EDMOND — It seems unfair somehow that by the time we are older and wiser our capacity to physically act upon what we’ve learned is diminished. However, seniors at the state Capitol Wednesday lived up to their “older and wiser” moniker and with dignity and strength blasted policies and policymakers responsible for leaving many of them, literally, out in the cold.
When taxes are cut, programs are eliminated. The party in power knew when they enacted tax breaks for the wealthy that programs of public health would be targeted for reduction or elimination. How can any “family values” platform include eliminating hot meals for seniors? How can anyone look a man or woman in the eye who survived the Great Depression, fought in the Great War and went on to build this great nation and say, “Today, you will go without food,” especially when Oklahoma government waste and fraud includes lining the pockets of this state’s nursing home owners, the entity charged with ensuring support for the final days of our frail senior citizens?
Funds should be secured and replaced for this program immediately! There are several ways by which to achieve this.
There are 600,000 seniors in Oklahoma, many of whom depend on Meal on Wheels and the walk-in nutrition centers. In addition to the Rainy Day Fund, legislators have $600 million in stimulus funds to disperse. Every day we wait is a day that seniors in the program go without food. To be apathetic is absolutely un-American.
I will stay on this issue of adequate nutrition for our seniors and for our children who face nearly 90 percent food insecurity in our largest counties until the fight is won. I don’t have the wisdom of the ages but I still have the strength to learn from our sage elders and I’ll fight the physical fight for them.
I also will be authoring two important senior bills for the coming session.
The rally was organized with the assistance of the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislators, who were quoted as saying, “We thought we’d have around 30 folks.” The crowd that gathered on the second floor rotunda was estimated at 300-plus attendees.
REP. RICHARD MORRISSETTE, D-Oklahoma City, represents House District 92 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Opinion
Targeting the ‘Greatest Generation’ leaves them hungry
- Opinion
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
If you read any of the letters to the editor in the past two weeks regarding Tuesday’s District 2 Edmond school board race, then you already know that this election is not about the individual candidates so much as it’s about what type of school board do Edmond residents really want governing their school district?
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What are your presidential 10 Commandments?
As we brace for the upcoming presidential campaign, we should be honest about our responsibility in the process. Before we get pushed, pulled, bribed, frightened, bullied, flattered, fooled or charmed into voting for a candidate, let’s take a mature thoughtful look at what the profile of the president should look like. In order to do that, let’s do an exercise. Sit down with a pencil and paper and draft your proposal for the Ten Commandments to be obeyed by the president. Let me share some of my suggestions.
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What would Reagan do today in Oklahoma?
As we celebrated the 101st anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth on Feb. 6, several of us at Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs started discussing what Reagan might do today. Here are some of the ideas we came up with.
- LETTER: School counselor says Roy ready to help all students
- LETTER: Supporter calls Duncan 'a firecracker'
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Consequences of an overregulated nation
Overreaching government regulations are costing jobs and killing our economy. They are a heavy burden on our nation and its citizens — in some cases worse than our nation’s increasingly out-of-control debt.
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LETTER: Supporter: Duncan shows passion for children’s needs
To the Editor:
The families in the Edmond Public School District are fortunate to have Kathleen Duncan as their advocate on the Edmond Board of Education. Duncan has worked tirelessly for the welfare and benefit of the Edmond schools’ students. -
LETTER: Teacher supports Duncan’s re-election
To the Editor:
On Feb. 14 patrons of District 2 have an opportunity to re-elect the current president of the Edmond School Board, Kathleen Duncan. Duncan has served as a board member for 10 years. When people move to the Oklahoma City area, they buy a home here because of the exceptional quality of Edmond Public Schools. This speaks to Duncan’s goal of “Excellence in Education for All Edmond Public School Students.” -
LETTER: Supporter: Duncan understands diverse issues
To the Editor:
Kathleen Duncan understands the diverse issues that effect our schools. She carefully studies the district’s issues and works tirelessly as an advocate for all students. Her votes as a board member have an impact for years to come and she takes that responsibility very seriously. - LETTER: Reader says incumbent's personal agenda in the way
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OUR VIEW: Feb. 14 vote about ideas
