Oklahoma's Economic Crisis Spurs Gov's VayKay

ala NewsOK

"Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb is serving as the state's chief executive. Gov. Mary Fallin and her family are taking a vacation. She will be back in the office Thursday, a spokesman said."

When the going gets tough... the tough go on vacation.  Stand strong, Governor Fallin, don't let Governor Todd feel too much at home.  We're hearing he's VERY ambitious and thinks you're unfit.

Cuts Just Don't Cut It

If you're reading any sort of news lately then you've probably heard of the deep and serious cuts that Republicans not just Governor Mary Fallin, but everyone across the country wants.  Government is bad... we should cut it...

Despite Fallin's acceptance of lots and lots and lots of federal money she's still carrying the banner of cutting government.  Well - in a new Washington Post op-ed you can see that cuts.... just ain't gonna cut it.

"Independent economic analysts, including from the investment firm Goldman Sachs - hardly known for liberal or bleeding-heart tendencies - have concluded that the $61 billion in current-year budget cuts being demanded by House Republicans will shave up to two percentage points off the nation's growth rate and cause the loss of more than half a million jobs."

Hurm.... maybe it's time to start thinking about cutting something that makes a little more sense.  Just sayin...

According to the piece:

"After slamming Democrats for not focusing on "jobs, jobs, jobs," Republicans have decided to ignore their own winning message in favor of "cuts, cuts, cuts." This is bad economics - and bad politics. . ."

This is because it turns out that

"When asked whether government, in general, is trying to do too much or not doing enough, 51 percent said government should do more. That's not exactly a mandate for slashing federal, state and municipal programs and trying to turn public employees into a caste of untouchables. . .

"A pretty impressive 40 percent said that "the deficit and government spending" should be considered the federal government's No. 1 or No. 2 task. But a far more impressive 56 percent said that "job creation and economic growth" should be given first or second priority. "

But leaders like Governor Mary Fallin aren't listening to the people whether Americans or Oklahomans, she's listening to a small subset of her party that just happens to be the loudest.  Instead Mary talks about "creating jobs" and then in the same breath talks about consolidation (which cuts jobs), cutting spending (more jobs), cutting the income tax which cuts funding for... you guessed it... people's jobs, and bringing more business to Oklahoma (bringing more out of state workers for Oklahoma jobs).  You go girl!  Create those jobs!  How many net jobs has Governor Mary Fallin created so far?  Anyone got a tally?

While normal everyday Oklahomans who are lucky enough to go to work each morning, drive on pathetic roads, pay for overpriced gasoline while subsidizing oil companies, scrimp for food grown in other countries, and pay for pathetic systems of education while their children are squeezed into classrooms like sardines in a can.

When you cross that state line imagine hearing our new motto coming from the Oklahoma Capitol with every vote that is passed:  Welcome to Oklahoma.... F*ck You.

Mary Fallin Brags about Tax Cuts While Oklahoma is Bankrupt

Stay classy Mary.  Seems this kind of reckless Washington Spending didn't stop with your Congressional days and has now made it all the way back to our great state.  Mmmm that tasty $500 million budget short fall is best served with a little tax cut for the rich on the side.

“Change is hard at times, but hopefully they’ll all be able to come to the table and work something out,” she added.

Mary Fallin ran on a campaign of hope and change in Oklahoma.  We were too fiscally responsible before.  We didn't spend enough the way the TARP bailout did!  We need to be more like Washington not less.  More bailouts for everyone!  We'll just call them "tax cuts" instead... or "business incentives."

Another FallinFail: Tulsa World - Budget Hole Doesn't Prevent Income Tax Rate Cut

I think this title should be changed to Budget Hoe Doesn’t Prevent Income Tax Rate Cut… but that’s just me.
Told you so…. (emphasis below is mine)

“Gov. Mary Fallin, whose budget calls for agency cuts of up to 5 percent in fiscal 2012, argues that reduction of the tax rate yet again is a logical extension of the message taxpayers sent in the November election. She claims that the mandated reduction will stimulate the economy and make the state more business friendly and more competitive with other states. Will this income tax cut do something that the previous ones haven’t?

Come on.

Are businesses seriously going to look at this state and say, “Oklahoma, what an economic Garden of Eden?” and overlook the fact that the quality of life here is eroding by the day?

Oklahoma’s state services are woefully underfunded. The education system is being starved. Roads and infrastructure are mediocre and in many cases are crumbling. The health and welfare of Oklahoma’s citizens don’t appear to be a high priority for those holding the purse strings.

But, hey, never mind all that, the fatter cats get this great reduced tax rate of 5.25 percent. “

See… It’s what I’ve been saying.  The most important part of this piece is:

“The state has suffered enormous revenue losses and gone through a series of tax cuts over the past several years. It’s also gone through some staggering cutbacks in state services, and faces a yawning budget hole of at least $500 million in the next fiscal year.”

Dr Phil would say “If you always do what you’ve always done… you’ll always be where you always are….”  If the state has consistently cut taxes… and cut services and spending for things like education, roads, and other such things fall asunder our question must then be - at what point do you finally think about changing course?  Honestly, does Governor Fallin intend to run the state into the ground before she finally admits that her republican “Cut and Spend” policy is not only reckless and irresponsible failing to make Oklahoma the bastion of business that everyone claims it will be?

FallinFail Tip:  Cut and Spend doesn’t work.

Fallin to Cut Lt. Gov Position for Budget Reasons

Since Fallin’s election there has been a rumbling among Republicans that Gov. Mary would be a one term Governor.  Not because there’s some magic Democrat that is going to come along and take her out - but the hope is that there could be a …. how should we say…. more intellectually equip leader at the helm.  Some suspect that Republican is Lt. Governor Todd Lamb.

Attractive, ambitious, well connected, not plagued with the the family… er… um.. problems, plus he has number 21 on the list of Top 25 Young Politicos to Watch right there as the number 2 in his office.  I mean - that usually spells careerism, right?

Instead, Jolley and Fallin are working on legislation to change the role of Lieutenant Governor from “if for any reason she cannot fulfill her role as Governor” to more of a ceremonial position.  You would think since Fallin used that office to launch her political career not to mention increase her dating pool that she would have some loyalty to it.  But no.

An “acting” governor would be able to sign legislation, order the National Guard and declare an emergency, Jolley explained.

He said this makes no sense today when the governor has access to cell phones, the Internet and other sophisticated communication.

Realistically, we don’t need a Lt. Governor position because of cell phones.  Fallin could totally do both at once with a job in each hand.  She’s that multifaceted! How much of the budget is allocated for staff and operations for the Lt. Governor’s office?  At least a million bucks right?  Hell… we could lease that space out to a lobbying firm or maybe Bobby Stem and even MAKE money to help ballance the budget.

Not to mention you stop Lamb from being a viable challenger from the conservative Oklahoma republicans.

Gov’s Across US Forgo Balls to Save Money Not Mary Fallin

We here at FallinFail have been the harshest critics of newly elected Governor Mary Fallin for spending boocoos of bucks on a series of inaugural balls at a time when the state is in an economic crisis.
It seems the cost of balls at such a tough economic time hasn’t gone unnoticed by others.

“In California, faced with a $28 billion deficit, incoming Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown is foregoing festivities for frugality. After Brown takes the oath of office, he’ll host a reception for friends, family and supporters. There will be neither a ball nor a party.”

Guess that’s the difference between people who have taste and those who don’t.  Fear not - Florida’s new Governor-elect is spending $3million all raised in special interest money.
Has there been an independent media report about how much is being spent on Mary Fallin’s balls, where the money is coming from, and if those companies will also have close ties to the new Governor’s office?
Just Curious.

DC Mary Votes Against Paying People a Decent Wage, 3 years in a row.

This one is real classy Mary.  Not only have you forgotten what it is like to be an Oklahoman, you have seeming forgotten how important earning a living wage is.

Must be nice to be overpaid to skip votes, be bought by special interests, and pal around with your DC buddies.  But here in Oklahoma people are hard workers who deserve to be paid a wage they can live on.

We get it Mary you’re not an Oklahoman, you’re a Washington insider who does what special interests pay you to do.

Don’t bring your nonsense ideals to Oklahoma.

Voting summary:
2007: Fallin voted to remove wage standards for renewable energy projects. Fallin voted for the Kingston, R-GA, amendment to HR 3161, the 2008 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The amendment waived the Davis-Bacon law, which requires prevailing wages to be paid on public works projects, for government contracts to construct renewable energy systems. 

2008: Fallin voted to remove wage standards for public housing projects. Fallin voted for the King, R-IA, amendment to HR 3524, the HOPE VI public housing program reauthorization. The amendment barred the use of funds in the bill to pay for local prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act for public housing projects. 

 2009: Fallin voted to remove wage standards for clean water projects. Fallin voted for the Mack, R-FL, amendment to HR 1262, the authorization for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The amendment removed the Davis-Bacon Act provisions in the bill, which required contractors for projects that received federal funds to pay the prevailing local wages and benefits to employees.

Mary Fallin Heart's jobs

Mary Fallin totes <3’s JOBS!
Say it with us now: “I like ALL jobs!”  They are neat.  And so are you!  VOTE FOR ME!  YAY! *Claps