May 14, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 13

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Chinese are Trer Wert h Serving Western Oklahoma Since 1901 ne os im the biggest Mentin hifto Overdue good news for Behenna The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City It took longer than Michael Behenna or his family and friends would have preferred, but today Behennano longer carries the burden of being a convicted felon. A presidential pardon has essentially wiped the slate clean. President Trump pardoned Behenna, a former Army first lieutenant, on Monday, citing among other things the broad support Behenna enjoyed from elected officials, the military and the public. His backers saw a good man and good soldier who had served his nation admirably before getting entangled in its legal system. Behenna, now 35, killed a man in 2008 in Iraq. He was convicted the following year of unpremeditated murder in a combat zone and given 25 years in prison. That sentence later was reduced to 15 years. Behenna was released in 2014 after serving five years at Fort Leaven- worth, Kansas, and after much heavy lifting by his family to promote his cause. comic com EMAIL: hpayma@dtrotnans con (E)\9 Awrrey vl Behenna and his family requested the pardon in January Oklahomans’ financial 2018. “Obviously, we're eternally grateful,” said his mother, Vicki, whose commitment was unwavering. “It’s wonder- ful.” Not to mention overdue. literacy can use work Behenna was a model soldier and outstanding leader. The man he killed had ties to al-Qaida, and was believed to have killed two of Behenna’s men in a roadside bombing. After being detained for a time, the man was ordered released. Behenna was supposed to take him back to his village. The Oklahoman, Oklahoma much improvement is needed centage of adults who spend Personal Financial Literacy Instead, he interrogated him further. City among older Oklahomans. more than they earn, PASSPORT initiative, which According to WalletHub, The state’s rankings are requires students take cours- During his court-martial, Behenna testified that he shot Writing in The Oklahoman Oklahoma is 50th -- one spot disconcerting, but the truth is es and show financial literacy the man when the man, who had been stripped, threw a last fall, former state Trea- above dead last -- in the millions of Americans across before they can graduate. piece of concrete at him and lunged for Behenna’s gun. surer Scott Meacham noted percentage of adults with the country, and in all age the importance of improving rainy day funds. Oklahoma ranges, struggle in this area. Topics covered include sav- What occurred on the battlefield that day didn’t make financial literacy particularly ranks 48th in the percentage WalletHub noted that 2018 ing, paying rent, earning an Behenna a hero, and he never claimed as much. among the state’s younger set. of adults who pay only the ended with $67 billion in new income and credit card debt. Arecent report helps to drive monthly minimum on their credit card debt, and only An online financial literacy Butit also didn’t make him a cold-blooded killer who home that point. credit card (or cards). The 40 percent of adults have a called Mind Your Own Bud- faced the prospect of being tarred for the rest of his life. Be- According to a survey by state ranks 38th in the per- budget. get is offered to (and used by) henna has said he believes he was punished by his country the website WalletHub, Okla- centage of “unbanked” house- Last year, the National schools statewide through the homa ranks 46th out of the 50 holds, or those that don’t have Financial Capability Study University of Oklahoma K20 for justifiable actions during wartime. states and District of Colum- abank account or have one, found that 63 percent of The Oklahoman has long felt that politics contributed to bia in the category of “Most but still use financial services American adults can’t pass Center for Educational and Behenna’s original sentence. Financially Literate States.” outside the banking system to a financial literacy test. Community Renewal. Banks Put another way, only five help make ends meet. Indeed, Another report found that 20 and other institutions in the At the time of the killing, because of dynamics in play in other locales in this country Oklahoma ranks fourth- percent of American teens state offer financial literacy Iraq, the United States needed to show little tolerance for are less financially literate. highest in the share of adults lack basic financial literacy classes for students. The survey focused on the borrowing from nonbank skills. Meacham wrote that those who crossed the line in combat. Other U.S. military practices of adults -- those lenders. It falls to the younger financial literacy “isn’t child’s personnel who were convicted of far worse crimes in Iraq, 18 and older -- but did grade Oklahoma fares a little bet- generation to help move the play, but Oklahoma will be the financial literacy of high ter (28th) in the percentage needle in a better direction. but at different times during the war, received much lesser schoolers. On that front of adults who compare credit ‘The good news is that help is strongerif all our young sentences. Oklahoma placed 25th, which cards before applying for one. available. people get in the game.” It’s a Pardons can be politically driven, too. It’s fair to say is encouraging given how And, it’s No. 20 in the per- Meacham mentioned the point worth remembering. Trump’s 2017 pardon of Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio stemmed from Arpaio’s support of Trump during the 2016 Consumers deserve campaign. Former President Barack Obama’s pardon of traitor Chelsea Manning is another example. The pardon of Behenna doesn’t have the same feel. In- stead, it appears the White House weighed the case and the veto override vote testimony on Behenna’s behalf and concluded that he had done his penance. “It feels great,” Behenna said. “The ball and chain is gone.” Wejoin the chorus of Oklahomans in offering our Muskogee Phoenix, Okla. Pharmacy benefits man- and disallowed by federal and in other states. congratulations and best agers have been described law.” Citing decisions in other Itis doubtful that any ju- Oklahoma’s governor as the middlemen ofthe states, he expresses concern dicial decision striking down vetoed a bill its proponents industry, work with drug in his veto message about similar legislation has worked say would reduce the costs manufacturers, health plan the prospect of employers Have a letter to of prescription drugs and providers and pharmacies to incurring a substantial legal its way through the entire appellate process. It may be protect local pharmacists negotiate contracts, prices expense should the measure the editor? Email from one segment of the and rebates. Critics contend become law. there is a need for another pharmaceutical industry that the PBMs drive up drug costs The governor expresses conflicting opinion to take it to editor@ has squeezed out profits at consumers’ expense. for patients -- and their own profits -- by limiting consum- legitimate concerns, but there address this issue at the next comes a time when an indus- level. ecdailynews.com Senate Bill 841 passed both legislative chambers unani- ers’ options and gagging pharmacists. try bully must be confronted and momentum to do that ‘There is a need for consum- er advocacy when it comes to or stop by 206 W. mously. Lawmakers should fiex their legislative muscle, Stitt contends the measure “attempts to regulate certain seems to be now. The passage of PBM oversight legislation the growing costs of prescrip- stand alongside consumers, health plans sponsored by in 2017 sparked a trend of tion drugs. Lawmakers have Broadway, Elk City. and override Gov. Kevin Oklahoma employers” in a similar legislation introduced the opportunity to show us on Stitt’s veto. manner “that is preempted the following two years here which side they will stand.