The Irony Of It All and "Great Stuff"

Oklahoma Democrat legislators are flummoxed by the fact that the Republicans in Congress voted against the stimulus and now Oklahoma Republican legislators reap the benefit of stimulus funds. Even though the federal dollars don't really replace the tax cuts the Rs can argue that they made it through 2009 without major cuts in programs and even increased funding for roads, highways and bridges, education and healthcare. It will be interesting to see how the Democrats play this.

We are watching the TRMC/OSUCOM issue closely. A person prominent in the negotiations approached a prominent Tulsa legislator and informed him that the five mllion dolars to be furnished by the state was less than half of what was needed for operating capital. No big surprise since TRMC has been losing ten to twelve million dollars a year for several years. "Should we make this public before the deal closes or after?" Well now! In additon the law firm of McAfee-Taft has withdrawn from the negotiations because of conflicts and the contrainess of the other firms and Ardent, ever pressing, is insisting on getting one and a half million for IME (Indirect Medical Education) funding which it loses with its contribution of TRMC to the Trust. If the Health Care Authority changes the rules to accomdate Ardent that would probaly mean that Saint Francis and Integres and maybe Saint Anthony would qualify for IME. IME funds are federal dolars but the state has to put money for the match. This would raise the cost to the state substantially. This thing is growing and expanding like the foam Great Stuff.

With the announcement of the funding for TRMCV/OSUCOM, it was just one day before David Boren was in the Capitol building. Due to the "Parity Rule" if one school gets a million dollars, the other gets a million. What a rule! We will watch and see what Boren asks for.

Quote of the week. "There are two kinds of legisaltors. Those who know they are working for David Boren and those who don't know they are working for David Boren." Anonymous legislator.

Dirt Pile. Owasso and Broken Arrow are in a dead heat for "Wackiest legislator" with Moore closing fast. For laughs and moans follow Senators Brogdon and Sykes and Representatice Ritze. These guys are a hoot!