Congressman at Town Hall: ‘The Federal Government Can Do Most Anything in This Country’

Garrett Jackson

Greeting everyone,
I hope everyone is doing well this summer. I must say it has been a hot summer, filled with outdoor projects, and hot political debates in our nation. With our Congress coming out and infringing upon the rights of us, we need to be ever watchful of what is going on at the Federal level.
Closer to home, Oklahoma will make history this November, by electing our first female governor. Jari Askins and Mary Fallon will be in a heated race for the top job here in Oklahoma.
Locally, the County Assessor, Charlotte Hamilton, has resigned her post, after a defeat in her bid for re-election to her post. Some have suggested that her departure is a result of an OSBI investigation into allegations of her misuse of money in her office.

I am working on several other stories and opinion pieces, and I will post them here soon.

Have a great August!

Garrett Jackson

Here’s the deal – the open carry bill passed by veto proof majorities in both houses.  But after Governor Brad “Veto Happy” Henry vetoed the bill, 15 representatives changed their vote or refused to vote at all for the bill!

It’s one thing for a legislator to stand up and vote anti-gun – that’s at least honest.

But its a whole ‘nother thing to play games and tricks with the people’s right to arms – to hide your vote, duck your vote, and otherwise shirk their duty to take a stand and cast a recorded vote.

Adding insult to injury, incredibly, Representative Glenn Bud Smithson (D-Sallisaw) called open carry supporters COWARDS, see
http://newsok.com/open-carry-weapon-bill-draws-house-approval/article/3459027?custom_click=lead_story_title, but then turned around and REFUSED to even stand up and cast a vote on the veto override matter!

TURNCOATs – Changed Vote from YEA on original vote to NAY on override vote -
Auffet ( D)  johnauffet@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7394
Carey (D)   johncarey@okhouse.gov   (405) 557-7366
Glenn (D)   larryglenn@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7399
Hoskin (D)   chuck.hoskin@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7319
Inman (D)   scott.inman@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7370
Luttrell (D)   ken.luttrell@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7355
Rousselot (D)   waderousselot@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7388
Shoemake (D)   jerryshoemake@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7373

AWOLs- PRESENT BUT DID NOT VOTE -
Buck (D)   sam.buck@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7383
Hilliard (D)   weshilliard@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7412
Kirby (R)   dan.kirby@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7356
Morgan (D)    dannymorgan@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7368
Morrissette (D)    richardmorrissette@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7404
Nations (D)   billnations@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7323
Smithson (D)   glensmithson@okhouse.gov    (405) 557-7315

[Voting record and contact information can be found at http://www.ok.gov]

The good news is we only need 3 more votes to save the open carry bill.  However, time is short!

Action Item #1:  If YOUR personal representative is on the TURNCOAT or AWOL lists, contact them – email, phone, and in person if you can – go to their office and **POLITELY** request to see him on this matter and urge him to vote correctly and let Oklahoma join the 43 other States that enjoy Open Carry in accordance with the Founders’ intent!  Bring your friends and family – make it a freedom delegation!

Action Item #2:  Email the entire list of TURNCOATs and AWOLs!

Make their Blackberries’ inbox crack like machine gun fire!

Suggested message:
–

TO: johnauffet@okhouse.gov, johncarey@okhouse.gov, larryglenn@okhouse.gov, chuck.hoskin@okhouse.gov, scott.inman@okhouse.gov, ken.luttrell@okhouse.gov,   waderousselot@okhouse.gov, jerryshoemake@okhouse.gov, sam.buck@okhouse.gov, weshilliard@okhouse.gov, dan.kirby@okhouse.gov, dannymorgan@okhouse.gov, richardmorrissette@okhouse.gov, billnations@okhouse.gov, glensmithson@okhouse.gov

SUBJECT:  Urge your legislators to override the open carry bill veto!

Dear Representative:

I am highly distressed that you either (1) changed your vote on the open carry bill, or (2) refused to vote at all, when the time came to override the veto.

Another veto override vote will take place soon.

Take a stand!  There is no reason why Oklahomans cannot be trusted to become residents of the 44th open carry state.

This bill is very important to me and many Oklahoma gun owners.

We will remember what you do.

Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS

Rep. Joe Dorman (D)

OPEN DOOR POLICY

By Joe Dorman

***(Editor’s Note: Joe Dorman is the Oklahoma House District 65 Representative and ‘The Lawton Town Crier’ appreciates Mr. Dorman’s many contributions to our site, most notably his “Open Door Policy,” and his guest appearances on the “Lawton Town Crier” podcast. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the Lawton Town Crier, or other contributors.)***

It has been a busy two weeks at the Capitol as legislation has been progressing through the committee process. I have had the chance to present several of my bills and received favorable action on those, but I still have a few more which could possibly make it through the process. I have one bill currently out of committee which deals with TIF reporting and I’m currently working to get more of my bills set for hearings.
Of the bills currently on committee agendas, I will present my legislation to place doctors who volunteer for school athletic functions under the Good Samaritan Act, a bill restructuring the volunteer firefighters tax credit so as to enhance training opportunities and a bill dealing with funeral accounts in the Appropriations Committee this week. I also have legislation to create an income tax check-off for disaster reimbursement in Rules Committee and another bill to set requirements for assisted living facilities to have generators in case of power outages in the Public Health Committee. Thanks to Chairmen Ken Miller, John Trebilcock and Gus Blackwell for hearing these bills!
I had another issue get combined with a bill by Rep. Paul Roan to create a designated memorial highway for the US Army’s 95th Division in Comanche County at the junction of I-44 and Highway 7 to mile marker 46. That should be on the floor of the House this week. If any bills are not passed out of committee this week, or by the entire House next week, they will not be considered this year.
We saw one bill die on the floor Monday. This legislation would have mandated a minimum of one hour of marriage counseling for those couples filing for a divorce. I, along with many, felt this was too much government intrusion in a very personal area. I fully support and encourage voluntary marriage counseling, but as one person put it, this is trying to save the milk with an expiration date coming up. We should encourage , even incentivize preventing divorce before there are problems, but not have government mandate a solution.
There have been several groups visit the Capitol over the past few weeks. On Monday, we saw delegates from the Oklahoma Conservation Districts and the adult leadership class for Canadian Valley Technology Center. TRIO also had several students tour the Capitol last week, along with students representing Cameron and USAO for Higher Education Day. We also had the chance to visit with delegates for the American Farmers & Ranchers and the Farm Bureau conventions.

The Canadian Valley Technology Center adult leadership class, along with faculty, staff and Rep. Joe Dorman

On a final note, we saw two fantastic events with great turnout this past weekend. The Emergency Management conference hosted by myself and Rep. Gus Blackwell was well-attended and provided much useful information. There was attendance from all corners of the state and I was pleased to have Mayor Jack Johnson of Cyril in attendance. We also had the Mo Betta Celebrity Quail Hunt in Apache and it was a huge success. I was pleased to visit with Jon Michael McGrath II, one of our upcoming Summer Olympians in Shooting Sports who is a Tulsan and want to wish him the best in representing the USA!
It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559 , Rush Springs , OK 73082 and my website is www.joedorman.com on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Michael Tenis, Ward 2 Council Elect

Mayor and Ward 2,  Lame Ducks Until March

by Garrett Jackson

As of right now, the Mayor, and Ward 2 Councilman, Jim Hanna, are lame ducks in our city council.

Mayor elect Fred Fitch,  Councilman elect Michael Tenis, and Bill Shoemate will be sworn in to office in March. Both Fitch, and Tenis drew opponents this past fall and Ward 1 Councilman Shoemate did not.

The City Council will face a number of issues this next year with the upcoming budget session, and may have to look at cutting services in order to keep the budget at its present level. Other areas that will be on the councils radar include, repairs to the Water treatment plant in Medicine park, and the acquisition of the remainder of the water rights to Waurika Lake in Jefferson County.

Garrett Jackson (L)

One thing that I have noticed that is different from the old administration, or any administration for that matter is that lack of class. Robert Gibbs, I cannot believe has so little class as to mock someone about having notes at a speech.
I am sure his thought was it would be funny to mock a person for using notes, but it is just sad. Making a comment about how the President ALWAYS uses a teleprompter when he talks, is a fair question. Mocking someone who uses notes is not. Perhaps, the Obama administration does not want someone to criticize them who might be more competent than they are. Especially on topics of concern to the American People.

I really do not blame Robert Gibbs. Why you might ask? As we all know, he speaks directly for the President himself. This has been the case regardless of who is in the white house. So his comments must come directly from Mr. Obama himself. Even if he did not actually say them,  then Obama at least approves of them. Mr. Gibbs has shown what he actually is, a pawn in a large game of chess.

Maybe we should HOPE for a little less CHANGE, and pray for a little bit more class.

Rep. Joe Dorman (D)

OPEN DOOR POLICY

By Joe Dorman

***(Editor’s Note: Joe Dorman is the Oklahoma House District 65 Representative and ‘The Lawton Town Crier’ appreciates Mr. Dorman’s many contributions to our site, most notably his “Open Door Policy,” and his guest appearances on the “Lawton Town Crier” podcast. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the Lawton Town Crier, or other contributors.)***

Our area suffered the worst ice storm in the memory of all I have visited with over the past week. Power was still out for several homes at the time I wrote this column. Line workers were out attempting to fix the fallen poles and lines as quickly as possible, but the damage was extensive over southwest Oklahoma, and especially in our area.

My study for examining better ways to deal with emergencies in Oklahoma was postponed from last Friday due to the weather, so it could not have worked out better that we will have the problems we faced fresh on our minds. This meeting was rescheduled to February 19 at OSU-OKC. If you would like details, please contact Pam in my office at (800) 522-8502. I look forward to hearing from local experts and FEMA representatives on how better we can deal with disaster situations in the future and better ways.
There is no local FEMA office in Oklahoma. The Region 6 office, the closest to us, is in the Dallas area. I’ve been on the phone with our state Office of Emergency Management trying to figure out all the details on how to make sure cost is covered in as many areas as possible for our citizens, towns and counties.
There are several different levels of assistance available once they are approved. The first stage is to get a disaster declaration approved for the state. Governor Henry submitted this the day the storms were coming in and we received approval from the White House for aid quicker than any previous disaster in state history according to what I was told by OEM.
This first stage included aid for shelters and assisting with public efforts, such as the cots and water and working with the Red Cross/Salvation Army for immediate response to help affected communities.
The next level is for clean-up and rebuilding. The reimbursement rate is that FEMA will cover 75% of the costs, while the state will cover 12% and the affected entity will be responsible for the remaining 12.5% (which they would have to pay all of this without the declaration). We are working with all the parties to make sure they don’t spend anything unnecessary or which won’t be covered by a match unless they know that in advance. This level only applied to cities, counties and non-profits, such as the electric cooperatives.
FEMA will not cover the cost of chainsaws, generators, tree removal, lost food or any costs associated with staying at home during the storm or recover at this point. Unless the individual assistance is approved by FEMA when they do damage assessment, none of these personal reimbursements will be covered.
Here is some information from the Office of Emergency Management:
WATCH OUT FOR SCAM ARTISTS
Unfortunately in disaster situations, scam artists are often ready to take advantage of the misfortunes of others. People should be especially alert for phone or door-to-door solicitors who hand out flyers and promise to speed up the insurance or building permit process and those who ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full. Whether they are architectural, engineering, electrical, or general contractors, most service providers in the building industry are honest, but all too often disasters attract scam artists. Some claim to be state or FEMA certified, when, in fact, neither the state nor FEMA certifies or endorses any contractor. If you suspect contractor fraud, contact the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit at (405) 521-2029 or online at www.oag.state.ok.us or contact your local Better Business Bureau.

Tips for hiring contractors include:
Get a written estimate. Compare services and prices before making a final decision. Also, read the fine print. Some contractors charge a fee for a written estimate, which is often applied to the cost of subsequent repairs they make.
Check references. Contractors should be willing to provide names of previous customers. Call several former customers who had similar work done to make sure they were satisfied with the job.
Ask for proof of insurance. Make sure the contractor carries general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. If the contractor is not insured, the homeowner may be liable for accidents that occur on the property.
Use reliable, licensed contractors. Call your local Better Business Bureau (and other local sources) to inquire about a business before signing a contract.

Insist on a written contract. A complete contract should state clearly all tasks to be performed, all associated costs and the payment schedule. Never sign a blank contract or one with blank spaces. Make sure the contract clearly states who will apply for the necessary permits or licenses. Have a lawyer review the contract if substantial costs are involved, and keep a copy for your records.

Get guarantees in writing. Any guarantees made by the contractor should be written into the contract. The guarantee should state clearly what is guaranteed, who is responsible for the guarantee and how long the guarantee is valid.
Obtain a local building permit, if required. Permits may be required for site work other than demolition, and for reconstruction. Contact your local government for permit information.
Make final payments when the work is completed. Do not sign completion papers or make the final payment until the work is completed to your satisfaction. A reputable contractor will not threaten you or pressure you to sign if the job is not finished properly.

Pay by check. Avoid on-the-spot cash payments. The safest route is to write a check to the contracting company. A reasonable down payment is 30 percent of the total cost of the project to be paid upon initial delivery of materials.
If necessary, cancel a contract in the proper manner. This should be done within three business days of signing. Be sure to follow the procedures for cancellation that are set out in the contract. Send the notification by registered mail with a return receipt to be signed by the contractor.

Consumers should be wary of contractors who:
Lack proper identification. Ask to see the laminated photo identification card; if they don’t have it, they are probably not legitimate.

Go door-to-door. People going door-to-door to damaged homes, or phoning victims and claiming to be building contractors, could be frauds. If callers solicit personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers, they are not legitimate.

Offer to increase the amount of your disaster damage assessment. This is not wise and is a sure sign of a scam.
Ask for cash up front. Under no circumstances provide cash up front to contractors.

FEDERAL/STATE DECLARATIONS
Oklahoma remains under an emergency disaster declaration. The emergency declaration authorizes federal resources to assist state and local governments as they continue to respond to the severe winter storm. These resources include industrial size generators, bottled water, cots and blankets. The need for additional federal disaster aid to cover further response and recovery costs is currently being assessed. Oklahoma also remains under a State of Emergency, as declared by Gov. Henry on Jan. 27. The State of Emergency allows state agencies to make emergency purchases and acquisitions needed to expedite the delivery of resources to local jurisdictions. The executive order provides a formal mechanism for local governments to seek reimbursement for recovery costs through the state’s disaster public assistance program if conditions warrant.

PRICE GOUGING STATUTE IN EFFECT
Oklahoma’s price gouging statute is in effect in all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties due to the State of Emergency. The price gouging statute prohibits an increase of more than 10 percent in the price of most goods and services when a State of Emergency has been declared. Anyone who suspects price gouging is urged to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit at (405) 521-2029.

RESOURCE REQUESTS
More than 100 generators have been deployed through the State EOC to provide power to critical facilities like shelters, water treatment plans and hospitals in communities impacted by the storm. The Oklahoma National Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delivered the generators. Resources to support local efforts, including bottled water, blankets, cots and meals ready to eat (MREs) which were secured through the federal government, continue to be deployed through the State EOC. Please note these generators are not for residential use.

I hope this information helps each of you prepare for the recovery efforts. I will continue to gather information and provide as much as possible in my columns.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D)

August 1, 2003

Washington, D.C. — House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ announcement that 470,000 people abandoned their job searches in July and that 3.2 million private sector jobs have been lost since President Bush took office:

“The fact is that President Bush’s misguided economic policies have failed to create jobs. Since President Bush took office, the country has lost 3.2 million jobs, the worst record since President Hoover. And today we learned that in July nearly half a million people gave up looking for a job.

“Job losses are taking a real toll on the financial security of American families. While Democrats are fighting for opportunity, jobs, and economic security for working families, Republicans continue to focus on helping those who need help the least.

“According to today’s survey, while the national unemployment rate dropped slightly, it still stands at a near record high. In addition, the unemployment rate for African Americans was still over 11 percent in July, and the unemployment rate for Hispanics was 8.2 percent in July.

“It is time for President Bush and the Republicans to get to work for all Americans, not just the elite few.”

In testimony before the House Intelligence Committee today, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair told representatives that American citizens can be assassinated by the US government when they are oveseas.

Blair said the comments were intended to “reassure” Americans that there was a “set of defined policy and legal procedures” in place and that such assassinations are always carried out by the book.

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R – MI) inquired about the procedures involved, asking what the legal framework was under which Americans could be killed by the intelligence community.

Blair insisted that under no circumstances would Americans be assassinated overseas for criticizing the government, adding “we don’t target people for free speech.” Rather they are subject to assassination when the government decides they are a threat and when they “get specific permission.” Exactly who was giving that permission was unclear.

The question has been increasingly important as the Obama Administration attempts to help the Yemeni government assassinate Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born cleric who is not accused of any crimes by the US government. The administration maintains that secret evidence exists linking Awlaki to terrorism.

There seems to be a chilling lack of oversight in the procedure behind these killings, however, Blair’s assurances against politically motivated assassinations aside. The US has killed Americans in overseas attacks before, but only as “collateral damage.” It has never admitted to explicitly assassinating an American citizen before, though it seems that the policy is in place and such killings are only a matter of time.

via Blair: US Govt Can Kill Citizens Overseas as Part of ‘Defined Policy’ — News from Antiwar.com.

Garrett Jackson (L)

On February 2nd or 3rd, 2010 an unknown person, gained access to the Lawton Town Crier website and placed a java script into the footer of the web page. This script redirected people to various websites not associated with The Crier.

With the help of the GoDaddy tech support team, we were able to correct the error as soon as it was discovered on February 3rd. No user information was compromised, since we do not allow for people to register on the website without approval.

We recommend that you clear you browser cache and history folders and reload The Crier if you continue to be redirected to a different web page.

We would like to thank you for your understanding, and hope that your experience has not be adversely affected.

Thank you,

Garrett