OKlahoma Shoppers get Relief!

......thru the Grapevine......

In a first for Oklahoma shoppers....relief will come in the form of NO (state sales) TAX for purchase of footwear or clothing - called 'back-to-school-clothing' that is $100.00 or less per item. There is no limit on the overall total as long as per item is less than $100. Shoppers will enjoy this saving$ beginning at 12:01am this Friday, August 3 and going until 12:00 midnight Sunday night, August 5. A Republican controlled State House finally succeeded in passing the 'sales tax holiday' where Dim control refused for years to give Oklahoma shoppers a break and help retailers by preventing the annual mass exodus to Texas for 'bargain' shopping! Could be a little confusion as to which items are tax exempt, but any shopper worth the shoe leather can work it out! Shop on folks! $pend that green at home!

Speaking of 'breaks'....the Grapevine traveled in Texas last week & the state decision to 'repeal' the state tax on gasoline for the summer months of June, July, and August had their pump prices at $2.69. Upon arriving in Lawton, marquee showed $3.09. Talk to your legislator!

US Sen. James Inhofe, R-OK, sponsored a measure that passed by unanimous consent clarifying a law that said veterans and other military personnel out of uniform should place their hands over their hearts when recognizing the flag. Inhofe’s proposal makes it clear that military people can salute the flag when out of uniform.“The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one’s military service,” Inhofe said. “Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform.“Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion whether veterans and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not.” -excerpt, Ron Jenkins, AP

The Oklahoma Centennial Commission has provided a list of 147 miscellaneous projects that may receive state funding as part of the centennial celebration. State Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-OKC, recently called on the Commission to reveal how much state money may be spent on each of the 147 projects. Reynolds, was quoted as saying, "That's unprecedented. It's not enough to tell the taxpayers where their money will be spent. They have a right to know how much will be spent.” Just like the parents throwing a party for their children, they know where it will be held but they need to know how much it will cost. According to Reynolds, commission officials have also indicated some communities that received state centennial funding last year have not provided promised local matching dollars. Reynolds has asked the commission to publicly identify those communities so that they may be asked to return the state funding. "If they won't provide their matching funds, the state should get its money back."The 100th birthday of our state is a milestone; we need to remember that the money spent on this celebration comes from the taxpayer’s pockets. There should be no secrets on how this money is spent. Good parents would expect it from their children and we should expect the same from our state government.-excerpt, The Conservative View, Russell Turner

It appears newly appointed Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth has violated state law by giving illegal campaign contributions to Attorney General Drew Edmondson, State Rep. Mike Reynolds alleged Friday."While reviewing Attorney General Drew Edmondson's recent letter to the Ethics Commission admitting to being an illegal conduit for political contributions I discovered that not only did he give illegal contributions but he received them as well," said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. -McCarville blog

People need to stop using cell phones and keep both hands on the wheel when driving, says Rep. Paul Wesselhöft. The Moore Republican plans to file legislation to increase punishments for cell-phone-using drivers. Under Wesselhöft's bill if an automobile accident can be attributed to cell-phone use, the penalty will be a mandatory $1,000 fine and a mandatory 20 days in jail along with any other penalties for other crimes associated with the accident. -McCarville blog

ed: Wesselhoft's proposal is not proving popular, but stats back up...use of cell phones while driving - a contributing factor in many wrecks and auto deaths. Don't dial/text and drive

New York Sen. Charles E. "get your gun" Schumer, a powerful member of the Democratic leadership, said Friday the Senate should not confirm another U.S. Supreme Court nominee under President Bush 'except in extraordinary circumstances.' 'We should reverse the presumption of confirmation,' Schumer told the American Constitution Society convention in Washington. 'The Supreme Court is dangerously out of balance. We cannot afford to see Justice Stevens replaced by another Roberts, or Justice Ginsburg by another Alito.'"- Politico.com

ed: emphasis & Chuckies nick-name coined by Grapevine

OINK! "In the past four years, US Rep. Jerry Lewis has helped steer $2.75 million dollars [YOUR tax dollars] toward the revitalization of a neighborhood that lies thousands of miles from his Inland Southern California district, but only blocks from his Washington home, according to records and interviews with those close to the project."- Press-Enterprise"(T)he Washington, DC branch of the Carpenters Union has been hiring the homeless to picket job sites, often at wages lower than ones the union is picketing in favor of!"- Center for Union Facts“One of the things that bothers me most is the growing belief in the country that security is more important than freedom. It ain't.”- Lyn Nofziger

“Reporters who were expecting a formal announcement in July that (Fred) Thompson would be running will be disappointed. Recent news articles scrutinizing his record have convinced Thompson aides that they should delay the real media hazing the candidate is likely to undergo once the former Tennessee senator officially announces. . . . (A)n announcement now won't come until August or even early September.”- John Fund, Political Diary

“McCain's allies will be scrutinizing the polls. If he is running fourth at year's end, they say, the dream is over.”- Columnist Robert Novak

On Saturday, August 4, the Oklahoma Chapter of the Western Music Association and interested people will meet to share ideas for performing together and promoting Western music in Oklahoma. They will be meeting at 2:00pm atKIGQ BBQ, 1315 E. Central (Highway 62), Anadarko, OK. You will be able to eat - dutch treat. In addition, the group plans to "jam" together for about 1 ½ hours or so after the meeting. The Western Music Association is open to anyone who likes cowboy/Western/Western swing music. Whether you are a performer (musician, singer, cowboy poet, etc.) or simply a fan of Western music, you are invited to become a member. See the WMA web site at http://www.westernmusic.org/ for an application and details. So come join the fun, even if it is just to listen. Visitors are welcome.For additional info contact Jim Garling in Guthrie at (405) 260-0024 or Stan Paregien in Edmond at (405)-348-0403

Lawton kicks off its annual Birthday celebration this week-end.....the annual parade on Friday, August 3 and other festivities (to include a BBQ & fireworks) will be held in and around Elmer Thomas Park at 300 block NW Ferris in Lawton. The annual Ranger Rodeo will kick off Wednesday, August 8th with events nightly through Saturday, August 11 at the LO Ranch, east of Lawton off highway 7. Ya'll come!

Birthdays and remembrance! Not only is our state celebrating its Centennial birthday but John Wayne aka "the Duke" would be celebrating his 100th birthday this year and in remembrance of one of the best-loved silver-screen cowboys, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in OKC unveiled a larger than life tribute to the Duke this past week-end. The 8' 8" bronze of the Duke, in full cowboy garb, was sculpted by Edward J. Fraughton who said he tried to represent Wayne as an icon from the middle years of his career. Wayne died in 1979. The bronze will be a permanent display at the museum.

And, gone but never forgotten, the father of one of the Grapevine co-hosts, George W. Gill, born the year Oklahoma became a state, 100 years old April 30, 2007. Although he deserves it, we don't need a bronze to remember Dad!
Happy Birthday to All!