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Edmond Sun - 02/28/2018 Edmond, OK 7
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Criteria for voting on proposals newspaper Wednes
Saturday except for
holidays at 123 S. B
Edmond, OK 73034
get. When a legal holid

V
he board oting on legislation is the some years, I have found that have regretted observing the on a Tuesday, The S
print on a Thursday
enue certifi- singular most important lawmakers attempted to create principle-gutting impact of these legal holiday falls o
h updated part of the state representa- new government entities about bills, they have wreaked havoc Saturday, the Week
current year. tive's job and in that role, I have as fast as we could repeal old on the values of lawmakers, and edition will print on
ual general endeavored to cast the approxi- ones. for me, these proposals are Friday.
ons in 2017 mate 1,000 yearly votes according Does the proposal increase fees always an immediate red vote.
POSTMASTER: Sen
The board to a set of clear and consistent or taxes? These types of proposals Will new government regula- of address to: The E
at general rev- criteria. still appear and advance through tions result if the bill is Sun, P.O. Box 2470,
for 2018 will Here is my voting strategy: I the Legislature several times a approved? The Legislature con- OK 73083. Periodic
llion. And for have never and will never inten- year. At a time when one can rea- siders numerous bills that postage is paid at t
Post Office in Edmo
ear? The esti- tionally walk or miss a vote, and I sonably state that federal, state expand current law. While there Okla.
6.1 billion. will cast each vote in a consistent and local government taxes, fees are sometimes good reasons for
growth from manner which is not capricious and pass-on these proposals, more often Subscription
mes from tax or arbitrary but is instead costs to the tax- than not, the right vote is the no
ost is the aligned with the principles that I payer take over vote. Home Delivery
EZ-Pay only…$5.99 p
mic recovery. campaigned on as a candidate 50 percent of his Does the bill exempt govern- Monthly Rate………
ose inconven- for office (i.e., my verbal contract income, there is a ment agencies from transparen- Quarterly Rate ……
ernment rev- with the House District 31 con- great calling for cy laws? Each year agencies 6-Month Rate ……
most on a stituency, a contract that I can- conscientious sponsor bills to create new open Annual Rate ………
y, not not violate.) legislators to records and open meetings Prices included hard copy delivery eve
electronic access 5-days a week Tue-Sa
urdens. As I have attempted to apply stand in defense exemptions and it is vital to stop
Single copies
Consider principle to policy, I have found of the taxpayer. these bills whenever possible. Week day……………
he sales and that I have evolved into one of Instead of raising Are systemic checks and bal- Saturday……………
use tax: 2017 the House's most prolific "no" Jason fees and taxes, ances upon corruption (such as
collections voters. That said, it's been my The Sun publishes
Murphey government purchasing laws) weakened? For
daily digital editio
were $2 bil- goal to never fall into the trap of must become example, every so often the Wednesday and Sa
ion but are voting no for the sake of voting House more efficient Legislature takes the unfortu- To subscribe, go to
projected to no but to be able to explain each District 31 and cost-effec- nate step of increasing no-bid www.edmondsun.
exceed $2.5 no vote. I have found that if I tive. These bills purchasing limits. I have grown click on E-edition s
billion next have a sound and consistent are an easy no very uncomfortable with the tion.
year. Personal basis for voting, other House vote for me. pace by which these limits are Entire contents cop
ncome tax members are appreciative of the Are tax loopholes, corporate being lifted (especially as it Reproduction witho
collections for thought process behind the no welfare, pork earmarks, special relates to county government mission is prohibite
2017 were vote even though it is a vote interest benefits, payouts or pro- spend) and I fear that a systemic Archives, photo rep
back issues availabl
$1.8 billion against their bill. While they may grams created or expanded? operandi of corruption could
but projected disagree with my reasoning — These bills frequently create spe- easily backfill the void left in the Member
o be $2.1 bil- they know that the vote is not cific government giveaways and absence of purchasing system Oklahoma Press Asso
ion for next personal. have created the current and checks and balances. Southern Newspaper Pub
year. To accomplish the goal of con- untenable state of dirigisme; i.e., Of course, this list is a simplis- National Newspaper A
U.S. Suburban Pres
Despite the sistent principle-based voting, I the state's most affluent and tic and basic set of criteria and
ay’s meeting have developed a checklist of fac- powerful citizens are also some there is certainly additional We welcome lette
Real rev- tors; the violation of any single of the most dependent upon nuance to voting on a proposal; the editor. Please
ctions keep factor will likely lead me to vote growing and expanding the size however, if a lawmaker can con- submissions to 350
Letters to the Edito
ow exceed no on a proposal. It's a simple of government—a fact that sistently cast his votes according accepted at the The
ions, yet the six-part checklist, but I suspect it explains why many leading to this simple checklist, he will Edmond Sun virtua
rojected catches up to 30 percent of the members of the state's majority generally support and defend subjectl however, c
68 million. bills that we consider each year. party have devolved into a taxpayers from intrusive and rules apply. The Sun
comes from It is as follows: regrettable state of continual overreaching government and accept letters eithe
against a political c
wish list from Are new government bureau- and perpetual conflict with the the special interests which exert or issue up to the la
anch that cracies, boards, or commissions principles upon which they pur- much more influence over the days before an elec
e lawmakers created by the proposal? If so, I port to believe as they campaign government than the average Letter wrters are as
nd when they will almost always vote no. In for election and re-election. I constituent. discuss issues and n
personal attacks. Le
e. The largest must be signed and
mergency number provided f
million to
medical cen-
LETTERS verifiaction purpose
the Sun retains the
YOUR VIEW edit letters for carit
alth
refuse letters which
eral money A 27th Letter to America
Copyright (c)2018 Edmond Sun, Edition 02/28/2018
seven judges who voted for, on school children to bring about considered libelous
mproperlyMarchfor 2, 2018 9:36 am (GMT +6:00) that tragic decision, should have change when they feel their Powered by TECNAVIA
ce discovered, To the Editor: been impeached. rights are not being protected. Columnists’ opi
cease. Most merica was again shocked, Our Constitution assigns the And I do believe these young are their own and