Gentner Drummond’s Agenda

By David Arnett

Tribal Relations, Drug Grows, School Audits, and Accountability

A recent meeting of Tulsa’s longest running breakfast discussion group hosted by Jon M. McGrath, featured Gentner Drummond who outlined his background, current role as Oklahoma’s Attorney General, his candidacy for governor, and general policy priorities directing his public service. AG Drummond also welcomed complex audience questions. The audience included former-Interim President of the Pawnee Nation Business Council, Charles Lone Chief as a most honored guest.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Charles Lone Chief
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Specialty Crop Farmers Assistance

By Staff Report

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $1 billion in Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program assistance for specialty crops and sugar, commodities not covered through the previously announced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program. These one-time bridge payments will help address market disruptions, elevated input costs, persistent inflation, and market losses from foreign competitors engaging in unfair trade practices that impede exports. Specialty crop producers have until March 13, 2026, to report 2025 acres to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

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First Lady Embraces US Armed Forces

By David Arnett

First Lady Melania Trump Friday shared a nostalgia-filled message about the role love letters have played in America’s military community in her remarks to military families and service members at Pope Army Airfield and Fort Bragg in North Carolina.  

Mrs. Trump said, “Love letters have symbolized the union of patriotism and family devotion among our soldiers for 250 years. The harmony of love of country and love of family is what makes us uniquely American. It is this very balance which strengthens our military and builds our communities.”

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Foreign Money Backs SQ832?

By Jonathan Small, OCPA

State Question 832 would mandate annual increases in Oklahoma’s minimum wage based on increases in the cost-of-living in the nation’s urban centers, as measured by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.

That would effectively mandate rapid increases in wages far above market rates in Oklahoma, based on the cost-of-living in places like San Franscisco and New York City.

It’s worth asking who is bankrolling this insane idea—particularly after recent revelations.

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Oversight Problems in Lincoln County

By David Arnett

“The taxpayers of Lincoln County, whose lives depend on 911 services, deserve better than this.”

Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector [SA&I] Cindy Byrd yesterday released her forensic audit of the Lincoln County E-911 Trust Authority. The District Attorney requested the audit after citizens expressed concerns about potential improper payments to the Authority Director.

The audit period covered July 1, 2019 through September 14, 2023.

“Lincoln County’s E-911 Trust Authority created an environment that allowed abuse to flourish,” Auditor Cindy Byrd said. “The Board members were not conducting regular reviews of bank statements and payroll records. They did not require expenditures to be reported to the Board prior to payment. If Board members had followed rudimentary oversight practices, they could have stopped the abuse the moment it started.”

Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector [SA&I] Cindy Byrd
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