Cockroft Column: House Session Update - Week 3

As the first session of the 55th Oklahoma Legislature continues, I was proud to see my colleagues support a number of important measures that will improve Oklahoma education, public safety and economic growth. Here are a few of the bills heard on the House floor.

House Bill 1275, which I authored, pairs up election dates for school boards and municipalities with the intent of reducing election costs and encouraging greater voter participation. The legislation was approved by a vote of 63-30 and now heads to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives voted unanimously in support of legislation that would help law enforcement catch human traffickers. House Bill 1006 authorizes the use of wiretaps to investigate human trafficking for labor or commercial sex, the pandering of humans for sex and for the investigation of the prostitution of a child.

We also approved a bill to improve Oklahoma’s business climate. House Bill 1001 allows employers to file documentation for misconduct immediately upon the termination of the employee. In doing this, the employer will be considered to have automatically protested the claim if and when the former employee files for unemployment insurance benefits. The legislation would also provide a reliable unemployment insurance tax rate for new businesses in their first two years in operation. The legislation was approved by a 93-4 vote and now heads to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.

Finally, legislation approved unanimously by the Oklahoma House of Representatives would improve information sharing between state criminal justice agencies. House Bill 1083 would create a shared information technology infrastructure that would be used by 14 agencies. The legislation would make it possible for a higher level of technology for many of these agencies and is much cheaper than providing additional technologies to each agency.

I also want to mention a tax credit reform bill that was approved in our budget committee. Currently, the Oklahoma pays out roughly $1.7 billion in tax credits. While some of these tax credits are an essential part of creating a pro-business environment, there are no methods in place at this time to determine if a credit is spurring economic growth or simply keeping industries alive that would otherwise fail on their own. House Bill 2182 creates the Incentive Evaluation Commission that will review current and future tax credits, report on their level of success and make recommendations on future policy. The Incentive Evaluation Commission will ensure each tax credit is evaluated every four years by an independent auditor and scored on criteria specific to its purpose.   

It is an honor to serve you. It matters not if you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent; I am here to serve you. Please visit my policy blog at www.RepJoshCockroft.blogspot.com. Communication is important to me. I want to know how to I can better serve and lead for our district and our state. I am always a phone call away at: (405) 557-7349. You can also email me at: Josh.Cockroft@okhouse.gov.

 

Cockroft Column: House Springs Into Action - Week 2 Update

    We are off to a fast start this year. House lawmakers have already approved one of Governor Mary Fallin’s agenda items. House Bill 1948 requires physicians and other medical providers to check a prescription drug database before writing new prescriptions or renewing old ones. I voted against the measure, because I believe it will overly burden medical providers. Oklahomans have made it clear that they don’t want government to be in charge of their healthcare. However, I do support the intent, which is to reduce prescription drug abuse. We will see and vote on the measure again after changes are made in the Senate. I hope to see an increase in the flexibility between healthcare providers and their patients before I am able to support the measure.

     I have also been following the votes of the House Elections and Ethics Committee, which heard one of my bills this week. House Bill 1275 will pair up election dates for school boards and municipalities. My intent is to save local tax dollars and encourage greater voter participation. The committee advanced the measure by a vote of 5-2. I noted a second election reform bill’s passage. House Bill 1559 allows voters to become permanent absentee voters. It was approved by a vote of 7-0.

    I also had a public safety bill approved in committee. House Bill 1276 updates Oklahoma’s bomb squad statutes and strengthens the state’s terrorism laws. I think it was a testament to how aware our legislators are of the dangers of the current international climate that they unanimously advanced my proposal, 11-0.

     Natural gas is abundant in Oklahoma. It is a cheaper source of fuel for vehicles. Where we have used compressed natural gas at the state level, we have saved tax dollars. I want to encourage counties to make the same leap. House Bill 1277 will create a state fund that uses existing oil and gas taxes to create compressed natural gas infrastructure within county vehicle fleets. The legislation was approved in committee by a 7-4 vote and now will go to the appropriations and budget committee before a vote on the House floor.

     Finally, I want to mention the committee passage of a school public safety bill. House Bill 1684 will require schools to create a sexual abuse prevention program. Unfortunately, sexual abuse is a common problem in Oklahoma and even extends to our public schools.

     I may not agree with every bill we pass this year, but I am pleased with the speed in which we are getting through the legislative work we face this year. I will continue to fight to represent your voice at the Capitol.

    It is an honor to serve you. It matter not if you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent; I am here to serve you. Please visit my policy blog at www.RepJoshCockroft.blogspot.com. Communication is important to me. I want to know how to I can better serve and lead for our district and our state. I am always a phone call away at: (405) 557-7349. You can also email me at: Josh.Cockroft@okhouse.gov.

Cockroft Column: Gov. Fallin Gives State of the State Address, Legislative Session Begins

    I had the pleasure of hearing Gov. Mary Fallin’s State of the State address and executive budget proposal Monday as we began the 2015 Legislative Session. The governor’s executive budget proposal offers agency revolving funds as a solution to this year's budget hole and calls for increases to core services.

    The governor’s executive budget proposal is a good starting point to the discussion, but rarely aligns perfectly with the end result of negotiations. For example, she is calling for a $25 million increase to education and a $15 million increase to Oklahoma's prisons. Some state lawmakers would like to see a greater increase, especially instead of a $20 million increase she would give to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Other lawmakers are calling for a more scrutinizing overview of our appropriations process in a conservative effort.

    In education, the governor said she would like to see 75 percent of fourth-grade students scoring proficiently on the state reading test by 2018. She also advocated for a greater use of mental health, drug and veterans courts to steer non-violent offenders into treatment programs. I wholeheartedly agree with initiatives to reduce over-criminalization in our state for non-violent crimes. With prison overcrowding and our corrections budget in dire need of proper funding, we must take a look into serious reform.

    Gov. Fallin also stated her support for prescription drug monitoring, a texting while driving ban, and “smoke free” public schools. Prescription drug monitoring bills were rejected in past years because many felt there would be too much work laid at the feet of doctor’s offices. The texting while driving ban has not made it through the process in past years because many legislators consider it a step to far in government's continued push towards a “nanny state.” We must protect the freedoms of every individual while looking at the needs facing our state.

    I feel cautiously optimistic after the governor’s speech. I appreciate the overall vision she cast. I appreciate her seriousness in budget matters, even if I might push harder for certain areas of funding. We have proven in past years that we are able to serve as a check and override the governor when necessary, but there is a general feeling that she is on our same page for the most part. As we begin this legislative session, your voice becomes even more important. Please don’t hesitate to make your thoughts and opinions heard. Your feedback is invaluable to me and my office.

    It is an honor to serve you. It matter not if you are Republican, Democrat, or Independent; I am here to serve you. Please visit my policy blog at www.RepJoshCockroft.blogspot.com. Communication is important to me. I want to know how to I can better serve and lead for our district and our state. I am always a phone call away at: (405) 557-7349. You can also email me at: Josh.Cockroft@okhouse.gov.