April 1, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, April 1, 2020 House continues to work Opinion Page “ElkCituNews on budget and policy Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 Oklahoma elections: For insiders only? By Rep. Todd Russ prices and the potential loss Things are usually slower of sales and income tax as supplies. The biggest issues are cities Most people that get the and countries that are dense- By Mike Davis at the state Legislature dur- many businesses are hav- virus experience only mild ly populated and crowed. When is election day? You probably assume it’s the first ing Spring Break, and this ing to close temporarily. I’m symptoms — fever, cough, I know it may seem incon- Tuesday in November. That makes sense, since that’s the year was no different. Once praying we will weather this shortness of breath. Those venient with schools closed date for statewide and federal elections. Would it surprise we finish our third-reading current storm and rebound people are being asked to and many other venues but you to learn that there was an election in Oklahoma every deadline, by which all House quickly. stay home until all symp- take this as an opportunity to single month in 2019? Not every district has an election bills have to be passed over I know some people are toms disappear. Older peo- pause and reset some things every month. That would be a hassle. But the local election to the Senate, we take a short concerned about COVID-19, ple or those with underly- in your life. Maybe recon- schedule is far less predictable. break before we start com- while others are wondering ing health conditions may nect with your family. Play On first glance it appears that Oklahoma allows govern- mittee work again to con- why there is so much wide- have more severe reactions with your kids more. Maybe ment bodies to change lawmakers and raise taxes through sider Senate bills. spread fear and panic. I will and need medical care al- build a pillow and blanket oddly scheduled, poorly noticed elections on whichever With current health con- tell you what our state health though that is very limited fort; play in the yard until Tuesday they want. In reality there are “only” 15 days per cerns, we may be taking a commissioner told members since there is no vaccine. dark; plan a family movie year when local elections can be scheduled. And the party little different approach to of the Legislature. This is If you have questions, the night. Start an online book in power sets the date of their election. School boards and committee and floor work what is known as a novel vi- State Health Department has club. Do a project you’ve localities can select a Tuesday in July when people are on for the time being, but we rus — one that has not been a 24/7 hotline you can call: been putting off. Continue to vacation, or in December when the rush of the holidays is will keep moving forward seen in its current form be- (877) 215-8336. They also live as normally as possible, upon us. In either case, voter turnout is likely to be low. to draft our state budget and fore. It is fast spreading from have set up a new website: and hopefully before you A few stalwart supporters could easily carry the day. The to pass legislation that is im- human to human, and some http://coronavirus. health. know it, this current crisis other citizens impacted by the vote may be completely un- portant for Oklahomans. countries have seen high ok.gov. Of course, seek the will be over. aware of its timing or existence. It is left to the county elec- House and Senate Leaders mortality rates. advice of your doctor if you In the meantime, thank tion board to determine how to let voters in their district know about the times and dates of elections. currently are working with Health officials are hop- need to. you for giving me the op- This is no way to run a democracy. Majority rule and the the governor’s office on the ing to slow the virus so notWe are strong in Oklaho- portunity to represent you at state budget for Fiscal Year everyone gets sick at once. ma. We will survive this vi- the Capitol. God bless you consent of the governed are the touchstones of American political life. Only by scheduling elections at well-noticed 2021. We came into this ‘That way they can try to treat rus and all the craziness it’s and God bless Oklahoma! If times can Oklahomans be truly be heard and represented. session with good reserves, people without overrunning brought to our way of life. T can every help you in any Scheduling elections when no one expects them so that em- but there is some concern our hospitals or other health Western Oklahoma is prob- way, please contact me at ployees of the local government can swing the vote is, at about revenue projections care facilities and without ably one of the safest places [email protected] or best, undemocratic and, in reality, a sham. with current low oil and gas running out of tests or other in the world to be right now. (405) 557-7312. All school board elections should occur on the same day across the state. Likewise, all county and municipal elec- tions should happen on the same day. Any ballot measure impacting a subdivision should also occur on the same day as elections for its officials. The truth on COVID-19 is ugly At the very least, we should require actual notice, such as mailers to every household for each election scheduled. This would ensure that election dates are not burdensome and the lies are deadly to the average voter, that all citizens are aware of the elec- tions that could affect their household, and that the citizens’ by Wim Laven ing ready as, “[t]he person so. Yeah, our health would sponse to COVID-19 is con- will is made law, not the establishment’s. The cost of such On March 19th, the gutless with the most ammo wins.” be better. sistent with failing to supply notice would also incentivize localities and school boards depravity of failed leader- From the first we heard This needs to be a wake up clean water to at-risk com- to work together to hold elections on the same day, or better ship found a new poster-boy. about coronavirus, Trump call. The people cannot con- munities, botching hurricane yet, find a way to hold them on the days of the statewide Republican Senator Rich- has suppressed testing be- tinue to permit such corrup- responses, and human rights primary and general elections. ard Burr was found to have cause testing reveals a much tion. The people should turn violations at the border. Or- Voter turnout is not something the state can or should sold off his stock in what he more accurate count of how to the real leaders —the may- dinary folks, poor people, control. Decisions are made by those who show up. But we knew would be losing value many are infected. You may ors and governors across minorities, foreigners, etc. can and must ensure that elections are publicized enough (hotels, travel industry) be- have experienced what thou- the country who are putting are bypassed, Trump’s team that those who care to show up, can show up. fore the stock market started sands of others have, which citizens’ lives ahead of self has already foreshadowed Mike Davis<https://1889institute .org/michael-davis-4> crashing from the pandemic is extraordinary difficulty or stock-market. There are the Darwinian future: we is a Research Fellow at 1889 Institute. He can be reached COVID-19 while simultane- in getting tested, even when many life-saving efforts un- will have a vaccine available at mdavis @ 1 889institute.org. ously toeing Donald Trump’s you are symptomatic. derway and people who are to those who can afford it. line that everything was fine. It is one thing to lie about getting the deadly truth are It’s no surprise that He provided warning to his the size of his inauguration adapting to the challenges of Collectively we have a lot to face. Communities around rich constituents, but set the crowd—are you going to our time. the global are being ravaged. savings works rest of the public up. believe Trump or your lying This is also the time to If we take steps to limit the On St. Paddy’s Day Trump eyes? —but it’s life and death embrace the larger struggle. By Jonathan Small spread—through social dis- finally reached a point of for all of us when he exag- The public has taken the tancing, good hygiene—we Some special-interest groups suggest tax increases are the only way to deal with budget shortfalls. But Oklaho- inflection following his at- gerates, misleads, and out- risks for elites’ private profit can mitigate the damages mans are benefitting from a far better, preemptive solution: tempts at deflection—from right lies about all aspects of for too long. Insurance and of this virus. If we demand Saving money during boom years. declaring a “hoax,” and this public health emergen- pharmaceutical companies our leaders take steps to pro- Last year, when the state had around $600 million in “bad flu” he finally admit- cy, from false claims about making significant margins tect us—like diverting funds growth revenue, legislators were analyzing proposed ideas ted we have a very serious “wonder drugs” to lies about while quality of life and life from Trump’s vanity wall or to increase spending. Gov. Kevin Stitt recommended set- pandemic, dishonestly say- Google being the answer to expectancy diminish. Lob- ting aside $200 million of that total, a goal many lawmak- ing: “This is a pandemic. I Navy medical ships and on byists and special interests the spectacularly wasteful ers embraced. military budget to health- Most families, upon receipt of an unexpected financial felt it was a pandemic long and on. Of Donald Trump’s are able to finance the cam- care—we can be proactive windfall, see the wisdom of cubby-holing some money before it was called a pan- dangerous lies Rachel Mad- paigns of the representa- rather than using it to increase ongoing expenses. No one in our survival. If we learn demic.” The malfeasant lies dow suggested “all of us tives who are tasked with buys a new house on the theory that a one-time bonus will are having a measurable im- should stop broadcasting overseeing and_ legislating to work together, continue to cover the higher annual costs of a larger house payment. Yet that’s how government often operates. pact, Republicans are taking it. Honestly, it’s gonna cost them. The Citizens United find creative solutions, and Thus, Stitt’s proposal left some officials in shock. the pandemic less seriously lives;” she’s right, he needs Supreme Court decision ef- adapt—choose community Sen. JJ. Dossett, D-Owasso, argued, “I don’t believe than Democrats unless those to be censored. Or, prefer- fectively gave corporations over chaos—we will maxi- we'll have another economic downturn over the next few Republicans can profit off it. ably, he should be relieved free speech rights and pro- mize our survival, but we years. It’s just too early to start creating new savings ac- A friend of mine wrote to of duty immediately as hetected the “right” to spend an will not get there if we do counts and putting money in new savings accounts.” me from Bergamo, Italy, and worsens this outbreak daily unlimited amount exercising not start with the ugly truth: Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman, D-Tulsa, said, “People are dying in the state of Oklahoma, and we're putting money also sent a photo of military by his falsehoods. that “speech,” thus wiping there is a deadly pandemic out all previous bipartisan and we have been lied to re- in savings for another day, for ‘just in case.” trucks, he said were there to It hits close to home when The Tahlequah Daily Press reported in July that Rep. bring “dozens and dozens you see people you know attempts to reduce the un- peatedly by fake leadership. Matt Meredith, D-Tahlequah, was negatively referring to of coffins from Bergamo to suffering. But it slices so due influence of corporate Let’s beat these threats, the $200 million as “the governor’s slush fund.” other crematoriums in other much deeper when the be- wealth on politics and the from the microbial to the liar Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest declared it was “discouraging that the budget puts $200 regions because the local trayal is clear. The lies we resultant public policy that in the White House. It will million into savings when we could have made a bigger one is not able to bear the have been told served self- makes our lives harder. only be done with people investment in our schools, our students and our future.” workload caused by corona- ish purposes. Trump denies It is ongoing cruelty and power and more care for Despite those complaints, the bill setting $200 million virus.” all responsibility and instead it has always been inten- each other than those at the into savings passed the Oklahoma House of Representa- Meanwhile, Trump sup- claims he’s doing a superla- tional. Agencies, across the top evince. tives 92-0 and cleared the Senate 37-9. porters I know are still blam- tive job, but he failed and board, have been sabotaged Wim Laven, Ph.D., syndi- Today, due to falling oil prices and the COVID-19/coro- navirus event, the state faces large shortfalls. The current- ing “the Media,” with some failed and failed. Now they of the people and resources cated by PeaceVoice, teach- year budget may fall up to $200 million below what was of them lining up to buy want to buy our gratitude necessary for successful op- es courses in political sci- appropriated. Projections suggest lawmakers will have guns or bragging about be- with a check for $1,000 or eration. Undermining the re- ence and conflict resolution. Have something to share? around $600 million less to appropriate next year than what was originally appropriated for 2020 (and things may get worse). So-called “experts” often claim government financing isn’t comparable to household budgeting. The benefit of Sen your editorial to [email protected] last year’s saving effort proves the “experts” are wrong, and Oklahomans should thank the policymakers who em- braced savings. Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (www.ocpathink.org).