doesn’t include more money?  It’s past time for education leaders in Oklahoma to come up with a 10 year plan for improving education in the Sooner state that doesn’t include building more buildings and giving themselves raises. 

     President Ronald Reagan said, “If you serve a child a rotten hamburger in America, federal, state, and local agencies will investigate you, summon you, close you down, whatever.  But if you provide a child with a rotten education, nothing happens, except that you’re liable to be given more money to do it with.  Well, we’ve discovered that money alone isn’t the answer.”

All people are created in the image of God!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

RESTORE CIVIL DEBATE!

by Steve Fair

     Last Wednesday, James Hodgkinson opened fire at a baseball field in surburan DC where Congressional Republicans were practicing for a charity game.  He wounded House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), and three others.  Hodgkinson was shot and killed by Capitol police who were providing security for Scalise.  A list of Republican lawmakers was found on Hodgkinson.  Whether it was a ‘hit list’ or not, is unclear.  Hodgkinson was an avid supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders and a vocal critic on social media of President Trump and Republicans.

     Initially, both Democrats and Republicans condemned Hodgkinson’s actions.  Speaking on the Senate floor, Sanders said, "I am sickened by this despicable act. Let me be as clear as I can be: Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms. President Trump called for unity and said, "We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation's capital is here because above all they love our country. We can all agree that we are blessed to be Americans and that our children deserve to grow up in a nation of safety and peace. We are strongest when we are unified and when we work together for the common good."

     But Trump’s call for unity wasn’t heeded.  Within hours, liberals flooded Twitter with messages blaming Republican’s support of the second amendment as being the reason for the attack.  Sean Hannity blamed the ‘dehumanizing’ of Republicans by Democrats for the shooting.

     The fact is Hodgkinson was motivated by a heart of hate.  While most people are content to debate issues, a small minority want to bring about change in a more substantive manner.  Years ago in a small Texas town, a bar was being built in a neighborhood.  Two tea totaling widow women who lived next door were very concerned and vowed to pray and ask God to halt the bar’s construction.  One was very diligent in her prayers, the other not as faithful.  Two weeks before the beer joint’s scheduled opening, it caught fire and burned to the ground.  “I guess my prayers were answered,” the faithful widow said.  “It’s wasn’t your prayers,” said the other.  “How can you be so sure?” asked the first.  “Because I put feet and gasoline to my prayers,” said the other. 

     Some people simply go too far in a civilized society.  They move from debate to destruction, from meditation to mayhem seamlessly, believing the progression is the next logical step in political activism.  That should concern every American.  Civil debate is on life support in our country.  Both the political left and right can take equal credit for creating this toxic political environment.  We should all remember that no matter their political leanings, every person is made in the image of God.

LET'S WAIT FOR THE TAPES!!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

COMEY IS ABOUT COMEY!

by Steve Fair

     The main thing we learned in James Comey’s testimony before the Senate Intelligence committee is that James Comey is about James Comey.  When he admitted, under sworn testimony that he ‘leaked’ his notes on a private meeting with President Trump through a third party, he admitted he violated the Bureau policy and undermined his creditability.  The former FBI Director was asked why he didn’t confront the President when he was allegedly asked to back off investigating Michael Flynn, and he answered that ‘he wasn’t strong enough.’ 

     But Comey’s testimony about the previous administration should have raised eyebrows.  He testified former Attorney General Loretta Lynch asked him to back off investigating then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.  If proven to be true, that is a clear violation of the law and obstruction of justice. Why didn’t Comey leak that to the press?  His inconsistency is disturbing.

     Comey’s testimony confirmed that President Trump is not under an active FBI investigation, there still no evidence of collusion and that Trump didn’t hinder the investigation of Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election in any way.    

     Comey has been a hero, a goat, and now a hero again among Democrats.  In July, when the then FBI Director said Clinton’s use of a private email server didn’t rise to the level of indictment, Democrats applauded him.  When Comey reopened the investigation in October, two weeks before the general election, after more of Clinton’s emails were found on former Congressman Anthony Weiner’s laptop, Democrats called him a turncoat and a goat.  Hillary partially blames Comey’s re-opening of the investigation for her loss to Trump.  Now that Comey is claiming Trump told him to back off on an investigation, Democrats have petitioned the Pope to declare Comey a saint. 

     President Trump says he has tapes of their private meeting and the Senate committee says they want to hear them.  Comey says he hopes the tapes exist because he claims they will vindicate him.  It remains to be seen if Trump produces the tapes and what is on them. 

     Comey has said his motive for leaking the memo was to protect the reputation of the rank and file FBI, but that doesn’t square with reality.  The FBI Employment Agreement clearly states that employees are prohibited from releasing any information acquired by virtue of their official employment to unauthorized individuals without prior official written authorization by the FBI.  The fact is Comey is about Comey.  He loves the limelight and attention and is more concerned with his reputation than the reputation of the Bureau.

     The Democrats, and some Republicans, are committed to opposing everything this President stands for.  They will not rest until Trump is nothing but a memory, but what they fail to understand is unlike Comey, Trump isn’t just about Trump.  It is about the movement he represents.

 

The Rainbow is a PROMISE FROM GOD!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

TRUMP PUT AMERICA FIRST!

by Steve Fair

     President Trump pulled the United States out of the ‘Paris Climate Agreement’ last week.  The agreement was signed in December 2015 by representatives from 196 nations.  It required countries to adopt green energy policies and cut back on carbon emissions to help limit the rise of global temperatures.  The agreement’s primary mission was to hold the increase in global average temperature to below 2 degrees C above the pre-industrial revolution levels. 

     The agreement, signed under President Obama, had the US agreeing to reduce carbon emissions by 30% over the next decade.  To comply, the US government would have to add more regulations to industry (oil, gas, coal, steel).   According to a study by the National Economic Research Associates, the Paris treaty would have cost the US 2.7 million jobs over the next decade.  The Paris agreement’s focus was to push the global population to stop using fossil fuels and move to renewable energy (bio-fuel, solar, wind).  But the economic reality is none of the alternative fuels have reached a point where they are financially viable. 

     Current 40% of the nation’s corn crop is going into our gas tanks in the form of ethanol, but the alcohol/gasoline is supplying only 5% of the nation’s transportation.  Meanwhile, consumers are paying substantially higher prices for every food product that uses corn sweetener.  Wind and solar energy have been subsidized with $100 billion dollars of US taxpayer dollars in the past ten years, yet combined they supply about ½ of 1% of the nation’s energy.      

     President Trump pointed out the Paris agreement requires America to stop using coal fired plants, but China and India could keep stoking up their coal plants.  "The agreement doesn't eliminate coal jobs, it just transfers those jobs out of America and the United States and ships them to foreign countries," President Trump said.   The US had to reduce our carbon footprint disproportionate to other signers of the agreement.  EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said, “We have nothing to be apologetic about as a country with respect to what we’ve done to reduce our Co2 footprint.” 

     Will man by his irresponsible use of fossil fuel destroy the earth?  The Creator of the earth says no.  In Genesis 8:22, God says so long as the earth is around, summer, winter, day, night, seedtime and harvest will not cease (Genesis 8:22).  I’ll take His word over Al Gore’s any day.   

     Ivar Giaever is a Norwegian- American physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973. Giaever. 88, is a self-described atheist.   He has been an outspoken critic of global warming.   "It is amazing how stable temperature has been over the last 150 years,” Giaever says.  “Global warming has become a new religion.”   Trump’s pulling America out of a poorly negotiated treaty should be praised and applauded.  He really did put America first.

     Pastor John MacArthur has a GREAT YouTube video on the Biblical view of Global Warming.  You can access it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXnwB97fBj8

ALL OKLAHOMANS OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO #640!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

THANK GOD FOR #640!

by Steve Fair

     What is the difference between a tax and a fee?  A tax is a compulsory payment levied by the government on citizens and business.  A fee is a ‘voluntary payment’ to the government for services rendered by the government, but the person paying the fee gets something in return- ae; a pack of smokes, a car or a gallon of gasoline. 

     In 1992, a group of concerned Oklahomans, who were sick of the Democrat led legislature taxing them without any recourse, stood in front of Wal-Marts and other retailers gathering enough signatures- 233,832 to be exact- to get State Question #640 on the ballot. It required all ‘revenue raising’ proposals be approved by a vote of the people or pass both chambers of the state legislature with a ¾ majority.  SQ #640 was approved by Oklahoma voters in March of 1992 by a 56%-44% margin.  Since its passage, legislators from both Parties have tried to circumvent it and raise taxes without the super majority or a vote of the people.

     The legislature adjourned on Friday after passing a $6.8 billion budget that raised fees on cigarettes, vehicle purchases and sports tickets.  The vote to approve was less than the ¾ majority needed to satisfy #640, so it is a certainty the fee increases will be challenged in the courts.  The budget left common education flat, and resulted in most agencies getting a -4% cut.  The fact is many state agencies have enough revolving fund monies that the cuts will be minimal.   

     How did we get to the point in Oklahoma where Republican legislators ignore the law and pass revenue bills with a simple majority and ignore the state constitution?  Every one of the Rs campaigned on reducing the size of government, but a significant group of them voted to keep it the same size.  Even more disappointing was these so-called conservatives celebrating and declaring this was the best they could do.  Really? 

     In April, Goldman Sachs said they expect the price of oil to stabilize at or around $50 a barrel.  There has been a steady rise in drilling activity since last fall due to the stability in prices.  Because Oklahoma government is so dependent on the gross production tax to operate, it stands to reason, Oklahoma government will get more money to appropriate next year.   And like this year, the legislature will spend every dime it takes in and try to get more. 

     Those brave Oklahomans who stood in front of Wal-Mart in 1992 and gathered signatures for #640 did every Oklahoman a solid.  At the time, most of the activists believed if Republicans got control of the legislature, things would be different.  Sad to say, that hasn’t been the case.  Big government advocates are in both Parties.   Without SQ#640, Oklahoma citizens would have had no recourse, but because some people cared enough 25 years ago to do more than gripe, this will likely be struck down. 

Audit HIGHER ED!!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

 by Steve Fair

     The Oklahoma state legislature met last Saturday in a rare weekend session in an attempt to work out a budget.  With the end of the fiscal year looming (June 30^th), and the state constitution regarding a balanced budget, the decline in revenue has presented lawmakers with a challenge.  After enough Republican conservatives rebelled and would not vote for increases on cigarettes and gasoline, legislative leaders reached out to the Democrats to convince them Oklahoma state government needs more money and that partnering with the Rs would be in their best interest.  Using the opportunity, House Minority leader Scott Inman twice walked out of negotiations with the Governor and Republican legislative leaders.  Inman, who has announced he is running for Governor, held a news conference after one walk-out, so it was an obvious staged event.     Several state lawmakers say they are headed for a ‘special session,’ to get a budget passed.  If the past is any indicator, Oklahomans will get tax increases and agencies ‘across the board’ cuts to balance the budget.  That is the only way they know.

Three observations about Oklahoma’s budget woes:

     First, when is Oklahoma government going to learn?  State government and our state’s economy are so dependent on the energy sector.  When oil and gas prices decline, revenue goes down and cuts to agencies are double digits.  When times are good, state government is lighting cigars with hundred dollar bills and giving raises to every bureaucrat they can find.  A permanent long term solution to insure proper funding of core services should be devised.  It can’t be done in a legislative special session.  It must be a well thought out, devoid of emotion solution that levels the revenue stream and takes out the peaks and valleys the current system has. 

     Second, why hasn’t every agency been audited, including Higher Ed (especially Higher Ed)?  It’s because the legislature and the Governor don’t really want to know where the waste is.  It has to be.  If they really wanted to know, they would have funded the Auditor’s office early in the 2017 session.  They would have asked them to expedite the audits and then after careful analysis, appropriate the bare minimum amount of tax dollars needed to provide core services to the agency.  This revenue shortfall was not surprise.  When the legislature convened, they knew it was going to be a short budget year.  To blindly believe the only solution is to propose more taxes and fees is not the conservative way to govern.    

     Third, times are tough in Oklahoma.  We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.  Our teachers are underpaid.  The butchers, bakers and candlestick makers fortunate enough to have a job, are also underpaid.  Our economy has faded faster than a Thunder lead in the third quarter.  In 2018, a number of people will throw their hat into the ring to run for Governor, Lt. Governor, and state legislature.  Ask them three questions: (1) What will they do to help us avoid these dramatic downturns in our state? Will they go out and help existing Oklahoma businesses grow? Will they recruit business into the state that will provide stable jobs for Oklahomans?  (2) Will they support auditing every agency, organization, association, anthill, or rat hole that gets one penny of Oklahoma tax dollars?  It is past time for that to be done and until we have a Governor who will request those audits be done, we are simply taking the word of a bureaucrat they are spending our money wisely.  Time to trust, but verify.  (3) Will they support reducing the total government footprint in Oklahoma?  This may mean reducing the number of state employees.  It may mean closing or consolidating state agencies.  It may mean consolidating school districts or sharing administrative function.  Bear in mind that no Republican, in their right mind, campaigns in a primary on a platform of higher taxes and bigger government, so don’t be surprised when every R candidate answers in the affirmative to all three questions.

    Your mission- should you choose to accept it- is to determine which candidate will actually do what they say they will do.  You can call it Mission Impossible. 

"The sacred cows belong next to the mashed potatoes." Mark Costello

Weekly Opinion Editorial

POLITICAL COURAGE NEEDED TO NOT RAISE TAXES!

by Steve Fair

     In Sunday’s Tulsa World, Oklahoma billionaire oilman and banker George Kaiser wrote an editorial weighing in on the state government budget shortfall.  In a piece titled, ‘8 myths about Oklahoma,’  Kaiser , makes a case Oklahoma can tax its way to prosperity. Kaiser, a big supporter of former President Obama, is known for advocating for liberal causes.  He is also a generous man.  Kaiser has given away over one half billion dollars to various causes, most involving alleviating poverty and early childhood education.

     In the guest op/ed piece, Kaiser called the Laffer Curve the ‘laughter curve,’ stating supply side economics doesn’t work and states that tax the most have the best economy, but the facts prove otherwise.  In the 1920s, 1960s, and the 1980s, the federal government cut taxes and tax revenue increased.  A rising tide lifts all boats.  Art Laffer was right.  Kaiser also contends lowing taxes does not generate economic development and prosperity, but states with lower tax rates are growing in population at a much faster rate than states with high taxes.  It stands to reason that business and industry follow population.  When a state starts losing population, their business and industry isn’t far behind. People tend to migrant to areas with lower taxes. 

     In Kaiser’s #3 myth, he states Oklahoma government’s budget can’t be balanced by eliminating waste.  “We have long ago cast off the frills and fat and are now deep into the muscle,” Kaiser wrote.  It appears most Oklahoma GOP lawmakers agree with him.  Little or nothing has been said about identifying and eliminating waste in state government.  Lobbyists and bureaucrats have effectively convinced legislators there is nothing left to cut.  Perhaps that is case in rare instances, but why are legislators simply taking their word for it?  Wouldn’t it be prudent to fund performance audits conducted by the established constitutional office- State Auditor & Inspector- on every agency or entity that gets a dime of taxpayer dollars?  That sounds too simple of a solution, yet no one has proposed it.  Why?  The simple answer is Oklahoma government has sacred cows legislative leadership doesn’t want to take on.   As late Labor Commissioner Mark Costello used to say: “The sacred cows belong next to the mashed potatoes.”     

     Kaiser is wrong about there not being waste.  There is waste and lack of productivity in every organization.  It is not likely Oklahoma government is the exception to that rule.  Most efficiency experts estimate the norm for waste in government in general is between 15-20%.  The challenge is finding the waste, and bureaucrats are experts at hiding it.  For some reason, lawmakers lack the political will to go after the sacred cows.   Perhaps they should talk to their constituents.  A 2014 Gallup poll found taxpayers believe that government- at all levels- wastes 51 cents of every dollar they collect.  It is doubtful half of all of Oklahoma tax dollars are being wasted, but there is waste. 

     Rest assured, Kaiser doesn’t operate his businesses like state government.  In order to remain viable, he must be competitive in the marketplace and stay profitable.  When revenue is down, Kaiser must adjust staff accordingly.  He isn’t in business to lose money.   Government never has a layoff.  Seldom is an agency closed or consolidated.  Government expands.  Kaiser can afford to pay more taxes, but can the average Oklahoman who has been laid off from the oil patch?  Government should adjust to the levels of revenue available.

    Kaiser concludes his op/ed by stating the way to balance the budget is to raise taxes.  He advocates increasing the gross production tax back to 7%, eliminating wind energy tax credits, raising cigarette and fuel taxes and taxing merchandise brought over the internet.  Sound familiar?  Those are the same proposals the Republican governor and GOP led legislature have proposed.  It’s getting hard to tell the conservatives from the liberals.  Kaiser claims raising taxes takes political courage, but the truth is it takes more courage to not raise them.