Former Senator Owen Laughlin from Northwest Oklahoma had a favorite saying that I have borrowed on numerous occasions. He would always say “Being in the Legislature is like going to college and majoring in EVERYTHING.” I’ve thought about that many times in my tenure as a State Representative. To be an effective Statesman you have to be willing to learn about a lot of different subjects, some of which may not interest you in the least, but all kinds of different issues are important to someone. I started my career with special interests in agriculture, Ag. youth programs like FFA and 4-H, rural issues in general and while many of those issues have kept me grounded, I’ve also had to learn a great deal about education, even though I was a teacher, healthcare, transportation infrastructure, public safety, and a whole host of assorted issues that spin off from each of those areas. It requires a great deal of time and energy to become somewhat knowledgeable in a host of various areas and I think to truly represent an area like District 63 which can be as cosmopolitan and culturally diverse as we are around Lawton/Ft. Sill and can transition into one of the State’s leading agriculture regions as you head Southwest to Tillman County you must be pretty open minded as you learn the multitude of issues that can affect an area with tremendously diverse interest. It’s an area with three hospitals, an Army post, a Federal wildlife refuge, a tremendous amount of large and small schools, 1500 square miles of interstate highways as well as County roads. A single issue Legislator won’t survive long in a district like this one. I believe that to truly serve an area with as much diversity as this one, the learning curve is steep and you must be prepared to listen to a wide variety of constituents with a huge variation of issues. Being in close proximity to Ft. Sill there are also a great many Veterans who retire in our area and have issues facing them that are very important. There again you must be open minded and as well versed as you can be to care for a constituency as diverse as this one. This Ag. guy has had to major in everything. I’ve had to study and learn and that process never sleeps. The issues vary as much as the terrain from the mountains to the flat lands all the way to the river bed. I don’t think you can be an effective legislator and have a one track mind. I brought no agenda to the table when I started this job other than to stand up for the voters in my district. I think you can tell from this brief conversation that they certainly don’t all look the same or have the same needs. I think that to serve this district well, one needs to be as comfortable in a business suit as you are in a pair of jeans. This job requires walking into a lot of circles with a variety of hats and the willingness to learn and more importantly a willingness to serve. Open mindedness is paramount and this is way bigger than any single issue. I’ve spent ten years of my life doing my dead level best to be a Statesman and I intend to finish the job.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, please feel free to call me at 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. ~Abraham Lincoln
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Cancer Doesn’t Care
The last several days I’ve lost two friends who both made a huge difference in the world around them to one of our society’s most dreaded diseases, cancer. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that cancer doesn’t care who you are, how much money you make, your social status, or anything else. Cancer comes to people from all walks of life; it does not discriminate and is absolutely ruthless. One of my friends was a local business man and racing quarter horse breeder Terry Bell. Terry was a stand up guy! Several years ago when I approached Terry, who lived near Cache on his horse ranch, to ask if he would be my campaign chairman, he didn’t bat an eye. He said “absolutely, you’ve stood with us in the horse industry and I’ll stand with you.” Terry Bell was well respected locally as well as the State and National horse racing scene. He was a second generation businessman and entrepreneur. His father Cyrus ran Bell Transfer and Storage for many years after growing up in the moving and storage business Terry later established Affiliated Van Lines in 1973. He was a very good business man, knew how to make money and had the deepest respect of everyone he dealt with. I remember a story that was told to me by a mutual friend and I hesitate to tell it but for the fact that it tells a story about who Terry really was. I vaguely remember Cy Bell, he was very flamboyant and the best remaining example of that is his old parade saddle that for many years Terry displayed in his office. I’m not sure if I’ll get this totally right or not but apparently, in his later years, he had run up some local debt. It could’ve been his declining health, I’m not really sure how that went down but according to the local legend his dad owed some people around town and after his passing Terry went around to the different businesses and squared every account. That may not seem like much but it is just one of the little things that made Terry Bell who he was and the fact that he made everyone whole spoke volumes about his impeccable character. The best way to describe Terry was that he was solid. If he shook your hand, you could take it to the bank.
Terry Bell was also a very accomplished horse breeder. We shot numerous Billingsly Ford TV spots at his ranch over the years and he was known throughout the country as a premier breeder of racing quarter horses. He knew how to breed a good one and how to make sure that animal had a chance at greatness. He was a good friend and he will be missed. Terry was 77 when he lost his battle with cancer.
Ironically enough the next friend I’ll speak of was a lady that I served with in the House of Representatives for ten years, Representative Sue Tibbs, also 77, from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sue was a true Statesman. They don’t make people with a moral character any higher than that of Sue Tibbs. Sue was a devout Christian and took it upon herself for many of the years that she served at the State Capitol to hold a weekly devotional luncheon at the Capitol, always brining in a new and different preacher and making sure that the Capitol flock was spiritually fed. Her dedication to her district and the State of Oklahoma was second to none. Sue had a wonderful heart and as deeply as she loved people, she’d fight to the death on an issue she believed in. I’ve seen Sue take many shots from those who disagreed with her, always standing her ground and never wavering, for as big as her heart she had even more toughness than just about anybody I’ve ever met. Right was right to Sue, there was no gray. I’m not sure that she couldn’t have whipped a tornado when she got her dander up but the one battle Sue couldn’t win was her battle with cancer. Cancer claimed Sue last Friday night. There will be an empty spot in the Capitol Chamber for the rest of the session and for many years to come and Sue will be missed
So it’s true, cancer doesn’t care and that what makes this dreaded disease such a terrible plague on the world. It doesn’t just thin out the weak, but also the strong. As our family heads into my mother’s own battle I know that it’s uphill and we continue to pray for a good outcome. As my girls and I traveled home from our Easter visit with my mother over the weekend, my daughter Kelsey was jokingly talking about one of her daredevil friends and she said “yolo” which means you only live once. We don’t know how long we have on this earth so we all need to get right with God and by all means live. Don’t put off the things on your bucket list. Spend that time with your family even when it may seem inconvenient because none of us know. Rest in peace Terry and Sue and thank you for all you did to make all of our lives better. We are all better people for having known you.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road: Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. ~ Flavia Weedn
Terry Bell was also a very accomplished horse breeder. We shot numerous Billingsly Ford TV spots at his ranch over the years and he was known throughout the country as a premier breeder of racing quarter horses. He knew how to breed a good one and how to make sure that animal had a chance at greatness. He was a good friend and he will be missed. Terry was 77 when he lost his battle with cancer.
Ironically enough the next friend I’ll speak of was a lady that I served with in the House of Representatives for ten years, Representative Sue Tibbs, also 77, from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sue was a true Statesman. They don’t make people with a moral character any higher than that of Sue Tibbs. Sue was a devout Christian and took it upon herself for many of the years that she served at the State Capitol to hold a weekly devotional luncheon at the Capitol, always brining in a new and different preacher and making sure that the Capitol flock was spiritually fed. Her dedication to her district and the State of Oklahoma was second to none. Sue had a wonderful heart and as deeply as she loved people, she’d fight to the death on an issue she believed in. I’ve seen Sue take many shots from those who disagreed with her, always standing her ground and never wavering, for as big as her heart she had even more toughness than just about anybody I’ve ever met. Right was right to Sue, there was no gray. I’m not sure that she couldn’t have whipped a tornado when she got her dander up but the one battle Sue couldn’t win was her battle with cancer. Cancer claimed Sue last Friday night. There will be an empty spot in the Capitol Chamber for the rest of the session and for many years to come and Sue will be missed
So it’s true, cancer doesn’t care and that what makes this dreaded disease such a terrible plague on the world. It doesn’t just thin out the weak, but also the strong. As our family heads into my mother’s own battle I know that it’s uphill and we continue to pray for a good outcome. As my girls and I traveled home from our Easter visit with my mother over the weekend, my daughter Kelsey was jokingly talking about one of her daredevil friends and she said “yolo” which means you only live once. We don’t know how long we have on this earth so we all need to get right with God and by all means live. Don’t put off the things on your bucket list. Spend that time with your family even when it may seem inconvenient because none of us know. Rest in peace Terry and Sue and thank you for all you did to make all of our lives better. We are all better people for having known you.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road: Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. ~ Flavia Weedn
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Half Way Home
A lot of you have followed my musings and ramblings about life in office and have heard me describe the legislative process sometimes as a series of gates. I also use the analogy of a series of filters. Not every idea that hits the Capitol is a good one, sometimes the ideas are good and with more than one pair of eyes can be made better, sometimes the ideas are just plain bad and the filters need to catch the idea. We have now reached the half way point which means that the first major deadline of this year’s legislative session has passed. All the bills that came through the House have either made it through that series of filters or were stopped and did not become reality. The next step is for us to send our House bills over to the Senate for further scrutiny and we have now started the process of running the Senate’s ideas through our filters. This process seems very cumbersome to some and in some ways it is, but as frustrating as it can be for myself and my colleagues and as unorganized as it looks to the casual observer, I really am a believer in the process as a whole. It’s still one of the best methods in the world and as an old buddy of mine used to say “you can sure get a snoot full of it.” But I still think that it’s good that 149 people basically have to look at an idea and consider its merits and shortcomings and passes through the final gates where the Governor has the power of the pen to either sign it into law or veto it.
This past Monday a very important bill passed through the last gate and is headed to the Governor for a signature and that was SB447. This bill addressed several concerns raised by the murder of Diane Dye. Our Comanche County treasurer Barbara Burk and her husband Larry were on hand to see that Senate bill passed in the House. The bill was actually a Senate bill from last session and in my mind it did some very positive things that may help curb domestic violence by shortening the days before a hearing when a protective order is issued and several other tweaks to the law that may well prevent the tragedy like the one we saw in Elgin Oklahoma and hopefully can prevent more of the same. Senator Barrington started the process last year and it has taken two sessions to get this bill passed and headed to the Governor. The vote was unanimous in the House and we don’t anticipate any trouble when it gets to Governor Fallin’s desk. I was proud to do my part in carrying the water and as I said on the House floor Monday afternoon, it’s too late for Diane Dye but her mother Barbara Burk took up the torch, pushed through her grief and helped change a law that hopefully will prevent another family from having the same kind of tragedy.
We are now back in the committee process and have just started to get our first look at the Senate bills. It’ll be interesting to see how many House bills survive the Senate and vice versa.
Probably the weightiest issue still facing us is the discussion on the elimination of the State income tax. I’ve talked about this issue many times and we know that we must proceed with extreme caution. I can’t speak for any other member but I can tell you my position and that is we can’t do income tax reduction on the backs of our seniors or our veterans and probably my favorite way to state it is that we must have enough fuel to run the train. I represent one of the largest agriculture regions in the state and I can tell you from the calls that I’ve received that land owner’s are leery of anything that might increase property taxes and I think it is wise to continue to discuss this very important issue and I truly believe we must proceed with extreme caution. We’ll keep you posted on developments that relate to one of the biggest issues we’ve seen in many years.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. –Henry Ford.
This past Monday a very important bill passed through the last gate and is headed to the Governor for a signature and that was SB447. This bill addressed several concerns raised by the murder of Diane Dye. Our Comanche County treasurer Barbara Burk and her husband Larry were on hand to see that Senate bill passed in the House. The bill was actually a Senate bill from last session and in my mind it did some very positive things that may help curb domestic violence by shortening the days before a hearing when a protective order is issued and several other tweaks to the law that may well prevent the tragedy like the one we saw in Elgin Oklahoma and hopefully can prevent more of the same. Senator Barrington started the process last year and it has taken two sessions to get this bill passed and headed to the Governor. The vote was unanimous in the House and we don’t anticipate any trouble when it gets to Governor Fallin’s desk. I was proud to do my part in carrying the water and as I said on the House floor Monday afternoon, it’s too late for Diane Dye but her mother Barbara Burk took up the torch, pushed through her grief and helped change a law that hopefully will prevent another family from having the same kind of tragedy.
We are now back in the committee process and have just started to get our first look at the Senate bills. It’ll be interesting to see how many House bills survive the Senate and vice versa.
Probably the weightiest issue still facing us is the discussion on the elimination of the State income tax. I’ve talked about this issue many times and we know that we must proceed with extreme caution. I can’t speak for any other member but I can tell you my position and that is we can’t do income tax reduction on the backs of our seniors or our veterans and probably my favorite way to state it is that we must have enough fuel to run the train. I represent one of the largest agriculture regions in the state and I can tell you from the calls that I’ve received that land owner’s are leery of anything that might increase property taxes and I think it is wise to continue to discuss this very important issue and I truly believe we must proceed with extreme caution. We’ll keep you posted on developments that relate to one of the biggest issues we’ve seen in many years.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. –Henry Ford.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Half Way Home
A lot of you have followed my musings and ramblings about life in office and have heard me describe the legislative process sometimes as a series of gates. I also use the analogy of a series of filters. Not every idea that hits the Capitol is a good one, sometimes the ideas are good and with more than one pair of eyes can be made better, sometimes the ideas are just plain bad and the filters need to catch the idea. We have now reached the half way point which means that the first major deadline of this year’s legislative session has passed. All the bills that came through the House have either made it through that series of filters or were stopped and did not become reality. The next step is for us to send our House bills over to the Senate for further scrutiny and we have now started the process of running the Senate’s ideas through our filters. This process seems very cumbersome to some and in some ways it is, but as frustrating as it can be for myself and my colleagues and as unorganized as it looks to the casual observer, I really am a believer in the process as a whole. It’s still one of the best methods in the world and as an old buddy of mine used to say “you can sure get a snoot full of it.” But I still think that it’s good that 149 people basically have to look at an idea and consider its merits and shortcomings and passes through the final gates where the Governor has the power of the pen to either sign it into law or veto it.
This past Monday a very important bill passed through the last gate and is headed to the Governor for a signature and that was SB447. This bill addressed several concerns raised by the murder of Diane Dye. Our Comanche County treasurer Barbara Burk and her husband Larry were on hand to see that Senate bill passed in the House. The bill was actually a Senate bill from last session and in my mind it did some very positive things that may help curb domestic violence by shortening the days before a hearing when a protective order is issued and several other tweaks to the law that may well prevent the tragedy like the one we saw in Elgin Oklahoma and hopefully can prevent more of the same. Senator Barrington started the process last year and it has taken two sessions to get this bill passed and headed to the Governor. The vote was unanimous in the House and we don’t anticipate any trouble when it gets to Governor Fallin’s desk. I was proud to do my part in carrying the water and as I said on the House floor Monday afternoon, it’s too late for Diane Dye but her mother Barbara Burk took up the torch, pushed through her grief and helped change a law that hopefully will prevent another family from having the same kind of tragedy.
We are now back in the committee process and have just started to get our first look at the Senate bills. It’ll be interesting to see how many House bills survive the Senate and vice versa.
Probably the weightiest issue still facing us is the discussion on the elimination of the State income tax. I’ve talked about this issue many times and we know that we must proceed with extreme caution. I can’t speak for any other member but I can tell you my position and that is we can’t do income tax reduction on the backs of our seniors or our veterans and probably my favorite way to state it is that we must have enough fuel to run the train. I represent one of the largest agriculture regions in the state and I can tell you from the calls that I’ve received that land owner’s are leery of anything that might increase property taxes and I think it is wise to continue to discuss this very important issue and I truly believe we must proceed with extreme caution. We’ll keep you posted on developments that relate to one of the biggest issues we’ve seen in many years.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. –Henry Ford.
This past Monday a very important bill passed through the last gate and is headed to the Governor for a signature and that was SB447. This bill addressed several concerns raised by the murder of Diane Dye. Our Comanche County treasurer Barbara Burk and her husband Larry were on hand to see that Senate bill passed in the House. The bill was actually a Senate bill from last session and in my mind it did some very positive things that may help curb domestic violence by shortening the days before a hearing when a protective order is issued and several other tweaks to the law that may well prevent the tragedy like the one we saw in Elgin Oklahoma and hopefully can prevent more of the same. Senator Barrington started the process last year and it has taken two sessions to get this bill passed and headed to the Governor. The vote was unanimous in the House and we don’t anticipate any trouble when it gets to Governor Fallin’s desk. I was proud to do my part in carrying the water and as I said on the House floor Monday afternoon, it’s too late for Diane Dye but her mother Barbara Burk took up the torch, pushed through her grief and helped change a law that hopefully will prevent another family from having the same kind of tragedy.
We are now back in the committee process and have just started to get our first look at the Senate bills. It’ll be interesting to see how many House bills survive the Senate and vice versa.
Probably the weightiest issue still facing us is the discussion on the elimination of the State income tax. I’ve talked about this issue many times and we know that we must proceed with extreme caution. I can’t speak for any other member but I can tell you my position and that is we can’t do income tax reduction on the backs of our seniors or our veterans and probably my favorite way to state it is that we must have enough fuel to run the train. I represent one of the largest agriculture regions in the state and I can tell you from the calls that I’ve received that land owner’s are leery of anything that might increase property taxes and I think it is wise to continue to discuss this very important issue and I truly believe we must proceed with extreme caution. We’ll keep you posted on developments that relate to one of the biggest issues we’ve seen in many years.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. –Henry Ford.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Big Week in Oklahoma City
Last week was full of activity not only at the State Capitol where it was deadline week but also at the State Fair Grounds where the Oklahoma Youth Expo was taking place. Young people from across Oklahoma, moms, dads, grandparents and other family members in tow came to participate in what has become the World’s largest junior livestock show. It was a week full of kids showcasing their agricultural skills as they paraded through the various arenas.
One of the big events that tied the two together was what has become known as the Legislative show. The legislative show was the brain child of my good friend, the late Justin Whitefield who most of us who knew him well simply called him “Whitey”. As many of you may know he was killed in a plane crash several years ago but the best way to describe the situation was that Whitey “got it.” He got the connection that needed to be made between Senators and Representatives and other high ranking Government officials and the ag youth of our state. The legislative show was created to actually put the legislator on the halter or leading or driving an actual animal from a young 4-H or FFA member from their respective districts but it serves many purposes. One of the most important being that, that connection makes it much easier for urban and semi-rural legislators to understand the power of the program that we all already know creates some of the best young people in the state. Everyone that participates always has great things to say about that brief interaction with a young showman and their animal. They get the ever important connection of how these animal projects take the educational process off the school grounds and on to the fair grounds and the many life lessons that are learned like how to win humbly and how to lose graciously all while instilling a work ethic that the normal educational process struggles with. Among the Senators and Representatives that actually showed animals, additional showmen were Mr. Bob Funk, CEO of one of the largest worldwide temporary service companies in the nation, Express Personnel, State Superintended Janet Barresi, Mr. Terry Detrick, President of American Farmer’s and Rancher’s, Mr. Mike Spradling President of Oklahoma Farm Bureau and numerous other dignitaries that actually led or drove animals in that legislative show. It’s an awesome opportunity to sell the program and to showcase some of the hardest working young people in our state. My roll in that process evolved at the passing of my friend, and Oklahoma icon Clem McSpadden where I was handed the microphone to take over where Clem left off and to continue the tradition of introducing agriculture youth to state leaders who really need to know them. It’s a huge honor for me to continue that tradition. As I write this article from my office at the Capitol I am looking at a picture of myself and the late Clem McSpadden as we worked together on this event in his later years. The week was packed full of shows and various sales and capped off with a huge premium auction last Monday night which is the grand finale for that great event.
It was a tough week for a rural legislator such as myself to try to wear two hats and get the work done that we had in our deadline week as well as trying to be at the livestock show as much as possible . It was bitter sweet for the Armes’ family as my youngest daughter Kelsey showed for her last time as a high school student marking the end of an era for two girls who were raised with livestock projects and hopefully benefited from the lessons those teach. Kelsey will head to OSU next year to begin her college studies in the area of agriculture communications.
As for activity at the Capitol the issue of income tax reduction continues to be discussed and is probably one of the weightiest issues we’ve dealt with in a long time. All the various bills pertaining to elimination of income tax seem to be simmering in one big pot. I don’t know as of yet what the final outcome will be, I’m hoping that the end product will be responsible and that we won’t do away with income tax on the backs of our Veterans or senior citizens or at the expense of core Government function. There is much work to do and the work continues and my hope is that at the end of the day we come up with a good solution that really works. Until next time.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Without labor nothing prospers---Sophocles
One of the big events that tied the two together was what has become known as the Legislative show. The legislative show was the brain child of my good friend, the late Justin Whitefield who most of us who knew him well simply called him “Whitey”. As many of you may know he was killed in a plane crash several years ago but the best way to describe the situation was that Whitey “got it.” He got the connection that needed to be made between Senators and Representatives and other high ranking Government officials and the ag youth of our state. The legislative show was created to actually put the legislator on the halter or leading or driving an actual animal from a young 4-H or FFA member from their respective districts but it serves many purposes. One of the most important being that, that connection makes it much easier for urban and semi-rural legislators to understand the power of the program that we all already know creates some of the best young people in the state. Everyone that participates always has great things to say about that brief interaction with a young showman and their animal. They get the ever important connection of how these animal projects take the educational process off the school grounds and on to the fair grounds and the many life lessons that are learned like how to win humbly and how to lose graciously all while instilling a work ethic that the normal educational process struggles with. Among the Senators and Representatives that actually showed animals, additional showmen were Mr. Bob Funk, CEO of one of the largest worldwide temporary service companies in the nation, Express Personnel, State Superintended Janet Barresi, Mr. Terry Detrick, President of American Farmer’s and Rancher’s, Mr. Mike Spradling President of Oklahoma Farm Bureau and numerous other dignitaries that actually led or drove animals in that legislative show. It’s an awesome opportunity to sell the program and to showcase some of the hardest working young people in our state. My roll in that process evolved at the passing of my friend, and Oklahoma icon Clem McSpadden where I was handed the microphone to take over where Clem left off and to continue the tradition of introducing agriculture youth to state leaders who really need to know them. It’s a huge honor for me to continue that tradition. As I write this article from my office at the Capitol I am looking at a picture of myself and the late Clem McSpadden as we worked together on this event in his later years. The week was packed full of shows and various sales and capped off with a huge premium auction last Monday night which is the grand finale for that great event.
It was a tough week for a rural legislator such as myself to try to wear two hats and get the work done that we had in our deadline week as well as trying to be at the livestock show as much as possible . It was bitter sweet for the Armes’ family as my youngest daughter Kelsey showed for her last time as a high school student marking the end of an era for two girls who were raised with livestock projects and hopefully benefited from the lessons those teach. Kelsey will head to OSU next year to begin her college studies in the area of agriculture communications.
As for activity at the Capitol the issue of income tax reduction continues to be discussed and is probably one of the weightiest issues we’ve dealt with in a long time. All the various bills pertaining to elimination of income tax seem to be simmering in one big pot. I don’t know as of yet what the final outcome will be, I’m hoping that the end product will be responsible and that we won’t do away with income tax on the backs of our Veterans or senior citizens or at the expense of core Government function. There is much work to do and the work continues and my hope is that at the end of the day we come up with a good solution that really works. Until next time.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
Without labor nothing prospers---Sophocles
Thursday, March 15, 2012
A Classic Example
Monday on the House Floor we spent the entire morning debating HB 2388 by Rep. Guy Liebman. The measure is a classic example of an idea that went viral. What started out as one of those funny emails that said “why should I have to take a drug test to earn money at my job and people don’t have to take a drug test to get welfare?” That simple statement was emailed and facebooked across the nation and it has kind of grown it’s own legs because now it’s a good possibility that it may become law. The democrat amendment to the bill was also a classic “gotcha” move which said that all candidates for state and local office would have to take a drug test, which nobody seemed to mind. It was an interesting discussion. The bill passed 82-6 and is now on its way to the Senate. Some other issues that have been discussed in the House of Representatives this week include:
House Votes to Fund Bridge Repair, Increase Safety.
State lawmakers have voted to dramatically reduce the backlog of bridges needing repair or replacement in Oklahoma.
House Bill 2248 would increase road funding in the coming fiscal year. Current law calls for an annual increase of $37.5 million in road funding. House Bill 2248 would hike that amount to $56.7 million, directing an additional $19.2 million to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund.
The bill directs that the fund continue receiving an additional $56.7 million each year until the total increase equals $550 million.
House Bill 2249 would direct 16 percent of vehicle licensing fees and penalties to the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges Fund, and increases that amount to 20 percent by 2013.
The CIRB program is currently funded with 15 percent of the motor vehicle taxes and fees. House Bill 2249 would increase the estimated annual funding for the CIRB program from approximately $80 million to more than $105 million.
Currently, 706 of nearly 6,800 bridges on the state highway system are identified as structurally deficient. Of the 706 bridges, 413 are currently scheduled to be replaced in the next seven years, but 293 remain unfunded. Many of those bridges will be replaced if House Bill 2249 becomes law.
The two bills are part of Gov. Mary Fallin’s announced transportation agenda for the 2012 session.
House Bill 2248 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 86-2 vote.
House Bill 2249 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 89-1 vote.
Both bills now proceed to the state Senate.
House Approves Law Enforcement Pension Reforms.
Lawmakers have voted to put the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System on a path to long-term stability.
House Bill 2952 increases both the state and employee contributions to the OLERS plan by 1 percentage point apiece. The combined impact of those changes will provide an extra $1.42 million to the system annually.
OLERS employee contributions, as well as the employer contributions, have not been increased since the early 1980s.
The legislation also eliminates “half-based pay” for new employees. That practice allows a retiring member to use a higher base salary when calculating the final retirement benefits. Moreover, pay raises authorized for active members automatically produce a COLA of half the amount for retirees. As a result, “half-based pay” produces a special benefit unique and more generous than what occurs in all other systems.
Under House Bill 2952, benefits for all new members of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System will be calculated using the same formula as members of other state pension plans: years of service, actual pay and the pre-determined multiplier.
As recently as 2001, the OLERS system was more than 100-percent funded. However, since that time its financial status has continually deteriorated.
Currently, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System is 75-percent funded, and its financial standing is expected to continue to decline if no changes are made. Under House Bill 2952, the system will be 96-percent funded within 30 years.
House Bill 2952 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 84-3 vote. It now proceeds to the state Senate.
Open Carry Bill Gains House Approval.
Oklahomans may soon have the right to openly carry a firearm under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
House Bill 2522 would allow any individual who obtains a license to carry a firearm under the Oklahoma Self Defense Act to carry the weapon either openly or concealed.
Under the bill, the lawful open carrying of a handgun pursuant to the Oklahoma Self Defense Act could not be designated by any municipality or other political subdivision as disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace or a similar offense against public order.
House Bill 2522 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 85-9 vote and now proceeds to the state Senate.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
If you don’t like how things are done, change it. You’re not a tree.-Jim Rohn
House Votes to Fund Bridge Repair, Increase Safety.
State lawmakers have voted to dramatically reduce the backlog of bridges needing repair or replacement in Oklahoma.
House Bill 2248 would increase road funding in the coming fiscal year. Current law calls for an annual increase of $37.5 million in road funding. House Bill 2248 would hike that amount to $56.7 million, directing an additional $19.2 million to the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and Driver Safety Fund.
The bill directs that the fund continue receiving an additional $56.7 million each year until the total increase equals $550 million.
House Bill 2249 would direct 16 percent of vehicle licensing fees and penalties to the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges Fund, and increases that amount to 20 percent by 2013.
The CIRB program is currently funded with 15 percent of the motor vehicle taxes and fees. House Bill 2249 would increase the estimated annual funding for the CIRB program from approximately $80 million to more than $105 million.
Currently, 706 of nearly 6,800 bridges on the state highway system are identified as structurally deficient. Of the 706 bridges, 413 are currently scheduled to be replaced in the next seven years, but 293 remain unfunded. Many of those bridges will be replaced if House Bill 2249 becomes law.
The two bills are part of Gov. Mary Fallin’s announced transportation agenda for the 2012 session.
House Bill 2248 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 86-2 vote.
House Bill 2249 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 89-1 vote.
Both bills now proceed to the state Senate.
House Approves Law Enforcement Pension Reforms.
Lawmakers have voted to put the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System on a path to long-term stability.
House Bill 2952 increases both the state and employee contributions to the OLERS plan by 1 percentage point apiece. The combined impact of those changes will provide an extra $1.42 million to the system annually.
OLERS employee contributions, as well as the employer contributions, have not been increased since the early 1980s.
The legislation also eliminates “half-based pay” for new employees. That practice allows a retiring member to use a higher base salary when calculating the final retirement benefits. Moreover, pay raises authorized for active members automatically produce a COLA of half the amount for retirees. As a result, “half-based pay” produces a special benefit unique and more generous than what occurs in all other systems.
Under House Bill 2952, benefits for all new members of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System will be calculated using the same formula as members of other state pension plans: years of service, actual pay and the pre-determined multiplier.
As recently as 2001, the OLERS system was more than 100-percent funded. However, since that time its financial status has continually deteriorated.
Currently, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System is 75-percent funded, and its financial standing is expected to continue to decline if no changes are made. Under House Bill 2952, the system will be 96-percent funded within 30 years.
House Bill 2952 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 84-3 vote. It now proceeds to the state Senate.
Open Carry Bill Gains House Approval.
Oklahomans may soon have the right to openly carry a firearm under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
House Bill 2522 would allow any individual who obtains a license to carry a firearm under the Oklahoma Self Defense Act to carry the weapon either openly or concealed.
Under the bill, the lawful open carrying of a handgun pursuant to the Oklahoma Self Defense Act could not be designated by any municipality or other political subdivision as disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace or a similar offense against public order.
House Bill 2522 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on an 85-9 vote and now proceeds to the state Senate.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
If you don’t like how things are done, change it. You’re not a tree.-Jim Rohn
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Smart on Crime, Not Soft on Crime
It’s no secret that keeping bad people off our streets is expensive. For generations there was a fear by legislators that anything other than status quo would be perceived as soft on crime. Finally a plan was devised that would arm law enforcement with real tools that help them do their job and hopefully at the same time reduce costs of incarcerations.
Oklahoma’s statewide public safety plan to step up crime fighting activities by local police and require post-release supervision of all felons has received widespread support from state leaders and top local law enforcement officials.
Police chiefs, sheriffs, correctional officers and other stakeholders from across Oklahoma offered their support for House Bill 3052 at a Capitol event this week.
The state District Attorneys Association on Monday formally endorsed the legislation, writing in a letter to legislators that “HB 3052 offers a net benefit to our state, and this Association supports its passage.”
House Bill 3052 establishes a grant program to fund crime reduction initiatives by local law enforcement agencies, requires strict post-release supervision of all felons, and initiates a series of other strategic reforms designed to control prison growth in order to implement strategies proven to increase public safety.
The legislation is based on the recommendations of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), which found that Oklahoma has experienced a 30-percent increase in prison spending over the past decade but essentially no decrease in statewide violent crime. During that same time, the number of per capita police officers declined while the number of felons released from prison unsupervised increased.
House Bill 3052’s grant program seeks to reduce violent crime statewide by 10 percent in five years by allowing local law enforcement agencies to apply for funds for crime fighting initiatives in high-crime areas. The recommended grant program would send $40 million to local law enforcement agencies over the next ten years.
House Bill 3052 also requires at least nine months of post-release supervision for any felon who leaves prison. Oklahoma has no such requirement currently and as a result, 51 percent of felons who leave prison do so without any supervision. A majority of felons who offend again do so within their first year of release from prison.
House Bill 3052 would also impose faster, stricter sanctions on felons who commit technical violations of their probation programs. Technical violations are violations of the terms and conditions of probation, such as curfew violations, positive drug tests, failure to attend treatment or other issues. Upon a first-time technical violation, an offender would immediately be sent to an intermediate revocation facility where they would undergo extensive treatment programs for six months in order to address substance abuse and behavioral issues. Offenders who have shown a propensity for violence would go to prison rather than an intermediate revocation facility.
House Bill 3052 also has provisions that would help correctional officers by reducing unruly inmate behavior in prisons. In addition to requiring at least nine months of post-release supervision of all felons, the bill would allow credits earned for good behavior to be applied only after certain offenders serve 85 percent of their sentence. The bill does not change 85 percent crime sentences.
Gov. Mary Fallin requested more funding for mental health beds in her executive budget, which mirrors a recommendation in the JRI report to increase mental health services as a way to support law enforcement. A current shortage of mental health beds is forcing police officers to drive mental health patients to available beds hundreds of miles away.
During this year’s appropriations process, legislative leaders plan to pursue funding for additional mental health beds and startup dollars for the law enforcement grant program, as well as other components of House Bill 3052.
House Bill 3052 gained approval in the House Appropriations and Budget Committee this week and now goes to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
No man suffers injustice without learning, vaguely but surely, what justice is. ~Isaac Rosenfeld
Oklahoma’s statewide public safety plan to step up crime fighting activities by local police and require post-release supervision of all felons has received widespread support from state leaders and top local law enforcement officials.
Police chiefs, sheriffs, correctional officers and other stakeholders from across Oklahoma offered their support for House Bill 3052 at a Capitol event this week.
The state District Attorneys Association on Monday formally endorsed the legislation, writing in a letter to legislators that “HB 3052 offers a net benefit to our state, and this Association supports its passage.”
House Bill 3052 establishes a grant program to fund crime reduction initiatives by local law enforcement agencies, requires strict post-release supervision of all felons, and initiates a series of other strategic reforms designed to control prison growth in order to implement strategies proven to increase public safety.
The legislation is based on the recommendations of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), which found that Oklahoma has experienced a 30-percent increase in prison spending over the past decade but essentially no decrease in statewide violent crime. During that same time, the number of per capita police officers declined while the number of felons released from prison unsupervised increased.
House Bill 3052’s grant program seeks to reduce violent crime statewide by 10 percent in five years by allowing local law enforcement agencies to apply for funds for crime fighting initiatives in high-crime areas. The recommended grant program would send $40 million to local law enforcement agencies over the next ten years.
House Bill 3052 also requires at least nine months of post-release supervision for any felon who leaves prison. Oklahoma has no such requirement currently and as a result, 51 percent of felons who leave prison do so without any supervision. A majority of felons who offend again do so within their first year of release from prison.
House Bill 3052 would also impose faster, stricter sanctions on felons who commit technical violations of their probation programs. Technical violations are violations of the terms and conditions of probation, such as curfew violations, positive drug tests, failure to attend treatment or other issues. Upon a first-time technical violation, an offender would immediately be sent to an intermediate revocation facility where they would undergo extensive treatment programs for six months in order to address substance abuse and behavioral issues. Offenders who have shown a propensity for violence would go to prison rather than an intermediate revocation facility.
House Bill 3052 also has provisions that would help correctional officers by reducing unruly inmate behavior in prisons. In addition to requiring at least nine months of post-release supervision of all felons, the bill would allow credits earned for good behavior to be applied only after certain offenders serve 85 percent of their sentence. The bill does not change 85 percent crime sentences.
Gov. Mary Fallin requested more funding for mental health beds in her executive budget, which mirrors a recommendation in the JRI report to increase mental health services as a way to support law enforcement. A current shortage of mental health beds is forcing police officers to drive mental health patients to available beds hundreds of miles away.
During this year’s appropriations process, legislative leaders plan to pursue funding for additional mental health beds and startup dollars for the law enforcement grant program, as well as other components of House Bill 3052.
House Bill 3052 gained approval in the House Appropriations and Budget Committee this week and now goes to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
If you would like to contact me at the Capitol, feel free to call 1-800-522-8502 or email me at donarmes@okhouse.gov
And here’s a little something to think about as you go down the road:
No man suffers injustice without learning, vaguely but surely, what justice is. ~Isaac Rosenfeld
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.JPG)