Oklahoma Politics Becoming Musical Chairs

Term Limits throws a wrench in career plans for politicians

  We are entering the phase of the electoral cycle where the political king-makers and proverbial 'smoke-filled rooms' get very active. No ad buys yet, not even a single candidacy announcement. But make no mistake, most of the successful campaigns start during these quiet 'out-years'. The 2016 campaigns will be about the presidency and representatives. Then we move on to a big shuffle.

2018 Futures: 

  Incumbent Corporation Commissioner, Dana Murphy, will likely seek a 2nd term as a Corporation Commissioner.  Incumbent Superintendent of Public Education, Joy Hofmeister, will likely seek a 2nd term.  Most of Oklahoma's statewide elective offices are going to be 'open seats'. That's a term which means the current occupant is not running for another term in the current office.

The 2018 Futures

  Editing the Sooner Politics Online Newspaper brings with it a few interesting perks. One such perk is that I get included in a few circles of intentional gossip. Here's some of that very preliminary and admittedly incomplete gossip. In the 2018 statewide races, the candidates who are rumored (in no particular order) for:

Governor- Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt,  Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb,  Rep. Bridenstine Lt. Governor- Labor Comm. Mark Costello Ins. Comm. John Doak Sen Eddie Fields Attorney General-  Sen. Anthony Sykes Fmr Dist Atty Ryan Leonard

Labor Commissioner- Jason Reese Treasurer- Sen. Clark Jolley Gary Jones Insurance Commissioner- Fmr Workers Comp.  Denise Engle Rep. Glen Mulready Auditor- ?

 The state's voters have pushed Oklahoma to the forefront in term limits. About 25 years ago, Lloyd Noble II masterminded a first-in-the-nation reform which capped legislative serve at 12 years (SQ632).

  And just a few years back, the voters overwhelmingly approved Senator Randy Brogdon's SQ 747, which extended that term limiting concept to statewide elective offices in state government. Our statewide elected leaders are limited to 2 terms in their office. Most of these leaders serve a 4 year term.  Rep Jason Murphey was the House sponsor of that constitutional amendment.

Meet the Democrat-appointed Oklahoma Supreme Court

Only One of the Justices is a Republican Appointee

  Oklahoma has 9 justices serving on the supreme court. One has been there since Governor George Nigh appointed her.  There were 3 Republican Governors since then, but only one justice on the court is an appointee from the 17 years of Republican chief executives.

  A whopping 6 justices were appointed by former Governor Brad Henry. Two of them are the dissenters who sided with the monument. Since George Nigh left the governor's mansion, Democrats have only occupied it for 12 years. And yet there are 8 justices to their legacy.

Eddie Huff: My Thoughts On Charleston Church Shooting

Thoughts on Charleston Church Shooting

Eddie Huff - Guest Columnist

  As I sat in church this morning the greater portion of the service was devoted to "sharing in the suffering" of Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Charleston, SC. Throughout the service I heard reference to mourning, grieving and weeping for and with those killed, their families and church. I don't know what is wrong with me, but I did not feel a special need or conviction to mourn, grieve or weep. In all honesty, felt bullied or pressured into feeling something that was not a natural reaction.

OKGOP Summer Minuteman Recruitment Underway

SoonerPolitics.org Led a grassroots funding drive and
several grassroots groups and bloggers joined in the
unified effort

  The OKGOP is your collective voice for freedom, prosperity, and sound leadership. It needs your financial gesture of support during this important time. For just $8.25 a month--less than $100 a year--you can become an OKGOP Minuteman and help provide us with the consistent resources necessary to implement a highly mobile, rapidly deployed force to respond immediately to Democrat threats in Oklahoma.

Rep. Jason Murphey Challenges The Speaker's Concentrated Powers

Chairman Jason Murphey of the House Modernization Committee

Murphey Laments the death of TW Shannon's transparency reforms

Absolute Power

By: Jason Murphey | Sunday, June 14th, 2015 11:39:13 PM | 
  During the last fifteen months I have mostly resisted the temptation to write about my feelings regarding the current state of transparency in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. This may seem perplexing to my regular readers because up until March of 2014, I frequently wrote about the deliberative but systematic transformation of the House away from an institution of opaque process and concentrated power.

Rep Bobby Cleveland Calls For Reform of OSSAA

  The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) seems to want it both ways. Sometimes they claim to act as a government education institution, yet at other times they insist they are a private club which no government can impose mandates upon.

OKGOP Luncheon With Special Guest, Senator Ted Cruz

(Oklahoma City, OK) – Chairman Randy Brogdon announced on Friday that presidential candidate, Senator Ted Cruz will be joining the Oklahoma Republican Party Saturday, June 13th at 12:00pm for a luncheon at the Oklahoma Sport's Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.