We the People are observably growing tired of ongoing attempts to censor both the populous and their duly elected representatives. Oklahoma’s expanding grassroots movement is fighting back.
In a letter presented to Governor Kevin Stitt (R) today, 16 organizations are requesting he “veto lines 15 and 16 of Senate Bill 1122 JCR” which would hinder the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) and State Superintendent Ryan Walters from promoting their mission, message and progress to Oklahomans and others, and would shift decisions about federal education grants into the hands of the very legislators promoting this portion of the appropriations bill.
Some documents speak for themselves and require little explanation, as is the case for this letter penned by local Moms for Liberty chapters and joined by 15 other grassroots groups from across the state. The letter provides a thorough recounting of multiple censorship efforts recently put forth by Oklahoma’s legislature:
Roberta Lewis, Pottawatomie County Chapter Chair of Moms for Liberty, delivered the letter on behalf of this network of grassroots organizations. According to Lewis, “This is not about Ryan Walters. This is not about a person. This is about our children and the state of education in Oklahoma.”
When asked about this unprecedented move by State House leaders, Lewis stated, “What’s particularly upsetting is the way in which this was done. The backdoor deals, the under-the-table handshakes and the lack of transparency are really what’s upsetting so many across the state. The grassroots are fed up with legislators playing politics with our children’s education.”
In what appears to be a political gag order, the Paul Ryans (R?) of the Oklahoma legislature, at the prodding of State House Democrats, are defunding Walters’ right and duty to speak broadly about the changes to public education that voters elected him to lead. No other agency or elected official is identified for similar restrictions.
This publication recently posted several reminders on X concerning the absence of any similar concern from the legislature about such promotional efforts by Walters’ predecessor, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister:
Hofmeister, from the superintendent’s office, arranged national interviews to promote her flip from the Republican to the Democrat party as part of her unsuccessful bid for the governor’s seat in 2022. No one at the capitol interceded.
Hofmeister had a regular show on PBS/OETA. The CEO of Paycom, a Hofmeister campaign donor, gave $1 million to OETA just after Hofmeister was made OETA board chair. The legislature had no problem with Hofmeister controlling a media megaphone supported with public dollars while she was in the seat Walters’ now occupies at the OSDE.
And as for requiring the OSDE to apply for all available federal funds, these grassroots organizations know not all money is good money.
American’s have reached their limit concerning political censorship, lawfare and legislative attempts to retain power and control instigated by elitist actors. The RINOS in the Oklahoma legislature have stepped in it this time.
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