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Doug Cox uses tornado to defend Planned Parenthood funding

State Rep. Doug Cox (RINO-Grove) is using the aftermath of a disaster to gain a national platform from which he can heap scorn on his fellow lawmakers and his fellow Oklahomans in order to support Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, from whom he received a national award this...

Posted by Michael Bates on May 23, 2013 7:44 PM

State Rep. Jason Murphey praises House leadership transparency and reform proposals

One of my favorite Oklahoma state representatives is Jason Murphey, a Republican from Guthrie. If Rep. Murphey is happy about something at the State Capitol, Oklahoma citizens are likely to be pleased as well. So it was encouraging to see two posts earlier this week on his blog praising the...

Posted by Michael Bates on February 14, 2013 8:57 PM

Runoff 2012: Shane Saunders for House 70

Early voting begins tomorrow (Friday, August 24, 2012), so it's time (past time, really) for my picks in next Tuesday's (August 28, 2012) runoff election. Here's the first in a series: House District 70: Shane Saunders: This is an open seat -- incumbent Ron Peters has hit the 12-year limit...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 23, 2012 9:54 PM

Shane Saunders for House District 70

To reiterate something I wrote earlier today, it's a pleasure to be able to commend to you a candidate that I've known for years before he decided to throw his hat into the ring. When I tell you that Shane Saunders is a principled across-the-board conservative, thoughtful and well-spoken, it's...

Posted by Michael Bates on June 18, 2012 11:10 PM

Personhood: Those few who stood for the sanctity of human life

Last week, on April 26, when State Rep. Mike Reynolds tried in vain to appeal the ruling of the speaker pro tempore, so that the Personhood bill (SB 1433) would be heard, only 15 other state representatives were willing to stand with him. This in spite of the fact that...

Posted by Michael Bates on May 4, 2012 2:50 AM

Remembering Sue Tibbs

Oklahoma State Rep. Sue Tibbs, a Republican who had represented District 23 in east Tulsa since her election in 2000, died Friday, the end of a long battle with ovarian cancer. Because of term limits, this had been her final session. Services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, April...

Posted by Michael Bates on April 9, 2012 12:23 PM

Oklahoma Republican House caucus in tumult; will we see a repeat of the '89 ouster of a Speaker?

Mike McCarville has two stories from the State Capitol about dissatisfaction among rank-and-file Republican members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives with the way Speaker Kris Steele is using (or abusing) his power. Steele has one year remaining as speaker. Republicans have already picked T. W. Shannon to succeed Steele...

Posted by Michael Bates on December 9, 2011 11:37 PM