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Notes on the Oklahoma teachers' strike

I'll be on 1170 KFAQ with Pat Campbell Wednesday morning, April 11, 2018, just after the 8:00 am news to discuss the teachers' strike, the race for governor and other political topics. Listen at 1170 on the AM dial, online, or on the Tune In app. A collection of notes...

Posted by Michael Bates on April 10, 2018 10:43 PM

Senators, Governor renege on tax pledge; Oklahoma Taxpayers Unite launched; Ritze harassed by pro-tax rep

Wednesday night the Oklahoma State Senate passed the massive package of tax increases that was approved earlier in the week by the State House, and the bills were signed by Governor Mary Fallin. The largest tax bill, HB1010XX, passed by 36-10, including three Taxpayer Protection Pledge-breakers: State Senators Kim David,...

Posted by Michael Bates on March 29, 2018 10:34 PM

Oklahoma legislators betray taxpayers; Coburn launches taxpayer revolt

NOTE: I will be on 1170 KFAQ with Pat Campbell at 7:05 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 to discuss the tax increases passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives last night and the path forward. Listen live on 1170kfaq.com or on the Tune In app. Later the interview will...

Posted by Michael Bates on March 27, 2018 7:07 PM

SQ 640 and raising taxes in Oklahoma

Last week the Oklahoma House approved HJR 1050 by a bare majority of 51 votes, pushed by the Chambercrat House Leadership, voting to erode the constitutional protection against tax increases without approval of the voting public. These 51 representatives, including two, Leslie Osborn and Glen Mulready, who are seeking higher...

Posted by Michael Bates on March 21, 2018 11:07 PM

Oklahoma Growth and Opportunity Summit

If you're perplexed by all the wrangling and bickering at the State Capitol over budgets and taxation, here's an opportunity to hear specific facts and numbers from experts and analysts. It's tomorrow, starting at 9 a.m., but there's still time to register and attend. Registration is $20. I'm particularly looking...

Posted by Michael Bates on February 23, 2018 6:06 PM

Fallin budget veto reaction

On Friday, the Oklahoma Legislature approved a budget compromise that funded essential services, cut spending in other areas, and avoided raising taxes entirely. Later the same day, Gov. Mary Fallin used her line-item veto to remove all of the bill except for funding for the three agencies that would have...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 21, 2017 1:55 AM

State Rep. Scott McEachin: Eliminate anxiety by passing House health funding bills

State Rep. Scott McEachin of Tulsa, one of the votes against the HB1054X tax increases, explains in a statement that HB1054X would not have provided needed revenue for another 90 days, but bills already passed by the State House would provide immediate funding from cash on hand -- if the...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 10, 2017 6:31 PM

Rep. George Faught: House measure fills the budget hole

Muskogee State Rep. George Faught has posted a vigorous defense of his "no" vote on the HB 1054 tax increases. Faught states that the House has already passed bills filling the current budget hole without raising taxes; the Senate can choose to take these bills up and pass them. Faught...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 9, 2017 11:26 PM

Oklahoma legislature special session 2017

Muskogee Politico Jamison Faught has noticed that Gov. Fallin expressed a desire for "consolidation and other efficiencies" in her call for a special session but has taken that off the table in a more recent statement. OCPA's Trent England says cost avoidance should be the first priority for the legislature,...

Posted by Michael Bates on September 26, 2017 1:50 AM

What I told the <em>Guardian</em> about Oklahoma's budget crisis and what the <em>Grauniad</em> published

If you're wondering why people believe the mainstream news media is more interested in pushing a narrative rather than reporting the facts, I've got a story for you. If you want to know why you shouldn't trust a mainstream news outlet to give you multiple reasoned perspectives on a complex...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 31, 2017 5:13 PM