OKLAHOMA CITY -- A proposal which would make major changes in the length of the state's school year sailed through the Oklahoma House of Representatives this week.
But there's a big storm on the horizon.
Under House Bill 3122, lawmakers would add "about three days" to the state school year and use hours instead of days to measure time in spent in the classroom.
Written by state Rep. Tad Jones, R-Claremore, the bill would require a minimum of 1,080 hours per academic year.
Jones, chair of the House Education Committee, said the measure would make schools stronger.
"This will give our schools more flexibility to teach how and when they see fit," he said. "If school districts want to leave their school year exactly as it is right now, this bill gives them that option. But, if they want to extend each school day so the needed academic time is placed within a 4-day week to save money on utility and bus costs, this bill gives them that flexibility."
However, in addition to adding time to the school calendar, the bill would reduce the number of professional development days available to teachers. Currently most teachers have about five professional development days.
Under HB 3122, those days would be reduced to two.
"The bill ... protects 15 hours of professional development for teachers each year," Jones said in a media release.
And while Jones claims the bill will "help our students compete not only nationally, but globally," area school administrators and teachers' union officials are questioning that reduction and the lack of funding for the longer school year.
The measure, union officials said, doesn't include any funding for those three extra days.
"The bill is an unfunded mandate," said Moore Association of Classroom Teachers President Jill Dudley. "They took three of our professional development days and turned those days into instruction days. So where will the money to pay for the extra time, the support staff, the extra cafeteria food and things like that come from?"
In addition, Dudley said teachers don't want to lose their professional development days.
"What those legislators don't understand is those five days are not all about professional development," she said. "We also have to accomplish many things before the beginning of the school year. We have organizational meetings, we meet with subject area coordinators, we review test scores and remediation efforts. We need time to do those things, too."
Democratic state Rep. Bill Nations agreed.
Nations, from Norman, voted against the bill. He said he, too, didn't like the idea of trading teachers' professional development days for days in the classroom.
"I voted against it because they (the House GOP) won't tell the truth," he said. "You're trading three days of professional development for three more days in the classroom. Oklahoma has some of the best teachers in America and I'm not one who wants to take those professional development days away from them."
Representative Jones, Nations said, "doesn't want to come out and say that's what they are doing and that somehow, we're going to get three extra days in the classroom. This was the cheapest way to get them."
The real cost, some administrators say, is much higher.
Norman school superintendent, Dr. Joe Siano, said each extra day of instruction would probably cost an additional $18 million, statewide.
Siano, part of a task force appointed by state school superintendent Sandy Garrett to study the issue, said the additional school days would be expensive.
"Our task force studied three areas," he said. "The quality of instruction time, the cost of instruction time and the quantity of instruction time."
And while the task force recommended adding a total of 15 days to the school year, Siano said the group also recommended those additional days be added in five day increments and that the state provide the extra funding -- between $80 million and $100 million -- to cover the costs of those additional five days.
"I think extending the school year is something we ought to consider," Siano said. "The more time with kids is going to be impactful and I like the part of the bill addressing the school year in hours instead of days."
However, like both Dudley and Nations, Siano said he, too, "was concerned" about exchange of professional development days for instructional days.
"I think that, in the end, if you begin dismissing the importance of professional development, you're going to minimize the impact of additional instruction," he said.
The Legislature, Siano said, should "fund everything they are already underfunding and meet schools' operational obligations."
"Then you're going to have to pay for the extra days," he said.
And this year, money is tight.
"One of the challenges that we've encountered is clearly the funding portion of the bill," state Rep. Scott Martin said. "There isn't just loads of extra money sitting around. If we're to expand the school year, as it has been proposed, then we're talking about millions of new dollars."
Martin, a Norman Republican, said he voted for the measure because he was "in favor of some of the changes that have been proposed."
"I don't think the change of the school days to hours impacts us too much," he said. "But I am concerned about changing professional days to instructional days."
Still, even with the measure's 67-33 vote, Martin said House members will get another chance to review the measure before it's sent to the governor's desk.
On Feb. 21, Jones moved to remove the measure's title and enacting clause. That action forces the bill back to the House of Representatives before it can be sent to Gov. Brad Henry.
"We're gong to get another look at it," Martin said. "Changing of the school days to hours was an easier sell at this time. We're going to see if we can fund it appropriately. If it comes down to it and all we can do is change from days to hours, then that's all right. We can wait until we can find the money."
However, even those changes might not prove enough to satisfy the area's school teachers.
"None of us are opposed to adding more instructional days," Dudley said. "But you gotta pay for it. You just can't push the burden off on the district."
And, Dudley said, should the measure not include funding, teachers' union officials will work to defeat HB 3122 in the state Senate.
"If we can't beat it in the Senate, then we'll ask the governor to veto it," she said. "The districts can't bear any more unfunded mandates.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Sparks trying to recover WorldCom funds for retirement systems
OKLAHOMA CITY — A Norman lawmaker is trying to pull the legislative equivalent of a quarterback sneak to reroute more than $11 million in settlement funds back to the state agencies who originally lost the money.
Norman state Sen. John Sparks, a Democrat, confirmed this week he would try to amend Senate Bill 1868 to earmark $11.7 million in WorldCom settlement funds back to the state retirement systems who originally lost the money.
“The money is in the wrong place,” Sparks said Thursday afternoon. “The money is available as a direct result of the WorldCom settlement. It represents some of what was lost by the agencies who invested in WorldCom.”
Under Sparks’ amendment, the funds — which are under the control of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce — would be shifted back to the various retirement systems who lost money in the WorldCom bankruptcy.
Sparks said his amendment would allocate:
• $4.3 million for the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System.
• $2.8 million for the Teachers Retirement System.
• $1.7 million for firefighters retirement.
• $1 million for police officers.
The funds should be returned, Sparks said, because the agencies are “actually the victims of a crime.”
“It’s the principle of the matter,” he said. “The money was lost from our retirement system and now some of that money has been recovered. It should go back to the retirement system.”
As part of a $650 million settlement, Oklahoma received the funds following a lawsuit by Attorney General Drew Edmondson.
More than 32 such suits were filed by various companies and public retirement funds against WorldCom over investments which were made between 1998 and 2001.
WorldCom — which had assets in excess of $100 billion — filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2002 leaving all of Oklahoma’s public pension systems and a handful of state agencies with heavy financial losses.
Edmondson originally settled the fraud charges with WorldCom with an agreement to create 1,600 jobs in Oklahoma. However, those jobs never materialized and, in 2007, an $11.7 million settlement was reached in lieu of the jobs with Verizon Communications, WorldCom’s successor company.
Since the payment of that settlement, the $11.7 million has been parked in an account controlled by the Department of Commerce.
And while many legislative leaders originally agreed those funds should go back to the state’s various retirement systems, some of those lawmakers have now changed their position, Sparks said.
“I think we have an uphill fight,” he said. “I had to do an amendment to get it out of committee. Many people want to sweep this under the rug, they want to use it for other things. The only problem is it was specifically lost from retirement funds, and some was recovered. I believe that money should be returned.”
In August 2007, then-House Appropriation Chair Chris Benge agreed.
Late last summer, Benge issued a media statement saying that “money received from a settlement agreement from the WorldCom accounting fraud should be placed in state employee retirement systems.”
Benge’s statement drew praise from the Oklahoma Public Employees Association.
Benge, the OPEA said, “has shown outstanding leadership regarding this issue. We, as an association, owe him a great deal of thanks.”
Since then things have changed.
Benge is now House Speaker and the state’s budget developed a $117 million leak. Both of those problems have sent retirement system officials scrambling to protect the settlement funds.
Tom Spencer, executive director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, said the money should be returned to OPERS because it and the state’s other retirement system, were the original victims.
“We heard the state had settled for $11.7 million. What caught our attention was the funds landed at the Commerce Department,” he said. “And commerce was thinking about how to spend it. We were sorta the victims of the crime, as you will, we thought it more appropriate that those funds come back to us.”
Spencer said state retirement systems lost more than $66 million in the WorldCom bankruptcy and his fund alone lost more than $25 million.
“We have received some funds over the past couple of years,” Spencer said. “But we are nowhere near whole.”
And though some lawmakers downplay the settlement as “a drop in the bucket” when compared to the $8 billion in assets of the Teachers Retirement System, Spencer said his agency’s share — about $4.3 million — would cover his operational costs for a year.
“$4.3 million would pay a pretty good chunk of what it costs to run our office this year,” he said.
Still, both men acknowledge getting the legislation passed won’t be easy.
“Last year it looked doable,” Sparks said. “But this year things could be more difficult.”
Sparks said his proposal — which amends Senate Bill 1868 by Kingfisher Republican Mike Johnson — faces an uphill battle.
“I understand there’s some controversy,” he said. “But it’s something we should do.”
Right now, Sparks said he’s awaiting committee action on SB 1868 and hopes to offer his amendment soon.
In the meantime, retirement officials have crossed their fingers.
With many of the state’s public systems underfunded by millions of dollars, every dollar, they say, adds stability.
“It’s something we’d like to see happen,” Spencer said. “Every few million helps.”
Norman state Sen. John Sparks, a Democrat, confirmed this week he would try to amend Senate Bill 1868 to earmark $11.7 million in WorldCom settlement funds back to the state retirement systems who originally lost the money.
“The money is in the wrong place,” Sparks said Thursday afternoon. “The money is available as a direct result of the WorldCom settlement. It represents some of what was lost by the agencies who invested in WorldCom.”
Under Sparks’ amendment, the funds — which are under the control of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce — would be shifted back to the various retirement systems who lost money in the WorldCom bankruptcy.
Sparks said his amendment would allocate:
• $4.3 million for the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System.
• $2.8 million for the Teachers Retirement System.
• $1.7 million for firefighters retirement.
• $1 million for police officers.
The funds should be returned, Sparks said, because the agencies are “actually the victims of a crime.”
“It’s the principle of the matter,” he said. “The money was lost from our retirement system and now some of that money has been recovered. It should go back to the retirement system.”
As part of a $650 million settlement, Oklahoma received the funds following a lawsuit by Attorney General Drew Edmondson.
More than 32 such suits were filed by various companies and public retirement funds against WorldCom over investments which were made between 1998 and 2001.
WorldCom — which had assets in excess of $100 billion — filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2002 leaving all of Oklahoma’s public pension systems and a handful of state agencies with heavy financial losses.
Edmondson originally settled the fraud charges with WorldCom with an agreement to create 1,600 jobs in Oklahoma. However, those jobs never materialized and, in 2007, an $11.7 million settlement was reached in lieu of the jobs with Verizon Communications, WorldCom’s successor company.
Since the payment of that settlement, the $11.7 million has been parked in an account controlled by the Department of Commerce.
And while many legislative leaders originally agreed those funds should go back to the state’s various retirement systems, some of those lawmakers have now changed their position, Sparks said.
“I think we have an uphill fight,” he said. “I had to do an amendment to get it out of committee. Many people want to sweep this under the rug, they want to use it for other things. The only problem is it was specifically lost from retirement funds, and some was recovered. I believe that money should be returned.”
In August 2007, then-House Appropriation Chair Chris Benge agreed.
Late last summer, Benge issued a media statement saying that “money received from a settlement agreement from the WorldCom accounting fraud should be placed in state employee retirement systems.”
Benge’s statement drew praise from the Oklahoma Public Employees Association.
Benge, the OPEA said, “has shown outstanding leadership regarding this issue. We, as an association, owe him a great deal of thanks.”
Since then things have changed.
Benge is now House Speaker and the state’s budget developed a $117 million leak. Both of those problems have sent retirement system officials scrambling to protect the settlement funds.
Tom Spencer, executive director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, said the money should be returned to OPERS because it and the state’s other retirement system, were the original victims.
“We heard the state had settled for $11.7 million. What caught our attention was the funds landed at the Commerce Department,” he said. “And commerce was thinking about how to spend it. We were sorta the victims of the crime, as you will, we thought it more appropriate that those funds come back to us.”
Spencer said state retirement systems lost more than $66 million in the WorldCom bankruptcy and his fund alone lost more than $25 million.
“We have received some funds over the past couple of years,” Spencer said. “But we are nowhere near whole.”
And though some lawmakers downplay the settlement as “a drop in the bucket” when compared to the $8 billion in assets of the Teachers Retirement System, Spencer said his agency’s share — about $4.3 million — would cover his operational costs for a year.
“$4.3 million would pay a pretty good chunk of what it costs to run our office this year,” he said.
Still, both men acknowledge getting the legislation passed won’t be easy.
“Last year it looked doable,” Sparks said. “But this year things could be more difficult.”
Sparks said his proposal — which amends Senate Bill 1868 by Kingfisher Republican Mike Johnson — faces an uphill battle.
“I understand there’s some controversy,” he said. “But it’s something we should do.”
Right now, Sparks said he’s awaiting committee action on SB 1868 and hopes to offer his amendment soon.
In the meantime, retirement officials have crossed their fingers.
With many of the state’s public systems underfunded by millions of dollars, every dollar, they say, adds stability.
“It’s something we’d like to see happen,” Spencer said. “Every few million helps.”
Wesselhoft authors academic "sunshine" bill
OKLAHOMA CITY — While many state legislators are struggling with issues such as reduced state revenue and problems with the Department of Corrections, state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft has a different worry.
Wesselhoft is concerned about free speech at the state’s colleges and universities.
Wesselhoft, a Moore Republican, is asking Oklahoma college students to “contact him if they feel their free-speech rights are being taken away” in the classroom. He made the announcement in an e-mailed news release sent to the state’s three largest universities — the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma.
“This is an important issue that guarantees freedom of speech but also impacts a student’s freedom to express personal choices — whether religious views or political ideas or general moral beliefs,” Wesselhoft said.
Wesselhoft said he became concerned after attending legislative conferences in Phoenix, Ariz., and Philadelphia, Pa.
“I attended these national conferences and it came to my attention at both of these places that some universities are having problems,” he said.
Wesselhoft claimed that at some of the country’s universities, professors are “not getting tenure because they might be on the wrong side of issues such as global warming.”
The professors, he said, are having promotions and tenure withheld because of their beliefs. And students in class, he said, are being graded harshly because they might disagree with a professor’s view.
“Even though they have credentials and they publish in academic journals, they are not being treated fairly. And I’ve heard of many students who feel like they have been unfairly treated.”
Because of that, the Moore Republican has authored House Bill 2600 — the Higher Education Sunshine Act — which would require public higher education institutions to file an annual report with the Legislature detailing how they encouraged intellectual diversity and “the free exchange of ideas.”
Wesselhoft could not cite any examples of the problem in Oklahoma.
“I don’t known of anything like that right now,” he said. “I am hearing from professors at OU, OSU and UCO. And most of them are saying, ‘Mind your own business, leave us alone in the classroom.’”
But Wesselhoft said he believes the issue is a “legitimate concern.”
“It may very well be there is not a pattern here,” he said. “Right now, I’m only collecting anecdotal information. All I’m asking for is for the presidents of our state’s colleges and universities to detail how they handle diversity issues.”
Wesselhoft’s claims, however, don’t sit well with the national organization that represents university professors.
In a posting on the American Association of University Professors Web site, the AAUP “sharply criticized” efforts to create an academic bill of rights or which push for intellectual diversity.
Those efforts, the AAUP said, are “unnecessary and almost certain to compromise academic freedom rather than defend it. At their core, these measures would place decisions about faculty appointments and the content of academic programs in the hands of political officials, thereby jeopardizing not only the independence of faculty members and their institutions but also their capacity to advance knowledge and educate our students.”
At OU students and faculty members also criticized the idea.
In a story published recently in the OU Daily — the university’s student newspaper — OU chemistry professor Phillip Klebba, said intellectual diversity already exists at OU.
“Diversity is already a, if not the, defining characteristic of institutions of higher education,” he said. “Are state legislators better qualified to evaluate intellectual diversity than the individuals in this chain of authority? Most of whom have spent their entire careers seeking to optimize the learning environment of colleges and universities.”
Klebba told the OU Daily that “requiring OU to report to the Legislature duplicates existing policy; OU already conducts comprehensive annual reviews of all academic activities.”
Student congress chair Jordan McGee agreed.
“I haven’t ever had the experience of being censored in the classroom,” McGee said. “The discussions in my classes have always been for the pursuit of academic knowledge.”
McGee, an Edmond senior, said he didn’t see how Wesselhoft’s bill would help.
“I don’t see how a bill could ever change that,” he said. “That type of information is not objectively verifiable.”
Still, Wesselhoft said the issue is worth exploring.
“I think it’s a legitimate question that needs to be asked,” he said. “I don’t have a deadline. And I hope to hear from students and professors. I’m not on a witch hunt, but I suspect that (some) colleges and universities are indoctrinating students.”
Wesselhoft is concerned about free speech at the state’s colleges and universities.
Wesselhoft, a Moore Republican, is asking Oklahoma college students to “contact him if they feel their free-speech rights are being taken away” in the classroom. He made the announcement in an e-mailed news release sent to the state’s three largest universities — the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma.
“This is an important issue that guarantees freedom of speech but also impacts a student’s freedom to express personal choices — whether religious views or political ideas or general moral beliefs,” Wesselhoft said.
Wesselhoft said he became concerned after attending legislative conferences in Phoenix, Ariz., and Philadelphia, Pa.
“I attended these national conferences and it came to my attention at both of these places that some universities are having problems,” he said.
Wesselhoft claimed that at some of the country’s universities, professors are “not getting tenure because they might be on the wrong side of issues such as global warming.”
The professors, he said, are having promotions and tenure withheld because of their beliefs. And students in class, he said, are being graded harshly because they might disagree with a professor’s view.
“Even though they have credentials and they publish in academic journals, they are not being treated fairly. And I’ve heard of many students who feel like they have been unfairly treated.”
Because of that, the Moore Republican has authored House Bill 2600 — the Higher Education Sunshine Act — which would require public higher education institutions to file an annual report with the Legislature detailing how they encouraged intellectual diversity and “the free exchange of ideas.”
Wesselhoft could not cite any examples of the problem in Oklahoma.
“I don’t known of anything like that right now,” he said. “I am hearing from professors at OU, OSU and UCO. And most of them are saying, ‘Mind your own business, leave us alone in the classroom.’”
But Wesselhoft said he believes the issue is a “legitimate concern.”
“It may very well be there is not a pattern here,” he said. “Right now, I’m only collecting anecdotal information. All I’m asking for is for the presidents of our state’s colleges and universities to detail how they handle diversity issues.”
Wesselhoft’s claims, however, don’t sit well with the national organization that represents university professors.
In a posting on the American Association of University Professors Web site, the AAUP “sharply criticized” efforts to create an academic bill of rights or which push for intellectual diversity.
Those efforts, the AAUP said, are “unnecessary and almost certain to compromise academic freedom rather than defend it. At their core, these measures would place decisions about faculty appointments and the content of academic programs in the hands of political officials, thereby jeopardizing not only the independence of faculty members and their institutions but also their capacity to advance knowledge and educate our students.”
At OU students and faculty members also criticized the idea.
In a story published recently in the OU Daily — the university’s student newspaper — OU chemistry professor Phillip Klebba, said intellectual diversity already exists at OU.
“Diversity is already a, if not the, defining characteristic of institutions of higher education,” he said. “Are state legislators better qualified to evaluate intellectual diversity than the individuals in this chain of authority? Most of whom have spent their entire careers seeking to optimize the learning environment of colleges and universities.”
Klebba told the OU Daily that “requiring OU to report to the Legislature duplicates existing policy; OU already conducts comprehensive annual reviews of all academic activities.”
Student congress chair Jordan McGee agreed.
“I haven’t ever had the experience of being censored in the classroom,” McGee said. “The discussions in my classes have always been for the pursuit of academic knowledge.”
McGee, an Edmond senior, said he didn’t see how Wesselhoft’s bill would help.
“I don’t see how a bill could ever change that,” he said. “That type of information is not objectively verifiable.”
Still, Wesselhoft said the issue is worth exploring.
“I think it’s a legitimate question that needs to be asked,” he said. “I don’t have a deadline. And I hope to hear from students and professors. I’m not on a witch hunt, but I suspect that (some) colleges and universities are indoctrinating students.”
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Facing the "real" issues of the 2008 legislative session
OKLAHOMA CITY -- After all the players have left the stage, and the dust settles from this week's Shakesperian-type drama about who will become the next speaker of the House, the 149 members of the Oklahoma Legislature still have a great deal of work to do.
And they won't have much time to do it.
Issues such as slow economic growth, increased funding for the Departments of Corrections and Transportation, a pay increase for state employees and schoolteachers and the possibility of yet another tax decrease all haunt the Capitol like vengeful spirits.
Spirits which been around for a while.
Take for example, ethics legislation.
Oklahoma City Republican David Dank said his ethics proposal, introduced last year, would "remove the clouds" caused by political fundraising in Oklahoma.
"The Oklahoma Clean Campaign Act (will) assure that the process of raising money for political campaigns is open, honest and divorced from the legislative process," he said.
Last year, the bill didn't get very far.
But, this year, things could change.
"It wouldn't surprise me if we did something on ethics in the first week," said state Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman. "It's come up pretty big right now and it may be a pretty good segue into some type of legislation."
Lawmakers, Collins said, now have "a great opportunity" to pass stronger ethics legislation.
"If we don't do it right now, at this time, when will we?" Collins said.
Collins' prediction was echoed this week by the House's Democratic leader.
State Rep. Danny Morgan, D-Suphur, said House Democrats would make ethics legislation a priority this session.
"First and foremost, at the top of the list is ethics," Morgan said. "We need an ethically and fiscally sound government. We owe that to the voters of Oklahoma."
Ethics, Morgan said, "is the one thing that our members have heard about back home."
"We had a speaker under an ethics investigation," he said. "We have to make sure we have the trust of the public. Strong ethics legislation is a way to clean up the process and show the people of Oklahoma we are truly here for the right reasons."
But ethics won't be lawmakers' only challenge -- as usual, the state's budget will be the main topic of debate.
While financial experts say state revenue will grow by about $198 million right now, most of that money -- all but $32 million -- is already spoken for, officials with the state treasurer's office said.
"A good portion of that money is going to fund previous legislative commitments," said Tim Allen, Scott Meacham's deputy state treasurer. "But there could be additional money available sometime during session."
Those funds, Allen said, could be as high as $100 million.
And those funds could go quickly. Already, some lawmakers want to use a portion of that money to pay for another tax reduction.
The Senate's Republican leader -- Sen. Glenn Coffee -- told The Associated Press his long-term goal is to cut the income tax, now at 5.5 percent, to 3.5 percent or less.
"Tax rates higher than this serve as an impediment to job growth," he said.
Coffee favors legislation to make sure a previously approved income tax cut to 5.25 percent takes effect as scheduled. He has said tax cuts should be paid for through elimination of yet-to-be-determined tax credits and sales tax exemptions.
Tax cuts also are on the minds of some Democrats.
Sen. J. Paul Gumm, D-Durant, is pushing again to end the sales tax on groceries.
"With a sluggish economy, there is no better time to move this proposal forward to put real money back into the pockets of working and middle class families as soon as possible," Gumm said. "Not only will we directly help them, we give the Oklahoma economy an extra boost."
Lawmakers also want to raise the pay of state employees and bring teachers' pay in line with the regional average.
In a media release sent out this week, state Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, announced he'd filed legislation to authorize a $2,700 pay raise for Oklahoma state employees. Corn said state employees provide valuable and indispensable work, and should be at the top of the list when state funds are dispersed.
"From those who care for our elderly and children to those who ensure the safety of our highways and police our prisons, state employees provide essential services around the clock for Oklahomans," he said. "Every segment of our society is touched by these dedicated workers, and it's time for us to take care of them."
Corn said the need for a state employee pay increase has been made even more essential as the Legislature has been under-funding various state agencies in recent years.
"Many state employees have had to perform the work of two or three people when a vacancy is left unfilled," he said.
And with more than 2,000 pieces of legislation filed and ready to be reviewed in a 90-day period, state legislators face three months of intense work.
The second session of the 51st Oklahoma Legislature begins Monday.
And they won't have much time to do it.
Issues such as slow economic growth, increased funding for the Departments of Corrections and Transportation, a pay increase for state employees and schoolteachers and the possibility of yet another tax decrease all haunt the Capitol like vengeful spirits.
Spirits which been around for a while.
Take for example, ethics legislation.
Oklahoma City Republican David Dank said his ethics proposal, introduced last year, would "remove the clouds" caused by political fundraising in Oklahoma.
"The Oklahoma Clean Campaign Act (will) assure that the process of raising money for political campaigns is open, honest and divorced from the legislative process," he said.
Last year, the bill didn't get very far.
But, this year, things could change.
"It wouldn't surprise me if we did something on ethics in the first week," said state Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman. "It's come up pretty big right now and it may be a pretty good segue into some type of legislation."
Lawmakers, Collins said, now have "a great opportunity" to pass stronger ethics legislation.
"If we don't do it right now, at this time, when will we?" Collins said.
Collins' prediction was echoed this week by the House's Democratic leader.
State Rep. Danny Morgan, D-Suphur, said House Democrats would make ethics legislation a priority this session.
"First and foremost, at the top of the list is ethics," Morgan said. "We need an ethically and fiscally sound government. We owe that to the voters of Oklahoma."
Ethics, Morgan said, "is the one thing that our members have heard about back home."
"We had a speaker under an ethics investigation," he said. "We have to make sure we have the trust of the public. Strong ethics legislation is a way to clean up the process and show the people of Oklahoma we are truly here for the right reasons."
But ethics won't be lawmakers' only challenge -- as usual, the state's budget will be the main topic of debate.
While financial experts say state revenue will grow by about $198 million right now, most of that money -- all but $32 million -- is already spoken for, officials with the state treasurer's office said.
"A good portion of that money is going to fund previous legislative commitments," said Tim Allen, Scott Meacham's deputy state treasurer. "But there could be additional money available sometime during session."
Those funds, Allen said, could be as high as $100 million.
And those funds could go quickly. Already, some lawmakers want to use a portion of that money to pay for another tax reduction.
The Senate's Republican leader -- Sen. Glenn Coffee -- told The Associated Press his long-term goal is to cut the income tax, now at 5.5 percent, to 3.5 percent or less.
"Tax rates higher than this serve as an impediment to job growth," he said.
Coffee favors legislation to make sure a previously approved income tax cut to 5.25 percent takes effect as scheduled. He has said tax cuts should be paid for through elimination of yet-to-be-determined tax credits and sales tax exemptions.
Tax cuts also are on the minds of some Democrats.
Sen. J. Paul Gumm, D-Durant, is pushing again to end the sales tax on groceries.
"With a sluggish economy, there is no better time to move this proposal forward to put real money back into the pockets of working and middle class families as soon as possible," Gumm said. "Not only will we directly help them, we give the Oklahoma economy an extra boost."
Lawmakers also want to raise the pay of state employees and bring teachers' pay in line with the regional average.
In a media release sent out this week, state Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, announced he'd filed legislation to authorize a $2,700 pay raise for Oklahoma state employees. Corn said state employees provide valuable and indispensable work, and should be at the top of the list when state funds are dispersed.
"From those who care for our elderly and children to those who ensure the safety of our highways and police our prisons, state employees provide essential services around the clock for Oklahomans," he said. "Every segment of our society is touched by these dedicated workers, and it's time for us to take care of them."
Corn said the need for a state employee pay increase has been made even more essential as the Legislature has been under-funding various state agencies in recent years.
"Many state employees have had to perform the work of two or three people when a vacancy is left unfilled," he said.
And with more than 2,000 pieces of legislation filed and ready to be reviewed in a 90-day period, state legislators face three months of intense work.
The second session of the 51st Oklahoma Legislature begins Monday.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Speaker selection creates pre-session drama
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Earlier this week, had you asked your typical House Republican who they thought would be the next Speaker, you would have probably been told, "Gus Blackwell."
If you had asked that same question two weeks ago, your answer would have been "Lance Cargill."
Ask it today and you won't get an answer.
With just three days to go before the beginning of the 2008 legislative session, most pundits, experts and even the legislators, themselves, aren't talking about tax policy or education funding.
Instead, the focus is on who will lead the House.
And right now the race is wide open.
With Thursday's announcement that Speaker Pro Tempore Gus Blackwell was dropping out of the race because he, too, had failed to pay his property taxes on time, all bets are off on who serve as the next leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Considered the third most powerful position in state governorment -- following the governor and Senate president pro tempore -- the job of speaker is much like runing a multi-million dollar company with several hundred workers, many of whom are absolutely sure they could run things better.
"Being speaker is a tough job," said Don Hoover an Oklahoma City political consultant. "All eyes are focused on the speaker. They are the face of their party."
Just a few weeks ago, that face was of a 35-year-old attorney from Harrah.
Earlier this week, the face changed to that of a 53-year-old former campus minister.
By Thursday evening, the face had changed again.
The surprises continued.
"I was shocked and surprised," Blackwell told The Associated Press Thursday, after he announced his withdrawl. "I have never been told that my taxes were late in any way, shape or form. I'm not blaming anyone but myself."
Up until Thursday afternoon, Blackwell had been the assumed front runner. In fact, the House's GOP floor leader, Greg Piatt of Ardmore, told the AP that Blackwell had secured enough votes to be designated the next House speaker by Republican House members.
That afternoon, things changed.
Word got out that Blackwell had paid property taxes in Texas County late for the past 13 years and shortly thereafter, Blackwell withdrew his name from consideration.
Blackwell said he made the move to prevent becoming a distraction that might interfere with passage of Republican-backed legislation.
"In the present political atmosphere of search and destroy, I wish for the new speaker to go in without any excess baggage so we can have a productive session," he said.
But Blackwell's problems are far from other.
Thursday evening, at least one Republican House member questioned whether Blackwell should keep his position as speaker pro tempore.
Moore Republican Rep. Paul Wesselhoft told an Oklahoma City television station Thursday night the next question GOP legislators face is, "Should Gus Blackwell remain our speaker pro tem?"
Wesselhoft answered the question saying, "I think not."
With Blackwell gone, the race for speaker took a turn toward the dramatic.
Representatives Susan Winchester, Chris Benge, Dale DeWitt and John Wright have all announced they are running for speaker.
On the Democratic side, minority leader Danny Morgan said that he, too, would be a candidate for the top post.
Of course, Morgan's election is unlikely, given that the Republicans hold 57 of the Houses 101 seats.
Still, even with the entry and exit of House leaders becoming an almost daily occurrence, one fact remains certain: By next Tuesday, someone will be serving as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
But right now, no one knows just who that will be.
If you had asked that same question two weeks ago, your answer would have been "Lance Cargill."
Ask it today and you won't get an answer.
With just three days to go before the beginning of the 2008 legislative session, most pundits, experts and even the legislators, themselves, aren't talking about tax policy or education funding.
Instead, the focus is on who will lead the House.
And right now the race is wide open.
With Thursday's announcement that Speaker Pro Tempore Gus Blackwell was dropping out of the race because he, too, had failed to pay his property taxes on time, all bets are off on who serve as the next leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Considered the third most powerful position in state governorment -- following the governor and Senate president pro tempore -- the job of speaker is much like runing a multi-million dollar company with several hundred workers, many of whom are absolutely sure they could run things better.
"Being speaker is a tough job," said Don Hoover an Oklahoma City political consultant. "All eyes are focused on the speaker. They are the face of their party."
Just a few weeks ago, that face was of a 35-year-old attorney from Harrah.
Earlier this week, the face changed to that of a 53-year-old former campus minister.
By Thursday evening, the face had changed again.
The surprises continued.
"I was shocked and surprised," Blackwell told The Associated Press Thursday, after he announced his withdrawl. "I have never been told that my taxes were late in any way, shape or form. I'm not blaming anyone but myself."
Up until Thursday afternoon, Blackwell had been the assumed front runner. In fact, the House's GOP floor leader, Greg Piatt of Ardmore, told the AP that Blackwell had secured enough votes to be designated the next House speaker by Republican House members.
That afternoon, things changed.
Word got out that Blackwell had paid property taxes in Texas County late for the past 13 years and shortly thereafter, Blackwell withdrew his name from consideration.
Blackwell said he made the move to prevent becoming a distraction that might interfere with passage of Republican-backed legislation.
"In the present political atmosphere of search and destroy, I wish for the new speaker to go in without any excess baggage so we can have a productive session," he said.
But Blackwell's problems are far from other.
Thursday evening, at least one Republican House member questioned whether Blackwell should keep his position as speaker pro tempore.
Moore Republican Rep. Paul Wesselhoft told an Oklahoma City television station Thursday night the next question GOP legislators face is, "Should Gus Blackwell remain our speaker pro tem?"
Wesselhoft answered the question saying, "I think not."
With Blackwell gone, the race for speaker took a turn toward the dramatic.
Representatives Susan Winchester, Chris Benge, Dale DeWitt and John Wright have all announced they are running for speaker.
On the Democratic side, minority leader Danny Morgan said that he, too, would be a candidate for the top post.
Of course, Morgan's election is unlikely, given that the Republicans hold 57 of the Houses 101 seats.
Still, even with the entry and exit of House leaders becoming an almost daily occurrence, one fact remains certain: By next Tuesday, someone will be serving as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
But right now, no one knows just who that will be.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
CARGILL RESIGNS AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OKLAHOMA CITY — Less than a week after he spoke in Norman touting his achievements as House speaker, state Rep. Lance Cargill resigned his post as House leader under pressure from his own caucus.
Cargill, 35, made the announcement Monday afternoon, during a conference call with members of the House’s Republican caucus. Cargill did not appear personally before caucus members; and later, made a public statement from the House lounge.
In an e-mailed statement to The Norman Transcript, Cargill said he wanted his ideas to be moved forward “without the burden” of personal stories.
“I have decided to step aside today as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives,” Cargill said. “I want nothing more than to have good ideas to move forward without the burden of being weighed down by personal stories about me. I have always said my leadership has been about good ideas, and this move will allow those ideas to flourish as they should.”
Cargill — the nation’s youngest House speaker — has been under fire after published reports indicated he submitted late property tax payments on his Harrah law office six years in a row.
Cargill also reportedly failed to file state personal income tax returns in 2005 and 2006.
Additionally, questions have been raised about fundraising activities in 2004 by a House GOP political action committee headed by Cargill. The Ethics Commission has opened an investigation into the issue.
And last year, Cargill was criticized after he summoned lobbyists to one-on-one meetings at a political consultant’s office to seek contributions to Republican political action committees and for the speaker’s “100 Ideas Initiative.”
“For several weeks, our policies heading into the session have been buried in the newspapers,” he said. “While personal stories have remained on the front pages. I take full responsibility for that, and hope that a new speaker can shift the focus back to the future of this great state.”
Cargill said he made the decision over the weekend, after polling members of the House GOP caucus.
“This decision came after I spoke with most of my colleagues over the weekend. I am humbled and honored by the outpouring of support the caucus has shown me and their continued endorsement in my leadership. But one of the responsibilities of a leader is putting the needs of the whole before the needs of my own,” he said.
While Cargill did not resign from his elected House seat, his resignation as speaker — just one week before the legislative session — put Republicans on the defensive, and sent the House’s leadership team scurrying to find a new leader before the legislative session begins.
Published reports indicate that Rep. Gus Blackwell, a Goodwell Republican, will take over the role of speaker temporarily.
“Rep. (Gus) Blackwell will be acting speaker for right now,” state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft said. “But we will have a new speaker by the time session starts. I know that Rep. Susan Winchester and Rep. John Wright are going to run and maybe someone else who’s not expected.”
Both Wright and Winchester sought the position four years ago. Neither House member could be reach for comment.
State Rep. Scott Martin, R-Norman, said he is hopeful the Republicans can now move forward to the state’s pressing issues.
“Lance did the right thing and I’m hopeful we can move beyond this and redirect our focus to the issues facing our state,” Martin said.
Martin said the resignation caught him by surprise even though he had heard “lots of talk” about the speaker’s tax problems. “No one person is bigger than the process,” he said.
Wesselhoft, R-Moore, said he was saddened by Cargill’s resignation, but added the act was necessary.
“It’s sad but necessary and I graciously accept his resignation,” Wesselhoft said. “My prayers are with Lance and his wife, Amber. But I think things will be smoother now. This was an obstacle that had to be resolved. Now the pavement should be smoother.”
Cargill’s tax problems, he said, had been an issue for caucus members “for some time.”
“Here’s the bottom line,” Wesselhoft said. “Most people don’t relate to everything we do up here. But everyone, and I mean everyone, can relate to paying taxes. That’s why it (Cargill’s resignation) had to be done.”
State Republican leaders agreed.
Republican State Chairman Gary Jones told an Oklahoma City radio station that Cargill’s resignation was “the right thing to do.”
He did the honorable thing in stepping aside, Jones said.
Cargill said House Republicans will spend the next few days working on a transition for a new speaker.
“I know there are a lot of questions about how this move will impact the upcoming session,” he said. “Our caucus is working out the details and we will have more answers in the coming days.”
Cargill, 35, made the announcement Monday afternoon, during a conference call with members of the House’s Republican caucus. Cargill did not appear personally before caucus members; and later, made a public statement from the House lounge.
In an e-mailed statement to The Norman Transcript, Cargill said he wanted his ideas to be moved forward “without the burden” of personal stories.
“I have decided to step aside today as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives,” Cargill said. “I want nothing more than to have good ideas to move forward without the burden of being weighed down by personal stories about me. I have always said my leadership has been about good ideas, and this move will allow those ideas to flourish as they should.”
Cargill — the nation’s youngest House speaker — has been under fire after published reports indicated he submitted late property tax payments on his Harrah law office six years in a row.
Cargill also reportedly failed to file state personal income tax returns in 2005 and 2006.
Additionally, questions have been raised about fundraising activities in 2004 by a House GOP political action committee headed by Cargill. The Ethics Commission has opened an investigation into the issue.
And last year, Cargill was criticized after he summoned lobbyists to one-on-one meetings at a political consultant’s office to seek contributions to Republican political action committees and for the speaker’s “100 Ideas Initiative.”
“For several weeks, our policies heading into the session have been buried in the newspapers,” he said. “While personal stories have remained on the front pages. I take full responsibility for that, and hope that a new speaker can shift the focus back to the future of this great state.”
Cargill said he made the decision over the weekend, after polling members of the House GOP caucus.
“This decision came after I spoke with most of my colleagues over the weekend. I am humbled and honored by the outpouring of support the caucus has shown me and their continued endorsement in my leadership. But one of the responsibilities of a leader is putting the needs of the whole before the needs of my own,” he said.
While Cargill did not resign from his elected House seat, his resignation as speaker — just one week before the legislative session — put Republicans on the defensive, and sent the House’s leadership team scurrying to find a new leader before the legislative session begins.
Published reports indicate that Rep. Gus Blackwell, a Goodwell Republican, will take over the role of speaker temporarily.
“Rep. (Gus) Blackwell will be acting speaker for right now,” state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft said. “But we will have a new speaker by the time session starts. I know that Rep. Susan Winchester and Rep. John Wright are going to run and maybe someone else who’s not expected.”
Both Wright and Winchester sought the position four years ago. Neither House member could be reach for comment.
State Rep. Scott Martin, R-Norman, said he is hopeful the Republicans can now move forward to the state’s pressing issues.
“Lance did the right thing and I’m hopeful we can move beyond this and redirect our focus to the issues facing our state,” Martin said.
Martin said the resignation caught him by surprise even though he had heard “lots of talk” about the speaker’s tax problems. “No one person is bigger than the process,” he said.
Wesselhoft, R-Moore, said he was saddened by Cargill’s resignation, but added the act was necessary.
“It’s sad but necessary and I graciously accept his resignation,” Wesselhoft said. “My prayers are with Lance and his wife, Amber. But I think things will be smoother now. This was an obstacle that had to be resolved. Now the pavement should be smoother.”
Cargill’s tax problems, he said, had been an issue for caucus members “for some time.”
“Here’s the bottom line,” Wesselhoft said. “Most people don’t relate to everything we do up here. But everyone, and I mean everyone, can relate to paying taxes. That’s why it (Cargill’s resignation) had to be done.”
State Republican leaders agreed.
Republican State Chairman Gary Jones told an Oklahoma City radio station that Cargill’s resignation was “the right thing to do.”
He did the honorable thing in stepping aside, Jones said.
Cargill said House Republicans will spend the next few days working on a transition for a new speaker.
“I know there are a lot of questions about how this move will impact the upcoming session,” he said. “Our caucus is working out the details and we will have more answers in the coming days.”
Nations: Cargill's resignation expected
OKLAHOMA CITY — While some of the state’s political leaders were caught off guard by House Speaker Lance Cargill’s resignation Monday, some members of Cleveland County’s legislative delegation said they weren’t too surprised.
Monday, Cargill resigned as speaker, following published stories that indicated he had failed to pay his property tax on time, did not file state personal income tax returns and is under an Ethics Commission investigation because of his fundraising activities.
State Rep. Bill Nations, D-Norman, said Cargill’s tax problems had been the “topic of discussion” among House members for several months. “Personally, I’m not surprised,” he said. “I know there’s been a lot of discussion (over this) for a while.”
And while Nation said he “hated to see anything bad” happen to Cargill, he said Cargill’s resignation “might be the best thing for the GOP caucus this legislative session.”
“Him continuing as speaker would have made it very difficult for the GOP to operate in the House,” he said. “There would have been a cloud over him. With the welfare of the citizens of the State of Oklahoma in mind, (the) resignation is probably the best thing.”
Moore Republican Paul Wesselhoft agreed.
“Rep. Cargill is not a victim of the media,” Wesselhoft said. “He brought some of these problems on himself and now he’s having to face the full responsibility of that. I’m sure it was a tough decision for him to make.”
Cargill’s resignation, Wesselhoft said, makes for a “brighter future” for the GOP. “We can move forward now that we have this resolved.”
But other political experts say Cargill’s resignation — coming just a week before the beginning of the next legislative session — could hamper some of the GOP’s legislative agenda.
Don Hoover, an Oklahoma City Democratic campaign consultant said Cargill had no choice but to resign because House Republicans had spent “a great deal of time” talking about tax issues and tax cuts.
“The Speaker of the House is the face of the Oklahoma Republican Party right now,” Hoover said. “They’ve talked a lot about tax cuts and tax polity. So I’m not surprised there’s pressure to make a change.”
And that change, Hoover said, is going to throw Republicans “off their game.”
“The timing is unfortunate for Republicans,” he said. “Mainly because it’s the beginning of the legislative session. Now there’s lots of dust in the air and it will take some time for it to settle.”
Still, Hoover said the House Republicans should survive with their majority intact.
“I would say it will have minimal impact on maintaining control of the House,” he said. “The Republicans have a solid majority. They are not in control because of Lance Cargill, they are in control because for years Oklahoma has been trending in the GOP’s direction.”
Cargill is the second House leader to be forced out of his position in recent history. Eighteen years ago, on May 17, 1989, then-Speaker Jim Barker, a Democrat from Muskogee, was forced out the speaker’s office following a 72-25 vote.
Monday, Cargill resigned as speaker, following published stories that indicated he had failed to pay his property tax on time, did not file state personal income tax returns and is under an Ethics Commission investigation because of his fundraising activities.
State Rep. Bill Nations, D-Norman, said Cargill’s tax problems had been the “topic of discussion” among House members for several months. “Personally, I’m not surprised,” he said. “I know there’s been a lot of discussion (over this) for a while.”
And while Nation said he “hated to see anything bad” happen to Cargill, he said Cargill’s resignation “might be the best thing for the GOP caucus this legislative session.”
“Him continuing as speaker would have made it very difficult for the GOP to operate in the House,” he said. “There would have been a cloud over him. With the welfare of the citizens of the State of Oklahoma in mind, (the) resignation is probably the best thing.”
Moore Republican Paul Wesselhoft agreed.
“Rep. Cargill is not a victim of the media,” Wesselhoft said. “He brought some of these problems on himself and now he’s having to face the full responsibility of that. I’m sure it was a tough decision for him to make.”
Cargill’s resignation, Wesselhoft said, makes for a “brighter future” for the GOP. “We can move forward now that we have this resolved.”
But other political experts say Cargill’s resignation — coming just a week before the beginning of the next legislative session — could hamper some of the GOP’s legislative agenda.
Don Hoover, an Oklahoma City Democratic campaign consultant said Cargill had no choice but to resign because House Republicans had spent “a great deal of time” talking about tax issues and tax cuts.
“The Speaker of the House is the face of the Oklahoma Republican Party right now,” Hoover said. “They’ve talked a lot about tax cuts and tax polity. So I’m not surprised there’s pressure to make a change.”
And that change, Hoover said, is going to throw Republicans “off their game.”
“The timing is unfortunate for Republicans,” he said. “Mainly because it’s the beginning of the legislative session. Now there’s lots of dust in the air and it will take some time for it to settle.”
Still, Hoover said the House Republicans should survive with their majority intact.
“I would say it will have minimal impact on maintaining control of the House,” he said. “The Republicans have a solid majority. They are not in control because of Lance Cargill, they are in control because for years Oklahoma has been trending in the GOP’s direction.”
Cargill is the second House leader to be forced out of his position in recent history. Eighteen years ago, on May 17, 1989, then-Speaker Jim Barker, a Democrat from Muskogee, was forced out the speaker’s office following a 72-25 vote.
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