Oklahoma State Legislature

[BushKenya]

Over the past week, it has become known that several Oklahoma State House Republican members have committed tax evasion over the past several years.  This included Speaker of the House Lance Cargill (R-Harrah, my representative) who had to resign from the Speaker chair because of this.  The guy who was poised to take his place, Rep. Gus Blackwell has also been called out on tax evasion, so he's out.  There is another vote underway inside the Republican leadership for a new Speaker.  What this means is that the Democrats who are a slim minority are poised to regain control of the House and possibly the Senate after four years of minority status in the House and two years of a tied-Senate (Republican Pro-Tempore).  Both of these Republican representatives will remain in the House, they just have stepped down from their leadership posts.

This is a pretty big blow to the Oklahoma Republican Party and a big asset to the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

[SamInTheSouth]

Over the past week, it has become known that several Oklahoma State House Republican members have committed tax evasion over the past several years.  This included Speaker of the House Lance Cargill (R-Harrah, my representative) who had to resign from the Speaker chair because of this.  The guy who was poised to take his place, Rep. Gus Blackwell has also been called out on tax evasion, so he's out.  There is another vote underway inside the Republican leadership for a new Speaker.  What this means is that the Democrats who are a slim minority are poised to regain control of the House and possibly the Senate after four years of minority status in the House and two years of a tied-Senate (Republican Pro-Tempore).  Both of these Republican representatives will remain in the House, they just have stepped down from their leadership posts.

This is a pretty big blow to the Oklahoma Republican Party and a big asset to the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

If they are guilty of tax evasion shouldn't they be thrown out of the state legislature altogether rather than just resign from their leadership posts?

[Gabu]

If they are guilty of tax evasion shouldn't they be thrown out of the state legislature altogether rather than just resign from their leadership posts?

They're politicians; they make the laws, not follow them.

[Vasall des Midas]

Cool. Btw, tax evasion is the big news item in Germany right now. The IRS basically cracked one of the big Liechtenstein mafias banks. The trials will last years... but the head of the Postal Service already has resigned.