Henry Handled 381 Bills, Signed 366 Into Law

The Legislature sent Governor Brad Henry 381 bills. The governor signed 366 bills into law, signed two bills containing 136 line-item vetoes, vetoed 12 bills and allowed one bill to become law without his signature.

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Coffee Gives Session Grade Of B+

Oklahoma Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee graded the 2007 legislative session a “B+,” but said the session could have gotten an “A” if Gov. Brad Henry had signed a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill passed by the Legislature.

“This was a ‘B+’ session that could have been an ‘A’ if Gov. Henry had signed the lawsuit reform bill,” stated Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “But we still accomplished a lot for the people of Oklahoma, and the Senate finished the people’s business early and in an orderly fashion.

“The tie in the Oklahoma Senate has changed everything at the State Capitol,” Coffee said about the Legislature’s evenly divided upper chamber. “Under Democrat control, the Senate was known as the place where good bills go to die. Now that Republicans have an equal say here, we have made the Senate a place where good ideas can thrive.”

The Senate ended work late Thursday; the House essentially finished its work and should officially adjourn by noon today.

Coffee noted that Senate Republicans used their new authority in the Senate to pass nearly every major component of their legislative agenda.

“This was a very successful legislative session for Senate Republicans. We passed new tax relief for Oklahoma families and small businesses. We enacted new protections for the unborn. We developed a long-term fix for the Teacher Retirement System, and passed a major immigration reform bill. We held the line on spending by enacting a state budget that actually spends less money than the current budget,” Coffee said. “And, for the first time ever, a meaningful lawsuit reform bill passed the state Senate and reached the governor’s desk.”

Highlights of Senate Republicans’ accomplishments in 2007:

Lawsuit reform: Although it was vetoed by the governor, this was the first time a meaningful lawsuit reform bill passed the Senate and made it to the governor’s desk.

Tax relief: Senate Bill 861 speeds up an income tax cut and includes a back-to-school sales tax holiday.

Held the line on spending: The FY 2008 budget agreement spends less than total spending for FY 2007 – and leaves money on the table for future needs.

Government accountability: SB 1, the Taxpayer Transparency Act, places the state budget online in a searchable database.

Merit pay for teachers: A portion of the teacher pay increase was weighted toward veteran teachers and those with advanced degrees – a first step toward merit pay. Funding was also increased for the Academic Achievement Awards, a bonus program for teachers.

Pro-life: Two bills (SB 714 and SB 139) prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds for abortions made it through the Senate, and the second one became law.

Teacher Retirement System: Senate Republicans helped push through a permanent increase in funding that will help make the system more solvent in the long-term, and we insisted that a downpayment on the plan ($10 million) be made in the FY 08 budget.

Immigration Reform.

Access to Health Care: Senate Republicans helped increase access to healthcare for thousands of Oklahomans by increasing Medicaid payment rates to doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes to ensure greater participation in the program.

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Early Adjournment Effort Coming?

Capitol sources say there may be an effort to adjourn the Legislature tonight, ending its business a day early.

Some House and Senate members say there's been talk of a late-night session tonight, the goal being to wrap up all work and adjourn sine die before midnight.

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Pro-Life Bill Becomes Law

Resorting to a seldom-used means of enacting a law, Governor Brad Henry on Wednesday night declined to either veto pro-life Senate Bill 139 or sign it into law, instead allowing the bill to become law without his signature. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, a bill approved by the legislature automatically becomes law after five days if the governor declines to take action on it.

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Transformational Justice Act Passes House

Legislation encouraging faith-based groups and other volunteer organizations to take a stronger role in rehabilitating Oklahoma inmates passed a vote of the State House on Tuesday with broad bipartisan support.

House Bill 2101, the Transformational Justice Act, authored by Speaker Lance Cargill, would encourage state prisons to partner with faith-based, community and voluntary organizations to help inmates rejoin society and reduce the rate of repeat offenders. "The state needs to be supporting these groups and their efforts in every way possible," said Cargill (R-Harrah). "These groups help inmates get back on their feet and become constructive members of society instead of criminals, and this bill removes roadblocks that these groups face as they seek to serve."

The measure, part of the Safe Families Platform of the 2007 House Republican Year of Ideas Agenda, passed the House on Tuesday by a vote of 93-4.

Cargill said faith-based groups can offer unique tools and assistance that can not only help shrink recidivism rates at Oklahoma prisons, but also change inmates' lives for the better. "I think faith plays an important role in a person's life," Cargillsaid. "It can fill a hole that no government program can replace. Inmates in prison need human contact, and many of them don't have families. They can't be loved by a government program, but they can be loved by people. These private, faith-based groups can help inmates find that connection they need in order to turn their life around. It's important that these groups not have to face any unreasonable barriers, and this bill helps to tear down those walls."

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Tax-Cut Lovers Won Legislative Battle This Year

From The Journal Record ~ What spurs the economy more: tax cuts or increased investment in government services? The groups on opposing sides of the issue may never agree, but it appears the tax-cut lovers won the battle this year in the Oklahoma Legislature. Read this excellent exposition by writer Janice Francis-Smith. (Registration required.)

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Veto Proof? Senate Approves Anti-Abortion Bill

The Senate has approved and sent to Governor Brad Henry a controversial abortion measure.

Senate Bill 139 by Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, passed by a 34-14 vote in what appears to be a veto-proof margin.

The bill bans the use of public money for abortions except to save the life of a woman or in cases of rape or incest.

The governor vetoed a similar measure that didn't contain those exceptions. The Senate sustained his veto twice. Senators Charlie Laster, D-Shawnee; Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City; and Nancy Riley, D-Sand Springs, voted earlier to sustain the veto but today voted for the new bill.

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Cargill, Coffee Praise Henry's Tax Relief Signature

Speaker Lance Cargill and Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee issued the following joint statement Monday evening after the governor signed into law Senate Bill 861, a package of tax relief for working families including childcare credits for stay-at-home parents, a back-to-school sales tax holiday, acceleration of income tax cuts and elimination of the franchise tax on most small businesses.

CARGILL: “This is a positive step forward in achieving a final budget agreement. Today’s enactment of tax relief is a victory for working families across Oklahoma. Tax relief has been a cornerstone issue for us, and we’re glad we can once again deliver for the people who work for a living in this state.”

COFFEE: “This tax relief package allows families to keep more of their own money. We’ve made significant progress in achieving a final budget agreement, and enactment of this tax relief package goes a long way toward moving Oklahoma forward.”

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Republicans Try Again On Pro-life Bill

House lawmakers on Monday passed a pro-life reform measure that would prohibit taxpayer dollars and state-operated hospitals from performing abortions. The legislation includes new language that garnered a veto-proof majority in the House Monday. By a vote of 77 to 19, the House voted to send Senate Bill 139 back to the Senate for consideration. SB 139 mirrors provisions contained in Senate Bill 714, vetoed by Governor Brad Henry in April.

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Henry Urged To Sign Tax Relief Bill

A House budget leader today urged Governor Brad Henry to sign a new round of targeted tax cuts into law, saying the benefit to working families and the state economy will far outweigh any alleged "loss" of revenue.

Rep. Randy Terrill, chair of the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee, noted this year's tax cut plan is "modest and carefully calibrated" to benefit families: "The tax cuts contained in Senate Bill 861 are carefully targeted to help working families, particularly those with young children," said Terrill, R-Moore. "Allowing parents keep more of their money to benefit their children is more than good policy, it's common sense."

Senate Bill 861 includes all four components of a bipartisan tax relief agreement announced by legislative leaders more than a month ago. Details of the tax relief package in SB 861 include: A tax credit for stay-at-home parents similar to that currently offered for parents with children in daycare; A statewide three-day sales tax holiday beginning the first Friday in August for clothing and footwear with a sales price of less than $100; Acceleration of last year's tax cut plan, bringing the state's top marginal income tax rate down to 5.25 percent one year earlier (currently the rate is 5.65 percent); Elimination of the state's franchise tax on most small businesses.

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Henry Blamed For 'Budget Impasse'

Legislative leaders in the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives said Tuesday that budget negotiations have reached an impasse.

The leaders claim that Governor Brad Henry has attempted to "create a false choice between tax relief and other budget priorities," even as Henry still refuses to publicly (or privately, in discussions with legislative leaders) submit a complete balanced budget proposal.

"Governor Henry has continued to play leak and spin games in the media, but he's not willing to lay out a specific budget plan, even in our private discussions with him," said Speaker Lance Cargill (R-Harrah). "It's clear he's not serious about working with the Legislature. We're open to discussing all options and budget priorities, but we are not interested in writing blank checks. And we are not going to stand by while the governor attempts to kill needed tax relief for working families. If we're forced into a special session, Governor Henry will be to blame."

Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City) said, "Budget negotiations have broken down because this governor refuses to reach a compromise with the bipartisan legislative leadership. His 'my-way-or-the-highway' approach is putting the state on a path toward a government shutdown," Coffee said. "The governor's behavior is bewildering and, quite frankly, a little childish. The talk at the Capitol is Governor Henry's behavior would qualify him for his own proposed kindergarten-for-three-year-olds program."

The legislative leaders said they remain firmly committed to investments in state services and priorities -- including a $600 pay increase for teachers that will complete the multi-year commitment to raise teacher salaries.

"We have an obligation to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money, and the governor seems intent on pushing vague spending priorities," said Rep. Chris Benge (R-Tulsa), chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. "As we look at extra money the state may have, we must make sure to keep our commitment to tax relief and examine other investments in top priorities."

"The governor's ego is writing checks the state treasury can't cash. He keeps promising money to every special interest group and agency he meets with, knowing that there isn't enough money to meet his vague wish list of promises and still fund essential services," stated Senator Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, co-chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Pro-Lifers Support Henry Veto Override

On Wednesday afternoon the Oklahoma Senate apparently will vote again on a motion to override Governor Brad Henry's veto of pro-life Senate Bill 714, supporters of the bill say, and they have asked supporters to contact four Democrats who have been both for and against it.

The vote is expected to occur shortly after 1:30 p.m.

"If you can come to the Capitol for the vote, you might arrive early and try to visit during the noon hour with the senators listed below," wrote Tony Lauinger of Oklahomans For Life in an email to supporters today. "There are four Democratic senators who voted for SB 714 earlier in the process, and have since reversed their position and voted against the pro-life bill. They, their hometowns (and other major district towns), Capitol phone numbers (leave message on voice mail after hours), and email addresses, are: 1) Charlie Laster, Shawnee, 405-521-55392); Nancy Riley, Tulsa, 405-521-56003); Joe Sweeden, Pawhuska, 405-521-55814); Charles Wyrick, Fairland, (Miami, Grove) 405-521- 5561. Please urge these senators to support the pro-life bill, as they had earlier in the legislative session, and to vote to override the Governor's veto. To send an email to all four senators, just send to this address Pro-LifeBill@OkForLife.org and your message will reach all four of them," Lauinger wrote.

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Senate Approves Tax Relief Package

The evenly-divided Oklahoma Senate voted Monday to send Governor Brad Henry a tax relief package that speeds up income tax cuts and provides Oklahomans with a back-to-school sales tax holiday.

Senate Bill 861, by Senator Don Barrington, R-Lawton, passed on a bipartisan 33 to 15 vote. This bill is the result of a bipartisan tax relief agreement announced by Senate and House leaders in March.

Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, called on Henry to sign the legislation.“This bill provides much-needed relief to Oklahoma taxpayers. It’s a very good bill for Oklahoma families and small businesses, so the governor should sign it,” Coffee said.

Senate Finance Committee co-chair Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, said cutting the state’s income tax rate provides a boost to the state economy. “This bill speeds up the income tax cuts enacted in 2006, which is a boost to the economy and job creation here in Oklahoma. History is replete with examples of income tax cuts resulting in unprecedented economic growth – from America in the 1960s and 1980s to Ireland in the 1990s,” stated Mazzei.

Barrington said the sales tax holiday will help back-to-school shoppers in Oklahoma, especially in areas that border Oklahoma’s neighbors. “Oklahoma businesses lose many customers to states like Texas that offer sales tax holidays to back-to-school shoppers. SB 861 helps level the playing field by giving Oklahoma families a break, too,” said Barrington.

Details of the tax relief package in SB 861 include:• Acceleration of last year's income tax cut plan, bringing the state's top marginal income tax rate down to 5.25 percent one year earlier. Currently the rate is 5.65 percent.• A statewide three-day sales tax holiday beginning the first Friday in August for clothing and footwear with a sales price of less than $100.• Elimination of the state’s franchise tax on most small businesses.• A tax credit for stay-at-home parents similar to that currently offered for parents with children in daycare.

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Lawsuit Reform Compromise? What Compromise?

Legislative leaders from the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives today disputed published comments by Governor Brad Henry that an agreement is near on a lawsuit reform compromise.

Henry recently vetoed Senate Bill 507, a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill passed by the Legislature. In the May 6, 2007, edition of The Sunday Oklahoman, Henry said he feels a compromise on lawsuit reform is "very, very close."

"Negotiations on lawsuit reform are nonexistent, one could even say they've broken down. The Legislature put a very good lawsuit reform bill on the governor's desk, but we haven't heard a peep from him since he vetoed it," stated Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. "We're willing to talk to the governor if he gets serious about meaningful reform, but we're not going to let him water down the key reforms just for the sake of getting an agreement."

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Calvey: U. S. Is Winning War In Iraq

Members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives enjoyed a rare opportunity to communicate with a former colleague today, as former state Rep. Kevin Calvey, now serving in Iraq, joined House members via telephone.

"This was an opportunity for House members to express our appreciation to Captain Calvey for his incredible service to our country," said Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah. "Serving in the Legislature may be demanding, but it's obviously nothing compared to service in an actual war zone, and we wanted to say thanks."

Lawmakers spoke to Calvey by phone in the House chamber today. Calvey said his days start early and run long, averaging about 78 hours of work each week, with just a half-day off each week. "Working or sleeping or working out, that's about all we do," Calvey said. He told lawmakers the United States is winning the war in Iraq and an "overwhelming majority of Iraqis, 70 percent or more, don't want us to leave right now" due to the threat of chaos if the United States withdraws immediately. He said other countries, such as Iran and Syria, would likely attack Iraq should American troops withdraw before the nation is fully stabilized.

Graphic courtesy The Oklahoman

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Immigration Reform Package Goes To Henry

An Oklahoma immigration reform measure called perhaps the most meaningful in the nation is on its way to the governor's desk after passage by the House Tuesday. House Bill 1804 passed by a vote of 84 to 14. The bill also has the support of two national immigration reform advocacy groups, and has been called the single most significant step that any state has taken, and one of the nation's toughest anti-illegal immigration laws.

House Speaker Lance Cargill said that, given the governor's silence on the issue of illegal immigration so far this legislative session, he hoped the governor would not attempt last-minute stalling tactics to stop reform and protect the status quo.

"Given the governor's recent pattern of vetoing needed reforms this year, I think there's real concern about whether he will sign this bill. I call on him to sign this legislation without delay," said Cargill.

"For too long, our nation and our state have looked the other way and ignored a growing illegal immigration crisis," said Rep. Randy Terrill (R-Moore), author of HB 1804. "Oklahoma's working families should not be forced to subsidize illegal immigration. With passage of House Bill 1804, we will end that burden on our citizens."

"We were forced to take action at the state level because of the total lack of action by the federal government on this issue," said Senator Jim Williamson (R-Tulsa), who authored the legislation in the Senate."We listened to all interested parties in putting this bill together. This bill reaches our bottom-line goal of protecting jobs for working Oklahomans."

Terrill said that some House Democrats disingenuously attempted to delay HB 1804 on Tuesday by debating or voting against Senate amendments to the reform legislation. "A 'no' vote on the Senate amendments is basically equivalent to a no vote on the entire effort to offer immigration reform," said Terrill. "Some House Democrats were merely trying to spin a bad vote today. They tried to argue that Senate amendments to the bill 'watered it down.' But we know those who opposed this bill aren't for immigration reform."

Terrill said that House Bill 1804, the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007, is a landmark first step to offer immigration reform for Oklahoma. The bill is part of the House Republican majority's legislative agenda, and has now passed both chambers of the Legislature by overwhelming bipartisan margins.

Key elements of the bill focus on determining work eligibility. The measure also contains provisions to ensure taxpayer-supported benefits are made available to American citizens and legal immigrants only. The bill also gives state and local law enforcement officials the power to enforce federal immigration law, as well as restricting access by illegal aliens to driver's licenses and ID cards.

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Henry's Legal Reform Bill Veto Criticized

National and state business leaders are calling Governor Henry's weekend veto of the comprehensive lawsuit reform measure a killer for Oklahoma's economic climate.

"This is a mistake on his (Henry's) part that will have serious consequences for the state's business climate," stated the National Association of Manufacturers on its "ShopFloor.org" blog this weekend. The NAM posted the comments Saturday after Henry vetoed Senate Bill 507, an omnibus lawsuit reform measure that contained nearly all of the provisions the governor himself has repeatedly claimed to favor.

Though it's difficult to assign a specific dollar number, economic experts say the veto is likely to have far-reaching harmful implications for Oklahoma, a statement from Speaker Lance Cargill's House claims.

"Certainly states that neglect tort reform will fall behind states that enact lawsuit reform," said Rex Pjesky, Ph.D., an assistant professor of economics at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. "Lawsuit reform is important because it sends the message that Oklahoma is open for business. The tort reform bill would have helped everyone know that we want them to come to Oklahoma to create jobs, raise their families, and join us in prosperity."

The governor claimed in his veto message that, "SB 507 did little to help innocent business owners who rack up costs fighting a frivolous complaint that is ultimately thrown out of court."

Oklahoma's conservative legislative leaders say the governor's contention is absurd, and that business leaders were overwhelmingly in favor of SB 507.

Oklahoma's State Chamber reacted to the governor's veto with dismay: "Even though small business owners and large Oklahoma corporate citizens came together in their effort to communicate the importance of his signing of the lawsuit reform elements he himself called for, the plain fact is that he chose to listen to his trial lawyer friends," said Mike Seney, senior vice president of operations for The State Chamber.

According to the Pacific Research Institute, a think tank in favor of lawsuit reform, Oklahoma ranks among the 15 worst states overall in terms of a poor lawsuit reform environment. Oklahoma is ranked 38th for problems ranging from lawsuit threats to monetary losses from harmful verdicts.To make matters worse, surrounding states like Colorado, Kansas and Texas have all passed strong lawsuit reform measures and rank among the top 10 states with the best lawsuit reform laws, while Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana each rank far ahead of Oklahoma in terms of reform efforts.

Just across the Red River border, Texas ranks number one among all states for the best lawsuit reform. Even California, known for its litigious environment, ranks better than Oklahoma.

One respected Oklahoma legal scholar who has worked on lawsuit reform efforts agrees that the governor's veto is bad news for the state. In a recent post on the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs' "Under the Dome" blog, Oklahoma City University constitutional scholar and law professor Andrew Spiropoulos noted that, "Our leading lawyers ... ought to prefer the common good to their litigation success. We deserve better, but we won't get it, unless we are willing to demand it from our officials and ourselves."

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Senate Passes 'Safe Families' Measures

Three key portions of the House Republican majority's "Safe Families" agenda were approved by the Senate this week. Measures to combat sexual violence, strengthen penalties for sex offenses against children and increase the length of conceal-carry permits in Oklahoma all passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support.

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Teacher Retirement System Reform Passes House

The House today voted to fund Oklahoma's teacher retirement system with a plan to pump more than $200 million into the system over the next five years. "It's taken us a long time to get into this situation, and it will take us a long time to get out. But this is a major step in the right direction," said Rep. Tad Jones (R-Claremore), who presented the plan on the House floor. "This is a permanent funding solution for what is a looming crisis for our state."

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Senate 'Pro-life' Veto Override Attempt Fails

The evenly divided Oklahoma Senate today fell a vote short of the 32 votes needed to override Governor Brad Henry’s veto of a pro-life bill after Democrat Senator Charles Laster (pictured) of Shawnee flip-flopped by voting against an override motion after voting 3 previous times in favor of the legislation this session, once in committee and twice on the Senate floor.

But Senate Bill 714’s author, Senator James A. Williamson of Tulsa, said he will press on with future attempts to override Henry’s veto.

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