Republicans offer alternative health care reform solutions
State Rep. Mike Ritze, D.O, has countered ideas on socialized medicine with conservative, state-level alternatives to health care reform.
“I believe that the liberally-dominated Congress and President Obama are taking the wrong approach to our health care crisis,” Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, said. “Their plan will take $500 billion out of Medicare and raise taxes by $800 billion for a total of $1.3 trillion. This means senior citizens will lose Medicare coverage as we know it today and there will be a new rationing system for seniors.”
Ritze says the conservative approach to health care reform includes removing barriers to competition among health insurers, allowing individuals to carry health insurance from one job to another and reducing health care costs. State lawmakers can address these key areas and combat rising insurance premiums without putting the country in debt or the government in charge of health care, he said.
“As a physician, I am aware of many of the problems in the health care system and believe that the current approach may only exacerbate current health care problems and will certainly create an incredible financial burden for future generations,” Ritze said. “By the same token, in order to fight that plan, we must have solutions of our own.”
Currently, health insurance is unlike other forms of insurance in that most states only allow individuals to buy health care from local insurance companies, Ritze said. Removing that barrier will create the type of competition to drive health care premiums down, he said. “While federal lawmakers continue to throw money at the problem, I’m advocating that the state actually take a common-sense approach and, without spending a dime, address a major barrier to health care reform,” Ritze said.
Portability is another focus of the conservative approach, Ritze said. “Fighting for continuous coverage from job to job prevents those periods of unemployment and career advancement in which Americans go uncovered,” Ritze said. “It also is again, just plain old common sense.”
Ritze said state lawmakers must address health care costs. In Oklahoma, Republicans began this process last year with a strong lawsuit reform bill.
“Promoting personal responsibility and finding ways to reduce the cost of health care is a key part of fighting this push for socialized health care,” Ritze said. “Frivolous lawsuits and government regulation account for upwards of 50 percent of health care costs and could be reduced further by even tougher reforms.”
Ritze said that at the federal level, the approach should be less government regulation.
“We just can’t afford to go the route that the federal government would like to take,” Ritze said. “Federal lawmakers are looking at models based on Canada and Europe, where the average wait for a primary care doctor is much longer and some high-risk individuals don’t get the care they need at all. And let’s not forget the cost of those programs we already have. For instance, there is an estimated $100 billion of taxpayers’ money that goes to waste because of fraud in Medicare and Medicaid.”
El Rancho Grande sign restored
The familiar, vintage neon sign that has pointed the way to Tulsa’s El Rancho Grande Mexican restaurant for more than half a century has a new lease on life, thanks to a restoration by Tulsa’s Frederick, Sommers & Western Sign Company.
El Rancho Grande opened for business in 1950 at a location near Sixth Street and South Boulder Avenue in downtown Tulsa, then moved - along with its classic flashing sign - to its present location at 11th Street and South Utica Avenue in 1953, when 11th Street was part of Route 66 and the “Mother Road” was in its heyday.
Renovation of the sign was a multi-stage process. The neon was removed in order to sand and re-paint the sign as close to the original color as possible. After the neon was reinstalled, the flashing arrow was then removed to be sandblasted and have its metal skin re-fabricated and painted.
“We have seen great growth in our business in the past couple of years since efforts have been made to bring the original Route 66 gem back to life,” said El Rancho Grande owner and manager John Walden, whose family has operated the restaurant since 1984. Walden says new building codes have spurred significant development along 11th Street in recent years, citing the tremendous growth of The University of Tulsa campus, the expansion and renovation of the Hillcrest Medical Center complex, and new businesses like the dental office being constructed to the north of El Rancho Grande.
El Rancho Grande’s sign is not the only improvement the restaurant has seen lately. Walden and his brother Jeff, Jr., who together operated a remodeling business before becoming co-owners of the family business, upgraded the interior several years ago, giving it a fresh look. The growth in the restaurant’s business has prompted planning for expanding the parking lot and possibly converting the building’s second story into a cantina and banquet facility.
“By striving to maintain a quality experience - with new menu items, continued upgrades and consistently good service - we hope to capitalize on all of the surrounding growth and continue to serve our existing and new customer with Tulsa’s original Tex-Mex tradition,” said Walden.
Author Darlene Graham to speak
Author Darlene Graham is the featured speaker at the September 5 meeting of WIN (Writers of Inspirational Novels).
Speaking on “writing to inspire,” Graham said she will share the inspirational writing techniques that enable writers to connect with readers, make lasting impressions, and change lives.
Graham has sold 14 novels which have been published in 22 countries. She has appeared on the Romantic Times Top Pick list twice and has received 4 1/2-star ratings for several novels. She launched her career as a Golden Heart Finalist for her novel The Pull Of The Moon, which also won the Oklahoma Writers Federation’s top award, The Teepee.
Graham said her biggest thrill is helping others achieve success and to that end she teaches writing classes at The University of Oklahoma and the Moore Norman Technology Center. In addition she conducts writing workshops throughout the United States.
WIN, the Tulsa-area chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers, meets the first Saturday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Jenks Public Library, 523 W. B Street. Visitors are welcome. For more information, contact Gina Conroy at pres@win-acfw.com, or visit the WIN website: www.win-acfw.com
Bethany House Piano offers lessons
Bethany House Piano Studio, a Christ-centered music education studio in the heart of Tulsa, is offering piano lessons for the fall semester.
Owner/operator Bethany Yeakey, graduated in 2009 from Tulsa Homeschool Choir. She has been a part of THC for 5 years, and beginning this year will serve as the THC Concert Choir accompanist. Yeakey is also starting a new THC choir for 3- and 4-year-olds (Primary Choir) She will begin college work this fall as a music major with piano emphasis. Bethany served as an intern teacher for two years in the Tollefson Music Studio. She is also a member of the Broken Arrow Music Teacher’s Association. For more information, call 693-4765 or e-mail ivoryskater@gmail.com.
GOP winners are asked to speak
Republican candidates who win the Sept. 8 primary will be invited to speak at the regular monthly meeting of the Tulsa County Republican Men’s Club on Sept. 9.
The club, re-activated in 2008, meets at the private dining room of the Hong Kong Restaurant, 7315 S. Memorial Drive. It begins at noon. Tulsa has primary races for mayor, city auditor and districts 2, 5 and 8. For information, contact Bob McDowell at 481-1051.
Sandy Garrett won’t seek re-election
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett, winner of five consecutive terms, will not run for re-election. She is the second longest serving state superintendent in America.
Her extended tenure has prompted critics in the state to push for term limits on statewide offices. At present, the governor is the only office that is limited (two terms) apart from state senators and representatives.
“There’s an old saying in politics that ‘nothing is ever over’. That’s certainly true in education,” Garrett said. “The fight for education excellence is never ending, and I plan to continue to be involved. It just won’t be from the position of state superintendent. The challenges and rewards of this job are beyond belief. I want to continue to be of service where and when I can, even after I leave office in January 2011.”
As superintendent, Garrett not only serves as the CEO for the State Department of Education, but is also chair of the State Board of Education, State Board of Career and Technology Education, and a member of the board of regents for the Regional University System of Oklahoma. In all, she serves on 19 constitutional and statutory boards and commissions, and is serving by appointment on more than 75 other boards, commissions and task forces.
A hallmark of her administration has been the development of pre-kindergarten programs throughout the state to the extent that Oklahoma is recognized as the national model by the national institute for early education research. The emphasis on early education has been criticized as promoting a “nanny state.”
AAA sees light Labor Day travel
AAA projected the number of Americans traveling this Labor Day weekend will be substantially lower than last year’s travel volume. Approximately 39.1 million travelers are expected to take a trip of 50 or more miles from home this year, a decrease of 13.3 percent from the 2008 holiday period when Labor Day travel was the strongest of the decade.
AAA’s survey shows travel among Oklahomans will fall 11.7 percent from last year’s figures with auto travel down 10.4 percent and air travel plummeting 19.1 percent. Nationally, auto travel is expected to decline 11.8 percent from Labor Day, 2008 and the number of people flying will fall by 20 percent.
“There are really three things at work here producing these lower numbers,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma, “the sluggish economy, the lateness of the holiday on the 2009 calendar, and the fact that the number of Labor Day travelers in 2008 turned out to be so large, due in part to a late decline in gas prices.”
Last year, 45.1 million Americans traveled during the long Labor Day holiday weekend, the most this decade. Despite this year’s sizeable decline of 6 million travelers nationwide, AAA predicts more Americans will travel this holiday than did over this year’s 4th of July holiday weekend. The auto club projected 37.1 million Americans would travel over the Fourth this year, which is typically the busiest motor vehicle travel holiday of the year. This year will mark the third strongest weekend for Labor Day travel this decade. The second busiest Labor Day was in 2003 when 41.6 million Americans took a holiday trip 50 or more miles from home.
The latest AAA Fuel Gauge Report (www.aaafuelgaugereport.com) shows self-serve regular now averaging $2.47 across Oklahoma, compared to $3.52 a year ago. The national average is $2.62 today, also $1.05 below what it was on Aug. 26, 2008.
Key concerned about privacy
State Rep. Charles Key returned to the U.S. from a trip to China just in time to learn of what U.S. authorities are calling the largest case of identity theft in the United States.
The case involves three men who are accused of stealing more than 130 million credit card and debit card numbers from Heartland Payment Systems, 7-Eleven Inc. and Hannaford Brothers Co. Key said that as a longtime advocate of privacy rights, he wants to highlight this case as an example of why he believes government practices need to change.
“I believe it is a legislator’s responsibility to alert his or her constituents of any threat, especially a threat that goes to the very foundation on which our country was founded,” Key said. “I also believe as a lawmaker I have a responsibility to discuss remedies to deal with the threat. This week 130 million Americans had their credit card information and other account information compromised. Data sharing networks were compromised.”
With compromised data sharing networks and the increasing use of surveillance cameras and facial recognition technology, Key believes basic constitutional rights and privacy are being shed and individual security is being compromised. He is also concerned about DNA databases and cloned documents.
“I have authored and successfully passed Tenth Amendment legislation here in Oklahoma. For more than 16 years in the Oklahoma Legislature, I have focused on the importance of protecting states’ rights and each citizen’s constitutional rights,” Key said. “I worked with Democrats to pass legislation that would prohibit Oklahoma from participating in the Real ID Act 2005. I will reach out to Democrats again and ask that all lawmakers in Oklahoma support legislation to end the collection of biometric information. I will do the same thing about the collection of DNA samples. I will author or co-author legislation to oppose the use of RFID technology on identification documents. I will also introduce or co-sponsor legislation to end the tying of Social Security Numbers to obtaining a driver’s license. Finally, I want all existing biometric samples, biometric data and Social Security Numbers removed from DMV databases.”
“We can no longer say, ‘I have nothing to hide so why should I worry what the government does?’” Key said.
Key said he plans to talk to state lawmakers across the country, whether they are Republican, Democrat or Independent, to work with him on legislation to introduce to their respective state legislatures. He said he also plans to bring the threat to the attention of the Oklahoma Congressional delegation in Washington.
“I also ask that all Oklahomans insist that both Senators Coburn and Inhofe oppose PASS ID or S1261,” Key said. “We must all insure that government and the courts are not in the business of converting rights into privileges. We may disagree on health care, immigration, deficit spending and other issues but we must stand united in protecting our constitutional rights. Do we want to live in a surveillance society or a free society? Surveillance and freedom cannot be reconciled no matter how hard anyone attempts to do so.”
Blackwood Quartet coming
The Blackwood Gospel Quartet will perform at 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Brock Memorial Gymnasium, 415 West 3rd St., in Okmulgee.
This free concert is sponsored by the Compass Assembly of God church in celebration of its 10th anniversary at it location on 13455 Loop 56 in Okmulgee. There will be a free-will love offering taken with 100 percent going to the Blackwood Gospel Quartet.
The original Blackwood Brothers Quartet was formed in 1934 in the hills of Mississippi, with Roy, Doyle, James and Roy’s oldest son, R. W. Blackwood. Since that early formation, the group has won countless awards, sung thousands of concerts, and appeared on many television shows.
Roy, Doyle, James, and R. W. Blackwood continue today through the hearts and lives of the Blackwood Gospel Quartet. They still sing the traditional close harmony quartet-style music the Blackwoods are famous for.
Mark Blackwood started singing when he was nine years old with the Blackwood Little Brothers. Mark sings the lead and manages the Blackwood Gospel Quartet. He has won two Grammy awards for recordings he produced for the Blackwood Brothers Quartet. Mark is the son of the late Cecil Blackwood, who was the baritone for the group for forty-six years. Mark was born and raised in Memphis, but now lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Brad Smith has been involved in gospel music for almost 20 years. His Gospel music career consists of being a vocal member of the New Speers and the Impacts. Brad has performed with the Symphony Orchestras in Phoenix, Ariz.; Jackson, Tenn.; Louisville, Ken.;, as well as the Alabama Symphony Orchestra in Birmingham, Ala. Brad has been nominated twice for “Male Vocalist of the Year” by the Gospel Voice Magazine. Brad lives in the Nashville area.
Derrick Boyd is the tenor for the Blackwood Gospel Quartet. Derrick has been involved in gospel music for many years. He was with the Dixie Melody Boys for years and was most recently with the Carolina Boys. Derrick has been nominated three times for best tenor in the Singing News fan awards. Derrick lives in the Nashville area.
Daniel Childs is the baritone for the quartet and is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Cecil Blackwood. Daniel has been singing virtual all of his life, but has recently joined the quartet that his grandfather and great grandfather were in.
For more information, go to www.bgqmusic.com.
OKWU among top colleges
Oklahoma Wesleyan University has been listed among America’s Best Colleges by both Forbes and U.S. News & World Report. Each ranking is based on different criteria and is highly sought among America’s institutions of higher education.
Six Hundred institutions are ranked by Forbes, including national research universities and smaller liberal arts colleges. Forbes ranks OKWU as No. 155 in the nation. That makes it the highest ranked university (on Forbes’ list) of any type in Northeast Oklahoma, and second in Oklahoma, ahead of OU, OSU, TU, UCO and ORU.
According to a Forbes press release, “Traditionally, institutions of higher education have been categorized by their Carnegie classification. U.S. News & World Report and some other rankings use, sometimes with a bit of modification, categories such as National Research Universities or Liberal Arts Colleges. Often a distinction is also made between public and private schools. In its core rankings, we eschew that approach, preferring to list all schools in a single ranking. It is our belief that college students go to school to obtain a bachelor’s degree and usually are open to receiving it from different types of institutions.”
Forbes also states, “As in 2008, we base 25 percent of the rankings on student satisfaction with their course instruction. Also, like last year, we base another 25 percent on indicators of post-graduate employment success, and one-sixth (16.67 percent) on the likelihood of graduation from college within four years. Last year, we weighted the estimated average four-year student loan debt at one-sixth (16.67 percent) in the rankings. Given the rising costs, debt levels and associated concerns with this issue, we have increased the weight to 20 percent this year.”
The U.S. News & World Report 2010 edition of America’s Best Colleges places OKWU at No. 9, Best in the West, for baccalaureate colleges and the No. 7 Best Value in the West. U. S. News & World Report breaks the 1400 colleges and universities into appropriate categories for comparisons. It states, “This 2010 edition of America’s Best Colleges uses the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s 2006 Basic version of its classifications. Carnegie groups American colleges and universities according to their mission as defined by factors such as the highest level of degrees conferred by discipline.”
“U.S. News & World Report collapses nine of those Carnegie categories into four main groupings: National Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Universities-Master’s, and Baccalaureate Colleges. The schools in the Universities-Master’s and Baccalaureate Colleges categories are placed into one of four geographic regions: North, South, Midwest, and West.”
U. S. News & World Reports defines a baccalaureate college as one that focuses “primarily on undergraduate education, just as the liberal arts colleges do, but grant fewer than 50 percent of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. At these schools, at least 10 percent of undergraduate degrees awarded are bachelor’s degrees. There are 319 baccalaureate colleges, ranked within four regions: North, South, Midwest, and West.” The West includes Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii and Alaska.
The finest bathrooms in America are in Branson
The finest restrooms in America are in the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre in Branson, Missouri - says the Internet public who cast online ballots in the 8th annual “America’s Best Restroom” contest presented by Cincinnati-based Cintas Corporation, a provider of restroom hygiene products and services.
The 2009 contest attracted nominations from a wide cross-section of businesses, including restaurants, hotels and several theatres. Ten finalists were selected based on exceptional hygiene, style and open access to the public.
“This contest is meant to be fun, but there’s also an important message, which is that restroom hygiene matters - for good health and good business,” said Cintas Senior Marketing Manager Keith Hartman. “Cintas is proud to honor the Shoji Tabuchi Theatre, and we congratulate all of our participants this year.”
Previous winners have included restrooms at Notre Dame University; The Grand Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi; Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin; the Fort Smith, Arkansas Airport; Wendell’s Restaurant in Westerville, Ohio; Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Ohio and, in 2008, The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Shoji Tabuchi Theatre is located at 3260 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson, Missouri. The presentation of the America’s Best Restroom plaque was Aug. 20 in the Theatre, followed by media tours, interviews and a reception in the lobby.