Ok-get this-YOUR government payroll rose by 9,000 jobs in the month of September.  (your tax dollars at work).  The  American economy lost 159,000 jobs in September, the worst in five years (according to NY Times article).   What is wrong with this picture?

Lehman Brothers paid off executives with millions of dollars as it pleaded for federal  bailout.  This information comes as Congress began investigating what went so wrong on Wall Street to prompt a $700 billion government bailout?!

An ex-scientist, former Goldman Sachs executive is leading the bailout program at Treasury.  Before drafting the legislation, he worked with Rockets! 

Can someone explain all this to me?


Today the Senate will take up the task of voting on this gargantuan piece of legislation.  Senate and House leaders, President Bush and McCain and Obama have been rummaging through ideas new and old, desperately seeking ideas that might appeal to enough lawmakers to reverse the outcome and pass the $700 billion plan. 

Here is an idea:  Let's help small businesses searching for greater access to capital and credit.  This economic situation has hurt many small business owners and since they are the backbone of America's economic engine, let's focus on small business rather than Wall Street.  Why can't small business owners get?:             

  • Elimination of the Alternative Minimum Tax
  • Lower corporate tax rate-20 to 25%
  • Zero capital gains
  • Expand federal deposit insurance (helps if small businesses have any money in the bank and makes us feel better to have a relationship with one banker)

What is on your wish list?????  Let's see if we can get any of this in the package!!??


While I was in Orange County, I was a guest on the Frank Peters Show.  I really enjoyed the opportunity to speak with Frank.  The topic of my interview was on the worldwide efforts to empower women entrepreneurs. Click on the tab below to LISTEN to my interview. 

Frank has produced 184 one hour shows & others can be viewed at this link:  http://www.thefrankpetersshow.com/

The Frank Peters Show


September 29, 2008

Terry Neese
Empowering Women

Terry Neese

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The economic empowerment of women is the subject of my interview with Terry Neese, co-founder of the so-named institute based in Oklahoma City. A Distinguished Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, Terry was visiting southern California recently to speak at the Orange County Institute for Women Entrepreneurs. Listen as Terry describes her worldwide efforts to empower women entrepreneurs. Show #184 (48:49) 


Congratulations to Dr. John and Jeanette Goodman on their 25th anniversary on the founding of the National Center for Policy Analysis. Dr. John Goodman, the "Father of Health Savings Accounts" has guided the NCPA for the past 25 years. Jeanette Goodman has been at his side every step of the way!

The NCPA joined the Atlas Economic Research Foundation this past week at their International Conference on Risk in a Free Society in Dallas, Texas. They ended the conference with a 25th anniversary gala Friday night. General Tommy Franks gave the keynote address and syndicated radio talk show host Mike Gallagher emceed the event. It was a sparkling evening highlighted with funny quips and international dialogue provided by General Tommy Franks. He is such a great speaker AND now a fellow Oklahoman! I am so proud of him. Smart guy as he bought a significant ranch in Southwest Oklahoma just a few miles from Cookietown, Oklahoma (where I grew up and now own the ranch where my family homesteaded)!

view the Presidents Welcoming Address: http://www.ncpa.org/avo/visual/ncpa245.asx

Read the rest of this entry »


The debates begin this Friday and we will see where the candidates stand on foreign policy and national security. Jim Lehre of PBS will be the moderator of the debates & at this debate, candidates can direct questions to each other. Jim will give a question that goes to both of them and they will be given two minutes to reply. Unlike past debates, there will be 5 minutes following each question that are wide open for them to speak to each other or to the moderator. Now, Friday nights are usually high school football nights, so use your TIVO-these are too important to miss. Don't take talking heads opinions on how the debate ended—you need to determine who is the best candidate for you and your family.

Let's see if these words come up during any of the conversation: family friendly workplaces or small business growth.


Wednesday, September 24, 2008

On the road…

This month continues to be hectic and heavy traveling.  I went from Washington, D.C.'s congressional briefing to Orange County, California. While In California, I met with the Orange County News, did a radio show on the Frank Peters Small Business Show and spent almost three hours talking with Entrepreneur Magazine and Women Entrepreneur.Com.  All these interviews covered the family friendly policies agenda and the current state of the economy for small business.

Tomorrow, I will head to Dallas for the Atlas Economic Research Foundation International Conference and NCPA's 25th Anniversary Celebration.  Luckily on this trip, I am able to take my husband,  Earl.  We recently celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary at the Grand Canyon.  It will be exciting to celebrate the NCPA's great work over the last 25 years.  Their free market, economic freedom agenda has provided years of progress for this country.


Monday, September 15, 2008

Four-day work week…

Good, bad, or indifferent?  I had the opportunity to talk about Congressman Hoyer’s (D) Four Day Work Week proposal last week while I was in Washington, D.C.  I sure don’t want to throw cold water on federal government workers having a three day week-end; however, can they supply the services to American citizens in a 10 hour day, four day week?  Will it withstand the time economically and what kind of hardships will it bear for 10 hour days at child care facilities?  Check out the link to view the ABC News 8 broadcast Sept. 8, 2008:

http://cfc.news8.net/videoondemand.cfm?id=22363


Friday, September 12, 2008

My Week in DC

I returned home from Washington, D.C. Thursday afternoon.  Exhausted but exhilarated about the work we are doing for the Family Policy Center!  Follow-up begins immediately! 

While I was in DC, I did three or four radio interviews (brain can't remember at this point) and a TV interview.  All of the interviews were focused on what the Family Policy Center is doing on family friendly policies and helping small businesses with less government intervention.  On Wednesday morning just prior to the congressional briefing, I did an interview on the National Small Biz Advocate Show with Jim Blasingame.   Jim is a long time friend of mine and great supporter of my work with the NCPA.  I was able to share about the NCPA Family Center initiative, as well as discuss small business as it relates to the Presidential candidates.   
 

Some other highlights from my DC trip:  We had a wonderful dinner at Filomena in Georgetown.  It was a terrific "get acquainted" dinner with about 10 women from California to Florida to New York and Texas!  The following morning we had breakfast and walked to the Capitol for the congressional briefing.  The briefing room was packed with congressional staffers and women from around the country and in fact the world.  Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers spoke about her Family Friendly legislation; Bonnie Erbé host of To the Contrary, spoke about her efforts over the past 30 years working on family friendly workplaces. There were lots of questions, some suggestions, and much follow up work to do.   

After the briefing, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers hosted a lunch the Members Dining Hall for the NCPA supporters and several international women business leaders.  After lunch, I left for an interview with a Fox producer and the rest of our delegation attended meetings with Congresswoman Kay Granger, Rep. Pete Sessions. &  Rep. Sam Graves.  There was a tour of the Capitol later that afternoon that some of the NCPA supporters experienced. 

Lou Anne Jensen and Marti Carlin and I had dinner at Union Station Wednesday evening and started discussing the memories of 9/11.  Thursday morning found us leaving EARLY for the airport as dozens of roads and highways were closing for the Pentagon Memorial 9/11 dedication. 

Whew, all that in just a little over 24 hour period of time.  I would love to hear about your thoughts on the DC briefing and events surrounding, so, post a comment on the blog-let's hear it from you! 


Thursday, September 11, 2008

DC to OKC on Sept. 11th…

As I left the Hill early this morning for home, I kept thinking about 7 years ago and the fact we have been out of harm's way since 2001. I was told last night that the DC area was dedicating the Pentagon Memorial in remembrance of Sept. 11th and roads would be closed, making it difficult to get out of the district.  So I left hotel at 6:45 and got to airport at 7 for my 10 am flight back home to OKC.  My trip from hotel to airport was uneventful because the leadership in this country has kept us safe. I could see the memorial dedication services set to begin in the distance as I traveled across the Potomac River. God Bless America!

View the memorial by clicking on this link:  http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2008/0708_memorial/index.html


On Sept. 1st I spoke with Mark Davis on WBAP News/talk 820 during his show.  Click the link below and listen as I share about McCain's VP pick, Gov. Sarah Palin, and why it's the "best news for American families! 

https://exch.ncpa.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://newsletter.ncpa.org/podcast/090108_TN_WBAP_Mark_Davis.mp3

WHO IS MARK DAVIS? He's the host of the most popular local talk show in Dallas/Ft. Worth that has recently launched national syndication.  Mark Davis took the Metroplex by storm in March, 1994 when he arrived at WBAP.  After eight years as a columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Mark joined the op-ed page of the Dallas Morning News in 2004. He is a regular guest discussing current events on KDFW Fox 4's "Good Day," and is invited often to discuss news events on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC.