Month: May 2022

The race for Attorney General is really starting to heat up. Gentner Drummond has a “dark money” group sending hit pieces out on John O’Connor, and O’Connor is swinging back. Watch his campaign ad here.

Genter Drummond claims that the Biden donation was from his wife, saying that ‘his wife “got mad” and made the contribution using a joint credit card but that she “immediately asked for a refund and got the money back.”‘ [Tulsa World] Update: Watch Drummond’s response to a question about his donation here.

FEC records show that Drummond also gave:

• $1,000 to Democrat Matt Silverstein’s 2014 campaign against Jim Inhofe
• $1,450 to Democrat John Olson’s 1st District congressional campaign in 2012 (Jim Bridenstine defeated him in the general election).
• $2,500 to Democratic Congressman Dan Boren from 2004 to 2010.
• $1,000 to Democrat Brad Carson’s campaign against Tom Coburn in 2004 (given after Coburn won the GOP primary)

Searching the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, one can find that Drummond has given to the following Democratic candidates since 2015:

• $500 to Cathy Ross (challenger to GOP State Rep. Sean Roberts in 2016)
• $500 to State Rep. John Waldron in 2018
• $250 to Andy Richardson (lost to Republican Sheila Dills in 2018)

(UPDATE: there are even more donations to Democrats on the old, pre-2015 system. I have not had time to go through them all, but it includes $500 to Drew Edmondson, $500 to Tom Adelson, and $1,500 to Pete Regan)

Read more from Muskogee Politico below.

On January 18^th, 2022, the United States Department of Health and Human Services proposed amendments to the IHR. These amendments give control over the declaration of a public health emergency in any member state to the WHO Director-General – even over the objection of the member state. The Director-General communicated the text of the proposed amendments on 20 January 2022, via a circular letter to State Parties.

The proposed IHR amendments also cede control to WHO “regional directors,” who are given the authority to declare a Public Health Emergency of Regional Concern (PHERC). Moreover, the proposed amendments allow the Director-General to ring an international alarm bell, by unilaterally issuing an “Intermediate Public Health Alert (IPHA).”

Congress needs to hear from you, demanding our nation end this relationship with the WHO.

Find your congressperson HERE, and then use this sample email to craft your message.

Sample Email:

Subject line: FROM YOUR CONSTITUENT: End the relationship with the WHO.

“Dear Legislator,

I am deeply concerned about Joe Biden’s proposed amendments to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) charter, which would cede U.S. authority over our health care, our borders and our laws to unelected, nongovernmental global governing bodies.

This loss of sovereignty will directly undercut the individual freedom of Americans. This is unacceptable.

WHO has come under repeated investigation for corruption, scandals and lies. WHO has proven to be closely tied with and/or influenced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This has become especially apparent during the COVID pandemic.

At the same time, there has been significant outcry from voters across America against digital vaccine credentials (Vaccine Passports) and other government efforts to trace and track law-abiding citizens. In March 2022, WHO launched its global push for Vaccine Passports to restrict and control the movement and freedom of the world’s population.

Meanwhile, more than 20 U.S. states have taken steps to limit or completely ban the use of Vaccine Passports or other digital proof of vaccination.

I urge you to do everything in your power to stop attempts by Joe Biden to put the free and independent citizens of the United States of America under the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE SESSION!

With just days left in the legislative session, Sen. Shane Jett has amended House Bill 2335 to restrict state agencies from imposing vaccine mandates and requiring vaccine passports. The Shawnee Republican is encouraging Oklahomans to call their local senators and share their support of the legislation and ask that it be approved immediately. Read the full press release here.

As many question voter security in the U.S., this is what has happened in Oklahoma to better the process.

HB3364 (requires an ID to request absentee ballots) and HB3365 (improves voter registration maintenance) have totally passed the legislature and are now awaiting the Governors signature.

HB3364 will have some impact this year and a lot of impact for 2023 forward. The reason for partial impact for 2022 is that voters can request absentee ballots for a full year at the beginning of the year. The bill is effective 7/1/2022. This bill should definitely help spring 2023 school board and city council elections.

HB3365 is effective 1/1/23. Some of the changes could be implemented early.

Update: this bill is expected to be heard the week of 5/15/22 here is the current list of co-authors per last week’s action alert to contact your legislators to co-author. Great work!

You may have heard, that Senator Bullard has rejected the amendments to SB 615. This has caused some confusion! Senator Bullard has rejected the amendments which the House created in order to STRENGTHEN THEM! To reject the amendments does not mean that the bill is dead. It just means that it has an additional step of going to a conference committee after it passes the Senate. You can read the new stronger amendments here. 

This bill will have to go through the following steps.

1. Senate conference committee
2. Senate floor
3. House floor
4. Governor’s desk.

OKHPR supports this updated language and we need your help to get this bill heard!

Step 1: Please contact Senate Floor Leader Greg McCortney and President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and ask that they put this bill on the Senate agenda. If you are a constituent of either Senator, please add FROM YOUR CONSTITUENT to the subject line of your email and mention that you are a constituent during your phone call.

Senator Greg McCortney
405-521-5541
greg.mccortney@oksenate.gov

Senator Greg Treat
405-521-5632
greg.treat@oksenate.gov

Sample email:
Subject Line: Hearing for SB 615
Senator _______,

I am emailing to ask that you please allow SB 615 to be heard on the Senate floor.

Thank you for your time,
Your name
Your full address

Sample phone script:

“Hi, I am calling to ask that Senator _________ please allow SB 615 to be heard on the Senate floor”

Step 2: Call and email your Representative and Senator and ask that they co-author the bill. The more co-authors the bill has, the better chance it has of getting heard in the Senate! If you are unsure who your Representative and Senator is, we recommend you download the Oklahoma 58th Legislature app to find them AND to find their contact information. ! Download it on apple here, or android here. You can also find your legislators online here.

Please do not use the contact form from the oklegislature.gov website. These emails are often ignored. Your Representative’s email address will be firstname.lastname@okhouse.gov. Your Senator’s email address will be firstname.lastname@oksenate.gov.

Sample email:
Subject Line: FROM YOUR CONSTITUENT: Please co-author SB 615
Senator/Representative  _______,

I am emailing to ask that you please co-author SB 615.

Thank you for your time,
Your name
Your full address

Sample phone script:

“Hi, I am a constituent and I calling to ask that Senator/Representative _________ please co-author SB 615.”