++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
++ FUTURE TAX AND SPENDING CHANGES IN OKLAHOMA
++ OCPAC MEMBERSHIP UP-DATE & CHALLENGE
++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING
Our 12 noon luncheon for Wednesday, October 26th will be held at
Italiano’s restaurant, 4801 North Lincoln in OKC. Over the years we
have had many candidates for the legislature come to an OCPAC meeting
and say they were going to reduce the size of state government,
eliminate waste, duplication and inefficiencies. We used to have a
member that would ask for some concrete example of how they would
accomplish such an achievement? Usually, there would be little
substance within their answers. Our speaker this week will be State
Representative Jason Murphy (R-Guthrie). Representative Murphey has
been one of the leaders in the legislature to bring about government
modernization as well as greater transparency to our government
functions and processes. We have never considered a bill regarding
government modernization for the conservative index, as we have tried
to be careful that any savings were real and not just pie in the sky.
Jason will explain the effects of his efforts over the past 3 years or
so. In the end, we will be looking for a reduction in the cost of
government, a reduction in the number of state employees and where
feasible, consolidation of government agencies. We want to see if
there is a real benefit for the taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma.
Don’t miss this important meeting and bring your best questions. If
this computer geek (a geek is a nerd with a social life) tries to pull
any wool over our eyes, we want to catch it.
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
* TUESDAY EVENING - KONAWA AREA - The Konawa Tea Party will
gather for their monthly meeting, Tuesday evening, October 25th, 7:00
p.m at the American Legion Hut, 101 West 3rd street in Konawa (it is
on highway 39, just East of the Assembly of God Church. Pastor Dan
Fisher of Trinity Baptist Church (Yukon) and I will both be speaking.
Without Paul Blair around, Dan started to pick on me as soon as he
found out we would both be speaking. Having seen this guy in action
before, I know to stay out in front of him. Therefore, I have
suggested it would not matter who would speak first. If it was me, I
would tone it down so people would not get up and leave 5 minutes into
his talk because of boredom. However, should Dan go first, I have
suggested I could wake the audience up once I got started. Actually,
beside the dog and pony show between Dan and I, there will be some
really important content presented. If you live anywhere in the area,
please attend so you can meet some the other conservatives in the
effort to make Oklahoma a better place to live.
* FRIDAY EVENING - OKC AREA - Folks are invited to an evening
with Phyllis Schlafly, Founder and President of Eagle Forum, one of
America’s top conservative organizations since 1972. The location will
be the Gaylord University Center (2501 E. Memorial Rd, Edmond) on the
campus of Oklahoma Christian University. The dinner and meeting will
start at 7:00 p.m., but there is a Special Student Only Reception
which begins at 5 and a Private Reception for Sponsors at 6:00 p.m.
Now, here is the deal, they need a head count to order the food, by
today, Tuesday, October 25th. Therefore, everyone intending to go to
this event will need to contact Bunny Chambers today at (405) 721-2891
or by e-mail okeagle@eagleforum.org. High School and College students
get in for $10, but I am not sure what the price will be for adults
since we are past the early bird discount time. Please contact Bunny
for that information, but do so today.
* SATURDAY EVENING - OKC - I have mentioned in the last couple of
e-mails about the John Birch Society’s first recognition banquet and
Patriot Celebration which will be this Saturday evening, 6:00 p.m. at
the Character Center, 524 West Main in Downtown OKC (This is just a
couple of blocks West of the new Devon Tower). I contacted Bob Donohoo
yesterday morning as last Friday was the reservation deadline.
However, he has ordered 3 or 4 extra dinners for anyone who
procrastinated but still wants to attend. Therefore, if you haven’t
made your reservations as yet, you might give Bob a call at (405)
436-5412 to see if there are any openings still available. The cost is
$15 per person. This will be a fun evening and a great time for
fellowship.
++ FUTURE TAX AND SPENDING CHANGES IN OKLAHOMA
A few weeks back, Governor Fallin stated an intention to totally
eliminate our state income tax. Over the past several weeks, State
Representative David Dank, Chairman of the State Task Force for the
study of State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives has been trying to
lift the veil of darkness surrounding a myriad of tax credits and
other incentive plans in the state which mostly amount to corporate
welfare. Yesterday, in the news, State Treasurer Ken Miller stated
that with a change in the component of state government and a move to
more conservatism, we should start to see more significant tax reforms
in the future. I believe that means tax reductions.
Please understand, there is a difference between a tax deduction or
tax exemption and a tax credit. Tax deductions and exemptions are what
government decides not take from a taxpayer or a business entity. On
the other hand, a tax credit, a government grant or government subsidy
are always a government expenditure.
Tax credits were designed to work as an incentive for a person or
business to spend a certain amount of money, then when tax time comes
each year on or before April 15th, the government will send a check
for a certain amount of money, or reduce a tax obligation if any
exists, back to the person or entity. Tax credit schemes were designed
to be rebate (kickback) programs, much like when we buy cell phone for
a hundred dollars, then send in a rebate form and the phone company
sends us a check for $50 to reduce what we paid for the phone.
A transferable tax credit has a little different twist. As with the
Great Plains Airlines debacle, the investors in the start up airline
company didn’t first spend millions of dollars then apply to some
“economic development” program sponsored by the State of Oklahoma for
$27 million in tax credits. Once it was determined that they would be
eligible for the tax credits, they simply sold those tax credits (I
believe most of them were purchased by Bank of Oklahoma) for perhaps
90 cents on the dollar. That way, the new start up airline had “up
front” money to start the business. Then when tax time occurred, BOK
turned in the tax credits which had been transferred to them by Great
Plains Airlines for the $27 million and in turn made a profit of 10%
in less than a year. Of course it was a very risky investment which
failed and as such “state” taxpayers lost $27 million dollars.
In an Oklahoman article on October 13th, Representative Dank is quoted
as saying: “We have reviewed enough of these tax credits so far to
know that the controls and safeguards in place are often a joke.” “In
many cases, they are almost nonexistent.”
In an additional article, it was reported that the state issued $275
million in tax credits over the past 3 years under just two incentive
programs. The article went on to say the programs created 1428 jobs
from 2007 through 2009, which means the state spent $192,000 for each
job created.
I would suggest that most of those jobs, if they continue to exist,
will not produce enough tax dollars to the state to repay the $192,000
in fifty to a hundred years. What a deal!
Ultimately, we are probably going to see many of these programs done
away with and none too soon. These programs do not allow for free
market economics, but rather central planning, crony capitalism and
all sorts of corruption for the well connected.
What Oklahoma’s goal should be is to have such an efficient
government, relegated only to the proper functions of government, so
that we can eliminate all corporate, franchise, capital gains and
personal income taxes. That in itself would create the best
environment in America for businesses to locate here. Doing away with
the costs of all of these economic development tax credit schemes
would go a long way toward reducing spending to such a degree that we
could start lowering many of these taxes I just mentioned.
++ OCPAC MEMBERSHIP UP-DATE & CHALLENGE
We are currently at 225 dues paying members which is 8 more than the
217 record we set in 2009, the most recent non-election year. I have
secured $500 to be used to match another 10 dues paying members
through the end of October. If you simply have not joined OCPAC so far
this year, now is the time to do so. Those dues are the money we
invest in candidates from all over the state to change the face of
Oklahoma. No one affiliated with OCPAC receives a salary or commission
for the work we do and our expenses are at a bare minimum. Therefore,
almost every dollar of your dues will go to elect conservatives or try
to hold them accountable once they are in office. Please consider
joining today. Instructions on how to join are below.
I look forward to seeing everyone this Wednesday.
Charlie Meadows
Charliemeadows7@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
ANNOUNCEMENTS ++ PERSPECTIVE ON THE “OCCUPY” MOVEMENT ++ TIDBITS
++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
++ PERSPECTIVE ON THE “OCCUPY” MOVEMENT
++ TIDBITS
++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING
Our 12 noon luncheon for Wednesday, October 12th will be held at
Italiano’s restaurant, 4801 North Lincoln in OKC. Our speaker this
week will be Dr. Gary Crossland. Gary has authored several books
including his masterful work, THE MERGED GOSPELS. He is a former
college and seminary instructor, is a Greek Translator and Gary has
traveled extensively throughout Israel, leading tours and doing film
documentaries. He is currently working on a number of projects,
including a documentary about the Jewishness of Jesus, two interactive
e-Books, a fictional novel, a computer game and comic books, all about
Israel and the life of Jesus.
I have also asked Gary to comment about the PASSAGES exhibit currently
showing at the Oklahoma City Arts Center. Speaking of such, my wife,
dad and I went to see the PASSAGES presentation this past Sunday
afternoon. The crowd was a little too large for the exhibit so it made
it difficult to experience its full flavor. It will end next Sunday,
October 16th to move on to its next location. If you have not seen it
as yet, the time is now (go during a weekday if possible) as it may
never return to OKC, home of its first display. It’s permanent home is
destined to be Washington DC, where it is expected to have 2 million
visitors each year. Don’t miss this Wednesday’s meeting, it is sure to
be most interesting.
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
SATURDAY, OCT 29TH - OKC - Oklahoma members of the John Birch
Society will hold their first semi-annual Patriot Recognition Program.
The Master of Ceremony will be Glen Howard, JBS Field Coordinator Mike
Sawyer will share the humorous side of activism and of course we will
have a super-charged mystery speaker. The location is the Character
Inn, 520 West Main Street in downtown OKC. The time is from 6:00 until
9:00 p.m., business attire is recommended. The cost is $15 per person
and reservations are required by October 21st. Make checks payable and
send payment to: Oklahoma Projects, 415 West 15th #2, Edmond, Ok
73013. This will be a fun evening, please feel free to bring a friend.
For additional information, contact Bob Donohoo at (405) 436-5412.
++ PERSPECTIVE ON THE “OCCUPY” MOVEMENT
The occupy Wall Street demonstration started a little over 3 weeks ago
in NYC and now has fellow traveler groups popping up in other cities,
including OKC and Tulsa. These demonstrations, have communist finger
prints all over them, much like the Communist inspired Viet Nam war
protests of the 60s and early 70s. Orchestrating will probably be the
likes of Van Jones, Bill Ayres and etc. aided by the re-named Acorn
groups, labor unions and most likely funding from George Soros.
However, the vast majority of those attending the protests will be
what the Communists describe as “useful idiots”. I have listened to as
many of these folks as possible and would suggest the term educated
idiots would also be appropriate.
Many of these university students and college age kids are little more
than the fruit of anti-American curriculum in our secondary schools
(see the DVD, America’s Censored Heritage) and the socialist dogma of
Marxist professors in our colleges and universities. Those attending
the demonstrations are basically anti-free market capitalists who
believe in socialist and fascist capitalism though they are largely
ignorant of their beliefs.
In Dallas this past weekend the occupy movement had a demonstration of
about 500. Please don’t confuse them with the End The Fed group,
organized by Alex Jones, who were demonstrating in front of the
Federal Reserve Branch in Dallas. The occupy movement kids are
anarchist, Marxist capitalists, whereas the Ron Paul, End the Fed
demonstrators are some of the purist free market capitalists in
America.
In virtually all countries taken over by the Communists (at their
height it was around 55) their strategy was similar. Identify or
create societal problems, exaggerate those problems out of proportion
to reality, join with others to bring down the existing order, then
quickly move to the forefront to control the future government. That
same strategy is in play right now, but it has always had a difficult
time as long as there is a large middle class to resist its BS (blue
smoke) and lies.
Most of those attending come for a variety of reasons, are very
ignorant about how wealth is created and live in a stupor of
confusion. They do recognize some valid problems, but don’t have a
clue as to how to solve them, nor a recognition that some problems
can’t and never will be solved. While I don’t like the power large
corporations have over government officials to direct corporate
welfare toward themselves, hating job producers is like shooting one’s
self in the foot.
Though it has been difficult to determine the majority theme of the
protestors, it appears most of them and their efforts are motivated by
what they perceive as wealth disparity. They are angry that some
people are wealthy and others are poor. Fueled by the rhetoric of
President Obama and other Democrats continual clamoring for the
wealthy to pay their “fair share”. The fruit of this continual
bombardment of wealth-envy dogma is a large group of young people
hating prosperous people. That leads the “have nots” to a desire to
take wealth for themselves and other “poor” people through government
wealth re-distribution legislation or in some cases other means if
necessary. These are Obama’s, Pelosi’s and other radical leftist’s
kind of people who are showing up at these demonstrations.
This movement has a serious degree of danger, as part of the strategy
of the enemies of America is to see our society break down into riots,
chaos and revolution. If these demonstrations continue to grow in
numbers, it would only take a spark and we would see situations in
America much like we have seen in France, Greece, and England over the
past couple of years. Hopefully, the middle class in America will not
let it get out of hand like has occurred in Egypt, Libya and other
parts of the Arab world.
It is important that Christians view these situations from a Biblical
World Veiw. First let me suggest we recognize there are valid
grievances and problems in our society. However, those problems are a
result of abandoning Biblical principles and as such, non Biblical
answers will not solve those problems. As I have written in the past,
God equates fairness in matters such as taxation through application,
not how taxes effect a person. As an example, at tithe of 10% was to
be applied to the wealthy, the middle class and the poor. It is Karl
Marx’s idea to have the wealthy pay a higher percent and the poor to
pay nothing. Whose ideology are Christians going to hold to?
Jesus, talking to his disciples said: “the poor will ALWAYS be with
you”. Mankind will never ever, ever, ever wipe out poverty. People who
think otherwise make Jesus out to be a liar and exalt their own
opinion above the truth spoken in God‘s Word. Christians should help
the helpless, but realize that most people with problems are in their
situations as a result of rebellion toward God and the many poor
decisions they have made, usually throughout their whole life.
As a Christian, I am always seeking ways to appeal to people with
problems with the kind of truth that can change their lives. If that
counsel is Godly and good and if the people will respond to it, they
will become prosperous and their problems in life will fade. However,
if good counsel is rejected, people with problems will continue to
wallow in their misery. The choice rests with them. In the same way,
appealing to these protesters with the kind of truth that will dispel
their confusion and help them to put together the big picture of how
wealth is created may convert the teachable. But not all are
teachable, thus the old adage, “to continually bail a fool out of his
problems is to populate the world with fools”.
++ TIDBITS
* LAST WEEK’S MEETING
Last week Peter LeBarbara did an outstanding job of exposing the
homosexual agenda, its effect upon the Biblical model of the family
and how destructive and expensive that agenda is to our culture. Peter
had high praise for State Representative Sally Kern for her public
stand on this important issue and the fact that she didn’t cave under
the enormous pressure applied by the homosexual community. Peter said
it is rare for public officials to stand under such pressure and as
such most public officials avoid the controversy or cave to its
agenda.
Peter, spoke highly of Sally’s book, THE STONING OF SALLY KERN and
suggested everyone read it. Sally has been busy speaking and doing
interviews every since the book was published this past Spring. If you
know of a church or civic group that would like to hear Sally’s
compelling story, just give her a call as I am sure she would be
willing to share her story. She can be reached at her office (405)
557-7348.
* FREEDOM PULPUT SUNDAY
One week ago Sunday was the 4th annual Freedom Pulpit Sunday, a time
each year where pastors with backbone preach an election or civics
sermon. The first year we had 33 pastors from across the nation
participate, the next year it was 84 pastors, the third year it was
100 and one week ago Sunday 532 pastors reported they had preached
such a sermon. Some of the churches are small, but at least one mega-
church with 20 thousand members participated. This is a growing
movement that will make a difference in America in the days to come.
I look forward to seeing everyone this Wednesday.
Charlie Meadows
Charliemeadows7@gmail.com
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
++ PERSPECTIVE ON THE “OCCUPY” MOVEMENT
++ TIDBITS
++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING
Our 12 noon luncheon for Wednesday, October 12th will be held at
Italiano’s restaurant, 4801 North Lincoln in OKC. Our speaker this
week will be Dr. Gary Crossland. Gary has authored several books
including his masterful work, THE MERGED GOSPELS. He is a former
college and seminary instructor, is a Greek Translator and Gary has
traveled extensively throughout Israel, leading tours and doing film
documentaries. He is currently working on a number of projects,
including a documentary about the Jewishness of Jesus, two interactive
e-Books, a fictional novel, a computer game and comic books, all about
Israel and the life of Jesus.
I have also asked Gary to comment about the PASSAGES exhibit currently
showing at the Oklahoma City Arts Center. Speaking of such, my wife,
dad and I went to see the PASSAGES presentation this past Sunday
afternoon. The crowd was a little too large for the exhibit so it made
it difficult to experience its full flavor. It will end next Sunday,
October 16th to move on to its next location. If you have not seen it
as yet, the time is now (go during a weekday if possible) as it may
never return to OKC, home of its first display. It’s permanent home is
destined to be Washington DC, where it is expected to have 2 million
visitors each year. Don’t miss this Wednesday’s meeting, it is sure to
be most interesting.
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
SATURDAY, OCT 29TH - OKC - Oklahoma members of the John Birch
Society will hold their first semi-annual Patriot Recognition Program.
The Master of Ceremony will be Glen Howard, JBS Field Coordinator Mike
Sawyer will share the humorous side of activism and of course we will
have a super-charged mystery speaker. The location is the Character
Inn, 520 West Main Street in downtown OKC. The time is from 6:00 until
9:00 p.m., business attire is recommended. The cost is $15 per person
and reservations are required by October 21st. Make checks payable and
send payment to: Oklahoma Projects, 415 West 15th #2, Edmond, Ok
73013. This will be a fun evening, please feel free to bring a friend.
For additional information, contact Bob Donohoo at (405) 436-5412.
++ PERSPECTIVE ON THE “OCCUPY” MOVEMENT
The occupy Wall Street demonstration started a little over 3 weeks ago
in NYC and now has fellow traveler groups popping up in other cities,
including OKC and Tulsa. These demonstrations, have communist finger
prints all over them, much like the Communist inspired Viet Nam war
protests of the 60s and early 70s. Orchestrating will probably be the
likes of Van Jones, Bill Ayres and etc. aided by the re-named Acorn
groups, labor unions and most likely funding from George Soros.
However, the vast majority of those attending the protests will be
what the Communists describe as “useful idiots”. I have listened to as
many of these folks as possible and would suggest the term educated
idiots would also be appropriate.
Many of these university students and college age kids are little more
than the fruit of anti-American curriculum in our secondary schools
(see the DVD, America’s Censored Heritage) and the socialist dogma of
Marxist professors in our colleges and universities. Those attending
the demonstrations are basically anti-free market capitalists who
believe in socialist and fascist capitalism though they are largely
ignorant of their beliefs.
In Dallas this past weekend the occupy movement had a demonstration of
about 500. Please don’t confuse them with the End The Fed group,
organized by Alex Jones, who were demonstrating in front of the
Federal Reserve Branch in Dallas. The occupy movement kids are
anarchist, Marxist capitalists, whereas the Ron Paul, End the Fed
demonstrators are some of the purist free market capitalists in
America.
In virtually all countries taken over by the Communists (at their
height it was around 55) their strategy was similar. Identify or
create societal problems, exaggerate those problems out of proportion
to reality, join with others to bring down the existing order, then
quickly move to the forefront to control the future government. That
same strategy is in play right now, but it has always had a difficult
time as long as there is a large middle class to resist its BS (blue
smoke) and lies.
Most of those attending come for a variety of reasons, are very
ignorant about how wealth is created and live in a stupor of
confusion. They do recognize some valid problems, but don’t have a
clue as to how to solve them, nor a recognition that some problems
can’t and never will be solved. While I don’t like the power large
corporations have over government officials to direct corporate
welfare toward themselves, hating job producers is like shooting one’s
self in the foot.
Though it has been difficult to determine the majority theme of the
protestors, it appears most of them and their efforts are motivated by
what they perceive as wealth disparity. They are angry that some
people are wealthy and others are poor. Fueled by the rhetoric of
President Obama and other Democrats continual clamoring for the
wealthy to pay their “fair share”. The fruit of this continual
bombardment of wealth-envy dogma is a large group of young people
hating prosperous people. That leads the “have nots” to a desire to
take wealth for themselves and other “poor” people through government
wealth re-distribution legislation or in some cases other means if
necessary. These are Obama’s, Pelosi’s and other radical leftist’s
kind of people who are showing up at these demonstrations.
This movement has a serious degree of danger, as part of the strategy
of the enemies of America is to see our society break down into riots,
chaos and revolution. If these demonstrations continue to grow in
numbers, it would only take a spark and we would see situations in
America much like we have seen in France, Greece, and England over the
past couple of years. Hopefully, the middle class in America will not
let it get out of hand like has occurred in Egypt, Libya and other
parts of the Arab world.
It is important that Christians view these situations from a Biblical
World Veiw. First let me suggest we recognize there are valid
grievances and problems in our society. However, those problems are a
result of abandoning Biblical principles and as such, non Biblical
answers will not solve those problems. As I have written in the past,
God equates fairness in matters such as taxation through application,
not how taxes effect a person. As an example, at tithe of 10% was to
be applied to the wealthy, the middle class and the poor. It is Karl
Marx’s idea to have the wealthy pay a higher percent and the poor to
pay nothing. Whose ideology are Christians going to hold to?
Jesus, talking to his disciples said: “the poor will ALWAYS be with
you”. Mankind will never ever, ever, ever wipe out poverty. People who
think otherwise make Jesus out to be a liar and exalt their own
opinion above the truth spoken in God‘s Word. Christians should help
the helpless, but realize that most people with problems are in their
situations as a result of rebellion toward God and the many poor
decisions they have made, usually throughout their whole life.
As a Christian, I am always seeking ways to appeal to people with
problems with the kind of truth that can change their lives. If that
counsel is Godly and good and if the people will respond to it, they
will become prosperous and their problems in life will fade. However,
if good counsel is rejected, people with problems will continue to
wallow in their misery. The choice rests with them. In the same way,
appealing to these protesters with the kind of truth that will dispel
their confusion and help them to put together the big picture of how
wealth is created may convert the teachable. But not all are
teachable, thus the old adage, “to continually bail a fool out of his
problems is to populate the world with fools”.
++ TIDBITS
* LAST WEEK’S MEETING
Last week Peter LeBarbara did an outstanding job of exposing the
homosexual agenda, its effect upon the Biblical model of the family
and how destructive and expensive that agenda is to our culture. Peter
had high praise for State Representative Sally Kern for her public
stand on this important issue and the fact that she didn’t cave under
the enormous pressure applied by the homosexual community. Peter said
it is rare for public officials to stand under such pressure and as
such most public officials avoid the controversy or cave to its
agenda.
Peter, spoke highly of Sally’s book, THE STONING OF SALLY KERN and
suggested everyone read it. Sally has been busy speaking and doing
interviews every since the book was published this past Spring. If you
know of a church or civic group that would like to hear Sally’s
compelling story, just give her a call as I am sure she would be
willing to share her story. She can be reached at her office (405)
557-7348.
* FREEDOM PULPUT SUNDAY
One week ago Sunday was the 4th annual Freedom Pulpit Sunday, a time
each year where pastors with backbone preach an election or civics
sermon. The first year we had 33 pastors from across the nation
participate, the next year it was 84 pastors, the third year it was
100 and one week ago Sunday 532 pastors reported they had preached
such a sermon. Some of the churches are small, but at least one mega-
church with 20 thousand members participated. This is a growing
movement that will make a difference in America in the days to come.
I look forward to seeing everyone this Wednesday.
Charlie Meadows
Charliemeadows7@gmail.com
Monday, October 10, 2011
CHARLIE’S PICKS
CHARLIE’S PICKS
Those subscribing to these e-mails know that before important
elections, I send out the infamous Charlie’s Picks, which are simply
my opinions about the elections. Some folks simply haven’t taken the
time to evaluate candidates or issues and are looking for the thoughts
of others. Some have made their mind up based on certain information
which may disagree with my opinions and that is fine. These are simply
my opinions. Following are opinions about 3 elections on Tuesday,
October 11th, 2011.
* SENATE DISTRICT 43 - GREG CHILDERS - This is the general
election to fill the vacated seat recently held by State Senator Jim
Reynolds (R-Del City). The location of the district includes much of
Del City, parts of South OKC and parts of Moore. This has been a high
priority race for Oklahoma Democrats as they desperately need a take-
away victory over the Republicans since they have taken such a beating
at the ballot box over the past 3 or 4 election cycles.
The Democrats first supported a liberal Republican in hopes to take
Greg out in the Republican primary. She worked hard and they even had
a private eye following Greg in hopes of finding something they could
use against him. Some Republicans fell for the bait, but Greg
prevailed in the primary. It has been amusing at the opposition to
Greg by some Republicans, mainly based on speculation. I spent quite a
bit of time getting to know Greg and had him come to OCPAC for our
interview process without announcing his appearance (couldn’t take a
chance on the Dems recording some of his answers to use against him in
the general election). Our members overwhelmingly voted to support
Greg. Greg is simply a citizen concerned about the direction America
is taking and decided to run for office to try to make Oklahoma and
America a better place in which to live. Greg is not a person who has
fully developed a conservative ideology, but he is loves to read, has
conservative instincts, and as such has the potential to be a very
good Senator.
* EDMOND TAX VOTE - VOTE NO - Edmond really needs a new public
safety center and as such tried to pass a bond issue a couple of years
ago, but it met with defeat. At that time, the project was too large,
too expensive, to be built in the wrong location and it was to be paid
for with a property tax increase. This time, the project has been
scaled back, is less costly, is to be built in an acceptable location
and will be paid for with a sales tax increase, rather than a property
tax increase. I believe every one of those perspectives is correct,
that is assuming you need a tax increase to do the project. However, I
do NOT believe the tax increase is needed for the project. Edmond is a
beautiful city with a large sales tax base. Its main downside is very
serious traffic congestion. My problem with the governance of Edmond
is poor prioritization of tax funds, I will give 3 examples.
1) Edmond has chosen to widen several streets as boulevards with
wasteful planter boxes in the middle rather than the needed pragmatism
of center turn lanes. This causes street construction to increase in
time and money as the more labor intensive as the amount of curbing
doubles for boulevards. Then you have the high cost of installing
grass, trees or plants for the middle of the streets. Perhaps the
biggest concern is the continual high cost of maintenance for these
planter boxes. In addition, in some cases you can’t make a left turn
into or out of business drives, thus making autos go to the next stop
light, trip the left turn arrow which stops the oncoming free flow of
traffic so that autos can double back to visit a favored business. A
more pragmatic approach to city streets could save money which could
be used for this important project, not to mention improve traffic
flow. Edmond’s attractiveness should come from the sides of its
streets, not from the middle of its streets.
2) For years now, Edmond has used tax dollars to purchase bronze art
statues to erect at various locations around town. Some of this art
work is beautiful and some of it is coyote ugly. In a conservative
free market economy, art work is not a proper function of government,
especially since people’s art tastes are so different. If people want
bronze art pieces all over town they should provide such with private
dollars, not tax dollars. Those tax dollars should have been saved to
be used for a new public safety center.
3) Public transportation is not a proper function of government in a
free market society. If there is a community in Oklahoma that does not
need public transportation, it is Edmond. For years Edmond contracted
with COPTA to provide rubber wheeled trolley cars called the Eddy.
They were dubbed the “Empty Eddy” as most of the time you would see
them running around town empty as they added to traffic congestion.
When Obama and the Democrats passed the $800 billion stimulus plan,
Edmond jumped on the grant wagon to obtain over half a million dollars
from the bankrupt federal government to purchase 5 new buses. Then
Edmond dumped COPTA and hired a Texas company to run the new system.
In an attempt to improve rider ship and thus justify having a public
transportation system, Edmond decided not to charge riders but to
simply eat the operational costs for the system. Rider ship is up
since it is free. But just think, Edmond taxpayers are now forced to
pay for the bus rides to take people to downtown OKC to work and spend
money rather than to have that handful of people pay for their own
transportation to and from work.
The three quarters of a million or more each year wasted on the
operational expenses for the public transportation system, along with
some other savings and a modest amount of new growth money would be
sufficient to pay for a new public safety center. Edmond citizens will
have to decide as to whether or not they want to continue with
wasteful spending government or demand the proper prioritization of
public funds. Though it is likely to pass, those are the reasons I
would vote NO as I believe a tax increase in not needed for the high
priority project.
There is an additional item on the ballot to allow the city to access
over 7 million dollars they have in a slush fund to be borrowed for
projects such as this to cut down on bond underwriting fees. Voters
should say YES to this issue, whether the sales tax vote passes or
not.
On the plus side, Logan County has just sold their hospital and
clinics and will soon have the county sales tax drop by three quarters
of a penny. In about 3 more years the Logan County jail bonds will be
paid off and the sales tax will be reduced another three quarters of a
penny. Both of these reductions will put Guthrie’s sales tax lower
than that of Edmond should this tax increase pass. That will certainly
cause some conservatives who live between the two cities to chose to
shop and dine more so in Guthrie rather than Edmond as well as keep
Guthrie shoppers at home.
* OWASSO - VOTE NO - The economic development central planners
types in Owasso are asking citizens to increase their property taxes
for more frills for the city of Owasso. Tulsa County Republican
Chairman and Owasso resident J.B. Alexander is leading a coalition of
residents to oppose yet another tax increase. The economic development
person sent Mr. Alexander a threatening e-mail, then profusely
apologized when the police investigated. He basically said he had
become depressed at the thought of his young child having to grow up
in Owasso without adequate parks and etc. Give me a break, Owasso is
not a community without parks. It really doesn’t take a village to
raise children, just some valuable parent time and children will have
a chance to do well growing up as individuals, not as collectivists.
There are more elections, these are the only 3 I will comment on. This
week’s regular e-mail will go out tomorrow morning.
Charlie Meadows
Charliemeadows7@gmail.com
Those subscribing to these e-mails know that before important
elections, I send out the infamous Charlie’s Picks, which are simply
my opinions about the elections. Some folks simply haven’t taken the
time to evaluate candidates or issues and are looking for the thoughts
of others. Some have made their mind up based on certain information
which may disagree with my opinions and that is fine. These are simply
my opinions. Following are opinions about 3 elections on Tuesday,
October 11th, 2011.
* SENATE DISTRICT 43 - GREG CHILDERS - This is the general
election to fill the vacated seat recently held by State Senator Jim
Reynolds (R-Del City). The location of the district includes much of
Del City, parts of South OKC and parts of Moore. This has been a high
priority race for Oklahoma Democrats as they desperately need a take-
away victory over the Republicans since they have taken such a beating
at the ballot box over the past 3 or 4 election cycles.
The Democrats first supported a liberal Republican in hopes to take
Greg out in the Republican primary. She worked hard and they even had
a private eye following Greg in hopes of finding something they could
use against him. Some Republicans fell for the bait, but Greg
prevailed in the primary. It has been amusing at the opposition to
Greg by some Republicans, mainly based on speculation. I spent quite a
bit of time getting to know Greg and had him come to OCPAC for our
interview process without announcing his appearance (couldn’t take a
chance on the Dems recording some of his answers to use against him in
the general election). Our members overwhelmingly voted to support
Greg. Greg is simply a citizen concerned about the direction America
is taking and decided to run for office to try to make Oklahoma and
America a better place in which to live. Greg is not a person who has
fully developed a conservative ideology, but he is loves to read, has
conservative instincts, and as such has the potential to be a very
good Senator.
* EDMOND TAX VOTE - VOTE NO - Edmond really needs a new public
safety center and as such tried to pass a bond issue a couple of years
ago, but it met with defeat. At that time, the project was too large,
too expensive, to be built in the wrong location and it was to be paid
for with a property tax increase. This time, the project has been
scaled back, is less costly, is to be built in an acceptable location
and will be paid for with a sales tax increase, rather than a property
tax increase. I believe every one of those perspectives is correct,
that is assuming you need a tax increase to do the project. However, I
do NOT believe the tax increase is needed for the project. Edmond is a
beautiful city with a large sales tax base. Its main downside is very
serious traffic congestion. My problem with the governance of Edmond
is poor prioritization of tax funds, I will give 3 examples.
1) Edmond has chosen to widen several streets as boulevards with
wasteful planter boxes in the middle rather than the needed pragmatism
of center turn lanes. This causes street construction to increase in
time and money as the more labor intensive as the amount of curbing
doubles for boulevards. Then you have the high cost of installing
grass, trees or plants for the middle of the streets. Perhaps the
biggest concern is the continual high cost of maintenance for these
planter boxes. In addition, in some cases you can’t make a left turn
into or out of business drives, thus making autos go to the next stop
light, trip the left turn arrow which stops the oncoming free flow of
traffic so that autos can double back to visit a favored business. A
more pragmatic approach to city streets could save money which could
be used for this important project, not to mention improve traffic
flow. Edmond’s attractiveness should come from the sides of its
streets, not from the middle of its streets.
2) For years now, Edmond has used tax dollars to purchase bronze art
statues to erect at various locations around town. Some of this art
work is beautiful and some of it is coyote ugly. In a conservative
free market economy, art work is not a proper function of government,
especially since people’s art tastes are so different. If people want
bronze art pieces all over town they should provide such with private
dollars, not tax dollars. Those tax dollars should have been saved to
be used for a new public safety center.
3) Public transportation is not a proper function of government in a
free market society. If there is a community in Oklahoma that does not
need public transportation, it is Edmond. For years Edmond contracted
with COPTA to provide rubber wheeled trolley cars called the Eddy.
They were dubbed the “Empty Eddy” as most of the time you would see
them running around town empty as they added to traffic congestion.
When Obama and the Democrats passed the $800 billion stimulus plan,
Edmond jumped on the grant wagon to obtain over half a million dollars
from the bankrupt federal government to purchase 5 new buses. Then
Edmond dumped COPTA and hired a Texas company to run the new system.
In an attempt to improve rider ship and thus justify having a public
transportation system, Edmond decided not to charge riders but to
simply eat the operational costs for the system. Rider ship is up
since it is free. But just think, Edmond taxpayers are now forced to
pay for the bus rides to take people to downtown OKC to work and spend
money rather than to have that handful of people pay for their own
transportation to and from work.
The three quarters of a million or more each year wasted on the
operational expenses for the public transportation system, along with
some other savings and a modest amount of new growth money would be
sufficient to pay for a new public safety center. Edmond citizens will
have to decide as to whether or not they want to continue with
wasteful spending government or demand the proper prioritization of
public funds. Though it is likely to pass, those are the reasons I
would vote NO as I believe a tax increase in not needed for the high
priority project.
There is an additional item on the ballot to allow the city to access
over 7 million dollars they have in a slush fund to be borrowed for
projects such as this to cut down on bond underwriting fees. Voters
should say YES to this issue, whether the sales tax vote passes or
not.
On the plus side, Logan County has just sold their hospital and
clinics and will soon have the county sales tax drop by three quarters
of a penny. In about 3 more years the Logan County jail bonds will be
paid off and the sales tax will be reduced another three quarters of a
penny. Both of these reductions will put Guthrie’s sales tax lower
than that of Edmond should this tax increase pass. That will certainly
cause some conservatives who live between the two cities to chose to
shop and dine more so in Guthrie rather than Edmond as well as keep
Guthrie shoppers at home.
* OWASSO - VOTE NO - The economic development central planners
types in Owasso are asking citizens to increase their property taxes
for more frills for the city of Owasso. Tulsa County Republican
Chairman and Owasso resident J.B. Alexander is leading a coalition of
residents to oppose yet another tax increase. The economic development
person sent Mr. Alexander a threatening e-mail, then profusely
apologized when the police investigated. He basically said he had
become depressed at the thought of his young child having to grow up
in Owasso without adequate parks and etc. Give me a break, Owasso is
not a community without parks. It really doesn’t take a village to
raise children, just some valuable parent time and children will have
a chance to do well growing up as individuals, not as collectivists.
There are more elections, these are the only 3 I will comment on. This
week’s regular e-mail will go out tomorrow morning.
Charlie Meadows
Charliemeadows7@gmail.com
Monday, October 3, 2011
WILL CORP COMMISSION DOUBLE OUR UNIVERSAL SERVICE TAX? ++ REYNOLDS SPECULATES ON OK TAX DOLLARS GOING TO SOLYNDRA?
++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
++ FUTURE EVENTS
++ WILL CORP COMMISSION DOUBLE OUR UNIVERSAL SERVICE TAX?
++ REYNOLDS SPECULATES ON OK TAX DOLLARS GOING TO SOLYNDRA?
++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING
Our 12 noon luncheon for Wednesday, October 5th will be held at
Italiano’s restaurant, 4801 North Lincoln in OKC. Our primary speaker
this Wednesday, will be Peter LaBarbera, Executive Director of
American’s for Truth About Homosexuality. I believe Mr. LaBarbera is
headquartered out of Chicago. He is probably the nations foremost
authority on the homosexual agenda and how that agenda threatens the
Biblical model of a family as well as its destructive implications to
our society. Mr. LaBarbera is considered public enemy number ONE to
the militant homosexual community in America. While the church is
slowly winning the abortion and creation battles, it is losing the
homosexual issue. Come find out why. Also, I am trying to contact Dana
Murphy, Chairman of the Corporation Commission to ask her to come and
explain the reasons for a possible doubling of the Oklahoma universal
user tax that we pay on our phone bills. More on that later in this e-
mail.
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
* THURSDAY EVENING - BLANCHARD AREA - The Oklahoma Liberty Tea
Party Meeting will be held on Thursday evening, October 6th at 7:00
p.m. The location is the American Legion Building, 103 South Main
street in downtown Blanchard. I will be speaking that evening and
encourage folks in the area who are not a member of this local tea
party to attend to get to know other activists in your area. I will
talk briefly about the positive changes in Oklahoma over the past 20
years as Oklahoma has changed from being a blue state to one of the
reddest states in America. I will then discuss what needs to be done
going forward.
* SATURDAY EVENING - CHICKASHA AREA - The Grady County TEA Party
will have TEA with the Duke, Saturday, October 8th at the Grady County
Fairgrounds in Chickasha. “The Duke” is a John Wayne impersonator who
looks like, talks, like and walks like John Wayne. He will present a
patriotic program. There will be food, the Duke and a western dance.
Tickets are $15, for more information contact Mark at (405) 314-4730
or Joyce at (405) 320-0028.
++ FUTURE EVENTS
* Our good friend John Michener wanted me to announce the upcoming
training sessions associated with the organization Justice For All.
John is a regional director for JFA and is doing an excellent job. He
describes the mission of JFA as to train thousands to make abortion
unthinkable for millions, one person at a time. The JFA training
includes:
- The problem and opportunity for Christians surrounding abortion.
- How to be wise ambassadors for Christ with Knowledge, Wisdom &
Humility
- Making the biological and philosophical cases for life
- Tackling the hard questions (rape, life & health of the mother)
- Seeing the opportunity for evangelism in every conversation
Following are the training opportunities:
October 16th, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, 400 East Main street in
Edmond. Lunch at 12:30 p.m. seminar from 1 - 5:30 p.m.
October 23rd, Eagle Heights Baptist Church, 2617 North Jardot Road,
Stillwater. Lunch at 12:30 p.m. seminar from 1 - 5:30 p.m.
The corresponding outreach days are:
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, on Tuesday and Wednesday,
October 18th and 19th.
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, on Thursday and Friday, October
27th and 28th.
If you want to do more than wring your hands or just pray about the
abortion tragedy, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to
engage pro-choice people and be able to turn the hearts of some away
from the slaughter of the unborn. JFA is being very effective on
college campuses across America. For more information, contact John
Michener at john.Michener@alumni.oc.edu.
* Our meeting for November 2nd will feature the Vice President of
Samaritan Ministries. While this is not an insurance company, this is
a Christian health cost sharing ministry. Hopefully Obama Care will be
repealed either through the courts or by Congress after next year’s
elections. If not, ministries such as this are actually exempted in
the legislation. Not only does this program provide help to families
for major medical expenses, it costs less per month than insurance.
This is also a free market alternative to Medicare, which of course is
nearing bankruptcy and will only get worse with time. Mark this date
on your calendar and tell your friends, you owe it to yourself to
check this out.
++ WILL CORP COMMISSION DOUBLE OUR UNIVERSAL SERVICE TAX?
Just this past week, Corporation Commissioners Dana Murphy and Jeff
Cloud (Bob Anthony wasn’t at the meeting) voted to consider this
coming Tuesday (October 4th), a day to vote to nearly double the
Oklahoma Universal Service Fund tax. If it passes, it is estimated to
raise close to $50 million annually in additional revenues. There are
a couple of issues at stake, but the most important to understand, is
that the proposal would raise the tax on wireless phone users with the
proceeds being used to subsidize the service for people with land
lines.
I have an idea, if a rate increase is really needed, then why not
raise the rates ONLY on the folks using land lines and leave the
wireless phone service customers with no greater burden than they
currently have to bare?
This process needs to be slowed down, to determine if the need is
real, if AT&T is behind this at the expense of its competitors and why
wireless phone users should be asked to bare the cost for others? If
you agree, please call Dana Murphy’s office at (405) 521-2267, Jeff
Cloud (405) 521-2264 and Bob Anthony at (405) 521-2261. Your calls
need to be made today, Monday, or we may be had before we know what
has hit us!
Are these commissioners acting like limited government Republicans,
holding companies to efficiency and free market principles, or are
they acting like big government Democrats helping out a powerful
special interest buddy? Please make your calls today.
++ REYNOLDS SPECULATES ON OK TAX DOLLARS GOING TO SOLYNDRA?
In less you live in a cave and are devoid of news information, you
know by now of the growing potential scandal involving one of
President Obama’s pet green projects, the solar energy company called
Solyndra.
Not only did the federal government back the company with $539 million
in federal loan guarantees, but private investors sunk around a
billion dollars into the company. The largest among the private
investors was the family foundation of Oklahoma’s wealthiest man,
George Kaiser. Mr. Kaiser is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Bank
of Oklahoma and the principle owner of Kaiser-Francis Oil Company out
of Tulsa.
A little over 2 weeks ago State Representative Mike Reynolds issued a
press release that to my knowledge the Tulsa Beacon Newspaper was the
only one to run it. They actually turned it into a front page story in
last week’s paper. I thought I would re-publish the press release in
its entirety:
“OKLAHOMA CITY - Even as the FBI investigates the now-bankrupt
Solyndra, state Rep. Mike Reynolds is concerned Oklahoma tax credits
may have benefited the controversial failed solar-power company, based
on state records.
Touted by the Obama administration as a model of green energy
enterprise, California-based Solyndra was a high-profile recipient of
a $539 million federal loan guarantee. Today, only two years after its
start-up, the company is the center of law-enforcement scrutiny,
ethics concerns and congressional oversight demands.
Reynolds noted that Argonaut Ventures (identified as Oklahoman George
Kaiser’s firm by ABC News), has been named as the largest shareholder
in Solyndra in news reports.
At the same time, Kaiser is a recipient of state tax credits in
Oklahoma. Public records show Kaiser received nearly $30 million in
tax credits in 2007 and 2008 for venture capital investment.
Unfortunately, lawmakers cannot learn what specific ventures benefited
from those tax policies.
An examination of reports about venture capital tax credit usage from
the Oklahoma Tax Commission reveals a business entity with a name
similar to Argonaut Ventures. Reynolds said it is reasonable to
question whether tax credits available to that entity were somehow
involved in the transactions with Solyndra.
‘There is very little transparency in the oversight of state tax
credit programs and, as a result, we cannot learn all specific
investments supported by those tax credits, we can only learn who
received the tax credit,’ said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. ’However,
since Argonaut Ventures had been identified as a major investor in
Solyndra, it is fair to ask if any Oklahoma tax credits were used to
support Solyndra either directly or indirectly. Oklahoma taxpayers
have the right to know if their money was used to support an out-of-
state business that is now the center of legal and ethical concerns.’
Members of the Task Force on State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives
have been reviewing Oklahoma’s tax credit programs this summer to
determine if they need to be revised or even abolished. The group
recently learned that millions of dollars in investments supported by
Oklahoma tax credits have benefited out-of-state companies in spite of
the fact that the programs were meant to fund job creation in
Oklahoma.
Task force members have also been troubled by the lack of transparency
in many programs, noting companies receiving millions in tax credits
do not have to provide significant information on those transactions
to the taxpayers who fund them.”
We should thank Reynolds for his efforts to bring this to light,
though we may never be able to find out if Oklahoma tax payer dollars
went to support this California based company. This just goes to show
how important transparency is for good government. State
Representative David Dank has been diligently searching for answers
regarding tax credits. My only problem with Governor Fallin and
Representative Dank’s approach to these tax credits is the desire to
determine which ones work and which ones don’t. They want to keep the
former and dump the later.
The true free market approach would be to dump them all and the money
saved could then translate to a reduction or elimination in Oklahoma’s
corporate and or personal income taxes. Doing so would cause us to
eliminate one form of business incentive, but by reducing or
eliminating these taxes, that becomes a business incentive in and of
themselves. I believe it unlikely a tax credit program can exist
without having some level of corruption or “good ole boy” cronyism.
It may take a long time to unravel the many schemes politicians in
both political parties have crafted over the years to take care of
their favored constituents, special interests or perhaps big donors.
Free market conservatives must continually press for reforms that will
rid our state of crony capitalism.
I look forward to seeing everyone this Wednesday.
Charlie Meadows
Charliemeadows7@gmail.com
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
++ FUTURE EVENTS
++ WILL CORP COMMISSION DOUBLE OUR UNIVERSAL SERVICE TAX?
++ REYNOLDS SPECULATES ON OK TAX DOLLARS GOING TO SOLYNDRA?
++ AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK’S MEETING
Our 12 noon luncheon for Wednesday, October 5th will be held at
Italiano’s restaurant, 4801 North Lincoln in OKC. Our primary speaker
this Wednesday, will be Peter LaBarbera, Executive Director of
American’s for Truth About Homosexuality. I believe Mr. LaBarbera is
headquartered out of Chicago. He is probably the nations foremost
authority on the homosexual agenda and how that agenda threatens the
Biblical model of a family as well as its destructive implications to
our society. Mr. LaBarbera is considered public enemy number ONE to
the militant homosexual community in America. While the church is
slowly winning the abortion and creation battles, it is losing the
homosexual issue. Come find out why. Also, I am trying to contact Dana
Murphy, Chairman of the Corporation Commission to ask her to come and
explain the reasons for a possible doubling of the Oklahoma universal
user tax that we pay on our phone bills. More on that later in this e-
mail.
++ ANNOUNCEMENTS
* THURSDAY EVENING - BLANCHARD AREA - The Oklahoma Liberty Tea
Party Meeting will be held on Thursday evening, October 6th at 7:00
p.m. The location is the American Legion Building, 103 South Main
street in downtown Blanchard. I will be speaking that evening and
encourage folks in the area who are not a member of this local tea
party to attend to get to know other activists in your area. I will
talk briefly about the positive changes in Oklahoma over the past 20
years as Oklahoma has changed from being a blue state to one of the
reddest states in America. I will then discuss what needs to be done
going forward.
* SATURDAY EVENING - CHICKASHA AREA - The Grady County TEA Party
will have TEA with the Duke, Saturday, October 8th at the Grady County
Fairgrounds in Chickasha. “The Duke” is a John Wayne impersonator who
looks like, talks, like and walks like John Wayne. He will present a
patriotic program. There will be food, the Duke and a western dance.
Tickets are $15, for more information contact Mark at (405) 314-4730
or Joyce at (405) 320-0028.
++ FUTURE EVENTS
* Our good friend John Michener wanted me to announce the upcoming
training sessions associated with the organization Justice For All.
John is a regional director for JFA and is doing an excellent job. He
describes the mission of JFA as to train thousands to make abortion
unthinkable for millions, one person at a time. The JFA training
includes:
- The problem and opportunity for Christians surrounding abortion.
- How to be wise ambassadors for Christ with Knowledge, Wisdom &
Humility
- Making the biological and philosophical cases for life
- Tackling the hard questions (rape, life & health of the mother)
- Seeing the opportunity for evangelism in every conversation
Following are the training opportunities:
October 16th, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, 400 East Main street in
Edmond. Lunch at 12:30 p.m. seminar from 1 - 5:30 p.m.
October 23rd, Eagle Heights Baptist Church, 2617 North Jardot Road,
Stillwater. Lunch at 12:30 p.m. seminar from 1 - 5:30 p.m.
The corresponding outreach days are:
University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, on Tuesday and Wednesday,
October 18th and 19th.
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, on Thursday and Friday, October
27th and 28th.
If you want to do more than wring your hands or just pray about the
abortion tragedy, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to
engage pro-choice people and be able to turn the hearts of some away
from the slaughter of the unborn. JFA is being very effective on
college campuses across America. For more information, contact John
Michener at john.Michener@alumni.oc.edu.
* Our meeting for November 2nd will feature the Vice President of
Samaritan Ministries. While this is not an insurance company, this is
a Christian health cost sharing ministry. Hopefully Obama Care will be
repealed either through the courts or by Congress after next year’s
elections. If not, ministries such as this are actually exempted in
the legislation. Not only does this program provide help to families
for major medical expenses, it costs less per month than insurance.
This is also a free market alternative to Medicare, which of course is
nearing bankruptcy and will only get worse with time. Mark this date
on your calendar and tell your friends, you owe it to yourself to
check this out.
++ WILL CORP COMMISSION DOUBLE OUR UNIVERSAL SERVICE TAX?
Just this past week, Corporation Commissioners Dana Murphy and Jeff
Cloud (Bob Anthony wasn’t at the meeting) voted to consider this
coming Tuesday (October 4th), a day to vote to nearly double the
Oklahoma Universal Service Fund tax. If it passes, it is estimated to
raise close to $50 million annually in additional revenues. There are
a couple of issues at stake, but the most important to understand, is
that the proposal would raise the tax on wireless phone users with the
proceeds being used to subsidize the service for people with land
lines.
I have an idea, if a rate increase is really needed, then why not
raise the rates ONLY on the folks using land lines and leave the
wireless phone service customers with no greater burden than they
currently have to bare?
This process needs to be slowed down, to determine if the need is
real, if AT&T is behind this at the expense of its competitors and why
wireless phone users should be asked to bare the cost for others? If
you agree, please call Dana Murphy’s office at (405) 521-2267, Jeff
Cloud (405) 521-2264 and Bob Anthony at (405) 521-2261. Your calls
need to be made today, Monday, or we may be had before we know what
has hit us!
Are these commissioners acting like limited government Republicans,
holding companies to efficiency and free market principles, or are
they acting like big government Democrats helping out a powerful
special interest buddy? Please make your calls today.
++ REYNOLDS SPECULATES ON OK TAX DOLLARS GOING TO SOLYNDRA?
In less you live in a cave and are devoid of news information, you
know by now of the growing potential scandal involving one of
President Obama’s pet green projects, the solar energy company called
Solyndra.
Not only did the federal government back the company with $539 million
in federal loan guarantees, but private investors sunk around a
billion dollars into the company. The largest among the private
investors was the family foundation of Oklahoma’s wealthiest man,
George Kaiser. Mr. Kaiser is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Bank
of Oklahoma and the principle owner of Kaiser-Francis Oil Company out
of Tulsa.
A little over 2 weeks ago State Representative Mike Reynolds issued a
press release that to my knowledge the Tulsa Beacon Newspaper was the
only one to run it. They actually turned it into a front page story in
last week’s paper. I thought I would re-publish the press release in
its entirety:
“OKLAHOMA CITY - Even as the FBI investigates the now-bankrupt
Solyndra, state Rep. Mike Reynolds is concerned Oklahoma tax credits
may have benefited the controversial failed solar-power company, based
on state records.
Touted by the Obama administration as a model of green energy
enterprise, California-based Solyndra was a high-profile recipient of
a $539 million federal loan guarantee. Today, only two years after its
start-up, the company is the center of law-enforcement scrutiny,
ethics concerns and congressional oversight demands.
Reynolds noted that Argonaut Ventures (identified as Oklahoman George
Kaiser’s firm by ABC News), has been named as the largest shareholder
in Solyndra in news reports.
At the same time, Kaiser is a recipient of state tax credits in
Oklahoma. Public records show Kaiser received nearly $30 million in
tax credits in 2007 and 2008 for venture capital investment.
Unfortunately, lawmakers cannot learn what specific ventures benefited
from those tax policies.
An examination of reports about venture capital tax credit usage from
the Oklahoma Tax Commission reveals a business entity with a name
similar to Argonaut Ventures. Reynolds said it is reasonable to
question whether tax credits available to that entity were somehow
involved in the transactions with Solyndra.
‘There is very little transparency in the oversight of state tax
credit programs and, as a result, we cannot learn all specific
investments supported by those tax credits, we can only learn who
received the tax credit,’ said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. ’However,
since Argonaut Ventures had been identified as a major investor in
Solyndra, it is fair to ask if any Oklahoma tax credits were used to
support Solyndra either directly or indirectly. Oklahoma taxpayers
have the right to know if their money was used to support an out-of-
state business that is now the center of legal and ethical concerns.’
Members of the Task Force on State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives
have been reviewing Oklahoma’s tax credit programs this summer to
determine if they need to be revised or even abolished. The group
recently learned that millions of dollars in investments supported by
Oklahoma tax credits have benefited out-of-state companies in spite of
the fact that the programs were meant to fund job creation in
Oklahoma.
Task force members have also been troubled by the lack of transparency
in many programs, noting companies receiving millions in tax credits
do not have to provide significant information on those transactions
to the taxpayers who fund them.”
We should thank Reynolds for his efforts to bring this to light,
though we may never be able to find out if Oklahoma tax payer dollars
went to support this California based company. This just goes to show
how important transparency is for good government. State
Representative David Dank has been diligently searching for answers
regarding tax credits. My only problem with Governor Fallin and
Representative Dank’s approach to these tax credits is the desire to
determine which ones work and which ones don’t. They want to keep the
former and dump the later.
The true free market approach would be to dump them all and the money
saved could then translate to a reduction or elimination in Oklahoma’s
corporate and or personal income taxes. Doing so would cause us to
eliminate one form of business incentive, but by reducing or
eliminating these taxes, that becomes a business incentive in and of
themselves. I believe it unlikely a tax credit program can exist
without having some level of corruption or “good ole boy” cronyism.
It may take a long time to unravel the many schemes politicians in
both political parties have crafted over the years to take care of
their favored constituents, special interests or perhaps big donors.
Free market conservatives must continually press for reforms that will
rid our state of crony capitalism.
I look forward to seeing everyone this Wednesday.
Charlie Meadows
Charliemeadows7@gmail.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)