Oklahoma Democratic Party

"Andrew Rice, Executive Director of Variety Care Foundation and former State Senator – “Having them..."

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:01:57 -0600

“Andrew Rice, Executive Director of Variety Care Foundation and former State Senator – “Having them covered through Medicaid expansion is the moral thing to do, but it’s more importantly the fiscally responsible thing to do. To get them coverage and into primary care situations like ours could save the system so much money. We could have a healthier workforce.””

- http://okpolicy.org/quotes-in-favor-of-medicaid-expansion

statedept: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his wife,...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:14:16 -0600

statedept:

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, spend a quiet moment with their grandson Alexander in the Secretary’s outer office, before his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Department in State in Washington, D.C., February 6, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

OkDemocrats:

Congrats to Secretary of State Kerry!

msnbc: President Barack Obama receives praise and hugs from his...

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 17:26:59 -0600

msnbc:

President Barack Obama receives praise and hugs from his family after being sworn-in for his second term at the White House on Sunday.

(Photo by Larry Downing/Reuters)

npr: explore-blog: The 113th Congress, by the numbers (ᔥ The...

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 22:00:47 -0600

npr:

explore-blog:

The 113th Congress, by the numbers

(ᔥ The Atlantic)

The more you know. -heidi

Oklahoma State Representative Mark McCullough plans to file...

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:36:57 -0600

Oklahoma State Representative Mark McCullough plans to file legislation that will turn educators into police officers. He believes that Oklahoma teachers should carry weapons at school.

“Does Janet Barresi support this legislation?” asked Oklahoma Democratic Party Vice-Chair and educator Dana Orwig.

As the head of the State Board of Education, Janet Barresi needs to show leadership by protecting our children and teachers that she was elected to represent.

“Barresi has an opportunity to be a leader and direct the conversation on school safety,” said Chairman Wallace Collins. “Where does she stand on this bill? Does she want to become the new sheriff in town?”

msnbc: As the Obama administration gets set to offer gun...

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:01:06 -0600

msnbc:

As the Obama administration gets set to offer gun control legislation, it’s said to be mulling a new strategy that could help it overcome opposition from gun rights supporters and their allies in Congress: Aiming to pass separate measures as individual bills, rather than wrapping everything together into one comprehensive bill.

(Photo credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Donna Anderson, Superintendent of Bennington Public Schools,...

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:19:00 -0600

Donna Anderson, Superintendent of Bennington Public Schools, announced today that she will run to be Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2014.

She has more than 19 years of education experience and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northwestern University, and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from East Central University.

It is exciting to see so many Oklahoma Democrats that are announcing their candidacies for 2014! Donna joins many other candidates that understand the importance of getting started early! If you are interested in running for office or would like to nominate someone, contact us!

Photo Credit: Sadie Kaserman

barackobama: We’re just going to leave this here.

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:01:23 -0600

barackobama:

We’re just going to leave this here.

kateoplis: Person of the Year

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:25:42 -0600

kateoplis:

Person of the Year

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin continues to hide behind an...

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:51:18 -0600

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin continues to hide behind an “Executive Privilege” that does not exist in Oklahoma. She is using this tactic to hide emails that she received which helped guide her decision to not implement parts of the Affordable Care Act for Oklahomans. She has made the conscience choice to tell the people of Oklahoma to basically “not worry your pretty little head about grown-up stuff.”

Her secrecy reminded us of a famous scene from the movie “A Few Good Men”. Jack Nicholson plays the role of a government official who does not tell the public everything, and he has to own up to his mistake in the end.

In 2011, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Insurance...

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:26:47 -0600

In 2011, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Insurance Commissioner John Doak created an executive order to deny newborns health insurance. This was done by eliminating birth as a qualifying event for these children to be able to join their parents insurance.

It was mentioned that the Commissioner was working on fixing this coverage gap, but a solution has yet to be seen.

barackobama: Happy day of publick Thanksgiving, everybody.

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 12:05:06 -0600

barackobama:

Happy day of publick Thanksgiving, everybody.

barackobama: kateoplis: Runway to Win: Fashion Designers in...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:28:11 -0600

barackobama:

kateoplis:

Runway to Win: Fashion Designers in Support of Obama 2012

Featuring Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Jason Wu, Diane von Furstenberg, & Beyoncé

It’s coming, it’s true!

barackobama: Meet Debbie Bosanek, otherwise known as Warren...

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:58:23 -0600

barackobama:

Meet Debbie Bosanek, otherwise known as Warren Buffett’s secretary—and the inspiration behind the “Buffett Rule.”

Do top elected Oklahoma Republicans deserve a pay raise?

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:49:00 -0600

Inman Blasts Potential Pay Increases for Top Elected Officials

Leader Inman has blasted a potential pay increase for top republican elected officials, ones that have repeatedly attacked middle class Oklahomans this past year particularly Governor Mary Fallin, Insurance Commissioner John Doak, Superintendent of Education Janet Barresi, and Labor Commissioner Mark Costello. It starts with the subtle fact that statewide officials salaries are tied to the judiciary.

The Board on Judicial Compensation voted in September to support an across the board 6% increase in the salaries of Oklahoma judges.

The Governor’s salary, for example, is tied to that of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who currently makes $147,000 per year. A 6% bump in salary will bring the Governor’s compensation to $155,820.00, with another $2,130.00 in increased benefits.

“At a time when average Oklahoma families are struggling to put food on the table, haven’t had a pay increase in years, and are suffering through rising costs in medical care, it would be unconscionable for the Republican leadership and the Governor to stand by and allow over $350,000 in pay increases for elected state officials,” Inman said.

The Judicial Compensation Board presented this pay increase recommendation to the House of Representatives and to the Governor four months ago for their approval. No comments have been forthcoming as to plans to disapprove this pending pay increase.

Leader Inman noted that the pay increases would be “egregiously hypocritical” if approved.

“To give the issue some perspective, the Governor and the Republican leadership would be giving a raise to politicians who have assaulted the pay and job security of teachers, firefighters, police officers, and many others who struggle to make ends meet.” Leader Inman said.

These potential pay increases would be going to a Governor that does not support insurance for newborns.

A labor commissioner that thinks of teachers as “feral hogs” and has asked for legislation from Senator Dan Newberry (R)-Tulsa to be written that attacks protections for 25,000 employees.

Superintendent Barresi last year declined to fund the National Board Certified Teacher program, which offered a $5,000 annual bonus to teachers with that certification. Teachers who completed the rigorous program on the promises of this merit pay received in effect a 12% pay cut due to Supt. Barresi’s decision.

“To top it all off, there are serious efforts underway to further reduce state revenue and eliminate the few credits on the books that aid middle and lower-income families. If the decision of the Governor and the Republican leadership is to do nothing and let this pay increase take effect, it would be not only inappropriate, but irresponsible as well.”

Inman said, “It has been six years since state employees received a pay increase. A lot of these statewide elected officials make three to five times more than average Oklahomans who take home little more than $30,000 a year. Today I call on all our statewide elected officials to reject this pay raise. To do anything less is inexcusable!”

Oklahoma City- Under legislation state Rep. Joe Dorman plans to...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:43:50 -0600

Oklahoma City- Under legislation state Rep. Joe Dorman plans to file next week, companies that take a waste product and turn it into a new, usable product would qualify for Oklahoma’s Quality Jobs program. “The chairman of the task force looking at tax credits has praised the Oklahoma Quality Jobs program again and again and I think we should expand it to include companies involved in business-side recycling and remanufacturing,” Dorman, D-Rush Springs, said. “These businesses reduce trash, which is a major headache for government entities at all levels. They also create a product and jobs. Businesses must produce jobs to qualify, so taxpayers are ensured a return on their investment.”

Oklahoma Senator Dan Newberry (R) - Tulsa seeks to eliminate...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:51 -0600

Oklahoma Senator Dan Newberry (R) - Tulsa seeks to eliminate employment protections for nearly 25,000 state workers. The bill provides that “appointing authorities shall not convey any right or expectation of continued employment to all employees…the appointing authority may separate each employee at any time with or without cause.”

“This legislation, if enacted, would bolster the ‘good ‘ole boy’ system that has plagued Oklahoma for so long,” Rep. Lockhart said. “Senator Newberry’s bill would increase the influence an elected official could have on the hiring and firing of state employees.”

barackobama: That HQ mural we told you about the other day just...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:22:22 -0600

barackobama:

That HQ mural we told you about the other day just got painted in. Here’s some before-and-after.

pantslessprogressive: ” […] homeless families and troubled...

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:21:15 -0600

pantslessprogressive:

” […] homeless families and troubled children were not the biggest beneficiaries of ‘Operation Good Neighbor.’ Instead, the foundation spent most of its money to run itself, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees for fundraising, administration and office rental paid to Santorum’s political allies.

The charity also had significant overlap with the senator’s campaigns and his work on Capitol Hill. Among the leading donors to the foundation were Pennsylvania development and finance firms that had donated to his election efforts and had interests that Santorum had supported in the Senate.

Santorum, whose last-minute surge in the Iowa caucuses has brought new attention to his presidential bid, portrays himself as a common man concerned about the gap between the nation’s rich and poor. But in the case of his charity, his efforts ended up mostly helping his cadre of political friends.

Before it folded in 2007, the foundation raised $2.58 million, with 39 percent of that donated directly to groups helping the needy. By industry standards, such philanthropic groups should be donating nearly twice that, from 75 to 85 percent of their funds.” - Carol D. Leonnig and Dan Eggen

Santorum charity for the poor spent most of its money on management, political friends

Senator Andrew Rice's final pieces of advice

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:59:11 -0600

To the Republicans at the Capitol: Being entirely dismissive of the minority party’s views is just as toxic to good government as it was when the ruling Democrats did it. Little good comes from single-party rule — regardless of which party is in charge. Don’t become what you used to abhor.

To Republican voters in OKC: Many of you are much more moderate than you realize. This shouldn’t scare you. Oklahoma City’s dynamic growth over the past 20 years has come from a mixture of both conservative and progressive initiatives between city government and the private sector. The day soon may present itself that a centrist Democrat or independent candidate is more in line with your policy positions than a conservative Republican candidate.

To straight allies of Oklahoma’s LGBT community: The far right in Oklahoma cannot hold back the inevitable evolution taking place in regard to LGBT equal rights across America, even in this deeply red state. But your gay and lesbian sibling, colleague or friend needs you to step up publicly more often and affirm that he or she plays an important role in the mainstream culture and commerce of this city and state.

To Oklahoma Democrats: Despite what many in the local media say about the reasons for the demise of the Democratic Party here, we local Democrats bear little of the blame. What could we have done to stop right-wing talk radio and cable news, political activism from evangelical pulpits, and the political money from Oklahoma’s business community that all have effectively made the Democratic brand unacceptable to the state’s swing voters? I suggest holding your ground in the political middle, while elected Republicans try to outrace each other to the far right.

To public-education reformers: I trust you realize there is no easy fix. But I maintain much of the most important and difficult work to do is outside of the classroom, not inside of it. Kids from low-income families bring to the classroom a host of domestic, emotional and economic problems that can overwhelm even the most dedicated and experienced teacher. Check out Educare in south OKC, and learn how that facility creates stability for the entire family of the student.

To future candidates for the Legislature: Campaigning door-to door is a must. It does not ensure victory, but it’s very hard to win if you don’t do it. It will inoculate you well from your opponent’s attacks, and will build a unique trust between you and your future constituents. Plus, it will provide meaningful memories on those days at N.E. 23rd Street and Lincoln Boulevard when you ask yourself, “Why in the world did I do this to myself and my family?”

To my constituents: Thank you for entrusting me with the privilege and responsibility of being your senator for six years. I tried to match your fierce, independent-minded spirit in my day-today work. It was an honor to serve you.

And lastly: Go, Thunder!

Andrew Rice is a member of the Oklahoma Senate, representing District 46. He is resigning his seat Jan. 15 to move with his family to another state.