Gov. Mary Fallin will be out of state this week for activities in Washington, D.C., and New York.
On Tuesday at the National Press Club, Fallin will present her agenda as chairman of the National Governors Association.
On Thursday, also in Washington, Fallin will speak to the President's Export Council about state and local efforts to increase exports.
Fallin then travels to New York to participate in a Friday panel discussion at the Time Summit on Higher Education. Others on the panel include Eli Broad, founder of The Broad Foundations; former North Carolina Gov. James Hunt; National Defense University President Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin; former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell; and Roy Vagelos, chairman of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
D-I-V-O-R-C-E: The Legislature may take another look at making divorces harder to obtain, judging from a Senate committee hearing last week.
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services heard from several witnesses on the cost of divorce to children, adults and the state, and on the ease of getting a divorce.
Afterward, Sen. Rob Stand ridge, R-Norman, said it may be time to make divorce more difficult.
"Marriage is a contract governed by the state, and as a number of speakers expressed, it is becoming nothing more than a piece of paper," Standridge said. "A contract meant to be a lifelong commitment should not be so easy to cast aside. Government is responsible for the weakening of marriage contracts, and the results have been devastating to the children touched by this problem. I believe we left this study with a better understanding of the traumatic impact of divorce, the cost to taxpayers, and most importantly the hardship to children."
The Legislature considered a proposal last year to eliminate or restrict no-fault divorce, and has also over the years debated so-called covenant marriages and other initiatives to reduce divorce. An existing state program, the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative, focuses on counseling and relationship-building.
Hiett appointed: Former state House Speaker Todd Hiett of Kellyville was appointed by Fallin to the state CareerTech board.
Bartlett fundraiser: A "chili and chocolate" fundraiser for Mayor Dewey Bartlett will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Bartlett's home. RSVP to
victoria.ann.bartlett@gmail.com.
Creek County Democrats: Bristow Public Schools Superintendent Jeanene Barnett will be featured speaker at the Creek County Democratic Party meeting, 6 p.m. Thursday at the Bristow Golf and Country Club, 1 Country Club Road, Bristow.
Yazel kickoff: County Assessor Ken Yazel will launch his 2014 re-election campaign at 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Pharris Farm, 10301 S. Garnett Road. RSVP to Susan Landers, 918-978-3165.
Rogers County GOP: Labor Commissioner Mark Costello will be featured speaker at the Rogers County Republican Party meeting, 6:30 p.m., Sept. 26 at the Northeast Technology Center, 1901 N. Highway 88, Claremore.
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