Opinion
Senior meal cuts unjust
EDMOND — It’s difficult to know where to begin when expressing displeasure with the Department of Human Services’ decision to cut the Aging Services Division across the state by $7.4 million. Part of that cut deeply impacted the Senior Nutrition program, and fully eliminated the meal program at Edmond’s Senior Center.
It is grossly unjust to penalize the community of Edmond for doing the right thing. Because the City of Edmond gives a small budget to the Mobile Meals program through its Social Agency Review Committee annually, the mindset at the state Capitol and inside DHS is that obviously our city can afford to just pick up the slack and pay the $53,000 for our seniors’ meals fully without state aid. Never mind the fact that these same senior citizens pay their fair share of taxes and deserve the same services as their fellow senior citizens elsewhere in the state. Never mind the fact that our city’s sales tax revenue is off by 7 percent and that the city government already is reviewing potential cuts in the coming weeks.
In the same time frame the nutrition cuts were announced, a legislator highlighted the fact that a number of DHS upper management received a total of about $200,000 in raises this year. No one in state government should be accepting raises in this economic climate when we all know that painful cuts are on the way in 2010.
We could join the bandwagon and berate DHS for making such an atrocious decision that impacts many of our state’s most vulnerable citizens, but it doesn’t really change the situation. Instead, this catastrophic political stunt brings us back to a long-held belief that Oklahoma government, in general, remains too bloated and is in dire need of more review and better efficiencies.
Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, whose district includes a portion of Edmond, is chairman of the Government Modernization committee. We continue to be impressed with some of this committee’s research and ideas for improving Oklahoma government.
But with a dire budget situation looming before the next legislative session and an agency taking food directly out of our senior citizens’ mouths, it seems we can no longer be complacent in waiting for our government to “modernize” itself. It is time for taxpayers to uniformly call upon our state government to consolidate some of its 500 agencies, commissions and committees. Perhaps DHS should be the first agency to be reviewed.
If we as a state do not roll up our sleeves now and find some ways to lessen the government’s annual expenses, it will not be long before residents find themselves facing the next ghastly cutback. Tell your legislator what cuts you can live with and which ones you cannot stomach.
- Opinion
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Edwards book missing some perspective
During his run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2008 John Edwards often spoke about the plight of the less fortunate in our society. At campaign events the former senator from North Carolina told of how American workers whose jobs had gone overseas as a result of globalization were unable to support their families and were now living in poverty.
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Government purchasing process needs more transparency
In last week’s legislative update, I talked about how social media can be used as a feedback mechanism by businesses. I posited that state government should be allowed to take advantage of these same techniques, and I have heard from state officials how they need a clear set of policies to govern their actions in using social media projects.
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Preparing for a Rainy Day
This year, Oklahoma faces one of the worst budget crises in our state’s history. The decisions that lie ahead for state leaders will be difficult, but I have no doubt that Oklahoma will weather this storm and emerge stronger.
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HB 2914 could create jobs, expand economy
This last week the 2010 Legislative Session kicked off at the limestone palace on 23rd and Lincoln. While the Legislature will consider hundreds of bills in the next four months, there is one that is my favorite — HB 2914 by Rep. Danny Morgan.
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Moving up in national testing scores
A long history of education reform is positively impacting our public schools, earning Oklahoma high marks on two recent national report cards. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Leaders and Laggards” national report card in late 2009 gave Oklahoma an “A” (second in the nation) for “Technology” for the use of Web-based programs and computer-based assessments, which was one of six categories graded. Our state received a “B” in the “Data” category for our state’s educational data system, ranking 11th in the nation.
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Staying alive: The legacy of Will Rogers
Recently, I received an e-mail from a theatrical producer in Chicago. David happily shared with me the script of a new one-man show set to premiere at a theater in suburban Oakbrook in late March. Ticket sales are going great, he reported. People are excited, and two matinee performances are already sold out. The subject of the production just so happens to be a gum-chewing, lariat-tossing, wise and witty cowboy by the name of Will Rogers.
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For Oklahoma: Less can really mean more
While Oklahoma digs out from massive winter storms the governor and Legislature are faced with digging Oklahoma out of a severe fiscal crisis.
The governor in his state message vowed to protect education and Oklahoma’s most vulnerable. This is an immediate challenge, but solutions must go beyond protection to implementation of long-term reforms for Oklahoma’s future. -
Cities attempt to eliminate accountability notices
Little things can make a big difference. Printed public notices in newspapers are little things, but they make a big difference when keeping government accountable to citizens and taxpayers.
It is no surprise the Oklahoma Municipal League has introduced legislative proposals to eliminate printed notices in newspapers. -
Brotherly love just as important as prayer
You hear a lot about prayer these days and it brings a story to mind. There are several versions of this old tale drifting around in different cultures but they all have the same basic outline.
A certain farmer found himself harvesting a crop that exceeded his wildest expectations. After years of living on the edge of poverty, his ship finally had come in and he was on the road to prosperity at last. -
Can the president reconnect with Americans?
You could tell President Obama’s State of the Union speech was shaped by public opinion polls. That’s not necessarily bad, especially when it comes to a presidency that has been veering off track, and losing key political battles.
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Edwards book missing some perspective
