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Thank Republican lawmakers for a secure retirement

Tulsa Beacon

What would the reaction be if the state ran out of money to pay the pensions of retired teachers? I guarantee the public would be furious. That’s not going to happen, at least anytime soon in Oklahoma. According to a report by State Treasurer Ken Miller, the $32,900,000,000.00 (that’s $32.9 billion) in the state’s public…

We Need to Get It Right

Tulsa Beacon

Tulsa Public Schools is again studying itself.  There are all kinds of administrators like chief of academics, director of data strategy and chief design and innovation officer working to produce different outcomes, yet the numbers remain the same.  The proportion of students deemed college and career-ready has remained unchanged for the last three years, according…

OTA finally gets it right but Tulsa causes traffic delays

Tulsa Beacon

Having taken to task the possible construction deficiencies of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) with the Cimarron Turnpike which connects Tulsa with I-35 north of Stillwater, it seems only fair to give credit for actions in a widening project on the Turner Turnpike (the first state toll, road built in the 1950s if memory serves…

Titus, tough tornadoes and timberlines

Tulsa Beacon

I love to hike. But my fascination with this activity didn’t start until I reached my 60s. It began when I was training for my climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. For two years, I hiked up mountains, hills and every place I could find to prepare for that journey. After successfully making that challenging climb, I…

Get ready – alcohol will be sold everywhere on Oct. 1

Tulsa Beacon

I don’t drink alcohol and I don’t judge people who drink socially and in moderation. There are conflicting studies about the benefits of consuming alcohol but I don’t know of any that conclude that it is bad for you to never take a drink. Some of my best friends drink and keep liquor in their…

An Economy on Fire

Tulsa Beacon

For the last 19 months, Americans have been treated by those opposing the president and the media with a drumbeat of negative news and controversy. The Russian voter fraud should have been wrapped up months ago.  None of Hillary’s confidants have been interviewed by the special counsel – only small players from the early days…

A disgusting demonstration of disruption in the Senate

Tulsa Beacon

Beginning in the final week of August, we have been subjected to the most disgusting demonstration of disruption and delay of business in the halls of Congress in my lifetime. Since the announcement of the nomination of District of Columbia Appeal Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace the retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, there…

We are perfected through imperfection

Tulsa Beacon

When my wife and I go to the grocery store, she doesn’t like me to shadow her. She knows I will throw non-list items into her cart that she deems unnecessary. “We don’t need these cookies; we have plenty at home,” she will say. “But we don’t have any like these,” I argue. “I have…

Offshore drilling is safer

Tulsa Beacon

Coastal-state politicos are scrambling to block a federal plan to expand offshore oil and natural gas drilling. In June, governors from five East Coast states condemned the initiative. In July, congressmen tried, and failed, to insert an anti-drilling amendment into a spending bill. They claim opening America’s coasts to oil and gas exploration will put…

Foreign countries should pay fair market values for American drugs

Tulsa Beacon

President Trump recently released an ambitious, 44-page plan to drive down prescription drug prices. The blueprint relies, in part, on negotiating and enforcing trade deals to prevent other countries from freeloading off of American researchers. That’s a smart strategy. Right now, most of our trading partners impose government price controls on drugs. Ensuring that these…