CONCERNS voiced by Democrats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives about the work being done — or not done — by Republicans shouldn't be dismissed as sour grapes from a party toiling under a GOP supermajority. Democrats have some good reasons to be bothered.

No one in Republican leadership seems to have an interest in using a bond issue to responsibly repair the Capitol building, or build a new medical examiner's office, or take care of other pressing state infrastructure needs. Instead they argue that all debt is bad debt, and that Oklahoma isn't about to travel the same path as politicians in Washington. So bond issues are off the table.

House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, recently wrote that borrowing $200 million would cost the state $80 million in interest over two decades. “Only in government does it make sense to pay $280 million for something that costs $200 million,” he wrote. Apparently GOP lawmakers don't hold mortgages on their homes. If they've found mortgage companies that don't charge interest, we'd like to know who they are.

A bill that would outlaw text-messaging while driving — something 39 other states have found to be worthwhile — can't get off high center in the House. But if you've got a bill that won't add up to a hill of beans but will allow the most conservative GOP members to preen, step right up!