Archive for the 'Legislature' Category

State Rep. John Trebilcock Busted For DUI

Oklahoma State Representative John Trebilcock, Republican, who represents District 98, in Broken Arrow was arrested on a DUI charge in Tulsa at 2:31 AM on March 31, 2007. The arresting officer indicated in his report that Trebilcock’s SUV was stopped on East 2nd Street in the downtown Tulsa bar/entertainment district because he was driving without [...]

6,700 Inmates

The state of Oklahoma currently has 6,700 inmates warehoused in private prisons, halfway houses and some county jails. Unless the Oklahoma Legislature provides supplemental funding far greater than the token supplemental appropriation of $9.7 million which it doled out in its ill-fated budget, those 6,700 inmates are going to have to be placed elsewhere as [...]

The Law Of Unintended Consequences

Sex offenders – few if any of us would feel comfortable living next door to a sex offender particularly if the sex offender is a child predator or a violent rapist. This is why most folks are pleased with each new restriction on where sex offenders may live, new registration and tracking requirements and limitations [...]

Thou Shall Not Pray

One of the most fascinating aspects of the current Oklahoma Legislature played out this week in the House chamber when two Representatives had to be physically separated as tempers flared. Such scenes are common in legislative bodies in some foreign countries, especially those just learning to deal with democracy and the various freedoms involved. They [...]

Pit Bull Mania

On Monday, February 20th, the Oklahoma House Committee of Health and Human Services is scheduled to hear two bills by Representative Paul Wesselhoft, of Moore. If either of these ill advised bills ultimately become law the implications for many thousands of Oklahoma dog owners are immense. Basically, Wesselhoft is attempting to ban not only pit [...]

The ‘Evolution Disclaimer’ Fiasco

(Originally published in early December, 1999 as the fiasco was unfolding) There are few facets of public education more frustrating to the ‘Average Okie’ than the teaching of evolution in the public schools. For years the ‘Fundies’ have been attempting various methods to mandate the teaching of ‘Creationism’, either in addition to or in lieu [...]