The Oklahoman. Feb. 11, 2010.

Ring around: Statewide free’ calling proposed

An innovative plan to make the entire state a toll-free calling area is either a speed dial digit to the future or a wrong number.

Those most affected by the plan, the phone companies, are leaning toward the latter interpretation. but they aren’t necessarily opposed to the idea. they just need to call 411 for more information.

The proposal came out of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which has a long history of regulating telecommunications. A major point of contention is how much a statewide toll-free calling area would cost customers.

Some customers would obviously benefit because they make a lot of intrastate long distance calls. Others could be penalized by having to pay more for basic phone service in order to get a “free” option that they won’t often use.

And we can imagine that customers in border cities such as Durant would rather have toll-free calling to commercial centers in Texas than toll-free calling to Tulsa.

One phone company’s comments in the case termed it “the biggest structural and market changes” to telecommunications since AT&T was broken up in 1984.

If eventually adopted, this could be the first state in the nation to make toll-free long distance a statewide benefit. That alone makes the plan worth phoning home about. Oklahoma already has some of the nation’s largest toll-free dialing areas.

The phone companies are right to ask hard questions about the proposal. this is an idea that may need to be put on hold until those questions are answered.

Tulsa World. Feb. 10, 2010.

Is Oklahoma a state of big losers?

The Oklahoma Senate read a resolution recently honoring Broken Arrow’s Danny Cahill for keeping his resolutions last year when he vowed to win “The biggest Loser.”

Cahill, 40, lost 239 pounds in fewer than seven months and was declared the 2009 winner of the hit reality show that airs on NBC television.

Cahill, individually, deserves the honor. his achievement stands out in a state that ranks near the top of the nation in rates of obesity, especially among children.

Over the past decade the Legislature has taken several proactive measures to lower that rate. The crusade, which included multi-year legislation, was backed by Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition, a group of policy makers, individuals and health providers who realized that Oklahoma’s youngest generation could be the first to have a shorter life span than their parents.

Over the years, advisory panels on nutrition were established in schools, more time for physical education was added to the curriculum and healthier, locally grown produce was introduced into the traditionally high-calorie, high-fat, high-sodium cafeteria fare at schools. Vending machines in elementary schools usually no longer contain high-sugar soda.

Slowly the message is spreading. That message will be reinforced by efforts of first lady Michelle Obama, who has made improving children’s health through a more nutritious diet and exercise her no. 1 cause.

In 2008, the nonprofit Trust for America’s Health listed Oklahoma’s adult obesity rate at 28.1 percent in its “F as in Fat: how Obesity Policies are Failing in America.” Oklahoma was tied with neighboring Arkansas for eighth place. Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky had worse ratings.

Obesity, especially obesity in children, can create health problems throughout life. Poor diets while not good can be offset somewhat by exercise.

There’s not much money for anything this legislative session. Fortunately, talk’s cheap. It wouldn’t cost the Legislature a cent to continue talking long and loudly about improving Oklahomans’ health through better diets and more exercise. We hope that Cahill will join lawmakers in the crusade to make Oklahomans big losers.

Muskogee Phoenix. Feb. 10, 2010.

Don’t restrict cold medicines even more

Requiring prescriptions for pills containing pseudoephedrine won’t resolve illegal drug use. so we hope governments don’t start requiring prescriptions.

Several states, including Oklahoma, have developed tracking mechanisms to help prevent illegal drug traffickers and users from turning cold medicines into the illegal drug meth.

But since meth producers have learned to adapt their chemistry to working with smaller amounts of precursors, some states want to eliminate over-the-counter sales of pseudoephedrine products, which treat colds and allergies. Obtaining the products would then require a prescription and a doctor’s visit.

That might slow down illegal meth production, but more than that, it would put a hardship on honest citizens who would have to visit a doctor just to treat a cold. Naturally, pharmacy associations oppose the proposed restriction, but not just because it would hurt their sales.

It also would drive up health costs for consumers. We agree with the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which would rather install electronic tracking systems to stop excessive purchases.

The systems are not perfect but neither are prescriptions. Oklahomans take more painkillers — which require a prescription — than the people in Texas and California combined. That’s hard to believe, but true, and you can bet many of those pills are not being used appropriately.

We need changes in American’s attitudes toward drugs, not more restrictive laws which only burden honest and truly ill people.

Cushing Citizen. Feb. 9, 2010.

Focus on budget as Legislature convenes

This year’s legislative session begins with an immediate focus: the budget shortfall. The national recession has driven up unemployment and driven down tax collections in Oklahoma.

As a result, collections for the fiscal year 2010 budget — passed last May — fell $729 million short of estimates, although spending cuts have already reduced that budget hole to $530 million.

Revenue projections for FY11 indicate there will be $1.3 billion less than the amount approved last year, and FY12 will have a structural budget hole of at least $600 million — more, probably — due to the loss of federal stimulus dollars and expected depletion of Rainy Day funds.

As a result, legislators have to make spending decisions looking at a three-year window. Legislative leaders have unveiled a proposal to address the current budget-year shortfall.

The proposed budget agreement combines continued spending cuts in targeted areas and dipping into our state savings fund.

To balance the FY10 budget, we will annualize a 7.5 percent cut for most agencies with the Oklahoma House of Representatives receiving that cut, as well.

However, key areas will be spared major cuts through the use “Rainy Day” Fund cash — about $550 million — and remaining stimulus funds: another $700 million.

Under the plan, our local schools will receive extra money. Common education and higher education will receive an $80 million supplemental. In addition, the Medicaid program would get an extra $33 million and the prison system would receive another $7.2 million to prevent early release of violent criminals and reduce the chance of officer furloughs.

The proposed FY10 plan calls for spending three-eighths of the Rainy Day Fund, or $223 million, to address the FY10 shortfall. However, Gov. Brad Henry has advocated spending nearly all Rainy Day money immediately, leaving very little for anticipated shortfalls in the future.

Unfortunately, we’ll need to save some of the Rainy Day Fund. Based on current estimates for FY11, even if we use all remaining reserves, it will still require an additional across-the-board cut of 10 percent to balance next year’s budget. and then the FY12 shortfall looms on the horizon.

Our plan in the House is to spread the reserves out in a fiscally responsible way, while finding savings and efficiencies in government where possible. The end result will hopefully be a softer landing for 2012. I will keep you informed as budget negotiations continue.

The Edmond Sun. Feb. 9, 2010.

Senator should leave school start date alone

Sen. Joe Sweeden filed legislation this session to move back the start date for Oklahoma public schools to the last full week in August. Sweeden’s stated reason is that it could save districts money during the state’s budget crunch.

“By moving back the start of the school year, we could limit the extraordinary cost of cooling schools through the first weeks of August. Additionally, the extreme heat places greater strain on students involved in outdoor extracurricular activities,” Sweeden, D-Pawhuska, states in a Senate press release.

He also claims the later start date would benefit state tourism and state parks, but fails to explain exactly how that’s accomplished. Theoretically, it gives parents more vacation time before the start of the school year.

While probably well-intentioned, there are a few problems with Senate bill 1852. For example, under House Resolution no. 1063, all Oklahoma public schools must complete 180 six-hour days per academic year or no less than 1,080 hours of instruction per academic year.

David Fraser, chief financial officer for Edmond Public Schools, said state districts could start the last week of August, but in order to meet the minimum required instruction time, it pushes districts to have classes after Memorial Day and on into June. That creates a whole new set of problems such as impacting the start of the two required sessions of summer school and not allowing students and teachers who wish to take college courses in the summer to start on time. It also impacts those students and teachers who need to start summer jobs.

Not to mention, it’s often just as costly to cool those school buildings in the heat of June as it is in August.

As presently scheduled, Edmond Public Schools will begin the 2010-11 academic year on Aug. 19. While we doubt that this legislation even makes it out of committee, it’s just another example of legislators wasting time and resources instead of addressing our state’s most pressing needs.

One idea that might make more of a difference is to have districts look at whether teacher professional days would not be better utilized at the beginning of the year before school actually starts to help eliminate the number of times students are out of class throughout the year.

This district, like many others across the state, spends a lot of time working out the intricate school calendar schedule to meet all of the federal and state mandates as well as local needs. Perhaps we should leave it to the professionals to determine the start of school instead of advocating half-baked plans.

The Express-Star. Feb. 12, 2010.

Local Rep. Osborn believes bill would protect gun owners’ rights

To protect citizens’ Second Amendment rights, state Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Tuttle, has filed legislation to protect Oklahomans from having any mandatory gun confiscations or additional registrations.

“The bill came out of committee and was approved yesterday,” Osborn said. “It will go to the house floor next week and then on to the senate. I feel pretty confident it will pass, because in Oklahoma there is a strong belief in the Second Amendment and in our right to bear arms. I don’t see any big roadblocks.”

House bill 3157, by Osborn, says Oklahoma citizens are not required to participate in any international, state or federal firearms registration program and cannot have any lawfully owned firearm confiscated.

“I believe that Oklahoma citizens want their Second Amendment rights strengthened and preserved,” she said. “The intent of this measure is to protect them from any legislation imposed by the federal government or treaties entered into at the United Nations. Citizens of our state and country should always have the right to bear arms.”

Osborn described the bill as a proactive measure, with just-in-case language added about gun ownership since the federal government is talking about tougher gun control laws. she said crime rates have risen significantly in nations that have enacted stricter gun control laws.

“Oklahomans feel strongly about gun ownership,” she said. “Plus, even if the honest citizens were to turn in their weapons, the bad guys are still going to have guns.”

House bill 3157 passed the House Public Safety Committee recently. It now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Thank you for joining our discussion. your comment has been posted.

Excerpts from recent Oklahoma editorials