The Oklahoma Supreme Court wants to hear oral argument on an issue raised by former state Sen. Debbe Leftwich in the state’s prosecution of Leftwich and state Rep. Randy Terrill on allegations of bribery. Leftwich contends that the speech and debate clause of the Oklahoma Constitution protects from prosecution. Prosecutors allege that Terrill, a Moore [...]
Entries from July 29th, 2011
">State justices schedule oral argument in bribery case, stay Leftwich/Terrill prosecution
July 29th, 2011 · No Comments · Courts, House, Senate
Tags: bribery·Debbe Leftwich·Marie Price·Oklahoma Supreme Court·oral argument·Randy Terrill
">State officials back Coburn and Lankford in proposal to opt out of federal highway funding program
July 29th, 2011 · No Comments · Congress, Executive Branch
State officials are on board with a proposal announced Thursday by U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn and U.S. Rep. James Lankford that would allow states to opt out of federal highway and mass transit programs, providing flexibility to the states to decide how to spend gasoline tax revenue collected in their states, absent federal strings. “Federal-Aid [...]
Tags: Gary Ridley·gasoline tax·highway trust fund·James Lankford·Marie Pricemass transit·Mary Fallin·opt out·Tom Coburn
">Roberts court expands Free Speech, narrows reach of Establishment Clause claims
July 29th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts has been quite friendly to free speech claims, particularly during its most recent session, but has been more limiting in its approach to religion-based claims under the Establishment Clause, says constitutional law Professor Joseph Thai. “It’s probably the most free speech-friendly court since the Warren court, [...]
Tags: Antonin Scalia·Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Wynn·Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association·IMS Health·John Roberts·Joseph Thai·Marie Price·Snyder v. Phelps·Sorrell v·U.S. Supreme Court·Westboro Baptist Church
">State education board adopts new rules reflecting repeal of trial de novo for fired teachers
July 28th, 2011 · No Comments · Executive Branch
Members of the State Board of Education approved new emergency rules Thursday reflecting legislation that repealed the trial de novo process for terminated career teachers. Under trial de novo, a teacher could appeal his or her termination directly to district court. General counsel Lisa Endres said the revised regulations remove references to trial de novo, [...]
Tags: accreditation·Bob Neel·Cathy Seward·emergency rules·gifted and talented·HB 1380·Janet Barresi·Lisa Endres·Marie Price·reading sufficiency·SB 346·social promotion·State Board of Education·trial de novo