Incoming House Speaker Announces Leadership Appointments

Incoming Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon announced the first round of appointments to powerful leadership posts today, tapping a diverse cross-section of the majority Republican Caucus.

"I have worked with these members for years as I served in the legislature, and now it is my honor to serve with them as leaders of this great body," said Speaker-elect Shannon, R-Lawton. "Each of them brings different talents, experiences and perspectives to our leadership team, and they will serve our colleagues well in their new positions."

Shannon chose Rep. Fred Jordan, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan, as Majority Leaders to help lead the House. Each will bring a unique perspective and experience to the job. Rep. Jordan, an attorney and businessman from Tulsa, and Rep. Johnson, a small business owner from Duncan, both bring separate talents that will help steer the House agenda both within the House of Representatives and with other branches of government.

Rep. Jordan expressed his eagerness to serve as Majority Leader.

"I'm honored to be serving at such a critical time in Oklahoma's history,” said Jordan. “There are many important issues before us, and it will take a lot of hard work and unity for us to come up with solutions. I look forward to being a part of that process, and I am grateful for the confidence placed in me by Speaker-elect Shannon."

"The House majority party is a diverse group of talented, experienced people who have lots of energy," said Johnson. "All of us will be working hard throughout the next session to push our specific bills through the legislative process. It gets pretty intense at times, so, one of the duties of the Majority Leader will be to help the Caucus stay focused. A unified Majority Caucus with common goals will be crucial to our success. I look forward to the task."

To serve as the next Majority Floor Leader, Shannon chose veteran legislator Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa. A former Majority Whip and senior member of the House, Peterson's legislative experience will serve the House well as the next Majority Floor Leader.

"I'm very humbled and honored to have this opportunity," said Peterson. "I am looking forward to serving with Speaker-elect Shannon in this new leadership role."

To serve as the next Majority Whip, Shannon chose Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada. Rep. Thomsen serves as a coordinator for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

"This is a very humbling opportunity for me, and I am honored that our Speaker-elect would ask me to serve in this capacity," said Thomsen. "I am very thankful to be able to serve my colleagues and my constituents in this leadership role, and I will do my best to earn their trust."

And finally, Shannon tapped Norman Republican Scott Martin to chair the powerful Appropriations and Budget Committee. Rep. Martin currently serves as the vice-chair of the Appropriations and Budget Committee.

"Chairing the Budget Committee is probably one of the toughest jobs in the House, but I'm up to the task," said Martin. "You don't make a lot of friends when you have to tell people 'no', but taking care of our tax dollars means we have to say 'no' to a lot of spending items.

“Considering all the uncertainty we are seeing with the federal budget, this could prove to be a difficult year for our budget here in Oklahoma. I'm honored to have this position, and I will work hard every day to watch over our tax dollars."

Shannon said he will be announcing other leadership positions in the coming weeks, including the list of committee chairmen and vice-chairmen.

"We haven't finalized every position yet, but I feel very confident we have a strong and talented group of leaders from throughout the Caucus," said Shannon. "Things feel really good right now. Our Caucus is energized and unified, and I am very optimistic about what we can accomplish this session."

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Cockroft Applauds Rejection of Exchange, Medicaid Expansion

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Josh Cockroft today praised Gov. Mary Fallin’s announcement that Oklahoma would reject the expansion of our state Medicaid program as provided for in the federal healthcare reform law and would not begin implementation of an insurance exchange as required under the law.

            “I applaud Governor Fallin for listening to the vast majority of her constituents in making this wise decision. In 2010, nearly 65 percent of Oklahomans voted to oppose the federal government’s takeover of our health care system and Governor Fallin’s decision today reinforces those wishes,” Cockroft said.

            The Tecumseh lawmaker said claims that the choice was between a state-run exchange or a federally run one were false.

            “The reality is that a ‘state’ exchange would not truly be run by the state. Anytime we deal with federal funding, the process is dictated by the guidelines set by the federal government. This means we really wouldn’t get any true input. I want Oklahoma to have control over our health care system, not Washington, D.C.,” Cockroft said.

            Cockroft said the state can’t afford the Medicaid expansion provided for in the Affordable Care Act.

            “We cannot afford the financial burden that expanding Medicaid would bring on the state. An additional half a billion dollars in the next eight years is an irresponsible and foolish burden to take on. It would require further cuts to vital areas of state government such as education, public safety and transportation,” Cockroft said.

            “We must continue standing behind Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s ongoing legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act and searching for local, Oklahoma-grown solutions for the problems we face.”

Governor Fallin: Oklahoma Will Not Pursue a State-Based Exchange or Medicaid Expansion

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today released the following statement announcing that Oklahoma will not pursue the creation of a state-based exchange or participate in the Medicaid expansion in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA):

“For the past few months, my staff and I have worked with other lawmakers, Oklahoma stakeholders and health care experts across the country to determine the best course of action for Oklahoma in regards to both the creation of a health insurance exchange and the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Our priority has been to ascertain what can be done to increase quality and access to health care, contain costs, and do so without placing an undue burden on taxpayers or the state. As I have stated many times before, it is my firm belief that PPACA fails to further these goals, and will in fact decrease the quality of health care across the United States while contributing to the nation’s growing deficit crisis.

“Despite my ongoing opposition to the federal health care law, the state of Oklahoma is legally obligated to either build an exchange that is PPACA compliant and approved by the Obama Administration, or to default to an exchange run by the federal government. This choice has been forced on the people of Oklahoma by the Obama Administration in spite of the fact that voters have overwhelmingly expressed their opposition to the federal health care law through their support of State Question 756, a constitutional amendment prohibiting the implementation of key components of PPACA.

“After careful consideration, I have today informed U.S. Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius that Oklahoma will not pursue the creation of its own health insurance exchange. Any exchange that is PPACA compliant will necessarily be ‘state-run’ in name only and would require Oklahoma resources, staff and tax dollars to implement. It does not benefit Oklahoma taxpayers to actively support and fund a new government program that will ultimately be under the control of the federal government, that is opposed by a clear majority of Oklahomans, and that will further the implementation of a law that threatens to erode both the quality of American health care and the fiscal stability of the nation.

“Furthermore, I have also decided that Oklahoma will not be participating in the Obama Administration’s proposed expansion of Medicaid. Such an expansion would be unaffordable, costing the state of Oklahoma up to $475 million between now and 2020, with escalating annual expenses in subsequent years. It would also further Oklahoma’s reliance on federal money that may or may not be available in the future given the dire fiscal problems facing the federal government. On a state level, massive new costs associated with Medicaid expansion would require cuts to important government priorities such as education and public safety. Furthermore, the proposed Medicaid expansion offers no meaningful reform to a massive entitlement program already contributing to the out-of-control spending of the federal government.

“Moving forward, the state of Oklahoma will pursue two actions simultaneously. The first will be to continue our support for Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s ongoing legal challenge of PPACA. General Pruitt’s lawsuit raises different Constitutional questions than previous legal challenges, and both he and I remain optimistic that Oklahoma’s challenge can succeed.

“Our second and equally important task will be to pursue state-based solutions that improve health outcomes and contain costs for Oklahoma families. Serious reform, for instance, should be pursued in the area of Medicaid and public health, where effective chronic disease prevention and management programs could address the trend of skyrocketing medical bills linked to avoidable hospital and emergency room visits. I look forward to working with legislative leaders and lawmakers in both parties to pursue Oklahoma health care solutions for Oklahoma families.”


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Thank You From Rep. Josh Cockroft

2012 Oklahoma State Questions

State Questions on the 2012 Ballot

SQ 758 Rep. Dank/Sen. Reynolds

A yes vote would reduce the allowable cap on annual property tax increases from 5% to 3% for homesteads and agricultural land.  Oklahoma’s property taxes are the 8^th fastest growing in the nation.  The property tax is the only automatic tax increase we have in Oklahoma.  This is not a cut, this is a fiscal restraint.  This measure would not affect the property tax freeze for people who are at least 65 years of age and meet household income guidelines.

SQ 759 Rep. Osborn/Sen. R. Johnson

A yes vote on this question would end any affirmative action in the state of Oklahoma that utilizes taxpayer dollars.  Current uses of taxpayer dollars that allow preference due to race or gender include some college scholarships and municipal contracting.  No special treatment or discrimination would be allowed in public employment, education, or public contracting.  Any private entities would still be able to utilize affirmative action with their private dollars. Similar legislation has been passed in the states of Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona, and California.  This is about fairness and equal treatment for all Oklahomans regardless of race, religion, color, sex, or national origin.

SQ 762 Rep. Steele/Sen. Brecheen

A yes vote on this measure would give the state pardon and parole board the power to review and decide parole requests for nonviolent offenders.  For violent offenses, the parole board would continue to make recommendations to the Governor, who would make the final decision.  Oklahoma is the only state that requires Gubernatorial approval for all paroles. This should make our pardon and parole process more efficient and according to the 2007 MGT audit save the state $40 million over the next decade.

SQ 764 Rep. Richardson/Sen. Crain

A yes vote on this measure would sustain and expand the Oklahoma Water Resources Board water and wastewater infrastructure financing program.  Projections are that over the next 50 years water infrastructure replacement across the state will grow exponentially.  The OWRB currently administers bond issues for municipalities and water districts to replace and repair that infrastructure.  In the decades that this has been the practice of the OWRB there has never been a bond not repaid.  This is due to strict criteria and monitoring of the repayment abilities.  This state question would allow more bonding to be permitted under the same guidelines as before, to address the critical water needs across our state.  This measure allows the OWRB to issue up to $300 million in general obligation bonds, that will be repaid, to cover the reserve fund for the water and sewage treatment program.

SQ 765 Rep. Steele/Sen. Treat

A yes vote on this State Question would abolish the Commission for Human Services, a constitutionally mandated, 9 member group of unelected volunteers.  It is a 1930’s governance model that can be traced to the agency’s major problems with an unaccountable commission and an insulated director.  With the passage of this measure The DHS director will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.  This would place the agency’s leadership closer to the people because the Governor is accountable to all the people of the state.  DHS would basically now be answering directly to the public,  not an unelected, unaccountable commission.

SQ 766 Rep. Dank/Sen. Mazzei

A yes vote on this State Question would exempt all intangible personal property from property taxes in our state.  An intangible personal property item is something such as a trademark, logo, intellectual property, client list etc.  If passed this would take effect on January 13, 2013.  Approval of this state question will protect Oklahoma from a competitive advantage with surrounding states that do not have this unquantifiable, discriminatory tax.  This would also repeal the very unpopular Business Activity Tax that was passed in 2010. 

Gov. Mary Fallin Announces Federal Assistance Appeal Approved for Cleveland County

Governor Mary Fallin today announced the appeal for disaster aid for Cleveland County has been approved by the federal government, making individual assistance available to residents and business owners affected by this summer’s wildfires.

Oklahoma and Payne counties again were denied federal assistance.

“I am pleased the federal government has accepted our appeal and finally decided to provide help to Cleveland County,” Fallin said. “Unfortunately, the White House has once again denied aid to Oklahoma and Payne counties. Having visited wildfire damage in all three locations and seen families left with no home and businesses burned to the ground, I continue to believe the residents of Oklahoma and Payne counties are deserving of federal aid. The state of Oklahoma will continue to look for ways to provide assistance to the victims of wildfires, regardless of which county they live in.”

The August wildfires damaged nearly 300 homes in Cleveland, Oklahoma and Payne counties. This number includes 270 homes that were destroyed. An estimated 85 percent of the homes damaged or destroyed were not insured. One person died in the fire in Cleveland County. Creek County was previously approved for assistance related to the fires.

On August 13, Governor Fallin requested individual assistance for Cleveland, Creek, Oklahoma and Payne counties. Creek County was granted federal assistance August 22, but FEMA denied assistance for victims in the other three counties.  The governor appealed the FEMA denial.

Oklahomans who suffered uninsured fire damage in Cleveland County are now eligible for assistance for housing repairs or temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.

To apply for disaster assistance, individuals and business owners in Cleveland County must call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or go online to www.disasterassistance.gov. There is a limited amount of time available to apply.

Cleveland County residents who have already called FEMA to report damage prior to the appeal are asked to please call again now to confirm their registration.

For those impacted by wildfires in Oklahoma and Payne counties, the state is continuing to work to bring assistance through the SBA. Such assistance would make low interest disaster loans available to homeowners, renters and business owners in these counties. Further information will be provided when available.

Reforms Save Millions, Millions More Possible

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma taxpayers are saving more than $60 million each year due to a series of reforms approved by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed into law during the past few years.

            The House Government Modernization Committee heard testimony today from a series of state officials regarding the ongoing savings from past reforms and the opportunity for additional savings if lawmakers continue advancing modernization proposals.

            Reforms resulting in savings include the consolidation of the state’s information technology infrastructure ($40 million annually), centralized purchasing reforms ($14 million), consolidation of central services agencies ($6 million), electronic distribution of state payments that saved the Oklahoma Tax Commission $500,000 last year and could save state agencies an additional $2 million each year, centralized fleet management reforms ($300,000) and a telework pilot program ($36,000).

            Oklahoma Chief Information Officer Alex Pettit told committee member that the savings resulting from the information technology consolidation have increased from $30 million to $40 million since this time last year.

            “We had two major goals with Information Technology consolidation.  One was to make our state government run more efficiently by replacing a fragmented and antiquated IT system build up haphazardly over the years.  The other was to save taxpayers money.  I’m happy to report we have made tremendous strides in both areas and have surpassed our initial goal for taxpayer savings,” Pettit said.

            The state also continues to realize increasing levels of savings from reforms to the purchasing system. Committee members were told the amount saved each year by state and local governments from these  reforms has increased from $8 million to $14 million each year.

            Committee members also heard testimony regarding additional potential  savings which could be realized with additional legislative action.

            Speaking on behalf of the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Nico Gomez told committee members that the implementation of a telework pilot program had resulted in $36,000 in cost savings. The expansion of the program could significantly increase cost savings to the taxpayers.

            The director of the state's shared human resources division, Lucinda Meltabarger told committee members that significant savings would be possible should the state copy the successful Utah consolidation of its human resource management infrastructure.

            “It is our responsibility as legislators to always follow-up on past modernization reforms to ensure they are delivering savings for the taxpayers,” said state Rep. Jason Murphey, who chairs the House Modernization Committee. “It is also imperative for us to continue sourcing new ideas for reform and apply them to reduce the size of state government and make it less burdensome to Oklahomans.”

            Murphey credited Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and her appointees for advancing new reform proposals and ensuring the already approved proposals were properly implemented.

            “Governor Fallin and her appointees have done a fantastic job of both suggesting new reforms and carrying out the intent of past reform proposals. Without their commitment to these concepts the savings would not have been nearly as significant,” said Murphey, R-Guthrie.

            House Speaker Kris Steele thanked Murphey for continuing to lead the House’s ongoing government modernization efforts.

            “We’re proud to report to taxpayers that efficiency is becoming the new normal in Oklahoma government,” said Steele, R-Shawnee. “These significant savings and improvements are a testament to the commitment policymakers have shown to building a leaner, more efficient, more effective government.”