By Andrew W. Griffin

Red Dirt Report, editor

Posted: June 2, 2009

reddirtreporter@gmail.com

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jeff Cloud and State Rep. Charles Key (R-Oklahoma City) were the two guest speakers Tuesday at the Cleveland County Republican Party luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Speaking first, Cloud addressed the Republicans and delved into the dangerous and devastating plans that President Barack Obama has for America’s energy sector in the form of higher taxes and the elimination of important tax incentives.

“They (the Obama administration and the Democrats) do not want us to have oil and gas, rather having us use alternative energy,” Cloud said. This would include wind, solar, geothermal and other forms of energy.

These forms of alternative energy, Cloud said, are helpful but require 100 percent back up from power sources like coal-fired plants. That is because the wind doesn’t always blow.

Obama’s energy plans, Cloud said, “would devastate the energy industry,” particularly the oil and natural gas industry that is such an important part of Oklahoma’s economy.

“I think what we have to brace for – Obama’s tax proposals on the energy industry will be catastrophic for our state,” Cloud said.

Marginal wells, he noted, would most likely be shut off, leading to smaller oil producers shutting down and more jobs lost in a sagging economy.

Additionally, Cloud said, these crippling policies would ultimately lead the United States to rely more on foreign oil, including oil from the volatile Middle East.

“We need to get off Middle Eastern oil,” Cloud said, adding that importation of Canadian oil was acceptable and even good for Oklahoma.

Cloud addressed nuclear energy and said that Oklahoma is surrounded by states that have nuclear power plants. However, he said the drawbacks are the costs that it would take to build a nuclear power plant and the disposal of the spent rods. Both are major reasons this state does not have a nuclear power plant of its own.

Despite that, Cloud said Oklahoma should “diversify its energy portfolio with nuclear power.”

Currently, Cloud said, OG&E is installing power lines from Woodward to Oklahoma City that use power from wind farms in western Oklahoma. Another section will be built connecting Guymon with Woodward and is scheduled to be built by 2013.

The next speaker, Rep. Charles Key, author of House Joint Resolution 1003, which was in support of the 10^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It was supported in the House and Senate but vetoed by Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat.

Key said Henry’s explanation for vetoing the legislation had to do with concerns over stimulus money being jeopardized. Key implied it was a weak explanation.

“We need to have a national debate about the Constitution,” Key said. “The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and that fact seems to have been forgotten.”

Key discussed the idea of “implied powers,” in the Constitution, which some have said exists “between the lines” and was supported by Alexander Hamilton and many others over the years. The idea being that the Founders really gave the federal government more power than is outlined in the actual wording of the Constitution.

Key admitted to being a bit concerned about the direction the country has been taking in recent years, telling the Republicans – “I’m afraid we’re about to lose (this country). We have to stand up and force the government to follow the Constitution.”

Taking questions from the audience, a man asked Key why the American public has lost touch with what the Constitution means and why it is so important.

“I think it’s human nature ot put up with things for a long time,” Key said. “I think that’s part of it.”

But people, he said, are increasingly disturbed by the massive growth of government in recent years and are looking for ways to put a stop to it. Key said that he is encouraged by this.

“I believe there is more coming,” Key said of efforts to get us back on the right track.

“The Constitution means what it says or it doesn’t mean anything,” Key said, adding, “It’s time to wake up.”

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