Tough Choices

Tough Choices

This last week was deadline week at the capitol. It was the last week for House bills to be heard in the House and Senate bills in the Senate. There are usually a greater number of House Bills due to the shear number of House members. Typically, on the House side, deadline weeks are pretty brutal. For one, the number of bills. Second, there are twice as many House members wanting to be heard, so debates take longer and makes the House a more rough and tumble place. We started at nine every morning and Monday through Wednesday, we were on the floor until well past 10 every night. So, when you add together all the dynamics as well as tired House members, it really makes for some very rough sessions.

That alone should be enough but the toughest part, for me, were some of the tough choices we had to make. The kind of votes that put you between a rock and a hard place. One example was HB3250 by Representative Sue Tibbs, who I have known my entire political career and think the world of. She won her battle with cancer last year while at the same time winning re-election. She is kind of like everyone’s grandmother in the House, a very tough but very caring woman. Her bill would ban texting while driving. Now, as the father of a soon-to-be 16-year-old driver, kids texting and driving worries me to death. I will never forget a cold, windy November night several years ago when Katy, my oldest, flipped her car into a muddy wheat field. She was not texting, but did not know how to handle a wash board road, and judging by where the car ended up, was going too fast. So, I have a problem with kids texting and driving but I have a bigger problem with the government telling us what to do. I do not know if that bill will be back around or not, but I voted a very reluctant yes, and if I see it again, I could be a no. That is the kind of bill that tears you in half.

Another example is HB2634 by Representative Mark McCullough, which would require counseling before marriage. It is described as pro-marriage, a very conservative view point. Again, it is too much government in our lives. So, in a situation like that, which conservative direction do you go, pro-family or pro-freedom?

Another example of a tough spot is a bill that was run by Representative Charles Key, HB2814, which would require the Constitution to be taught in social studies core curriculum. Common sense would say that those things would probably already happen but Representative Key wants to ensure that they do. I am for the Constitution and what it says but there again, how much government are we willing to take? How much do we need the government in our lives? Some would argue that it is public education and should be guided by the legislature but I can tell you, as a former teacher, if we had to change curriculum every time the legislature had a whim, we would be re-writing text books every year. One of the things we hear consistently from educators is “please do not send us any unfunded mandates”. I am sure that teaching the Constitution would not cost more money but at the same time you struggle with that when you vote for a bill like 2814. As I said earlier, it probably should be happening anyway, but apparently there are places where it is not, hence the need for Representative Key to make that stance. I am sure that it will not be the last of the tough votes but it sure made for a rough week.

If you would like to contact me, while I’m at the Capitol, please don’t hesitate to call
1-800-522-8502 or send an email to donarmes@okhouse.gov

And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:

“Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” – President Ronald Reagan