Oklahoma Charity Highlights Part 1 (Journal Record)
[Note: Let's Fix This segment begins at the 30:00 mark.]
Part 1 of a special podcast focused on the charitable organizations in Oklahoma. Check out the links below for more ways to get involved with these worthy causes!
'Let's Fix This' Capitol Crawl (Fox 25)
Wednesday, February 15th 2017
by Mitch English
What started out as a group of friends to get people more engaged with their legislator and stop complaining on Facebook, has turned into... a movement.
In just a short time, the group "Let's Fix This" has brought everyday Oklahomans and legislators together to discuss issues that will make the Sooner State better.
Andy Moore organized the nonpartisan, nonprofit group with a mission to help people get involved in their government. Moore took advantage of Facebook to get his word out and the response continues to grow.
Today's Let's Fix This Capitol Day had the crowd at the Oklahoma State Capitol with a meet and greet and get organized. Then it was a journey around the Legislator's offices to personally meet and discuss issues. Citizens could observe the legislative session and even invited them to pull legislators out of session to talk to them.
The day wound down with the Let's Fix This Capitol Crawl in Uptown. Here, Oklahomans and Legislators went hang out at local eateries and talk with legislators in a more relaxed environment.
For more information, or to donate to help the cause, visit the Let's Fix This website at letsfixthisok.org.
http://okcfox.com/news/local/lets-fix-this-capitol-crawl
Grassroots Effort Helps Citizens Speak With State Legislators (News9)
February 15th, 2017
By Aaron Brilbeck
OKLAHOMA CITY - Most days the halls of the state Capitol are filled with legislators and lobbyists, but that's starting to change with a grassroots effort to get Oklahomans more involved.
Going to a place like the Capitol and talking with lawmakers can be downright intimidating. That's where the group Let's Fix This comes into play.
The group works with individuals, often through social media, to take the fear out of meeting with lawmakers.
The group is non-partisan, doesn't promote individual legislation, and they said their goal is to educate the electorate while pushing for open and transparent government.
"What we want to do is not just rally, make noise. It's not really my thing. We want you to meet your legislators and for them to meet you," said Andy Moore of Let's Fix This.
"You're here because our state matters to you, and today is your day to be lobbyists. You're lobbying for everyday Oklahomans, whatever your issue is," state Rep. Jason Dunnington, D-District 88, said.
Wednesday, folks working with Let's Fix This met with lawmakers about everything from taxes and education to jobs and business growth.
If you'd like to learn more, you can check out their website, letsfixthisok.org.
http://www.news9.com/story/34514065/grassroots-effort-helps-citizens-speak-with-state-legislators
State tax/revenue options being thrown around to help with budget shortfall (OKC Fox25)
January 3, 2017
By Jordann Lucero
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — In just about one month, lawmakers will convene at the Oklahoma State Capitol to start a new legislative session.
With the state budget looking to be about $868 million short, state leaders have said we need to find new ways to bring in money including new taxes on things from cigarettes to sodas.
"I think it is important for everyone to realize we are not cutting our way out of this budget hole," Oklahoma Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger said.
Some lawmakers have said they will seriously look at increasing Oklahoma's motor fuel tax this session.
It has now been 30 years since the tax on fuel has increased. In 1987, tax on regular gas was set at 17 cents a gallon and diesel at 14 cents a gallon.
Another option being tosses around, a tax on sugary drinks like soda.
Oklahoma Democrats point to a Harvard study that calculated just in Oklahoma City, taxing soda at a penny per ounce would generate $26 million a year.
Governor Mary Fallin has suggested increasing taxes on cigarettes, which was voted down last year and taxing 150 services and things currently exempt from sales tax like, car washes.
Andy Moore started the group "Let's Fix This", a grassroots group that helps you get in touch with your lawmaker to ask for change and voice your opinions.
"I think lawmakers need to know what people want, the community. If we don't talk with them, then they can't really represent us. And so the biggest thing we can do is show up," Moore said.
He says you should review the tax options and say which you like or don't or share your ideas.
Civic engagement groups prepare for the next legislative session (Oklahoma Gazette)
December 28, 2016
By Laura Eastes
Last week, when Oklahoma’s chief budget negotiator divulged that the state was short $868 million in revenue for the coming year, it reinforced concerns that once again lawmakers would have another difficult budget to balance and citizens would bear the brunt with cuts to state services.
As this is the third straight budget shortfall, Oklahoma is no stranger to the aftermath of a cash-strapped coffer. In 2016, two revenue failures led to across-the-board budget cuts of 7 percent, shrinking state agency budgets and impacting a gamut of governmental services.
Unless lawmakers come up with new revenues, state agencies will likely see another round of cuts. The State Board of Equalization, chaired by the governor, certified $6 billion for available spending, which will be determined by lawmakers during the legislative session.
State leaders, including Finance Secretary Preston Doerflinger, promise to float revenue-raising proposals when session begins Feb. 6. However, last session, Gov. Mary Fallin called for expansion of the sales tax base and an increase of the cigarette tax to no avail.
Given the state numbers, along with the detrimental impact of this year’s state budget cuts on education, human services, health and public safety, 2017 will undoubtedly bring new challenges and opportunities for action.
Oklahomans engaged in Together Oklahoma and Let’s Fix This stand ready to advocate.
Together Oklahoma
Oklahomans are known throughout the United States for their compassion and commitment to the Oklahoma Standard, which encompasses the spirit of resilience in the face of adversity. Time and time again, Oklahomans are quick to respond to calls for aiding tornado victims or pledge funds for worthy causes assisting people in need.
When it comes to the crisis at the state Capitol, there is no clear course of action, which can discourage citizens from getting involved, explained Kara Joy McKee, outreach and advocacy coordinator at Oklahoma Policy Institute.
With a desire to connect the state’s values to the state’s budget priorities, Oklahoma Policy Institute developed Together Oklahoma. In communities like Oklahoma City and Norman, ordinary Oklahomans are becoming involved, learning about state policies, engaging with state government and advocating their interests.
Oklahomans from a multitude of different backgrounds and spanning generations are joining Together Oklahoma chapter meetings and hearing how state polices and budget decisions have impacted each other’s lives. At each meeting, group members strategize about how to bring change and reverse the trends of bleak budgets.
“No matter what you do or who you are, it’s obvious that our state has been weakened by this budget shortfall,” said McKee, who oversees Together Oklahoma. “We have to come together to share our resources [and] ideas and invest in what we care about, like teachers and schools, roads and bridges, health and mental health care and safe communities.”
In the days and weeks that followed Election Day, phone calls and emails flooded the Together Oklahoma office. Attendance counts from recent meetings in Oklahoma City, Norman and Tulsa are doubled when compared to a year ago. Interest continues to grow in Together Oklahoma as communities like Shawnee, Edmond and Stillwater push to establish their own chapters.
“I absolutely believe we can do better,” McKee said. “I believe Oklahomans care. I believe we are stronger together. I believe we can be a great state, not just OK.”
Let’s Fix This
At each Let’s Fix This event, founder and executive director Andy Moore stands up to introduce himself as a “regular guy” to the crowd.
To understand the mission of Let’s Fix This — and why the grassroots effort turned nonprofit has become hugely successful in the metro — you have to know the organization’s backstory. A regular guy frustrated with the state’s financial mess planned a visit to the state Capitol to talk with lawmakers about the budget hole and funding issues. Moore invited his friends and family, created a Facebook event and watched as people just like him went to the Capitol. With little experience — but with advice from some lawmakers — the bipartisan group took seats in the House and Senate galleries and went door to door through the Capitol offices.
“People really do want to be involved, and they want to have a voice,” Moore said. “They just don’t know how to do it. We realized there was a gap, and we created opportunities.”
Face-to-face meetings with lawmakers are the cornerstones of the Let’s Fix This movement. The opportunities to engage with lawmakers are expanding as Let’s Fix This leaders plan unconventional outings to shake hands and speak to elected officials.
Already, Let’s Fix This plans to gather at the Capitol at least once during the months of February, March, April and May. The outings are open to anyone with an interest in citizen advocacy or learning more about the ins and outs of state government. In the evenings on the days of the Capitol visits, Let’s Fix This participants will flock to restaurants and eateries for more causal encounters with lawmakers.
All Let’s Fix This events are grounded in the organization’s initial goal of proving citizen engagement matters and can make a difference.
“We really want to show people their voice matters,” Moore said.
http://okgazette.com/2016/12/28/civic-engagement-groups-prepare-for-the-next-legislative-session/