Leaders of the #FiveTribes have gathered to announce their endorsement of @joy4ok for governor. Former Stitt secretary of Native American affairs is emceeing. Cherokee Chief @ChuckHoskin_Jr is up first.
It's no secret that Gov. Kevin Stitt has clashed with and angered tribes ...
Hoskin speaks of the importance of #oklaed and the #Cherokee Nation's history of educational priorities. He calls Hofmeister "a dedicated education professional" who understands "the very Cherokee idea of working together." (2/?)
Flashing back in time, briefly, I mentioned when former #okleg Republican representative Lisa Billy resigned from the Stitt cabinet in December 2019, less than a year after taking the post and watching him clash with tribal leaders over gaming compacts. nondoc.com/2019/12/23/lis…
Chickasaw Nation @governora speaks next: "Our government in the state of Oklahoma is quite partisan."
He says "the needs" of people are more important than party politics.
I learned the other day that Gov. Anoatubby ran for Congress in the old CD3 in 1998, finishing third...
For political junkies, imagine a world where Bill Anoatubby had won that 1998 congressional seat. He's one of the most influential politicians here already.
#Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton says Hofmeister represents his values as "a conservative Oklahoman."
He calls for unity and not division, saying people are sick of it and that's why voter turnout is lower than it could be.
#Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill says he asked Hofmeister her priorities within 60 or 90 days if she is elected governor. Hill says her answer included sitting down with all tribes to work together.
@SeminoleNation_ Chief Lewis Johnson, the newest leader of the Five Tribes who ousted an incumbent himself last year, says "today can also be" a historical moment in the state of #Oklahoma and that other tribes support Hofmeister also.
Hofmeister speaks now, saying she wants to "find what is best for our state" through "mutually beneficial relationships."
She calls the 39 tribes here "one of #Oklahoma's competitive advantages."
Hofmeister says "let's stop fighting in court and instead fight for each other."
She doesn't name Stitt (I'm not sure anyone has used his name?) but she criticizes "unwinable" lawsuits.
In what is always an awkward and frustrating situation, the people who called this group press conference have declined to take questions as a group from the media, instead saying only one-one-one interviews are being allowed. 🙄
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Another condemnation of OKGOP Chairman John Bennett, this time from Rep. @JoshWestOKHD5, a former #okleg colleague and a fellow veteran. Note the #2018CW hashtag at the end. Amusing!
Let my next couple tweets take you down memory lane... #thread
The #2018CW tag refers to the campaign "Civil War" that sprung up around the historic revenue raising package that funded #oklaed raises, et al.
MR in the Facebook post = Mike Ritze, a Broken Arrow GOP Rep. who constantly talked about how many babies he delivered as a doc. (2/?)
Ritze annoyed some #okleg colleagues who griped privately that they believed he drove down to the Capitol on Thursdays to check in (and receive more per diem) but then leave quickly and not stay for all the day's work.
I can't say if that was exactly true, but Ritze made some 🙄
On the Twitter list, I still haven't seen any GOP #okleg members condemning the comparison of COVID-19 vaccine requirements to an atrocity perpetrated against #Jewish people.
One senator is sad about the Cubs trading away players. A rep. earlier retweeted an OU video. (3/?)
The #OU Board of Regents has started its meeting. Here's a look at today's packed house of local and national media. People like football. #Big12#SEC (1/3)
For those who may not have followed the #OU Board of Regents extensively, @RepMarkMcBride has once again exercised his #okleg authority to enter today's executive session as an observer. Here he is being patted on the back by Regent Eric Stevenson as Sean Burrage grins. #oklaed
Lastly, it's no secret that I have committed my #OUDNA to covering every meeting of the #OU Board of Regents for the foreseeable future. My articles can be found here. nondoc.com/tag/ou-board-o…
Posted up at the #Oklahoma Development Finance Authority again today because I lover #bankers and also figure the $4 billion #securitization program of February's #okwx-related utility debt should be monitored.
Buckle up for a thread!
Board member Bridger Cox and Secretary Brent Kisling are not in attendance today. Chairman Roger Wagner introduces a woman named Katherine (Catherine?) to go over financials. Says "over the last 11 months, ODFA has held an average cash balance of $9.1 million."
"The current balance sheet is very in line with our budgeted balance sheet," she says, adding that composition of general fund revenue has changed. Gone from $104,000 to $213,000 in closing cost revenue year to year.
The House Rules Committee is starting its 40-bill agenda. Thoughts and prayers are welcomed. There are a few interesting bills here, including one that would provide a cost of living adjustment for some state retirees. okhouse.gov/CommitteeCalen…#okleg#oklaed
Chairman Zack Taylor (R-Seminole) read a list of bills and asked if any members object to those bills being do-passed without discussion. Some lawmakers (and others) seem surprised. I'm hearing this used to happen a lot when Democrats were in charge. Lots of murmuring! #okleg
Floor Leader Jon Echols asks for the "consent agenda" list to be re-read: HB 3367, HB 1382, HB 2617, HB 3803, HB 3766, HB 3185, HB 4052, HB 4058, HB 4068, HB 4078, HB 4080, HB 4085, HB 4064, HB 1799, HB 3447, HB 3483, HB 3479, HB 3477, HB 2936, HB 1931, HB 1282, HB 3790 #okleg