Calvey Capitol Update
Your source of info on Oklahoma State Government
By State Representative Kevin Calvey ( R-Del City )

Compiled from media reports and press releases

Week of January 27-February 6, 2006

 

Let the games begin! The legislative session begins this coming Monday.
Sometimes it feels like a festival at the beginning of session, with so
many issue-driven groups and trade groups holding events at the State
Capitol. It certainly is colorful.

Last week I noted that 98 bills, or 9% of the total, had been assigned
to the Revenue & Tax Committee, which I chair. Since then we had
several more bills assigned to the Committee. So we now have an even
greater % of the total bills. I will hear at least 24 bills next week
alone.

 

President Bush did a fine job for the most part in his State of the
Union address the other night. I am a firm believer in what he and our
military are doing in the War on Terror. I believe in it so much I
joined the Army.

It is very disappointing to me to hear partisan shots made at the
President and our military, without offering any alternative plan to
stop terrorism. It used to be that partisanship stopped at our nation’s
borders, and everyone got behind the President on foreign policy.
Unfortunately, that is no longer true for many Democrat partisans in
Congress, who even declined to applaud when the President said we were
taking the War on Terror to the terrorists’ homeland.

Thankfully, there are still a few Democrats, like Oklahoma Congressman
Dan Boren, who refuse to let partisanship undermine our nation’s conduct
of the war and of foreign policy. Dan is a good guy- I served with him
for two years in the state House. We did not always agree, but we get
along well nonetheless, like I try to do with the large majority of my
Democrat colleagues.

 

Constitutional Amendment Would Prevent Court-Ordered Tax Increases

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 2)- A proposed constitutional amendment would
ensure that special interest groups cannot use the courts to strip the
voters of their voice in the legislative process.
House Joint Resolution 1061, by State Rep. Kevin Calvey, would
create the "Separation of Powers Act."

The proposed state constitutional amendment, which would have to
be approved by the voters, would prevent any Oklahoma court from
ordering a tax-or-spending increase based on claims that a state agency
is underfunding a discretionary government program.

"The founders of our state did not envision that a court would
be asked to set public policy on government funding," said Calvey, a Del
City Republican who chairs the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.
"Legislators hear from hundreds of constituents on these matters; the
courts hear from only a few people in the courtroom. That's why it is so
important that these issues be left with the Legislature or the people
through the initiative process."

Although Oklahoma's public schools already receive more than $2
billion out of the state's $6 billion budget, the Oklahoma Education
Association has sued the state demanding the remaining $4 billion.

"The recent teachers' union lawsuit is an outrageous example of
a pressure group trying to usurp the constitutional authority of the
people's representatives," Calvey said. "It's a bad idea to have
unaccountable judges making these decisions as opposed to the elected
representatives of the people."

When a similar school-funding lawsuit was filed in Kansas, the
courts eventually ordered the Legislature to increase funding by nearly
$300 million in a single year with more increases mandated in the
future.

Eventually, Kansas lawmakers may have to come up with more than
$800 million in new funding, threatening vital government services such
as roads, law enforcement and health care in that state.

Another school funding lawsuit in Nevada ended with the courts
tossing out voter-approved restrictions on tax increases to grease the
skids for spending increases. That state, like Oklahoma, required either
a supermajority for a tax increase to pass its legislature or sending
the proposal to a vote of the people.

Calvey predicted the OEA lawsuit will eventually be thrown out
of court in Oklahoma, but not before the state has been forced to spend
thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend against the
suit.

If HJR 1061 is approved, he said similar frivolous lawsuits
would be thrown out "very quickly" in the future.
Calvey said the needs of Oklahoma voters should guide
state-spending decisions, not the courts or wealthy special interest
groups that can afford to bury opponents under frivolous lawsuits.

"This constitutional amendment will make it clear that it is the
people and the Oklahoma Legislature, not the courts, who will make
decisions on how to spend government revenue," Calvey said.

Note: To hear audio of Rep. Kevin Calvey discussing HJR 1061, which
would prevent court-ordered tax increases, go to
http://www.okhouse.gov//OkhouseMedia/MediaSite/Audio/Calvey-HJR%201061.mp3

 

I don’t mean to hog all the news this week, but here is another from me.
Tax Committee Chair Seeks Property Tax Help for Seniors

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 31) - Oklahoma voters could soon have the chance
to expand property tax breaks to include all retirees in the state.
House Joint Resolution 1051, by State Rep. Kevin Calvey, would
send a constitutional amendment before the voters to allow a county to
remove current income caps that prevent many senior citizens from
qualifying for a homestead exemption or property valuation freeze.

"It's not fair to exclude so many senior citizens from receiving
these tax breaks," said Calvey, R-Del City. "These people have paid
taxes their whole lives and they deserve a fair deal on their property
taxes during their golden years.

"As chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, I will
make a major push to send this issue to the voters in 2006."
The proposal has already received the backing of taxpayer
advocates.

"I wholeheartedly support Representative Calvey's bill," said
Midge Sullivan, president of the Oklahoma Tax Action Group. "It will
bring a measure of fairness to the way that retirees are treated by our
punitive property tax system in Oklahoma."

"This bill, if approved, will create more equality for our
senior homeowners and could become a boon for seniors who are looking at
Oklahoma to retire," said Ted King of the Oklahoma Property Taxpayers'
Association.

The proposed amendment includes a "county option" provision,
allowing voters in every country to decide in local fiscal conditions
will allow them to grant property tax breaks for people over age 65.
The senior valuation freeze prevents property taxes from
increasing for those over age 65, other than tax increases voted in by
the people. The double homestead exemption grants seniors a tax break
worth $100 or more per year.

Under current law, neither of these tax breaks is available to
seniors with moderate-to-high incomes. Calvey said his goal was to
treat all seniors equally.

 

 

State Lawmaker: OEA Should Return Teacher Dues Intended for Lobbying
Purposes

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 30, 2006) - In light of the recent lawsuit filed
against the state by the Oklahoma Education Association, a state
lawmaker is calling for the group to refund teacher dues that are being
used for lobbying efforts or campaign contributions.

"Since the OEA has decided to circumvent the legislative process and go
through the courts, the OEA should return all their lobbying and
campaign dollars to the teachers," said Rep. Tad Jones, who chairs the
Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education in the Oklahoma
House of Representatives.

The OEA is a bargaining organization for the state's teachers.
Traditionally, it is also involved in political lobbying and campaigning
efforts.

Earlier this month, the OEA filed a lawsuit against the state of
Oklahoma and the Legislature demanding another $4 billion out of the
state's $6 billion budget. Public schools already receive more than $2
billion.

"Teachers could use that dues money much more effectively if it was in
their own pocketbooks than if they gave it to the OEA, which spends that
money on lobbying efforts that the OEA doesn't even believe in," he
said.

Jones also said there are a number of other professional organizations
who "still believe in the legislative process" and who are capable of
adequately representing Oklahoma educators. In particular, he mentioned
the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators, the Oklahoma State
School Boards Association, the United Suburban Schools Association, and
the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administrators as viable
alternatives to the OEA.

"Oklahoma teachers might be better served if they were to join the APOE,
a professional organization that will work with the Legislature, and
they also offer great benefits for teachers," he said.

 

Republican Lawmakers Hold Town Hall Meeting with Oklahoma Physicians:
Event Puts Spotlight on the Need for Lawsuit Reform

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 31) - Vowing to make meaningful lawsuit reform a
top priority in the upcoming legislative session, Speaker Todd Hiett,
Senator Glenn Coffee and other Republican lawmakers today held a town
hall meeting with local physicians, health care and business leaders.
The event held at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City
brought together an estimated 200 local physicians and leaders to hear
from Republican lawmakers about the fight for real lawsuit reform this
year.

Addressing physicians and other medical professionals, Speaker Hiett
(R-Kellyville) said "the citizens of this state - your patients - may
not have access to medical care if we don't reign in frivolous
litigation in this state. In order to build a strong state with
opportunities for our citizens, where they can afford health insurance
for their families and where they can have quality job opportunities, we
must reign in these frivolous lawsuits."

Sen. Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City), the Republican Leader in the state
Senate, said it is vital that Oklahoma gets health care costs under
control. "Let's allow the health care profession to practice medicine
and not lawsuit avoidance. Our doctors don't need to be spending their
time preparing for depositions and for the legal profession. Let's start
moving Oklahoma forward and make it a healthier, more prosperous state,
instead of taking away from our citizens and the opportunity to grow."

Dr. Eli Reshef, one of Oklahoma's top fertility specialists and a
longtime advocate for lawsuit reform in the state, added that he and
other "physicians want to practice our profession and render high
quality care to Oklahomans without the fear of lawsuits in every corner.
In today's climate, one catastrophic award against a physician -
determined by a lay jury with no knowledge of the complexities of
medicine, a jury that is easily swayed by smooth and savvy trial lawyers
and hired-gun expert witnesses - can wipe out a physician's career."

Already announced as a top priority last month, the "Common Sense in the
Courtroom Act" sought by Hiett and Coffee would focus on five areas of
reform:

1. Quick and Fair Compensation for Injured People: The Common Sense in
the Courtroom Act will make it easier for injured people (plaintiffs)
and defendants with strong cases to win on summary judgment, rather than
going through the painful, expensive and difficult process of a trial.

2. No more Hunting for "Deep Pockets" in Lawsuits:

*Joint and Several Liability reform: Right now, lawyers fishing for
jackpot verdicts use "joint and several liability," the so-called "deep
pockets" rule, which holds each defendant in a legal action responsible
for the entire amount of damages a plaintiff seeks, regardless of the
degree of responsibility. The rule means trial lawyers hunt for
financially lucrative defendants. The solution is a proportionate
liability rule, under which defendants will only be responsible for
their relative share of damages. Oklahoma has a weak proportionate
liability rule - the new measure will replace the current weak rule with
a true proportionate liability standard.

3. Cleaning up Class Action: An important and legitimate part of
Oklahoma's legal system, class action suits in recent years have
unfortunately turned into a shakedown racket for some trial lawyers. In
a notorious case against Jiffy Lube in Oklahoma, attorneys collected
millions in fees while the clients got coupons for car service. Cleaning
up class action will address two areas.

*If clients get coupons, the lawyers get coupons.
*Limit "contingency" fees: Lawyers will be paid for the hours they
actually work, just like everyone else in Oklahoma.

4. Reduce Health Care Costs for Hardworking Oklahomans:

*Putting limits on non-economic damages (a comprehensive cap on
non-economic damages) - Money for pain and suffering should be set at
common sense levels. Right now, the system is too often abused, hurting
both injured people and defendants.
*Greater freedom for doctors to give free care to disadvantaged and
indigent Oklahomans - Doctors will be able to provide charity care
without worrying about insurance.

5. Common Sense Protection for Business Owners:

*Lawyers sue businesses that make products that have already been
approved by the federal government as safe. This will end under the new
system.
*Choice-based products that everyone knows can be harmful - such as fast
food - should not be subject to lawsuits.

 

Speaker Hiett & Rep. Steele Praise Work of Medicaid Reform Task Force:
New Patient Empowerment System to Replace Outdated Program
$111 Million Redirected to Patient Care with Recommendations

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 1, 2005) - After nearly six months of work, the
bi-partisan House Medicaid Reform Task Force today issued a final set of
recommendations to the Legislature -- seek-ing to create a new patient
empowerment system to replace Oklahoma's outdated Medicaid pro-gram.

"It's time for bold reforms. We must take action now, before Medicaid
wrecks the state's budget," said Speaker Todd Hiett (R-Kellyville), who
first formed the panel in July. "The task force has presented reforms
that will save Oklahomans hundreds of millions of dollars over the long
term. The 40-year-old Medicaid system has met a need and fulfilled its
purpose. Now it's time to move in a new direction."

Speaker Hiett said that in addition to the historic overhaul of the
Medicaid system, the task force also advocated reforms to the existing
system that will redirect $111 million annually when fully implemented,
according to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Those savings will be
re-invested in patient care.

The task force has also recommended providing a stable source of state
revenue that can be matched with federal funds in order to ensure
adequate compensation for providers, provide addi-tional support to
rural and other financially vulnerable medical facilities and finance
the necessary reforms of the Medicaid system.

"I'm confident the task force's recommendations will set the new
standard for giving Medicaid pa-tients control over their own care and
for controlling costs," said Speaker Hiett. "Our Medicaid sys-tem is
simply not meeting the needs of the children and poor citizens it was
supposed to serve."

"With the reforms proposed today, we will create a better system for
Medicaid recipients," said Rep. Kris Steele (R-Shawnee), chair of the
House task force. "Recipients will have more options, and they'll have
incentives to use the system in a more efficient way."

The task force's landmark recommendation would move Oklahoma's Medicaid
recipients to a consumer choice system -- achieving cost savings,
improving patient outcomes and offering better services for recipients.
Under the new system, recipients would choose from a menu of options and
services to match their own needs. The new program would be phased in,
and components of the existing Medicaid system would provide a safety
net for those who are otherwise uninsurable.

Additionally, participants would be able to opt out of Medicaid and use
their state-allocated Medi-caid "premium" to participate in an
employer-sponsored health care plan. And the new patient em-powerment
system would provide financial incentives to encourage people to live
healthier lifestyles and be responsible with health care spending.

Steele praised other major recommendations from the task force --
including the establishment of health savings accounts for program
participants; the implementation of e-prescribing to help im-prove
quality of care and patient outcomes; and a comprehensive disease
management program to better manage the cost of care.

In addition to the major reforms prescribed by the task force,
vice-chair and practicing emergency room physician Doug Cox (R-Grove)
pointed to recommended reforms of the existing system to reduce
emergency room utilization, reform long-term care eligibility and
implement new accountability measures.

The task force has recommended a three-year timetable for full
implementation of this last set of recommendations. After the reforms of
the current system are complete, they will redirect $111 million
annually to patient care.

"As an emergency room doctor, I see ERs being used too often for health
concerns that could have been treated by a primary care physician," said
Rep. Cox. "That means everyone pays more for health care. The reforms
we're bringing forward today will enable Medicaid recipients to make
deci-sions for excellent health care. The new system we're proposing
will alleviate the burden on ER's and hospitals, while also saving
money."

Over the past six months, the task force has visited more than a dozen
Oklahoma communities and has held about 30 hours' worth of hearings. The
task force has also drawn on the expertise of a health care advisory
board.

 

Speaker Hiett Seeks Agreement on Bridges Fund: $100 Million for State's
"Worst of the Worst"

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 1, 2005) - Speaker Todd Hiett told a gathering of
newspaper editors from across the state today that he will seek the
first major bipartisan agreement of the legislative session, to invest
an immediate $100 million in funds to repair Oklahoma's worst bridges.

The $100 million bridge fund was a key provision of the joint Republican
roads and bridges plan first announced in September. Last week, the
governor announced a roads plan that mirrored many portions of the
Republican plan.

"The new Republican majority in the House has made roads a top priority
in our state. Now that the governor has agreed with our plan, we call on
the Senate to join us to immediately repair our most dangerous bridges,"
said Hiett (R-Kellyville). "We can use the beginning of the session to
immedi-ately forge a bipartisan agreement that will move Oklahoma down
the road to the future."

Hiett said that about $93 million for the bridge fund would come from an
economic development fund established last year with surplus money that
could not be deposited into the full Rainy Day account. The remaining $7
million would come from current cash accounts.

"The governor has already agreed with us that surplus money would be an
appropriate source for the bridge fund," said Hiett. "Now we're simply
identifying the specific sources to pay for repairs on our most
dangerous bridges."

Last year, House Republicans pushed through a stair-step plan to
increase road funding by $35 mil-lion each year, reaching a sustained
$170 million annual level over the next several years. The plan garnered
bipartisan support at the end of last year's session.

This year, Hiett and Republican leaders in the House and Senate have
proposed boosting last year's funding increase by 42 percent, as well as
increasing road funding for cash-strapped counties by doubling their
share of revenue from motor vehicle registration fees.

 

Lawmaker Seeks Better Tracking of Sex Offenders

OKLAHOMA CITY – The fight against sex offenders continues in the state
through new legislation filed by State Rep. Lisa Billy, which will give
law enforcement a more accurate way to track these criminals.
House Bill 2830, by Billy, requires sex offenders to renew their
Oklahoma driver’s license or identification card every 12 months instead
of the customary four-year renewal.

“These individuals are already registered as sex offenders,” said Billy,
R-Purcell. “My bill would keep updated addresses and photographs for law
enforcement agencies’ records.”

According to the Oklahoma Sex Offender Crime Registry, there are
currently more than 1,000 individuals on the list that do not have a
current address registered.

Billy said her bill would not be a burden on tag agencies but would
provide protection for Oklahomans against these criminals.
“My colleagues have been concerned about the potential financial impact
on tag agencies. I am doing everything I can to ensure there is no
negative impact,” said Billy. “However, I do not see this as a financial
issue but as a public safety issue and a way to know that my children,
my district and this state are protected from these criminals. This
state will take whatever measures necessary to wage the war against sex
crimes.”

 

Hilliard Seeks Improving Veterans' Housing

OKLAHOMA CITY -When Oklahoma prisons provide better living conditions
than Veterans' centers that house our military heroes, something needs
to be done, says State Rep. Wes Hilliard.

House Bill 2835, by Hilliard, will do just that and provides an
opportunity to fund new living quarters in two wings of the Veterans
Center in Sulphur that are in dire need of replacement.

"These two wings have failed to meet the required facility standards of
the Federal VA inspections for the last five years and still nothing has
been done," said Hilliard, D-Sulphur. "These Oklahoma Veterans, these
Oklahoma Heroes, are being subjected to unacceptable living conditions.
The prisons in Oklahoma maintain better living conditions and something
is wrong with this picture."

The two wings needing to be replaced were built in 1923 and 1950 and
currently have a capacity of 72 Veterans. According to Hilliard, the
structures have suffered from termite infestation to the point of
destruction where a load-bearing system is no longer functional and at
any time the roof can shift 14 inches with changing weather conditions.

Federal VA inspections showed the essentials to proper living conditions
were not being met, citing water infiltration, poor lighting, poor
heating and air conditioning, limited toilet facilities, corridors for
patient access less than 48 inches wide, a lack of required living and
storage spaces.

Hilliard said his main concern is the health of the Veterans.

"The brick veneer allows water to seep through the walls, resulting in
mold and deterioration of the inter-wall surface," said Hilliard. "Most
of these individuals are already suffering from health problems and we
are exposing them to conditions that could make their health worse."

The Sulphur lawmaker said that the Veterans appreciate the facility and
do not wish to be relocated, but would prefer to live in a place where
they can be safe and healthy.

"The Veterans love this location with the beautiful scenery, quality of
care and compassionate staff, but they want a room without mold or the
fear of a roof collapsing," said Hilliard.

The projected cost for rebuilding the two facilities is $19.5 million.
With an increase of over $600 million in state revenue this year,
Hilliard urges his fellow House members to put the money to good use by
repairing the facilities. By paying the cost upfront, Hilliard said the
facilities could qualify for federal matching funds from the USDVA that
would reimburse the state in 3 to 5 years.

"The state dishes out money every which way; it is time to put some of
it where we need it the most and give our Oklahoma Heroes a truly safe
home to live. It is time for Oklahoma to show its appreciation to the
very individuals who fought for our rights!"

 

Terrill Wants Sex Offender Registration Mandatory

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 31) - Although convicted criminals accused of sex
crimes are supposed to register with the state, some violent thugs have
exploited plea agreements to avoid that mandate.

State Rep. Randy Terrill said he will put a stop to those
criminals "roaming Oklahoma communities free to prey on other people."
His proposal would prevent prosecutors and judges from waiving
sex offender registration as part of a plea arrangement.

"It appears there is confusion among some district attorneys and
judges who think they can waive the registration requirement," said
Terrill, R-Moore. "We're going to make it clear that they do not have
that ability."

Terrill said law enforcement officials recently sought his help
after an accused rapist with a history of violent crime was allowed to
plead to a lesser offense that still required registration as a sex
offender. The plea agreement, however, did not require the man to
register as a sex offender.

The criminal involved was accused of luring a woman to his home in
Moore, holding her hostage for hours (threatening her with a sword),
then brutally beating and raping her at least twice.

After the woman reported the event, police searched the man's
house and found the sword and the woman's cell phone, as well as other
forensic evidence. The criminal assaulted police during the search.

The criminal was allowed to enter a plea deal that dropped the
kidnapping charge and downgraded the rape charge to "assault with intent
to commit a felony," which is a crime that still requires registration
as a sex offender. The agreement, however, stated that the man did not
have to register as a sex offender.

Later, when the validity of that agreement was questioned based on
a state attorney general's opinion, prosecutors filed a motion to vacate
that sentence and negotiated a new plea arrangement. It will allow a
conviction for "assault with a dangerous weapon," which does not require
registration as a sex offender.

"It is clear this person presents an imminent danger to public
safety and should be on the sex offender registry," Terrill said. "If
there's anyone who is the poster child for the sex offender registry, it
is this guy, yet he is walking the streets of Moore."

Legislation filed by House Republican leaders this year would
impose mandatory minimum sentences for sex offenders and make it a crime
for those convicts to lurk near playgrounds or parks (current law has a
buffer for schools).

State Rep. Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha, is carrying that
legislation.
With Winchester's consent, Terrill plans to offer an amendment to
the bill that would codify the state attorney general's opinion and
prevent defense attorneys, district attorneys and judges from entering
into or approving plea agreements that exempt a criminal from
sex-offender registration.

"Rapists must not be allowed to skirt the requirements of our sex
offender registry," Terrill said. "There is no reason that communities
should be endangered by giving someone who brutalizes people in this way
a free pass."

 

Lawmaker Calls for Statewide Alert to Keep Pit Bulls Away from Children

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 27, 2006) - One state lawmaker is calling on the
Oklahoma State Department of Health to declare an epidemic of vicious
dog attacks and issue an alert to parents, advising them to keep their
children away from the animals.

State Rep. Paul Wesselhöft says he is acting in light of yet another
vicious pit bull mauling of a two-year-old girl in Kansas, Okla., along
with many other recent pit bull attacks - both reported and unreported -
that have taken place throughout the state in recent months.

"If a doctor calculated each pit attack as a disease, he or she would
conclude, I believe, that we are having an epidemic," said Wesselhöft
(R-Moore). "We need all Oklahoma parents with small children to
understand just how dangerous these dogs are.

"Whether they're your pet, or a neighbor's pet, or whether they're being
trained to fight other dogs, these are very dangerous creatures that
have been known to brutally turn from loving dog to bloodthirsty terror
in the blink of an eye.

"I firmly believe that any parent who allows their small child to play
with a pit bull, especially without direct supervision, is committing an
act of child neglect, whether they mean to or not" Wesselhöft said.

In the Kansas, Okla., case, two-year-old Cianna Crittenden was at a
neighbor's house on Wednesday when she was attacked by the neighbor's
pit bull dog. In June, a three-year-old boy in Moore lost his arm after
being attacked by a pit bull. And earlier this month, a four-year-old
boy in Bartlesville died after he was attacked by a relative's pit bull.

Wesselhöft has been working with the Health Department to establish a
registry to track vicious dog attacks by breed and number.

He is also preparing to introduce legislation that would place
significant regulations on Oklahomans who currently own pit bull dogs,
including the requirement that all pit bulls in Oklahoma be spayed or
neutered. The measure would also prohibit any more pit bulls from being
brought into the state. As a result, the bill would effectively ban the
pit bull statewide.

A statewide survey conducted in August 2005 by the polling firm Cole
Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates found that a 55 percent majority of
Oklahomans favor a pit bull ban, as opposed to a 35 percent minority who
don't.

 

Auffet Files Bill to Prevent Eminent Domain Abuse

OKLAHOMA CITY - (January 27, 2006) State Rep. John Auffet has filed
legislation to prevent the government from immediately reselling
property obtained through eminent domain to other private citizens.

House Bill 2092 would restrict state or local governments from selling
any person's property obtained through eminent domain for a period of
five years from the date of seizure. Currently, property taken through
eminent domain under the Urban Renewal Act or Neighborhood
Re-Development Act can be sold to private buyers.

"This gives the owner a fair chance to get back their property if
circumstances allow," said Auffet, D-Stilwell. "Most importantly, it
makes it harder for government officials to orchestrate sweetheart deals
by taking one person's land simply to resell it to another private
citizen."

Auffet's bill gives property owners the opportunity to reacquire their
land at a fair price and requires the government to make proper use of
the seized property.

The Stilwell lawmaker said his intent is to allow the government within
the five-year period to sell the property back to the original owner or
to his or her lineal heirs at the price of acquisition (the amount the
owner was given when purchased by the government). If the government
uses only a part of the property seized, the remaining portion could be
resold to the original owner for 10-percent less than the current value
if the property were sold to the public.

"My bill protects Oklahoma citizens from having their property taken
away for development," said Auffet.

 

Speaker Hiett & Rep. Steele Praise Statewide Start for "Rx for Oklahoma"
Prescription Drugs Assistance Program

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 30, 2006) - A prescription drugs assistance program
created by House Republicans will mark statewide implementation with a
kick-off celebration this week.

"We're excited about this new service for Oklahomans. It brings a
business-like approach, emphasizing public-private partnerships to help
those who need access to life-saving medications," said Speaker Todd
Hiett (R-Kellyville). "As House Republicans, we want to give less
fortunate Oklahomans better access to prescription drugs. Now we have a
statewide service that meets this critical need."

The statewide implementation of the Rx for Oklahoma program will help
Oklahoma's uninsured, underinsured, low-income and senior citizens by
connecting them with existing programs offering free and discounted
prescription drugs.

"Rx for Oklahoma is a true success story, and it will give Oklahomans
better access to the critical prescription medications they need," said
Rep. Kris Steele (R-Shawnee) who authored House Bill 1853, creating the
program last year.

Over the last year, officials have worked to take Rx for Oklahoma from a
successful pilot program to statewide service. During its 24-month pilot
phase, Rx for Oklahoma provided more than $18 million worth of
medications to 6,000 poor and uninsured Oklahomans.

After Hiett and Steele created Rx for Oklahoma last year with HB 1853,
it became part of a bipartisan agreement on health care reforms signed
into law by the governor. The agreement also included landmark
legislation on health savings accounts created by House Republicans.

Steele said he anticipates the Rx for Oklahoma program to offer a
toll-free number at the end of this month. The Rx for Oklahoma program
will partner with aging and action service agencies across the state.

An open house will be held on Wednesday, February 1 at the new Rx for
Oklahoma facility, 1141 E. Main in Norman from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to
mark the new statewide phase of the service. Julie Lovegrove, director
of Rx for Oklahoma, and members of the Central Oklahoma Community Action
Agency will detail the program's success and discuss future plans.

 

Hamilton Seeks Stronger Labor Laws for Youth

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 27) - To boost the number of high school
graduates, one Oklahoma lawmaker believes the state needs to reduce
teenage labor.

House Bill 2439, by State Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, would limit the
number of hours anyone younger than 18 can work. The proposed law would
allow teenagers to work no more than three hours on a school day and
eight hours on a non-school day. The bill would also limit teenagers to
18 hours of work per week when school is in session and 40 hours per
week when school is out.

Hamilton said many youth in her south Oklahoma City district
help support their families and their financial need makes them an easy
mark for exploitation.

"A lot of children in my district work as soon as they are old
enough to get a job," said Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City. "They don't do
this to make extra money. They do it to help support their families - to
pay rent and buy food. Consequently, they are afraid to refuse to work
long hours, even though working late at night may leave them so tired
they can't stay awake or function at school the next day."

Juanita Vasquez-Sykes, parent liaison for John Marshall High
School in Oklahoma City, said she has seen many students who are putting
in long work hours.

"When a manager gets in a bind, you have kids working until
midnight in some really nice restaurants and it's a couple hours after
that before they go to bed," Sykes said. "The next day, they're falling
asleep in the classroom. If they do that more than once a week, their
grades start showing the effect."

Clifton Ogle, state president of AFT-Oklahoma, said there is a
clear link between lower grades and long work hours on school nights.
"As teachers, when we watch young people come to school each day
who have worked 30 and 40 hours a week, we can also correlate that with
their drop in grades and drop in test performance," Ogle said. "It is
time for this state to decide whether they want high test scores or lots
of teenagers working jobs."

Sykes said most teenagers who work long hours do so out of
economic necessity - especially those raised by a single parent.
"If they have to choose between getting a 'B' with no job and a
'C' while holding down a job, they're going to choose the 'C' average,"
Sykes said.

Those lower grades make it harder for students to obtain
scholarships for college and reduce their chance of pursuing higher
education.

House Bill 2439 also requires that teenage employees be given a
one-hour cumulative rest period for every eight consecutive hours of
work. It states that teenagers cannot work for more than five hours at a
stretch without at least a half-hour cumulative break.

Most of the work limits in House Bill 2439 currently apply only
to employees younger than 16.
The bill contains an exemption for teenagers working in
agriculture or domestic service.

If House Bill 2439 becomes law, Hamilton said the measure will
make it easier for poor children to complete high school and achieve a
better standard of living as adults.

"Too many children in my district drop out of school before they
graduate," Hamilton said. "Without a high school diploma, they are
doomed to a lifetime of low-paying jobs that put them in this position
in the first place."

Hamilton was instrumental in convincing Oklahoma State
University-Oklahoma City to recently open a "Community Outreach Office"
in south Oklahoma City and she has opposed efforts to close public
schools that serve the area.

She said current labor regulations reflect the needs of a
"different world" and should be revised. Where people could once make
ends meet with just one job, too often today families "are able to
survive only if every family member works several jobs," she said.

"If we're serious about education in Oklahoma, we need to make
it easier for our poorest and most vulnerable students to finish high
school," Hamilton said. "We can still allow them to work, but not so
long and hard that they lose the ability to pursue the American dream
that belongs to us all."

 

Speaker Hiett and Bipartisan REDI Task Force Announce Legislative
Agenda: More than 20 Measures Aim to Transform Rural Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 2, 2006) - Speaker Todd Hiett and the
bipartisan REDI task force to-day announced a comprehensive package of
more than 20 pieces of legislation seeking to revitalize rural
communities across Oklahoma by encouraging investment and offering tax
incentives.

Headlining the bipartisan REDI package: A plan to offer income tax
exemption to out-of-state residents choosing to move back to rural areas
of Oklahoma. The five-year income tax exemption would exempt anyone from
out of state moving to rural areas of Oklahoma that have been losing
population -- a powerful incentive to boost population and economic
growth. Participants would have to purchase or build a single-family
home to qualify.

House Bill 3126, The Come Home Oklahoma Act, would cost about $6 million
in fiscal year 2007, and $60 million when fully implemented in fiscal
year 2013. About 4000 families a year have been moving to Oklahoma
counties that have been losing population and buying houses..

"The REDI task force spent months listening to what people in rural
communities needed to succeed. They repeatedly told us, 'Get government
out of the way, cut red tape, and reduce taxes,'" said Speaker Hiett
(R-Kellyville). "Business leaders in rural Oklahoma have already told us
that legislation like this will be a tremendous recruiting tool to make
them more competitive. Rural communities will be empowered using this
legislation."

"REDI is about making rural Oklahoma ready for jobs, ready for
opportunity, and ready for the future," Hiett continued. "And the Come
Home Oklahoma Act is about bringing our state back to what makes us
great. It's about coming home to our rural roots -- building opportunity
for everyone so that we can prepare Oklahoma for the next 100 years of
its history."

The REDI agenda also includes measures boosting targeted investments in
programs that benefit rural areas, as well as measures seeking to remove
regulatory barriers to growth. And the package incorporates other major
planks from the House GOP agenda including lawsuit reform (such as a
measure aimed at landowner liability), repeal of the death tax, and more
investment in county roads.

"We're going to invest in proven programs," said Rep. Dale De Witt
(R-Braman), co-chair of the biparti-san legislative task force. "We're
moving beyond simply talking about solutions, taking direct action this
year."

"Rural Oklahomans have a strong work ethic, and they just want the
chance for more opportunity," said Rep. Don Armes (R-Faxon), co-chair of
the REDI task force. "The entire slate of legislation we've devel-oped
will spark that job opportunity."

REDI (Rural Economic Development Initiative) began in late August as a
two-pronged approach to bring growth and opportunity to Oklahoma's rural
communities. Working with Speaker Hiett, former U.S. Rep-resentative Wes
Watkins worked to use the resources of the Oklahoma State University
extension service and Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. to identify
existing and new business opportunities across the state.

"Our focus has been on creating jobs," said Watkins. "This year, we can
take action to rebuild rural Okla-homa. REDI will establish a structure
for rural Oklahoma to thrive. I'm confident that lawmakers will move the
REDI agenda forward this year."

The bipartisan REDI legislative task force traveled to 12 communities
across the state through the fall, gathering information from leaders
and citizens in rural communities to develop a legislative agenda:

End the Death Tax
REDI will push for a complete repeal of Oklahoma's unfair and
economically harmful death tax with HB 3125, authored by Speaker Hiett.
The death tax hurts Oklahoma's most productive citizens -- small
busi-ness owners and family farmers and discourages investment in our
state.

The Come Home Oklahoma Act
HB 3126, The Come Home Oklahoma Act will enact a five-year income tax
exemption for anyone from out of state moving to qualifying rural areas
of Oklahoma that have been losing population. The REDI legislative
agenda would also fight for employer-assisted housing in rural areas and
incentives for rehabilitating rental homes.

Encouraging Local Development
REDI would allow counties to join together to organize and enhance
economic development efforts, as well as empower local communities to
improve infrastructure (for example, funding industrial access roads).

Bringing Investment to Rural Areas
REDI will provide incentives to drive investment in rural communities,
such as a measure to encourage new enterprises for value-added
processing of Oklahoma agricultural products.

Cutting Red Tape
Other measures will work to remove regulatory barriers -- for example,
streamlining the process for approval of new refineries and providing
for a faster, more efficient truck permitting process. The REDI agenda
will also limit third-party liability for misuse of agricultural
products.

Spurring Rural Tourism
Increasingly, family farmers are finding opportunities to attract
tourists. REDI will protect rural landown-ers from liability, and would
facilitate promotion of farm and ranch-based tourist attractions.

 

Martin Seeks Primary Election Reform

OKLAHOMA CITY –Some primary elections could soon be open to all voters
under legislation filed by State Rep. Steve Martin.
“Many registered voters in Oklahoma must pretend to be something they
are not in order to take part in Oklahoma’s election process,” said
Martin, R-Bartlesville. “In some areas where Republicans dominate,
Democrats and Independents must register as Republicans if they want to
have a voice in local elections; in other areas Democrats are the
majority party, and Republicans and Independents must register to vote
as Democrats.”

In the event that all candidates for an office are of the same political
party, Martin’s House Bill 2686 would allow all registered voters to
vote in that primary election. If candidates from two or more parties
file for an office, the primary election would remain closed as it is
under current law.

“If all of the candidates for an office are of one party, there is no
question as to which party will hold that office. Allowing all the
eligible voters to take part in deciding which member of that party will
be the winner poses no threat to the party,” said Martin. “This bill
will create a more democratic forum where the ultimate winner has to
address the concerns of all of the voters—not just the concerns of his
own party.”

Under Martin’s proposal, when an open primary takes place, the names of
the candidates would be printed on each ballot so that costly additional
ballots would not have to be printed.
“I know from talking to my constituents that they feel disenfranchised
when they can’t take part in the democratic process. This reform will
bring those voters back to the polls,” said Martin.

 

Hamilton Seeks Economic Protection for Abused Women

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 2) - Pregnant women and victims of abuse or rape
could soon receive help during the workday without fear of losing their
jobs thanks to legislation filed by State Rep. Rebecca Hamilton.

House Bill 2576, by Hamilton, creates the "Victims Economic
Security and Safety Act." The bill would grant pregnant women and
victims of domestic violence or rape up to three weeks of unpaid annual
leave to seek legal aid and medical treatment.

"If you can't access justice, it doesn't exist," Hamilton
said. "Unfortunately, many women are essentially told they can't go to
court, talk to their attorney, or even go to the doctor without the fear
of being fired. That's extraordinarily cruel and those women should be
protected under the law."

The law would apply only to companies with 100 or more
employees.
"Rape victims should be able to go to the doctor, to court,
to talk to an attorney, without fear of being fired," Hamilton said.

"After a woman has been subjected to this kind of brutality, it's very
difficult for her to step forward. If she is blocked from the legal
system because of a fear of losing her job, it not only harms her, but
harms everyone in our society who believes in justice."

She said leave time at work may provide the only opportunity
many abused women have to begin the process of leaving their abuser.
"Any woman who is battered and been in that situation for a
long time is suffering emotional damage as well as physical harm,"
Hamilton said.

The legislation is supported by Oklahoma Conference of
Churches and Catholic Charities and other victims' rights groups.
"Victims of domestic violence face many major challenges -
making court appearances, obtaining restraining orders, receiving
counseling, tackling financial problems - that make it difficult to
simply 'leave' an abusive situation," said Shirley Cox, an attorney who
serves as director of social action for Catholic Charities. "House Bill
2576 provides victims leave time while they try to escape from an
abusive situation. We feel this legislation would provide victims of
domestic violence the opportunity to deal with all the ramifications of
an abusive situation without jeopardizing their job as a result."

Jan Peery, chief executive officer of YWCA of Oklahoma City,
said many women have to build up the courage to leave an abuser over a
period of weeks or even months, and counseling services can be crucial
during that decision-making process.

"Often the working day is the only time these women can get
away for counseling," Peery said. "If they are still living with the
abuser, that environment is so controlled the woman is not going to have
that opportunity."

 

I was able to assist several constituents this week. We were able to
assist one lady, who lost her job and got separated from her husband all
at one time, in cutting through the red tape in order to obtain food
stamps. If I can ever assist you at the State Capitol, please feel free
to contact me at kevincalvey@okhouse.gov, or by phone at (405) 557-7370,
or write Rep. Kevin Calvey, State Capitol Room 437, 2300 N. Lincoln,
Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Have a blessed day!