ZStahl

Democrat
====I most agree with Mary Fallin from Oklahoma's Fifth District. [|Click Here] to view Mary's website. ====

__Interesting facts about Oklahoma:__  __Facts that rela te to the topics that I am most interested in __**__:__**
 * ==== Major Producer of natural gas and oil ====
 * ==== **Has more than Twenty-five Native American languages Spoken (Which is the most in the country) ** ====
 * ==== **Its capitol (Oklahoma City) is its largest city ** ====
 * ==== **Combination of Oklahoma and Indian territories ** ====
 * ==== **It was the forty-sixth state to enter into the union ** ====
 * ====Second largest producer of natural Gas (Energy-Economy) ====
 * ====Ranked one of the most business-friendly states (Economy) ====
 * ====Has very good Pre-Kindergarten education (Education) ====
 * ====The unemployment rate equaled 6.7% in January, 2010(Economy) ====
 * ====Had the fastest growing domestic product (GDP) between 2005 and 2006 (Economy) ====

==== **Education**-I think that every person should be able to get a good education, especially children. Every child deserves a good education with a safe learning environment and good teachers. Sometimes, i think that the government should work with parents to ensure that kids get this. I think that some of the education policies are important too. I think that along with good schools, kids also need a healthy home environment that promotes studying and the completion of daily assignments. This will help to ensure that kids are getting tho most out of their school days. ====

==== **Energy**-Oklahoma is at the bottom of the list of the states that use mostly use renewable resources. In 2007, 96% of all of their generated energy was from non-renewable resources; 64% from coal and 32% from natural gas. I think that will a little effort and a little money, they can decrease those numbers and start making Oklahoma a greener state. We have to start helping the environment now, or it will be too late. We can do simple things like changing an incandescent light bulb to a florescent or energy efficient light bulb. This will help the changer too because they might be able to save a little bit of money on their electrical bills. We can also do larger things like making huge factories more energy efficient. We can also use as many renewable resources as our budget will allow to help the environment. I think that the government should offer types of incentives to those who choose to use more energy efficient materials/products within their homes like tax cuts or refund checks. I think that if incentives are offered, a lot more people will finally take the initiative to turn green. ====

==== **Economy**-I think that some of the not-so-important taxes should be lowered. I also think that for the economy to improve, people need more money to buy things so that the companies get money. Members in both parties should set aside their differences and work together to make/write recovery plans. Small mom and pop businesses are being run out of business by the huge corporations and its partly because of the economy. ====

SB46-Equal Education:Along with Senators HKrondorfer and RMayer, I am writing a bill about Equal Education and how everyone who is willing to work hard deserves an education. Underprivelaged families cannot usually afford education. Our bill grants two year paid scholarships to students in need to the elementary, middle, and high schools in their towns. The students will receive all of the school supplies necessary for learning. After the two year scholarship ends, their families will hopefully have saved up enough money to send them to school without the help of a paid scholarship. This bill applies to kids all over the nation in grades from kindergarten to twelfth grade.


 * Sources**-
 * 1)** "Public Knowledge of Current Affairs Little Changed by News and Information Revolutions." //The Pew Research Center for the Public and the Press//. 15 Apr. 2007. Web. 19 May 2010. .


 * 2) ** "Oklahoma: Overview." //United States Geography//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 20 May 2010. .


 * 3)** Watts, Tim. "education." //United States Geography//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 20 May 2010. .


 * 4)** Frahn, Robert A. "Senate Sends Education Reform Bill to Rell; Backers Hope It Boosts Bid for Federal Aid." //CT Mirror//. 6 May 2010. Web. 19 May 2010. [].


 * 5)** Col, Jeananda. Enchanted Learning-Oklahoma. http://www.EnchantedLearning.com 1996

**6)** "Oklahoma: Government and Economy." //United States Geography//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 20 May 2010. .


 * 7)** "Education Facts at a Glance." 2007. Web. 20 May 2010. [].


 * 8)** "Oklahoma: History." //United States Geography//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 20 May 2010. <http://www.usgeography.abc-clio.com>.

**9)** "Education Means a More Competitive America." //2008 Republican Platform//. 2008. Web. 19 May 2010. <http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/Education.htm>.


 * 10)** "Education and Gender: Overview." //Issues: Understanding Controversy and Society//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 20 May 2010. <http://www.issues.abc-clio.com>.