Everything Isn't So Rosy with Mr. Henry

[Cubs]

OK Commerce Department: "Everything isn't so rosy"
Poverty Levels Increasing, Home Foreclosures Up, Low National Growth Rates, and Food Stamp Usage at an all Time High


Oklahoma City – Days after Governor Henry comes out with TV commercials bragging about what good shape Oklahoma is in, new reports show that the state's number of low income households continues to climb. This comes shortly after reports that home foreclosures in the state are up 45% in the past year, as well as Oklahoma falling way below the national average for growth. Likewise, the number of Oklahomans receiving food stamps has gone up 41% since Brad Henry became Governor.

According to new reports released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma's poverty rate is up and median income is down , with Oklahoma having the 41st worse poverty ranking amongst the 50 states.  According to the Daily Oklahoman the reports "mapped a gloomier economic situation than a year ago."

Ernest Istook, nominee for governor, isn't surprised: "Brad Henry is a weak leader who has a long record of pushing policies that punish those who help create prosperity. That's why in the Senate he was rated Oklahoma's most anti-business legislator, and as Governor he watered down the legislature's tax cuts."

"It feels like every week we read about a new major business leaving the state. General Motors. Delta Faucet. Dayton Tires. Kerr-McGee. The list goes on and on. Thank goodness for today's oil and gas boom that's keeping our economy going. But, for how long? Brad Henry's grown the size of government by 30% in just the last 2 years. Yet, the U.S. Census Bureau says we're not 30% better off – we're worse."

"I believe Oklahoma needs strong leadership. We need to cut taxes, reign in wasteful government spending, and a hands-on Governor who's going to go out and attract the businesses Oklahoma needs."

From http://www.istook.com/

[rwarn17588]

[|)]

[NellieBly]

Don't blame foreclosures on the state government. Blame it on bad mortgages. People were so willing to get adjustable rate mortgages so they could buy a house that they never counted on interest rates going up. It's happening across the country at alarming rates, not just here. I guess stupidity is a national problem. And people are making a fortune on selling foreclosed homes or bank-owned homes.

[Conan71]

It's gambling, all gambling, I say.  People trying to gamble their way to prosperity losing the family homestead.

/sarcasm off

[guido911]

It's not just gambling, it's also the lottery, the damn tobacco compacts, and vision 2025.
/sarc off.

[RecycleMichael]

So candidate Istook blames the guy he is running against for all problems in Oklahoma?

I am shocked!

[Conan71]

That's a very new twist in politics.[:O]

/shock mode off

[Kiah]

quote:Originally posted by guido911

It's not just gambling, it's also the lottery, the damn tobacco compacts, and vision 2025.
/sarc off.

Right here in River City!

[Chicken Little]

Oklahoma has fared better than many states.  Drop in median income over the last six years...source, Detroit Free Press

Is this all that Istook's got?  Weak.

Here's a 2005 list of Henry's accomplishments:

#  Successfully fought to let voters decide whether to establish an education lottery to benefit the state's classrooms, which was subsequently approved overwhelmingly in November 2004.  

# Improving and Augmenting early childhood education

# Passing medical malpractice tort reform

# Enacting restrictions on public smoking

# Implementing zero-based budgeting

# Saving the state's only level-one trauma center from closing.

# Bolstering public education, he crafted a five-year strategy to raise the salaries of Oklahoma teachers to at least match the regional average.

# Successfully fought for a statewide vote in which Oklahomans approved a tribal gaming regulation act that will pump millions of dollars into state classrooms while helping revive the beleaguered horserace industry.

# Secured a state vote to fund several vital healthcare initiatives through a modest increase in the tobacco tax. Approved by voters in November of 2004, the measure included targeted tax cuts, particularly an elimination of the capital gains tax on all Oklahoma property held for five years or more.

#  Other accomplishments: additional tort reform, Medicaid screening for breast and cervical cancer, voluntary relocation assistance for the troubled Tar Creek region, expansion of preschool programs and a landmark anti-methamphetamine law that has become a model for the rest of the nation.

[rwarn17588]

I'm no big fan of Brad Henry. But if Istook's the best candidate the Oklahoma GOP could come up with, it's in trouble.

[Chicken Little]

I don't necessarily think the guy hung the moon, but if you look at the things that have transpired under his watch:  tort reform, and this year's estate tax elimination and income tax reduction, its going to be hard for any Republican to take him on.

[Cubs]

Ok but think about it .... what would the current economic situation be if we weren't in a current oil boom? Henry has done next to nothing to help the economy, he just got lucky with oil.
And how do you explain the increase in poverty? Aren't democrats supposed to care so much about the poor? Apparently Mr. Henry isn't doing much to help curb poverty.  

quote: Oklahoma has fared better than many states. Drop in median income over the last six years...source, Detroit Free Press

-5.3 ... well lets look ... looks like that is about average ... is average good enough for you? If we are only average, what good does that do us?

[rwarn17588]

Fact is, Cubs, Oklahoma did better than all of its neighboring states. Far better than the much-ballyhooed Texas, even.

And what would a Republican do about poverty, anyway? Remember, they're supposed to be hands-off guys ... "let the market dictate things."

If you're trying to find a strawman against Henry, Cubs, this one ain't it.

[tulsa1603]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

Ok but think about it .... what would the current economic situation be if we weren't in a current oil boom? Henry has done next to nothing to help the economy, he just got lucky with oil.
And how do you explain the increase in poverty? Aren't democrats supposed to care so much about the poor? Apparently Mr. Henry isn't doing much to help curb poverty.  

quote: Oklahoma has fared better than many states. Drop in median income over the last six years...source, Detroit Free Press

-5.3 ... well lets look ... looks like that is about average ... is average good enough for you? If we are only average, what good does that do us?

One could argue that "average" is really good considering that we normally do "worse than average" in almost everything.  A bonus for Gov. Henry!  And count me on the list of people that aren't big fans of his...

[Chicken Little]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

Ok but think about it .... [snip]

And how do you explain the increase in poverty? Aren't democrats supposed to care so much about the poor? Apparently Mr. Henry isn't doing much to help curb poverty.

I am thinking about it, Cubs.  Look at the map...five of fifty states are better off since 2000.  Begs the question...who's in charge 'round here, anyway?

Seems like one of the more recent tenents of the Republican platform is that education will help lift families out of poverty; it wasn't too long ago when President Bush was asking, "Is our children learning?"  If you sincerely believe that this is true, then you have to admit that Governor Henry has done a lot to further this ideal:  improvements to early childhood education, expanded preschools (every TPS has preschool this year), and raises teacher salaries in order to attract and keep better teachers.  These things don't pay out immediately.  Last I heard preschoolers aren't yet heads of household...but they will be someday.

Henry has been quietly delivering on a number of things that Oklahoma Republicans want.  That doesn't make him a "weak leader", just the opposite:

Survey USA has him this week with a 59% approval among Republicans!!!

total........ALL.....REPUBLICANS
APPROVE.......69%....59%
DISSAPP.......25%....36%

I'm just saying that Istook is gonna have to go apocalyptic on him real quick if he wants to win.  Saying he is a weak leader isn't going to cut it.  You could try the 'ole morality thing, i.e., he betrayed his deaconship with the gambling vote, etc...but any resonance you find with that kind of voter may be canceled out by the fact that Istook is Morman.  Its going to be tough.