Latest news with #DepartmentofCorruption
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmaker files bill to rename state's Department of Corrections
OKLAHOMA CITY (KNWA/KFTA) — An Oklahoma lawmaker has filed a bill that would rename the state's Department of Corrections. House Bill 1310 was filed on Jan. 15 by Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane) and would rename the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to the Oklahoma Department of Corruption. 'The Oklahoma Legislature has published all the bills for our upcoming 2025 session,' Humphrey said in a news release on Tuesday. 'It is not unusual that I would receive some negative comments, and several media stations have questioned why I file certain bills. One such bill that has been drawing numerous questions is changing the name of the Department of Corrections to the Department of Corruption. Many think this is a childish waste of time. I disagree.' The release said Humphrey blamed the legislation on Steven Harpe, the department's director, who he said is 'the worst he's seen at the job in his 35 years of working for or with corrections.' The lawmaker continued saying Harpe has zero experience but his salary has increased $90,000. Humphrey said he made an open records request for documents saying the raise was authorized but was told no records existed. Crews search for Army veteran after crash sends car into Arkansas River 'Based on the claim of no records, this seems like embezzlement,' Humphrey said. The release said Humphrey was told by the department if he wanted to see other records, he would have to see them in person and not be allowed to make copies. Humphrey also said he was told he would be required to sign a non-disclosure contract because of his release of nonpublic records. When Humphrey asked about what records he had released, department officials reportedly refused to tell him. Humphrey said HB1013 brings attention to one small example of what he calls 'the Oklahoma swamp.' The bill says any and all references made to the Department of Corrections would be amended to read the Department of Corruption If the bill is passed, it would go into effect on Nov. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma's political silly season is here, rife with cockamamie legislative ideas
As if we don't already have enough laws on our books, Oklahoma legislators have decided we need at least 3,100 more. Yes, our state representatives filed about 1,960 proposed laws and resolutions, while our state senators filed about 1,140 of them. But have no fear, only a fraction of these bills likely will become law because December and January of each year is the legislative period that I unaffectionately call 'political silly season.' Political silly season, mercifully, is a short but brutal period when legislators unveil all sorts of cockamamie ideas aimed at further stripping Oklahomans of their freedoms or attempting to insert governmental 'assistance' in areas that we're doing perfectly well without it. Each year, without fail, Oklahomans are unlucky enough to bear witness to a parade of bills that would be hilariously funny if it were April Fools Day. Sadly, it's not a joke when state lawmakers are wasting taxpayer resources filing ludicrous proposals they actually believe in or ― more likely ― hope will score them cheap political points. For instance, please raise your hand if you're participating in robotic cockfighting. Anyone? House Bill 1326, filed by a Republican, seeks to legalize fighting real roosters against robotic ones as long as the live bird doesn't get hurt. Uhm. I've never been to a cockfight, but isn't incapacitating a rival rooster the whole point? Isn't that why the sport is viewed as so barbaric it's classified as a felony in our state? I guess I know which bird my money will always be on. Then there's a Republican measure proposing that we rename the Department of Corrections the Department of Corruption. I could see changing the name to the Department of Punishment because traditionally legislators have favored policies that lock people up for inordinate amounts of time with little interest in rehabilitating them, leading to some of the highest incarceration rates in the nation. But if the Department of Corruption gains traction, I can only imagine how conversations would go behind the walls of our prisons. 'I'm with the Department of Corruption, and I'm here to shake you down, twerp. Hand me all your commissary funds.' More: Lawmaker wants Department of Corrections changed to Department of Corruption Speaking of convicted felons, we have another Republican lawmaker who has filed legislation seeking to protect President Donald Trump's so-called 'constitutional right' to vote in Oklahoma. According to a news release from the legislator, the point of the bill is to 'send a clear message that every American, and especially the president of the United States, is afforded their full rights and protections in Oklahoma, regardless of political attacks elsewhere.' For starters, Trump doesn't have a 'constitutional right' to vote in Oklahoma because he doesn't live here. Like everywhere else in this country, we only allow residents to vote in our elections. When Trump's latest stint in the White House is up in four years, I don't see him suddenly trading his cushy, oceanfront digs in Florida and moving himself and Melania to landlocked Oklahoma. Then there are the two useless Republican bills that seem aimed at harming the homeless. The first makes it a misdemeanor crime, punishable by up to a year in jail, to remove a shopping cart from a retail store. It's already a crime to steal any item from businesses, so why do we need to carve out shopping carts? A second bill allows municipalities to expend funds on one-way bus tickets to destinations out of state for their homeless. The bill does not require unhoused residents to agree to the removal, which raises some serious constitutional questions. If that becomes law, I'm certain our neighboring states will adopt similar legislation that allows them to send their homeless to Oklahoma. And don't get me started on the proposed 'Covenant Marriage Act.' It proposes offering couples a $2,500 tax credit if they agree to be married forever. The only way to escape that would be if your spouse commits one of the terrible three 'As' — abuse, adultery or abandonment. And while we're on the topic of trapping people in loveless marriages, that same Republican lawmaker wants to ban no-fault divorce. That means 'incompatibility' would no longer be grounds to end a marriage. Legitimate grounds for divorce would include 'insanity for a period of five years' that requires being institutionalized and a 'poor prognosis for recovery.' It also would remove incarceration as grounds for divorce. Political silly season should drive Oklahomans insane. Can we get a bill that grants Oklahomans a divorce from dumb legislative ideas? The good news is ridiculous legislation typically meets an early demise each year during the annual legislative session. But bills like these are bad for a state that's trying to convince people and businesses that we live in the 21st century, and that we have state leaders that share that mindset. So here's hoping that next year a miracle occurs and that every piece is focused on raising our lagging outcomes. But I'm not holding my breath. Janelle Stecklein is editor of Oklahoma Voice. An award-winning journalist, Stecklein has been covering Oklahoma government and politics since moving to the state in 2014. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's legislative session filled with cockamamie ideas | Opinion
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Welcome to Oklahoma's political silly season, a period filled with cockamamie legislative ideas
(Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) As if we don't already have enough laws on our books, Oklahoma legislators have decided we need at least 3,100 more. Yes, our state representatives filed about 1,960 proposed laws and resolutions, while our state senators filed about 1,140 of them. But have no fear, only a fraction of these bills will likely become law because December and January of each year is the legislative period that I unaffectionately call 'political silly season.' Political silly season, mercifully, is a short but brutal period when legislators unveil all sorts of cockamamie ideas aimed at further stripping Oklahomans of their freedoms or attempting to insert governmental 'assistance' in areas that we're doing perfectly well without it. Each year, without fail, Oklahomans are unlucky enough to bear witness to a parade of bills that would be hilariously funny if it were April Fools Day. Sadly, it's not a joke when state lawmakers are wasting taxpayer resources filing ludicrous proposals they actually believe in or – more likely – hope will score them cheap political points. For instance, please raise your hand if you're participating in robotic cockfighting. Anyone? House Bill 1326, filed by a Republican, seeks to legalize fighting real roosters against robotic ones as long as the live cock doesn't get hurt. Uhm. I've never been to a cockfight, but isn't incapacitating a rival rooster the whole point? Isn't that why the sport is viewed as so barbaric it's classified as a felony in our state? I guess I know which bird my money will always be on. Then there's a Republican measure proposing that we rename the Department of Corrections the Department of Corruption. I could see changing the name to the Department of Punishment because traditionally legislators have favored policies that lock people up for inordinate amounts of time with little interest in rehabilitating them, leading to some of the highest incarceration rates in the nation. But if the Department of Corruption gains traction, I can only imagine how conversations would go behind the walls of our prisons. 'I'm with the Department of Corruption, and I'm here to shake you down, twerp. Hand me all your commissary funds.' Speaking of convicted felons, we have another Republican lawmaker who has filed legislation seeking to protect President Donald Trump's so-called 'constitutional right' to vote in Oklahoma. According to a press release from the legislator, the point of the bill is to 'send a clear message that every American, and especially the president of the United States, is afforded their full rights and protections in Oklahoma, regardless of political attacks elsewhere.' For starters, Trump doesn't have a 'constitutional right' to vote in Oklahoma because he doesn't live here. Like everywhere else in this country, we only allow residents to vote in our elections. When Trump's latest stint in the White House is up in four years, I don't see him suddenly trading his cushy, oceanfront digs in Florida and moving himself and Melania to landlocked Oklahoma. Then there are the two useless Republican bills that seem aimed at harming the homeless. The first makes it a misdemeanor crime, punishable by up to a year in jail, to remove a shopping cart from a retail store. It's already a crime to steal any item from businesses, so why do we need to carve out shopping carts? A second bill allows municipalities to expend funds on one-way bus tickets to destinations out of state for their homeless. The bill does not require unhoused residents to agree to the removal, which raises some serious constitutional questions. If that becomes law, I'm certain our neighboring states will adopt similar legislation that allows them to send their homeless to Oklahoma. And don't get me started on the proposed 'Covenant Marriage Act.' It proposes offering couples a $2,500 tax credit if they agree to be married forever. The only way to escape that would be if your spouse commits one of the terrible three 'As' — abuse, adultery or abandonment. And while we're on the topic of trapping people in loveless marriages, that same Republican lawmaker wants to ban no-fault divorce. That means 'incompatibility' would no longer be grounds to end a marriage. Legitimate grounds for divorce would include 'insanity for a period of five years' that requires being institutionalized and a 'poor prognosis for recovery.' It also would remove incarceration as grounds for divorce. Political silly season should drive Oklahomans insane. Can we get a bill that grants Oklahomans a divorce from dumb legislative ideas? The good news is ridiculous legislation typically meets an early demise each year during the annual legislative session. But bills like these are bad for a state that's trying to convince people and businesses that we live in the 21st century, and that we have state leaders that share that mindset. So here's hoping that next year a miracle occurs and that every piece is focused on raising our lagging outcomes. But I'm not holding my breath. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
