31-03-2025
March madness: Columnists had takes on Ryan Walters, Donald Trump and Oklahoma government
The month Marched by like a lion. Here is some of the opinion commentary you may have missed.
EDITORIAL: State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters' track record suggests the need for strong oversight on how federal funds are spent when they reach Oklahoma.
EDUCATION NEEDS FIXED: Oklahoma will never be able to attract the right amount of talent to sustain jobs needed to move forward until we fix our education system, writes guest columnist Brian Busey.
'CRISIS OF COMMUNITY': For decades, Oklahoma has expanded charter schools, instituted school voucher programs and prioritized private schools, writes Sen. Carri Hicks. Public schools are lagging.
SLIPPERY SLOPE: If we give the state the power to decide which faith must be taught, we also give it the power to decide which faith must be silenced, writes guest columnist Brian Montgomery. The Bible doesn't need you to force it into schools to endure.
More: See our March editorial cartoons on Ryan Walters, Trump and more
READERS' TAKES: We asked readers how they feel about Trump's order to dismantle the federal Education Department. Here's what they had to say.
HOW DO YOU LIKE HIM NOW?: President Donald Trump is firing essential workers, abandoning Ukraine and hurting farmers. And we still have inflation. Guest columnist Nancy Snow asks: Is this the Trump you had in mind, Oklahoma voters?
DOGE'S LEADERSHIP VACUUM: Our lack of great leaders is on full display in Washington, D.C., writes guest columnist Phil Busey, and Oklahomans won't be immune from the repercussions of those leaders' failures. DOGE firings will hurt us here, too.
LITTLE HOPE AHEAD?: As the extreme lies and dictates of the Trump administration become worse, who knows how extreme the costs could be? Guest columnist John Thompson writes that presentations at a University of Oklahoma conference leave little hope about control of executive powers.
Blaming Ukraine for defending itself against an invading horde bent on murder, devastation and oppression is counterfactual and counterproductive. Trump risks the same trap with Putin as Britain did with Hitler, write guest columnists Andy Lester and Mariana Pitts.
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GRAVE CONCERN: Oklahoma's casket industry is regulated to death. State Sen. Michael Bergstrom writes in a guest column that he has introduced a bill to fix that.
TAKING AWAY OUR VOICES: An Oklahoma Senate bill moving forward would put more barriers in the way of residents wanting to bypass the Legislature with an initiative petition. William C. Wertz writes about why it's a bad measure.
STATE CONTROL: Foreign money is pouring into U.S. election campaigns, and the federal government isn't acting. Oklahoma elections must be decided by the people, not undisclosed campaign funds, writes guest columnist Josh West.
CARE CRISIS: Laws like Oklahoma House Bill 1224 have been used to let pharmacists refuse to fill prescriptions, doctors to turn patients away and hospitals to withhold treatment. The bill lets doctors deny care. Your life may be at risk, writes guest columnist Nicole Sukenis.
BETTER THAN TAX CUT: Senate Bill 638 would bring a larger relief to Oklahoma households than the reduction in the state's portion of the sales tax on groceries. Guest columnist James Davenport tells you why.
DEI WORKS: The company I co-own formally adopted our diversity, equity and inclusion program about 10 years ago, writes guest columnist Russ Florence. It's been great for business.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: March commentary: Takes on Ryan Walters, Donald Trump and more
