Oklahoma Voices

Lessons Learned, Lessons Lost in The Great Depression

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:40:30 +0000

The Great Depression is often used as an economic touchstone when the United States suffers difficult economic times.

That is one of the reasons President Barack Obama tapped Christina Romer as the chairwoman of his Council of Economic Advisers, a post she left in 2010.

Her experience and research in studying the fiscal crisis of the late 1920s and 30s became important to the Obama administration as it navigated the nation’s deep recession.

Steinbeck, Oklahoma Can Get Along

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:52:21 +0000

John Steinbeck does not often rise to the list of universally revered authors among Oklahomans. His book, The Grapes of Wrath, is widely viewed as presenting a negative view of the state's residents.

But University of Oklahoma history professor David Wrobel says the state's reputation has not been cursed by the book.

What’s the Difference Between Oklahoma and Arkansas? Oil

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Many energy company executives are afraid to talk about oil, according to Continental Resoures CEO Harold Hamm.

“Energy has treated Oklahoma so well,” said Hamm speaking at the Governor’s Energy Conference last fall. “A third of production comes from Oklahoma. That’s tremendous.”

Fallin: Oklahoma’s Energy Plan Showing Success

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Building new markets for Oklahoma energy products is a goal of Gov. Mary Fallin’s energy plan.

Several speakers at the Governor’s Energy Conference praised Fallin’s administration for developing a plan for the state energy sector.

Coburn: All Guns are Assault Weapons

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:25:26 +0000

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) told a crowd at an Oklahoma City town hall that a .45-caliber handgun with 10 rounds in it is no different than an AR-15.

“There isn’t a gun that’s made that isn’t an assault weapon,” he said after one man recommended a ban on military-style assault guns.

After answering several questions last week related to controlling firearms, Coburn told the nearly 150 people in the room that he wouldn’t answer any more questions about guns.

“What I’m trying to do right now is both protect the Second Amendment and the 10th Amendment for Oklahoma if we want to do something different,” Coburn said.

Federal Workers Question Congressman Over Sequester

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:12:18 +0000

Several federal employees questioned 5^th Distrcit U.S. Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) on pay cuts they’re forced to take as part of sequestration during a town hall recorded last month by KGOU.

Delo Anderson wanted to know why Congress isn’t letting the Dept. of Defense make strategic decisions on how to implement mandatory budget cuts, forcing 800,000 defense workers to take 22 furlough days.

“I met with Leon Panetta last summer to ask about sequestration,” Lankford said. “His response was we are not going to plan for it; it’s not going to happen.”

Despite Religious Differences, Faith Communities Support Each Other in Times of Disaster

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:56:28 +0000

Held together by a common goal to protect vulnerable disaster survivors and a deep commitment to respectful conversation, 50 diverse, non-profit and faith-based disaster response organizations found a way through divisive religious issues to develop national standards in disaster spiritual care.

The Rev. Mary Hughes Gaudreau speaks on the subject as part of the first Re-mind and Re-new conference at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa.

The conference was designed to model ways of disagreeing, find common ground, stay in relationship and do important work together despite deep differences.

"Tornadapreneur" Reed Timmer Takes TV Show to Internet

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:17:26 +0000

One of the nation’s most well-known storm chasers, Reed Timmer, is taking his work to the public after appearing for several years on the Discovery Channel.

To help pay for his new Internet-based series of programs, Timmer used social media and Kickstarter. The plan was a success, surpassing its initial $75,000 goal, now trying for a new “stretch goal” of $125,000 by Thursday.

Despite What You Think, Civil Discourse Exists

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:15:08 +0000

It doesn’t take very long, scanning through the cable news channels and talk radio, to assume that civil discourse is hard to come by in the United States.

On this episode of Oklahoma Voices, we hear from two speakers at a recent conference sponsored by Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa who present evidence we’re not as divided as it may appear.

Gov. Fallin Shares Workers' Compensation Changes with OKC Chamber

Kurt Gwartney — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:33:00 +0000

Gov. Mary Fallin told members of the Oklahoma City Chamber she supports many of the changes contained in workers' compensation law making its way through the legislature.

"Oklahoma's ranked among the top states in the nation on workers' compensation premium costs," Fallin said. "I've told our legislators, and our Pro Tem, and our Speaker, 'If you get a bill to my desk that does those things, I am very supportive of moving toward an administrative system.'"

Fallin's comments on Feb. 21 were the first to endorse the plan outlined in a bill by Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman of Sapulpa.