House Bill 1875 likely will be heard in the early part of the 2014 legislative session, which begins Feb. 2. The bill is one of four legislative priorities the Oklahoma City Council will push forward next year. The council’s state and federal legislative agendas were approved at the Nov. 5 council meeting. The priorities were […]
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The anti-Obama premium
I am no fan of President Obama. There are many reasons to be concerned about his administration: IRS abuse, Obamacare, domestic spying on citizens and so on. However, trying to associate our state’s infrastructure issues — such as our Capitol building or weigh stations — with something Obama would do is ridiculous. This ultimately will […]
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No toke over the line
Gov. Mary Fallin recently signed a new law that makes it illegal for drivers to have even a trace of marijuana in their blood, saliva or urine while in control of a vehicle. Technically, beginning Oct. 1, someone could smoke a joint on Saturday and then get arrested for drunken driving the following Monday morning […]
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Reel jobs
On May 24 — the final day of this year’s session — the state House voted against extension of the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program, which provides incentives for qualifiying film productions that spend money on Oklahoma goods and services. Before the vote, House Democratic Leader Scott Inman of Del City called the Democrats in […]
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Death by a thousand cuts
Oh, but it can. The state Legislature this session passed House Bill 2032 to decrease the maximum Oklahoma personal income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 5 percent in 2015 and then again to 4.85 percent in 2016 if there is sufficient revenue growth. When fully implemented, the Oklahoma Tax Commission estimates the measure will […]
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Taking cover
“Had we had a safe room, it would have been our procedure for our students to be there,” said Amy Simpson, Plaza Towers’ principal, at a tearful May 24 news conference. “My school will have a safe room when it’s rebuilt.” Her sentiments were echoed by Briarwood Principal Shelley McMillin. “What we normally do is […]
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Miracle on 23rd Street: a tax cut
The long-expected agreement on this year’s scheme proposes to drop Oklahoma’s personal income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 5 percent effective Jan. 1, 2015. The net effect will be to provide a family of four earning about $40,000 an additional 50 cents a day in their pockets. This is not even “trickledown” economics, it’s […]
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Dead or alive
Although House leadership this session quashed bills that sought to outlaw texting while driving, proponents of the legislation tried again last week. No go. An amendment that would have limited the ban to school zones, work zones and intersections failed, too. Faring better was a plan to let teachers and other school personnel arm themselves […]
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Accord struck
Fallin joined House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, and Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, yesterday afternoon to announce an agreement on those measures, which still must receive approval from the full House and Senate. “We’ve been working on common goals to create a more vibrant environment for our citizens and businesses,” Fallin said at […]
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Point: Time to fix workers’ comp
Our current system makes employers and employees adversaries while impairing the rehabilitation of injured workers, burdening families and placing a heavy drag on Oklahoma’s economy and productivity. Ours is a system where everyone loses: the employers, the taxpayers and, most importantly, the injured workers themelves. For example, our system devotes more resources to litigation and […]