Posts Tagged by Grassroots in Oklahoma

Moore Tornado Disaster Relief Drop off Locations – Updated

May 21, 2013

Posted by oksafeinc under Christian Ministry, Education, Ethics, Exposing Health Care Reform, OK R3s, OK-SAFE, OKG Projects, Republican Party Offices, Social Networking, State Sovereignty, Tulsa R3s

[5/21/13 UPDATE From KFOR in Oklahoma City: "The medical examiner’s office has confirmed 24 people have been killed in Monday’s Moore tornado; at least 230 have been injured. Amy Ellis with the medical examiner’s office said of the 24, nine are children. Ellis said in a press conference Tuesday seven of those children were found in the Plaza Towers Elementary School and two more were found elsewhere."]

OK-SAFE, Inc. – May 21, 2013, the day after a monstrous tornado struck the Moore, OK area, killing an estimated ~~91 people~~ 24 people, ~~many~~ nine of whom were children.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families who have suffered loss in yesterday’s tornado. We thank the Lord for all the lives spared.

People are wanting to help. One way to do so is by helping local churches (Moore, Edmond, and Oklahoma City) who are active in the relief effort. Local churches are good to support because they know the people and their needs (emotional and physical), and have the means to direct that help where it is needed most.

Partial List of Churches Helping

Here are three local churches helping in the Moore disaster relief effort:

First Baptist Church in Moore – 301 NE. 27th Street, Moore, OK. (Right off I-35, just north of where tornado hit). Phone: 405-793-2600 Pastor: Kevin Clarkson. Huge parking lot with disaster relief HQ and mobile kitchen set up.
Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond – 1230 N. Sooner Rd., Edmond, OK. Phone: 405-348-1745 Pastor: Paul Blair. Church will be delivering donations, including financial donations, to First Baptist Church of Moore.
Windsor Hills Baptist Church – 5517 NW 23rd, Oklahoma City, OK. Phone: 405-943-3326. Pastor: Tom Vineyard. Church will be collecting items for families from Moore Baptist Temple who lost their homes. Financial assistance needed.

Initial needs: Bottled water, Gatorade, wipes, diapers, flash lights and batteries, and ready to eat food items.

Other Relief Efforts

News station KFOR in Oklahoma City has a great running list of Tornado Relief drop off sights. Click on the link below to find a location near to you:

http://kfor.com/2013/05/21/tornado-relief-drop-off-locations-around-metro-okc/

Hit the refresh button to check for updated information.

From the Salvation Army:

Salvation Army Gearing Up to Respond in Moore, OK

May 20, 2013 – 9:18 PM EDT
Christopher Priest
chris_priest@uss.salvationarmy.org
(404) 728-6704

The Salvation Army is currently mobilizing disaster response units to serve hard-hit areas in Central Oklahoma, including Moore and South Oklahoma City. Major Steve Morris, Divisional Commander of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Division of The Salvation Army is on the ground in Moore, OK.. In a statement he said “The Salvation Army is calling on everyone to pray for all of those impacted by the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma.” “Many of these impacted communities will take months or even years to recover. The Salvation Army is committed to being there with them throughout and providing aid wherever it’s needed.” More information will follow.

The Salvation Army is welcoming cash donations that will help provide food, water, ice and other necessities in the initial response. The Salvation Army is also providing emotional and spiritual comfort to those affected.

Donors are encouraged to give online at http://www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).

You can also text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone; to confirm your gift, respond with the word “Yes.”

Oklahomans are known for pulling together in a disaster to help each other. It looks like this time is no different. This is a good place to live.

Keep shutting doors on Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma

May 20, 2013

Posted by Cherokee County GOP under CD02, Cherokee County, OK R3s, OKG Projects, Precinct Leaders, Precinct Organization, Republican Party Offices, Social Networking, Teaparty

By OCPA · Mon, May 20, 2013 08:47 AM CDT A few aspects of Obamacare are, per last summer’s U.S. …

June 6th Gathering

May 20, 2013

Posted by TC Ryan under Action, Education, Events, Events Spotlighted, Liberty on Tap, OK R3s, OKG Projects, Precinct Organization, Social Networking, Teaparty, Tulsa R3s

Liberty on Tap – June Gathering

Join us Thursday, June 6th at 6pm for another gathering of Liberty on Tap!

Speakers to include:

J.B. Alexander – Former Tulsa County GOP Chair and member of Owasso Taxpayer Alliance.

Kelly Fuchik – Will be discussing her work with March for Life and Prayerful Presence.

Storm Flowers – Will be discussing Monsanto.

Josh Lewis, who is running for Tulsa City auditor, will also be in attendance to answer any questions you may have.

Thursday, June 6th at 6pm. McNellie’s, private room upstairs.

Facebook Event Page Here.

Congressman Jim Bridenstine Introduces Term Limits Amendment

May 17, 2013

Posted by 41 under CD01, OK R3s, Social Networking, Tulsa R3s

Congressman Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) has introduced the first bipartisan Congressional term limits legislation in more than a decade. Bridenstine introduced the proposed Constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 45, with fellow freshman Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-TX). The legislation, if adopted, would allow Congress to pass laws to limit the number of terms that a Representative or Senator may serve.A recent Gallup survey showed that 75% of the American public supports Congressional term limits, but there has been almost no real action on the matter since 1995. With the overall approval rating of Congress somewhere around 15%, it is clear that the American people are sending not only a strong message about what’s wrong with Washington, but their idea for a solution as well. The Constitution prescribes the age, citizenship, and residency requirements to serve in the U.S. Congress. Thus it is widely accepted that a limit on the number of terms a Representative or Senator may serve must be implemented as a Constitutional amendment. Many term limit amendments have been proposed, however, the Bridenstine/O’Rourke amendment is unique in that it does not declare a set number of terms that may be served. Instead, this amendment would simply authorize Congress to pass laws that set the exact term limits through the regular legislative process.Bridenstine observed, “Members of Congress in the House and Senate need to be focused on doing the right thing, not on preserving their careers by getting re-elected.”O’Roarke added, “By enacting sensible term limits I hope we can improve how Congress works and ensure we are serving the interests of the nation, not our own re-election bids. We owe our constituents institutional reforms that address these concerns.”The resolution has now been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Bridenstine & O’Rourke will be encouraging Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI) to hold a hearing on their proposal and get the conversation on term limits started again. Bridenstine and O’Rourke authored an op-ed featured in Thursday’s edition of POLITICO that lays out the case and rationale for this innovative approach to term limits. You can read the op-ed by Clicking Here. -- 30 --

AG Pruitt Asks for Postponement of DEQ Hearing on EPA’s Regional Haze Plan

May 17, 2013

Posted by oksafeinc under Christian Ministry, Education, Ethics, Exposing Health Care Reform, OK R3s, OK-SAFE, OKG Projects, Republican Party Offices, Social Networking, State Sovereignty, Tulsa R3s

OK-SAFE, Inc. - [Update to our earlier post entitled EPA's Regional Haze Plan Leading to Higher Utilities in Oklahoma . See that post for details on who to call and email as well as the location for the planned May 20, 2013 DEQ meeting.]

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt has written a letter to the OK Department of Environmental Quality, stating, “Without accurate updated cost information from PSO’s revised IRP, it seems unlikely that any economic impact – environmental benefit statement compiled by DEQ would be accurate.” And, “Based on the above, I respectfully request that DEQ delay the public meeting scheduled for May 20, 2013, and delay a final decision regarding the SIP, until PSO’s amended IRP (integrated resource plan) can be fully vetted in proceedings at the Corporation Commission.“

Calls/emails to the DEQ are still needed. Written comments regarding the proposed revision should be emailed to Ms. Bradley at
Cheryl.Bradley@deq.ok.gov

Text of May 15, 2013 Letter from A.G. Pruitt:

May 15, 2013

Steven A. Thompson

Executive Director

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality

707 N. Robinson 

P.O. Box 1677 

Oklahoma City, OK 73101-1677

Re: PSO/EP A Settlement Agreement- Revised State Implementation Plan

Dear Mr. Thompson:

As you are aware, the PSO/EPA settlement plan, upon which the revised State Implementation Plan (“SIP”) is based, required that Public Service Corporation of Oklahoma (“PSO”) decommission one of its coal-fired generation facilities by 2016. The 2012 PSO Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”) provided for the replacement of only 260 MWs of the 500 MW coal-fired generation plant that is scheduled for closure. A s such, the cost estimates for the SIP settlement plan are premised upon replacement of roughly only one-half of that plant’s capacity and energy. Recently, PSO announced its intention to submit a revised IRP at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to amend its 2012 IRP. The stated purpose of this amended IRP is to include approximately 250 MWs of electric load that will be served by PSO in the 2016 time frame.

Because PSO has added additional load which now requires a revision to the 2012 IRP, the cost information concerning the PSO/EP A settlement plan and, hence, the revised SIP, may be inaccurate to a degree that cannot be determined at this time. A s such, cost assessments that have been conducted in the PSO proceeding at the Corporation Commission and by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) in association with the SIP are based on incomplete and inaccurate data (see revised paragraph 12 in First Amended Regional Haze Agreement). More accurate cost information will be developed after PSO submits its amended IRP in June of this year and includes the entire 500 MWs of needed capacity/energy as opposed to only 260MWs.

In addition, Title 27A O. S. § 1 -1 -206 “Economic Impact- Environmental Benefit Statement” requires a state environmental agency to duly determine the economic impact and environmental benefit of a permanent rule that is more stringent than corresponding federal requirements, unless such stringency is specifically authorized by state statute. It is certainly arguable that the proposed revised SIP for P S O is more stringent than the previously issued E P A FIP. Without accurate updated cost information from PSO’s revised IRP, it seems unlikely that any economic impact – environmental benefit statement compiled by DEQ would be accurate.

Based on the above, I respectfully request that DEQ delay the public meeting scheduled for May 20, 2013, and delay a final decision regarding the SIP, until PSO’s amended IRP can be fully vetted in proceedings at the Corporation Commission. The 2013 IRP process will yield additional information that will provide the opportunity to ascertain the true cost of the SIP that is required in proceedings at both the Corporation Commission and the DEQ.

Scott Pruitt,

Attorney General

Help Stop Common Core in Oklahoma – Calls Needed!

May 17, 2013

Posted by oksafeinc under Christian Ministry, Education, Ethics, Exposing Health Care Reform, OK R3s, OK-SAFE, OKG Projects, Republican Party Offices, Social Networking, State Sovereignty, Tulsa R3s

OK-SAFE, Inc. – By now everyone knows how dangerous the Common Core State Standards are for our children and state education. (See here, here, here, here, and here.)

Everyone, that is, except OK Governor Mary Fallin, State Superintendent Janet Barresi, and Senator John Ford.

It appears that OK Speaker T.W. Shannon has come out against the Common Core state standards and is willing to run legislation (hopefully this session) to repeal one of the components of this egregious education system. (HB 1719 may end up being the legislative vehicle for the repeal of the Common Core standards bill, but that has not been confirmed as of this writing.)

Please call your Senator and Representative and tell them you want Common Core repealed in Oklahoma. Especially, call and email Pro-Tem Brian Bingman and Sen. John Ford and tell them to say YES to the repeal of the Common Core in Oklahoma.

Senate Pro-Tem Brian Bingman 405-521-5528 Email: bingman@oksenate.gov
Sen. John Ford 405-521-5634 Email: fordj@oksenate.gov

See this important message from ROPE (Restore Oklahoma Public Education), dated 5/16/13:

WE NEED YOUR HELP IMMEDIATELY!

A bill to separate Oklahoma from the Common Core could be coming to a vote in the Senate early next week! Remember the legislature is attempting to be out of session by next Wednesday or Thursday, so now is crunch time! Call and/or email your Senator IMMEDIATELY and ask them to pass ANY bill that comes to the senate that STOPS the Common Core. As you know, our previous bills to stop the Common Core have been prevented from being allowed even a hearing in either the House or Senate Education Committees by Representative Ann Coody and Senator John Ford.

House Speaker T.W. Shannon has now come out against the Common Core setting the tone for the House! Shannon announced Thursday that with just two weeks left in the legislative session he is unveiling a measure to repeal a 2010 law that requires common core to be implemented by Oklahoma school districts.

Please thank him via phone call 405-557-7374, Email: tw.shannon@okhouse.gov or post to his Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/twshannon?ref=ts&fref=ts).

A bill to STOP the Common Core MUST FINALLY GET A HEARING in the Senate.

Please contact the following senators INCLUDING your own! Email, call, do whatever you can to let your voice be heard telling them, “COMMON CORE IS NOT OK!”

A J Griffin 405-521-5628 Email: griffin@oksenate.gov

Senator Mike Schulz 405-521-5612 Email: schulz@oksenate.gov

Senator Earl Garrison 405-521-5533 Email: whitep@oksenate.gov

Senator Kim David 405-521-5590 Email: david@oksenate.gov

Senator Greg Treat 405-521-5632 Email: Treat@oksenate.gov

Jenni White

President

Restore Oklahoma Public Education

www.RestoreOkPublicEducation.com

__________________________________________________________

OK-SAFE Background Information – Linking Education Reform and Health Care Reform

There are no accidents in politics. While the state of Oklahoma was implementing “ObamaCare” compliant health care reform, (Electronic Health Records, OHIET, etc.), education reform was running on a parallel track, instituted via SB 222 in 2009 (P-20 Data Council) and SB 2033 in 2010 (K-12 Common Core). These bills had the support of Republican leadership.

Think these data systems are to be kept separate? Look at this diagram describing what the Statewide “Identify as a Service” federated identity management system (federated = single-sign on accesses several systems) would look like. It clearly links the Department of Education system and the Department of Human Services systems. (Diagram is from a ppt entitled “Federated ID Management & SICAM in Oklahoma HHS Agencies”, dated July 2011, accessed through OHCA records.) More information in that power point included linking together other state agencies/systems into one interconnected system. These agencies have information sharing agreements with agencies and entities outside the state. Feel better now?

The Common Core “standards” concept came out of the same tech-cesspool as the ObamaCare “standards”. In both sectors the “standards” have nothing to do with actual education or health care. They have everything to do with the “standards” that enable these technology systems (i.e. “standardized” computer hardware and software systems technology) to be interoperable. They are to be interconnected one with another. The standardized, interconnected technology systems are what enable an electronic “cradle-to-grave” (longitudinal) record on every single person.

For an idea of what this means for the people of this state, of this country, see the OK-SAFE image below from our pending power point presentation entitled The Architecture Defines the Policy.

OK-SAFE image

Congressman Jim Bridenstine Demands Answers on IRS Harassment Scandal

May 17, 2013

Posted by 41 under CD01, History, OK R3s, Openness & Transparency, Social Networking, Taxes, Teaparty, Tulsa R3s

Congressman Jim Bridenstine is taking a leadership role in pursuing the truth behind IRS targeting of conservative organizations during the 2012 election cycle.Mr. Bridenstine drafted a letter on Friday to be sent to Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew, who has ultimate authority over the IRS, seeking further information on this matter. The letter has been co-signed by over 100 Members of Congress. Bridenstine joined Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN) in a press conference at the Capitol today to denounce IRS harassment of conservative organizations. Also participating were Senators Ted Cruz (TX), Mike Lee (UT), Rand Paul (KY) and Mitch McConnell (KY), several other Members of Congress, and representatives of targeted organizations: Jenny Beth Martin, Tea Party Patriots; Amy Kremer, Tea Party Express; Jordan Sekulow, American Center for Law & Justice; Todd Cefaratti, TheTeaParty.Net; Adam Brandon, FreedomWorks; Niger Innis, TheTeaParty.Net; Diane Belson, Laurens County Tea Party; and Tom Zawistowski, Ohio Liberty Coalition.On Friday, May 10th, the Associated Press published a disturbing report in which officials from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) admitted that they singled out conservative political organizations claiming tax exempt status for additional scrutiny and investigation. Ms. Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS division that oversees tax exempt groups, admitted that at least 75 organizations were singled out because they included the words “tea party” or “patriot” in their applications for tax exempt status. While she acknowledged that actions were clearly violations of IRS policies, she laid the blame on “low-level workers” in the Cincinnati IRS office. She failed to clarify at the time that Cincinnati is not a minor regional office but rather the IRS national office that handles all tax exempt organizations.Ms. Lerner’s statements directly contradicted the testimony of then-IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman during a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee in March 2012. At the time, Mr. Shulman stated unequivocally that “there is absolutely no targeting” and that “this is the kind of back and forth that happens to people” who apply for tax exempt status. In a reversal, on Wednesday the Administration demanded the resignation of Steven Miller, the current Acting Director of the IRS.The inappropriate and intimidating investigation tactics included probing questions about organizations’ board members, officers, employees, and their families. There were also demands for extraordinary detail on employee training, vending, and advertising. Among other IRS demands, they required lists of “all issues important to your organization" with requests to "indicate your position regarding each issue.” Tea Party organizations reported requests for complete lists of all the books their staffs had read in the prior 12 months with book reports on each.Congressman Bridenstine said, “The resignation of Steven Miller does not relieve this Administration from its culpability for creating a political culture that generates harassment and abuse of power by institutions that should be apolitical.” -- 30 --