Story Archive

Serious Issue Tackled

Oklahoma state Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Republican, has introduced a bill to undo a law sponsored in 2007 by Rep. Joe Dorman, a Democrat. What’s the partisan squabble about this time? Dorman’s bill, which was passed, designates the watermelon as Oklahoma’s State Vegetable. Dahm’s attempt to repeal the law isn’t falling on party lines, however: “We will defend, support and make sure it is upheld as the state vegetable for Oklahoma,” countered Republican Rep. Scooter Park, who now holds Dorman’s House seat. But Dahm is pressing on, because watermelons, he says, are not vegetables, but rather fruits. And the watermelon can’t be the state fruit, because strawberries already are. (RC/Tulsa World) ...It’s a step in the right direction: most politicians only deal with sour grapes.