Declarations – South Central

Trust, Teachers, Guns
“I trust my children to my local teachers and principal every day. I want to give these trusted, responsible educators the ability to defend themselves and our children in the same way any normal parent would, in the face of the unthinkable.”

—Oklahoma Republican Rep. Mark McCullough of Sapulpa has filed a bill that would allow school officials to carry weapons if they’ve received training through the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training. Responding to the recent shooting in Newtown, Conn., in which 20 children and six adults were killed at an elementary school, McCullough said schools are “soft targets.”

No Cool Brees

“ISM will review that complaint and, when required, will be filing a counterclaim setting forth the acts and conduct of Mr. Brees and his agents that constitute breach of contract and misappropriation.”

—David Miller, who is being sued by New Orleans’ Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his foundation, commenting on Brees’ lawsuit that alleges the former organizer of his celebrity golf tournament in southern California cheated benefactors of the foundation out of thousands of dollars to enrich Miller’s Integrated Sports Marketing.

Exchange Approved

“We’re going to have the exchanges. … The only question is, are we going to have any say over it or not?”

—Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe comments on the Obama administration’s conditional approval of the state’s plan to establish an insurance exchange under the healthcare law in partnership with the federal government. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approved Arkansas’ plans to opt for a partnership model of the exchange, in which households and private businesses shop for private coverage. Beebe opted for the partnership model after Republican lawmakers blocked legislation to set up a state-run exchange in the 2011 session.