Wisconsin’s Former Speaker Promises To Instill Discipline In OK State House

Scott Jensen

Scott Jensen

The cheese was served hot and the criticism harsh for Oklahoma’s State House Education Committee when a former Wisconsin lawmaker promised to instill “discipline” in the Sooner state.

Scott Jensen, the former speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly who resigned in the midst of a scandal, encouraged emails calling Republican lawmakers the dreaded “liberal” word after a school reform measure (Educational Savings Accounts) died in committee.

Speaker Jeff Hickman

Speaker Jeff Hickman

Whether or not the Speaker (Jeff Hickman) and his leadership team choose to instill some team discipline, we should do so,” said Jensen, a former Wisconsin House speaker who now works for an educational choice reform organization, the American Federation for Children.

Jensen, who resigned elective office in 2006 amid a scandal that reportedly led to a misdemeanor conviction barring him from ever seeking office again, made it clear that the weather was single-digit cold in Wisconsin, but his rhetoric was blazing hot.

Ann Coody

Ann Coody

He had the harshest words for the dean of the Oklahoma State House, Rep. Ann Coody, who is chairwoman of the state’s House Education Committee. “She felt completely comfortable choosing the education establishment over her leadership team,” Jensen wrote.

His criticisms did not stop with Coody. “I would recommend that several organizations on this email list conduct robocalls and emails to voter lists educating them about the votes by Representatives (Ann) Coody, (Jadine) Nollan, (Todd) Thomsen, (Dennis) Casey and (Katie) Henke.

“The message should be simple: these Republicans joined with liberal Democrats to defeat an important education reform supported by conservatives and the Republican leadership,” wrote Jensen.

(More on Jensen can be found here, http://tinyurl.com/pn9mqrz)

The group, along with the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, is pushing Educational Savings Accounts. The Senate version passed in committee, and Jensen wrote. “If I were speaker, it would now be a matter of honor to me that the Senate version of the ESA bill pass on the floor.”

OCPA's Dave Bonds

OCPA’s Dave Bonds

OCPA’s Dave Bond appeared to pick up on the possible political fallout that could happen due to such harsh actions. “Our emphasis should be on praising those who support the bill, being careful not to criticize those who don’t. Some who vote against it the first time, might be convinced to support prior to the next vote,” Bond writes.

Others included in the email chain included OCPA’s Michael Carnuccio; Damon Gardenhire, of the Walton Foundation; OCU law professor Andy Spiropoulos; John Tidwell, state director for the Americans for Prosperity; and others in the conservative think tank network in Oklahoma. The chain also included former Democrat State Senator Jabar Shumate, who is now state chairman of the American Federation for Children and the Alliance for Choice.


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  1. castor, 18 February, 2015

    We probably don’t need a guy from Wisconsin to tell us how to sort out our problems, but one does wonder at how supposedly freedom-loving Republicans could deny poor people the same freedom that well-off people have: the freedom to choose their kids’ schools. I’m appalled that Reps. Coody, Nollan, Henke, Thomsen and Casey would do that.

  2. Ashley-Clinton, Ok, 20 February, 2015

    Mr.Jensen, with all do respect sir, the parents, teachers, community, and educational leaders within Oklahoma have seen the example of your own poor political choices involving scandals that resulted in extreme ramifications including your own resignation from your position. It is insulting and absurd that you believe you are in a position to offer advice to the leaders of Oklahoma on what they should do or could be doing better!!!

  3. Russ – Edmond, OK, 22 February, 2015

    Ashley had it exactly right. Mr. Jenson has forfeited his right to tell Oklahoma how to conduct its legislative affairs.

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