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Results tagged “political” from KRMG Local News
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - A member of Stillwater's volunteer planning commission has filed a petition seeking the recall of Mayor Nathan Bates.
Becky Teague, who serves as the commission's chairwoman, was one of 117 people who signed the petition submitted Friday to the Payne County Election Board.
County Election Secretary Glenna Craig says once the signatures are verified, the 27-year-old Bates has 10 days to submit a written response.
That response would be included on another petition to request a recall election. City staff members have said about 600 people would have to sign that petition for such an election to be held.
Bates has denied the allegations in the initial petition, which accuses him of using his position for personal benefit, interfering with police officers on duty, public intoxication and asking a woman to expose her breasts.
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TULSA, Ok. - Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett orders city department managers to cut their budgets and plan for more layoffs. He says the sales tax is down and there is no sign of improvement in the foreseeable future. Tulsa City Councilor Bill Christiansen (shown) finds it's a hard job to do. He says, "The budgets in all the departments have already been cut and now they're going to be cut even more and it's a really difficult task." The new city council met for the first time last night. The mayor told his managers to have the cuts ready by next Friday. They would go into effect after the holidays.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Sen. Jim Inhofe says he opposes a government proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020.
The Oklahoma Republican says he plans to travel to a climate conference in Europe next week to tell participants the proposal has little support in the U.S. Senate.
The Environmental Protection Agency has said scientific evidence shows greenhouse gases threaten public health and that the pollutants should be reduced. But Inhofe says he believes emissions, mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, have little effect on the climate.
Inhofe has called for an investigation into allegations that some scientists manipulated data to provide proof of global warming. A climate change skeptic, Inhofe says e-mails leaked from climate scientists indicate researchers suppressed data.
TULSA, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Steve Berg reports Mayor Dewey Bartlett says somebody at City Hall told him the freight elevator was the quickest way to get to the bottom floor and bypass all the regular elevator traffic. Turned out to be bad advice as the elevator got stuck and the Mayor says his electronic ID card couldn't make it budge. He says the only cell phone number he had, ironically, was former Mayor Kathy Taylor's. So he did the only thing he could. He gave her a call. "I said, 'Uh, I'm stuck in the freight elevator,' and she said, 'Who is this?" I said, 'It's Dewey." She got the elevator going again. He says former Mayor Taylor had a big smile on her face when the elevator doors opened.
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BROKEN ARROW, Ok. - Broken Arrow and Jenks voters approved school bond proposals yesterday. Both districts plan to spend the money for school construction and to buy more school buses. Around 70 percent of the voters in Broken Arrow approved the $295-million school bond. Officials say it was a record turnout for a school bond election.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma City voters have approved the third Metropolitan Area Projects proposal.
With all 271 precincts reporting Tuesday, a little more than 54 percent of voters approved the extension of a one-cent sales tax. That tax in recent years has helped transform downtown and provided a boost for local schools.
Under the $777 million MAPS 3 proposal, city leaders have promised a new convention center and 70-acre park, a downtown streetcar system, bicycle trails, sidewalks, senior centers and improvements along the Oklahoma River.
Proponents of MAPS 3 said it would sustain what they call unprecedented progress in the state's largest city.
Opponents had argued a recession is not the time to extend a sales tax.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation say they're encouraged that President Obama is sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
Obama told the nation Tuesday night that his new policy was designed to bring the war ``to a successful conclusion.''
Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Okla., said she has concerns about whether 30,000 troops are enough to defeat the resurgent Taliban, and she disagreed with Obama's announcement of a withdrawal date.
Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said even though Obama committed to 10,000 troops less than what commanding general, Stanley McChrystal, requested, the decision shows the president listened to his field commanders.
Rep. John Sullivan, R-Okla., said the decision was ``overdue,'' but agreed it is ``the right course of action.''
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TULSA, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Steve Berg reports it's just talk right now, but the Department of Public Safety is thinking about putting up 200 cameras on roads all over the state that would randomly scan the bar code on license plates, which can tell them if you have insurance or not. And if you don't, they would mail you a ticket. State Representative Mike Reynolds is all for cracking down on non-insured drivers but he says this isn't the way to do it. He says, "This violates any principle of privacy that was guaranteed under our U.S. Constitution. There's always good that can come out of something but I think that the negatives far outweigh the positives." A better way, he says, is to get tougher on non-insured drivers during normal traffic stops.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok. - A state lawmaker doesn't like the idea of using cameras to find drivers without insurance. 200 cameras on state roadways would randomly check car tags and if the car tag comes back uninsured, the driver would be mailed a ticket. State Representative Mike Reynolds calls the idea by the Department of Public Safety an invasion of privacy. He says the answer is to impound the cars of uninsured drivers during traffic stops.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The state's largest state workers organization says it agrees with Republican state Senate leaders who are calling for a special session of the Legislature in December.
The Oklahoma Public Employees Association said Monday declining revenues are forcing many state employees to face furloughs, reductions-in-force and voluntary buyouts and that immediate action is needed.
State revenues came in below expectations for the 10th straight month in October. State financial officials have already ordered 5 percent cuts in state agencies' budgets through the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
Those cuts followed a 7 percent cut at most agencies in May.
Gov. Brad Henry has proposed a special session in January, after the state Board of Equalization meets on Dec. 21 to release available preliminary revenue estimates.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones has filed a lawsuit that claims he was cheated out of election as state auditor and inspector in 2002 and 2006.
Jones filed the lawsuit Monday in Logan County. It asks for unspecified damages from former Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan and his wife, former state Sen. Gene Stipe and former Auditor Clifton Scott, among others.
Jones alleges the defendants committed fraud, violated federal racketeering statutes and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.
Jeff McMahan is serving eight years and one month in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy in June 2008. He was convicted of taking illegal campaign contributions, trips and jewelry.
McMahan's wife, Lori, is serving six-and-a-half years after being convicted in the same trial.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Senate Republican Caucus wants Gov. Brad Henry to call a special session of the Legislature for December.
Henry, a Democrat, had suggested earlier this week that a January special session might be possible to deal with the state's ongoing budget issues, after the state Board of Equalization releases revenue estimates on Dec. 21. State revenues have been below projections for the last 10 months.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City says it's clear that more reductions in spending are inevitable and that state agencies are waiting for direction from the Legislature on how much their budgets might be reduced.
Henry says it's important for lawmakers to do budget homework first before calling for a special session.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry says he's open to the idea of a legislative special session in January because of what he calls continued uncertainty in the state's fiscal forecasts.
Henry said in a statement Tuesday that ultimate budget decisions will depend on revenue estimates from next month's meeting of the state Board of Equalization.
He says legislative budget committees should expedite public hearings on possible reductions. Most state agencies took a 7 percent budget cut when the fiscal year began in July and since have taken an additional 5 percent in cuts because of declining state revenues.
Henry says that after the new revenue estimate is issued and legislative hearings are held, he'll discuss the possibility of a January special session with legislative leaders.
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TULSA, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Nicole Burgin reports Tulsans yesterday returned three former city councilors to the Tulsa City Council. Let's begin in District 3 where familiar face Roscoe Turner defeated incumbent David Patrick and Karl Hulcher. In District 4, Maria Barnes returns to the city council representing midtown and downtown Tulsa. She defeated Eric Gomez. Gomez told KRMG about his future plans, "I am going to play with my kids more and go back to work and make some money. I will still be around I have invested heavily in the downtown area. I am a commerical realtor." He cited the facility for the mentally ill at 10 N. Yale as the one issue that cost him the election saying the neighborhood while angry about the facility did not understand the council's role in the development. And former councilor Jim Mautino narrowly defeated current councilor Dennis Troyer in district six. The only current city councilor to win re-election on Tuesday, G.T. Bynum soundly beat his opponent Roger Lowry in district nine.
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TULSA, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Steve Berg reports Tom Adelson had a sense of humor about his defeat last night. When we asked him why he thought he lost, he said, "I think more people voted for him than voted for me". But kidding aside, he said the race became more polarized than anyone was expecting and might have hurt his chances. But he said the voters have spoken and he respects their wishes. He says, "I did the best I could and I ran the best race I could and I respect the citizens of Tulsa for their vote tonight and I look forward to being part of a better Tulsa. These are tough times and I want our next mayor, I want Mayor Bartlett to succeed." Adelson says he doesn't know if he might try again for the Mayor's job someday. Adelson still has 3 years left on his term in the State Senate and he still has his part-time teaching job at Washington High School. He joked he's going to give the kids a tough pop quiz to make up for the election loss.
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TULSA, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Steve Berg asks why would anyone want to be mayor, much less for free? But as people probably know, that's just what Kathy Taylor has done. She's taken no salary. A KRMG listener asked that question of the candidates last night: Would you do the same as Kathy Taylor. Tom Adelson says 'yes.' "I'm going to take it for nothing, but I know some of you may say I'll be overpaid at that level of compensation." A different response came from Independent Mark Perkins, but it still got some laughs. He said, "No. That would be a terrible financial move on my part." Finally, Republican Dewey Bartlett also says, no, he won't work for free. "This is an extremely serious job. Why would somebody want to take an extremely serious job that's gonna be consume my entire four years and my family's and not get paid for it?" Bartlett says one might be tempted to sleep-in some mornings if working for free.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Two state lawmakers from Tulsa are forming a bipartisan caucus to promote the interests of Oklahoma's second largest city.
Rep. Eric Proctor (left) and Sen. Gary Stanislawski say the new Tulsa Caucus is open to all Tulsa-area legislators and elected officials. It will meet before the end of the year to review legislative priorities.
Proctor, a Democrat, says Tulsa's needs are being crowded out at the state Capitol. He says it's important that the city's infrastructure needs are met.
Stanislawski, a Republican, says Tulsa has been the main economic engine for Oklahoma for over 100 years. But Stanislawski says the city has been a net donor to Oklahoma's treasury.
He says the new caucus wants to make sure Tulsa's interests are not overlooked.
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TULSA, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Steve Berg reports crime is a big issue in every mayor's race, but maybe never as much as this year, with the budget cuts and layoffs. So, expect to hear a lot about that at tonight's Smash-up at Jewel in Brookside. Both Independent Mark Perkins and Republican Dewey Bartlett say the police budget needs to be increased. Bartlett says, "I mean, we have to find a serious amount of money in order to keep and add to the number of police officers in the streets, things like the helicopters and all that sort of thing that assists in law enforcement." Democrat Tom Adelson was not available for this particular round of interviews. Perkins says we have to find an alternative to sales taxes to fund police. Bartlett thinks money can be found in the existing budget.
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TULSA, Ok. - Three candidates for the Tulsa mayor's job attended a forum last night at Clinton Middle School in west Tulsa. Republican candidate Dewey Bartlett says we need to live within our means and make sure trained police are not doing clerical work instead of police work. "We should move those officers out of that position and get them back in the street where they can accomplish the job that they were trained to do. Consolidate that position with other clerical positions that are manned by civilians," Bartlett says. All three candidates say they don't want to decrease the number of cops on Tulsa streets.
Three state lawmakers say there are ways to improve health care that would limit federal involvement
BROKEN ARROW, Ok. - A Broken Arrow state lawmaker and doctor says there needs to be tougher laws that limit the amount paid in malpractice suits. Representative Mike Ritze joined Representative John Trebilcock and Senator Bill Brown to address their fellow Broken Arrow church members last night about health care issues. "But everybody that goes to the emergency room is paying for them and that costs us, as people that are buying health insurance or as taxpayers, to pay for the non-paying element that's going to the emergency rooms," Ritze says. The House and Senate may be voting on health care legislation this fall. Passage in both houses would set the stage for a compromise to be voted on by year's end.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A state lawmaker who described homosexuality as a greater threat to the United States than terrorism will face a transgendered attorney in her next race for the state House.
Democrat Brittany Novotny announced Sunday she will try to unseat Republican Rep. Sally Kern (shown) from the House District 84 seat in northwest Oklahoma City.
Kern made national headlines in 2008 when she said the ``homosexual agenda'' is destroying the U.S. Earlier this year, she launched a campaign for a morality proclamation that criticizes the government for drifting from traditional Christian values.
Novotny says she wants the campaign to be about issues and not her personal decision to become a woman. She says Kern should spend more time helping bring jobs to constituents and improving education.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok. - Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole is critical of President Obama for not being more decisive about sending more troops to Afghanistan. Cole says, "I think the Republicans will give the President the support that he needs and I think he'll have the support in Congress but he has to lead." Cole says the President can't retreat now or else it'll leave allies wondering if they can trust the U.S.
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) - Three northeastern Oklahoma lawmakers are planning a health care forum in Broken Arrow.
State Sen. Bill Brown and state Reps. Mike Ritze and John Trebilcock - all of Broken Arrow - say they plan a presentation of the health care issues at stake under a health care reform plan proposed by President Barack Obama.
Ritze, a physician, says there are problems in the nation's health care system. But Ritze says he thinks the federal approach will only make the problems worse and create an undeniable tax burden for future generations.
Ritze says he plans to critique the proposed federal plan and offer some alternatives.
The forum is planned Sept. 29 at Arrow Heights Baptist Church in Broken Arrow.
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Steve Berg reports if we're talking strictly numbers, those opposed to President Obama's healthcare reform clearly have the edge. Two separate rallies were held at the state Capitol yesterday. About 300 people marched in favor of reform. Reggie Cervantes was one of the rescue workers in Manahattan after the September 11th attacks. She says, "911 caused all my health issues right now and the insurance companies feel that anything that's pre-existing, they don't want to cover." About 4 hours later, more than 5,000 people rallied against healthcare reform. Walter Miller was asked if there's anything the President has done that he's liked. Miller said, "The only thing I can see hope with Obama is he's only got 4 years if we can't impeach him sooner." The tea party rally was against increased government spending in general which they feel has gotten out of control.
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WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin once called the federal economic stimulus package a ``Big Brother spending program'' that didn't do enough to finance needed infrastructure projects.
She later joined Democratic Rep. Dan Boren in asking for $8.4 million in stimulus money for repairs to buildings at two Oklahoma National Guard sites.
Democrats say Republicans are trying to have it both ways. Republicans say there is no inconsistency in opposing wasteful spending while also backing worthwhile projects.
The money Fallin and Boren sought isn't in the Pentagon's spending plans.
McAlester, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Steve Berg reports ever since the Federal Highway Trust Fund was created, the main source of revenue has been the Fuel Tax. Here in Oklahoma, you pay 18-cents every time you buy a gallon of gasoline. But they say that's no longer providing enough money, especially in years like this where people are driving less. So what then? The answer is one you might not like. ODOT Director Gary Ridley says, "They talk about public-private partnerships, you know, that's the comment that was made. We all need to understand that the public-private partnerships are probably toll roads because somehow you have to pay back that private money that comes into it." Senator Jim Inhofe says, "That demonstrates that there's money to be made by financing these roads and having people use them, having tolling lanes on some of the federal roads, there's just a number of things that can be done." Probably not the answer you want to hear, but the money has to come from somewhere.
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TULSA, Ok. - AM 740 and FM 102.3 News/Talk KRMG's Glenn Schroeder reports Head Start, Early Head Start, Medicare, the expansion of Medicaid for Kids and Meals on Wheels. The list of Ted Kennedy's legislative accomplishments is a long one and it's one that Jan Figart with the Community Service Council in Tulsa appreciates. Figart says, "He casts a long shadow on our country as far as particularly in relationship to families and children." She says Kennedy had a special talent to craft legislation and get people to find common ground.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Republican State Sen. Todd Lamb of Edmond says he is running for lieutenant governor.
Lamb is the Senate's majority floor leader and is the fourth candidate to announce for the job being vacated by Democrat Jari Askins. Askins is running for governor.
Lamb is an Enid native and previously has worked for former U.S. Sen. Don Nickles and former Gov. Frank Keating.
Lamb says his top priorities are to retain current Oklahoma businesses, recruiting out-of-state businesses to come to the state and focusing on making Oklahoma a tourism destination.
The other announced GOP candidates for lieutenant governor are state Rep. Colby Schwartz of Yukon and state Rep. John Wright of Broken Arrow. Democratic state Sen. Kenneth Corn also is running for the office.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is expected to announce whether he'll run for governor in 2010.
The Democrat has press conferences scheduled today at the state Capitol, the Tulsa Press Club and his hometown of Muskogee to discuss his ``future political plans.''
Edmondson has not formally announced he'll seek the post next year, but he's filed organizational reports with the state Ethics Commission and raised nearly $500,000 for a campaign.
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins already has announced plans to seek the Democratic nomination. Republican candidates include U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin and state Sen. Randy Brogdon.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The state Capitol will be the site of one of several National Tax Day Tea Party rallies across the country, driven partly by conservative political activists.
Alan Webb of Edmond, organizer of the Capitol rally, says the main emphasis will be on excessive government spending.
Jason Carini of ``Getrightoklahoma.com'' says three tea parties are being planned in Tulsa, including one at LaFortune Park featuring Rep. John Sullivan.
Unlike a Feb. 27 tea party rally at the Capitol, Webb said today's event will not include any politicians as speakers.
Sites of other rallies include Duncan, Durant, Lawton, Miami, Muskogee, Norman, Poteau and Tahlequah.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Members of Oklahoma's delegation say they'll work with President Obama and others to bolster the nation's faltering economy, but they also criticized a $787 billion economic stimulus package and other proposals to deal with the crisis.
Republican Reps. Tom Cole, Mary Fallin, Frank Lucas and John Sullivan commented after Obama's speech last night to the American people and a joint session of Congress. Sen. Jim Inhofe released a statement on his Web site.
Cole and Lucas agreed with Obama that the GOP and the Democrats must work together to solve the country's problems.
Cole said that overcoming the present challenges will take sweat equity. But he also disagreed with Obama's push to allow tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 to expire next year and with the cost of the stimulus package and a proposed spending bill.
Fallin said she had concerns about the budget deficit and whether Obama would keep his pledge to cut it by reducing military spending and increasing taxes on small businesses.
Lucas also was critical of the stimulus plan and proposals for increasing spending, but he agreed with Obama that the United States will recover.
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