Local News
Lucas votes ‘no’ on second bailout plan
OKLAHOMA CITY — Rep. Frank Lucas was the only U.S. House member from Oklahoma to vote against the financial bailout plan that passed the U.S. House on Friday by a 263-177 margin.
Reps. John Sullivan and Mary Fallin voted against the bailout earlier this week, but switched to “yes” on the Senate-approved version.
Reps. Tom Cole and Dan Boren — the delegation’s only Democrat — voted for the bailout for the second time.
Lucas said he could not justify voting for a complex plan that cost taxpayers so much money and was put together hastily without input from rank-and-file members of Congress.
He said most of his constituents were opposed to “rewarding the reckless behavior of Wall Street.”
“This is not the fault of my folks in the 3rd District of Oklahoma. The bottom line is I hope it works, because if it doesn’t, we’ll be back in session in January or February and they’ll be more of these ideas thrown out.”
Fallin said she changed her vote because the bill had been improved and because failure of Congress to act could lead to economic hardship for Oklahoma citizens and businesses.
“If the instability in our markets continues, it could affect the economic security of every family and every business in Oklahoma. It is for that reason that I decided, in what is surely one of the most difficult decisions I have made while in office, to support the economic rescue package,” she said.
Lucas and Fallin did not announce their positions heading into the vote. Sullivan disclosed Thursday that he supports the bill.
“While the Senate passed financial rescue package is far from perfect — in fact it is a bitter pill to swallow — I am convinced that action needs to be taken to protect the pensions, investments and ability of Americans to obtain a line of credit, and therefore I will vote to support the bill,” Sullivan said.
The three reluctant Oklahoma Republicans had been under pressure to back the plan.
Lucas said among those contacting him were President Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Cole, who supported both measures, said he questioned whether a “yes” vote was the right move, but couldn’t risk the consequences of failing to act.
“I am not willing to gamble the jobs, life savings, retirement accounts, the homes and the businesses of the people I represent,” he said.
On Thursday, state Treasurer Scott Meacham said state pension accounts alone face potential losses of $73.4 million because of the failure of Lehman Brothers. He said the stock market’s tumble this week has increased the losses.
According to Meacham, instability in the country’s financial system is making it more difficult to sell bonds needed to fund state projects, such as $300 million in road and bridge improvements.
“There are just no buyers out there for bonds; there’s no liquidity,” the treasurer said. He said the lack of financing will drive up the cost of selling the bonds.
The state’s two senators split during Wednesday’s Senate vote on the bailout, with Tom Coburn voting for it and Jim Inhofe voting against the plan.
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Swine Week breaks record
Wild hugging and cheering rippled through the Memorial High School student body Friday afternoon when the Swine Week announcement was made that they are true record-breakers.
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State reviews ME’s office finances
The State Auditor and Inspector’s Office this week told House leadership that lack of planning and expecting annual increases in state funding helped land the State Medical Examiner’s Office in a precarious financial position, according to information obtained by The Edmond Sun.
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Lawmakers write governor, protest parole
Two state lawmakers are urging Gov. Brad Henry to deny parole for an inmate convicted in the murder of an Edmond man, calling him a continuing threat to Oklahomans.
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3-13 Calendar: Edmond senior center
Monday
1 p.m.: *Beginning tap
2:15 p.m.: *Jazzercise Lite -
3-13 Community: your news
Bureau encourages mail-back of census questionnaires saves taxpayer dollars
The 2010 Census is well under way, with the U.S. Census Bureau mailing 2010 Census questionnaires to about 120 million addresses nationwide. The questionnaires will arrive March 15-17. Residents are encouraged to complete the 10-question census form when it arrives and to return it in the accompanying pre-paid envelope as soon as possible. -
Edmond officer becomes part cop, part detective
An Edmond Police officer is a hybrid — part street cop, part detective.
And because of her invaluable service to the Edmond Police Department, Officer Patricia DeMoss has been named the agency’s Officer of the Month for February.
Edmond Police Officer Nathan Fountain nominated DeMoss for the award, which involves voting by DeMoss’s fellow officers. -
A few facts about wills, advance directives
Q: What is a living will? Do I need one? What about a durable power of attorney?
A: A living will, also known as an advance directive, is one of the building blocks of a good estate plan. The advance directive lets you make end-of-life medical decisions now, sparing your family from difficult decisions later. -
Elementary students raise $3,593 for charity
An area elementary school raised $3,593 that will give children clean drinking water where it does not otherwise exist.
Students at Deer Creek’s Prairie Vale Elementary School raised the money, which will be donated to WaterIsLife.com, an Edmond charity that gives water filters to children in developing countries.
The small, portable filters hang around the neck of a child and provide pure water for one year. Among other places, they are supplying clean water in Haiti, a nation recovering from the devastating earthquake that leveled much of the capital city. -
Memorial student produces CD for Swine Week
Edmond Memorial High School senior Bryce Merritt recorded his third CD this year and donated 100 percent of his proceeds to Swine Week, the annual fundraiser the high school put on this week.
The school chose to raise money this year for the Jimmy Everest Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Children at the OU Medical Center.
Merritt has been singing since he was young, and he began performing at the Oklahoma Opry in Oklahoma City at age 10. Since then, he has performed at weddings and opened for musicians like Billy Currington and Craig Morgan at Frontier City. - More Local News Headlines
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