House Committee Approves Teacher Tax Credit Bill

A measure providing a tax break for teachers who purchase school supplies for their classrooms passed today out of the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee. House Bill 2919, by Rep. John Trebilcock, would provide a tax credit up to $500 annually for teachers for the purchase of classroom materials. The tax credit would cover the cost of materials, equipment,or supplies used in a classroom of a public school if the cost was "not refunded or reimbursed from any other source."

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Speculation Increases About McMahan Probe Panel

With certain House approval next week of a resolution calling for an investigation of Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan that could result in his impeachment, there's speculation today about those who might serve on the committee.

New House Speaker Chris Benge of Tulsa will name the eight committee members, four Democrats and four Republicans, with a member of each party serving as co-chairman.

Rep. Mike Reynolds, Oklahoma City Republican, authored the resolution and is said by some to be able to cite line-by-line from the lengthy, nine-count federal indictment of McMahan and his wife, Lori. He told Oklahoma City radio station KTOK he would like to serve on the committee. His problem is that he's viewed as a maverick always on the outs with his own party's leadership and he's butted heads with Benge in the past.

Others mentioned as possible members are all attorneys and include Reps. Rex Duncan of Sand Springs, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; T. W. Shannon of Lawton, assistant majority whip; Dan Sullivan of Tulsa, assistant majority floor leader and chairman of the Civil Justice Committee; and John Trebilcock of Broken Arrow, whose resolution authorized the panel that investigated former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher.

Capitol sources say that while the Benge appointments won't be certain until they are announced, three top members of Democratic Leader Danny Morgan's team, and a highly-respected former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper, are possible members of the committee. They are Reps. David Braddock of Altus, James Covey of Custer City, Paul Roan of Tishomingo and Dale Turner of Holdenville. Covey is the minority floor leader and Braddock and Turner are deputy minority floor leaders. Roan is a retired OHP trooper and the former deputy sheriff of Pontotoc County. He's also a former first vice president of the Oklahoma State Troopers Association and is vice chairman of the House Civil Justice Committee.

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Trebilcock Given Probation In DUI Case

Rep. John Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow, must work 10 days for the city of Tulsa and attend a state-approved drug- and alcohol-related education program as part of a plea deal related to his drunken-driving arrest in March. Trebilcock agreed to those terms and others after entering a no-contest plea Friday to a DUI charge in Tulsa Municipal Court. Under the terms of the plea deal, the judge overseeing the case withheld a finding of guilt for six months. After six months, if Trebilcock successfully completes his probation, the lawmaker will be permitted to withdraw his no-contest plea to the DUI charge and enter a plea to a reduced charge of reckless driving.

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Trebilcock Apologizes For 'Poor Decision Making'

From The Tulsa World Online: Rep. John Trebilcock, Broken Arrow Republican who was arrested on a drunken-driving complaint over the weekend, apologized to his family and others Tuesday in a statement in which he explained the circumstances surrounding his arrest and took responsibility for what he said was "poor decision making."

"Driving and alcohol don't mix," said Trebilcock. "I am prepared to accept the consequences, legal and otherwise, for my actions."

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Trebilcock Arrested On DUI Charge

State Rep. John Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow, was arrested over the weekend for allegedly driving under the influence, Tulsa police report. He was taken into custody about 2:30 a.m. Saturday near Second Street and Greenwood Avenue.

Trebilcock, the arresting officer said in his report, refused to take a breath analyzer test because he said he didn't trust the test's validity. He was booked into the Tulsa Jail and released about six hours later after posting $570 bond.

Trebilcock couldn't watch the tip of a pen move without turning his head during a field sobriety test but was able to stand on one leg and count aloud, the police report said.

Trebilcock was eastbound on Second Street in a black sport utility vehicle that didn't have its headlights on when he was pulled over, the report added.

Trebilcock said he had "two drinks with dinner" when the arresting officer asked him how much alcohol he had consumed, the report said. "When I told Mr. Trebilcock that I smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from him, he replied that he had just kissed a girl that had been drinking and that is why he smelled like he had been drinking," the arresting officer wrote.

Trebilcock is the author of a 2005 law that requires people who are convicted of a second DUI charge to install ignition interlocking alcohol-detection devices in their automobiles before they can get their driver's licenses back.

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