logocapitol dome inside
Capitol News Update     

 

August 13, 2012 

 

I am on vacation but will be back next week with the  Capitol News Update.           

State Legislature to start interim studies

By M. Scott Carter

The Journal Record

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma legislators will spend the next several months examining issues ranging from the operation of state veterans centers to the eradication of the Eastern red cedar tree and the possibility of changing the collection activities law.

With more than 80 interim legislative studies set to begin in August, members of the House and Senate will juggle interim meetings around the final months of campaigning. In the House of Representatives, Speaker Kris Steele's office received requests for 89 interim studies.

Of that figure, more than 50 studies were approved or combined with other requests, said Steele, R-Shawnee.

"Just like last interim, this House is going to stay busy studying policy issues that will truly make a difference in the lives of Oklahomans," he said.

One study includes the eradication of the Eastern red cedar, said state Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City.

In 2011, Morrissette wrote legislation that would provide tax incentives to eliminate the tree. The bill was vetoed by Republican Gov. Mary Fallin.

Morrissette said the recent wave of wildfires provides evidence why the trees need to be removed.

"These things are just huge firebombs waiting to go off," he said. "They need to be eliminated and removed."

Morrissette said his study would explore ways to expand the elimination of trees by using county work crews and other public resources. He said one idea was a cost-sharing program.

"We have to practice forward thinking," he said, "or we'll continue to see these types of wildfires. Getting rid of the trees would help eliminate future calamities."

John Estus, Steele's spokesman, said several of the studies were combined for efficiency.

"The speaker believes successful preparation in the interim leads to successful sessions, so he errs on the side of approving requested studies," Estus said. "He consolidates studies of similar topics wherever possible for efficiency purposes. If a study wasn't approved, more often than not it's because that issue was already studied in the recent past."

Estus said the legislative studies were the equivalent of a sport's team off-season.

"It keeps the committees working on the topics of importance to their areas of responsibility," he said. "It keeps members engaged. It helps the body prepare legislation and prepare to consider that legislation during session. The archiving policy the House instituted last year helps retain institutional knowledge and will also help prevent duplicative studies year after year, so that future interims are well-spent on fresh topics of relevance to that Legislature."

But not every request for an interim study was approved.

Those studies included an analysis of public money audit procedures, an examination of gaps in nursing home emergency and disaster evacuation preparedness, prescription drug plans and a study of the importance of learning to write cursive.

In the Oklahoma Senate, Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, approved 28 interim studies.

Those studies include examining the structure of the state's War Veterans Commission, ways the Senate can increase transparency in deliberation, potential enhancements for CareerTech and community colleges and the feasibility of moving school and municipal elections to odd-numbered years.

Fallin makes appointments to Securities Commission, Banking Board

OKLAHOMA CITY (JR) - Gov. Mary Fallin has made appointments to the Oklahoma Securities Commission and the State Banking Board.

Bob Neville of Oklahoma City was appointed to the Oklahoma Securities Commission. Neville is executive vice president of BancFirst. He serves on the State Treasurer's Investment Advisory Committee. Neville received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Oklahoma. He is replacing William Johnstone, who resigned.

Mike Spradling of Sand Springs was appointed to the State Banking Board. Spradling owns and operates Flying G Ranch. He serves as director of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation. Spradling received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University. He replaces Bob Weaver and will serve as a public, non-banking member of the board.

GOP continues to close registration gap

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Registered Democrats still outnumber Republicans in Oklahoma, but the GOP is continuing to close the gap.

Figures released by the Oklahoma Election Board show Democrats make up 46 percent of the state's registered electorate, followed by Republicans at 42 percent and independents at 12 percent.

Overall, Oklahoma's voter rolls have grown by more than 9,600 since June 1. Republicans saw the largest increase during that time with 4,638 new voters, followed by 3,032 new independents and 1,995 new Democrats.

The Election Board also reported that eight Oklahomans have registered in the new Americans Elect Party following that group's successful petition drive for recognition as an official party.

Last Friday was the deadline for voters to register to vote in the Aug. 28 primary runoff election.

Governor makes appointments

OKLAHOMA CITY (JR) - Gov. Mary Fallin has made appointments to the state Election Board, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission, Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools, State Textbook Committee, Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board, Oklahoma State Athletic Commission and Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.

Mike Fair of Oklahoma City was appointed to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. Fair works for Fair Insurance Agency. He served 26 years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate. He received a bachelor's degree from Southwest Christian University. Fair is replacing Susan Stoll.

Tom Montgomery of Muskogee was appointed to the state Election Board. Montgomery is owner of Management Services, a financial services company. He received a bachelor's degree in management and economics from Northeastern State University. Montgomery is replacing Tom Prince, who resigned, and will serve as a Republican member of the board.

Robyn Batson of Broken Bow was appointed to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission. Batson is chairman at 1st Bank and Trust of Broken Bow. She served on the Department of Tourism Commission from 2000 to 2006. Batson received a bachelor's degree in economics from Centenary College in Louisiana. She is replacing Trae Gray and will represent the 2nd Congressional District.

Jeremy Gibson of Tulsa was appointed to the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. Gibson is the CEO and president of Spartan College. He previously served as president of Nashville Auto/Diesel College in Tennessee. Gibson received his master's degree in business at the Xavier Business College in Sydney, Australia. He is replacing Andrew Moore and represents an executive or managerial position in private vocational schools.

Sherry Campbell of Nowata and Patti Harrold of Oklahoma City were appointed to the State Textbook Committee.

Campbell is a teacher at Nowata Public School, where she has taught for more than 20 years. She is a member of the Oklahoma Council for Social Studies and the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education. Campbell received a bachelor's degree from Bartlesville Wesleyan College. Campbell is replacing Nancy Hindenburg and will represent the 2nd Congressional District.

Harrold is a history teacher and department chairwoman for Edmond Public Schools. She is a member of the Professional Oklahoma Educators and National Social Studies Supervisors Association and was a founder and past president of the National Council for History Education. Harrold received a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma City University and a master's degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She is replacing Vicki Vaughan and will represent the 5th Congressional District.

Jerry Nye of Weatherford was appointed to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority. Nye is a retired professor from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he taught English, speech, journalism and language arts. Nye is a veteran of the Korean War, where he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from East Central University, a master's degree from Oklahoma State University, and a doctorate degree from the University of Northern Colorado. Nye is replacing Mary Ferguson and will represent the 3rd Congressional District.

Ann Ritchie of Enid and Don Evans of Oklahoma City were appointed to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Board.

Ritchie is a retired reading teacher. She also is on the board of trustees of the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County. Ritchie received a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master's degree in education with a reading specialization from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is replacing LaWalta Turner and will serve as a member from the 3rd Congressional District.

Evans is an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma and a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps. Evans received a bachelor's degree in history from Princeton University and a law degree from Tulane University. Evans is replacing Tom Terry and will serve as a member of the 5th Congressional District.

Terry Smith, Malcom Atwood, Danny Hodge, Mike Bower and Mark Hanstein were reappointed to the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission.

Smith of Oklahoma City is the director of the Family Resource Center of the Chickasaw Nation. Smith was reappointed to the commission and will serve as a person with experience as a professional boxer or in professional boxing promotion.

Atwood of Norman is a retired director at the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminology from Florida State University. Atwood is being reappointed to the commission and will serve as an at-large member.

Hodge of Perry is a retired professional wrestler. He previously served as the chairman of the Oklahoma Wrestling and Boxing Commission. He wrestled for the University of Oklahoma, where he received a bachelor's degree. He is being reappointed to the commission and will serve as a person with experience as a professional wrestler or in professional wrestling.

Bower of Midwest City is the emergency management director for Midwest City. He previously served as the fire chief in Midwest City. Bower is being reappointed to the commission and will serve as a person with experience as a professional boxer or professional boxing promotional experience.

Hanstein of Oklahoma City owns and operates a dental practice in Oklahoma City. He is the director of the Oklahoma Dental Society. Hanstein received a bachelor's degree in science from the University of Central Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in microbiology from the University of Oklahoma. He earned doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. He has served on the commission since 1988 and is being reappointed.

Have a good week.  Give me a call at 918.671.6860 if I can be of help in any way

                  Steve Lewis

 
This Week's Meetings


 

2012 DEADLINES
 
 




This Week's News
Legislature to Begin Interim Studies
Appointments to Securities Commission, Banking Board
GOP Closing Registration Gap
Fallin Makes Appointments