Oklahoma
State Senate The State Senate defeated a Democrat leader’s bill aimed at protecting the Senate Democrats’ “good ol’ boy” political patronage system at county election boards. Senate Bill 1032, by Democrat Caucus Chairman Kenneth Corn of Howe, was defeated Monday afternoon for the second time in less than a week. Corn’s bill would have extended the terms of current county election board secretaries through May 1, 2009 – locking in current Democrat appointees for years to come even if Democrats lose their Senate majority. “SB 1032 isn’t about reforming the election board system. It’s about keeping the Senate Democrats’ ‘good ol’ boy’ political machine in power should Democrats lose their Senate majority this November,” stated Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. Corn’s bill also makes it difficult to appoint a new election board secretary from outside the Democrats’ political machine by giving a preference to those with three years experience working for an election board secretary – meaning most qualified applicants would be employees of current Democrat political appointees. “Senate Republicans are interested in real reform, but we aren’t interested in helping Senate Democrats put a lock on the system of political patronage they have created,” Coffee said. Democrats have controlled the State Senate since statehood
– nearly 100 years. But Republicans have doubled their numbers in
the Senate during the past 10 years, leaving Senate Democrats with a razor-thin
25 to 22 majority. There is also one vacant Senate seat. |