House Supports Veteran Residential Care

Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted today to provide elderly Oklahoma veterans a greater range of health-care choices.

            House Bill 2207, by state Rep. John Bennett, adds medical foster homes approved by the federal Veteran’s Administration to the definition of a “residential care home” and exempts them from certain state requirements.

            “Residential home care allows a veteran to remain in his home and preserve some level of independence,” said Bennett, a Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I am proud that this measure received such overwhelming support.”

            A medical foster home is a non-institutional alternative to a nursing home where a veteran is matched with a caregiver in the local community.  Care is provided in the caregiver’s home to 24 hours a day. Medical foster homes are inspected and approved by the federal Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

            House Bill 2207 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 88-0 vote. It now proceeds to the state Senate.

            “Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much on our behalf,” Bennett said. “They deserve to be taken care of as they reach their golden years in a way that preserves their dignity.”

Cockroft Challenges Resolve of House Republican Caucus

Below is a letter that I sent to the House Republican Caucus yesterday voicing my concerns over our resolve and mission. I believe we must be here for the right reason! If not, then we are failing in our mission. Your feedback is welcome!

Members,

    I wanted to write out a few thoughts in result to our caucus discussions this afternoon on the income tax issue…

    Let me begin by saying that I respect and appreciate each one of you. Having these past 18 months to work with each of you and develop positive relationships has been an incredible experience. I also appreciate the help that so many of you have given me in my first year and a half as a legislator. I look forward to serving with you all for the duration of this year.

    There are a couple things however that have caused me great concern dealing with the mindset of our “conservative” caucus.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.”

    There have been several instances in the past couple of weeks in our caucus meetings that the statement has been made about the political will of the members due to an election year. I personally take great offense at these kinds of statements. I ask each of you the question, “When did it become our job as politicians to worry about securing future elections for ourselves?” I believe that if we are each truly standing upon our principles and the conservative platform of the Republican Party, then we shouldn’t be worried about our next step, because we know that we stand upon the right things. Our founding Fathers never intended government to be set up for the benefit of government, rather for the good of the people.

    Members, I didn’t stand on the door steps of thousands of homes in 110 degree heat because it was easy. I didn’t do it because it was popular or might propel me into a particular status. It was based on conviction and a desire to serve and change our State for the betterment of our future. I was twenty-one years old when I ran for this seat. If you believe that this was the easy or the safe path, then you are sadly mistaken. I have had numerous people saying it couldn’t be done and was a waste of my time and money. It was the hardest point in my life that I have ever been through. If I had crumbled under all that pressure, I wouldn’t be here today. Many people still ask why I continued to press on and go against all odds. I tell them it’s because I know I was doing the right thing to do.

    This job is hard. This is a thankless job. I know we have pressures from every angle on this and other issues. However, I simply ask that you think about what you stand upon. Do you stand upon the Republican platform which is for lower taxes and smaller government, or are you so easily swayed by pressure and negative threats? Members, it wasn’t until early November of this last year (four months ago) that I had decided to run for re-election. I didn’t want to plan my next step in politics until I knew that I was here for the right reason. I believe that anyone who plans their political future can be easily compromised and swayed, so as to stay in office for another term. That’s not what government’s job is. Our job is to do what is right, no matter what, and let the people of our district decide if they want us there in the future. The question is this: “Are we here for the right reason?”   

    I humbly submit to you that if we are truly going to do what is right for our State and move us forward, we must stand together and stare down the opponent in the face of adversity. It is time to make a statement for all the rest of the Nation to hear. I want Oklahoma’s State government to be known as a lean, efficient, and accountable government. If we each do what we know is right and block everything else around us out, then that goal is not far off base.

    Once again, I submit this to you with a humble and respectful attitude, and thank you for your consideration.

God bless, 

Josh Cockroft

Oklahoma State Representative, District 27

2300 N. Lincoln BLVD - Room 315

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Office: (405) 557-7349 - EXT. 349

House Approves Online Database of State Debt

Under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Oklahomans could go to one online site to learn about the state’s debt and financial obligations

            House Bill 2857, by state Rep. Elise Hall, authorizes the creation of checkbook.ok.gov, where information would be provided on all obligation and revenue bonds, debt, bonds issued by enterprise funds and component units of state government and higher-education master lease agreements.

            “Lawmakers and constituents alike have a tough time assembling all the information needed to get a clear picture of the state’s finances,” said Hall (R-Oklahoma City). “Checkbook.ok.gov will give everyone one place where the state’s financial data is easily accessible.”

            Although much information on state obligations is already online, Hall noted that it is not provided in a concise, user-friendly format that can be easily searched.

            “For some information, a citizen could go through a 90-page report and try to do some back-of-the-envelope math to obtain exact figures on state debt, but that requires a substantial investment of time,” Hall said. “Under House Bill 2857, that information would be immediately available and easily accessible.”

            Checkbook.ok.gov would also provide the amount paid on an annual basis to retire the debt, the amount attributable to interest and fees on an annual basis and the complete debt repayment schedule. Historical data would also be available, as would information allowing a comparison of Oklahoma debt and obligations with those of the other 49 states.

            House Bill 2857 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 69-21 vote today and now proceeds to the Senate for consideration.

  

House Votes to Fund Bridge Repair, Increase Safety

State lawmakers voted today to dramatically reduce the backlog of bridges needing repair or replacement in Oklahoma.

            “Although we have made significant progress addressing transportation needs in recent years, there is still much work to be done,” said state Rep. T.W. Shannon, a Lawton Republican who chairs the House Transportation Committee. “This legislation ramps up those efforts and keeps state resources focused on a true core function of government: transportation infrastructure. As we increase road funding, the impact will compound yearly and allow for a rapid reduction in the number of deficient or obsolete bridges in Oklahoma.”

            House Bill 2248, by Shannon, would increase road funding in the coming fiscal year. Current law calls for an annual increase of $37.5 million in road funding. Shannon’s bill would hike that amount to $56.7 million, directing an additional $19.2 million to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund.

            The bill directs that the fund continue receiving an additional $56.7 million each year until the total increase equals $550 million.

            House Bill 2249, by Shannon, would direct 16 percent of vehicle licensing fees and penalties to the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges Fund, and increases that amount to 20 percent by 2013.

            The CIRB program is currently funded with 15 percent of the motor vehicle taxes and fees. House Bill 2249 would increase the estimated annual funding for the CIRB program from approximately $80 million to more than $105 million.

            Currently, 706 of nearly 6,800 bridges on the state highway system are identified as structurally deficient. Of the 706 bridges, 413 are currently scheduled to be replaced in the next seven years, but 293 remain unfunded. Many of those bridges will be replaced if Shannon’s legislation becomes law.

            “By improving and replacing dilapidated bridges on Oklahoma roads, we can increase public safety and generate positive economic benefit for all of Oklahoma by ensuring we have modern transportation infrastructure in place throughout the state,” Shannon said. “This legislation will also benefit future generations of Oklahomans by tackling this crucial need today instead of passing the buck to our children.”

            The two bills are part of Gov. Mary Fallin’s announced transportation agenda for the 2012 session.

House Bill 2248 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 86-2 vote today.

House Bill 2249 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 89-1 vote.

Both bills now proceed to the state Senate.

Lawmakers Vote to Increase Women’s Safety

Physicians could face a felony if they prescribe a pill known as RU-486 or milfepristone for the inducement of an abortion without being physically present under a bill approved today by House lawmakers.

            House Bill 2381 is needed because current law would allow physicians to give an exam and prescribe the pill over the Internet, according to the bill’s author, state Rep. Josh Cockroft.

            “Last year, the Legislature required physicians to provide an examination and set up a follow-up appointment before prescribing RU-486 for the inducement of an abortion,” said Cockroft (R-Tecumseh). “Since then, I learned that physicians could still prescribe this pill without even being physically present. This legislation just corrects that loophole to make sure this pill is properly prescribed.”

            State Rep. Sean Roberts, a co-author, said a proper examination is needed to check for ectopic pregnancies and other contraindications which would make the abortion pill potentially dangerous.

            “This is not like taking medicine for a cold,” said Roberts (R-Hominy). “There are serious complications such as hypotension leading to cardiac problems or hemorrhaging that could arise. A physician needs to be present to ensure this particular pill is the right choice for the patient. Although I do not support abortions, I am also concerned about women’s safety and that’s what this bill does, it helps assure their safety.”

            Felonies are punishable by a fine of $1,000 or up to two years incarceration in the Department of Corrections. The legislation would also make physicians liable for damages.

            “Prescription of this particular abortion pill without the physician being present is simply unsafe,” said Cockroft. “My legislation makes it a felony to endanger a woman in this way. The legislation is also written so it is clear that the patient is not the guilty party. As a pro-life lawmaker, I do not support abortion, but I also do not believe we should allow unethical individuals to carelessly put women’s lives in danger.”

             House Bill 2381 now proceeds to the Senate for consideration.

Open Government Measures Advance

 Oklahoma taxpayers may soon have the right to file open records requests online, gain the ability to track the status of requests for vital records, have better purview of legislative meetings, and realize hundreds of thousands of dollars of savings through state government reorganization and consolidation.

            This and more would take place through the implementation of a series of aggressive government modernization initiatives that were approved prior to last week’s committee deadline and now proceed to the full house.

“Government efficiency and transparency should be the rule rather than the exception. An efficient, transparent government means more effective services for the public, more money back in the hands of taxpayers and more access to their government for all citizens,” said House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee

“This year a team of legislators have stepped up and sponsored a series of transparency and cost cutting initiatives. If approved these bills will cut costs to the taxpayers while also providing them with new tools to hold government accountable,” said state Rep. Jason Murphey, who chairs the Government Modernization committee.

            The 2012 government modernization initiatives include among others the following bills.

            House Bill 3053, by Speaker Steele and state Sen. Kim David, follows up on Speaker’s Steele’s successful government agency consolidation bill and consolidates additional state agencies. A report released by the Office of State Finance demonstrates that the taxpayers will save $6 million each year from the consolidation. This amount is far in excess of the savings initially mandated by last year’s bill.

            House Bill 2379, by state Rep. Josh Cockroft, will establish an online open records request portal to empower taxpayers with quick access to government documents.

            House Bill 2991, by state Rep. Mike Ritze, will streamline and cut the cost of delivering vital records such as birth certificates through the Department of Health website.

            House Joint Resolution 1075, by Murphey and state Sen. Greg Treat, will allow the state auditor to conduct performance audits of state agencies and programs.

            House Bill 2646, by state Rep. David Brumbaugh, significantly expands the House’s recent purchasing system reforms, which have saved $22 million over the past two years.

            House Bill 2940, by state Rep. David Derby, would implement provisions of a recently concluded consultant’s report showing millions of dollars could be saved from the consolidation of the state-owned IT fiber networks including the OneNet fiber network.

            House Bill 2771, by state Rep. Aaron Stiles, builds on the recently created business one-stop, which is designed to allow Oklahoma small business owners to receive their licenses and permits online instead of having to wait in line at a state bureaucracy.

            House Bill 2482, by state. Rep. Lewis Moore, would enable the state to better manage the issuance of worker’s comp insurance.

            House Bill 1085, by Murphey and state Sen. David Holt, would apply open meeting and open records laws to the Legislature. The Oklahoma Legislature is one of the last in the nation to maintain an exemption from these laws.

House Bill 2587, by state Rep. Elise Hall, would allow taxpayers to see the debt incurred by state officials. Her bill creates an online one-stop where the amount of the state’s debt can be easily visualized.

10-year income tax phase-out plan receives committee approval

Proposal now sponsored by nearly one-third of the state House

A proposal to phase out Oklahoma’s personal income tax over 10 years has cleared another important hurdle and continues to gain momentum.

            House Bill 3038, which is still a work in progress, was approved Wednesday in a vote of the state House Appropriations & Budget Committee.

            The measure also gained additional support, as it was announced that eight more members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives have signed on as co-authors of the bill.

            That amounts to HB 3038 having 31 total authors in the state House — nearly one-third of that legislative body. The coalition includes lawmakers from all four quadrants of the state, from rural, urban and suburban areas.

            “It’s very encouraging that so many of our colleagues in the Legislature are eager to support the effort to dramatically enhance Oklahoma’s appeal to job creators and to all citizens by allowing them to keep more of the fruits of their labor,” said Rep. Leslie Osborn, a member of the coalition supporting HB 3038.

            “What brings us together is we all want to put Oklahoma on a path to long-term economic prosperity by incentivizing widespread private-sector expansion across our state, across industries. We are confident this will lead to robust job growth for current and future generations of Oklahomans.”

            HB 3038 would repeal Oklahoma’s progressive personal income tax without necessitating increases in other tax rates or cuts in funding to core government services.

            Were Oklahoma to eliminate its personal income tax without raising or expanding any other tax rates, the state would have the lowest overall tax burden in the continental United States.

            “When you consider the many other positive reforms Oklahoma has made in recent years, like becoming a Right-to-Work state and phasing out our death tax, and then add in one of the lowest tax burdens in America, it’s fair to say we would have one of the top business climates of any state,” said Rep. Tom Newell, another author of the legislation.

            HB 3038 would phase out the state personal income tax through a process of simplifying the tax code, making modest reductions in wasteful, inefficient and non-essential state spending at the outset of the phase-out process, and utilizing growth revenue from other sources as Oklahoma’s private sector grows in response to the state’s dramatically improved tax climate.

The 31 House authors of HB 3038 are, in alphabetical order:

Rep. Don Armes, Faxon

Rep. Gus Blackwell, Goodwell

Rep. David Brumbaugh, Broken Arrow

Rep. Josh Cockroft, Tecumseh

Rep. Marian Cooksey, Edmond

Rep. Lee Denney, Cushing

Rep. David Derby, Owasso

Rep. George Faught, Muskogee

Rep. Randy Grau, Edmond

Rep. Elise Hall, Oklahoma City

Rep. Corey Holland, Marlow

Rep. Mike Jackson, Enid

Rep. Dennis Johnson, Duncan

Rep. Sally Kern, Oklahoma City

Rep. Dan Kirby, Tulsa

Rep. Guy Liebmann, Oklahoma City

Rep. Mark McCullough, Sapulpa

Rep. Randy McDaniel, Oklahoma City

Rep. Lewis Moore, Arcadia

Rep. Glen Mulready, Tulsa

Rep. Jason Murphey, Guthrie

Rep. Tom Newell, Seminole

Rep. Charles Ortega, Altus

Rep. Leslie Osborn, Mustang

Rep. Mike Reynolds, Oklahoma City

Rep. Phil Richardson, Minco

Rep. Mike Sanders, Kingfisher

Rep. Sue Tibbs, Tulsa

Rep. Steve Vaughan, Ponca City

Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, Moore

Rep. Harold Wright, Weatherford