Henry Silent On Traffic Camera Controversy

It's his plan, it's in his budget, but Governor Henry has been remarkably silent thus far about the system of highway traffic "spy" cameras he wants to nab vehicle insurance scofflaws and raise a claimed $50 million in new revenue.

While the controversy over the system has bubbled for weeks now, with privacy concerns and questions about how the idea for the system was developed, where the $50 million in revenue figure came from, and how his campaign fundraiser Barry Switzer became involved in it, Henry has been silent.

The system was proposed by Henry in his budget, which was agreed to by Republican leaders in the House and Senate, without comment or explanation from any of them. And despite questions, House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee have remained silent.

The lack of comment, by Henry in particular, appears to be generating unrest among some legislators. Democrat Mike Shelton brought the plan to the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union, which has filed an Open Records request with the Department of Public Safety. Shelton cites privacy concerns about information gathered through the system.

Several Republicans question the authority for instituting the plan and note they can find no law specifically authorizing it.

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Benge Clams Up, Refuses To Answer Questions

House Speaker Chris Benge has refused to answer questions posed by The McCarville Report Online about Governor Henry's plan to install highway traffic cameras to catch vehicle owners without the required insurance.

Benge's spokeswoman, Jennifer Monies, responded to TMRO's repeated questions today with, "I am sorry, but the Speaker does not have a comment on either question."

TMRO asked Benge if he'd had any contact about the plan with former Congressman J. C. Watts, or anyone on his behalf.

Purpose of the questions, in part, was to confirm or deny information provided TMRO that Watts spoke with his "contacts" in Benge's office on June 10, 2009, and that InsureNet official Wayne Pettigrew spoke with Jim Reese, Benge's policy director, in May of 2009 as the company worked to gain approval of its plan in 2010.

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$50 Million Revenue Estimate A Mystery As Those Involved Contradict Each Other, Point Fingers

There is a mystery that still hangs over Governor Henry's plan to raise $50 million in new revenue from a statewide system of highway traffic "spy" cameras to catch insurance scofflaws and the mystery is this: Why does no one seem to know for certain where that income estimate came from?

It's an important question because if the estimate is not accurate, there's a hole in the revenue side of the budget that will have to be filled some other way. In addition, the perception appears to be growing that despite years of planning, the system was placed for bids with far too many unanswered questions.

There also appears to be information about the system itself that contradicts other information. For example, the governor's budget suggests 220 of the cameras. Yet a DPS document outlining specifications mentions only "12 to 20" cameras. Questions from vendors, and DPS responses, indicate confusion in other areas of the plan as well ranging from how the system will be administered to where fines would be paid.

The McCarville Report Online has asked everyone in a position to know where the estimate came from after noticing that the Department of Public Safety, charged with putting information together for bidders and in overall charge of the plan, responded "Unknown" to questions from several bidders about the source of the estimate, and how it was derived.

The Governor's Office Says The Treasurer Helped Put The Estimate Together; The Treasurer's Office Says The Governor, Senate President Pro Tem and House Speaker Put It Together; The House Speaker Says It Came From The Governor; An Expert Says The Estimate Is 'Probably Worthless'

TMRO first asked Governor Henry's spokesman, Paul Sund, where the estimate came from. He replied, "I think OSF budget division and Scott's (Meacham) staff put that together after looking at what some other states were doing."

But Treasurer Scott Meacham, via Deputy Treasurer Tim Allen, said, "the revenue estimate was based on responses to a DPS RFP (Request For Proposal) and was reduced (from an original estimate of $95 million) by agreement between the Governor, Pro Tem and Speaker...."

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, on vacation in Arkansas, apparently could not be reached by his staff.

House Speaker Chris Benge, spokeswoman Jennifer Monies said, "just indicated that number came from the governor. Other than that, he is unaware of the source."

Former Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, a national officer of InsureNet, one firm interested in the state contract that also retains Barry Switzer as a consultant, followed closely the development of information about the new system.

He tells TMRO, "As far as I know, it is 6 months anticipated revenue from a vehicle insurance verification system that has a national database. I believe it assumes a 24% uninsured rate on 70% of the vehicles (from Oklahoma) and a 70% collection rate on the fines levied. I do not know what the anticipated uninsured rate is for the out-of-state vehicles. I think the RFP from DCS (Department of Central Services) went to a single state type system for the database (not the InsureNet one) and so this number ($50 million) is probably worthless now."

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Agency Heads Paint Grim SQ744 Picture

If State Question 744 is approved by the voters next fall, planned roads and bridges wouldn’t be built, thousands of prisoners would have to be released, mentally ill Oklahomans would be left without care leaving them destined for the streets or prison, thousands would be dropped from the Medicaid rolls and several health services would be eliminated, fewer state troopers would protect Oklahoma streets, more children and senior citizens would be cut out of state care and college tuition would increase across the state, House members were told by agency directors at an interim study today.

The interim study was requested to examine the potential effects of the passage of State Question 744, which would tie the state’s Common Education funding to an arbitrary regional average set by Oklahoma’s surrounding states.

Today, officials with seven state agencies varying from health care, human services to public safety testified that if the state question is approved, and the diversion of funds is paid for solely with budget cuts to other state agencies, the results will be dire for all Oklahomans.

If approved, the state question will require a diversion of at least $850 million in state funds to Common Education. In order to fulfill that requirement, lawmakers would likely have to look at income or sales tax increases possibly as high as 40 percent or budget reductions in other agencies of as much as 20 percent across the board.

“The level of services to Oklahomans that would have to be cut to accommodate State Question 744 is stark and would be hugely damaging to our state,” said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. “Approval of the state question would divert millions of dollars to Common Education, but at what cost with no guarantee of improved achievement results?”

“While the petitioners of State Question 744 may be well-intended, the question is irresponsible—it is a zero-sum game where one budget component benefits to the detriment of the other vital state services like transportation, public safety and health care,” said Rep. Ken Miller, chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, which is overseeing the study.

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Benge Says He's Staying Put As House Speaker

Despite speculation that House Speaker Chris Benge may enter the race for State Treasurer, Benge said today he does not intend to seek any other political office at this time.

"Though I am honored by the encouragement of my family, my friends, and many others, I don't plan to be a candidate for State Treasurer or any other office in 2010," said Benge, R-Tulsa. "I have plenty to focus on as Speaker of the House, and I look forward to leading the House in my last year as we work to position Oklahoma to prosper in the future."

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Trial Lawyer's Email Proves Tort Reform Effective, State House And Senate Republican Leaders Say

An Oklahoma City law firm's email to plaintiffs urging them to file lawsuits before tort reform becomes law in November is proof that trial attorneys fear that the change will be effective in limiting frivolous lawsuits, House and Senate leaders said today.

The email, sent from an attorney with the Merritt & Associates law firm last week, says “Danger! Tort reform legislation effective November 1. File your lawsuits now!”

House Speaker Chris Benge said the email proves the new law is a significant step toward cutting down on frivolous lawsuits while clearing the way for legitimate claims.

“This email, while very concerning, should serve as an example of why we passed tort reform,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “We believe the law passed last session will have the effect of attracting businesses and creating jobs in our state.”

For over a decade, House and Senate Republicans have sought reforms to Oklahoma’s justice system, where frivolous lawsuits have increased health care costs, driven talented doctors out of our state because of high malpractice insurance rates and told companies to look to more business-friendly states when considering relocation or jobs creation.

“My top priority when first elected to the State Senate eleven years ago was to enact real and meaningful lawsuit reform in Oklahoma,” said Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “The activists in the Trial Bar fought this reform tooth and nail, and some of them still can’t accept the new reality.

“Throughout the process of passing lawsuit reform, this particular law firm was Oklahoma’s Chicken Little, and now they are proclaiming that the sky will fall in November,” Coffee continued. “In fact, the skies will open, and Oklahoma will open for business when HB 1603 goes into effect.”

Rep. Dan Sullivan, House author of this year’s lawsuit reform legislation, House Bill 1603, said the email also falsely claims joint and several liability is abolished by the bill. The legislation limits joint and several liability to instances where a tortfeasor is more than 50 percent liable.

“The attorney who sent this email expressed deep opposition to change and tried to rally his colleagues to try to stop reform. Now that he was unsuccessful in defending the status quo, he is trying to encourage people to file lawsuits prior to the law taking effect whether they have merit or not,” said Sullivan, R-Tulsa. “This email is nothing but an opportunistic attempt to get lawsuits on the books, regardless of their merit, by lawyers who will go to any lengths to prey on vulnerable Oklahomans.”

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Benge Approves 124 Interim Studies

House Speaker Chris Benge announced today the approval of 124 interim studies.

For a full listing of the approved studies, go to http://www.okhouse.gov/Committees/ShowInterimStudies.aspx.

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AP Analyzes Race For House Speaker

Tim Talley Of The Associated Press reports on the race for speaker of the Oklahoma House: An economist from Edmond and an associate pastor at a Methodist church in Shawnee are the leading contenders to be the next Republican speaker of the Oklahoma House.

Rep. Ken Miller, chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee who holds a doctorate in political economics from the University of Oklahoma, and House Speaker Pro Tem Kris Steele, an associate pastor at the Wesley United Methodist Church of Shawnee who now holds the House’s second ranking position, are vying to replace House Speaker Chris Benge of Tulsa.

Read the entire article at http://newsok.com/two-lead-race-for-oklahoma-house-speaker/article/3375999.

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Senate, House Clear Lawsuit Reform Bill

The State Senate and House today passed a comprehensive lawsuit reform bill that represents an agreement with lawmakers, business advocates, doctors, mineral owners and trial lawyers. The measure now goes to Governor Henry for action.

House leaders said the deal will reduce the number of frivolous lawsuits in Oklahoma, which will help lower health care costs for all Oklahomans, recruit and retain Oklahoma doctors and bring more cost certainty to businesses in our state, especially small companies.

“The collaboration that occurred between all interested parties to reach this landmark agreement is exactly the type of work the people of Oklahoma expect from their leaders,” said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. “This deal is a compromise, which means everyone didn’t get everything they wanted, but it represents true reform for our state.”

Under the compromise, House Bill 1603 will contain the following major provisions:

Vague noneconomic damages (so-called “pain and suffering” awards) would be capped at $400,000 outside of exceptional circumstances. In rare cases where the cap is lifted, any amount greater than $400,000 could be paid with a reinsurance policy the state would purchase. The bill creates a task force that will study the details of the policy and payment options prior to implementation.

The reinsurance policy would pay up to $20 million a year to injured Oklahomans in exceptional circumstances of gross negligence or severe disfigurement. It is estimated such a policy would cost less than $1 million annually for the additional protection.
In order to have access to the reinsurance policy, doctors are required by the legislation to carry at least $1 million in medical liability insurance, which covers the majority malpractice cases. There is currently no state minimum requirement for insurance coverage.

“This change places the burden on doctors to carry higher levels of insurance to further protect injured Oklahomans, but also adds some certainty to the system in rare catastrophic cases,” said Rep. Dan Sullivan, House author of HB 1603 and the bill’s chief negotiator from the House.

The policy is a unique agreement that gives physicians a hard cap for medical liability insurance purposes but allows Oklahomans who have extenuating circumstances to receive awards above the cap.

As a result of that compromise, insurers will be able to sell medical liability insurance to doctors at lower rates because they won’t have to build up enormous reserves to cover the rare “jackpot” award that would otherwise bankrupt the company.

One of the main reasons doctor’s insurance currently costs so much is the impact of frivolous lawsuits – even though 70 percent of medical liability claims were dismissed between 2004 and 2007, Oklahoma’s major doctor’s insurance company spent $50 million defending those cases.

That cost should be significantly reduced following passage of House Bill 1603, allowing for cheaper insurance policies to be sold to doctors.

In turn, those lower insurance rates will make it easier to attract doctors to currently underserved areas of Oklahoma, particularly rural communities. Today, women all across Oklahoma often have to drive to Oklahoma City or Tulsa to deliver a baby because few local doctors will perform that service due to litigation threat and high insurance rates.

“Doctor and nurse shortages are a serious problem in Oklahoma. We have some of the best physician training in the country, but other states are stealing our doctors away,” said Rep. Doug Cox, an emergency room doctor in Grove. “We are training—often with taxpayer dollars—doctors who are being recruited to lawsuit reform-friendly states, it is a fact. This bill will give those physicians a chance to practice in this state.”

House Bill 1603 also contains other reforms. In the area of class-action lawsuits, court shopping for class-action suits would be restricted, and attorney fees could be reviewed.
The bill also requires an expert to certify that a professional negligence case has merit before it can proceed. That requirement would be waived for plaintiffs who cannot afford the costs associated with finding an expert.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm said he's pleased that a tort reform provision he had authored for several years was included in the lawsuit reform bill. The provision would prevent a gun manufacturer from being sued if their product was used in the commission of a crime.

“These are products that are legally manufactured and owned, and it just makes good sense to make sure this liability protection is part of our state law,” Gumm said. “We’ve come close to getting this proposal to the governor’s desk in the past, only to see it fall victim to politics. I’m very optimistic about its chances this year.”

The Democrat from Durant said most firearm manufacturing facilities are located in states hostile to gun ownership. In contrast, Gumm pointed out most Oklahomans are strong advocates of the 2nd Amendment right to own firearms.

“Whether it is for hunting or for self-protection, owning firearms is part of Oklahoma’s heritage and culture,” Gumm said. “In addition, we have one of the best gunsmith programs in the nation at Murray State College.”

Gumm said firearm manufacturing is a multi-billion dollar industry with high-paying jobs. Tort reform protecting manufacturers coupled with the program at Murray State College would give Oklahoma a greater edge in attracting those jobs.

“I’m excited about the possibility we have to attract an important manufacturing facility to our state. The jobs and revenue such a facility would create would ultimately benefit all of Oklahoma.”

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Benge Names GCCA Members

House Speaker Chris Benge today announced 22 appointments to the General Conference Committee on Appropriations.

Those named are Reps. Ken Miller, R-Edmond; Scott Martin, R-Norman; Doug Cox, R-Grove; Lee Denney, R-Cushing; Dale DeWitt, R-Braman; Jeff Hickman, R-Dacoma; Mike Jackson, R-Enid; Guy Liebmann, R-Oklahoma City; Ron Peters, R-Tulsa; Randy Terrill, R-Moore; Weldon Watson, R-Tulsa; Tad Jones, R-Claremore; Marian Cooksey, R-Edmond; Steve Martin, R-Nowata, Osage and Washington Counties; Paul Wesselhoft, R-Moore; John Auffet, D-Stilwell; John Carey, D-Durant; Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs; Larry Glenn, D-Miami; Chuck Hoskin, D-Vinita; Neil Brannon, D-Arkoma; Danny Morgan, D-Prague.

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Income Tax Rate Cut Advances, Passage Unlikely

From www.tulsaworld.com ~ Although the state faces a $900 million budget hole, the House approved a measure Tuesday that would drop the state's income tax rate from 5.5 percent to 4 percent.

Rep. Jeff Hickman, the House author of the bill, said passage of Senate Bill 315 keeps alive the possibility of an income tax cut, even though House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, and Gov. Brad Henry have said any tax cut seems unrealistic this year because revenues alone are estimated to be down more than $600 million compared with a year ago.

The bill heads back to the Senate and will end up in a conference committee as work develops on crafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, said Hickman, R-Fairview.

It's estimated the state's actual budget deficit will be closer to about $300 million, as federal economic stimulus money and some available cash on hand could take care of about $600 million of the expected shortfall, he said.

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GOP Leaders React To Henry's Court Veto

House Speaker Chris Benge and Rep. Dan Sullivan, both Tulsa Republicans, commented this afternoon on Governor Henry’s veto of SB 609 and the immediate Senate passage of HJR 1041, which would send the requirement of Senate confirmation of any future appointees of the state Worker’s Compensation Court to a vote of the people.

“Requiring Senate confirmation of Worker’s Compensation Court judges is a reasonable reform that adds accountability to the current system,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “We are disappointed in Gov. Henry’s veto, but are pleased that with passage of HJR 1041 the people of Oklahoma will likely be able to decide this issue themselves.”

“Worker’s Compensation judges are the only judges in the entire state who never appear on any ballot whatsoever,” said Sullivan, R-Tulsa. “Today, Gov. Henry sided with the status quo instead of a commonsense reform that would help ensure injured workers across the state are given their day in court in front of judges that are approved by their representative government. We will not let one person defeat this reform. We believe the people deserve to have their say.”

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Stimulus Dollars Watch Resolution Advances

A resolution that would ensure federal stimulus dollars are spent in an accountable and transparent way passed the Senate today and will soon be considered by the House.

House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee said Senate Concurrent Resolution 13 requires every state agency that receives federal stimulus funds to submit a plan for the expenditure of such funds to the chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the governor.

Further, the resolution states that an agency cannot spend the federal funds without the additional dollars being accounted for in the state agency’s budget limits put into law every legislative session.

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Medical Examiner Appointment Bill Advances

Legislation making the state Chief Medical Examiner a gubernatorial appointee unanimously passed a House Committee tonight.

The change is needed in light of numerous recent issues with the state Medical Examiner’s office, said House Speaker Chris Benge, author of House Bill 1965.

House and Senate leaders have expressed concerns for over a year regarding the management and operations of the office.

Additionally, recent allegations of sexual harassment charges inside the office led OSBI to open an investigation into the matter at the urging of Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee.

“The public must be able to have confidence in this office,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “We believe having a medical examiner that reports directly to the governor instead of a bureaucratic board will improve accountability and allow for quick changes as needed in the future.”

The legislation keeps the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner independent from other agencies to avoid any conflicts of interest and to preserve the office’s autonomy. The CME would report directly to the governor and the Board of Medicolegal Investigations will be eliminated.

The governor would also appoint a newly created Chief Administrative Officer position, whose responsibilities will include handling the day-to-day management of the administrative functions of the agency.

The Chief Administrative Officer would be charged to adopt written professional qualification requirements for each staff position related to the investigation of deaths and to require background checks be performed for all prospective hires for the office. The professional qualifications are to apply to all forensic pathologists, chemists, investigators and the position of Chief Investigator.

The legislation would also prohibit all CME employees from receiving any type of compensation from any service or organization whose business pertains to organ, eye or tissue recovery.

The CME office would also be relocated to Edmond if the bill becomes law, where it will be in close proximity with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Forensic Science Institute. The examiner’s office would have their own state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment but would additionally be able to utilize the facilities and administrative functions currently offered by the OSBI and UCO.

Finally, the bill will require the CME to obtain approval by the Legislature before closing a satellite office.

The bill passed the House Appropriations and Budget Committee unanimously and will now move to the House for consideration.

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Benge Promises Stimulus Funds Oversight

Federal stimulus dollars coming to Oklahoma will be treated in the same fiscally prudent manner state tax dollars have been spent in recent years, House Speaker Chris Benge said today.

Benge announced that he is tasking the House Appropriations and Budget Committee to include in its legislative responsibilities conducting oversight of agency spending and transparency in use of federal stimulus dollars coming to Oklahoma.

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GOP Fast-tracks Voter Fraud Measure

The House Rules Committee voted today to target voter fraud by requiring that Oklahoma citizens provide proof of identify before voting in an election. The measure now goes to a vote in the full House.

“Any election reform package approved this year must start with voter ID as its foundation,” said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. “Our top priority is to ensure the integrity of our elections, and to do that we must ensure that only eligible voters cast ballots.”

House Bill 1037, by Rep. Sue Tibbs, would require citizens to provide “proof of identify” before voting. Under the bill, proof of identify could be established by producing a document containing a photograph of the voter that was issued by a state, federal, county, municipal, or tribal government.

“For Oklahomans to have faith in our election process, we cannot tolerate any opportunity for voter fraud,” said Tibbs, R-Tulsa. “This legislation provides a simple, cost-effective way to guarantee that no Oklahoman is disenfranchised as the result of illegal votes.”

Under the bill, if a voter is unable to produce a photo ID, that person can sign a statement under oath swearing to his or her identity. Anyone found to have signed the oath falsely would be subject to felony punishment.

In recent election cycles there have been reports of voter fraud in numerous states, prompting lawmakers to enact new reforms. For example, ACORN, a liberal activist group that has registered millions of voters across the country, has been embroiled in countless fraud allegations and was the subject of an FBI investigation.

Some ACORN employees were accused of submitting false voter registration forms – including some signed `Mickey Mouse' and several in Nevada listing Dallas Cowboys players’ names, though none of the players live in the state. Another Nevada ACORN worker was caught filling out voter registration forms using names and addresses copied out of the telephone book.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a similar law in Indiana that required voters to show photo identification.

Last week, former Federal Election Commissioner Hans von Spakovsky noted in the Wall Street Journal that Georgia and Indiana saw record numbers of Democrats vote in November, despite having some of the nation’s toughest voter ID laws.

"With every election that has occurred since states have begun to implement voter ID, the evidence is overwhelming that it does not depress the turnout of voters,” von Spakovsky said in the Journal. "Indeed, it may actually increase the public’s confidence that their votes will count."

House Bill 1037 passed out of the House Rules Committee today. It will next receive a vote from the entire Oklahoma House of Representatives.

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Legislature Convenes This Afternoon

The Oklahoma Legislature, totally controlled by Republicans for the first time in state history, convenes this afternoon.

Republicans took control of the Senate in last fall's elections and subsequently elected Glenn Coffee as president pro-tem.

House Speaker Chris Benge, elected a year ago following Lance Cargill's resignation, continues to lead Republicans in the lower house.

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Benge Adds Former Rep. Jim Reese To Staff

House Speaker Chris Benge has hired former State Rep. Jim Reese from Nardin as a staff member.

Reese, (left in photo taken during a USDA presentation honoring a Dust Bowl veteran) presently executive director of the USDA-Farm Service Agency in Stillwater, will be a policy adviser.

He was appointed to the USDA post by the Bush Administration in 2001. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1986 and served until May 2001 when he was appointed to his current position.

He served as First Assistant Minority Leader for 5 years.

He received the Farm Bureau Meritorious Service Award, the Farmers Union Outstanding Service Award, and was a strong advocate for agriculture and rural life in the House.

Reese was a member of Class IX of Leadership Oklahoma and served on the Leadership Oklahoma Board of Directors. He received the second ever Good Neighbor Award from Kay Electric Cooperative.

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House GOP Leaders Announce Health Plan

House Republican leaders announced a plan today that seeks to eliminate the barriers that have traditionally prevented Oklahomans from obtaining private health insurance.
Factors like cost, lack of options and deficient information for consumers have often stood in the way of Oklahomans seeking health insurance for themselves and their families.

“A government-run, universal health care system that puts health choices in the hands of government instead of patients is not what Oklahomans want,” said House Speaker Chris Benge , R-Tulsa. “At the most basic level, Oklahomans want to be able to choose their own doctor and be able to afford medical services when needed. This plan will address affordability and access so all Oklahomans can take more control of their personal health outcomes.”

The plan is based on the work last interim in the House Health Care Reform Task Force, whose members sought ways to reduce Oklahoma’s high number of uninsured.
One effort will be to further strengthen and promote the state’s Insure Oklahoma program, a public-private partnership that gives premium assistance to small business workers and employers. The program has served as a model to other states and recently received national attention for its creative approach in providing affordable insurance.
“There are many things our state is doing right when it comes to health care, but there is much more to do. Oklahoma is not alone in the challenge of providing affordable health care options to our residents, but we must craft a solution that fits the specific needs of our state,” said House Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele, R-Shawnee.

“The purpose of these reforms is to remove many of the obstacles people struggle with in obtaining health insurance, and allow more Oklahomans to become insured. Our goal is to improve the overall health of our state by empowering and equipping patients to invest in their own health care needs and outcomes,” he said.

Dr. Doug Cox, co-chairman of the Health Care Reform Task Force, said this is an ambitious plan that seeks to make Oklahomans healthier over the long-term.

“We are only one of many states grappling with the issue of health care reform nationwide, but this plan would take a big step toward reducing the number of uninsured in our state while allowing patients to maintain personal control over their health decisions,” said Cox, R-Grove. “As with many far-reaching plans, this may not be something we can accomplish in one single year, but we must start down the path of improving our state’s health, and this plan will give us a roadmap to do just that.”

The comprehensive plan includes:

Reform/improve Insure Oklahoma - Insure Oklahoma is an effective public-private model for providing assistance to Oklahomans who meet certain eligibility requirements and are seeking health care coverage. The program can be improved by offering more choices. HB 2026 directs both the employer-sponsored insurance and individual insurance plans to offer additional low-cost options, such as high deductible plans compatible with health savings accounts. In addition, the proposal seeks to incorporate incentives for the use of preventative care and wellness programs into Insure Oklahoma. Also, Insure Oklahoma would be modified to be more customer-friendly, especially at the point of eligibility determination and enrollment.

Reform the Individual Market – HB 2026 will enable insurance providers to offer basic preventative plans with catastrophic coverage by relaxing mandates so more low-cost choices can be offered to uninsured Oklahomans.

Encourage the use of Section 125 Plans – HB 2026 provides incentives to businesses that offer Section 125 Plans so employees can use pre-tax dollars to purchase health care coverage.

Establish the Oklahoma Exchange – The plan builds upon the current infrastructure to provide a service to assist individuals seeking to enroll in an insurance plan that would best meet their needs.

Establish Enrollment Options at Point of Access - In order to provide greater access to private health insurance and strengthen the marketplace for insurers, hospitals, physicians and other health care providers, cost-shifting must be reduced to moderate premiums. HB 2026 will address the matter of uncompensated emergency room and inpatient hospital care of indigent patients. Under the provisions of the plan, individuals will be offered the opportunity to enroll in an affordable insurance plan at the point of service and delivery of care. Under this model, the Oklahoma Exchange would be used to proactively connect individuals without health insurance to coverage options.

There are also several long-term goals House leadership will evaluate subject to available funding. Those reforms include:

Reforming the High Risk Pool - A high percentage of health care costs are incurred by a relatively small percentage of people with chronic health problems. These people often cannot obtain insurance in the private market. The state’s current high risk pool, intended to offer insurance to those who cannot purchase it privately, does not adequately address these problems. Over the long-term, state leaders must work to reform the high risk program by lowering the cost of insurance to those who cannot purchase private insurance and providing assistance for those with lower incomes. The insurance plans offered through the reforms should include a primary care physician who will supervise the patient’s care and effectively manage the conditions of the chronically ill.

Focusing on Workforce Development and Physician Manpower – One common thread heard last year during the interim study was a shortage of qualified health care personnel in Oklahoma, particularly nurses and primary care physicians. In the long-term, officials will consider increasing support for programs that develop and enhance the health care workforce.

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Coffee: Line-item Veto Powers Lawsuit Due

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee said today he and House Speaker Chris Benge will file a lawsuit to clarify the governor's line-item veto powers.

Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said he and Benge, R-Tulsa, will file the friendly suit within the next two weeks with the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Coffee said he believes that Governor Henry's line-item vetoes last year of budget limitation bills dealing with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and Ethics Commission were in error. The line-item vetoes allowed the agencies to spend money for purposes not prescribed by the Legislature, he said.

Coffee said he believes Henry can only use the line-item veto on appropriations bills and not budgetary limitation bills.

He said the lawsuit was not an effort to pick a fight with the governor's office, but to protect the powers and duties of the legislative branch.

Coffee said he is seeking guidance from the court on future appropriations processes.

Henry said, "I strenuously object to their position." He said he believes the drafters of the Constitution intended for the governor to have the power to use a line-item veto to address special or pork projects.

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