The McCarville Report Online

South Carolina Offers Tax-Free Gun Purchases

2009-11-22T15:13:00.000-06:00

Columbia, S.C. (From www.newsmax.com) ~ South Carolina shoppers will get a second chance to buy tax-free guns.

The state Revenue Department sent out a reminder Wednesday of the upcoming "Second Amendment Weekend." The 48-hour tax break begins just after midnight the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Shoppers will pay no state or local sales taxes on handguns, rifles and shotguns, which can tally 9 percent. Taxes still apply to ammunition and accessories.

South Carolina had the nation's first tax holiday on guns last year, after legislators tacked it on to a tax break on energy-efficient appliances. But the state Supreme Court threw out that law in May because of an unrelated energy amendment. Lawmakers restored the tax break as a one-time event in the budget this year.

Louisiana followed this year with its own sales tax holiday for hunters in September. That break went further, applying to any item that can be used for hunting or fishing, including off-road vehicles, airboats, animal feed and ear plugs.

South Carolina is the only state to designate a tax-free weekend during two of the year's biggest shopping days.

Anne Marie Dutcher: 10/15/09 ~ 11/21/09

2009-11-22T07:34:00.002-06:00

Anne Marie died peacefully in her mother's arms Saturday night. Susie and I are deeply grateful for everyone who cared about her and prayed for her. "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." ~ Brandon Dutcher.

Publisher: Palin's Going Rogue Runaway Best Seller

2009-11-21T07:28:00.007-06:00

New York ~ Going Rogue is going big.

Publisher HarperCollins said Friday that Sarah Palin's memoir sold 300,000 copies its first day, among the best openings ever for a nonfiction book. In 2004, Bill Clinton's My Life debuted with sales of 400,000 copies. The year before, Hillary Rodham Clinton's Living History started at 200,000.

Going Rogue was released this week and its print run already has been increased from 1.5 million copies to 2.5 million, HarperCollins announced Friday.

Palin, the former Alaska governor and GOP vice presidential candidate, is in the midst of a nationwide promotional tour that includes a Norman stop on December 3rd at 7 p.m. at Hasting's.

Newsmax is offering a special deal on Palin's book, as evidenced by the advertisements on this site. Simply click on any of the ads to access the information or click the link http://w3.newsmax.com/a/sarahbook/?PROMO_CODE=90EF-1&gclid=CKK22Y6EnZ4CFQk75QodVR5clw.

Hey, Let's Do Something About Afghanistan

2009-11-21T07:16:00.002-06:00

Ethics Commission Staff Faces Furloughs

2009-11-21T07:15:00.000-06:00

From http://www.tulsaworld.com/ ~ The state agency that is charged with policing political campaigns will be furloughing staff members right in the middle of the 2010 election cycle if current budget projections hold up, an official said Friday.

Reporting to commissioners about her appearance before the Senate Budget Committee, Executive Director Marilyn Hughes said the Ethics Commission's seven staff members will each have to take 30 furlough days next fiscal year if, as she fears, the agency's budget is cut an additional 10 percent.

"I said we can't afford to be without employees during the election," Hughes said. "He said they had heard the same thing from the Election Board but that he didn't have any solutions."

"He" was the Senate Budget Committee's chairman, Republican Randy Brogdon of Owasso, the only senator to show up for the hearing on the commission's proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Read the entire story at http://www.tulsaworld.com/.

Innocence Project Topic On The Verdict

2009-11-20T15:06:00.000-06:00

The Innocence Project at the Oklahoma City University School of Law is Sunday's topic on The Verdict with guest Lawrence K. Hellman, dean of the School of Law.

The show airs On Cox Channel 7 in Oklahoma City and on Cox Channel 3 in Tulsa Beginning Sunday at 9:00 a.m. It repeats Monday at 9:30 a.m., and Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

Fallin Reprises 1966 Bartlett Campaign Slogan

2009-11-20T13:13:00.009-06:00

It's a slogan that worked for Republican Dewey F. Bartlett in 1966 and Republican Mary Fallin obviously hopes it will work again: More and better jobs.
That's the slogan that helped propel Bartlett into the governor's office 43 years ago and today, Fallin issued a news release using the same refrain although it appears the usage is coincidential instead of by design.

Fallin said that job creation would be her number one priority should she be elected to serve as the state’s next governor. Her statement came after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its preliminary employment figures. Oklahoma’s unemployment rate is now 7.1 percent, up from 6.8 percent in September.

“My Administration’s first priority will be to create more and better jobs and lead this state towards long term economic recovery and growth,” said Fallin.

“We know we can’t rely on Washington to get us there. The stimulus plan I opposed was a trillion dollar bust, and the Obama administration can’t even tell us where all that money is going. But we can lead the charge for smart, pro-growth policies right here in Oklahoma, and that’s what I’ll do as our next governor.”

Fallin said as governor she would use tax incentives to reward any business that created new jobs in Oklahoma, and would create an environment that encouraged job-growth and economic development.

“Encouraging new businesses to move to Oklahoma is essential, as is supporting those already located here,” said Fallin. “We also need to develop our work force and promote the kind of smart health care reform here in Oklahoma that reduces costs and allows employers to create new jobs with good benefits. “

“Unemployment this high is unacceptable. With the right leadership though, we can get Oklahomans back to work and we can put this state back on track. That’s exactly what I plan to do as governor."

Of the "more and better jobs" slogan, Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz said, "we're not intentionally mimicking anyone. That's just what we think is a priority, especially in a recession."

Inhofe To Boxer: 'We won, you lost, get a life'

2009-11-20T12:40:00.001-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c93Fp_kmrz4

Keating: Take A Cold, Hard Look At Hasan Case

2009-11-20T05:42:00.004-06:00

By Frank Keating On Politico ~ What prevented military and civilian law enforcement authorities from acting against alleged Fort Hood mass murderer Nidal Malik Hasan when indicators were mounting that he represented a threat?

We need to take a cold, hard and honest look at that question. The security of our nation may well depend on it. In the past 17 years, we’ve been hit with four terrorist attacks that cost thousands of innocent lives and raised fundamental issues about how effective we are in fighting terrorism.

I was governor of Oklahoma on April 19, 1995, when the second of these attacks occurred, just two years after the first attack on the World Trade Center. One hundred sixty-eight people died when terrorists bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. I’ll never forget the emotions. I mourned with the families of the victims and shared their tears. I experienced the same profound anger at those who so casually disregard the sanctity of human life.

Read Keating's entire column at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29727.html.

Senate GOP Caucus Wants December Session

2009-11-19T15:47:00.002-06:00

The Senate Republican Caucus today called on Governor Brad Henry to call the Legislature into special session in December, rather than waiting until January, as he suggested earlier this week.

“It’s very clear that more reductions in spending are inevitable,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, “and agency heads are awaiting our direction as to how much their budgets will be reduced.

“We believe it is prudent, given the fiscal crisis facing all state agencies, to come in, examine the numbers as an entire body, and make the hard decisions sooner rather than later,” he continued. “We have a good feel for the direction revenues are heading, so why wait any longer?”

Coffee pointed out that Senate Appropriations Subcommittees have been meeting over the past weeks, and getting reports from agency heads projecting how cuts of 5%m 7.5% and 10% would impact their agencies.

“Agency heads are willing to make the tough calls,” Coffee said. “They just need to know when and how much. It’s not a pleasant task, but we all understand the reality of the times in which we’re operating.”

Paul Sund, Communications Director Henry, said, “Governor Henry is certainly open to discussion on any special session timetable, but he also believes it is critical for state lawmakers to do their budget homework first, so their time will be used efficiently and effectively if an emergency meeting is convened. Special sessions are expensive, and with the current revenue crisis facing the state, it’s especially important that taxpayers get their money’s worth with a well-informed, well-prepared Legislature.

“As he noted in his budget plan earlier this week, the governor believes legislators must conduct a series of detailed public hearings on the revenue crisis and the consequences of deeper budget cuts, and that has not happened yet. As we learned with the senior nutrition program, many lawmakers were not aware of the impact of the current budget reductions, much less the impact of deeper cuts.

“Before acting in special session, lawmakers must also receive an official, more reliable revenue estimate for the current fiscal year and a new, official estimate for next fiscal year, actions that will not take place until Dec. 21 when the State Board of Equalization holds its annual meeting to approve revenue projections as required by law. Because November revenue collection data will not be available until mid-December, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to have revised, reliable budget estimates available before then.

“Clearly, a lot of work must still be done to pave the way for a productive special session, but Governor Henry stands ready to work with legislative leaders to address the budget crisis as quickly as possible, even if takes a Christmas special session to do it.”

Susie Dutcher: 'Are You My Mother?'

2009-11-19T12:02:00.006-06:00

Those who have followed Susie and Brandon Dutcher's gut-wrenching struggle to preserve their infant daughter's life won't want to miss Susie's latest post, a poignant, moving testimony to her feelings as she looks at baby Anne Marie. Read it at www.brandondutcher.blogspot.com and watch videos of Susie and Brandon with Anne Marie by clicking on the YouTube links below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dO6avLs9hY&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/user/BrandonTylerDutcher

Fallin Redesigns Website; Others Listed

2009-11-19T11:19:00.000-06:00

Congresswoman Mary Fallin has a redesigned website at www.maryfallin.org.

Sites for the other candidates may be accessed as follows: Senator Randy Brogdon, http://www.randybrogdon.com/; Lt. Governor Jari Askins, http://www.jariaskins.com/; and Attorney General Drew Edmondson, www.edmondson2010.com.

Malt Beverage Association Elects New Officers

2009-11-19T09:18:00.003-06:00

The Oklahoma Malt Beverage Association (OMBA) has elected officers and members of the board of directors for 2010. The new chairman is Matt Jett, owner of Jett Distributing Company in Clinton. Jett has served in numerous OMBA leadership capacities.

John Cresap, owner of Premium Beers of Oklahoma, Inc., Oklahoma City; will serve as vice chairman/chairman-elect. Rounding out the officer team are Gordon Green, Capital Distributing, Oklahoma City; treasurer and Tim Zaloudek, Pope Distributing Company, Enid; immediate past chairman.

Members of the board of directors include Dave Dierinzo, Anheuser-Busch Sales of Oklahoma, Tulsa; Tommy Hitchcock, Hitchcock Distributing, Inc., Durant; Lou Moreau, A&B Distributors, Inc., Muskogee; and Dan Solie, LDF Sales & Distributing, Inc., Tulsa.

Mitch Zaloudek, Pope Distributing Company, Enid, will continue to serve as OMBA representative to the National Beer Wholesalers Association Board of Directors.

Brett Robinson is OMBA president.

Bohnen Marks 30 Years At KTOK

2009-11-19T07:46:00.007-06:00

KTOK News Director Jerry Bohnen today marks 30 years with the Oklahoma City news/talk station.

A Kansas native, Bohnen joined the station as a reporter in 1979.

Thirty years in radio news, not to mention 30 years at the same station, is a remarkable milestone and makes Bohnen the absolute dean of radio newsmen in the state.

Mike McCarville, hired by Bohnen as a parttime reporter in 1991 and who later became the station's program director, said Bohnen, "is what every news person should be...dedicated to the truth, dedicated to informing the public, curious about everything. I worked with him closely for 15 years. There's no one who works harder and more diligently than Jerry. He is the ultimate professional."

Holder of an Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting, the Investigative Reporter and Editors Award, and the recipient of dozens of other awards, Bohnen became nationally prominent in the aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building when ABC Radio News and England's BBC broadcast much of the station's initial, non-stop coverage which he anchored. He stumbled into broadcasting at Kansas State University while earning a degree in journalism, doing news at the student radio station. He founded the Association of News Broadcasters of Kansas, later serving as president.

Bohnen is a member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall Of Fame.

It Is Big And It Is Really Ugly

2009-11-19T06:41:00.000-06:00

Guns For Domestic Violence Victims? Opinions Vary

2009-11-19T05:56:00.004-06:00

From www.tulsaworld.com ~ A task force was told Wednesday that letting domestic violence victims have a temporary permit to carry a concealed weapon isn't a good idea.

Legislation proposed last session would have let some people who obtained a protective order under the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act receive a temporary emergency concealed-weapon license. The person would have had 180 days to complete a firearms safety and training course. The bill didn't pass, but it led to the creation of the Victims Right to Protection Task Force, which held its first meeting Wednesday at the Capitol.

"We think this is kind of a bad idea," task force member Paul Fockler, the legislative chairman for the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, said after the meeting.

Fockler said he is concerned that the perpetrator will take the weapon from the victim and use it against the victim. He said he didn't think victims in many cases would have the "emotional strength" to pull the trigger.

People involved in domestic disputes sometimes file dueling protective orders against each other, Fockler noted. Under the proposed legislation, that would allow a potential perpetrator to arm himself or herself, he said.

Fockler said the emphasis is being put in the wrong place, adding that victims should be made more aware of shelters and resources available to get away from domestic violence.

The legislation, sponsored by Senate Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, was sought by the Oklahoma Rifle Association, said Charles Smith, the group's executive director.

Smith said he requested the measure after a woman dealing with a violent spouse got a protective order against him and was killed a day and a half later.

"A piece of paper is no weapon against a knife or a gun," he said.

Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel said he supports the concept of the legislation but is concerned that firearms training is needed up front for people seeking such a license. Whetsel also is a member of the task force.

Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, who is running for attorney general, leads the task force. He said the group is studying what is available to protect victims and what increased protections could be sought.

He's Always Got His Hand Out

2009-11-19T05:39:00.002-06:00

"You can't vote against healthcare and call yourself a black man." ~ Jesse Jackson

Proper Gun Control Saves Maersk Alabama Crew

2009-11-18T20:22:00.001-06:00

From Yahoo News/NAIROBI, Kenya – Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday for the second time in seven months, though private guards on board the U.S.-flagged ship repelled the attack with gunfire and a high-decibel noise device.

Care Packages For Women In Uniform Prepared

2009-11-18T12:07:00.004-06:00

Congresswoman Mary Fallin joined others on Capitol Hill in Washington this morning to prepare care packages for women serving in the military.

Other States Cope With Budget Shortfalls

2009-11-18T11:14:00.000-06:00

Oklahoma's not alone in facing a financial crisis in state government.

Across the country, state leaders cope with huge deficits. California's massive financial problem is well known.

In a budget proposal which would enact a major government reorganization, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has proposed merging eight of the state's universities into five, reports Southern Political Report.

Under the plan, Mississippi State College for Women would be merged with Mississippi State University, and three historically black universities, Mississippi Valley State University, Alcorn State University and Jackson State University, would be consolidated. None of the campuses would be closed, Barbour said, but the state would save money by cutting administrative jobs and reducing duplication in courses at the schools.

That Barbour would propose major changes in higher education -- normally one of the most sacrosanct areas of any state government -- is an indication of the dire budget restraints the state faces. The proposal is sure to face stiff resistence in the legislature.

In Tennessee, grim budget prospects have forced Governor Phil Bredesen to consider another step that might before have been considered unthinkable: the early release from state prisons of some 3,300 non-violent offenders.

Coburn With Covuto On Healthcare Bill Reading

2009-11-18T09:57:00.003-06:00

Senator Tom Coburn is Neil Cavuto's guest at 3 p.m. Oklahoma City time today. Cavuto airs on Fox News (Cox Channel 44 in Oklahoma City).

AG Says Rainy Day Fund Balance Available

2009-11-18T09:32:00.001-06:00

By Patrick McGuigan/Tulsa Today ~ An opinion from the office of Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has concluded all legal conditions have aligned to allow appropriation of the entire balance in the Constitutional Reserve Fund, better known as the Rainy Day Fund. The fund presently has a balance of a little less than $600 million.

Read the entire story at www.tulsatoday.com.

Chris Wilson: Palin's 'Not a viable candidate'

2009-11-18T08:35:00.009-06:00

Washington and Oklahoma City pollster and consultant Chris Wilson said today Sarah Palin is not now a viable 2012 Republican presidential contender.

Wilson, asked about Palin by Reid Mullins on his KTOK morning show, said, "She is not a viable candidate (now)...the question is, 'Can she reform that image?'"

Listen to the interview at http://www.ktok.com/cc-common/podcast.html.

Stossel: 'A gang of arrogant bullies'

2009-11-18T06:02:00.001-06:00

"(Bill) O'Reilly told me that America is ready for a tax revolt. I hope he's right. But I don't think it will happen until more people see the ruling elite for what it is: a gang of arrogant bullies that has the audacity to believe that they know how to direct our lives better than we do." ~ Johh Stossel/Real Clear Politics.

Politico: Democrats Worry About Independents

2009-11-18T05:42:00.004-06:00

From Politico ~ Mounting evidence that independent voters have soured on the Democrats is prompting a debate among party officials about what rhetorical and substantive changes are needed to halt the damage.

Read the entire story at http://www.politico.com/.