Veterans Council Honors Rep. Gary Banz

Midwest City Republican Rep. Gary Banz has been named Representative Of The Year by the Oklahoma Veteran’s Council.

The award is presented to the House member who has assisted the Oklahoma Veterans Council in meeting the needs of veterans in the Legislature.

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Lottery Redistribution Bill Wins House Approval

The House today passed a bill that will change how money from Oklahoma's lottery is distributed to public schools.

The bill, by Midwest City Republican Rep. Gary Banz, was approved by a vote of 85-16. It now goes to the Senate.

House Bill 1441 would require that lottery money for public schools be collected first and then distributed to schools based on the number of students in each district. School districts would receive monthly lottery payments, according to an amendment filed with the bill.

Estimates now are made on how much the lottery will bring in and then the money is included in the state's school funding formula, making it difficult to determine how much each individual district receives from the lottery.

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Houses Passes Constitutional Convention Resolution

A resolution calling on the people of Oklahoma to determine if a Constitutional Convention in 2009 is needed passed the House today.

Oklahoma’s Constitution is one of the longest in the country and needs to be revised, said Rep. Gary Banz, author of House Joint Resolution 1080.

“The framers of our state Constitution wanted the people of Oklahoma to have the option for a constitutional convention every 20 years, and lawmakers have recently ignored that responsibility,” said Banz, R-Midwest City. “It is time to take a comprehensive look at this document, and I hope the people of Oklahoma agree.”

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House Panel Approves Special Lottery Fund Idea

Legislation that would place lottery funds into a special account so taxpayers know exactly how much lottery cash goes to their local schools was approved today by a House committee.

House Bill 1441, by Rep. Gary Banz, would create a special Common Education Lottery Revolving Fund to collect and distribute lottery funds every six months.

"The way we handle lottery money today is a risky business," said Banz, R-Midwest City. "Currently, we try to predict how much money the lottery will make each year and pre-spend it, building it into school budgets. For the past two years, the lottery has failed to meet those projections and schools faced mid-year budget cuts as a result. We need to allow the lottery to first produce and then distribute the money. We're doing it backwards right now."

In the current system, lottery funds are run through the state school funding formula along with all other education money, which makes it very difficult to determine how much each individual school district receives from the lottery. In addition, some schools will receive no lottery money at all so long as it is run through the state funding formula.

In addition, lottery projections have been very inaccurate. In the 2007 budget year, the lottery shortfall was more than $40 million and this year's numbers are below projections once again.

Under House Bill 1441, lottery money would be collected in the Common Education Lottery Revolving Fund and distributed to schools every six months divided on a per-student basis.

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Airport, Aerospace Measures Win House Approval

Bills that would provide financing to improve the state's regional airports and create an "Aerospace Institute" passed the House today.

“Aerospace is one of Oklahoma’s fastest growing industries, and we are going to do everything we can to foster that industry and help it grow,” said Rep. Mike Jackson (left), chairman of the House Aerospace and Technology Subcommittee.

House Bill 2784, known as the Regional Business Airport Modernization Act, asks for $10 million to modernize Oklahoma’s 49 regional business airports. The bill seeks to ensure that those regional airports in areas with significant economic activity and high aviation demand are accommodating to the businesses that use them.

“These airport upgrades will allow our communities to more successfully compete for those businesses that create jobs for their citizens and stimulate Oklahoma’s economy,” said Jackson, R-Enid.

The bill passed the House with a vote of 89-9 and will next be heard in the Senate.

Another bill would create the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute underneath the state Aeronautics Commission. The institute would help further aerospace education in Oklahoma in an attempt to create a pool of local engineers and workforce through the state’s higher education and Career Tech systems.

House Bill 3098, by Rep. Gary Banz (right), would also help local suppliers get contracts with Tinker Air Force Base and the federal government. The legislation seeks $2.5 million to help achieve these goals. The bill passed the House with a vote of 90-10 and will proceed to the Senate.

Both bills are contingent upon funds being appropriated through the budgeting process.

“Our growing aerospace industry is so vital to diversifying Oklahoma’s economy,” said Banz, R-Midwest City. “We need to do all we can to ensure this industry can expand. It is time we get behind this sector of our economy and make a financial commitment to its growth.”

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Governor-Lieutenant Governor Team Measure OKd

The House Rules Committee narrowly approved a joint resolution that would allow the governor and lieutenant governor to run as a team. It it is approved by the Legislature, and by a vote of the people, it likely would impact the 2010 election.

Republican Rep. Gary Banz (pictured) of Midwest City authored the resolution, which passed the committee 5-4.The action comes just after Governor Brad Henry said the office of lieutenant governor is a wasted one, with occupants having to look for things to do.

Historically, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor in each party have conducted their own campaigns. In 1970, however, Republican incumbent Dewey F. Bartlett teamed with then-State Rep. Ralph Thompson of Oklahoma City to campaign as the Bartlett-Thompson team. Both were defeated. Thompson is now a U. S. District Judge.

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Steve Russell Honored As 'Vet Of The Week'

One of the central players in the hunt for and capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was honored by a resolution as the first "Veteran of the Week" on the House floor.

The resolution, authored by Representatives Mike Reynolds and Paul Wesselhoft and Senator Tom Ivester (D-Elk City), honored native Oklahoman and retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Steve Russell for his service to the United States and the protection of freedom.

"Lieutenant Colonel Russell is a hero for his service to America and his sacrifice in the name of freedom, it's as simple as that," said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. "He is one of our treasured native sons, and we are all very proud of his commitment to serve our nation. On top of that, he is as fine a man as you will ever meet."

Each Monday during the legislative session, the House will honor an Oklahoma veteran as the "Veteran of the Week." The program is coordinated by state Rep. Gary Banz, chair of the House Veterans Subcommittee. Each honoree will be given a framed citation and a United States flag that has flown of the Oklahoma Capitol building.

"The 'Veteran of the Week' program is just a small way for the state to honor those who have served our nation with distinction," said Banz, R-Midwest City. "It is always so easy for us to forget who provides our freedoms and liberties, and my hope is that the state of Oklahoma will always find a way to remember our troops and thank them for their dedication and sacrifices."

Russell currently resides in Reynolds' House District 101 and travels across the nation speaking at rallies to support the U.S. efforts in Iraq. He retired from the Army after serving 21 years in Airborne, Light and Mechanized assignments in the Arctic, the desert, the Pacific, and in both Europe and the United States. He served more than 7 years overseas and has deployed operationally to Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. During Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Russell commanded the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry 'Regulars' and conducted combat efforts in Tikrit, Iraq from spring 2003 through spring 2004. Russell's unit was heavily involved in the hunt for, and capture of, Hussein and has been featured in both Discovery's 'Ace in the Hole' and BBC Panorama's 'Saddam on the Run' documentaries.

"I am so thankful for men like Lieutenant Colonel Russell and all of our brave Oklahoma military servicemen and women who are willing to serve our country so our ideals, our freedoms and our families are protected," said Wesselhoft, R-Moore, a former U.S. Army Chaplain. "Words certainly cannot express the deepest appreciation we feel toward those who are willing to sacrifice so much. Anytime we are able to bring one of our heroes onto the House floor to just say 'thank you' is one of the greatest highlights of my job in the Legislature."

Russell is highly decorated, and has received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Valorous Unit Award during his service.

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., Russell will speak at the Vets for Victory Rally to support the troops and their mission in Iraq on the south steps of the Oklahoma State Capitol.

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