Okla Legislature 2nd Worse in Nation

[Conan71]

House Committee Passes Controversial Science Education Bill

A House committee advances a science education bill panned by critics as unnecessary and an opening for misinformation.

Rep. David Brumbaugh says the intent of Senate Bill 393 is to promote critical thinking by exposing students to a broader range of scientific data than what textbooks offer.

"Aristotle, even this far back, talked about that, that, you know, the mind that can entertain, uh, different thoughts without, you know, changing their mind but looking — reason obeys itself, OK?" Brumbaugh said.

The bill says teachers may help students evaluate controversial theories without state or local administrators interfering. It also offers teachers protection against being fired or sued, which critics say thwarts local control.

Beth Allan is a past or current member of several science teachers organizations and says none supports the bill.

"This bill will not prepare students to be competitive in a very competitive environment," Allan said. "Our STEM workforce must know accurate science that is verified."

Critics say the bill is aimed at climate change and evolution and is meant to infuse science with Biblical theories. The bill says it is not intended to favor a religion and deals only with scientific information.

Brumbaugh said critics are wrong to claim SB393 will damage Oklahoma schools' reputations.

"Doesn't promote anything wacko. Doesn't promote anything but free discussion in the classroom," Brumbaugh said.

Aysha Prather disagreed. Her sixth-grader recently learned about giants not for a lesson in skepticism but because the teacher thought they're interesting.

"So, here are some other things that people might find intriguing and might choose to share with their classes: Bigfoot, a flat Earth, Atlantis, the Bermuda Triangle, that the pyramids were built by aliens," Prather said.

SB393 passed the House government and general accountability committee rather than the education committee.

We're represented by GD nincompoops

And Brumbaugh died suddenly on Saturday.  Apparently a World editorial writer ripped him pretty good not realizing he'd passed, then they published a gushing "He was close to Christ" sort of retraction/apology yesterday.

[heironymouspasparagus]

And Brumbaugh died suddenly on Saturday.  Apparently a World editorial writer ripped him pretty good not realizing he'd passed, then they published a gushing "He was close to Christ" sort of retraction/apology yesterday.

This ignorance and stupidstition will now be fast-tracked on to passage.

[Townsend]

This freaking nut job wants more power.

BA State Senator to Run for Congress

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/ba-state-senator-run-congress



Nathan Dahm

[Townsend]

Legislature 0.8 Percent of the Way to Closing Budget Gap After Senate Passes Four Revenue Bills

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/legislature-08-percent-way-closing-budget-gap-after-senate-passes-four-revenue-bills


All the good things that go with underfunded schools and services most likely are what lead to decision makers of large corporations like:

Over 500 Tulsa Jobs to Leave Town

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/over-500-tulsa-jobs-leave-town


Hell, even Fallin's starting to see the issue...

"In a recent meeting I hosted with major national site selection companies, an executive asked me how he could persuade businesses to come to Oklahoma when some of our schools have four-day education weeks," Fallin said.

http://newsok.com/article/5537074

[Conan71]

This freaking nut job wants more power.

BA State Senator to Run for Congress

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/ba-state-senator-run-congress



Nathan Dahm

What is scary is he is likely to win.  Quick, someone start following him around to see if he and Ralph Shortey have something in common.

[Townsend]

Broken Arrow lawmaker's idea to target non-English-speaking students, 'turn them over to ICE' criticized

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state/broken-arrow-lawmaker-s-idea-to-target-non-english-speaking/article_0ebe35f6-634c-534f-b4a2-6febc6796eea.html

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A new Republican caucus in the Oklahoma House is suggesting that more than 80,000 non-English speaking students in public schools be turned over to federal immigration officials.

Broken Arrow Republican Rep. Mike Ritze told News9 in an interview Wednesday that the newly created Republican Platform Caucus believes the state could save $60 million if it would identify what the caucus believes is 82,000 non-English speaking students "and then turn them over to ICE" (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to determine if they are citizens.

It's unclear from the segment if he was referring to turning over the students' names or the students themselves.

Ritze also questioned whether the state should have to educate children who aren't citizens.


A 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision holds states cannot deny students a free public education based on their immigration status.

Ritze wasn't at the Capitol on Thursday and didn't reply to phone messages or emails.

"This proposal might be laughable if it weren't made at the expense of real human beings, common decency, and the United States Constitution," said Ryan Kiesel, ACLU of Oklahoma executive director. "Threatening 82,000 children with arrest and internment that would turn their entire lives upside down is disgustingly inhumane."

We've got some real A-holes in power

[patric]

Broken Arrow lawmaker's idea to target non-English-speaking students, 'turn them over to ICE' criticized

We've got some real A-holes in power

When you know things like religious monuments on state property are against the law but you do it anyway, you tend to think of yourself as above the law.

[heironymouspasparagus]

When you know things like religious monuments on state property are against the law but you do it anyway, you tend to think of yourself as above the law.

And the Tulsa-fication of Broken Arrow has been complete for a while now.

[swake]

The legislature getting a nice party for screwing the state and not raising taxes on O&G:

https://www.thelostogle.com/2017/05/17/oil-and-gas-association-is-throwing-a-party-for-oklahoma-lawmakers/#more-72090

[dbacksfan 2.0]

The legislature getting a nice party for screwing the state and not raising taxes on O&G:

https://www.thelostogle.com/2017/05/17/oil-and-gas-association-is-throwing-a-party-for-oklahoma-lawmakers/#more-72090

Wow, you mean the lost ogle wasn't debating which was the best topless bar in OKC for catching a STD? Move over NYT and WaPo.

https://www.thelostogle.com/2014/05/27/the-oklahoman-sent-nolan-clay-to-write-about-a-strip-club/

https://www.thelostogle.com/2015/02/24/channel-5-found-an-excuse-to-go-to-valley-brookes-all-nude-strip-club/

https://www.thelostogle.com/2014/07/02/steve-lackmeyer-should-write-a-book-about-the-history-of-oklahoma-city-strip-clubs/

[AquaMan]

Is the story untrue?

[dbacksfan 2.0]

Is the story untrue?

Seems more opinion piece from an alternative source sponsored by bars and sex toy shops than an actual news story.

[patric]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/mikejones/mike-jones-rep-ritze-practice-what-you-preach/article_fbb02ad1-1830-5114-9dca-3c4736b22710.html

[patric]

Is rape the will of God?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57aWGJW0XbA

[Townsend]

When you see this and think - "maybe all our current sexual deviant congressmen will have another chance..."

Former Oklahoma Lawmaker, Felon Considers Running for Office

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/former-oklahoma-lawmaker-felon-considers-running-office

A former Oklahoma lawmaker who was convicted of embezzlement says he's considering running for an executive office in 2018.

67-year-old Leo Kingston was a first-term senator when he was convicted in 1990 after a federal grand jury indicted him for defrauding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Kingston served three years of an eight-year sentence.

Kingston returned to real estate after prison and sold his business last year. He now runs a website that deals with commercial real estate and mineral rights.

Kingston announced on Facebook Saturday that he's thinking about running for labor commissioner, saying he's "risen from the ashes" and believes in second chances.

Felons are legally required to wait 15 years after completing a sentence before running for office.