Oklahoma schools chief sues federal government over immigration policies
Oklahoma Voice – Cynic that I am, this feels very much like a media stunt for a couple reasons; I would imagine this kind of suit would fall in the AG’s backyard, and we will be unburdened by what has been on the 20th of January, so I’m not sure how a suit like that will be dealt with, and finally, there was no dollar amount specified in the lawsuit. In October, Walters sent a letter to VP Harris demanding $474,900,000.00 in reimbursement for the education of student non-citizens, but this number wasn’t listed on the lawsuit apparently.
Cynicism aside, this should have been done at the beginning of Walter’s term when a ruling might have had a snowball’s chance of getting some kind of meaningful ruling, but it should have been done, nonetheless. For years, our immigration policy – or lack of one beyond, “let ’em all in” – has burdened schools with the cost of educating children here in this country illegally who can barely read in their own language let alone speak and/or read in English. Those on the left cry and scream when this is said, but that doesn’t make it any less true. It is a financial BURDEN to schools to staff bi-lingual classrooms for kids who should be able to speak English when they enroll – one that taxpayers foot.
The lawsuit comes hot on the heels of Walter’s proposed rule to check the immigration status of students before they are enrolled. Again, another thing which the left has screamed about, but which should be done. It never ceases to just slay me that the public school apologist crowd ALWAYS accuses those of us wanting accountability in our public schools of ‘hating children’ when we suggest a way to use tax dollars in the ways they should be used. Yet, students who don’t speak English can be disruptive to other students trying to learn. So who really ‘hates children’?
Another Oklahoma Voice article from today (the 20th) describes a hearing held by the State Board of Education which was attended by Board member Kendra Wesson and the OSDE attorney, that brought further complaint about the proposed rule.
(OK) Wetumka Schools Arrested & Confessed Pedophile Withholds Phone Passcode, Lies for Low Bail, Home Never Searched
V1SUT – Mary will be on with us on Wednesday (1.22.25) to talk about this, but please read it before hand. I’m sure you’ll have some questions for Mary to answer LIVE on the podcast (starting at 9am on all our social media channels). This is truly the perfect example of the miscarriage of justice going on in MANY small towns in Oklahoma while the victim/s have no recourse.
Commentary on State Sponsored University’s Balancing Act Between Athletic Triumph and Academic Integrity
Sooner Sentinel – writer Marven Goodman (who will be on our show next month with Representative Tom Gann talking about automated license plate readers) makes some excellent points here about the trend to make college more about sports than learning and a bit about the policies behind the ‘trend’.
From Goodman: Our colleges are at a crossroads, trying to use sports money without forgetting their educational mission. The plan includes not just giving money but also supporting athletes to finish their degrees, making sure they have something valuable when they leave college. But the big question remains: how do we judge success? If a football team wins big but the school’s academic reputation falls, what does that say about the school’s priorities?
Courage Is Contagious, and the Oklahoma House of Representatives Has Just Been Infected
The Oklahoma State Capitol – Jason Murphy writes about the 7 Representatives who were the only ones to vote NO on the new rules for the Oklahoma House on January 7th (Organizational Day) – Gann, Hildebrant, Jenkins, Shaw, Stegall, West (Rick), and Woolley – and what their leadership can mean for the House in coming sessions.
Jason will be on the podcast with us on February 12th to talk about the new House rules and I’m sure we’ll go over what happened on Organizational Day (1.7). If you haven’t seen it, you might check out the live video I did about it on the day after. Citizens of Oklahoma should know exactly what is happening at 23rd and Lincoln and this information will definitely help increase your knowledge base.
After Canoo shuttered factories, a bill seeks to keep other EV companies from getting cash from a state incentive program
Frontier – from the article, “Senate Bill 294, authored by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, would exclude electric vehicle manufacturers from receiving payments from the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund”. I don’t often agree with Senator Pugh, but I do here! Don’t forget, “EV startup Canoo files for bankruptcy and ceases operations“. This is what happens when businesses that have no business being in business are funded by tax incentives. The business goes under and the state has to try and ‘claw back’ the incentives. This needs to stop, so how about just closing the “Quick Action Closing Fund” altogether? I’ll go for that!
Another article from the Oklahoman quotes Governor Stitt as saying, “Building a business is hard,” he said. “Building a capital heavy business like this is even harder. We should never fault someone for taking a chance to chase the American dream. Canoo has been cooperative in its work with the state and I wish the best to everyone involved.”
In the event you don’t understand my frustration at this comment, let me explain.
- Governor Stitt pledged over 100 million dollars to a private, stockowner-held, out-of-state company to come in and supply just about 500 workers. Figure that at half a million a job?
- The company was in trouble from the start – in fact, investors sued Canoo in 2023 for “misstating” their financial projections. This lawsuit tells of the troubled management of this company from the beginning. Who in the Governor’s cabinet looked into this? Shouldn’t someone? Why would we have offered this out-of-state company millions in Oklahoma tax dollars when they had a proven poor track record?
- Offering a private company taxpayer dollars is the classic definition of CORPORATISM, not CAPITALISM.
Efforts to raise the age of consent in Oklahoma return to Legislature
Oklahoma Voice – From the article: House Bill 1003, authored by Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, would raise the age of sexual consent from 16 to 18 years old in Oklahoma. The bill also includes what he calls a “Romeo and Juliet provision” which protects those who had sex with children between 14 and 18 years old from prosecution if they are within four years of age.
“We don’t want the 35 year old coach to be nice to the 16-year-old girl and gain her consent,” Olsen said. “We don’t feel like that’s a good situation. … We don’t want people taking advantage of 16 or 17 year old girls in that respect.”
We need to get behind this legislation – thank you Jim Olson. Let’s protect children from adult predators.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announces 2026 gubernatorial bid
KOCO News – In case you’ve been in a coma and didn’t see this coming from as far away as Kansas…
Tulsa police won’t share the locations of more than 200 surveillance cameras
Frontier – The headline pretty much speaks for itself. This is the reason we are having Marven Goodman and Representative Tom Gann on the program on February 7th. This is NOT okay for citizens of Oklahoma, let alone the United States of America who breaks the 4th AND 5th Amendment every time they SURVEIL their own citizens.
How Oklahoma Property Taxes Are Calculated and Who/What Really Owns Your Property
ROPE Report – Absolutely the most important article I think we’ve ever written. Please read and share.
Our Wide-Ranging Interview With Kendra Wesson, Oklahoma State School Board Member
ROPE Report – A great run-down of the interview we had with one of our favorite people. Check it out!
ARTICLES RELATING TO “GREEN” ENERGY
2024 ‘worst year on record’ for wind power lost as electricity supplied by wind falls
GRIPT (online Irish news) – From the article: “The drop has been attributed to grid constraints by Wind Energy Ireland. The energy company has published its annual report, which said that wind farms are closing because the electricity grid is not strong enough. Despite wind supplying almost a third of all electricity to the island of Ireland last year, the share of electricity provided by wind fell by 3 per cent compared to 2023.”
Big Wind & Big Solar Are Trying To Sue Rural America Into Submission
Robert Bryce (Substack) – From the substack: “In 2017, I talked to K. Darlene Park, a resident of Frostburg, Maryland, who was leading a fight against a proposed wind project in her neighborhood. She told me, “We feel this renewable energy push is an attack on rural America.”
The fight in Maryland is one of hundreds happening across the country. The Renewable Rejection Database now includes 764 rejections or restrictions of wind and solar projects since 2015. Among the latest examples came last November. On Election Day in Harpswell, Maine, a heavily Democratic electorate overwhelmingly rejected a proposed five-acre solar project. The vote against the project was 2,344 to 1,393, or 63% to 37%. That’s a decisive vote, particularly in a town that voted heavily for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump.”
Data centers, not homeowners, fueling Arizona’s steep energy demand
Channel 2 News (Phoenix) – This is a great article! It needs to be sent to every legislator. Please read the whole thing, but pay particular attention to the bulleted list about halfway down the page. Very eye-opening and just as with other ‘green’ energy projects, NONE OF THESE DEALS HAVE TAXPAYER ACCOUNTABILITY.
Top UN “Court” to Issue Landmark Ruling on “Climate Change”
New American, Alex Newman – From the article: “At the request of the United Nations and its member governments, the top UN “court” is set to rule on the supposed legal “obligations” of governments when it comes to fighting CO2 emissions and the alleged man-made “climate change” they supposedly cause. Experts say it may be the most significant case ever heard by the global body.
The Biden administration joined governments around the world asking the court to take a strong stand on the issue. But critics are sounding the alarm. Agriculture, energy, transportation, and other industries are all in the crosshairs, fueling concerns over more government-mandated economic carnage ahead.”
Wall Street Climate Group Net Zero Suspends Activities Following BlackRock’s Exit
Breitbart News – From the article: “BlackRock, the globe’s largest asset manager with $11.5 trillion under management, walked away citing “confusion over the initiative’s climate efforts” and rising legal scrutiny from Republican lawmakers.
Far from serving the public interest, the Net Zero initiative that once had the enthusiastic backing. of BlackRock and other ESG cheerleaders on Wall Street is increasingly seen as out-of-touch with America’s economic needs and the political climate that is rejecting so many of the trendy causes adopted in 2020.”
Electric car range can plummet by up to 40% in winter, test reveals
This Is Money (UK) – Go figure…electrons don’t move very quickly in the cold…
The Cherokee Nation has been awarded $10.7 million for EV charging ports.
The Oklahoman – From Biden’s Infrastructure Bill: “The Cherokee Nation has received $10.7 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to install 112 publicly accessible electric vehicle charging ports across 12 community locations.”
