Williamson Says Comp Reform Blocked

On the same day some Democrat senators held a news conference to complain that a few of their bills are not being heard in the House of Representatives, Democrat Lt. Governor Jari Askins broke a tie to help Senate Democrats block consideration of a workers compensation reform amendment in the State Senate, a top Republican leader said today.

The amendment, authored by Senate Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman Jim Williamson, would have required Senate confirmation of gubernatorial appointments of judges to the Workers Compensation Court.

“The Workers Comp Court is currently stacked with judges who are anti-business and pro-trial lawyer," said Williamson. "This is a major factor in Oklahoma’s workers comp insurance rates being among the highest in the nation. My amendment would have helped bring about more balance and fairness by requiring Senate confirmation of the judges appointed to this critical court in Oklahoma."

“The high cost of workers comp insurance is one of the top concerns I hear in my district. So it is very disappointing that Lt. Gov. Askins and Senate Democrats chose to put the interests of Big Trial Lawyers ahead of the interests of the people of Oklahoma by blocking consideration of this important reform,” he stated.

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Williamson: Lawsuit Reform Possible If Governor Henry 'Will Get Engaged In The Process'

An agreement on lawsuit reform is possible this year if Governor Henry is willing to make a counter-offer to the bipartisan lawsuit reform plans that he rejected during the 2007 legislative session, Senator Jim Williamson (pictured) said today.

“I believe that a meaningful lawsuit reform bill is doable this year if the governor will get engaged in the process and make a formal counter-offer to the bipartisan proposals he rejected last year,” said Williamson, R-Tulsa, the co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

In 2007 Henry vetoed Senate Bill 507, a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill that passed the Senate and House of Representatives. Henry also rejected a second bipartisan compromise that sought to resolve his complaints about SB 507.

“There was a lot of talk last year by the governor and his surrogates about how close an agreement was, yet Gov. Henry still has not provided legislative language to show what he supports. If he truly wants to reach an agreement on lawsuit reform, it is time for Gov. Henry to put his cards on the table,” Williamson said.

Williamson said the need for lawsuit reform is clear, but it is ultimately up to Henry whether Oklahoma doctors and businesses receive relief this year from lawsuit abuse.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Judicial Hellholes report published by the nonpartisan American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) gives Oklahoma a “dishonorable mention.”

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Terrill, Williamson Rap OBA Law Critique

Legislators Jim Williamson and Randy Terrill said today that an Oklahoma Bankers Association critique of the impact of the state's new immigration law is flawed.

“Oklahoma’s economy is stronger and in much better shape than the national economy, and we’re probably doing as well as ever here in Oklahoma," Williamson said. "We certainly aren’t seeing any evidence that HB 1804 is negatively impacting our state economy. In fact, most Oklahomans believe that our state will benefit in the long run from the reforms contained in House Bill 1804,” stated Williamson, R-Tulsa, the Senate author of House Bill 1804.

Terrill, the House author, said the OBA critique "is seriously flawed because it is based on false assumptions."

Williamson added that, “Even if a few businesses are impacted by a departure of illegals from Oklahoma, this will be more than offset by the positives to the taxpayers of Oklahoma. The legislation gets illegal aliens off of welfare, reduces the substantial costs of illegals to public education, and keeps illegals who have left the state from committing crimes or driving in Oklahoma without insurance. All of these public benefits were why the legislation passed by overwhelming margins in the House and Senate."

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Williamson Says Bill Would Force Abortion Payments

Tulsa Senator Jim Williamson says a Democrat-authored insurance mandate bill would force insurance companies to pay for abortions, gutting a key reform that was adopted as part of Williamson's landmark 2007 pro-life law.

Williamson today called on pro-life legislators in both parties to oppose a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 2114, which failed last week to garner the 25 votes needed for passage. Democrat leaders in the Senate have said they plan to bring the bill up for reconsideration this week. Senator Jim Wilson of Tahlequah authored the bill.

“At the time SB 2114 was first presented last week I noted the incredible potential for it to increase insurance premiums. However, the more I thought about the potential consequences of this legislation, I realized the bill also guts last year’s reform that protects pro-life health insurance policyholders from being forced to subsidize abortions through their insurance premiums,” stated Williamson, R-Tulsa.

“I strongly encourage all pro-life legislators – Democrats and Republicans – to oppose the reconsideration of this misguided legislation,” he said.

The state’s leading pro-life organization – Tulsa-based Oklahomans for Life – fully analyzed the bill and agrees with Williamson’s interpretation of the bill’s effect. Oklahomans for Life has announced its opposition Senate Bill 2114, Williamson noted.

In 2007 the Legislature overwhelmingly adopted Senate Bill 139 by Williamson, which became law without Gov. Brad Henry’s signature. A key provision of the bill required a separate, optional rider for abortion coverage in health insurance policies, ensuring that pro-life policyholders are not forced to subsidize abortions through higher premiums.

Senate Bill 2114, Williamson said, guts the 2007 pro-life reform. SB 2114 would require insurance companies to pay for any medical procedure recommended as “medically necessary” by any “health care professional.”

“Under SB 2114’s vague provisions, a ‘health care professional’ like a nurse or a psychologist could claim an abortion is ‘medically necessary’ and an insurance company would be forced to cover it. This is unconscionable,” Williamson said.

Wilson responded, “We'd be delighted to provide a definition of medical necessity to gain the support of Senator Williamson. And now that I am aware of Senator Williamson’s concerns, I would be happy to allow him to offer a provision that would make an exception for abortion if he truly wants to help us get this bill signed into law. Although, I am certain such a provision won’t be necessary since a measure he authored last year was signed into law by Governor Brad Henry preventing any Oklahoma health insurance policy from paying for an abortion."

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