Oklahoma Senate approves governor's new education board members
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday confirmed Gov. Kevin Stitt's four new appointees to the State Board of Education along with picks for several other state leadership posts.
With no discussion, senators approved the appointments of Mike Tinney, of Norman, Christopher K. Van Denhende, of Tulsa, Ryan A. Deatherage, of Kingfisher, and Becky Y. Carson, of Edmond, to serve on the state board tasked with governing the state's public school system.
Gov. Kevin Stitt in February removed three prior members from the board and criticized them for creating 'needless political drama' following their vote requiring schools to collect students' immigration status.
Stitt then named Deatherage, Tinney and Van Denhende to fill the vacancies, saying the board needed fresh eyes.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters accused Stitt of firing the three former board members for political purposes.
The three booted members had voted in line with Walters since he took office in January 2023.
They approved Walters' budget requests, which included $3 million to spend on Bibles, along with controversial new rules that would require the student citizenship checks and require teachers to pass a naturalization test in order to be licensed.
During the session, the Republican-controlled Legislature rejected all three proposals.
In April, Stitt appointed Carson, a retired educator, to fill a seat representing Congressional District 5 that has been vacant for two years.
Walters and six members appointed by the governor make up the board.
During the committee vetting process, some Republican senators objected to Stitt's decision to overhaul the board's membership.
Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, carried Tinney's nomination after his hometown senator, Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, declined to do so. Standridge told some media outlets she was friends with Kendra Wesson, who served on the board before being booted.
In other business, the Senate confirmed John Budd of Oklahoma City to serve as the Department of Commerce CEO.
Richard L. Rose of Oklahoma City was confirmed as Office of Management and Enterprise Services director.
Jeffrey Cartmell of Edmond was approved to serve as Department of Human Services director.
Timothy N. Tardibono of Oklahoma City was confirmed as Office of Juvenile Affairs executive director.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
44 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
How can Boston mayoral candidates reach voters during the summer slump? Take to the airwaves.
It's also yet another indication that in this Ads aren't a silver bullet for winning a campaign. But at this point in the summer, 'it's all you can do, really,' said Cam Charbonnier, a Boston political consultant who ran a mayoral campaign in 2021. 'People aren't really making a decision at this point, and a lot of people aren't totally focused on it,' he added. 'But by the time they start to think about it, you don't want it to be the first time they're hearing about your candidate. You want them to have an idea that's formed.' Related : Advertisement New ads are launching this week and next on behalf of both Advertisement The Kraft campaign on Friday launched its first television advertisements, a series of at least six 30-second spots that feature people Kraft has worked with or for during his years as a nonprofit leader in Boston. While Kraft only spent three decades at the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, including 12 years as its head. One of the new ads features Jonte Joseph, who met Kraft at the Charlestown Boys & Girls Club when Joseph was only 9 years old. Kraft, Joseph said, saw him through difficult moments, understanding that 'people sometimes need help to get back on track.' 'Josh helped change my life,' Joseph says in the Other commercials highlight other friends and former colleagues who praise Kraft for everything from helping the Muslim community in Hyde Park find a The positive ads present a contrast with the commercials put forward earlier this year by a super PAC aligned with Kraft. The PAC has A spokesperson for the campaign did not say how much Kraft's team will spend on the new television commercials. But the commercials are a notable flex of the campaign's ample finances — boosted in recent months by a $2 million cash infusion from Kraft himself. Conventional campaign wisdom dictates that once advertisements go up on air, they should not come down, suggesting Kraft's team may be preparing to keep the ads running for months. Related : Advertisement On Monday, a Wu-aligned super PAC, Bold Boston, is launching a 60-second radio ad that takes aim at Kraft for his past support for Republican political candidates. The commercial aims to tie Kraft to President Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' which is expected to 'You know, Josh Kraft donated to Republicans who got the law passed,' says one voice in the commercial. Kraft, who is now a registered Democrat but has also voted for Republicans over the years, has donated in the past to some The Wu-aligned PAC also has not said how much it will spend to air the ads. In-person events have slowed down somewhat for the summer, though both Wu and Kraft are expected to appear Tuesday evening at an event Campaigns also spend the slow summer months lining up endorsements, organizing volunteers, and launching canvasses. Wu's campaign has canvasses planned this weekend in East Boston, Mattapan, Charlestown, and half a dozen other neighborhoods. The mayor rolled out an endorsement this week from the Boston Teachers Union. Advertisement For his part, Kraft on Thursday held a press conference to announce a He said his campaign is not slowing down during the summer stretch. 'I'm gonna keep doing what we're doing — showing up everywhere and anywhere,' Kraft said Thursday. 'Just showing up and listening to people.' DaRosa, one of the 'The majority of my community doesn't have the luxury to take off for the summer,' he said. He sees indications that voters remain engaged, and said he is working to meet residents in person at supermarkets and train stops. 'There's more interest than is being projected out there,' he said. 'Folks are not interested in a lot of the BS that's going on between Michelle and Kraft, the back and forth bickering over whose bank account is bigger. Folks are more interested in the solutions and how we're gonna go about moving the city forward.' Globe correspondent Jade Lozada contributed to this report. Emma Platoff can be reached at
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
South Carolina becomes early hot spot for potential 2028 candidates
South Carolina is already setting the stage for the shadow 2028 presidential primaries as potential White House hopefuls from both parties travel to the Palmetto State. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) traveled through rural South Carolina during a two-day tour this past week, while Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are expected to head to the state later this month. Over on the Republican side, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is speaking at a South Carolina GOP fundraiser next month, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) recently made trips to South Carolina and Iowa, according to Axios reports. The moves have raised speculation over whether some candidates are laying early groundwork for possible White House bids in 2028 and what role South Carolina will play in the next presidential cycle's calendar. 'I don't read it any other way,' said South Carolina Democratic National Committee (DNC) member Carol Fowler, regarding the high-profile Democrats visiting the state, which was the first official Democratic primary location in 2024. 'I believe that they're at least contemplating it,' she added, referring to potential White House bids. Only months into President Trump's second term, the chatter in political circles is moving fast to 2028. Govs. Wes Moore (D) of Maryland and Tim Walz (D) of Minnesota traveled south in May to participate in the South Carolina state party's Blue Palmetto Dinner and Democratic State Convention, respectively. The two men also appeared at Rep. James Clyburn's (D-S.C.) annual fish fry. Moore has said he's not running for president in 2028. A source close to his campaign noted that the Maryland governor had traveled to the state earlier this year after canceling a trip to South Carolina that had been planned during the 2024 election. The source also noted that the governor visited two companies while he was there regarding potential expansion opportunities in Maryland. Earlier this past week, Newsom traveled to several rural counties in the Palmetto State in an event the state party billed as a way 'to connect directly with communities that have too often been overlooked by Republicans in power.' Beshear, meanwhile, will make multiple stops in the state next week, including participating in a dinner hosted by Georgetown County Democrats and speaking at the South Carolina AFL-CIO Convention. Next week, Khanna is doing a town hall, which the congressman said in a statement to The Hill is part of his 'Benefits Over Billionaires tour to help flip the House in 2026 and hear how Trump and [Vice President] Vance's bill will hurt families already struggling to get by.' Youngkin will speak in August at the state GOP's Silver Elephant Gala. To be sure, South Carolina is not the only early primary state that has received attention from potential 2028 hopefuls. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Iowa earlier this year; Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is heading there next month. Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel is slated to head there in September, according to Axios. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) spoke in April at the New Hampshire Democratic Party McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who ran for president in 2020 and lost in the primary, campaigned for Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) this past week. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) traveled to the state last year. Out-of-state travel is not unusual, particularly for sitting lawmakers and governors who may be asked to speak at events or fundraisers. Some Democrats don't necessarily think all of these notable names are vying for the White House. The trips could be a way to shore up better support for Democrats in the region. 'They realize that we have to win the South,' South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain said. To win in other places, 'we've got to have an investment of time and resources to get these voters engaged and off the bench so that we can elect more members of Congress, so that we can elect more members of the U.S. Senate,' she explained. Whatever the reason, the early primary state visits have brought 2028 front and center by mid-2025. Some Democrats have acknowledged the visits to the state feel a little earlier than usual. Still, experts in the Palmetto State say there's good reason for potential hopefuls to be crisscrossing the state. 'Running in South Carolina, it helps candidates prove their mettle,' state GOP chair Drew McKissick explained. 'I mean, it's a big enough state to test grassroots support and fuel organization skills and so forth, but it's also small enough to get around and over the course of the day and test your retail skills.' The recent visits to South Carolina have also raised questions about whether it will remain first in Democrats' lineup of early contests for the presidential nomination. The DNC has said it wants to ensure fairness in the process of selecting its early calendar slate. 'The DNC is committed to running a fair, transparent, and rigorous process for the 2028 primary calendar. All states will have an opportunity to participate,' DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman said in a statement. But some state party chairs are beginning to weigh in. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart made clear in a statement that she wanted Democrats to reconsider the calendar, as the Hawkeye State has historically enjoyed its status as the first caucus. 'I do expect to have tough and direct conversations with the DNC regarding our Iowa caucuses and the serious concerns surrounding the Biden 2024 calendar,' Hart said. 'National Democrats let Trump get a head start in the 2024 campaign by excluding Iowa. We simply can't afford to be ignored again.' Several Democratic chairs of early presidential primary states, however, suggested that battle could be hard-fought. 'We have a history of picking the nominee, number one … Iowa can't say that. New Hampshire can't say that, and our voters take this very seriously,' said Spain, the South Carolina Democratic Party chair. 'South Carolina's going to be fighting for South Carolina, and I'm assuming that she's doing the same thing for her state.' Spain and other DNC members from South Carolina have had discussions with Democrats running to serve on the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee — or other standing committees — regarding their position on South Carolina and the 2028 primary calendar. The DNC is holding elections for at-large member positions and several standing committees in August, though the Rules and Bylaws Committee is seen as being particularly influential in the nominating calendar process. New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley in a statement said the Granite State's importance 'cannot be understated' and noted that the four-state calendar of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina 'was a system that not only worked, the four early states worked well together.' 'Granite Staters value retail politics and grassroots organizing like no other state. That is why New Hampshire continues to have a pivotal role in the presidential nominating process,' he said. 'The importance of New Hampshire as a purple battleground state cannot be understated in the general election for the White House and building a US Senate and House majority.' Nevada Democrats, however, maintain that their demographics are indicative of the country at-large. 'We're a microcosm of the rest of the U.S., showing this country's diversity of cultures and communities,' Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) told The Hill in a statement. 'If you're a presidential candidate and can win our votes, your message will resonate with voters across the United States.' While the discussion over the calendar is just beginning, Democrats hope the different states can unite as the party prepares to take back the White House. 'I really think Democrats make a mistake if they think this is a fight between four early states,' said New Hampshire-based Democratic strategist Jim Demers, who worked on former President Biden's write-in campaign last year. 'I think we really need to look at what's the best lineup of states so that we come out of the primary process in a very strong position.'
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Democrats warn Trump's DOGE cuts threaten government funding talks
Senate Democrats are warning the Trump administration's effort to claw back funds for foreign aid and public broadcasting programs threatens bipartisan negotiations to fund the government ahead of a September shutdown deadline. Republicans are ramping up efforts to try to pass a package of more than $9 billion in funding cuts requested by President Trump last month. But the push faces staunch opposition from Democrats, who say the efforts by the executive branch to undercut previous funding decisions made on a bipartisan basis by Congress could further erode trust between the two sides in current talks. 'How are we supposed to negotiate a bipartisan deal if Republicans will turn around and put it through the shredder in a partisan vote,' Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said from the floor Thursday. 'This entire package next week should be rejected outright.' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also called it 'absurd' for Republicans to expect Democrats to 'play along with funding the government' if their GOP colleagues 'renege on a bipartisan agreement by concocting rescissions packages behind closed doors that can pass with only their votes, not the customary 60 votes required in the appropriation process.' Democrats are referring to a package of funding cuts Senate Republicans hope to take up in the coming days that calls for $8.3 billion in cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and foreign aid, and more than $1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides some funding to NPR and PBS. Congress has until July 18 to pass the legislation under the special rescissions process initiated by the White House last month that allows the Senate to approve the funding cuts with a simple majority vote, bypassing likely Democratic opposition. Most funding bills, including the measure that allocated the foreign aid and public broadcasting funding in March, need to overcome a 60-vote threshold. Trump officials have signaled more rescissions packages could be on the way if Republicans are able to push the cuts through Congress. But not even all Republicans are thrilled with the idea, with some worrying about how it will affect current funding negotiations. 'I don't like rescissions,' Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a spending cardinal, said during a meeting this week to advance funding bills. 'I don't like the rescission package that we're going to be dealing with. I don't like the whole, the whole exercise of rescissions, particularly at a time when we're actually trying to advance appropriations. To me, it seems you've got a disconnect here.' Her comments come as actions by the executive branch in recent months have already complicated bipartisan talks. Fears rose of a potential government shutdown earlier this year as Trump battled Democrats over the administration's efforts to freeze funding previously approved by Congress. While Senate Democrats eventually — and reluctantly — helped pass a GOP-crafted, seven-month stopgap to prevent a shutdown in March, the party has continued to wage an aggressive campaign against the administration's ongoing operation to reshape the federal government and cut federal spending. As the Senate Appropriations Committee considered its first batch of government funding bills for fiscal year 2026 on Thursday, the latest actions by the Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) hung over the proceeding. 'The challenges we face and the threats to this very process are greater than ever before, with the president and administration intent on ignoring laws that we write and seizing more power for themselves,' Murray said during the hearing. 'And of course, for the first time ever, we are operating now on a partisan full year continuing resolution for all 12 of our funding bills, which turned over more say on how our constituents taxpayer dollars get spent to unelected bureaucrats than any of us should be comfortable with in the face of these immense challenges and threats,' she added. The committee was able to advance two funding bills, greenlighting dollars for agricultural programs, rural development and the legislative branch. But negotiators failed to advance their annual Justice Department funding bill due to a dispute over the administration's plans to relocate the FBI's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Members are hopeful the committee will be able to resume consideration of the funding bill as soon as next week while negotiations continue. But there could still be trouble on the horizon as the Senate prepares to tackle the president's rescissions request. Asked by reporters this week whether he expects the Senate Appropriations Committee to hold more markups for funding bills this month, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a senior appropriator, said, 'We'll have to see what happens on these rescission bills, right? 'Because if Republicans vote in a partisan way, to take these unilateral cuts from programs that had bipartisan support that obviously undermines the whole process, right?' Van Hollen said. 'How can you trust anything that's agreed to if they turn around the next day and undo an agreement. So, that would be a huge problem.' The package presents a major test of how easily Republicans can lock in cuts sought by Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. Some Republicans are optimistic about the rescission package's chances of passage. Many in the party have long scrutinized the scope of funding for foreign aid and accused public radio and television of political bias. But changes could be necessary to win sufficient backing from Senate Republicans. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is among a group of Republicans who have shared concerns about how the public broadcasting cuts would impact rural stations. 'We've got Native American radio stations. A number of them are in very rural areas, and they rely very heavily on this particular source of funding,' Rounds said. 'And probably more than 90 percent of all their funding comes through this one source, whereas, if you're talking about public broadcasting and so forth, in other areas, we know those areas where there is political dislike for some of the activities.' 'These Native American radio stations are not in that category,' he said. Rounds and other senators sharing similar concerns have floated the possibility of potential carveouts to protect some local stations as leaders make a push to approve the cuts. 'I told them that I have to have this resolved before I can vote to move it forward,' Rounds told The Hill on Thursday. Other Republicans are airing concerns about proposed cuts to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other global health programs. 'These are not only the right thing to do for humanitarian reasons, but they're incredible instruments of soft power,' Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who has repeatedly said she would not vote for PEPFAR cuts, said in a hearing in the rescissions package last month. Republicans are expecting to have a chance to make changes to the bill as part of a marathon voting session known as a 'vote-a-rama' in the coming days. But at least one GOP senator is pushing against internal 'side deals' after the Senate GOP leadership recently drew headlines for making last–minute changes for certain states in Trump's latest tax and spending cuts bill to secure its passage. 'If senators want to offer amendments within the rules, they should be able to offer amendments. What I don't want to see happen,' Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), another spending cardinal, told reporters this week. 'I want to have a full and fair amendment process. 'I want to see people being able to offer their ideas, and let's vote yea or nay in front of God and country. I don't want to see a wrap-around amendment at the end that reflects a lot of side deals,' he added. 'I'm tired of seeing people getting special deals to vote yes. I think that it's immoral and the wrong way to legislate.'
