August 4th Posts

"There is no other position that has such a high burden, just the presidency. It's because the national parties don't want the competition. They are deathly afraid of the competition. This is why it's so important for us to be doing this." - Bob Barr, on filing a lawsuit to be on the ballot in Oklahoma
Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr announced a federal lawsuit against Oklahoma's restrictive ballot laws for Independent Presidential candidates. He turned in over 9,000 signatures, well over the pre-1974 requirement of 5,000 signatures for recognition of party, but under the 44,000 needed to be on the ballot this year. Oklahoma's current 3% requirement for Independent Presidential candidates is the only requirement over 2% in the country. Read more in the Oklahoman, the Gazette and Tulsa World.

Norma Sapp, executive director of Oklahomans for Initiative Rights, writes in a letter to the Oklahoman: "Congratulations to The Oklahoman for speaking out against the awful loss of our voter initiative rights. Oklahoma voters deserve better than to get to vote on only two of the 23 initiatives submitted this decade.

We need to lower our signature requirement, which is the highest in the nation, and expand the narrow 90-day period for gathering those signatures. The latter reform is just as important as the former in giving grassroots efforts a chance to qualify a measure for the ballot; moreover, it doesn't require a constitutional amendment. Voters also need protection so that petitions aren't thrown out on technical grounds after hundreds of thousands of citizens have signed.

Reform won't be easy. During this year's legislative session, The Oklahoman rightly took Senate Democrats to task for blocking a bill that would have simply allowed a task force to study reform. It appears reform will have to be citizen-initiated. Oklahomans for Initiative Rights is launching a citizen task force to gather public comment and ideas for reform. We want to hear from you. Email us at ekco@swbell.net."

July 5th Posts

Tuesday, July 15th, 7:00 PM: Libertarian Presidential Candidate, BOB BARR, in Oklahoma City. He will speak at Rose State College ( I-40 & Hudiburg Drive, near Tinker) at the Student Building (3rd right, campus map here). Cost is $10. Hope you can make it! Read the Media Alert(pdf). Visit Barr's website at www.BobBarr2008.com.
"The American people need a choice, they want a choice, they deserve a choice." - Bob Barr Monday on CNN
OKLP Press Release: Libertarian Presidential Nominee to Run as Independent in Oklahoma Signatures to put Bob Barr on the ballot in Oklahoma as an Independent are beginning to be collected today. Barr will need 43,913 valid signatures from registered Oklahoman voters by July 15th.

HELP BARR BE ON 50 STATES. HELP COLLECT SIGNATURES: download the petition (pdf). Please mail signed petitions to Libertarian Party of Oklahoma, P. O. Box 14042, Tulsa, OK 74159-1042.

THANKS FOR HELPING PETITION! Here are some tips to make your work count:
-ANYONE can circulate petitions for Barr, even if not registered to vote in Oklahoma.
-Carry extra pens and petitions, two, three or four clipboards (cardboard works)
-Label a few petitions with the counties you expect to find people from. One county per sheet.
-Ask people, "Are you a registered Oklahoma voter?" before they sign.
-Ask "Will you sign my petition?" as you hand it to them. Say "This petition will allow Oklahomans to vote for Independent presidential candidate Bob Barr. Which county are you registered in?"
-You may clarify "Signing does not mean you support him, but would only allow Oklahomans to have more choices as we are one of five states without write-ins." Or mention, "Because of Oklahoma's restrictive laws, we were the only state limited to two choices for president in 2004."
-DO NOT ARGUE! Move on to the next person. Getting signatures by early July is the goal.

Once you fill up a petition with signatures:
-You must sign each sheet.
-Mail the signatures by July 10th to Libertarian Party of Oklahoma, P.O. Box 14042, Tulsa, OK 74159

Oklahoma has, by far, the most strict requirement in these United States, according to Ballot Access News. You can read the state rules (pdf) on why an independent presidential must collect so many signatures.

New OKC MeetUp group. Sign up HERE.

July 1st Posts

The Libertarian Party was the only political party to file a brief in the recent District of Columbia v. Heller case. Bob Barr wrote the amicus brief supporting the right to bear arms and defend one's self. Read the LP release here.

Bob Barr says Oklahoma is the toughest state for ballot access and may file lawsuit on Fox News last Sunday (6/18/08). "Oklahoma is an extremely tough nut to crack because the two parties there, the two status quo parties, make it almost impossible to get on the ballot. It may be that we'll have to file a lawsuit to get on the ballot, but we intend to do whatever we can to get on the ballot in all 50 states."


Math problem: Petition process in need of change; The Oklahoman editorializes on why the initiative process in Oklahoma should be opened up by reducing the number of signatures required. The process is becoming inaccessible, except to the very few, which is why only 2 of 23 initiatives made it to the ballot; and those two both sought to increase the size of government with the cockfighting ban and raising the state's gasoline tax.

June 3rd Posts

Georgia Governor recently signed a $50 million Corporate and Individual Scholarship Tax Credit program into law, providing hope to thousands of families who want to send their children to better schools. Oklahoma State Representatives recently shot down a much more modest education tax credit that would have allowed low-income students to have access to more school choice. How did your Representative vote? See Here.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court decides to uphold the full $84,000 annual pension of multi-indicted former state legislator, Gene Stipe, despite a state board's ruling that Stipe forfeited much of his pension because he violated his oath of office.

May 27th Posts

OKIES Press Release: Independents Want More Candidates Filing to run for office in Oklahoma is June 2nd-4th. PLEASE CONSIDER RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND GIVING VOTERS A CHOICE ON ELECTION DAY.

Bob Barr wins Libertarian Party Presidential Nomination. Visit www.BobBarr2008.com

An Oklahoman article asks "Why are state prisons so full?" Maybe it is because of criminalizing activities without victims, like responsible adult drug use. Oklahoma has the third highest rate of incarceration. The United States imprisons more people than any other industrialized country, with almost 1.6 million imprisoned. This means one in every 99 adults is behind bars.

Cigarette Taxes cause Black Market to explode. OKLP warned against this result.

April 23rd Posts

Although there are some great public schools, "we've got other schools that we've been telling [parents] for years and years and years that it's going to change. And I would not risk my child's education to say, 'Well, I'm going to make you stay in there because I'm committed to fixing the school, and the next thing you know they're in 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade and maybe the damage has been done. ... I wouldn't do that." He said that he and his wife happen to have the resources to take their own children out of a bad school if necessary. So "why should I turn to my constituents, especially my low-income constituents, and say they got to stay in there?" - Senator Andrew Rice (D-OKC) on his support of the New Hope Scholarship Act (Senate Bill 2093)
Support School Choice! Support Education Tax Credits! Support The New Hope Scholarship Act, Senate Bill 2093! (The bill was just defeated in the Republican controlled House, although it passed the split Senate.)

Minnesota lawmakers may soon allow voters to decide if their state becomes the 13th to allow medical marijuana.

The first federal marijuana decriminalization bill in 25 years was just introduced in Congress. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced H.R. 5843, the 'Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008,' which would decriminalize possession of marijuana for personal use. Please urge your representative to support this important legislation.

April 5th Posts

"Abdication of responsibility is not part of the constitutional design...Separation of powers was designed to implement a fundamental insight...Concentration of power in the hands of a single branch is a threat to liberty." - Justice Kennedy, quoted in a Washington Times article about broad executive powers given to the Department of Homeland Security.

April 5th Posts

"The American people are much more sensitive to big government and the problems of big government. Republicans in Washington have opened people's eyes. Both major parties are big-government parties." - Bob Barr
Former Congressman Bob Barr announces he will seek the Libertarian Party nomination for President today. Read the OKLP Press Release and the FITSNews story and Fox story.



Former Democratic Senator and presidential Candidate, Mike Gravel, has also announced his intention to run for the Libertarian Presidential nomination: "It's not so much that I left the Democratic Party; it's that the Democratic Party left me."


Attorney General Drew Edmondson Fights the Right of Citizens to Petition their Government: "Kill the Bill". Norma Sapp writes, "This is just to let you know about the shenanigan's going on. It may be normal politics but it isn't right."

March 27th Posts

Support House Bill 3350 to create a Task Force to study making the Initiative process more user friendly and giving a more reasonable time to gather signatures. HB 3350 passed the House and will be heard this Monday in a Senate Committee. Here is a list of the Senators on the General Government Committee:
Cliff Aldridge (405) 521-5584 aldridge@oksenate.gov
Joe Sweeden (405) 521-5581 sweeden@oksenate.gov
Patrick Anderson ( 405) 521-5630 anderson@oksenate.gov
Roger Ballenger (405) 521-5588 ballenger@oksenate.gov
Randy Bass (405) 521 55-67 bass@oksenate.gov
Brian Bingman (405) 521-5528 bingman@oksenate.gov
Bill Brown (405) 521-5602 brown@oksenate.gov
Brian A. Crain (405) 521-5620 crain@oksenate.gov
Mary Easley (405) 521-5590 easley@oksenate.gov
Constance Johnson (405) 521-5531 johnsonc@oksenate.gov

Tulsa Libertarians meet Monday, April. 7th at 7:00 PM at Angelia O'Dell's home (3527 E. 4th St.) to discuss the Tax Day Protest with OKLP vice-chair Jimmy Cook.

March 15th Posts

OKIES Press Release: 'Clean Campaign Act' needs reform: House Bill 2196 passes House, but needs to be reformed before going forward because it protects incumbents by severely limiting challengers' ability to raise funds and maybe even pay their filing fee.

March 9th Posts

OKIES Press Release:More and More Independents: "With over half of state legislative races unopposed in the 2006 general election, we hope more Oklahoma voters will have a choice this November. But that all depends on the number of Oklahomans, regardless of party, who step up to the task." said Clark Duffe, OKIES chairman.
9,715 more Oklahomans registered as Independent since 2006. This was out of 13,564 new registrations. Bringing the total number of Independents to 219,230, or 11%. (If you register Libertarian in Oklahoma the Election Board will label you Independent.)

Maps for Millionaires passed.


Feb. 16th Posts

Press Release: OKLP 2008 Convention (PDF)
Action Alert: Call State Legislators: demand Ballot Access Bills get a Committee vote this week.

Tulsa Libertarians next Meeting:Wed., March 12th potluck dinner at Angelia O'Dell's home. Details here.

Feb. 9th Posts

"We're all citizens of the United States of America...We have our rights to do what we want to do, and if you don't like what's going on, then get up and walk out." -Diana Davidson on the proposed ban of smoking in all public places, including privately owned establishments
Craig Dawkins, author of Modern Patriot Chronicles, says "the Republican Party has become the "Democrat-Lite" party moving ever leftward as necessary. Big government promotion is now a central part of Republican ideological push. Compassionate conservatism means that - government knows best."

Feb. 8th Posts

Oklahoma Libertarian Brent Colle is featured on LP.org (with 3rd highest candidate tracker) and the Ponca City News because of his campaign for City Commissioner. He finished a strong second in a three way race and will compete in a runoff April 1st.

From the Ponca City News: Colle called for a "principled approach" to government and said taxation was not always the correct response to situations facing the city. "America was born out of a sense of liberty and justice...We need roads, prisons and some other things we can't do without a tax." However, taxation should be a last resort. He advocates encouraging private business to fill many needs instead of seeking a governmental solution. "We need to set a higher standard for our children to see," Colle said.

A debate on decriminalization of marijuana takes place at the University of Oklahoma. The Drug Policy Forum of Oklahoma president Ron Shewey asked, "Why is it the business of government if a hard-working American wants to smoke rather than drink after a hard days work?" And he explained, "I believe in moderation and personal responsibility."

Feb. 3rd Posts

OKLP Chairman, Jimmy Cook is interviewed on KTOK Channel 6 about our fight to open primary elections to all voters. "It would be good because you want people to vote for the candidate, not necessarily the party. You want people to get more involved in the political process; you want them to research the candidates." said Cook. Read the 2005 OKLP Press Release about the Clingman v. Beaver Supreme Court decision.

Jan. 29th Posts

Paul Jacob, author of Common Sense, and Jason Carini of "Yes on Term Limits" have both been invited to speak at the 2008 Oklahoma Libertarian State Convention. Below, you can see Mr. Jacob speaking at the steps of the Oklahoma County Courthouse with many supporters, including our own Jimmy Cook, OKLP chairman, and Richard Prawdzienski, former OKLP chairman. For more, read the Journal Record article.

Jan. 20th Posts

Modern Patriot, Craig Dawkins, writes,"I see Ron Paul as the only candidate committed to limited government conservatism and the restoration of constitutional freedoms." And in his latest newsletter explains why Fox News delivered a blow to its own credibility by excluding Ron Paul from the New Hampshire debates. He suggests watching this short CNN video.

Jan. 14th Posts

OBAR submits 14,000 signatures for ballot access reform to the secretary of state. Though not enough to put the question on the ballot in 2008, it should send the signal to legislators that Oklahomans want voter choice.

Steve Hunt, of the Oklahoma Media Awareness Alliance, writes about why extending the one-cent sales tax to pay for corporate welfare (the Sonics basketball team) is a bad deal for the taxpayers and good deal for special interests.

Dec. 22nd Posts

Watch Rep. Charles Key and Rep. Jason Murphey endorse Ron Paul for president at the OKC rally.

Dec. 9th Posts

"Competition breeds success. When you have the opportunity to have competitions in an elected capacity, it is good for people...serve your constituents for a limited amount of time and then you go back and live under the laws you helped create." - Senator Randy Brogdon on expanding term limits
Learn about and register for the 2008 Libertarian National Convention in Denver, May 22-26.




Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has re-indicted the Oklahoma 3- Paul Jacob, Rick Carpenter and Susan Johnson. This follows the AG quietly dismissing the grand jury indictment against the three last week. Read more at FreePaulJacob.com and watch the short video below.

Nov. 18th Posts

Sunday, Dec. 2nd, 2:00 PM - Ron Paul Rally at State Capitol

Nov. 1st Posts

The Oklahoman, The Tulsa World, and The Journal Record cover the successful OBAR fundraiser with National Libertarian William Redpath and former Congressman Bob Barr.

Oct. 29th Posts

"If taxes are laid upon us without our having a legal representation where they are laid, we are reduced from the character of free subjects to the state of tributary slaves." -Sam Adams
Petitioning Government: Rep. Charles Key defends citizens' right to petition and questions the AG's understanding of Constitution.

Paul Jacob of the Sam Adams Alliance writes that nearly half of Congress sends or has sent at least one of their children to a private school.



Ron Paul on KOTV: Watch on YouTube story on grassroots support in Oklahoma.

Consequences of Drug Prohibition: "We have about a 95 percent capacity filled on a regular basis in our state penitentiary system," said state Rep. Joe Dorman. "We don't want the feds to take over the system like they did in the past, so the state is putting greater pressure on the counties to hold more prisoners, for a longer time period so the state meets the federal mandates."

AEIA Director: Military Strike On Iran "Would absolutely lead to a Disaster."
Iran and Economic Recession: If war breaks out, anticipate that all hell will break loose in the oil markets,"

Oct. 14th Posts

EVENT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23rd: Former Congressman, Bob Barr, and National Libertarian Director to Speak at the north Oklahoma City Holiday Inn (NW 63rd and Robinson, just west of I-235). Bob Barr is currently a member of the National Libertarian Committee. Join us for this Libertarian Event of the Year and help OBAR raise funds to open Oklahoma's ballots!




Event Oct. 9th: Plan to hear Oklahoma State Rep., Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) at the next OKC Libertarians meeting. Rep. Murphey has has committed to not taking personal gifts or campaign contributions from registered lobbyists. His website says this allows him to be a "leader in the fight to eliminate the state income tax, reform education, cut state spending and open up the state government to the people." Join us Oct. 9th, 6:30 PM at Chen's Buffet (NW 23rd & Meridian).

Oct. 7th Posts

PAUL JACOB, writes in the Oklahoman and Townhall about the petition for which he was indicted: "...a liberal labor activist from Oregon, was hired to run a campaign of harassment. Blockers were hired from throughout the country and paid as much as $100 a day. Their function? Swarm around anyone out circulating the petition and create enough street theater and mayhem to chase away citizens who, since the measure was overwhelmingly popular, would otherwise be likely to sign."

Oct. 2nd Posts

PAUL JACOB, tireless advocate for term limits and property rights was targeted by the Oklahoma system today for daring to challenge unaccountable government spending growth. His use of the initiative process has infuriated bureaucrats intent on keeping citizens from holding government accountable. Read Paul's comments at FreePaulJacob.com. Read about Paul's history of active citizenship here.



National Libertarian Party to help Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform




Sept. 14th Posts

OBAR Files Initiative Petition with Secretary of State Today



National Libertarian Director, Shane Cory, says in the Norman Transcript to support reform: "On a local level, volunteer, get signatures on the petition, because we have very little time...We need hundreds of volunteers who want a choice in Oklahoma to realize a two-party system really doesn't serve them. OBAR will welcome the help, but it will take a huge effort to make the change."

National Libertarian Chair, Bill Redpath, says, "Without fair access to the ballot, the electoral process is spoiled and true representation is impossible to achieve," regarding OBAR's efforts.


Sept. 10th Posts

OBAR EVENT Friday, Sept. 14th, 2:00 PM at State Capitol:
Press Conference open to public on 1st floor of rotunda, following OBAR initiative filing with secretary of state.

Sept. 2nd Posts

OBAR event Sept. 6th, 7:00 PM in OKC, Independent/Libertarian Presidential Candidate Daniel Imperato & National Libertarian Director, Shane Cory to speak

Watch the Oklahoma Ballot Access Documentary and Donate to help the petition. Oklahoma Ballot Access Reform (OBAR) plans to circulate an Initiative Petition Sept.-early Dec. 2007.

The Sunday Oklahoman covers OBAR efforts to give voters more choices on the ballot.

"Taxpayer-funded lobbying is a systemic problem through which hard-earned tax dollars are used by government entities to hire lobbyists who then work to secure more of our tax dollars," writes Americans for Prosperity Oklahoma Director, Stuart Jolly in the Daily Oklahoman.

Tulsa Libertarian, Joe Cristiano, discusses why War isn't Working, Government Charity, the presidential debates, and more.

July 26th Posts

Discussing the planned ballot access initiative petition, OKLP Chairman, Jimmy Cook, said in an upcoming LP News article, "We really think voters would support us on it."

A poll supports the Chairman's comments. 100% of respondents to an OkcFox.com poll think all political parties should be able to get on Oklahoma's ballot.

Another group also plans on petitioning soon, Oklahomans for Modern Laws plans to move our liquor laws into the 21st century with an initiative petition. Read the Edmond Sun article.

July 24th Posts

Tulsa Libertarians meet Wednesday, Aug. 1st. A guest speaker will discuss child safety with DHS and OKLP Vice-Chair, David Splinter will speak on ballot access reform plans. Dinner at 6:00 and program at 7:00 at Panera Bread (6981 S. Lewis).

Next OKC Libertarians meeting Tuesday, Aug. 14th, 6:30 PM at Chen's Buffet (NW 23rd & Meridian). Nathaniel Batchelder, director of the OKC Peace House plans to speak.

Oklahoma City Ron Paul for President Group demonstrates their support in this YouTube video. The Tulsa Ron Paul Meetup Group will be at Diversafest (July 27-28).

Ron Black rants against OSU's abuse of eminent domain, "With each passing day, my friends, our freedom is being challenged. Yes, we have a war on terror from outside the nation, but what about the terrorism taking place against our Constitution from within our borders?"

Tulsa Libertarian, Joe Cristiano, discusses the presidential debates, English as the official language, train travel, global warming, and the so-called War on Terror and it's friend Price-Gouging.

Rep. Jason Murphey writes, "I have worked to understand the efforts being made to expand the size of government. In the future I will continue to be vigilant in opposing massive government expansion."

May 27th Posts

"Foreign policy is about protecting America...Our foreign policy is doing the opposite." - Michael Scheuer, former head of the CIA's bin Laden unit
Plan to hear Senator Coburn's local field representative, Craig Smith, at the next OKC Libertarians meeting June 12th, 6:30 PM at Chen's Buffet (NW 23rd & Meridian).

On YouTube, Senator Coburn and Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, explain how Congress has failed to reform the earmark process.

Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) explains problems with the new state budget because it includes an "...additional bonded indebtedness of the Oklahoma Higher Education system by about 50 million dollars. The good news about this proposal is that it is only a fraction of the 663 million dollars of debt requested in Henry's initial budget. However...If we are serious about rolling back big government and enacting important pro-growth reforms such as eliminating state income tax, the issue of big government debt is not one we can ignore. Reducing the size of government is difficult enough because of past inappropriate spending by state politicians and new debt simply adds to this problem."

The 2007 Oklahoma Democratic Party State Convention Resolutions Adopted included "We support a statewide vote to decide the issue of the use of medical marijuana for patients when prescribed by a licensed physician." They did not include ballot access reform, as the Republicans have. We hope they will take up this important issue for our democratic process at their next convention.

Connecticut House of Representatives approved a bill this week 89-58 allowing seriously ill individuals to grow marijuana at home to ease their pain.

May 25th Posts

The Oklahoma State Supreme Court refused to address the nation's most restrictive ballot access laws this month with the appealed 2004 LPO v. Clingman case. The state constitution says "All elections shall be free and equal." The court recognized five months ago that some tort laws created an unconstitutional barrier to the courts. But the barrier for getting on the ballot is ten times as high for a party. Is access to the democratic process one-tenth as important as access to the courts? Or is the constitution to be respected only selectively in our state's Centennial year.

OK Supreme Court Rules Court Access Restrictions Unconstitutional; Why not Ballot Access Restrictions?:"The Oklahoma Supreme Court made it easier Tuesday for Oklahomans to file medical malpractice lawsuits, striking down a legal provision it said sabotages equal access to the courts...With eight out of nine justices concurring, the court said the provision was a special law that unconstitutionally applies only to people filing medical negligence claims. People filing any other negligence claim don't have to comply with the provision, it said. The law also creates an unconstitutional barrier to access to courts because a person filing the malpractice lawsuit must spend between $500 and $5,000 for an expert opinion on the lawsuit's merit, the court said." ("Tort reform issue ruled unconstitutional", The Oklahoman Dec. 20, 2006)

Watch Congressman Paul in the second Republican Presidential debate explain the effect of American interventionist foreign policy to a history-deprived Mayor Giulani; so Paul assigns him a reading assignment, including the recommendations of the 9-11 report. www.RonPaul2008.com

Radley Balko writes on Fox News "Giuliani was either lying, or he hasn't cracked a book in six years." The 'blowback' theory says "actions have consequences. When the Arab and Muslim world continually sees U.S. troops marching through Arab and Muslim backyards, U.S. trade sanctions causing Arab and Muslim suffering and U.S. bombs landing on Arab and Muslim homes, it isn't difficult to see how Arabs could begin to develop a deep contempt for the U.S."

May 24th Posts

"I knew Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush is no Ronald Reagan. Bush's presidency follows in the tradition of Big Government Democrats and Republicans like Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and George H. W. Bush." - Richard A. Viguerie Replying to the White House
In the vein of Fair Trade Coffee, the Dolphin Safe Tuna program, and the Underwriters Laboratory (all voluntary, private regulatory groups), and recognizing that a government mandated wage floor can cause some workers to lose jobs, David Splinter proposes a "Voluntary Living Wage" program. Under a Voluntary Living Wage, employers can voluntarily pay a certain wage to all employees and communicate that to their clients (perhaps with a sticker on the door similar to this logo). Some clients may support that business because they believe in the cause, despite possibly higher prices. A private group would set the local wage rate and enforce rules for qualifying employers. Government would not be involved because it would be a grassroots, private effort, perhaps run by a group like the Working Families Project.

Watch "ADDICTED To WAR" Animated Preview on YouTube. See www.addictedtowar.com

Archives: OK Libertarian Clark Duffe explains how to search for a party at the 2006 OU Political Night: "I think choosing your party is a lot like choosing a partner. You need to start with dating...After that, get married. Join the party, get active and remember that you can always divorce."

May 23rd Posts

"The issue is not sex, it is not death and it is not morality. It is, rather, the fact that you and I have certain rights, chief among them the right to be left alone if we're not bothering anybody. But conservative lawmakers, the same people who think corporations should be left alone in matters of pollution and public safety, seem to think they have a perfect right to break down the bedroom door..."
- Leonard Pitts: More government intrusion into our lives: What would Reagan do?
Separation of Church & State: The House passed HB 2101, which addresses Faith-Based Programs. "$100,000 has been allotted in the fiscal year 2008 budget to help these groups reduce Oklahoma's recidivism rate." But Rep. Al Lindley (champion of rights to tattoos) "said he supports churches getting involved in prison ministries. but they should pay for those programs with their own money, not public funds." reports the Oklahoman.

Meanwhile, Speaker Cargill, the bills author said "It doesn't fund these groups or give them any financial assistance. It just fully opens up the doors for their participation." The truth is, it appears that the money comes from another bill, but HB 2101 sets up two Revolving Funds that can then spend the money.

Competition in Education Works: "After I made the announcement, they all worked hard to get good grades...They all wanted to get that free cruise." said Rose State College professor Kevin Dewey on a reward he offered for the highest class grade, demonstrating how competition works in education.

May 18th Posts

"When Congressman Ron Paul, who has long served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, explained how 50 years of American interventionism in the Middle East has helped compromise our national security, Giuliani interrupted saying he had "never heard anything so absurd." This statement is particularly troubling...since Dr. Paul's point comes directly from the bi-partisan 9-11 Commission Report."
- Paul campaign email
Real ID: The Oklahoma Senate voted unanimously to pass SB 464, which forbids compliance with the REAL ID program, and also provides for collecting and deleting all biometric information that the State has gathered. The bill now goes to the Governor.


The Oklahoma OK Republican Platform for 2007 says (III G. 6., PDF): "We support less restrictive ballot access for all political parties and candidates." Will Oklahoma Democrats also publicly support a fair democratic process at their convention this weekend? David Splinter says he hopes so.

May 17th Posts

"Only by working together - by focusing on building a state rather than a political party - can we move Oklahoma forward...We must act on the courage of our convictions, and in a spirit of bipartisanship, to seize this opportunity to shape the future and define Oklahoma for the next 100 years."
- Governor Brad Henry, The Oklahoman, Feb. 11, 2007
Previous OKLP Press Release on appeal to State Supreme Court:
The court refused to hear the Ballot Access case on Tuesday, even though we celebrate the centennial of our state constitution, which says "All elections shall be free and equal."

Oklahoma's education system and academic achievement rates an 'F' Nationally in a U.S. Chamber report "Leaders and Laggards". "Oklahoma needs serious reforms. More charter schools, more local control, and merit based pay are great starts. I commend the U.S. Chambers report for these suggestions, but they don't go far enough. Oklahoma certainly needs more flexibility and more competition in education, this can be achieved through vouchers and tax credits for public, private, or home school education." writes Patrick Gibbons.

May 16th Posts

"All elections shall be free and equal. No power, civil or military, shall ever interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage..." - Oklahoma Constitution, Section III-5
"The Oklahoma State Supreme Court refused to hear the Libertarian Party's ballot access case, a case that had been filed in 2004. The case is Libertarian Political Organization v Clingman. The party had spent a great deal of money in 2004 to submit a petition signed by 2% of the last vote cast, but the law requires 5%. The party had felt that turning in a petition signed by 27,000 signatures would establish that it had a modicum of voter support. The fact that no one else even tried in 2004, and that Oklahoma voters were the only voters with no choices for president on their ballot except Bush and Kerry in 2004, also seemed powerful evidence that the law is too strict." - Ballot Access News editor Richard Winger.

Tulsa Libertarian, Joe Cristiano, interviews Libertarian Presidential Candidate Daniel Imperato.


Budget agreement reached: Plan equals this year's $7.2 billion budget. Students on scholarship to be held accountable, while merit-based teacher pay is nixed. "The plan bears the fingerprints of both Republicans and Democrats. Rather than being a $1,000 per teacher, across-the-board raise as Henry had originally proposed or strictly merit based as Cargill had indicated he preferred, the plan is weighted in favor of veteran teachers and teachers with advanced degrees "

Bill that need to move in the Senate (find your Senator's number here):
SB 464, by Sen. Constance Johnson and Rep. Charles Key, directs the state to NOT participate in the REAL ID Act of 2005. "It also states that no state agency or department charged with motor vehicle registration or issuance of driver licenses or identification cards collect or retain data in connection with compliance with the REAL ID Act. Any biometric data previously collected or retained relating to motor vehicle registration or issuance of driver licenses or identification cards be deleted from all databases." More at the Oklahoma Defense of Freedom Project.

May 15th Posts

"I think we have a spending problem in this state, not a revenue problem." -Aurora, IL dairyman Jim Oberweis
Gov. Henry passes Tax Relief Package. What did the Speaker have to yield behind closed doors? Unaccountable, non-merit based pay raises, perhaps?


"I'm looking for people who are going to support school reform...who are willing to raise performance levels of schools," said Rep. Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City, a former schoolteacher.

Congressman Ron Paul writes, "I was opposed to the creation of a new Homeland Security Department from the beginning. Only in Washington would anyone call the creation of an additional layer of bureaucracy on top of already bloated bureaucracies "streamlining." Only in Washington would anyone believe that a bigger, more centralized federal government means more efficiency...Certainly we are spending more money and getting less for it with the Department of Homeland Security."

May 14th Posts

"It would be nice if a key lesson of Greensburg, Kansas, were that government derives its power solely through the "consent of the governed" and in no other way. It would be nice if Greensburgians, witnessing the federally created disasters in Iraq, Afghanistan, and post-Katrina New Orleans would stand up and say, "No, thank you!" It would be nice if when George W. Bush comes to preach and promise, the citizens don't show up because they are too busy working on their own recovery and they because already know where real freedom and real value originate. - Karen Kwiatkowski
The Sunday Oklahoman agrees with OKIES that redistricting reform is needed. More background on redistricting here.


Rep. Jason Murphey blogs about his concern for legislators directing money to special interests: "I am convinced that the prospect for this type of corruption remains high as long as government remains large. When government is small and limited, the public has a greater ability to monitor it and keep it honest. When government grows tremendously, it makes it easy for corrupt politicians to take money off the top for their own benefit." Pass-throughs have been in the news recently because of Gene Stipe and were examined in the 2006 OCPA Piglet book.

Senator Coburn asks the Army to hold an open competition to select the best rifle for our soldiers. "I am certain that we can all agree that America's soldiers should have the best technology in their hands...I am afraid that our troops in combat might not have the best weapon."

Keep tabs on your government: City of Norman City Council meetings on Google Video.

May 8th Posts

"Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest his own way." - Adam Smith, 1776
The State Health Department will appeal a judge's ruling that overturns undue restrictions on tattoo parlors in Oklahoma. "They're beating a dead horse," said Attorney Jaye Mendros. "It's a shame that they're using taxpayer money doing it."

A recent OKIES press release shows why Oklahoma's current redistricting system limits voter choice and an Independent Redistricting Commission could help.

May 5th Posts

No Fat Tax: Oklahoma Libertarians David Splinter and Clark Duffe explain why a "fast food" tax is a bad idea in letters to the Oklahoman. Duffe writes, "Wouldn't it be easier just to tax people on how much they weigh? Maybe we could even have "fat credits" (sort of like "carbon credits") that skinny people who aren't using their government-allotted fatness could sell to Al Gore."

May 3rd Posts

"We want you money whether you are here legally or not and whether you earned it legally or not." - IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson, on the IRS practice of collecting taxes from illegal immigrants by assigning taxpayer ID numbers (Newsweek)
Teacher Pay: Terry Stoops reports that Oklahoma's adjusted teacher compensation is "$3,467 higher than the U.S. adjusted average compensation. Oklahoma's high pension contribution, low cost of living, and lower-than-average teacher experience raised the state's ranking from 47th to 14th in the nation."

Tulsa Libertarian, Joe Cristiano, discusses his interview with the head of the Working Families Project, immigration with regard to America's economic policy, and micro-lending as a way to help people become self-sufficient. This Sunday he will interview Libertarian Presidential Candidate Daniel Imperato.

Charlie Meadows thinks Congressmen Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) are the best Republican candidates for president because their votes are most in harmony with the Constitution.

May 2nd Posts

"Delay made an offer that could have come from the like of Tony Soprano. According to [Congressman Nick] Smith, DeLay told him that in exchange for support of the drug bill, a $100,000 check would be forwarded to the campaign of his son, Brad Smith, who was running to succeed his father in the same House district. The offer, which can really only be construed as a bribe, came with a threat, too: If Smith didn't vote in favor of the bill, GOP donors would boycott his son's campaign. Smith still refused to support the bill. His son ended up losing the Republican primary"
- Stephen Silvinski, "Buck Wild: How Republicans Broke the Bank and became the Party of Big Government"
An Oklahoma County judge struck down parts of the law that make it difficult for tattoo artists to obtain state licenses by mandating expensive surety bonds and location restrictions. Oklahoma was the last state to legalize tattoos and formerly one of the only places in the world to criminalize tattoos outside of Iran.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down the corporate welfare "Opportunity Fund". By allowing two legislative leaders to decide which companies will benefit from our taxpayer dollars, the law violates the constitutional separation of powers. "The extra-constitutional method by which the Legislature extends its tentacles of control over an appropriation measure beyond the time when the measure stands transformed into enacted law offends the constitutional concept of separated powers and becomes a usurpation of power," the court ruled.

OKLP has opposed the similarly contrued "Raid the Rainy Day Fund" Corporate Welfare program (SQ 725). More examples on the OKLP Corporate Welfare page.

"Make no mistake, the good old boys who want to abolish the rights of the people to vote on their own legislation, and who are trying to send their political opponents to jail, have picked on the wrong American," Susan Johnson, president of National Voter Outreach regarding TABOR petitioning roadblocks. She filed a lawsuit challenging the restrictive process: "By filing in federal court, I expect to have my day in a fair court, and on a level playing field."

April 30th Posts

$91,000,000,000 : Total value of US government contracts in 2000 handed out without competitive bidding.
$170,900,000,000: Total last year. [2006] - Harpers Magazine
It look like the $500 million Crosstown Boondoggle may get even more expensive. Mary Francis, asks in the Oklahoman if "the high-dollar feasibility studies and budget projections victims of incompetence or old-fashioned political sleaze?" Either way, she thinks Oklahoma taxpayers lose. More on at the OKLP Crosstown page.

April 28th Posts

"The president made another veto threat and drew the line at $256 billion. But the veto threats were even more meaningless now...the real cost would be $295 billion...True to form, Bush acted as if he'd never issued a veto threat and signed the bill..." - Stephen Silvinski, "Buck Wild: How Republicans Broke the Bank and became the Party of Big Government", pgs. 142-144
Bob Waldrop, founder of the Oklahoma Food Cooperative and former OKC mayoral candidate and OK Libertarian, discusses how to support Oklahoma farmers in the Oklahoma Daily.

Jay Ingram of Oklahoma City writes that Individual Accountability should be considered when discussing firearms.

April 23rd Posts

"When the president asked him to support the [Medicare Drug] bill, Feeney told him, "I came here to cut entitlements, not grow them." "Me too, pal," said Bush before he slammed the phone down." - Stephen Silvinski, Buck Wild: How Republicans Broke the Bank and became the Party of Big Government, pg. 137
School Choice: Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson (R-OKC) writes in an article in the Oklahoman, "If we really believed in local control, schools would have to satisfy parents in order to stay in business...With more competition in the state-funded school monopoly, Oklahoma could do a better job of preparing children for productive and rewarding lives. School vouchers can allow parents to choose the schools their children attend - private or public - and allow the tax dollars to follow the child."

Marijuana Prohibition: "It's much easier for kids to get marijuana than to get beer because it's an unregulated product, " said Norma Sapp, state director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. She also said the cost to send someone to prison in the state is nearly $18,000. "We can send someone to college for that price, easily...We don't have enough room in our jail to arrest every smoker in this county. We need to save that jail space for real criminals."

The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board makes a case for reconsidering marijuana prohibition.

Real ID Act, State's Rights & Privacy: In a 97-0 vote, the Oklahoma House passed a bill to allow the governor to delay implementation of the federal Real ID Act. More information on Real ID at RealNightmare.org. The Oklahoma Defense of Freedom Project is also working on this issue.

April 21st Posts

The Internal Revenue Service estimates that 60 percent of filers -- including IRS Commissioner Mark Everson -- turn to professionals to help get their returns in order. This represents about $300 billion in additional costs each year for individuals and businesses, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation." - Reason Magazine
Midge Sullivan, State Chairwoman of Oklahoma Tax Action Group (OTAG) will speak at the Tuesday, May 8th OKC Libertarian meeting. OTAG has been supporting a bill to tax equally the income of private sector retirees and government retirees. Guess who loses now! Private sector retirees, of course. Plan to join us at Chen's Buffet (NW 23rd and Meridian by Crest foods).

Charter School Bill: School Board Stifling of Charter Schools may lessen with the passing of a bill in the Senate and House. "The Tulsa Public School Board took an unusual step in placing a moratorium on the establishment of any more charter schools, [Rep. Jabar] Shumate said. If Tulsa schools were doing their job, there would not be a need to talk about charter schools." When pro-government school bureaucrats complain that competition threatens the status quo, remember that charter schools are still government controlled schools, but just outsourced to a entity that is actually held accountable (or else their charter can be revoked).

"An inner-city Oklahoma City charter school has outperformed most of its peers in federally mandated tests. The KIPP Reach College Preparatory school...in northeast Oklahoma City scored a 2006 Academic Performance Index of 1,393 out of a possible 1,500...The average score in Oklahoma City Public Schools is 1,006. The only middle school that topped KIPP is [another charter school,] Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School." KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools in under-resourced communities throughout the United States.

April 19th Posts

'Where is the government spending irresponsibly? "Corporate welfare," answered Brogdon as an immediate example. The governor's Opportunity Fund and EDGE Fund were specific examples he cited. "It's not right for the state government to spend money to handpick which companies are going to prosper...If I was governor and I was going to make that decision, I would set a level playing field and set up a free market."'
- Senator Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso) in The Urban Tulsa
Although the government did not extend its reach to 3-year-olds this year, it continues to try to tighten its grasp on 17 and 18-year-olds. The compulsory education bill, which would make it more difficult to allow high school students out of school, now goes to the House. Here are some comments from Senators to consider:
- Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, said he didn't hear evidence the proposal would have any effect on the state's dropout rate.
- Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, another opponent of the proposal, said, "The message we're really sending with this bill is, 'We know better than you. We know better than you, parent.' "
- Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, said he liked the idea of the bill but didn't think it accomplished anything. He voted against the bill.

George Will writes how the federal government bends states with threats of witholding funds: "Each state has a right to set a lower [drinking] age -- more than half had lower age limits in the 1970s -- but doing so will cost it 10 percent of its federal highway funds and cause significant uproar from contractors and construction unions."

April 18th Posts

"I hear from my constituents all the time that they want more and better options for their children's education...I've seen the tremendous positive impact that charter schools are having on children's lives in my own community. We should be encouraging the formation of these schools, not discouraging them."
- Rep. Jabar Shumate (D- Tulsa)
Legislation to encourage charter schools in Oklahoma is headed for a vote of the full state House. SB 661 and HB 1589 "encourages the development of charter schools by allowing the Oklahoma Department of Education, cities and certain higher education entities to sponsor charter schools." Currently, only a few school districts in metro areas can sponsor charter schools, perhaps limiting school choice. More on the OKLP charter schools page.

4th anniversary of US occupation of Iraq: Oklahoma City University students dissatisfied with how the government is handling the situation organized the first OCU peace protest since 1971.

The Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will hold its 17th annual dinner and meeting Saturday, April 28, 6 pm, in Oklahoma City. This year's keynote speaker will be Bud Welch, whose daughter died in the Murrah bombing. Bud has been interviewed with Larry King and appeared on "Good Morning America," the "Today Show," "60 Minutes" and "Dateline NBC."

April 17th Posts

Tattoo Prohibition Suspended: An Oklahoma County judge issued the temporary injunction after hearing from five tattoo shop owners who say they've been denied a state license because they don't have a bond. They say no one can explain why the bond is necessary and their attorneys say the provision is unreasonable.

Rep. Al Lindley's HB 1532 would amend the law. Rep. Lindley previously introduced the bill that saved Oklahoma from being the only place in the world besides Iran where tattooing was illegal. Other legislators added restrictions to his original bill, such as the bond requirement.

Attorney at Law, Jay Mendros, writes in the MidCity Advocate: "The land of the free includes freedom from unreasonable intrusion into our private lives by those in authority....The next time you hear someone "got off on a technicality," remember that the same "technicality" protects your home from forcible entry by armed police officers unless they've followed proper procedure, such as getting permission from a judge, prior to barging into your private domain. These "technicalities" protect you and your loved ones from having confessions beaten out of you."

April 16th Posts

"The first duty of a patriot is to question the government." - Thomas Jefferson
"It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government." -Thomas Paine
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official." - Theodore Roosevelt
In his MidWest City Sun column, Thomas Bell, agrees with three great Americans about the meaning of being a patriot. Read his blog, A Free Society.

April 15th Posts

In the Oklahoma Daily, Mike McCarthy writes, "...a question seemingly far more in line with the principles upon which this nation was founded. What business does the state have in controlling what we do with our own bodies?...As the War on Drugs has demonstrated, just as Prohibition did in the 1920s, attempting to stop drugs at the source is a waste of time. The best way to deal with drugs is to regulate their production and punish those who prove themselves undeserving of the public trust..."

US Criminal Justice Population Tops 7 Million Drug offenders represent the largest source of jail population growth, up nearly 40 percent since 1996 and "nearly one in eight drug prisoners in America are behind bars for marijuana-related offenses".

The Washington Post reports: "AIDS patients suffering from debilitating nerve pain got as much or more relief by smoking marijuana as they would typically get from prescription drugs -- and with fewer side effects -- according to a study conducted under rigorously controlled conditions..."


American Academy of Pediatrics Slams Random Student Drug Testing Policies -- Tests are ineffective, not backed by physicians, and may push teens toward the use of dangerous drugs and alcohol.

A report finds that marijuana is the largest cash crop in the U.S., highlighting the economic benefit that could be derived from taxing and regulating marijuana in an approach similar to that used with alcohol.

April 13th Posts

"This is simply a monopoly...This is really stifling competition. It really is." -
Rep. Carolyn Coleman, who introduced a measure to reform the Oklahoma coffin cartel in 2000
Amy Ford points out about the effects of the government protected casket monopoly in a letter to the Oklahoman. This monopoly means caskets are much more expensive than in a free market.



In 2005, Rep. Paul Wesselhoft (House author of the recently passed Transparency Act ) introduced a bill to break the cartel. "Wesselhoft said a funeral director's license requires a four- year degree and experience in embalming bodies. All of that just to sell a box...that's a ludicrous argument."

In 2004: Memorial Concepts Online "sells an oak coffin for about $2,000, compared to an average of around $4,000 at funeral homes in Oklahoma, where the company is based. By separating the purchase of caskets from the purchase of funeral services, Memorial Concepts can offer substantial savings...But in Oklahoma, which allows caskets to be sold only by licensed funeral directors, such competition is illegal...the founders of Memorial Concepts, are fighting to overturn Oklahoma's casket cartel, arguing that it violates their rights to due process, equal protection, and economic liberty under the 14th Amendment." More about the case here.

More about the casket monopoly from Common Cause OK (pdf).

April 12th Posts

"The court's decision today diminishes the value of two important rights protected by the First Amendment: the individual citizen's right to vote for the candidate of her choice and a political party's right to define its own mission...[The majority opinion] has little to support it other than a naked interest in protecting the two major parties." - Supreme Court Justice, who dissented with Justices David Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the OKLP primary election case, Beaver v. Clingman
From the Archives: May 2005, Beaver v. Clingman Case
Libertarians see silver lining in Supreme Court ruling: The Supreme Court ruled to allow Oklahoma to limit participation in a partisan primaries to a party's members and Independents. But a majority of Justices said agreed that freedom of association rights are a concern because of restrictive ballot access laws.

Okiedoke wrote: "Of course the state was representing the two major parties only. But since the state's interest is evidently paramount to the voters', couldn't they just as well argue one day that the state has a legitimate interest in a one party system also?"

Dustbury wrote before the Supreme Court overturned the 10th Circuit 3-0 decision: "Nothing in this ruling mandates that the two major parties have to allow crossover voting, but it's a first step towards opening up the primaries, which I think will prove beneficial to third parties in years to come, especially with the general level of dissatisfaction with the Big Boys."

April 11th Posts

Larry Brittain, OKLP Treasurer, writes in a letter to the Oklahoman: "I've heard that the Kremlin is requiring all political parties to have 50,000 members to be recognized for elections. A little math shows me that 48,500 valid signatures are needed to get a "third party" on the Oklahoma ballot in 2008. It's amazing that measures taken in Russia, seen by many as a way to squash opposition, are taken as doctrine here in Oklahoma, home of the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nations...Something needs to change."

FreedomFest 2007: Speakers include Rep. Ron Paul, Nathaniel Branden, Dinesh D'Souza, Thomas DiLorenzo, Art Laffer, Brian Doherty (Radicals for Capitalis), Charles Murray (Losing Ground, In Our Hands, and What it Means to be a Libertarian) and many more.

Tom Coburn Taking Aim At Supplemental Pork: "I think it's clear that the 2008 Political Party Conventions don't need $100M in "emergency" funding in a war supplemental bill. That's one bit of blatant arrogance that I think we need to call them all out for." -writes Brad Warbiany in the Liberty Papers Blog.

April 10th Posts

David Splinter, OKLP Vice-Chair, writes in a letter to the Gazette: "Instead of focusing on issues, [third party] candidates fight to just give Oklahomans the chance to vote for them...Many state legislators already recognize the problem of the majority silencing the minority with a biased democratic process. They see that we deserve a fair system that allows greater voter choice."

Tuesday, April 17th: The Oklahoma Media Awareness Alliance will be hosting Washington Post's Islamic affairs correspondent Anthony Shadid, who has reported from Iraq unembedded on a rotating basis since the beginning of the war four years ago. Mr. Shadid's fluent Arabic has allowed him to live with Iraqi families and impart their perspective on events as they have unfolded. Mr. Shadid, originally from OKC, was awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting. Mr. Shadid's book, Night Draws Near: Iraq's People in the Shadow of America's War, is now in paperback. His new book is Legacy of the Prophet: Despots, Democrats, and the New Politics of Islam.

The event is Tues., April 17th, 7:00 PM at the First Unitarian Church, NW 13th St. & Dewey, OKC

April 9th Posts

Bob Waldrop, candidate for Mayor of OKC last year, will be speaking at the Tuesday, April 10th OKC Libertarian meeting. Plan to join us at Chen's Buffet (NW 23rd and Meridian by Crest foods).

Tulsa Libertarian, Joe Cristiano, interviews (mp3) Libertarian Presidential Candidate Mr. George Phillies.


Presidential candidate, Governor Bill Richardson recently signed into law a measure that makes New Mexico the 12th state to allow the use of medical marijuana. "Patients with debilitating illnesses or in hospice whose doctors recommended them could be certified to use marijuana...The New Mexico Health Department would be in charge of obtaining and distributing it."

The O'Donnell Foundation in Dallas is demonstrating that proper incentives work: They are paying teachers and student for that receive high scores on Advanced Placement tests. Jobs pay you for your effort, it makes sense that educational endeavors follow a similar model. Exxon-Mobil announced it would donate $125 million to the effort due to the falling number of graduating engineers in America.

April 7th Posts

SCHOOL CHOICE: As the school choice movement moves forward, special interests keep fighting to slow it down. "But a large-scale voucher program answered these arguments long ago. It was the GI Bill." writes retired public school teacher David W. Kirkpatrick.

Parents for Choice in Education is working to defend America's first universal voucher program in Utah. This program will offer choice to parents and save money: "the legislative fiscal analyst estimated the average voucher amount will be a approximately $2,000 vs $7,500 that will be spent per student in the public schools next year."

Payne County District Judge rules that McCloskey brothers can not challenge the validity of OSU's unconstitutional Board of Regents, which initiated proceedings to acquire their home. The McCloskeys plan to continue to challenge the university's right to seize the property through eminent domain. "This judge ruled that a board of regents that is improperly constituted can take your property, and there's nothing you can do about it," said Harlan Hentges, attorney for the McCloskeys.

Your Vote Counts: Political Forum discusses Gov. Henry's vetoing of the budget with Representatives Terrill (R) and Morrisette (D).



Congressman Ron Paul "explains his foreign policy principles and how they apply to the Bush doctrine, the 'isolationist' smear, the motives of the bin Laden movement, his belief that the Middle East would be more peaceful without the American military presence, the corruption of the Congress as a result of how much power they wield, U.S. obstruction of various peace efforts in the region, the threat of war with Iran and the possible consequences, that nation's enmity toward al Qaeda, frightening new changes to the Posse Comitatus and the Insurrection acts, the Military Commissions Act and his opposition to the way the current administration operates their secret military tribunals."

April 5th Posts

"If Social Security is such a great program, why is it mandatory?" asks Freedomworks director Dick Armey.
Americans for Prosperity Oklahoma holds Grassroots Training and "Day at the Capitol" Events:

Tuesday, April 10th: "Grassroots Workshop" 6:30-9:00 PM - Hardesty Regional Library (Oak Room), 8316 East 93rd Street, Broken Arrow. Learn how to write letters to the editor, call and talk to legislators, and more.

Wednesday, April 11th: "Grassroots Workshop" 6:30-8:30 PM - Norman Public Library Room A/B (225 North Webster, between Andrews Park and Gray St.)

Monday, April 16th: "Day at the Capitol" - 9:00-12:00 - State Representatives and Senators will speak.

April 3rd Posts

"I'm a patriot...but definitely Iraq allowed me to question my government and the reasons I was put in harm's way." - Matt Stiner, Iraq war veteran and student at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa. He won a $30,000 Truman scholarship that he'll use to earn a master's degree in public administration.
Republican Senator and presidential candidate Sen. Brownback will address the Oklahoma House tomorrow (Wed. April 4th) at 1:30 p.m. Sen. Brownback opposed president Bush's "surge" plan saying: "I do not believe that sending more troops to Iraq is the answer...Iraq requires a political rather than a military solution... the United States should not increase its involvement until Sunnis and Shi'a are more willing to cooperate with each other instead of shooting at each other."

Congressman Ron Paul's new book, Foreign Policy of Freedom, is now available. "Our experiment with foreign policy interventionism has failed, just as our experience with domestic economic interventionism has failed," he said in 1982.

"War, and the threat of war, are big government's best friend," he wrote recently. "Liberals support big government social programs, and conservatives support big government war policies, thus satisfying two major special interest groups. And when push comes to shove, the two groups cooperate and support big government across the board - always at the expense of personal liberty. Both sides pay lip service to freedom, but neither stands against the welfare-warfare state and its promises of unlimited entitlements and endless war."

March 31st Posts

Bob Waldrop, candidate for Mayor of OKC last year, will be speaking at our April 10th meeting. He was active with the Libertarian Party early in its history and is now promoting energy efficiency. Plan to join the OKC Libertarians on Tuesday, April 10th at Chen's Buffet (NW 23rd and Meridian by Crest foods).

In The Oklahoman, Lowell Adams of OKC writes: "It's time for Congress to exercise its constitutional duties by defunding this futile, immoral and imperialistic venture." And Alvena Bieri wants a planned leadership institute and museum in Hobart to draw "a moral lesson from our invasion of Cuba and The Philippines in 1898". More on the Philippine occupation by America (which has numerous parallels to Iraq) here.

March 28th Posts

"For now, federal law is blind to the wisdom of a future day when the right to use medical marijuana to alleviate excruciating pain may be deemed fundamental...Considering that during the last ten years eleven states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, that day may be upon us sooner than expected."
- Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Gonzales v. Raich case
"The court has just sentenced me to death," Angela Raich said after the ruling. "My doctors agree that medical cannabis is essential to my very survival, and the government did not even contest the medical evidence ... If we don't have a right to live, what do we have left?"

JD Miller writes in the Claremore Progress: "The time has come to make medical marijuana a reality. It was medicine before 1937. It is medicine now. 11 states representing populations of over 75 million have voted to allow marijuana as medicine."

EVENTS
TODAY: ODFP Informational Meeting in Norman on March 28th, at 7:00 PM in room 304 Adams Hall on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. The ODFP, sponsored by the Jeffersonian Society, will introduce its mission and the major issues of National ID cards, eminent domain, and the future of liberty in Oklahoma. OU campus map is available at: here.



This Saturday: Bill of Rights Celebration will be held from 7:00-9:00 PM and ACLU annual meeting (11:00) at the Clarion Meridian Convention Center, 737 South Meridian Avenue in Oklahoma City.


March 27th Posts

Oklahoma County Republican Party 2007 Platform recognizes need for Freedom of Political Choice: "Recognizing that real competition leads to improvement in the quality and quantity of products and services, and recognizing that Oklahoma has both the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation and low levels of political participation; therefore, we support lowering state ballot access requirements to at least that of the 10th least restrictive state in the union." The 10th least restrictive states (Utah and Washington) both require 1,000 signatures.

Modern Patriot, Craig Dawkins, congratulates the OK County GOP for recognizing the need to reform our state's restrictive ballot access laws: "I have long argued that Oklahoma would do better with more political competition. By political competition, I mean giving other political parties equal opportunity by removing unreasonable barriers to compete with the two major political parties. When it comes to allowing political competition, Oklahoma is...more restrictive than Afghanistan...[and] just barely better than the old Soviet Union."

March 26th Posts

OK Libertarian, Thomas Bell, starts as a guest columnist at the Midwest City Sun. In his first article, he writes: "A free society is the most practical, moral, humanitarian, and ethical." Also, read his blog, A Free Society.

March 21st Posts

The Oklahoman writes in an editorial today: "Libertarian party leaders in Oklahoma...take a back seat to no one when it comes to fighting for their cause. Libertarians want to see the names of their state and federal nominees on the ballot in our state, and have worked years to try to make that happen. What they're asking the state to do is provide a framework of rules that make achieving that goal a reality...We applaud them for their perseverance and wish them well in their pursuit." Thanks Oklahoman!

March 15th Posts

OKLP Press Release: Libertarians want to give Oklahomans more voter choice despite recent ruling.


Public Meeting Today on Crosstown. More details on the $500 million Crosstown project here.

OK Legislative Updates:
Responsible Saving with the Rainy Day Fund: An idea OKLP has expressed support of passed the House 96-5 and moves to the Senate. House Joint Resolution 1019 would increase the Rainy Day Fund to 15% of the certification for the General Revenue Fund.

Real ID Act, State's Rights & Privacy: The Senate passed a bill to allow the governor to delay implementation of the federal Real ID Act. Reacting to a groundswell of criticism last month, "the federal Department of Homeland Security in February said states now will have until the end of 2009 to implement the act if they request an extension. Passed two years ago, the Real ID Act would require Americans to obtain a new, nationally mandated identification card. Senate Bill 464 is authored by Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Oklahoma City. It passed 45-0 and now goes to the House of Representatives."
More information about Real ID at RealNightmare.org. The Oklahoma Defense of Freedom Project is also working on this important issue.

Voluntary not Mandatory: House Bill 1795 would encourage retailers to place voluntary age restrictions, rather than previously considered mandatory restrictions, on the sale of medications containing dextromethorphan, a drug that is found in many over-the-counter cold and cough medications.

March 14th Posts

Libertarian Party of Oklahoma to appeal 2004 ballot access case to State Supreme Court. Senator Brogdon (author of the reform bill, SB 28) said he believes competition fosters excellence: "No one else can get their turn," he said. "I'm not sure that's the best system available." Michael Clingman, secretary of the State Election Board, said "I think it's a pretty high standard, looking at other states...They do have a high burden."

Richard Prawdzienski, former OKLP chair, asks: "Why is voter turnout low? Could it be because the people don't want to vote for an authority, any authority, to make decisions for them?" in a letter to the Oklahoman.

Muskogee drug task force members seized property with bogus search warrants for drugs. Bill to the taxpayers: $587,500. A victim of drug task force theft said they retaliated for comments he made about finding parts from car seized by the task force installed on other cars.

Since property seizures were expanded to local agencies, drug charges have multiplied, as government agencies have the monetary incentive to separate citizens from their property. "Unfortunately, the more forfeiture laws legislatures enacted, the less attention police seem to pay to major criminals." writes James Bovard.

Norman officials want to charge $560 for electronic copies of public documents. The Oklahoman reports, "Rep. Mike Reynolds, an Oklahoma City Republican who has authored bills on the state's Open Records Act and frequently seeks public documents electronically, said such a charge is "outrageous," and would have a chilling effect on anyone who wanted to keep tabs on their government by requesting public records."

March 13th Posts

Congressman Ron Paul, 1988 Libertarian nominee for president, announces bid for the presidency. "The Republican Party has floundered in its effort to shrink the size of government and restore our constitutional republic," he said. "Instead, in recent years our deficits have exploded, entitlements are out of control and our personal liberties are threatened. We have embarked on a dangerous and expensive foreign policy, acting as the world's policeman and nation builder."

"Liberty once again must become more important to us than the desire for security and material comfort. Personal safety and economic prosperity can only come as the consequence of liberty. They cannot be provided by an authoritarian government. To expect the government to take care of us from cradle to grave undermines the principles of liberty," he said. See an interview here.

March 8th Posts

All elections shall be free and equal. No power, civil or military, shall ever interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage... - Oklahoma Constitution, Section III-5
Jim Russell thinks the "Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (and the governor) spent $450,000 of taxpayer money to thrill some 7,000 students", rather than spending the half million dollars to properly educate them in a letter to the Oklahoman.

Performance Audits:Currently, performance audits can only be called by the head of an government agency. So that does not happen often. Senator's Kenneth Corn's SB 18 calls for the creation of independent citizen advisory board and says, "Citizens demand and deserve accountability of public programs...Oklahoma state government and other entities that receive tax dollars must continuously improve the way they operate and deliver services so citizens receive maximum value for their tax dollars; An independent citizen advisory board is necessary to ensure that government services, customer satisfaction, program efficiency, and management systems are world-class in performance".

Mark your calendar: 2008 LP National Convention in Denver, Colorado, May 23-26 (that's 2008). Current presidential candidates include George Phillies, Christine Smith, Steven Kubby, Doug Stanhope and more.



March 7th Posts

Past OKLP Chair, Richard Prawdzienski, writes in a Gazette Commentary: "Oklahoma has one of the nation's toughest ballot-access laws, and our state legislators refuse to let ballot reform bills out of committee."

"Do they fear that if we had third-party candidates on the ballot, it might cause their party to lose the election? Or, are they afraid that having more than two political parties might make us think?"

"Why are majority parties keeping the alternate national parties away from Oklahoma voters? Is it the American way - or the Oklahoma way - for a majority to silence a minority?"

John Fund, Wall Street Journal writer (who will speak at the March 17 Americans for Prosperity Conference in OKC), comments on the recently released "Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement", by Reason magazine senior editor Brian Doherty.

"Scores of books have been written on the role of communists and socialists in the U.S., dour chronicles of welcome failure. But very few writers have devoted much attention to the role of libertarians, a more appealing and optimistic group of thinkers, political activists and ordinary citizens who believe that respect for the individual and the spontaneous order of market forces are the key to progress and social well-being." Mr Fund notes that, "some 15% of voters hold broadly libertarian views and can be a swing factor."

School Choice for South Carolina? "In recent weeks several thousand residents have rallied at the state Capitol and advocates have lined up bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled Legislature for creating a $1,000 tax credit for middle-class parents and a $4,500 state "scholarship" for poor kids in failing public schools that can be used to attend any school."

March 6th Posts

A resolution to cap growth of state spending at 6% plus inflation passed a House committee. The current 12% plus inflation cap allowed almost 30% growth of state government spending in the last two years.

James Huff, of Oklahomans United for Separation of Church and State, writes that there would be no oversight of distribution of taxpayer money with the state Office of Faith Based Initiatives (OFBI). HB 2101 seeks to help ex-inmates return to society (good), but without legislative oversight of funds (not good).

In letters to the Gazette, Mack Paul writes, "Arguments favoring decriminalization of drugs have come from all points of view on the political spectrum including very conservative individuals. Conservative economist Milton Friedman; George Shulz; the secretary of state under Ronald Reagan; and columnist and founder of the National Review William F. Buckley Jr. have all spoken for decriminalization of all drugs, not just marijuana." And J.D. Collins thinks "Seventy year of pot prohibition and decades of government-sponsored research trying to justify this policy" have not amounted to much good.

March 4th Posts

"Broadly speaking, Democrats want to protect you from the physical threats posed by habits such as smoking, overeating, and crossing the street while listening to an iPod. Republicans are more interested in protecting you from the moral threats posed by temptations such as drugs, gambling, and pornography. Between them, they've got you covered, body and soul." - Jacob Sullum in "Who's Your Nanny?"
Sat., March 17th: Americans for Prosperity Regional Grassroots Conference: Senator Coburn, John Fund (of the Wall Street Journal) and many of our own Representatives and Senators will speak in a Panel Discussion. Learn about how to influence government, meet other activists, and as State director, Stuart Jolly said, "This is going to be fun!!" Time is 3-6 pm at the Bricktown Sheraton. See the conference flyer here.

Stuart Jolly, state director of Americans for Prosperity, spoke to the OKC Libertarians last month. Read about it here. And plan to join the OKC Libertarians for a potluck on Tuesday, March 13th.

Richard Robinson writes in the Gazette about the $557 million Crosstown Boondoggle: "You can reroute heavy trucks off onto Interstate 240 (which can handle the capacity) and re-deck the current bridge with state-of-the-art materials for a fraction, instead...[t]he corporate welfare leaches want this project because of the sheer amount it's going to cost, funded, of course, by us - the unsuspecting taxpayers."

March 3rd Posts

"Public schools that faced competition from charters increased their students' achievement test scores relative to public schools that did not face such competition. And they appear to have done it without rasing spending per pupil." - Harvey Rosen, Public Finance, pg. 75
Tulsa Libertarians Meet Wednesday, March 7th, to plan the future of the Tulsa Libertarians. Dinner at 6:00 and program at 7:00 at Panera Bread (6981 S. Lewis).

The Oklahoma Transparency Bill (SB 1 by Sen. Brogdon), which will create a searchable database of state government spending, passed 45-0 in the Senate.

Only two school districts (Oklahoma City and Tulsa) have granted charters of the 13 districts that can. A bill that passed committee would allow charters to be granted by the state Department of Education, hopefully giving parents a better chance for school choice.

More on the OKLP charter school info page.

Rep. Ryan McMullen, D-Burns Flat, wants to create an independent, politically balanced redistricting commission. His HB 1937 is awaiting a hearing in the House Rules Committee along with our ballot access reform bill.

Senator Corn spoke about the need for redistricting reform at the Common Cause Annual Meeting. OKLP Vice-Chair, David Splinter, wrote about redistrcting in their latest newsletter here (pdf).

March 2nd Posts

"Presidents' Day got me thinking. I notice that when historians choose the Greatest presidents, they tend to choose war guys, or those who increase the size of the government. (Surprise, surprise: these are often the same.) I prefer, on the other hand, presidents like Jefferson and Harding, politicians who actually decreased the scope and budgets of the federal government while in office." - Paul Jacob, Common Sense
Tima Petty writes, "If the governor was truly concerned about the education of the state's children he would propose more accountability for the job the teachers are doing." (OKLP thinks more accountability for schools by allowing parents' school choice is the way to improve education.)

Although the government did not extend its reach to 3-year-olds this year, it is trying to tighten its grasp on 17 and 18-year-olds. The compulsory education bill, which would make it more difficult to allow high school students out of school, passed the Senate.

Building a Bigger Safety Net: With help from a private grant, Infant Crisis Services to quadruple its space. Learn how to volunteer at the Infant Crisis Center. See the center's history and finances, along with many other charitable organizations, on Guidestar.



March 1st Posts

Ballot Access News editor, Richard Winger, writes about OKLP's loss yesterday in the State Court of Appeals in our case to give Oklahomans more voter choice. The Court decision says, "The Libertarian Party of Oklahoma claims that the statute has a substantial effect upon its associational rights, as shown by the following historical 'facts'."
These 'facts' include:
(1) In 2004, Oklahoma was the only state with just two choices for president.
(2) Oklahoma does not permit 'write-in' voting for alternative candidates.
(3) Oklahoma require a burdensome number of signatures, 5% of last major vote (while the me