Lawton Politics

 

AARP Thanks Congress for Keeping Medicare Fair, Overriding White House Veto
Bipartisan Bill Improves Low-Income Help and Boosts Quality through National E-Prescribing, Helps Ensure Access to Doctors

SUMMARY: The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate voted overwhelmingly to override a White House veto and pass important Medicare legislation last week. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act will improve Medicare’s low-income programs, boost health care quality with a system of national e-prescribing, and help ensure the access of patients to their doctors.

 

VOTED YES TO PASS MEDICARE BILL
Boren, DanX
Fallin, MaryX
Lucas, FrankX
Sullivan, JohnX

 

VOTED NO ON MEDICARE BILL

Coburn, Tom X
Cole, Tom X

Inhofe, Jim X

** How a legislator votes on issues is only one factor in evaluating his or her legislative performance, which should also include such things as constituency services and committee work.

“This vote is a victory for the 44 million Americans who depend on Medicare, and we applaud Congressmen Boren, Lucas and Sullivan and Congresswoman Fallin for their continued support,” said AARP State President Bob Bristow. “This bipartisan legislation will help more Americans afford their health care bills while bringing doctors offices and pharmacies into the 21st century with e-prescribing.”

Bristow added: “We are disappointed that Senators Coburn and Inhofe and Congressman Cole voted against this important legislation. This bill would begin to bring down health care costs for millions of Americans, while reducing dangerous drug interactions with electronic prescriptions.”

AARP has been advocating for several months to ensure that lawmakers keep Medicare fair for the people who depend on it when Congress addresses physician payment cuts. AARP has also been advocating for this bill’s improvements to Medicare, particularly the low-income programs and electronic prescribing.

Since launching the “Keep Medicare Fair” initiative in April, AARP’s grassroots volunteers and activists have sent more than 1.2 million messages to Congress and the White House. As part of this effort, an AARP survey released May 19 found that of adults 50-plus, 81 percent oppose additional increases to Medicare premiums and 66 percent are less likely to vote for a Member of Congress who supports those increases.

AARP notified the 110th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on key legislation important to its 39 million members and reporting the outcomes of these votes back to its members.

“We believe people make the right choices when they understand the issues and positions taken by their elected officials. AARP intends to ensure that its members get that information,” Bristow concluded.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia , Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands .

Inhofe Should Return Money He Received From Indicted Senator

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 29, 2008) Oklahoma's U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe should return $12,000 in campaign contributions that he has received from indicted fellow U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Dr. Ivan Holmes said today.

Sen. Stevens was charged today with seven counts of making false statements, according to a 28-page federal grand jury indictment, regarding payments of more than $250,000 in goods and services he allegedly received from an oil company. The items include home improvements, autos and household items.

"This is a classic example of why Americans have lost faith in Washington," Holmes said. "Senator Stevens has been very generous to his good friend Jim Inhofe, whom we know is also close to big oil companies. Now we know that the money may be tainted and I believe our Senator needs to come clean," Holmes said.

The Northern Lights Political Action Committee was formed by Stevens to raise money and help his fellow Republican colleagues stay elected. The Stevens PAC contributed the maximum of $10,000 to Inhofe's 2008 re-election committee, according to Federal Election Commission reports. He contributed another $2000 to Inhofe for his 2002 campaign. (2/11/02 - $2000; 6/22/05-$1000; 6/14/07-$4000; 4/15/08-$5000)

"Even though Senator Stevens' legal problems have been known for more than a year, Senator Inhofe still agreed to take his contributions," Holmes said. "If he wants Oklahomans to believe he is not part of the problem in Washington, Inhofe should return the contributions he received from his indicted friend," Holmes added.

According to the indictments Stevens knowingly and intentionally sought to conceal and cover up his receipt of things of value by filing financial disclosure forms that contained false statements and omissions concerning Stevens' receipt of these things of value.

"Oklahomans are tired of the cozy relationship between Senators and lobbyists in Washington and the Stevens case is "the last straw," Holmes said.

OPEN DOOR POLICY

31 Aug 2008 -- Comanche County Veterans Council (CCVC) Fund Raiser -- 12-6 pm. VFW Post 5263. $5.00 Adult donation. Games and prizes. Come on out and support the CCVC.

Good for Lawton.

I doubt there's a specific law in Lawton against bars and nightclubs being open on Sunday. Many are just closed since most people have to go back to work on Monday. Some bars are open for business on Sunday in Lawton if sporting events are being broadcast on TV, such as NFL games, etc.

The area where I don't think Lawton is sensible on its drinking laws is the way new churches are strategically placed. Bars cannot operate within a certain distance of a church. If a church builds up near an existing bar or night club and ABLE manages to get that bar busted out of its liquor license then it will never re-open.

Downtown Lawton largely doesn't allow bars and night clubs at all -which partly explains why that area of town is plain dead after sunset. Areas in the downtown redevelopment plan must allow businesses like night clubs and taverns to open. The main requirement I ask is that such establishments actually have some quality to them rather than be just another cheap, average, trashy bar.

Speaking of bars, is Lawton more sensible about local drinking and alcohol laws than Stillwater?  In Stillwater bars can't open on Sunday.  One excuse why is because the police department isn't budgeded to patrol the bars on Sundays.  In Stillwater and county liquor stores aren't allowed to be open on Sunday.  Also no public drinking is allowed in the street or in parks.  The college students failed to turn out to keep that law from going back on the books like they had done once before back when the minimum age for drinking was 18.

Don't forget one of Lawton oldest locally owned restaurants...is Salas Mexican Restaurant....originated across from Wayne's Drive Inn in the mid 50's...at that time it was called Little Mexico...but had to move when that area was widened for Sheridan Road

By the way...sorry for al the misspellings...in last reply.....  no glasses.....

Mike's Sports Grill still seems to be holding its own with Buffalo Wild Wings in town. Gert's Pub and Grub (formerly Gertlestone's) is a good alternative. Great variety of beers and the food is actually pretty good.

Here's a few other local favorites:

Burgess Grill - 617 SW "C" Avenue
They have really good hamburgers and other items on the menu. Located downtown.

Dry Beaver - E of Lawton, off OK-7 on 135th ST/Woodlawn
I've eaten some good steaks there. It's not real easy to find. Basically you turn south off OK-7 on the last road before you get to Pumpkin Center and OK-65.

Fisherman's Cove - Medicine Park (2 Mi. W of I-44 on OK-49)
I've eaten at Fisherman's Cove lots of times. This place and Red Lobster are only two decent seafood places in town. You can order steaks, ribs and other stuff there. They have a good party room upstairs. Our company has held its annual Christmas Party there a few times.

The Junction - 1707 NW Sheridan
Arguably the best Korean take out in town.

The Meers Store - OK-115 & Meers Porter Hill Rd
It's mainly a tourist attraction. The exterior looks pretty cruddy. But I still love eating a burger there now and then.

I haven't visited Los Margaritas yet, but have heard rumors they serve pretty good Tex/Mex food there. I've been wishing On the Border would open a restaurant in Lawton. Los Margaritas is located in what used to be Red Lion Inn (and formerly Holiday Inn), across the street from Gerts and almost next door to Red Lobster. The restaurant operators have dressed up the exterior a bit and even installed some outdoor patio seating.

There is a restaurant that I have recently fallen in love with called The Back Porch.  It is located downtown across the street from the cable company.  They serve home-cooked southern food such as country fried gravy, pinto beans, great salads, burgers and pork in a cafe setting.  They aren't open for diner though, only breakfast and lunch and they are closed on Sun and I think also Mon.

I know Lawton has Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Chili's, Applebee's, Outback, Garfield's, Buffalo Wild Wings, IHOP, and so on, but I was wondering if Lawton had any great local restaurants that were worth writing home about? When I'm down, me and my dad, a retired cop, sometimes eat at Mike's, or sometimes go to Bianco's pizza downtown, but other than that, I don't know any other great local digs. I know that there's oriental places on every street corner, but I was wondering about like a good old-fashioned, All-American kind of place that wouldn't be too bad to bring the family to, for a reunion we're planning.

Whatever it is that you were taking pics of looks really good to me. I too was surprised by the overhead view, it does look very strip mallish. I completely echo what you expected to see. Personally I really like what's on the west side of 2nd, much better than what's on the east side of 2nd, which gives me some pause. I really was pleasantly surprised on the other hand by the concept illustrations, which shows that the concept that they're going for is quite good. I think that in the overhead concept, the stuff along the spine of the project, 2nd Street, might be a little dwarfed in comparison. What I like is that the existing street grid is not altered. Columbia goes through, and the projects connects well to the surrounding neighborhood. The project is less pedestrian-oriented than I expected, although I can understand that there could be issues if not enough concessions are made for the automobile. I also expected there to be development across Gore as well. I think that so far major kudos go out for how 2nd Street is being landscaped, the way development faces it, and how pedestrian-friendly 2nd Street is going to be. I doubt that the site is going to be large enough to be able to break up the gaping parking lot at all. I don't think that there's any way that moving any of it to the back would work, which is probably what everyone behind it would prefer, as well. So we're stuck with it in the front.

The renderings look like a decent starting point. Without having any actual key anchor tenants named it's difficult for anyone to flesh out any "pads" to a more specific nature.

The properties in the aerial view of the site plan seem to be arranged in a more conventional way than I expected. I imagined a greater number of thoroughfares and smaller properties breaking up the big parking lots between the large stores facing 2nd street. Overhead, it looks a lot like a standard strip mall to me, but with more trees and green work. Surely the finished project will look different.

It's obvious they used the satellite view of Lawton from Google Earth. Too bad Lawton is still stuck with an outdated, low resolution view otherwise the background for the site plan would look better.

The loose drawings give a slightly better idea of the intended theme, but I'm sure that's going to be subject to change somewhat as specific tenants get on board. They all have different space needs, parking requirements. Some have specific color schemes they incorporate into the building. All are going to need signs of some type -I just hope there's a covenant of sorts to keep that aspect from looking cheap or cheesy.

I attached some pictures from a couple different places in Rogers, AR. The small shopping center across from the John Q. Hammons convention center and Embassy Suites is an actual mixed use retail/living "lifestyle" development. The Pinnacle Hills shopping center is an open air shopping mall dressed up to look like a lifestyle center, but I don't think there's any living spaces there.

Betty Simmons asked me to announce that she has a good collection of Obama T-shirts and buttons for sale. These are priced way below what you will pay online and you can pick them up for less than the shipping.

 

 

Betty Simmons
4745 SE 47th St
Lawton, OK 73501
(580)353-8072

 

 

I have just finished my first week in Central America for the two-week trip I am on with the American Council of Young Political Leaders. This organization is set up to snd younger political officials to different countries to learn about the aspects of the nations, the politics that govern them and the societies they live in. The first week was spent in Nicaragua and the second will be in El Salvador. Both of these nations experienced wars in recent years and both are trying to move past that era.

 

Rep. Joe Dorman, Valerie Szybala, Marshand Crisler, Christy Havanetz Lassila, Eduardo Montealegre, Marianne Nichols, Adam Probolsky and Josh Dennis

 

Nicaragua is a nation that suffers from great amounts of poverty. Over 60 percent of the nation lives on average o

f $2 per day. We also saw that only have of the country has access to electricity and much of the nation does not have clean water.

The Sandinistas, the soldiers from the revolution, took back control of the nation in the last national election after the liberal party did not bring about advancements for the country. During their time in office, not much has changed either. Corruption is charged on all sides and the ruling party, officially called the FSLN, has strong ties to Hugo Chavez, the leader of Venezuela, a country tied heavily to other nations heavily opposed to the United States.

Our delegation, a bipartisan group from across the United States, had the chance to meet with several leaders that will hopefully bring Democratic principles to the people and give them opportunities through growth in agriculture, the textile industry and the other areas of the economy. The most striking leader we met was Eduardo Montealegre, an investment banker that spent time in New York. He ran for President of Nicaragua in the last election, but lost due to three parties splitting the vote, which placed Daniel Ortega back in power. The FSLN charged him with stealing over $600 million dollars, which has no evidence was shown to be prove this accusation. I believe it was simply used by the controlling government to defeat a man who could end their power. Montealegre is currently running for Mayor of Managua, the capitol city.

The time here has made me appreciate our system of government even more. While our races may get nasty at points, it does not compare to this environment and come to the point where candidates have to fear for their lives from the other parties. I hope the region will stabilize after the next election and we have greater opportunities to export our goods to help our own people with sales and improve the conditions of these people. It certainly makes me appreciate the work our founding fathers did to establish our nation as a strong Democracy.

It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 and my website is www.joedorman.com on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

 

 

This is unofficial, but the Seattle Times has a map showing the rumored closings. seattletimes.nwsource.com/flatpages/businesstechnology/
locationsofstarbucksstoresclosingacrossthenation.html

It shows the Sheridan Road location as closing as well as the Altus location. These make sense, as Starbucks has said closures would be of stores opened 2006 and after. If it's not true, Starbucks is getting what they deserve. By saying 600 stores are closing, but not saying which 600, they are leaving everyone to guess, so such conjecture is very predictable. It is as though they wanted people to think their store was closing.

 

UPDATE

 

It's official, Altus is closing as is Sheridan Road.

www.starbucks.com/aboutus/USStoreClosureInfo.pdf

 

15 closures overall in Oklahoma. 8 closed in Nebraska. Starbucks is abandoning middle America and small-town America.

Just a quick reminder of our big day tomorrow. We had a great article in the newspaper today and it was in a good location, 3rd page.

 

Bring your friends, lawn chair, folding chair and come out tomorrow to support our party. I will be at the park around 3 PM to get things set up so if you want to help you can.

 

If you have any questions please call 353-8072 or my cell 351-4386.

 

Oh, the State Office is calling all Comanche County Democrats and Independents, 35 years old and younger and extending an invitation to them to come out and support us on tomorrow.

 

The music will be provided by a young soldier. Hooray for our troops fighting to keep us free.

Don't forget our rally in the park on Saturday, 4 PM to 6 PM, Elmer Thomas Park (west side, near the National Guard Armor).

 

Free Hamburgers, Hot dogs, drinks.

 

Don't forget our rally in the park on Saturday, 4 PM to 6 PM, Elmer Thomas Park (west side, near the National Guard Armor).

 

Voter Registration Table. Candidates' literature.

Candidates for local and state offices will address the crowd. Rep. McCarter, Marlow, will speak on behalf of the Obama Campaign.

 

Share this with everyone in your e-mail file.

 

Longtime KSWO chief meteorologist Pat Walker is blowing out of town, making an interesting move to Independent News Network, a shop in Davenport,Iowa that creates news content for TV stations in small cities that can't afford a full newsroom. In an industry of tornado chasing blowhards (see Eric Law), Walker was a fresh breeze of understatement.

Replacing him will be David Baxley, an Alabamian who leaves WAKA in Montgomery, a larger market, to come to Lawton. I wonder if he's related to Bill Baxley, who lost the race for Alabama governor in 1986.