By Constitution Staff

Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats in Oklahoma for the first time in state history according to official annual voter registration statistics released January 15, State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said. The state's official voter registration statistics are counted every year on January 15. The count showed 2,030,277 registered voters as of Jan. 15, 2015. Republicans accounted for 43.6 percent of registered voters. Democrats made up 43.5 percent, and Independents were 12.9 percent. Nine voters are registered as Americans Elect, a political organization which qualified as a political party in 2012 but lost its party status after failing to field a candidate in the 2012 Presidential Election. There are 886,153 Republicans, 882,686 Democrats and 261,429 are not registered with a party. When statewide voter registration records were first compiled in Oklahoma in 1960, about 82 percent of voters were Democrats compared to less than 18 percent Republicans.

Chickasaw License Plate Compact

On October 23, 2014, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby announced that the state and the tribe signed a compact to offer "Chickasaw Nation" license plates to Chickasaw citizens. Anoatubby said that many Chickasaw citizens have requested license plates which recognize their tribal citizenship. "We are very pleased to work with the state to offer Chickasaw Nation license plates," said Anoatubby. "These tags offer Chickasaw citizens a very visible way to demonstrate their pride in being Chickasaw, while keeping vehicle tag funding for schools, roads, state employee retirement, wildlife conservation and other state programs intact." Fallin said the compact is another example of the state of Oklahoma working together with the Chickasaw Nation on a project which benefits both the tribe and the state. "The Chickasaw Nation and the state of Oklahoma are partners on issues as diverse as health care, transportation and education," said Fallin. Under the compact, Chickasaw tags will be sold exclusively at state-licensed tag agencies across Oklahoma. Chickasaws who want to purchase the tags will present their Chickasaw Nation citizenship card and pay the same fees and taxes any other Oklahoman would pay. After the transaction, the Chickasaw Nation will issue a rebate for a portion of the fees and taxes to each Chickasaw citizen purchasing the tag designed by the Chickasaw Nation.

Study on Earthquakes

A legislative study held last fall at the Oklahoma State Capitol outlined the progress of research into cause of the increased incidence of earthquakes in Oklahoma. State Rep. Mark McBride ( R-Moore) said the experts recommended limiting high volume injection wells in basement rock, a process that correlates with what the Oklahoma Corporation Commission is already doing. "The Oklahoma Corporation Commission currently checks proposed injection wells to see if there is a risk for causing earthquakes," said McBride,. "We agree that there is a need to examine high volume injection wells in basement rock. Those wells don't represent a large portion of the wells in Oklahoma, so it could be a way to focus our efforts to ensure we get to the bottom of whether or not there is a connection between these wells and earthquakes." Currently, there is no scientific evidence that there is a correlation between the injection wells and seismic activity. "One thing we talked about is the possibility that either the current drought or just the large number of fault lines in the state have a lot to do with the seismic activity, not necessarily injection wells," said state Rep. Colby Schwartz (R-Yukon). "We have to take every possibility seriously until the science can show us what is happening here." The oil and gas industry is currently providing a ton of data that is giving scientists the ability to get to the bottom of the question, McBride said. "The study reassured us that the Corporation Commission and governor's Coordinating Council are working hard to research and oversee injection wells in Oklahoma," McBride said.

AG Pruitt Immigration Lawsuit

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt announced on December 9 that Oklahoma was suing over President Obama's unconstitutional executive actions on immigration. "The president's executive actions on immigration are unlawful and unconstitutional. The constitution doesn't give the president the power or authority to rewrite our nation's immigration laws but that is exactly what the president is trying to do through his executive actions -- even though he's said numerous times he doesn't have any such authority. It takes two branches of government to pass a law. The president has a constitutional responsibility to faithfully execute the laws as passed by Congress and he is not. Oklahoma will work to hold the president accountable and stop his unconstitutional executive actions on immigration," Attorney General Pruitt said. Oklahoma joined the multistate lawsuit filed in federal district court in Texas. The states that are a part of the lawsuit are seeking a temporary injunction to halt the executive actions the president announced in November. "Attorneys general from across the nation recognize the president's actions violate the constitution and are joining together in this lawsuit to seek an immediate end to his unconstitutional action," Attorney General Pruitt said. The states argue the president's unilateral executive action violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law by bypassing Congress in order to rewrite U.S. immigration laws.

Oklahoma Abortion Doctor Arrested

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt announced December 9 that an Oklahoma City area abortion doctor was arrested on fraud charges for prescribing abortion-inducing drugs to patients who were not pregnant. Dr. Naresh G. Patel, operating the Outpatient Services for Women clinic in Warr Acres, faces three counts of obtaining money under a false pretense.

Undercover agents from the Oklahoma Medical Licensure Board, the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Attorney General's Office set up appointments with Patel. The doctor performed ultrasounds and pregnancy tests on the women where he is alleged to have fraudulently identified each undercover agent as pregnant. Afterward, he prescribed them an abortion-inducing drug, provided directions for administering it and charged the female agents for the unnecessary treatment.

"This type of fraudulent activity and blatant disregard for the health and well-being of Oklahoma women will not be tolerated," Attorney General Pruitt said. If convicted, Patel could face up to three years in jail and a maximum fine of $15,000. An investigation into Patel's dubious practices arose from a complaint that he had performed an abortion procedure on Pamela King, even though she was not pregnant. King was diagnosed and died from complications of cervical cancer later that year, and her autopsy determined that she had not been pregnant in the time frame that the abortion procedure occurred.

Dr. Ben Carson to Deliver Address

World-renowned surgeon and rising conservative star Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., will be the featured speaker at the Capitol Day Gala on February 10 in Oklahoma City. The Gala is a dinner event hosted by the Oklahoma Christian Home Educators' Consociation (OCHEC) as they celebrate thirty successful years of the Oklahoma Home Educator's Capitol Day, an annual event held at the state Capitol and organized by OCHEC to bring home education to the forefront of state issues among lawmakers. "Dr. Carson is a movement conservative whose values Oklahomans not only identify with, but overwhelmingly support," said Cindy Nicolai, legislative liaison for OCHEC. "Dr. Carson is helping lead our nation back to its foundational values of faith, freedom and family. No one in the nation is articulating those values more clearly than Dr. Carson, and whether you home educate your children or not, this dinner is a rare opportunity to hear a highly sought-after conservative whose message will give you hope for America's future."

Carson oversaw pediatric neurosurgery for 40 years at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. He retired in 2013 and today serves as Professor Emeritus of Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University. In 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President George W. Bush. The Gala will be held at the Cox/Renaissance Convention Center located at 10 N. Broadway Ave. in Oklahoma City. There will be a reception at 5:30 P.M. Dinner will be served at 6:30 P.M. Carson will be available for photos at the Gala reception. Following the dinner, he will be signing copies of his books. Tickets for the event can be purchased online at www.OCHEC-Capitol-Day-Gala.eventbrite.com

American Christian Leadership Conference

The American Christian Leadership Conference will beheld on Friday, February 13. In previous years the event was called Clouds Over America. There will be sessions beginning in the morning at 8:00 A.M. and running through the day. Then, starting at 6:30 P.M., the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC) will hold the annual legislative awards banquet. Legislators are nominated for the various awards based on their conservative ratings on the Oklahoma Conservative Index published by the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper. The outstanding lawmaker awards are then selected by a vote of the OCPAC members. The bills used to score the legislators on the Conservative Index are also based on a vote by the members of OCPAC. The keynote speaker at the banquet will be William (Bill) Federer from St Louis Missouri. Feder is one of America's finest speakers and greatest historians. The event will be at a new location this year, Christian Heritage Academy at 4400 S.E. 27th St. Del City, OK. The conference itself will be free this year, only the banquet will have a charge. The cost to attend will be $23 for adults and $17 for students. Folks can mail a check made out to: "OCPAC Club" P.O. Box 2021, Edmond OK 73083, pay at an OCPAC meeting on a Wednesday, or for last minute reservations call: (405) 348-9991. Reservations deadline is Wednesday, February 11th at 5:00 P.M.

Fleecing of Taxpayers through Disaster Declarations

Before U.S. Senator Tom Coburn left office he released a report entitled: An Imperfect Storm: How the Outdated Federal Rules Distort the Disaster Declaration Process and Fleece Taxpayers. The report details how FEMA's failure to update critical rules and regulations has led to a dramatic rise in the number of federally-declared disasters and taken disaster recovery spending to new extremes. "The current trend in which the federal government has assumed increasing responsibility for funding disaster recovery is simply unsustainable," Dr. Coburn said. "In the past, states have considered the federal government a last resort in the wake of catastrophic events, relied on only under circumstances in which their recovery capacities were truly overwhelmed." Today however, more disasters are being declared than ever as states and local communities have become increasingly reliant on federal aid. At one point last year, there were 33 states with active disaster zones across the United States. Of these 33 disasters, eighteen were for winter storms where a large portion of the estimated damages included snow removal after a few inches of snow.

A review of FEMA's process for determining when the President should declare a disaster reveals that bureaucracy and politics are largely responsible for the increasing frequency of declared disasters, not Mother Nature. FEMA primarily relies on a single criterion, the per capita damage indicator (PCDI), to determine whether to recommend that a jurisdiction receive public assistance funding from the federal government -- despite regulations outlining a total of six factors in the evaluation process. Furthermore, FEMA has failed to adjust the indicator for inflation. Had FEMA updated its per capita damage indicator using the consumer price index from 1986 to 1999, 45 percent of the 175 declared disasters since 2011would not have been declared. More simply, it means nearly half of all recently declared disasters would not qualify for federal help because the rules have not been updated for inflation. FEMA has spent over $880 million more in disaster recovery since 2011 than it otherwise would have.

Harvey Sparks Joins Russell Staff

Former 5th District congressional candidate Harvey Sparks has joined the staff of the winner of the race, Congressman Steve Russell. Sparks will be a legislative aide to the congressman, advising him in certain areas of policy. Before running for Congress, Sparks was an assistant to First District Congressman Jim Bridenstine. Sparks, who is an ordained minister, spent his earlier career in the ministry serving as a pastor at churches in Oklahoma City, Norman, and Tulsa. He also served two years as a missionary in southern Africa with his wife, Jenifer.

Inhofe Announces Staff Changes

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe announced staff changes in his office in Washington, D.C. John Bonsell is returning to the staff as Deputy Chief of Staff. Bonsell will work together with Ryan Jackson, the current chief of staff, to support Inhofe's staff and priorities, especially as it pertains to military policy. Bonsell was the minority staff director for the Armed Services Committee (SASC) in the 113th Congress when Inhofe served as the ranking member. Bonsell, a retired Army colonel, served as Inhofe's military legislative assistant from 2001 to 2007 and rejoined the staff again in 2012 as Inhofe's legislative director. Anthony J. Lazarski, "Lazer" is returning to Inhofe's staff as the Senior Advisor for Military, Foreign Relations, and Veterans Affairs. Prior to this assignment, Lazarski, a retired Air Force colonel, was a Professional Staff Member on SASC. From 2007 to 2012, Lazarski served as Inhofe's military legislative assistant. Luke Holland has been promoted to Legislative Director. In his new role, he will be responsible for shaping and implementing the legislative agenda in Inhofe's personal office and in coordination with Inhofe' assigned committees. Holland has worked for Inhofe since 2009, specializing in agriculture, aviation, energy and tax policy. Holland is a native of Bartlesville, OK nd graduated summa cum luade from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of science in finance.

Lankford Announces Senior Staff

Sen. James Lankford announced the appointment of senior staff to his Senate office: Greg Slavonic as Chief-of-Staff, Michelle Altman as Legislative Director, D.J. Jordan as Communications Director, Linda Good as Administrative Director, and Mona Taylor as State Director.

Slavonic will continue serving as Chief-of-Staff of Lankford's Senate office after being appointed to the same role in Lankford's House office in September. Slavonic is an accomplished Navy veteran with over two decades of service, who rose to the rank of Rear Admiral. After retirement, he worked as Advertising Director for The Journal Record and senior account executive for NBC affiliate television station, KFOR-TV. Slavonic later served as adjunct professor in the Communications Department of the University of Central Oklahoma. Slavonic earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University and a Masters degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Altman will continue serving as Legislative Director, after serving in the same role in Lankford's House office. Altman has served Oklahoma's Fifth District for eight years, first with former Congresswoman Mary Fallin during two terms in Congress and then during Lankford's four years as U.S. Representative. Altman graduated from Franklin & Marshall College, in Pennsylvania.

Jordan will serve as Communications Director, after serving in the same role for the U.S. House Committee on Small Business under the chairmanship of Congressman Sam Graves (R-Mo.). Jordan was a press aide for Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) before serving on the Small Business Committee. Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, he worked in broadcast journalism at CNN and later Fox News. Jordan obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University, in Virginia, and a Masters of Public Management from The Johns Hopkins University.

Good will serve as Administrative Director, and brings over 18 years of Congressional experience to the team. She started her career on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where she spent 12 years in various administrative roles. Good most recently served as the Chief Clerk on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform under Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).

Taylor will serve as State Director, after working as Lankford's District Director for the Fifth Congressional District of Oklahoma. Before joining Lankford's office directly following his election to the House of Representatives, Taylor worked for the FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. She started her career in government by doing constituent service for Congressman Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.). In all, Taylor has served 27 years in the Oklahoma Congressional delegation, including with Congressmen Frank Lucas, J.C. Watts, and Tom Cole. Taylor is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma and is a life-long resident of the Sooner State.

Lankford Senate Committee Assignments

U.S. Sen. James Lankford will serve on four Senate Committees in the 114th Congress: the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Indian Affairs. The Committee on Appropriations is the largest committee in the Senate, and is widely considered one of the most powerful Committees in Congress. The Committee produces legislation that allocates funds for the federal government on an annual basis and uses the power of the purse to conduct regular oversight through the funding process. The last Oklahoman to serve on the committee was Senator Don Nickles. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs maintains broad jurisdiction over the operations of the federal government, as well as specific oversight responsibility over the Department of Homeland Security. Senator Tom Coburn served as the most senior Republican on the committee. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence provides legislation to authorize, fund, and oversee all American intelligence-gathering operations. The committee produces legislation that authorizes funding for the intelligence agencies and provides numerous legal authorities and requirements. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has jurisdiction to study the challenges of American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native communities.

Lankford Co-Chairman of Prayer Caucus

In January, Senator James Lankford was named co-chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. The Caucus works to protect the fundamental human right of religious freedom and guards the right of individuals to pray and practice their faith freely. "The Congressional Prayer Caucus has worked successfully to advocate for and protect values that are fundamental to the fabric of our nation, and I'm honored to serve as co-chairman," said Lankford. "This Caucus has worked together on a bipartisan basis to preserve the presence of religion, faith, and morality in the marketplace of ideas. It is vitally important that Congress respects these values in public policy, as well as culture." Lankford becomes the first senator to join the Caucus since its founding in 2005, making the Caucus bicameral. Lankford first joined the Caucus after his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010.

The Congressional Prayer Caucus exists to recognize the vital role that prayer by individuals of all faiths has played in uniting us as a people, and in making us a more generous, more cooperative, and more forgiving people than we might otherwise have been; and also to support Members in using the legislative process to continue to protect religious freedom so that our nation may continue to draw upon and benefit from this essential freedom. Rep. J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) is the founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. During the 113th Congress, Forbes and former Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC) served as the co-chairmen. For the 114th Congress, the Prayer Caucus maintains a bipartisan group of more than 80 Members. The Caucus started in 2005 when Forbes gathered a small group of Members of the House who began meeting in Room 219 of the Capitol to pray for our nation.

Lankford Co-Sponsors Local Control of Education Bill

U.S. Senator James Lankford is co-sponsoring the "Local Leadership in Education Act," a bill that would protect states and local school districts from increased federal intrusion. This is Lankford's first legislation co-sponsorship as a United States Senator. "It is time for a major re-write of No Child Left Behind and the return of state innovation in education. Ever-expanding national education mandates are a prime example of a Washington-knows-best philosophy that does more harm than good in local communities across America," said Lankford. "The eyes of the nation are on Oklahoma since our state rejected the Common Core national standard in 2014. Now, Oklahoma state leaders, teachers, parents and administrators must develop and implement the best education policies for our children. The Local Leadership in Education Act takes a first step to ensure Oklahoma continues to have the authority to develop standards that work best for our children."

The legislation would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to prohibit the federal government from: Mandating, directing, or controlling academic standards or curriculum; Incentivizing the adoption of any specific standards; Conditioning the availability of financial support on adoption of any specific instructional content, standards, curriculum etc. or administration of tests to students; and Requiring states to test students annually. The author of this legislation is Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), and other co-sponsors include: Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY).

Steering Committee on Justice Reform

In January, Gov. Mary Fallin in cooperation with legislative leaders issued an executive order establishing a special committee to help steer reforms to deal with nonviolent offenders with substance abuse problems and mental health issues. Two days after declaring in her inaugural address that the state must deal with over-incarceration, Fallin formed the Oklahoma Justice Reform Steering Committee. The six-member committee will be made up of the governor, the attorney general, the Senate president pro tempore, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the director of the state Department of Corrections and the commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, or their designees. The governor or her designee will serve as chairman."According to all measures, Oklahoma has some of the highest incarceration rates in the country," said Fallin. "Many of our inmates are non-violent offenders with drug abuse and alcohol problems who need treatment. Offering treatment can help them return to their communities as sober, healthy adults ready to support themselves and their families. This will reduce poverty, keep families together and help people with mental health and substance abuse problems get their lives back on track." Fallin said in her inaugural speech that many of the state's inmates are non-violent offenders with drug abuse and alcohol problems and don't need to be housed in prisons where they can join gangs and acquire criminal networks. The committee is to present its findings to the governor and the legislative leaders by Dec. 31, 2016.

Oklahoma Legislative Leaders

On January 6, the Oklahoma Legislature convened for Organizational Day and opened the First Session of the 55th Legislature by formally re-electing its leaders. In the Oklaoma House, Rep. Jeff Hickman (R-Dacoma) was elected for a second term as Speaker of the House. Hickman is the 43rd House member to serve as speaker since Oklahoma was granted statehood in 1907 and the seventh Republican speaker in state history. The House also elected Rep. Lee Denney (R-Cushing) to serve as Speaker Pro Tempore. Denney is a veterinarian and has served as chair of the Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee for the past six years. She is the second woman in Oklahoma history to hold this office, both of which have been Republican. Hickman has a lifetime average of 59% on the Oklahoma Conservative Index which covers 10 years in office. Rep. Lee Denney has a lifetime rating of a 56%. In the Oklahoma Senate, Sen. Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa) was formally re-elected to serve a third term as President Pro Tempore during the state Senate's Organizational Day. Sen. Bingman has a 60% average score on the Conservative Index.

Oklahoma House Majority Leaders

Oklahoma House Speaker Jeff Hickman (R-Fairview) named state Rep. Charles Ortega (R-Altus) to serve as Majority Floor Leader. Ortega, who served as Assistant Majority Floor Leader during the 2014 legislative session, will be responsible for reviewing legislation and overseeing the process to determine which bills will be heard on the House floor. In addition, Hickman named state Reps. Jason Nelson (R-Oklahoma City) and Lisa Billy (R-Lindsay) to serve as Floor Leaders. Nelson and Billy will be responsible for developing the calendar and directing floor activity, including the scheduling of bills and resolutions for votes on the floor. Finally, Hickman appointed state Rep. Gary Banz (R-Midwest City) to serve as Majority Whip, responsible for assisting the floor leaders and for ensuring that votes are in place and members are in attendance. The whip also serves as a sounding board for members who may have concerns on upcoming legislation. Rep. Nelson has a 70% average score on the Oklahoma Conservative Index. Rep. Billy has a 58% average score, and Rep. Banz sports a 71 percent.

Oklahoma House Democrat Leaders

Oklahoma House Minority Leader Scott Inman announced in January that the state House Democratic leadership will include a new face this year. Rep. David Perryman of Chickasha replaced former Rep. Curtis McDaniel as the Democratic Caucus Secretary. Rep. McDaniel of Smithville left the House last year after serving two terms to make an unsuccessful race for an open Senate seat. Returning members of the Democrat team include: Inman, of Del City, who was first elected House Democratic Leader in May 2009; Rep. Eric Proctor of Tulsa, Assistant Democratic Leader; Rep. Ben Sherrer of Chouteau, Minority Floor Leader; Rep. Jerry McPeak of Warner, Caucus Chairman; Rep. Steve Kouplen of Beggs, Caucus Vice Chairman; and Rep. Chuck Hoskin of Vinita, Caucus Whip. Rep. Inman has a 44% average score on the Oklahoma Conservative Index. Rep. Proctor scored 52%, Rep. McPeak 32%, Rep. Kouplen 44%, Rep. Hoskin 27%, and Rep. Perryman scored 50%.

Oklahoma Senate Republican Leaders

Senate Republicans met in caucus to elect their leadership team for the 55th Oklahoma Legislature. Sen. Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa), who was reelected as President Pro Tempore of the Senate announced that Sen. Mike Schulz (R-Altus) will continue to serve as Majority Floor Leader. Majority Caucus Chair Bryce Marlatt (R-Woodward) and Majority Caucus Vice Chair A.J. Griffin (R-Guthrie) were also elected without opposition. Sen. Schulz has a 65% average score on the Oklahoma Conservative Index, Sen. Marlett 65%, and Sen. Griffin 69 percent.

Oklahoma Senate Democrat Leaders

Senate Democrat Leader Randy Bass (D-Lawton) unveiled caucus leadership positions for the 55th Legislature. Bass said his members would use those roles to ensure all Oklahomans have a voice at the state Capitol. "As the minority party, we know that we aren't always able to press our agenda or tout big legislative wins," said Bass. "However, we are able to provide balance where there isn't any and contrast when it is needed." Named Assistant Democrat Leaders are Sen. Charles Wyrick (D-Fairland) and Sen. Earl Garrison (D-Muskogee). The Democrat Caucus Chair is Sen. Kay Floyd (D-Oklahoma City), and Sen. Wyrick is also the Democrat Vice Caucus Chair. Sen. Bass has a 29% average score on the Oklahoma Conservative Index, Sen. Wyrick 25%, and Sen. Garrison 35%. Sen. Floyd was just elected to the Senate after serving in the House where her score was 15 percent.

Cell Phones While Driving

State Sen. Ron Sharp (R-Shawnee) filed legislation banning the use of cell phones or other handheld devices to text, email or call while driving. Senate Bill 67 would make it a misdemeanor to use a handheld device while behind the wheel. Violators would face up to a $1,000 fine or up to a year in jail, or both. The measure would enable law enforcement officers to cite drivers for using the devices as a secondary offense. Sharp said Oklahoma is one of only six states that has no laws on the books specifically addressing texting while driving. Although texting while behind the wheel causes distracted driving, and thus is covered under the current inattentive driving law just like applying makeup or eating while driving, Sharp says the current law is inadequate to address the problem. While the legislation would apply to all handheld device use while operating a moving motor vehicle, it would not apply to the use of Bluetooth technology that would allow for hands-free operation to communicate while driving. Similar legislation has been filed in previous years, but has never made it to the governor's desk.

Hoodie Bill

State Sen. Don Barrington (R-Lawton) introduced Senate Bill 13 which would make it a crime to wear a "robe, mask or other disguise" in public that would "intentionally conceal the wearer's identity." Violators would face fines from $50 to $500. Some have interpreted the measure to include hooded sweatshirts, or "hoodies." Many media reports have also said that the bill includes "hoodies." But Sen. Barrington says that the word "hoodie" is not mentioned in the legislation, except for a reference to hoods in the first section of the bill. "The bill is not designed to ban hoodies, but to prevent the wearing of masks or disguises in the commission of a crime," says Barrington. The bill provides a number of exceptions which include religious garments, Halloween celebrations, parades, weather protection and other circumstances. Because hooded garments, or hoodies, are often worn as weather protection and not for the purposes of intentional concealment, Barrington says it is unlikely to be considered a disguise under the bill. "This is simply an attempt to combat crime and make businesses and public spaces safer for everyone," he said.

Extending Term Limits

A constitutional amendment filed by state Rep. Paul Wesselhöft (R-Moore) would ask voters whether or not they want to replace the current 12-year term limits with 16-year term limits. Wesselhöft said House Joint Resolution 1007 would give Oklahomans a chance to cultivate more experience in their state legislators. "Each time we term out we lose good people with a great deal of knowledge and leadership," said Wesselhöft. "This empowers the lobbyist and the directors of agencies, which gives them too much influence over government. This bill will not apply to any of the representatives voting on it. This is for future legislators only." Current term limits were approved by voters in 1990. Wesselhöft, newly appointed as chair of the House Elections and Ethics Committee, said he expects numerous election reform bills to be heard in committee this year. "There is a lot of support for reform," he said. Constitutional amendments are not subject to the governor's veto, but must be passed by both houses of the Legislature before going to a vote of the people.

Bill to Change Legislative Process

State Rep. Randy Grau (R-Oklahoma City) filed a constitutional amendment that, if approved by lawmakers and then voters, would significantly change the legislative process.

House Joint Resolution 1001 would restrict state lawmakers from taking up policy issues and constitutional amendments in even-numbered years, unless the legislation received a three-fourths vote. "There is a lot of momentum right now for a better budget process," said Grau,. "The best way to improve that process is to cut down the number of distractions, at least for one year out of every two. In the years in which the budget was the exclusive goal, your state lawmakers will have four months, as opposed to two weeks, to engage in a meaningful review of government needs and a thorough discussion on funding priorities." Allowing for an exemption with broad support provides the flexibility needed to address emergency policy issues, Grau said.

"Another benefit of the change would be a reduction in the number of new laws passed," Grau said. "Considering policy changes every other year will help ensure that legislators focus on what is most important to Oklahomans." Constitutional amendments are not subject to the governor's veto, but must be passed by both houses of the Legislature before going to a vote of the people.

Court Upholds Tax Cut Bill

Attorney General Scott Pruitt commended the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling on December 2 which upheld as constitutional a measure that will reduce the state income tax. "I am grateful for the outcome. The Oklahoma Supreme Court sided with our position and upheld the intent of the voters in passing State Question 640 to prevent tax increases. This was the right decision by the court and is great news for all Oklahomans. The Attorney General's Office is proud to have successfully defended this income tax cut bill which will let Oklahomans keep more of their hard-earned paychecks," Attorney General Scott Pruitt said. Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman (R-Sapulpa) also applauded the ruling that Senate Bill 1246 does not violate the state Constitution. Bingman was the principal author of the measure, which will reduce the state's income tax rate as Oklahoma's revenues grow. "The language and intent of State Question 640 are very clear -- to prevent tax increases without a vote of the people or a supermajority."

Passed on a statewide ballot by voters in 1992 as an amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution, SQ 640 was intended to make it more difficult for the state Legislature to increase taxes. According to the provision, all proposals increasing state taxes must either be sent to a vote of the people or receive three-fourths approval in both houses of the Legislature. Such measures also cannot be approved in the final five days of the legislative session. At question was the fate of Senate Bill 1246, an income tax reduction measure passed by the Legislature during the 2014 session. The new statute's constitutionality has been challenged in a lawsuit on the grounds that it did not comply with the requirements of SQ 640. If the Court were to rule against SB 1246 on the grounds that tax relief measures must meet the same standards of SQ 640 as tax increases, numerous previous tax reductions could be overturned, including: income tax reductions, estate tax repeal, increases in the standard deduction, gross production tax rate reductions, manufacturing exemptions, and tax relief for retirees, military veterans and disabled veterans.

Court Upholds Capitol Restoration Funding

Below are statements from officials at the in response to On December 15 the Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld House Joint Resolution 1033, which provides $120 million in bond funding through a 10-year bond issue to begin restoring the State Capitol. "We're thrilled the court made the wise, easy choice to uphold funding for this critical project. I'm looking forward to personally welcoming Mr. Fent and all Oklahomans to their wonderfully restored State Capitol once this project is complete," said Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) Director Preston Doerflinger. House Speaker Jeff Hickman, the principle author of House Joint Resolution 1033, said:"I concur with the decision made by the Supreme Court after it heard arguments regarding HJR 1033." Oklahoma City attorney Jerry Fent had challenged the constitutionality of how the legislation was passed by the Legislature.

Contractor Selected to Repair Capitol Exterior

In December, the State of Oklahoma selected JE Dunn Construction to repair and restore the deteriorating exterior of the 97-year-old State Capitol. The company received the top score of the three teams that participated in the state's competitive selection process. Work should begin in the spring and will be overseen by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), which manages the Capitol and is the state's central operations and finance agency. "JE Dunn presented a highly impressive, comprehensive proposal to repair and restore the Capitol's exterior to its original grandeur," said OMES Director Preston Doerflinger. "Oklahoma will be receiving world-class solutions to the litany of problems facing the outside of our Capitol. The Capitol is our front door to the world and we're confident this partnership will help make us as proud of it today as we were when it opened nearly a century ago."

The maximum value of the contract is $25 million. It will be awarded upon the state's receipt of proceeds from the first sale of bonds under House Joint Resolution 1033, which authorized a $120 million bond issue to begin repairing and restoring the Capitol. A separate contract for repairing and restoring the interior of the building will be awarded later. JE Dunn Construction is a leading, full service commercial construction company with offices in 20 cities, including Oklahoma City, and an extensive history in renovating historic structures nationwide. Among the 300 exterior projects in its portfolio are more than 30 National Register of Historic Places properties, including the state capitol buildings in Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon and Wyoming. JE Dunn has 24 projects currently active in Oklahoma.

Ten Commandments at State Capitol

On January 8, workers replaced the 2,400-pound granite Ten Commandments monument at the state Capitol. The original was destroyed on October 23 rd when a man suffering from mental illness deliberately ran his car into monument. State Rep. Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow), whose family paid the cost $10,000 for the original monument said: "While the destruction of the original monument was tragic, this replacement is identical in every respect and we look forward to it standing the test of time. This memorial and its installation are the result of private efforts and funds. The Suhor Industries has graciously agreed to construct and donate the monument again. As funds are received, we hope to attempt to reimburse them in the near future for their efforts." Ritze noted that the Ten Commandments are an important component of the foundation of the laws and legal system of the United States of America and of the State of Oklahoma and the courts of the United States of America and of various states frequently cite the Ten Commandments in published decisions. Aknowledgements of the role played by the Ten Commandments in our nation's heritage are common throughout America. In response to a lawsuit, an Oklahoma County judge ruled in September that the monument was constitutional. The original monument was erected in 2012 after House Bill 1330 by Ritze was enacted in 2009 by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by then-Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat. The design is copy of the monument at the Texas Capitol.

High Court to Review Gay Marriage

The United States Supreme Court jumped into the same-sex marriage debate again, deciding January 16 to hear arguments this spring on the question of whether states have the right to ban same-sex couples from getting married. The high court may rule whether the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law gives gay and lesbian couples a right to marry. The nine justices decided to review a 2-1 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit that upheld bans on same-sex marriage in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee. The decision by two judges on the Cincinnati-based court, both appointed by President George W. Bush, marked the first time a federal appeals court backed a same-sex marriage ban after other appellate courts had found similar bans unconstitutional. The ruling is in conflict with previous decisions issued by federal appeals courts in Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and Richmond, Virginia. Because the Supreme Court did not take up those appeals, gay marriage became legal in a large number of states last year, including Oklahoma which is under the court in Denver.

The high court will specifically address two questions: Does the 14th Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex? And does the 14th Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed in another state? With the recent addition of Florida, the 36 states and the District of Columbia that now allow gay marriage encompass 70 percent of the U.S. population. The Supreme Court's decision in the case may expand marriage rights in the remaining 14 states. Or, the decision could return the power back to each state to decide. A decision against gay marriage rights could have complicated ramifications since most of the states that issue gay-marriage licenses do so as a result of court rulings. A Supreme Court decision could nullify those decisions, raising questions about the rights of already-married couples. Both sides have urged the Supreme Court to resolve the disagreement among the lower courts. The Supreme Court is expected to rule by June.

First Oklahoma Same-sex Divorce

On October 15, an Oklahoma County special judge granted a divorce to Deanne R. Baker and Julie L. Baker. The two women live in Oklahoma City but were married in July 2012 in Iowa, where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2009. It is the first same-sex divorce in state history. A federal judge in January ruled Oklahoma's ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional and the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed July 18. On October 6, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the Tulsa County court clerk's appeal of that decision, which allowed same-sex weddings to begin in Oklahoma. Deanne Baker, an employee at Tinker Air Force Base, originally filed for divorce in July. A special judge granted the divorce on August 18, but then vacated the divorce decree the next day "upon further review of the laws of the state of Oklahoma." In his order vacating the divorce decree, the judge pointed to a 1997 law that prohibited Oklahoma from recognizing another state's same-sex marriage as valid. Deanne Baker said she decided to try again following the U.S. Supreme Court action.

State Provides Same-sex Benefits

The State of Oklahoma is now providing insurance coverage and other benefits for the "same-sex spouses" of its employees. A notice was issued to all state agencies in November saying: "State of Oklahoma employees may now add same sex-spouses as dependents to their current benefits plan, as well as eligible children. This change comes as the result of the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear cases from Oklahoma and four other states that banned same-sex marriage." In addition to covering the employee, the State of Oklahoma also provides a $671.77 per month benefit allowance to pay the insurance premiums for spouses of married employees.

No More Marriage Licenses

A bill filed by state Rep. Todd Russ (R-Cordell) would remove court clerks from having to issue licenses to same-sex couples, or any other couples. Under House Bill 1125, a religious official would sign a couple's marriage certificate which could then be filed with the court clerk. Also, marriages would no longer be performed by judges. If a couple does not want a religious official to perform their wedding, they could file an affidavit of common law marriage. Russ, who is an Assemblies of God minister, is upset with court rulings that require the states to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

Free Law Founders

The Free Law Founders (FLF) announced that Oklahoma Representative Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) and the Congressional Data Coalition have joined its ranks. A nation-wide group of elected officials, government workers, policy experts and civic technologists, the FLF exists to share resources and expertise around opening up laws, legislation, and the lawmaking process online so that citizens can access, understand, and help shape the policies that affect their lives. Over the past six years, Rep. Murphey has chaired the Oklahoma legislature's Committee on Government Modernization. An open government pioneer in the state, he introduced legislation applying the state's open information. He also successfully introduced legislation requiring the state's Chief Technology Officer to prioritize the use of open source software in the Oklahoma state government, and remains committed to updating and streamlining the government's operations. The Congressional Data Coalition, comprised of 17 organizations, encourages Congress to release information on its activities, recommends standards for the production and dissemination of Congressional data, and educates Congress on the benefits of open information. "As the Web now provides for the distribution and standardization of information like never before possible, there's no longer a good excuse for government to keep its laws and rules out of immediate public purview," said Rep. Murphey. "I am excited to join with Free Law Founders in the effort to facilitate this access."

Labor Department Top 40 Workplace

In December the Oklahoma Department of Labor was named as one of the top 40 best places to work in Oklahoma, on the 2014 Top Workplaces in Oklahoma list. "The employees of the Department of Labor have spoken of their endorsement of the many positive changes that have been implemented under my administration," stated Labor Commissioner Mark Costello.

Changes at the agency include reviewing business processes to eliminate excess bureaucracy, the introduction of new technology, and importing "best practices" found in other government entities. "My colleagues and I have jointly worked to change the culture, improve services, and bring a greater level of service to the citizens of Oklahoma; it's a great honor," said Costello. Top Workplaces in Oklahoma is sponsored by The Oklahoman and selection is coordinated through the research firm WorkplaceDynamics LLC. Each organization and its employees are sent a confidential questionnaire covering several factors, measuring how employees feel about their daily work environment, whether they are working together toward a common goal and their overall engagement. The Department of Labor performed well in the categories of direction, execution and connection. Employees commented that they had confidence in their leaders and they believed the Department of Labor operates by strong values and ethics. Employees also viewed that their pay and compensation was good compared with others in the industry.

T.W. Shannon Moves toTulsa

In November, former Oklahoma House Speaker and U.S. Senate candidate T.W. Shannon announced that he had taken a job in Tulsa and would move his family to the Tulsa area. Shannon said they fell in love with Tulsa during the Senate campaign. Shannon claimed the move did not have a "political motivation" and that a return to elective office "is not on my horizon at all." Shannon is a managing director of Premier Consulting Partners, a financial services firm recently spun off from SpiritBank. The company said Shannon is heading its new national community bank division.

State Sen. Jabar Shumate Resignation

State Sen. Jabar Shumate (D-Tulsa) resigned from the Legislature on January 6. Shumate represents Senate District 11, which includes north Tulsa and rural areas of southeast Osage County. While the black legislator compiled a rather liberal voting record, earning a 26% conservative score on the Oklahoma Conservative Index during his time in the legislature, he joined with conservatives on school-choice issues. He has been hired by a school-choice organization allied with the conservative Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA). Shumate will be state director and director of legislative affairs for the Oklahoma Federation for Children, the state branch of the American Federation for Children. Shumate was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2004 and the Senate in 2012. He cannot run for reelection in 2016 because of legislative term-limits.

A Special Primary Election will be held April 7 for the seat. A Special General Election was scheduled for June 9, but since only Democrats filed, the contest will be deided in the Primary Election. The three Democrats filing for the seat are Kevin Matthews, Heather Nash, and Regina Goodwin. Shumate said he will support state Rep. Kevin Matthews (D-Tulsa) in the special election to replace him. Matthews, who was elected to the House in 2012 and re-elected without opposition in 2014. Matthews, who was planning to run for the Senate seat when Shumate termed out in 2016, has a 30% average on the Oklahoma Conservative Index. Shumate's resignation means the district will be unrepresented for much of the legislative session that begins Feb. 2. If Matthews is elected, it would create a vacancy in House District 71 which would need to be filled by another special election.

Death of Barbara Staggs

Barbara Staggs, 74, a longtime Muskogee educator and former Oklahoma State Representative, died Saturday, November 22, 2014 at St Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Staggs spent over 25 years in public education serving as a teacher of English, drama, speech and broadcasting, principal and superintendent. In 1996 she was elected to the legislature in District 14 and served on the Common Education Committee, among others. During her tenure, she helped establish the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and she was instrumental in passing a bill that gave funding to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. She served as a legislator for 12 years, until her retirement in 2006. Staggs died after suffering a fall outside a restaurant in Muskogee. Skaggs, a Democrat, had a cumulative average on the Oklahoma Conservative Index of 22 percent.