Bailey Dabney
April 19, 2009 — Want to do more than read or watch news about your local and state government? The opportunity to examine elected officials in their work environment whether you agree with their political stance or not is time well spent. Wednesday, I took the opportunity, with the 2008-09 Leadership Rogers County class, to spend the day in our capitol in Oklahoma City. By coincidence, the Capitol Tea Party was organized for the same day. Our group was in town to see the inner workings of the legislative machine that runs this great state. Our group’s leader, Debbie Long, had organized a thorough schedule of meetings, tours and a tasty meal at County Line Barbeque. The Tea Party crowd was friendly and lively, with an interesting array of witty and creative signs expressing dissatisfaction with our current national fiscal policies. As an eyewitness to this sizable gathering, I was surprised the way these groups have been portrayed by national media. There was no anti-government, anti-American, or anti-establishment attitude, as one cable news network described them. Taxpayers did want to be heard regarding their distaste for the current fiscal strategy. The tone was civil and friendly as I walked through snapping pictures with my Blackberry. Watching this group actually made me proud to live in a country where this type of civil communication is allowed. I haven’t seen official estimates, but my unofficial estimate puts 5,000 or more American patriots in attendance as our group walked through. By my estimation, this is an example for other protestors to follow. Inside the Capitol, we met a lobbyist with local ties, Bobby Stem, of the firm Capitol Gains. Stem explained the role lobbyists play in the political process, and did an excellent impersonation of Claremore’s own political icon Stratton Taylor. Sen. Sean Burrage graciously made quality time for us, as did Rep. Tad Jones. It was heartening to make note of the amount of respect these two local legislators command from their peers of both parties. Rep. Jones was presenting his “School Empowerment” bill on Wednesday. His bill passed the House by a vote of 60-39. We spent a few minutes with Rep. Chuck Hoskin of House District 6, who serves part of Rogers County, Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso, and Rep. Ben Sherrer of Inola. Senate President Pro Tempore Glen Coffee also stopped by our conference room for a few welcoming remarks and questions. No one asked about his tax or prison scandals. Sen. Brogdon was happy to talk at length about his signature campaign issues, but had little interest in addressing my question about his party’s stance on health coverage for disabled children. Sen. Burrage stuck with us for much of the morning, going back and forth between the Senate floor and our conference room. He made sure we knew that our visit was as important to him as it was to us. Rep. Jones joined us for Barbecue when he could have easily ducked out due to his load of responsibilities of that particular day. At lunch he told a funny Clem McSpadden story. I’m told you can’t be in the Capitol for a whole day without hearing at least one good Clem McSpadden story. Before the long bus ride home I was thrilled to get a chance to stop by the gift shop to buy a lapel pin with the Seal of the Great State of Oklahoma on it; one small souvenir of an impressive day at the Capital. When I go back, I’m taking the whole family.
