There are more than 300 registered lobbyists in Oklahoma. Some of them do this work for the right reasons, but many others are working for well-funded special interests who absolutely DON’T want what you want. If we are going to counterbalance money power with people power, we need effective citizen advocates to vastly outnumber the […]
Info to Action Blog
5 Steps Toward Our Second Chance #GetItRightOK!
Good news! Our legislators will be in Special Session beginning Monday, September 25th. It’s good news because we don’t need to wait until spring to strengthen core services. Now that lawmakers have a second chance to get the budget right, they shouldn’t waste it. So I’m going to lay out how we can help them […]
How to ask a friend to join our efforts
Grassroots advocacy is more effective with more people! We don’t need you to try to go Lone Ranger in these situations, because legislators are not going to listen to only you or me. Asking people to help can be a little uncomfortable at first. You may feel nervous about the reactions you’ll get when you […]
Calling a Legislator
Calling a legislator can be a strong way to get their attention. Oklahoma legislators tell us that as few as 7 calls from their own constituents can prompt them to carefully a bill. Here is how to make your call effective: Find the phone numbers of your own two legislators and go ahead and put […]
Picture the most powerful and yet disempowered Oklahomans
Last week, we brought the Together Oklahoma info table and Oklahoma Jeopardy to the Jackson County Fair in Altus. It was a big hit with the kids and their parents in this key legislative district represented by Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz. We had such a great time in Altus that I found myself […]
#CallEmBack -Tell lawmakers to do the right thing in Special Session
By throwing out a cigarette fee as unconstitutional, the courts confirmed what we suspected to be true since the day the Legislature passed a gimmick-filled budget. But unless lawmakers go into special session and find a way to replace that revenue, we will see massive cuts to SoonerCare, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and […]
Is the cigarette fee a legal way to balance the state budget?
On Tuesday, August 8th, the Oklahoma Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments regarding recent challenges to revenue measures enacted in the 2017 legislative session. If anyone tells you they know exactly how this will turn out, they are blowing smoke, because they could definitely decide any number of ways. Since Together Oklahoma focuses most […]
Upcoming Events with Together Oklahoma and Other Orgs
There is a lot going on in the coming weeks! Here are some things you may want to add to your calendar and one opportunity to sign up for a Together Oklahoma field trip: July 25, 6:30pm – 8:00pm Connection through Diversity · Hosted by Women Lead Oklahoma at the Norman Fire Department Training Center, […]
How to stop feeling guilty
Have you ever felt like you should be doing more to make Oklahoma better, but you just can’t seem to find the time? Most days I get one or two messages from people in Oklahoma who feel that they need to apologize for not doing more. If you feel that way, you are not alone. […]
Who are the key legislative leaders you should know?
Advocates in Together Oklahoma hear a lot about how to have an impact on their own two legislators. We have a whole bunch of resources about how to connect with your two state legislators that right here. Some of you will be going to the polls to vote for a new legislator today if you […]
