Third World

POSTED BY ARNOLD HAMILTON

Oklahoma's bridges are rated the nation's worst. Teacher salaries are languishing near the 50-state bottom. Smaller class sizes are but a distant memory. The state's correctional facilities are judged in a new performance audit to be the most decrepit in America...

Where to begin tackling Oklahoma's problems?

Republican legislative leaders have an idea: cut taxes even more.

The state will have but $32 million in extra money to spend this legislative session -- out of a $7 billion-plus budget. Corrections alone needs at least $30 million.

Yet House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, told a Tulsa audience Tuesday that "it's proper to keep tax cuts on the table."

Senate Republicans joined the chorus Wednesday when unveiling their 2008 legislative agenda.

Isn't it time for some new material?

Many of today's GOP lawmakers are unabashed government haters. They are tickled pink that $700 million in tax cuts in recent years already is shrinking the state's financial bottom line.

They are convinced government is a nest of thieves and profligate spenders. Their belief is so strong they hired an outside firm to conduct an independent "performance audit" of the state's troubled prison system. They just knew millions of dollars were being wasted.

They are still wiping the egg off their faces from the results: MGT of America Inc. found the prison system is mostly lean, well-managed ... and grossly underfunded.

Cargill argues tax cuts remain an appropriate topic because there is $300 million or so in new revenue this year. It's not clear where he came up with that figure, but whatever the amount, much already is committed to spending on roads/bridges and on the state's successful college scholarship program.

Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee said he hopes eventually to get Oklahoma's income tax rate [currently at 5.5%] down to 3% or 3.5%.

To their credit, Coffee and Senate Republicans at least say they want to take a hard look at Oklahoma's laundry list of special interest tax breaks and tax incentives as a way to offset the lost income tax revenue.

We've long opposed corporate welfare. Example: We don't think it's right the state's media are tax exempt while mothers pay sales tax on milk for their babies.

Oklahoma's needs are great. Talk of more tax cuts -- especially with the nation's economy slowing -- is nothing but political pandering. It's time to invest in the state and its future, not accelerate a slide into Third World status.

A year ago, Republican lawmakers prescribed a new personal finance course for Oklahoma high school students. Too many don't know the first thing about balancing a checkbook or managing credit cards.

Physician, heal thyself.

The Enemy?

POSTED BY FROSTY TROY

The Center for Global Development recently released data showing the United States is the world's biggest carbon dioxide emitter, releasing 2.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Many governors are recognizing the seriousness of the U.S. emissions problem and are frustrated with the slow progress of legislation in Washington on energy and global warming.

Several governors have created regional agreements to cap greenhouse gases and are engaged in a concerted lobbying effort to prod Congress to act.

Midwestern states have jointly agreed to reduce carbon emissions, following a meeting of 31 states who decided to measure and jointly track greenhouse gas emissions.

The globe is polluted while the politicians in Washington piddle.