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Here in Oklahoma, if your team’s starting defensive end isn’t quite getting it, you pull him off the field and replace him with another defensive end – one who knows the same plays as the previous one – and continue with your game.
This isn’t cheating; it’s called depth. Well, at least it is in football. In Oklahoma politics, replacing one struggling politician with another who is better suited to a certain issue can cause everything from a fistfight to threats of plagiarism.
At least that’s the case Sen. David Bullard has against Sen. Tom Woods.
For a while now, Bullard – a member of the GOP’s right-wing caucus – has tried to get the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to establish and administer a water and wastewater infrastructure investment program.
But Bullard – who is known for his attempted power grabs and love of the political coup d’etat – hasn’t been able to get the Water Resources Bill through the Senate.
Instead, it took Senator Woods to get the deal done. Same idea.
Different player. Different strategy.
The Senate passed the bill, SB 1346. And you’d think most people would be happy. Not Bullard.
Instead, Bullard took to the floor and threw a tantrum, accusing Woods of plagiarism. Bullard didn’t even vote for his own bill. Seriously?
One lawmaker didn’t have the political muscle to get the deal done, while another – who is younger with more energy and talent – managed to get the issue much farther down the road.
That’s not plagiarism. That’s talent.
“Accusing someone of plagiarism because you failed to deliver results is not only wrong, it’s embarrassing and calls into question their effectiveness,” Woods told Southwest Ledger.
“Oklahomans need clear water and reliable infrastructure, not political excuses and posturing from lawmakers who can’t get the job done.”
Right now, this year, Oklahoma lawmakers don’t have time to get into petty fights. Our problems are big, our issues ongoing. And, in the end, in the Republican-controlled Legislature, it’s not about credit; it’s about solving the problem, so issues such as ensuring our residents have clear water are resolved.
Bullard doesn’t seem to understand that.
Then again, Bullard has spent a good portion of his time demonizing Woods or trying to bring down Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton.
Instead of solving problems, Bullard likes to fight. It may make for a good story in between committee meetings, but it doesn’t do much to help our state. It’s time for Senator Bullard to stop talking and acknowledge that others have done more to solve the problem.
It’s time for Bullard to remember the reason he was sent to the Oklahoma Senate in the first place: to govern.
Woods is right. Currently, it’s the public servants in the Senate being forced to deal with the politicians.
And it’s very easy to see which side David Bullard is on.
M. Scott Carter is an awardwinning political and investigative reporter with more than 40 years’ experience covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma. He can be reached at scott.carter@swoknews.com.