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Articles by Ron McWhirter
Legislature Dominated by RINOs (Republican In Name Only) Legislators
We believe the most important product of this publication is our annual Oklahoma Conservative Index which rates members of the Oklahoma Legislature. We published our first scorecard in the summer of 1979, and with this summer issue we present the 48th edition of the ratings. Prior to initiating the Oklahoma Conservative Index, many legislators could claim to be a conservative and there was no objective measure to determine if that was true.
Why the Jungle Primary Proposal Failed to Make the Ballot
We dodged the bullet with the failure of State Question 836 to reach the Oklahoma ballot. The proposal would have dramatically changed the way elections are conducted in Oklahoma. It would have replaced the current “closed primary” system – where only the members of a political party can vote to select the nominees for their party to appear on the General Election ballot for all voters.
Should Independents Vote in Primary Elections?
The decision by all of Oklahoma’s political parties to not allow independents to vote in their primary elections has renewed the debate over independent voters participating in political party primary elections. The debate was already underway because of the effort to collect signatures to place State Question 836 on the ballot – which would create a “jungle primary” open to all voters.
Subscription Price Increase
It is with reluctance that I must announce that the subscription price for the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper will be increasing to $20 per year for our four quarterly editions. Our last subscription price increase – from $12 to $15 – occurred in 2013. Over the past 12 years we have experience many increased costs, especially during the high inflationary period during the Biden administration the last four years.
Conservative Index Shows Contrast Between Republicans and Democrats
We believe the most important product of this publication is our annual Oklahoma Conservative Index which rates members of the Oklahoma Legislature. We published our first scorecard in the summer of 1979, and with this summer issue we present the 47th edition of the ratings. Oklahoma voters are among the most politically conservative in the Nation.
Initiative Petition Process Reform Legislation
Oklahoman’s have voted on over 400 State Questions since statehood. State Questions can be initiated by the Legislature with passage of a resolution in both chambers and does not require approval of the governor. But, proposals can also be placed on the ballot through the initiative petition process by collecting the signatures of a sufficient number of voters.
Locking the Clock
When I grew up on the farm, we had a neighbor who ran for a seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives – the same seat that I would run for in the next three elections. In 1972 I helped him on his campaign, and in the course of doing so, I discovered he did not change his clocks for Daylight Saving Time (DST). It fit with his conservative philosophy as he questioned why the government made us go through this exercise twice a year.
RINOs in Oklahoma House Join Democrats Opposing Ryan Walters
On August 13, sixteen Oklahoma House Republicans signed on to a letter asking for an investigation of state Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma State Board of Education (OSDE). The letter called for an inquiry into whether the “failures” justify impeachment. Additional members of the GOP later joined the effort, bringing the total number of signers to 25 at last count. Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore) initiated the letter to House Speaker Charles McCall. Rep.
Republican In Name Only (RINO) Legislators
We believe the most important product of this publication is our annual Oklahoma Conservative Index which rates members of the Oklahoma Legislature. We published our first scorecard in the summer of 1979, and with this summer issue we present the 46th edition of the ratings. Prior to initiating the Oklahoma Conservative Index, many legislators could claim to be a conservative and there was no objective measure to determine if that was true.
Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat Calls Conservatives Terrorists
In March, two conservative members of the Oklahoma Senate slowed down legislative proceedings on the day of a legislative deadline. Longtime Senator Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) was joined by newly elected Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) and participated in what was labeled as a “filibuster.” Several times during the day, Sen. Dahm used debate time to read bills in their entirety – word for word. One bill was over 80 pages long.
Time to Lock the Clock
Every year we see bills in the Oklahoma Legislature to “Lock the Clock” so we don’t have to change our clocks twice annually. I certainly dread those time changes. Just adjusting the clocks can be a major task. While cell phones and atomic clocks take care of themselves, other clocks along with appliances such as kitchen stoves and microwaves must be done manually. Clocks in vehicles can be a real challenge, especially if you can’t find the car manual.
Republican In Name Only (RINO)
We believe the most important product of this publication is our annual Oklahoma Conservative Index which rates members of the Oklahoma Legislature. We published our first scorecard in the summer of 1979, and with this summer issue we present the 45th edition of the ratings. Prior to initiating the Oklahoma Conservative Index, many legislators could claim to be a conservative and there was no objective measure to determine if that was true.
A Difficult Choice Concerning Oklahomas Abortion Law
On February 9, I was listening to the news on the car radio and was surprised to hear a report that the Oklahoma Senate Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill to roll back portions of Oklahoma’s law banning abortions. Specifically, the bill would allow abortions in cases of rape or incest. My immediate thought was that this was a bill to consider for our 2023 Oklahoma Conservative Index rating state legislators.
AG Drummond Supports Religious Discrimination
Oklahoma’s Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, announced on October 20 that he had filed a lawsuit to stop a state board from establishing what would be the Nation’s first religious public charter school. On October 9, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board (OSVCSB) voted 3-2 to approve a contract for St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School sponsored by the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa.
Who is Roy G. Biv?
Children’s hospitals providing what they call “gender-affirming care” have recently made the news nationally. Boston Children’s Hospital and at least 20 other children’s hospitals have been exposed for providing such services to minors. Add Oklahoma Children’s Hospital at the University of Oklahoma to that list.
Why Did Pre-election Polls Show Gov. Stitt Behind?
In our Fall edition, two of our columnists addressed the possible loss by Gov. Stitt in the November election. One column entitled, “Why Governor Stitt May Not Win Re-election,” explained the various reasons why that might happen.
Republican In Name Only
We believe the most important product of this publication is our annual Oklahoma Conservative Index which rates members of the Oklahoma Legislature. We published our first scorecard in the summer of 1979, and with this summer issue we present the 44th edition of the ratings. Prior to initiating the Oklahoma Conservative Index, many legislators could claim to be a conservative, but there was no objective measure to determine if that was true.
It Is Not Bigotry, it Is Common Sense
Today, we are confronted by many political issues that make one wonder if every day is April Fool’s Day. When we hear crazy things, we must first think to ourselves, “Is this April 1?” If the answer is no, then perhaps we have slid into an alternate universe. There is a lot of foolery going around today. It seems that common sense has gone out the window, and we have to deal with issues that should never have surfaced.
Banning 1619 Project Curriculum in Oklahoma Schools
Banning 1619 Project Curriculum in Oklahoma Schools By Ron McWhirter In a December 15, 2021 media release, the Oklahoma Democratic Party denounced a bill being filed in the Oklahoma Legislature which would ban the “1619 Project” curriculum in Oklahoma schools receiving state funding. “House Bill 2988 is another attempt to silence and rewrite our history.
From the General Manager
By Ron McWhirter In my column in our summer edition, I said: “At the national level there is no longer any dispute that there is a great chasm between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. But, within Oklahoma, it has been claimed that Oklahoma Democrats are different from the national party.
From the General Manager
By Ron McWhirter We believe the most important product of this publication is our annual Oklahoma Conservative Index which rates members of the Oklahoma Legislature. We published our first score card in the summer of 1979, and with this summer edition we present the 43rd edition of the ratings. Prior to initiating the Oklahoma Conservative Index, many legislators could claim to be a conservative, but there was no objective measure to determine if that was true.
Democrats Charge Racism to Distract from Their Agenda
Democrats Charge Racism to Distract from Their Agenda By Ron McWhirter Oklahoma Democrat leaders have called for Diversity and Inclusion training for members of the Oklahoma Legislature, due to what they call “racist” comments made by Republican legislators. On April 7, a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives made a comment that the Democrats called racially insensitive. Rep.
From the General Manager
By Ron McWhirter A few months back, concerns were raised by Democrats about the ability of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to deliver election ballots to voters and return them. This related both to the absentee ballots used by most states, and especially the mass mail-in ballots being sent to all voters in some states. They charged that the Trump Administration was trying to starve the Post Office, so that ballots could not be delivered in time.
From the General Manager
By Ron McWhirter Before the November election, concerns were raised by Democrats about the ability of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to deliver election ballots to voters and return them. This related both to the absentee ballots used by most states, and the mass mail-in ballots being sent to all voters in some states. They charged that the Trump Administration was trying to starve the Post Office so that ballots could not be delivered in time.
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