Delegate campaign: Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said 4th District Congressman Tom Cole and Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern have committed to continuing work on the Cherokees’ application to seat a non-voting House delegate under the terms of the 1835 Treaty of New Echota.
Cole and McGovern switch roles on Jan. 3, when Republicans take over House leadership. Cole becomes Rules Committee chairman and McGovern ranking member.
“We are grateful that Chairman McGovern and Ranking Member Cole reiterated their commitment today to work across the aisle to seat the Cherokee Nation’s delegate in the U.S. House,” Hoskin said in a press release. “This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue about whether the United States will keep its word, and we look forward to working with the new Republican majority next month to ensure that it does so.”
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State finances: The University of Denver’s Truth in Accounting project ranked Oklahoma’s state finances 10th nationally, but with a warning. The group said its analysis shows the state has $5.7 billion in cash more than it has in liabilities, but that a big chunk of that is because of COVID-19 relief and appreciation of pension investments during the period studied.
Kudos: The Oklahoma Legislature’s Future Caucus, consisting of 30 members under age 45 from both parties, received top honors from the Millennial Action Project, a Washington-based organization working to bridge partisanship.
Meetings and events: The Oklahoma Broadband Office will hold the Internet for All: Oklahoma Local and Tribal Coordination Workshop on Jan. 19 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center. Registration is available on-line or beginning at 8 a.m. the morning of the event.
The Tulsa County Democratic Party is holding a chili cookoff 1-3 p.m. Jan. 21 at Zarrow Regional Library, 2224 W. 51st St. Information at info@tulsacountydemocrats.org
Bottom lines: State Sen. Nathan Dahm filed legislation requiring the parents of all children born in Oklahoma prove they are U.S. citizens.
— Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World
Stories by Randy Krehbiel, Andrea Eger, Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Kevin Canfield and Barbara Hoberock.
Staff Writer Randy Krehbiel’s most memorable stories of 2022
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe expected to announce retirement
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe’s decision to retire after 56 years in public life is my choice, hands down, as the story of the year. Love him or hate him – and for some people it’s both – Inhofe had a tremendous impact on Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma. He’s served longer in Congress than anyone in the state’s history, and while he did not achieve the leadership rank of Carl Albert he exercised tremendous influence on the nation’s transportation, environmental, energy and defense policies and capability. And, his resignation set off a ripple in state politics that is likely to be felt for some years to come.
Nearing Senate nomination, Mullin sees no downside to sticking with Trump

Election year: Former President Donald Trump may have been a drag on Republicans, but not in Oklahoma – as Markwayne Mullin proved.
Largely anonymous independent expenditures total $17.2 million for Oklahoma primaries

So-called dark money became a dominant feature of Oklahoma’s political landscape. These are two of many stories I wrote on the subject.
The surprising game that changed college football in Oklahoma

I wrote sports for more than 15 years. This was a chance to write the kind of story I don’t get to do much anymore.
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