Avik Roy writing for Forbes today notes that in recent months, President Obama and his subordinates have waived or delayed a number of Obamacare’s notable features, such as the law’s employer mandate, and its procedures for protecting taxpayers from fraud and identity theft. Earlier this month, in that context, I obtained a heretofore-unpublished memorandum from the Congressional Research Service. The CRS, Congress’ non-partisan in-house think tank, compiled 82 deadlines that the Affordable Care Act mandates upon the first three years of its own implementation. Remarkably, it turns out that the White House has missed half of the deadlines legally required by the ACA. And some of those deadlines remain unmet to this day.
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On Oklahoma
By OK Senator Dan Newberry
Sen. Dan Newberry with “political friends” at OK Capital
Oklahoma continues to get great news regarding revenue growth. This week it was announced the state would be adding another significant sum to the Rainy Day Fund, which has now reached a balance of $535.2 million. Our economy is still strong and growing, with all signs pointing to continued job growth and development. Solid revenue growth also bodes well for our continuing efforts to gradually reduce and ultimately eliminate the state’s income tax.
Sen. Inhofe to investigate NSA
OK Senator Jim Inhofe
Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, says new revelations about the National Security Agency’s surveillance program suggest the Obama administration has “abused the authority granted to them by Congress” and that he will investigate the matter.
Inhofe’s statement shows a growing concern on Capitol Hill about the scope of the NSA’s intelligence gathering and adds to the calls for additional congressional oversight.
Branson Fiddle Festival success
Branson has named its Mid-America Fiddler’s Championship winners at the 25th Annual Downtown Branson Fiddle Festival. And the winners are:
Grand Champion Tom Weisgerber from St. Peter, Minnesota. Tom also won First Place in the Open Division. Other competition winners were Marty Elmore of Bowie, Texas for the Adult Division, Wayne Head of Hugo, Oklahoma for the Senior Division, Anthony Mature of Huntsville, Texas for the Accompanist Division, River Lee of The Woodlands, Texas for the Junior Division, and Tanner Marriott of Ava, Missouri for the Pee Wee Division.
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AG Pruitt files brief in review of abortion law
Attorney General Scott Pruitt
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt on Tuesday filed a brief in support of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to review an Oklahoma abortion case.
The U.S. Supreme Court granted the Attorney General’s request to review the case after the state Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling that the abortion law was unconstitutional. As part of the review, the U.S. Supreme Court asked the state Supreme Court to clarify whether the state law would ban the use of certain abortion-inducing drugs.
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