Political Pulse

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The 2010 Oklahoma gubernatorial campaign
hasn’t yet heated up, but the top candidates still are shelling out
plenty of money.
The latest contribution and expenditure reports filed late
Monday show the candidates combined to spend $663,000 during the
last quarter of 2009.
To date, the campaigns of the five candidates for Oklahoma
governor have raised nearly $4 million and spent more than $1.9
million in the race for the state’s top post.
Among the five candidates, Democratic Attorney General Drew
Edmondson leads in total amount raised ($1.7 million), amount spent
($741,000) and cash on-hand ($910,435).
Candidates officially file for office in June, and the primary
election is on July 27.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A federal appeals court has upheld much of
an injunction against Oklahoma’s tough anti-illegal immigration law
but says a portion of the 2007 legislation is enforceable now.
A panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says a lower
court was largely correct in stopping enforcement of the law.
However, its split decision says the state can force businesses to
cross-check employee names against a federal database of eligible
workers.
The court said the U.S. and state Chambers of Commerce had
standing to file its lawsuit, which can go on. The panel also
granted the attorney general some immunity from the lawsuit.