July 2007 Volume 14 Number 7

Right to Work Producing Results

July 01, 2007

More and more people in my home state of Michigan are recognizing that compulsory unionism is an outdated policy that suppresses workers' freedom and places a drag on the state's economy. Many think we should follow Oklahoma's lead and become a right-to-work state. Right-to-work doesn't make unions illegal. It simply means that no worker can be compelled to j... Read More >

A Special Place in Heaven: Black Americans and School Choice

July 01, 2007

Debates about school choice tend to bring out the best, and the worst, in politicians. An example of the worst would be the former chairman of the Colorado state House Education Committee, Rep. Mike Merrifield. In an email, he wrote, "There must be a special place in hell for these Privatizers, Charterizers and Voucherizers." For emphasis, he added, "They deserve it!" ... Read More >

Oklahoma Supreme Court Blocks the Will of the People

July 01, 2007

Last month the Oklahoma Supreme Court threw out a petition which, if voted on and passed, would have mandated that 65 percent of school funds be spent in the classroom actually teaching kids. Supporters call it the "65 Percent Solution." In Oklahoma only 58 percent of education funds are currently spent in the classroom. The Oklahoma State School Boards Assoc... Read More >

Education Establishment Continues to Deny 'Very Poor' Performance

July 01, 2007

You may recall a recent report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce which gave Oklahoma's public school system an "F." The report said "student performance in Oklahoma is very poor-the state ranks among the lowest in the nation." The report is based on data from the federal government's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), otherwise known as the "... Read More >

Moral Character and Freedom: The Example of George Washington

July 01, 2007

We live in a time that is almost as decisive as the Revolutionary War, the American Civil War, or the days following Pearl Harbor. In each of those periods, America has shown the courage to enhance freedom all over the world. At the time of the Revolution, we won our independence on the field of battle, and then we went on to show the world that a new republ... Read More >

New President Says OCPA Poised to Make an Impact

July 01, 2007

OCPA's new president, Hopper T. Smith, recently sat down with OCPA's Brian Hobbs to discuss the issues of the day, recount some of his experiences as a military officer and a former state representative, and outline a vision for OCPA's future. Perspective: With the 2007 legislative session now behind us, can you tell us what you saw accomplished and perhaps what was ... Read More >

Nice Work If You Can Get It

July 01, 2007

"After 40 years in state government service, Clifton Scott traded in a five-figure salary for a six-figure retirement check," Jaclyn Houghton of the CNHI News Service reported last month. "Now he draws both, collecting $146,000 a year in a government pension for a job where his final salary was $82,004, as well as $77,000 a year in his post-retirement job as secretary for ... Read More >

Month by Month, Supporters Make It Happen

July 01, 2007

This month I am taking a rather good idea from our development director, Margaret Ann Hoenig, and putting the spotlight on our wonderful donors. As most OCPA supporters know, we have an annual fund campaign in the fall which provides OCPA contributors an opportunity to give to our work. But did you realize that there are some contributors who choose to give each month? ... Read More >

Quote/Unquote

July 01, 2007

?It would be thought a hard ;vernment, that should tax its people one-tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service?? Benjamin Franklin ?27.9? Percentage of days in 2007 the average Oklahoman had to work in order to earn enough money to pay the federal, state, and local tax collectors, according to the Tax Foundation ... Read More >

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