Casey faces big government in race
Republican Gary Casey is challenging one of the most powerful liberals in the Oklahoma Senate on Nov. 4.
Casey faces Democrat Sen. Tom Adelson, a lawyer who was formerly Gov. Brad Henry’s Secretary of Health. His family holds extensive oil properties in Texas and New Mexico.
Henry likes Adelson so much that he had him chair the Health Subcommittee on Henry’s Transition Team. Adelson is past president of the Tulsa Mental Health Association and he serves on the Oklahoma University Health Care Task Force.
In contrast, Casey is the son of a middle class family.
“I really care about this community,” Casey said. “I am concerned about where our country is headed. You see more and more socialism.”
Casey, unlike Adelson, wants to limit government to its constitutional role. Casey wants to cut taxes, not raise them, and stop the state government from spending too much money.
Adelson has raised and will spend thousands more than Casey in his campaign.
According to an Oklahoma Ethics Commission contributor report, Adelson raised $125,210 in the period from Jan. 1 to March 31. The list of contributors includes 54 attorneys, 20 physicians and five officials associated with The University of Okahoma, including OU President David Boren. Adelson got $5,000 – the maximum contribution – from the Cherokee Nation and he put $5,000 of his own money in the campaign.
Adelson wants the state to raise taxes to spend more money on education, health and transportation.
According to his website, “In terms of state spending in relation to the gross state product, Oklahoma state government is one of the smallest in the country. State spending in relation to personal income is lower than it has been in the last 25 years. Tax relief proponents will always have a strong constituency, but we must also watch over our state’s long-term fiscal health.”
But according to The Tax Foundation Oklahoma’s Corporate Tax Index Rank is the 19th highest in the nation. On a statewide level, Oklahoma’s weekly wage averaged $665 in the second quarter of 2007, ranking it 40th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“With an expected state surplus, now is the time to reduce the tax burden on Oklahomans,” Casey said.
Adelson wants to expand the size of the OU and Oklahoma State campuses in Tulsa. He worked to expand the number of mental health courts and drug courts in Oklahoma. Adelson favors making violent criminals serve full terms but he wants to “rethink” incarceration of non-violent offenders. He claims Oklahoma has the eighth lowest tax burden in the nation and wants to raise funds for “investment” in infrastructure.
Adelson is an advocate of early childhood education programs. Adelson is pro-abortion.
“I believe life begins at conception,” Casey said. “I believe this position can be defended scientifically far more effectively than the pro-abortion position that life begins at birth.”
Adelson believes 80 percent of the cars on the road have underinflated tires and Oklahomans could save 11 cents per mile with properly inflated tires.
Adelson is against making English America’s official language.
“I believe that the state of Oklahoma has a responsibility to enforce the laws currently on the books in regards to immigration,” Casey said. “I support HB 1804. I believe that immigrants should go through the proper channels and obey our laws.
“I support English as the official language of Oklahoma, and I therefore stand in support of SB 163. My opponent has said that he voted for this bill, but the truth is that he voted to send it back to a conference committee knowing full well it would not make it out for a floor vote before the end of this year’s legislative session. If elected, I will work for initiatives in support of the English language and American values, and I will be honest and above board in my official actions. I will fight against the operation of trucks of foreign registration and questionable condition here, and work to prevent abuses of eminent domain.”
“I support Gary Casey for the Oklahoma State Senate. Gary believes like I do that government should be limited and efficient,” said State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso. “He also believes that taxes should be kept low and used only for basic prioritized services of government. I look forward to working with Gary because I know he will be a true champion for the rights of the taxpayers.”