Battling Commies, Democrats, Unions

My column about Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Mark Costello is posted at the intrepid Red Dirt Report. Go here.

Here's how it begins: "Central Oklahoma is a long distance from my home in northern Michigan, but, thanks to the mighty Internet, I've been following a former Edmond next-door neighbor's political doings with enthusiastic interest.

That would be Mark Costello, the labor commissioner for the great state of Oklahoma.

I was delighted when he won the general election last November, as I was convinced that under his watch positive, courageous reform would be the norm.

I just didn't dream how good … and controversial … he would be.

The Department of Labor, as Sooner State political junkies are aware, has long been largely the dominion of progressives and labor unions. In contrast, Commissioner Costello is now utilizing his office to level the playing field between the public and private sectors. Parity in Oklahoma, the non-profit 501(c)(4) that he founded and chairs, seeks balance in the areas of 'Pay, Performance, Pensions and Perks.' This type of initiative, which includes a website, is cutting-edge, the wave of the future. State governments, searching for ways to save dollars, can be assisted in their quest by watchdogs and educational entities. For instance, Pension Tsunami, a project of the respected California Public Policy Center, monitors the 'oncoming wave of pension debt.'

Unfortunately, the enemies of reform never sleep."

Update: Democrats are planning a 'no confidence' protest.