NORMAN — Republican precinct meetings will be held throughout Oklahoma on Thursday, Feb. 7, county officials said recently.

The main business of the meetings will be to elect delegates to the March 2 county convention. At the county conventions, delegates will be elected for the April 20 state convention.

“A person must be a registered Republican voter of the precinct to take part in a precinct meeting or to serve as a delegate to any Republican convention,” said county chairman Dr. Harold Haralson. “Others are most welcome to attend the meeting but may not vote.”

Haralson said the meeting agenda’s include time for discussing local, state and national problems. Participants should bring county voter ID cards.

Cleveland County precinct meetings at Southmoore High School, 2901 S. Santa Fe, in Moore, include precincts 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 37, 40, 41, 43, 44, 47, 48, 50, 54, 55, 58, 60, 61, 64, 65, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78, 80, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91.

Precincts meeting at the Norman Public Library include precincts 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 42, 45, 49, 51, 53, 56, 57, 59, 63, 67, 68, 71, 81, 82, 83, 93, 94 and 95.

Precinct 19 will meet at 7 p.m. Feb 7 at the Berry Road Baptist Church, 500 N. Berry Rd. in Norman. More information is available from Haralson atswaths2776@mypacks.net.

Kiesel to

address Dems

Ryan Kiesel, the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, will be the featured speaker at the Tyner Cornbread and Beans luncheon Feb. 8.

He will speak on the civil liberties issues at this session of the Oklahoma legislature.

Kiesel served three terms in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2004-2010.

He held various leadership roles and often led the fight against efforts to curb reproductive rights and trample civil liberties.

He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oklahoma and a J. D. degree from the University of Oklahoma Law School.

In addition to his duties at the ALCUOK, he teaches a seminar at the OU Law School entitled, Politics and the Law.

The luncheon will be held at Catering Creations, 3750 W. Main. St. The luncheon is sponsored by the Cleveland County Democratic Party.

Lunch begins at 11:15 a.m. with the speaker beginning about noon. Guests will select lunch from Catering Creations’ mini-buffet. The meeting is open to the public.

Standridge files bill to prohibit use of welfare cash cards in strip clubs, liquor stores, casinos

Sen. Rob Standridge has filed legislation that would disallow the use of any welfare cash cards in strip clubs, liquor stores, and casinos.  Senate Bill 667 states that no electronic benefit transfer card containing state or federal funds from programs including, but not limited to, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), may be used in such establishments.

Standridge said his proposal would work to ensure such funds are directed to their appropriate use – to provide support for the needy while they get back on their feet.

“The aim of programs like TANF is to provide basic support for families while the recipient finds a new job,” said Standridge, R-Norman.  “If these funds are wasted at strip clubs, liquor stores and casinos, then the programs can’t achieve their purpose.  Taxpayers should never subsidize this sort of self-destructive behavior.” 

In order for programs like TANF to work, Standridge noted, government must ensure recipients accept welfare under certain conditions.  If not, funds that could put food on the table may be wasted in a manner that directly inhibits the recipient from getting a job, such as alcohol and drug abuse, gambling and other destructive behaviors.

“The misuse and mismanagement of welfare funds has a damaging impact on the families that need help the most,” Standridge said.  “It contributes to child neglect and the deterioration of the family. As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to prevent this from happening.”

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