NEW WEB ADDRESS: [www.4disdem.org]
OLD WEB ADDRESS: [www.4disdem.com]
Please note the change of .com to org.
Fourth District Democrat is on the move! We have decided to migrate from Typepad to Wordpress as our basic blog application program. This will provide readers with a much more user friendly format and allow us [...]
Mickey Hepner
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — Growing up, my parents taught me the old saying that “you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” After seeing clips from some of the health care town halls across the country, it is clear that some Republicans never learned that lesson.
Every year [...]
Air Force Doctor tells Fourth District Democrats:
America’s current health care system is unsustainable.
See article below.
Health care system broken, Air Force doctor says
Norman Transcript
By M. Scott Carter
August 15, 2009
[www.normantranscript.com]
— America 's current health care system is unsustainable' [...]
Air Force Doctor tells Fourth District Democrats:
America’s current health care system is unsustainable.
See article below.
Health care system broken, Air Force doctor says.
Norman Transcript
By M. Scott Carter
August 15, 2009
[www.normantranscript.com]
— America 's current health care system is unsustainable and must be fixed, a former high-ranking Air Force official said Friday.
Speaking to' [...]
From David Axelrod
Senior Adviser to the President
8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage
Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, [...]
THIS OUR TIME"
ATTEND THE HEALTH CARE TOWN HALL MEETING"
Join us to discuss health care issues in Oklahoma"
What: Informational Meeting
Host: Oklahomans for Health Care
Start Time: Thursday, August 13 at 6:30pm
End Time: Thurday, August 13 at 8:00pm
Where: Cameron College [...]
It was a very long week as I hosted a delegation of political visitors from El Salvador for five days. They had a very good time and hopefully this will improve trade relations between not only Oklahoma, but the United States.
We also [...]
Dear Friend,
Anyone that's watched the news in the past few days knows that health insurance reform is a hot topic — and that rumors and scare tactics have only increased as more people engage with the issue. Given a lot of the outrageous claims' [...]
Vets' health care is safe and sound | Health Insurance Reform Reality Check
Shared via AddThis
CONGRESSMAN TOM COLE HOLDS DISTRICT MEETINGS
PRESIDENT OBAMA URGES AMERICANS TO TELL CONGRESS TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE REFORM
This week and next, Tom Cole is meeting with Fourth District Oklahomans. President Obama urges us to meeting with our members of Congress to urge passage of Health Care Reform.
[...]
Mickey Hepner
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — Now that Congress has entered its August recess, its members are fanning out across the nation seeking input from their constituents about proposed health care reform legislation. My suggestion? Keep working to make this bill better.
Most everyone agrees that some type of health care reform [...]
Hi.
My purpose in reaching out to you is to suggest a fundraiser for your county’s Democratic party. We have a supply of bumper stickers that read, “Feelin’ Blue in a Red State”. They have [...]
By NANCY COFFER
Senior State Director
AARP Oklahoma
AARP believes health care is not a Democratic or Republican issue. As debate on health reform has intensified, we have seen the rhetoric increase from groups who want to block progress on health care reform by using myths and scare tactics.
Let me be clear: AARP [...]
OKLAHOMA CITY – Lt. Governor Jari Askins teamed up with the Oklahoma Small Business Advocacy Committee and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce today to host a small business forum in Miami. Askins spoke with regional small business owners Thursday at a town hall [...]
Hi,
My inbox has been flooded with emails spreading crazy rumors about health reform so I wanted to share some facts from AARP about what's really going on. Please join me in forwarding these facts to everyone you know. Print them out and pass them around at your social gatherings and' [...]
It has been a busy week as I have hosted seven government officials from El Salvador since Sunday. They will be leaving on Thursday morning, so I'm hoping they have had an enjoyable and educational time.
They had the chance to tour the State Capitol,' [...]
The Cleveland County Democratic Party will host its Tyner Cornbread and Beans luncheon 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Holiday Inn, Interstate 35 and Robinson Street.
State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland will speak on "Current Proposals for Affordable Health Insurance." Holland is the first woman elected as Insurance Commissioner in Oklahoma history.
Lunch [...]
Mickey Hepner
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — While it is premature to state that the recession is over, the latest economic data indicates the recovery might be near. While our elected officials undoubtedly will tout this good news, much of the credit deserves to go to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, who might [...]
The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Friday night approved the Democrats’ healthcare reform bill, setting up a floor vote this fall.
[...]The overall quality of care in Oklahoma is rated as "Weak."
Can you accepte this level of medical care?
[...]The percent of Oklahomans with employer coverage is declining: 54 percent were covered in 2007.
Can we allow people without employer coverage go without medical care?
[...]It has been a busy week as I have been traveling quite a bit around the district and to the office for meetings. I have also been preparing to host a group of political leaders from El Salvador through the American Council of Young Political Leaders. [...]
19 percent of people in Oklahoma are uninsured, and 70 percent of them are in families with at least one full time worker.
Can you allow your family and friends to be without medical care being provided for?
[...]High costs block access to care: 17 percent of people in Oklahoma report not visiting a doctor due to high costs.
Can you afford to continue not going to the doctor?
[...]EDITOR: HOW ABOUT AN ASSOCIATE ECONOMICS PROFESSOR?
Mickey Hepner
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — With U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin leaving Congress to run for governor, voters in Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District will be electing a new representative in 2010. Using history as a guide, this new member of Congress will likely be a [...]
Gov. Brad Henry has scheduled special election dates to fill a vacant state House post in western Oklahoma.
Rep. Ryan McMullen resigned his House District 55 seat this month to become state director of rural development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Under Henry's proclamation the filing period for the post will' [...]
Household budgets are strained by high costs: 29 percent of middle-income Oklahoma families spend more that 10 percent of their income on health care.
Can you afford to continue paying rising costs?
[...]Dear friend,
Health insurance costs and access to health care remain out of reach for too many Oklahomans – and widespread demand for reform is building.
Across the state, community leaders and everyday Oklahomans are gathering together in town halls and coffee shops to talk about how [...]
Since 2000 alone, average family premiums have increased by 77 percent in Oklahoma.
Can you afford to contine paying rising costs?
[...]Roughly 1.9 million people in Oklahoma get health insurance on the job, where family premiums average $ 12,256, about the annual earning of a full-time minimum wage job.
Can you afford to continue paying rising costs?
[...]While the White House continues to push Congress to pass healthcare legislation before the August recess, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index finds 16.0% of American adults in June saying they do not have health insurance, up slightly from the average of 14.8% in 2008.
Read more at [www.gallup.com]
I had the opportunity this past weekend to attend the Apache Rattlesnake Association Banquet and learn more about their festival. Even with two days of rain over the four day event, the festival almost equaled their largest return over the years. This adds to the [...]
Daily Kos: Morning Feature: Is Obama Still Saddled with the Bush Doctrine?.
What has happened to Kos? Is it going main stream?
[...]Askins spoke with regional small business owners Thursday at a town hall meeting at LawtonÂ’s Cameron University.
Officials from Cameron's Center for Emerging Technology' [...]
Comanche County
Democratic Party Monthly Meeting
The Comanche County Democratic Party is holding their monthly meeting this Monday, July 20th at the SW Oklahoma Blood Institute Conference Room 211, SW A. Ave in Down Town Lawton.
As always, the event is open [...]
Ex-lawmaker Ryan McMullen begins federal ag job | NewsOK.com.
EDITOR: I have place McMullen on my watch list. I don't think we have heard the last from this young man.
' [...]This was a busy weekend as we saw the OKC Thunder, our professional basketball team, visit Chickasha and Anadarko on Saturday. It was a pleasure to meet many of the staffers who make the operation work so well and have a chance to visit with them about how much [...]
Stimulus funds set aside for Picher Housing Authority remain on hold | KJRH.com.
[...]
Getting prescription drug costs under control is a critical part of health reform.
Some "biologic" drugs, often used to treat cancers, cost up to $10,000 a month!
...and the big drug companies are fighting tooth and nail to keep it that way.
Tell Congress that health reform must include a path [...]
I hope everyone had a safe Independence Day this past weekend. I had the opportunity to ride in the Marlow parade, then attend the community events in Cyril and Apache (just as the rain hit), and also attended a cookout. I then went to the [...]
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed landmark environmental legislation that for the first time will put a price on carbon emissions. The measure, which passed on a mostly party-line vote, now faces an uncertain fate in the Senate. But to many mainstream economists, the [...]
“There has [...]
PIMCO - El Erian FT 7-2 US Jobs Data.
What if the U.S. unemployment rate rises above 10 percent and stays there for an extended period? This is a question that is not being asked [...]
I was in Oklahoma City over most of the weekend visiting friends in the hospital. I won't mention their names, but please keep those from our area who are sick or injured in your prayers. It is amazing what the will of people and the' [...]
Oklahoma City, OK (June 30, 2009) – Citing hunger as one of Oklahoma's biggest health crises, the Oklahoma Democratic Party's Central Committee completed a week-long donation drive for local charity Infant Crisis Services with a tour of the ICS facility on Saturday.
"The mission of the Democratic Party is rooted in" [...]
Gmail - From Gallup.Com: More Americans See Democratic Party as “Too Liberal” - geezeweb@gmail.com.
Currently, 46% of Americans say the Democratic Party is “too liberal,” up from 39% last year and slightly more than the 43% [...]
PETITION TO SAVE THE UNION STATION RAIL TERMINAL
Please sign the petition AT [bit.ly] and forward to your friends. Thanks! Change OKLAHOMA.
Background:
The Union Station Terminal facility at purchased with public funds specifically to serve as a regional passenger rail hub and is essential to [...]
EDMOND — The progress of health-care reform legislation is still in the early stages of the legislative process, but the sharp disagreement over whether the plan should include a government-run health insurance plan threatens the overall reform’s progress and eventual passage.
Many Democrats, including most Democratic leaders, [...]
WHEN: Saturday, July 11th, 2009----10 am
WHERE: Achille Public Schools, Auditorium, Achille Oklahoma
Randall Gorman will be announcing his candidacy for Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
He earned his bachelors degree in social studies education in 1995 and his masters in educational administration in 2000.
His teaching career began [...]
Supporter Blog: A Green Economy
26 June 2009
By Chris Collins
Last year, my family spent a lot of time talking about gas prices. Over the winter, we watched others struggle to keep their houses warm. And as the new year began, we saw debates about energy continue in Washington. It’s [...]
Oklahoma City, OK (June 25, 2009) – As a part of Saturday's National Health Care Day of Service, officials in the Oklahoma Democratic Party will be delivering donations and taking a tour of Infant Crisis Services.
"The mission of the Democratic Party is rooted in helping those less fortunate and binding'" [...]
Jun 23
I have been staying busy in the office with constituent work the past couple of days. One of the more interesting calls dealt with the issue of "In God we Trust" being left off the newly-minted U.S. dollar coins. I did some research on this [...]
June 23, 2009
NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma has vast potential for the development of the renewable resource and it could be a boon to the state’s economy, speakers at a wind energy conference said Tuesday.
About 400 people are expected to attend the two-day Oklahoma Wind Commerce 2009 at [...]
Dear friend,
As the national movement to fix our broken health care system gains momentum, here in Oklahoma we can see firsthand how families and small businesses are being crushed by skyrocketing health care costs. We can see that more than 20% of our population can't afford insurance, and those who' [...]
I had a fun day on Saturday as that I had the chance to watch the filming of a major motion picture that is shooting in Oklahoma City and Guthrie. This is a great business opportunity for our state and brings in a boost to [...]
Interesting discussion on the Conservative Moderate Liberal distribution.
[...]Mickey Hepner
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — Recently on my Twitter account I posted a link to an excellent Washington Post story detailing what it is like to live in poverty. A friend and fellow tweeter quickly replied by asking “And your solution to the poor would be…?” At first, I did [...]
It is a sad time around the State Capitol as we lost one of our coworkers this past weekend. Ashley Pena, the legislative assistant to Rep. Don Armes, passed away from injuries sustained from an accident. She was in the hospital for over a week [...]
Posted: June 10, 2009 10:47 AM CDT
LAWTON, Okla. - The Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday that Oklahoma Lt. Governor Jari Askins will speak at the Legislative Luncheon on Friday, June 12, 2009.
The Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce has hosted three successful luncheons during this legislative [...]
Dear friend,
This past weekend, Democrats throughout the state joined together to take action on one of the most pressing issues in our country today: health care.
It's no coincidence that many of these events followed a recent report from the White House Council of Economic Advisors, which emphasized what many of' [...]
Drew Edmondson <info@edmondson2010.com> to geezeweb@gmail.com
10:13am
The City of Norman's share of the federal economic stimulus package is a "good news, bad news" thing, Norman mayor Cindy Rosenthal said Friday.
The good news -- officials say the city is set to receive several million dollars in federal economic stimulus funds for road improvement, energy efficiency improvements and' [...]
Mickey Hepner
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — With nearly 50 million uninsured Americans, the debate about health care reform, or more accurately health insurance reform, is going to be one of the most important policy debates this decade. Unfortunately, it appears that the most likely outcome of that debate will not contain [...]
Oklahoma City - Gov. Brad Henry named Fred C. Smith Jr. to serve as District Attorney for Comanche and Cotton Counties on Thursday.
Smith will fill the unexpired term of Robert Schulte, who is retiring after 24 years in office.
Gov. Henry said Smith, who has served as the area's' [...]
Oklahoma City, OK (June 4, 2009) –
Todd Goodman,Chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, issued this statement on Thursday following the announcement by Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor that she would not be seeking re-election:
"The Oklahoma Democratic Party would like to applaud Mayor Kathy Taylor for her years of service to" [...]
The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia.
Click on Blue Words to read.
[...]PRINCETON, NJ -- By a better than 2-to-1 margin, Americans are opposed to closing the Guantanamo Bay prison that houses terror suspects and moving some of those prisoners to the United [...]
State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax today issued the following statement:
The State Election Board staff has been investigating the ten “deceased voters” identified by the Tulsa World who were recorded as voting.
So far we have found reasonable explanations in 9 of these cases. The tenth is still under [...]
The session has finally concluded and the legislators are back in their districts waiting to see which bills Governor Henry will sign and which will be vetoed. Oklahoma has a system similar to the federal government, but with some modification. Any bill passed by [...]
Comanche County
Democratic Party Monthly Meeting
& Health Care Kick Off
The Comanche County Democratic Party is holding their monthly meeting this Monday, June 15th at the SW Oklahoma Blood Institute Conference Room [...]
Oklahoma City, OK (June 1, 2009) - Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Todd Goodman today issued this statement regarding the announcement that Congressman John Sullivan, R-Tulsa, had checked himself into a rehabilitation center for treatment for alcohol abuse:
"The Oklahoma Democratic Party wishes to express our support for Congressman John Sullivan in" [...]
The legislature ended in a roar this year as we saw members required to vote past the deadline agreed to early on for adjournment. The Senate held a vote open for almost four hours on a bill to create a [...]
Goodman Praises Pres. Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee
Sen. Jim Inhofe statement on this historic nomination
"In the months ahead, it will be important for those of us in the U.S. Senate to weigh her qualifications and character as well as her ability to rule" [...]
OKLAHOMA CITY – On what was to have been the final day of the 2009 session of the Oklahoma Legislature, Sen. Jay Paul Gumm and Rep. Joe Dorman succeeded in their session-long effort to make children safer in their own neighborhoods.
The lawmakers had worked all session to pass legislation that [...]
PRINCETON, NJ -- More Americans disapprove than approve of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's handling of the matter concerning the government's use of harsh interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects. Majorities approve of President Barack [...]
Lawton Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will honor five citizens who served the Lawton community by supporting the sorority’s national Five Point Programmatic Thrust at a ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Barnett A.M.E. Chapel, 3401 SW Abilene.
Recipients of the awards include: Billy Taylor, Goodyear [...]
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 20, 2009) – State Rep. Joe Dorman praised the U.S. Congress today for voting to restrict predatory credit card lending practices such as sudden interest rate increases and lending to those under 21 without an income.
“As a lawmaker who is concerned about predatory lending practices, I [...]
It has been an interesting two weeks at the Capitol as we have been reviewing the final rounds of legislation for this session. The legislature determined a date for adjournment of May 22, which is one week earlier than the Constitutional deadline.
We [...]
Only frequent churchgoers show no decline in support since 2001
by Jeffrey M. Jones PRINCETON, NJ -- The decline in Republican Party affiliation among Americans in recent years is well documented, but a Gallup analysis now [...]
