By Constitution Staff

The Board of Equalization on Feb. 17 approved revenues available for Fiscal Year 2016 discretionary appropriations by Legislature of $6,601,534,037, which is $611.3 million, or 8.5 percent, less than was appropriated for FY 2015, the current fiscal year ending June 30. Low oil prices and resulting energy sector losses decreased revenues from December, when the board estimated $298.1 million, or 4.1 percent, less available for FY 2016 appropriations. "The gap more than doubled," said Secretary of Finance, Administration and Information Technology Preston L. Doerflinger. Oil prices have fallen 55 percent since June. With prices low, energy firms have shut down 573, or 30 percent, of the drilling rigs in the U.S. since September, according to Baker Hughes. Oklahoma rigs fell by 42, or 20 percent, during that time. Each idled rig means potential lost production and jobs, which affects state revenue. In 2015, Oklahoma may lose 3,800 energy sector jobs, according to economists the Tax Commission uses to aid revenue projections. Also causing revenue loss is the trend of less revenue being available for discretionary spending despite growth in gross revenue. In addition, the FY 2015 budget appropriated $292.7 million from various agency accounts on top of the revenues the board approved for the 2014 session. "It's a double budget whammy to have the structural budget challenges the state already faced on top of this dramatic oil price dive," Doerflinger said.

March General Revenue Fund Receipts

While General Revenue Fund (GRF) collections continued to perform above expectations in March, signals emerged of the coming effect low oil prices may have on state revenue collections. As state government's main operating fund, the GRF is the key indicator of state government's fiscal status and the predominant funding source for the annual state budget. GRF collections, reported by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), are revenues that remain for the appropriated state budget after rebates, refunds and mandatory apportionments. March GRF collections of $424.4 million were $11.1 million, or 2.7 percent, above the official estimate upon which the fiscal year 2015 appropriated state budget is based and $11.5 million, or 2.8 percent, above prior year collections. Total GRF collections for the first nine months of FY 2015 were $4.1 billion, which is $82.6 million, or 2 percent, above the estimate and $216.7 million, or 5.6 percent, above the prior year.

"While this year's revenues have been solid to date, we're seeing clearer signals now of a slowdown ahead," said Secretary of Finance, Administration and Information Technology Preston Doerflinger. Preliminary effects of sustained low oil prices are likely reflected in March gross production tax collections, which missed the estimate by $22.6 million, or 62.8 percent, and were below prior year collections by $25.8 million, or 65.9 percent. "Historically, energy downturns see gross production taxes fall first and the other tax categories fall next. The gross production dip in March reflects production from January, when the energy sector started contracting in earnest, so other major tax categories may soon follow suit," Doerflinger said. Conversely, March personal income tax collections beat the estimate by $46.2 million, or 60.9 percent, and were above prior year collections by $35.6 million, or 41.3 percent. However, that increase may also be a signal of future declines related to low oil prices. "When a large economic sector shrinks, states often see individual income tax collections temporarily go up due to severances and buyouts and then turn down in the following months. It seems likely that March's personal income tax surge was fueled at least in part by energy sector severance paychecks and buyouts, plus tax filing season trends," Doerflinger said.

Oklahoma Earthquake Website

On April 21, Gov. Mary Fallin announced the launch of earthquakes.ok.gov, a public resource dedicated to sharing research, regulations, updates and news items related to Oklahoma's recent earthquakes. The website is a result of the work of the Coordinating Council on Seismic Activity. In September 2014, Governor Fallin directed Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment Michael J. Teague to lead the Coordinating Council to organize state resources and activities related to Oklahoma's recent increase in seismic activity. The body's primary responsibility is to work cooperatively to develop solutions, identify gaps in resources and coordinate efforts among state agencies, researchers and the state's oil and gas industry. The launch of the new website came the same day as the release of a new statement by the Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS), which states that OGS believes many of the earthquakes in Central and North-Central Oklahoma are triggered by waste-water disposal wells related to energy production. Fallin called the statement by OGS significant, and said that state agencies have already begun to implement new policies to address increases in seismicity. "Oklahoma state agencies are already taking action to address this issue and protect homeowners," said Fallin.

Russell Communications Director

At the end of March, Congressman Steve Russell announced that Daniel Susskind had joined his congressional staff to serve as the Communications Director. Previously, Mr. Susskind was the Press Secretary for Representative Sanford (SC-1), and before that spent over ten years in media working for Fox News, C-SPAN, and Radio America in Washington DC, among other media outlets. Rep. Russell said, "We are very excited to have Daniel with us. His background of working on various shows across multiple networks will be an asset to our office." A native of the Washington, DC area, Daniel is an alum of the University of Maryland at College Park and received his Master's degree from the American University School of Communications.

Russell on Armed Services Committee

Oklahoma's newest member of the U.S. House of Representatives, fifth district Congressman Steve Russell, was appointed to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, filling a recently opened vacancy. He is the only Member who serves on both the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on National Security and the House Armed Services Committee. Serving as a U.S. Army officer during the Iraq War, Russell was in charge of the unit that found dictator Saddam Hussein. "I am deeply honored to be joining the capable Members of the House Armed Services Committee. It is my greatest privilege to protect and defend the American people, whether in combat or in Congress. As a combat veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, I hope to bring relevant perspective to this legislative role," said Congressman Russell.

Bergdahl Charged

On March 25, U.S. Armed Forces Command announced that they had charged Sgt. Robert Bowdrie Bergdahl with one count of "Desertion with Intent to Shirk Important or Hazardous Duty" and one count of "Misbehavior Before The Enemy by Endangering the Safety of a Command, Unit of Place" for leaving his post in Afghanistan in 2009. Congressman Steve Russell released the following statement: "Although it is still important to recognize that Sgt. Bergdahl has not been convicted under UCMJ articles, I am eager to follow the military trial proceedings to get to the truth of the matter. I am encouraged by the Army's decision to charge him with desertion and misbehavior, and know the families who lost loved ones trying to find him are eager to see justice served."

Guantanamo Bay Detainees

U.S. Senators James Lankford and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced the Guantanamo Bay Recidivism Prevention Act of 2015, legislation that would improve the monitoring of former Guantanamo Bay detainees transferred to foreign countries to prevent them from returning to terrorism. The Senators introduced the bill days after returning from a weekend trip in March to the detention facility. "My recent trip to Guantanamo Bay has only deepened my understanding of the need for this detention facility and the role it plays in our national security," said Lankford. "As we debate the future disposition of each terrorist detained at Guantanamo Bay, national security interests must come first. America must not become complacent about the danger many of these detainees pose to America and the world." The legislation would help prevent former detainees from returning to terrorism by cutting off aid to any country that allows a former Guantanamo detainee to reenter the battlefield. "The nations that take these detainees have a serious responsibility to monitor, and if necessary, apprehend them before they return to terrorism," said Lankford. "President Obama seems to have little concern for what happens after a detainee leaves Guantanamo Bay," said Cotton, who is the lead author of the legislation. Last year, the president traded five Taliban militants at Guantanamo Bay for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. There are reports that several have returned to the battlefield or terrorist activities.

English Language Unity Act

On March 9, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe re-introduced the English Language Unity Act (S.678) which would establish English as the official language of the United States. "The United States' culturally diverse population is what makes our nation great, and what helps us move forward together as a society is the ability to communicate to one another," Inhofe said. "The English Language Unity Act declares English as the official language of the United States and will help set legal immigrants on a path to success as they integrate and work towards becoming citizens. As a nation built by immigrants, this legislation will strengthen the cords of unity that comes from sharing one vision and one official language." The legislation would require the federal government to use the English language when acting with binding, legal authority. All naturalization ceremonies would also be required to be conducted in English. The bill makes common-sense exceptions to permit the federal government's use of other languages, such as in cases of national security, international relations and trade, tourism, public safety and health, and protecting the rights of victims.

Coburn Joins COS Project

On Feb. 10, Convention of States Action announced that former Oklahoma U.S. Senator Tom Coburn had joined the Convention of States Project as Senior Advisor. Since the 2015 legislative sessions began in January, 25 states have filed their Article V applications to call an amending convention of the states."We are beyond pleased that Senator Coburn has joined our effort, he has been a passionate leader for years in the effort to bring Washington under control and be responsive to the American people," said Mark Meckler, co-founder of the Convention of States Project. The Convention of States Project is currently organized in all 50 states, including thousands of volunteers, supporters and advocates committed to stopping the federal government's abuse of power."Our national soul is being corrupted by Washington's unhindered and unconstitutional overreach," Senator Coburn said. "Our Founders anticipated the federal government might get out of control at some point, and they gave us a Constitutional mechanism to rein it in -- it's called a Convention of the States, outlined in Article V of the Constitution. Many in Washington have unfortunately forgotten they work for the American people, and the people have begun to mobilize in this effective effort from coast to coast. I'm enthusiastic about the prospects to make this Convention of the States a reality as well as the resonant benefits it will bring to our country."

Conservatives are split on such proposals. The main argument of opponents is that the risks far outweigh any potential benefits which could come from such a convention. They argue that such a convention could not be limited, and could result in a runaway convention that replaces our present Constitution with a new document. Many conservatives are also skeptical that any amendment that emerges from such a convention would survive in a viable form. They say it would have to be watered down in order to gain the support of enough representatives from the states to be approved by the convention.

Another question raised by some is how many delegate votes each state will be entitled to. Would the states with greater population, like California, have more delegates than Oklahoma? How are the delegates to be elected? Since Article V of the Constitution does not provide any direction in this area, a dispute between Congress and the state legislatures in this area would most likely be resolved by the Supreme Court, which historically defers to Congress in any dispute with the states.

Waste Watch

On April 7, Congressman Steve Russell, a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, releasef his April 2015 edition of Waste Watch. A similar compilation of wasteful spending was published annually by former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn. The April 2015 edition of Waste Watch documents 10 different situations where the federal government spent tax payer dollars -- or allowed them to be spent -- unwisely, including Gatsby-esque parties in Pennsylvania, training facilities in Afghanistan that literally melted in the rain, and even an anti-U.S. movie. The total amount of wasted tax payer dollars documented in this edition is in excess of $117 million. Speaking about the new publication, Congressman Russell said, "Every year we see money spent on waste, fraud, and abuse, and I want to continue to highlight some of these instances. Many of these projects were well intentioned, but end up costing the American people millions if not billions of dollars with unintended, but preventable consequences. Hopefully, by continuing to point out these financial mistakes, we can adjust our spending habits and find better ways to accomplish the same goals in a fiscally responsible and efficient manner." Senator Coburn, who retired from office last year, and known for his annual Wastebook, added, "To eliminate government waste, you must first identify and expose it. I am proud Oklahoma Congressman Steve Russell is doing just that with his Waste Watch. Every other member of Congress should follow Steve's lead and do their part to protect taxpayer dollars." A full copy of the first edition of Waste Watch is available on Congressman Russell's website.

Lifeline Phone Program Fraud

On April 2, the owner of an Oklahoma telephone company was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty in a $20 million scheme to defraud the federal Lifeline program which provides phone subsidies for low-income households. Wes Yui Chew, 54, used his company, Icon Telecom Inc. and a contractor to sign up fake customers for the program. U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Chew to four years in prison and assessed fines of more than $127,000. He also faces three years of supervised release following prison. Chew, of Edmond, pleaded guilty last June to money laundering and making a false statement to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Federal investigators said Chew conspired with a Mexican national, Oscar Enrique Perez-Zumaeta, who used workers in Mexico to forge 40,000 recertification forms for the Lifeline program. Icon, received more than $58 million in Lifeline reimbursements from 2011 to 2013. Prosecutors said Icon paid Perez-Zumaeta's company, PSPS Sales LLC, over $1 million in commissions for finding Lifeline customers, many of whom proved to be fake. Perez-Zumaeta pleaded guilty in November and awaits sentencing. He could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

The Lifeline program experienced tremendous growth in recent years as its focus changed from landlines to wireless customers. It has been the subject of several state and federal investigations alleging waste, fraud and abuse. Funding for the Lifeline program comes from the Universal Service Fund fees added to telephone customer bills. Companies providing Lifeline telephone service receive monthly reimbursements of $9.25 per customer. An special version of the program for residents on former tribal lands provides monthly reimbursements to phone companies of $34.25 per customer. More than 90 percent of Oklahoma is covered under that Lifeline program.

Ammunition Ban

In March, Congressman Steve Russell joined House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) in asking the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) to explain why certain legal processes are not being followed and what rationale led to a proposal by the BATFE to ban the sale and manufacture of one of the most commonly sold firearm rounds, the M855 5.56X45mm, which is used in the most popular rifle design in the U.S., the AR-15. "When the Administration or agencies of the federal government bypass our nation's laws to achieve what appears to be a purely political end, such as the BATFE trying to use back-door gun control tactics to further limit our freedoms, it provokes fear and chronic distrust of our government. I want to shine a light on this darkness and I want answers," said Russell.

U.N. Arms Trade Treaty

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe praised the March 26 passage of Amendment 649 which would prevent taxpayer funding towards the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Secretariat, or any other international organization established to implement the treaty, before Senate ratification and implementing legislation from both the House and Senate. The amendment passed by a vote of 59 to 41. "Senator Moran and I have shown time and again that the Senate will not ratify the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty. Today, the Senate also spoke against taxpayer dollars being used to help fund the treaty's implementation," Inhofe said. "The President should remove the United States' as a signatory nation on an ambiguous treaty, which does nothing to guarantee the protection of personal gun ownership and could potentially interfere with the United States' ability to aid allies."

On December 24, 2014, the ATT went into force and more than 60 countries have ratified the treaty. A Secretariat of the U.N. Conference on the ATT oversees the practical and logistical arrangements related to the work of the Conference. In discussions of providing funding to the Secretariat, many nations supported the idea that all signatory countries contribute, including the United States, even if they have not ratified the treaty. This would likely require the U.S. to contribute approximately 22 percent of the funding- in line with their contribution level to the U.N. as a whole. On March 3, Sens. Inhofe and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced the support of 12 freshman Senators in joining the Senate's strong opposition to the ATT. This brought the number to 55 currently-seated Senators who have voiced their opposition to ratification of the ATT.

New GLBT Organization

The Oklahoma City's advocacy organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents, the Cimarron Alliance, has a new name after merging with the statewide Equality Network. The new organization is known as Freedom Oklahoma. Executive Director Troy Stevenson said Freedom Oklahoma would maintain some of the programming that was happening at Cimarron before the merger. The new organization has been active in during this year's session of the Oklahoma Legislature, providing guidance on legislation which might impact the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Call for Legislative Pay Decrease

State Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) continued his mid-March tradition of providing a yearly donation of $8,241.92 from his legislative salary to the Guthrie-based Crossroads Clinic. The amount donated reflects the difference in legislative pay and the per capita pay in Oklahoma at the time Murphey was elected. During his 2006 campaign for office, Murphey pledged to make the yearly pledge until legislative salaries are adjusted. Murphey sponsors legislation to accomplish this goal during each session of the Legislature. Murphey argues that Oklahoma legislators are some of the highest paid part-time legislators in the nation, making more than double the regional average. Murphey believes that the donation demonstrates that legislators in Oklahoma should not be paid so much more than other legislators in the region and to illustrate the importance of services such as Crossroads. Crossroads Clinic is a Guthrie-area, Christian-based non-profit organization which provides pregnancy related medical services, life-giving options education, client advocacy, support for prenatal care, parenting education, post-abortion peer counseling, and abstinence education. Crossroads offers abortion-vulnerable women a scan to confirm viable pregnancies. Statistics show that 89 percent of abortion-minded women choose life for their unborn babies after seeing them through ultrasound and receiving truthful information about their options.

This year, Crossroads Clinic opened a second location which will provide services in the Oklahoma City area, just west of the Capitol building on 23rd street.

Phasing Strategy for Capitol Restoration

The State Capitol Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee on April 9 approved a phasing strategy for work to repair and restore the interior of the Capitol building. The strategy calls for interior work to be done in multiple phases so the building can remain open throughout construction and legislative sessions can be held with minimal interruptions. Manhattan Construction, the contractor hired to repair and restore the interior of the Capitol, recommended the strategy as the best option. "While totally vacating the building would make construction easier, the reality is it just isn't practical to shut down the Capitol for such an extended period of time," said Trait Thompson, state Capitol project manager for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. "There will be disruptions, but we believe they will be minimized by the expertise Manhattan has working around the operations of buildings like this, including the U.S. Capitol." Other phasing options were to do work in two phases, which would require vacating half of the building at a time, or one phase, which would require vacating the entire building. The committee received a cost benefit analysis of each option that showed the multiple phase approach to be the most cost effective due to the considerable tenant relocation expenses that would be necessary under the other options. Planning for the interior restoration is underway and construction begins next year. Exterior restoration, which is being managed through a separate process, begins this year with trial repairs in the spring and summer.

State Wins Ten Commandments Lawsuit

Attorney General Scott Pruitt on March 10 announced Oklahoma's victory in a lawsuit challenging a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol.

"This is another victory for the State of Oklahoma and one more affirmation that the Ten Commandments monument can remain on display at our State Capitol," Pruitt said. "The historical relevance of the Ten Commandments and the role it played in the founding of our nation cannot be disputed. I commend Judge Cauthron's decision to rule in the state's favor."

The Honorable Robin J. Cauthron sitting in the Western District of Oklahoma dismissed the case brought by American Atheists, Inc. Oklahoma had filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked standing and that their challenge lacked merit. Last September, an Oklahoma County judge also ruled in the state's favor in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU.

State Rep. Mike Ritze, who paid for the Ten Commandments monument at the state Capitol, commented on the March 10 federal court ruling in the Western District of Oklahoma that dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the monument. "I am very pleased that this case was dismissed, and that Oklahomans can continue to enjoy the monument and understand the Ten Commandments historical significance to our nation. I doubt that this is the last challenge we will face, but we will continue to fight to have the monument preserved at our state Capitol. I am also grateful for the diligent and dutiful efforts of our state Attorney General Scott Pruitt and his staff in defending our state against these challenges." House Bill 1330, by Ritze, was enacted in 2009 and authorized the monument. It noted that "The placement of this monument shall not be construed to mean that the State of Oklahoma favors any particular religion or denomination thereof over others, but rather will be placed on the Capitol grounds where there are numerous other monuments."

U.S. Sen. James Lankford said: "Every day a sculpture of the face of Moses overlooks the House of Representatives as Congress debates the laws of this land. The Supreme Court has affirmed that the Constitution doesn't require that such displays honoring our historic roots be removed from society, as doing so would "sever ties to a history that sustains this Nation'."

Magna Carta Exhibit

The Oklahoma Capitol hosted "The Magna Carta: Enduring Legacy 1215-2015" exhibit from March 23 to April 5. It commemorates the 800th anniversary the Magna Carta, widely regarded as one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy. The Library of Congress and the American Bar Association developed the traveling educational exhibit to raise awareness about the Magna Carta's enduring legacy. The traveling exhibit, displayed on freestanding banners with beautiful images of priceless Magna Carta related items, complements the Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor exhibition previously on display at the Library of Congress. The traveling exhibit was brought at no cost to the state through partnerships with the Library of Congress, American Bar Association and the Federalist Society. The state's hosts were the Oklahoma Legislature, Secretary of State Chris Benge, the Oklahoma Arts Council, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

MiddleGround Radio Replaces Mullins

Reid Mullins, host of "The Ride With Reid," has been cancelled from the morning lineup at KZLS 1640 AM after just over one year. The conservative host was previously dropped from KTOK 1000 AM after eight years as the morning host. At KZLS Reid held the 7 - 10 AM timeslot. In late March, MiddleGround Radio (a product of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, an Oklahoma conservative think-tank) moved up to the morning drive time and expanded to two hours. You can hear MiddleGround Radio, hosted by Trent England, live every weekday on KZLS 1640 AM in central Oklahoma from 7 to 9 AM. Previously the program was broadcast for one hour at 10:00 AM. The MiddleGround television program is broadcast Sunday mornings on Oklahoma City's channel 25 at 8:30 AM.

OU Diversity Czar

On April 1, University of Oklahoma President David Boren announced that OU alumnus Jabar Shumate of Tulsa has been named OU's Vice President for the University Community. Shumate will have oversight over all diversity programs within the university, including admissions. The appointment was the latest step by Boren in response to a video clip showing members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity shouting a racist chant. Boren said OU had zero tolerance for such racist behavior and closed the fraternity house, banned the organization from campus, and expelled the two students identified as leading the chant.

Shumate's appointment is subject to approval by the OU Board of Regents. As a former legislator, he will be compensated by non-appropriated private funds. Shumate served four terms in the Oklahoma House of Representatives before being elected to the state Senate in 2012. He held leadership positions in the Oklahoma legislative black caucus. He also serves as a member of the board of trustees for the National Urban League. He resigned from the Legislature on January 6 to take a job as state director and director of legislative affairs for the Oklahoma Federation for Children.

State Senate Seat Filled

State Rep. Kevin Matthews won the Senate District 11 special election held on April 7. Matthews led Regina Goodwin 47 percent to 38 percent, with Heather Nash receiving the remainder. There are no runoffs in special primary elections, so the candidate with the most votes wins the nomination. Since no Republican or independent entered the race, there was no general election. Matthews was sworn in on April 15, so Matthews seat in the House is now vacant. A special election cannot be completed in time to fill that seat before of the end of the current legislative session. House District 73, encompasses downtown and north Tulsa west of Lewis Avenue. The Senate Democratic caucus was reduced to seven members after Sen. Jabar Shumate resigned in January, so Democrats again have eight of the 48 seats in the upper chamber of the Legislature.

Special Election Dates Set

Gov. Mary Fallin set the special election dates to fill vacancies in two House legislative districts. The elections will be held July 14. A second election, if needed, will be held on Sept. 8. District 73, which includes downtown and northwest Tulsa, became vacant with the election of Rep. Kevin Matthews (D-Tulsa) to the state Senate seat vacated by Jabar Shumate.(D-Tulsa) District 85 in Oklahoma City became vacant with the death of Rep. David Dank (R-OKC). The filing period for both districts is May 4-6. The July 14 elections will be for primaries or for general elections in the event primary elections are not needed. There are no special election runoffs, so the candidate who finishes first becomes the party nominee.

Benge Named Native American Liaison

On February 9, Gov. Mary Fallin announced the appointment of Secretary of State Chris Benge as Native American Liaison within the governor's office. Benge, a member of the Cherokee Nation, will now serve as Secretary of State and Native American Affairs.

He succeeds Jacque Secondine Hensley, who had advised the governor on American Indian affairs since July 2012. Hensley accepted a position with the Department of Human Services, where she will work on a variety of Native American issues. Fallin named Benge to serve as Secretary of State in November 2013. He served as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2008 until he was term-limited as a legislator in 2010. "Whether it's creating jobs, improving health care services or boosting education, Oklahoma has an extremely valuable partnership with the tribes," said Benge. "The tribes have an estimated $10.8 billion impact in the state's production of goods and services, with tribal government and business operations employing more than 50,000 people, and supporting nearly 90,000 full-time jobs in the state. The relationship between the tribes and the state has developed momentum over the last few years. I'm looking forward to continuing to facilitate the good relationship between the state and the tribes."

Governor's Cabinet for Second Term

On February 9, Gov. Mary Fallin issued an executive order establishing her Cabinet for her second four-year term. Fallin's Cabinet to be made up of 12 secretaries. The governor during her first term had 13 secretaries; she is combining Commerce and Tourism into one position.

The governor's Cabinet secretaries, in addition to Benge, are:

Secretary of Agriculture - Jim Reese

Secretary of Commerce and Tourism - Deby Snodgrass

Secretary of Education and Workforce Development - Natalie Shirley

Secretary of Energy and Environment - Michael Teague

Secretary of Finance, Administration and Information Technology - Preston Doerflinger Secretary of Health and Human Services - Terry Cline

Secretary of the Military - Maj. Gen. Robbie L. Asher

Secretary of Safety and Security - Michael Thompson

Secretary of Science and Technology - Stephen McKeever

Secretary of Transportation - Gary Ridley

Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Maj. Gen. Myles Deering

State statute requires the governor to set the Cabinet structure 45 calendar days after taking her oath of office, but does not specifically require the positions be filled within that time frame.

Secretary of Education and Workforce Development

On January 22, Gov. Mary Fallin announced that Natalie Shirley, president of Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City (OSU-OKC), would be joining her Cabinet as Secretary of Education and Workforce Development. Shirley became president of OSU-OKC in 2011. She is the first female president in the OSU system. Prior to her role at OSU-OKC, Shirley served as Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Tourism for former Gov. Brad Henry. She also served as the executive director of the Department of Commerce, the state's leading economic development agency. Shirley has also served as president of ICI Mutual, an insurance company. Shirley received a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. "One of my top priorities going into 2015 is to increase educational attainment in Oklahoma," said Fallin. "We know that the best way to help Oklahomans, especially those living in poverty -- is to get them the skills they need for a good job. Similarly, the best way we can support our businesses and grow our economy is to produce a more educated workforce. Making that goal a reality will take a cooperative effort between Oklahoma public education and our business community."

Workers' Compensation Commission

On April 1, Gov. Mary Fallin accepted the resignation of Troy Wilson, Sr., the first chairman of the new Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission. The governor named Dr. LeRoy Young, of Oklahoma City, to replace Wilson on the commission beginning on June 1. Fallin also named Mark Liotta, a former state representative from Tulsa, to succeed Commissioner Denise Engle, whose term expires in August. Both appointments must be approved by the Senate, which is in session through May. Robert H. Gilliland remains on the three-member commission; his term doesn't expire until 2017. "When I named Troy as chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission, I gave him a big task: building a brand new workers' comp system from scratch," said Fallin. "He has done that. Today, our new administrative system is saving businesses hundreds of millions of dollars and injured workers are being treated fairly, getting help, and getting back to work quickly." Wilson, came out of retirement in 2013 to answer the call from Fallin.

Young, Wilson's replacement, has been licensed to practice medicine in Oklahoma for nearly 40 years. He has a private practice and has been a staff member of St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City since 1989. Before that, he served as a staff member at the former Moore Municipal Hospital and the former Hillcrest Health Center. Young grew up in Loyal, earned bachelor's degrees from Central State College, now the University of Central Oklahoma, and the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate degree in medicine from the Kansas City (Mo.) College of Osteopathic Medicine. Liotta, of Sapulpa, is chief deputy to the Tulsa County Board of County Commissioners and is chairman of the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Board. He also owns a 40-acre cow/calf operation in Creek County. He earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Nazarene University in Tulsa.

The legislation that established the Workers' Compensation Commission calls for the governor to appoint all three members, with one appointment recommended by the speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Former House Speaker T.W. Shannon recommended Engle in 2013. Her name was not on the list of three nominees submitted to Fallin by House Speaker Jeff Hickman. The Oklahoma Worker's Compensation Commission was created in 2013 by Senate Bill 1062, the state's landmark worker's compensation reform law. The commission started operations Feb. 1, 2014. The legislation also changed the name of the former state's workers' compensation court to the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims, which deals with cases filed before Feb. 1, 2014.

Askins Named Special Adviser

On April 2, Gov. Mary Fallin named former Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins as special adviser to the governor on child welfare. Askins will primarily be responsible for overseeing implementation of the Pinnacle Plan, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services' (DHS) ongoing effort to reform the state's child welfare operations. Askins, who has served in all three branches of government, most recently served as interim executive director of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. Her seven-month tenure ended with the appointment of a new executive director. A native of Duncan, she served as Oklahoma's 15th lieutenant governor from 2007-11. She passed up seeking re-election to run for governor in 2010. As both lieutenant governor and a gubernatorial candidate, Askins emphasized the importance of improving state services to children. She was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1994 and served for 12 years, serving her last two-year term as Democratic Leader. Askins also served as a Stephens County special district judge for eight years, from 1982-1990. In 1991, she was appointed to the Pardon and Parole Board, which elected her as its first female chairman. She later served as executive director of the Pardon and Parole Board.

The Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan is a five-year improvement plan for the state's foster care system. The plan was developed in 2012 as a result of a settlement agreement in a class-action, civil rights lawsuit. DHS agreed to make improvements in several key areas of the foster care system including increasing the recruitment of foster homes, reducing the use of emergency shelters, and lowering workloads for child welfare specialists. In recent months, DHS has announced the closing of its two state-run emergency children's shelters, child welfare workers have greatly reduced the number of backlog cases, and the department and its contract foster care agencies have recruited hundreds of new foster homes. DHS has increased in-home services to families in an effort to keep children out of state custody and worked to help children reunite with their families or reach adoption faster. Thanks to these efforts, the numbers of children in care has been steadily dropping which is positively impacting all the goals in the Pinnacle Plan.

Court of Criminal Appeals Appointment

On March 11, Gov. Mary Fallin announced the appointment of Judge Robert Hudson to the Court of Criminal Appeals. Hudson, of Guthrie, succeeds Judge Charles Johnson. Hudson, a former longtime prosecutor for Payne and Logan counties, has served as a special district judge in Payne and Logan Counties since 2012. In that role, he handles both civil and criminal litigation. Hudson previously served as first assistant attorney general, a role in which he oversaw approximately 80 lawyers working in the attorney general's office. In 1996, he was appointed by then-Governor Frank Keating as district attorney for Payne and Logan counties. He was re-elected to the post four consecutive times. During his time as district attorney, Hudson's office prosecuted more cases than any other time in the history of the two-county district. While serving as district attorney, he also helped establish Oklahoma's first drug court to provide an alternative punishment for offenders convicted of non-violent drug offenses. Prior to his time as district attorney, he owned a private law practice in Guthrie. Hudson served as president of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association in 2000 and 2008, served nine years on the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Commission. Hudson is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

McGuigan Honored

Patrick B. McGuigan -- journalist, historian and educator -- is being inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. The Oklahoma City based publisher of The City Sentinel, editor of CapitolBeatOK.com, and television and radio commentator is part of the 45th annual ceremony for the hall. "Patrick is certainly a great addition to the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame," said University of Central Oklahoma Professor Terry Clark, director of the hall. The 2015 honorees will be feted at UCO on Thursday, April 30, during a noon hour luncheon ceremony. Early in his career McGuigan was a columnist for the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper before going to work as a researcher and writer for the Free Congress Foundation, a conservative think-tank based in to Washingtion D.C. He later returned to Oklahoma and worked as the editorial editor at The Oklahoman, the state's largest newspaper. He appears regularly on "Mitchell in the Morning," for KOKC radio and on News9, both in Oklahoma City. He is the author of three books and editor of seven.

Death of Former Sen. Jerry Smith

Former state Senator Jerry L. Smith (R-Tulsa) died on January 30 at the age of 71. Smith was forced to give up his Senate District 39 seat in Tulsa County in 2004 due to legislative term limits. The lawmaker and attorney was first elected to the Legislature in 1972 as a House member representing District 76. He was elected to the State Senate in 1980 and represented District 39. Sen. Smith was one of the more moderate Republicans in the state Senate. He had a cumulative average on the Oklahoma Conservative Index of 58 percent. When he left the Senate, the GOP was in the minority holding only 20 of the 48 seats.

Death of Former Sen. Phil Watson

Former state Senator Phil Watson (R-Edmond) died on March 1, he was 81. Thomas Philip Watson was elected to District 41 in the Oklahoma Senate in 1972. Gov. Henry Bellmon asked Watson to assume a new role in Oklahoma state government, so in 1987 he resigned his senate seat and was appointed director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). At the end of Governor Bellmon's term, Watson made the transition to federal government when he began working with the Rural Development Cooperative in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He ended his years of public service when he retired in 1998. In 1983 he had been approached by his long-time mentor and friend, Dr. George Benson, about working with mission efforts in Zambia, Africa. He eventually accepted the position of chairman of the board for the Zambia mission efforts. While at one time a strong conservative leader in the Legislature, earning a perfect 100% score on the Oklahoma Conservative Index in1979 (the first year it was published), by the time Gov. Bellmon tapped him to head DHS in 1987, his score that year was only 50 percent. His cumulative average for all the years he was rated was 69 percent.

Death of Rep. David Dank

State Rep. David Dank (R-Oklahoma City) died suddenly on April 10. He was 76. He was first elected in 2006 and represented House District 85 which includes parts of Nichols Hills, Oklahoma City, The Village and Warr Acres. He was re-elected last November. He succeeded his wife, Odilia Dank, who held the seat for a decade before his election. Odilia Dank died Aug. 17, 2013 at 74. David Dank had a cumulative average on the Oklahoma Conservative Index of 69 percent. While conservative on most issues, he particularly disagreed with the selection of state subsidies to the state Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) which was often one of the ten votes on the Conservative Index. He defended his vote supporting the subsidies saying that there were many older citizens in his district who enjoyed watching the reruns of the old "Lawrence Welk" show. He was a strong advocate for reining in the out of control tax credits which have diverted billions of dollars from tax revenues to special interests, and was pushing legislation to accomplish that goal at the time of his death.