Republican Oklahoma House Speaker Resigns Post; Failed file his state tax return 2005, 2006

January 29, 2008

January 28, 2008

Oklahoma House Speaker Resigns Post

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 10:08 p.m. ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The state House speaker resigned his post Monday after

a series of embarrassing revelations, including not filing state personal

income tax returns.

Republican Lance Cargill, at 36 the nation's youngest House speaker, told

members of the House's GOP majority of his resignation by telephone during a

conference call. He later issued a statement.

''For several weeks, our policies heading into the session have been buried

in the newspapers, while personal stories have remained on the front

pages,'' Cargill said. ''I take full responsibility for that.''

Cargill said he hoped that a new speaker could shift the focus back ''to the

future of this great state.''

He quit the job one week before the Legislature is scheduled to convene on

Feb. 4.

The speaker pro tem, Rep. Gus Blackwell, will act as speaker until a vote is

held to select a new one, according to House rules. Republicans outnumber

Democrats 57-44 in the House.

Cargill, serving his fourth two-year term in the House, was in his second

year as speaker. He will stay on as a representative.

He was elected to the House's top job after a tumultuous term as Republican

floor leader under former Speaker Todd Hiett in which Cargill resigned from

that post midway through the 2006 legislative session.

Cargill has been under fire after a series of published reports over the

past few months.

Reports this month said he submitted late property tax payments on his

Harrah law office six years in a row and failed to file state personal

income tax returns in 2005 and 2006. Cargill took responsibility for the

tardiness and apologized.

But he came under harsh criticism from Democrats, and the revelations eroded

support from members of his own Republican caucus. Many House Republicans

said voters were furious about Cargill's lapses.

Questions have also been raised about fundraising activities in 2004 by a

House GOP political action committee headed by Cargill. The Ethics

Commission has opened an investigation into the matter.

Cargill said stepping down as speaker will permit him to better defend

himself in the ethics probe.

''It is unfortunate that it had to come to this, but Speaker Cargill brought

his troubles on himself,'' Republican Rep. Dave Dank said. ''The people of

Oklahoma have a right to expect exemplary conduct.''

Added Dank: ''He failed that basic test.''

The House's Democratic leader, Rep. Danny Morgan of Prague, said Cargill had

no choice but to resign.

''That's the speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The people of

Oklahoma are looking at that position for leadership,'' Morgan said.

January 29, 2008

must be because he is republican??? democrats never do anything like this...

January 29, 2008

"Mr4701" <NoExists@Earth.net> wrote in message

news:f5ynj.37411$75.849@trnddc05...

> must be because he is republican??? democrats never do anything like

> this...

They do, just not on the scale Republicans do.

The last congress had twenty members of congress under federal investigation

with two convictions so far. Out of those twenty, two were Democrats, the

rest were Republicans.

January 29, 2008

On Jan 28, 11:38 pm, "Mr4701" <NoExi...@Earth.net> wrote:

> must be because he is republican??? democrats never do anything like this...

Some Dems are not without fault. However, the list of Republican

criminality is hard to keep track of because it's so long. Here's a

partial listing:

Congress:

Former Congressman Bill Janklow(R-SD) Convicted and jailed for killing

a man with his car after blowing through a stop sign at a high rate of

speed.

Governors:

John Rowland(R-CT)Convicted and jailed for graft, had work done on his

house and some other bribe related charges.

George Ryan(R-IL) Under indictment for hiring practices.(I notice you

had Blagojevich--this one must have slipped your mind)

Jim McGreevy(D-NJ) Resigned under fire sexual relationship with a male

staffmember.

Executive:

Lewis Libby®-Assistant to the Vice President, 5 count indictment,

perjury, false statements.

Karl Rove®-Assistant to the President, currently under

investigation.

Larry Franklin®-DOD employee, pleaded guilty in espionage case.

Leandro Aragoncillo-46, was a U.S. Marine most recently assigned to

the staff of Vice President Dick Cheney, arrested for spying in the

Whitehouse.

Kenneth Tomlinson®-Former Head of CPB, under investigation.

Armstrong Williams®-Investigation revealed that payments to him for

propaganda efforts were illegal.

Etcetera:

New Hampshire-4 Republican operatives arrested for election 2002 phone

jamming scandal. # have pleaded guilty, one is due for trial soon.

and

Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Don Sherwood had a visit from the

Washington police after a 29-year old woman who was not the 64-year

old congressman's wife called 911 and complained that Sherwood had

choked her. Sherwood said he had merely been giving the woman a back

rub. He is one of those holier-than-thou family values conservatives.

and

Senate President Ben Stevens (R-AK)

Probed for accepting consulting fees from oil services firm Veco.

Subject to a recall petition. Son of US Senate Pro Tem President Ted

Stevens.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA)

Ethics probe for accepting salary from two men's fitness magazines

while governor, possible kickback from American Media publisher to

Schwarzenegger charity and silence money to a woman who had an

extramarital affair with Schwarzenegger. This probe may go criminal.

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA)

Probed for bribery regarding financial ties with and favors for

defense firm MZM. Pleaded guilty to tax evasion, conspiracy, Nov. 28,

2005.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)

Tied to Abramoff scandal on loan papers. Recipient of contributions

from Abramoff.

Gov. John Rowland (R-CT)

Convicted, imprisoned 2004 for accepting free renovations to his

vacation cottage as well as charter flights and vacations from a state

contractor, and defrauding the Internal Revenue Service by not paying

taxes on the free services.

Attorney General Jane Brady (R-DE)

Accused of helping MBNA Bank of Wilmington skirt campaign finance

laws.

Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL)

Probed for campaign donations from MZM, Inc. in relation to Duke

Cunningham probe. Currently a US Senate candidate.

Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff. Probed for corporate ties to

Yang Enterprises, involved in over billing state of Florida. Feeney

was Jeb Bush's 1994 running mate for Lt. Gov.

Ralph Reed, candidate for Lt. Gov. (R-GA)

Probed for involvement in Abramoff, Kidan, DeLay Indian casino money

laundering.

Gov. Felix Camacho (R-Guam)

Probed for ties to Abramoff and demoting Acting US Attorney for Guam

Frederick Black.

New Hawaii PAC and House GOP PAC (R-HI)

Campaign violations filed against a number of GOP candidates for the

state legislature and US House for skirting spending limits.

Dalton Tanonaka, former Lt. gubernatorial and congressional candidate

(R-HI)

Under FEC investigation for disguising and failing to report campaign

loans. Also investigated for possible illegal foreign funding from

Hong Kong and Japan.

State Rep. and House Minority Leader Galen Fox (R-HI)

Convicted on federal charges of fondling a woman on a Honolulu to Los

Angeles commercial flight.

Rep. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House (R-IL)

Probed for accepting money from Turkey.

Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL)

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff. (Weller is also married to

the daughter of Guatemalan dictator and mass murderer [300,0000

Guatemalans] Efrain Rios Montt.)

Bob Kjellander, Republican National Treasurer (R-IL)

Under Federal probe for steering investment contracts to Illinois

Teachers Retirement Fund.

State Rep. Lee Daniels (Elmhurst), Former House Leader (R-IL)

Under Federal investigation for misuse of state employees for

political activity and state contract kickbacks.

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN)

Under investigation for soliciting campaign donations in return for

INDOT (Indiana Dept. of Transportation) contracts.

Thomas Sharp, INDOT Commissioner (R-IN)

Under investigation for soliciting campaign donations in return for

INDOT (Indiana Dept. of Transportation) contracts.

Jim Kittle, GOP state chairman (R-IN)

Under investigation for soliciting campaign donations in return for

INDOT (Indiana Dept. of Transportation) contracts.

Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN)

Received DeLay ARMPAC money. FEC investigating.

Adam Taff, 2004 congressional candidate, KS-3 (R-KS)

Indicted for campaign violations and wire fraud.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R-KY)

Criminal probe in a state employees' merit system scandal. Received

contributions from DeLay's ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff.

Dan Druen, Transportation Commissioner (R-KY)

Merit system scandal, witness tampering. Indicted.

Bob Wilson, Deputy Personnel Secretary (R-KY)

Merit system scandal. Indicted

Darrell Brock, Chairman of Kentucky GOP (R-KY)