Published: November 23, 2009 09:25 am      

Talk at Capitol centers on budget

I have had several great experiences in District 47 over the past few weeks.

Mustang Schools asked me to participate in their “Principal of the Day” program, and I was assigned to Mustang Middle School with Principal Linda Wilkes. It was a great day and a wonderful learning experience. Her staff was friendly, her students were respectful, and her teachers were dynamic and creative. I appreciated the opportunity to see the educational process firsthand in the district. 

I also spent a day last week at Bridge Creek Schools. The fourth grade students there were studying Oklahoma History, and teacher Teresa Locke, of Minco, asked if I would like to come talk to all the fourth grade students about state government. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, and the bright students and their great questions and comments. 

A friend that I graduated from high school with, Lori Westfall Espenlaub, has become disabled since graduating; she recently qualified for an ADA Habitat for Humanity home. I would encourage anyone who has not participated in a project with this wonderful group to consider it. My husband and I helped out on a “Class of 1981” workday, and hung exterior siding on the house, under the supervision of Habitat staff.  Many businesses and even state agencies often participate in work days on Habitat Homes being built in their areas. My friend Lori, who has had so much tragedy in her life, is so deserving, as are all the recipients of these projects. Please consider donating your time or resources to this great organization. 

The business community in Chickasha often gets together at a local business for a “business after hours” event to celebrate local enterprise. Last week we met at the Grady County Fairgrounds, who in that week-end was hosting a dog show, quilt show, arts and crafts festival, and a swine sale. Peggy McMahan does an absolutely wonderful job of coordinating events and promoting Chickasha and this wonderful venue. The renovations have made the Grady county fairgrounds a place to be proud of, and Chickasha is definitely reaping the benefits. The traffic at local hotels, R.V. parks and restaurants booms during events held at the fairgrounds. Chickasha should be proud of their investment. 

The talk at the Capitol definitely focuses on the budget. While there have been many stories in the press about the woes of under-funding state government, I still believe that we need to look at this as an opportunity to make cuts in government spending that do not focus on core government needs. In many of the cities where Senior Citizen Centers were forced to go from serving 5 days of meals to 4, church and civic organizations have stepped up to fill the void. These public/private partnerships are an important part of our communities and state. 

My hope is that we can keep the critical spending areas funded and cut the fat, because there is still fat to cut. It doesn’t mean it will be easy, or that it will be popular; but in the end it is not the government’s money, it is your money – the taxpayers.



•



Leslie Osborn (R- Tuttle) serves District 47 of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She can be reached by phone at (405) 557-7333 or via e-mail at leslie.osborn@okhouse.gov.