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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World: Cargill Says He Didn't Know Huckabee Fundraiser Was At Dallas Home Of Gene Phillips

By Mick Hinton In The Tulsa World ~ Several Republican House members, including Speaker Lance Cargill, attended a fundraiser recently in the home of Texas businessman Gene Phillips, who has been linked to convicted former insurance commissioner Carroll Fisher.

Phillips was hosting the fundraiser for Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee.

Fisher is serving a three-year prison sentence for embezzling $1,000 from his campaign and lying on a contributions report. He also is accused of accepting $25,000 and other gifts from Phillips, his family and business associates in exchange for favorable treatment of their insurance companies. Fisher has said the money was a loan.

Cargill said Friday that he went to the fundraiser at the invitation of a former colleague. "I was not informed where the event was," he said. "As it turns out, it was at his (Phillips') home." Cargill said he looked at the event as a chance to visit "with the person who has a legitimate chance to be president of the United States.

Rep. Danny Morgan, who leads the House Democrats, said Friday, "When I heard this, I was floored. "It looks very suspect that the speaker would allow himself and members of his caucus to be involved in a fundraiser with an individual allegedly involved with Commissioner Fisher," Morgan, D-Prague, said.

Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, said Friday that "it never clicked" in his mind when he and others went to Phillips' home Dec. 18 to attend the fundraiser. Other Republican lawmakers who attended were Reps. T.W. Shannon of Lawton and Mike Jackson of Enid. Three other GOP lawmakers reportedly were at the fundraiser.

Phillips' son Bradford Phillips tried unsuccessfully last session to get an Oklahoma law changed that would have allowed the family's insurance companies to put up fewer assets when making real estate loans. State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland strongly protested the change, which was approved in committee but did not make it into law. The amendment was carried by House Majority Leader Greg Piatt, R-Ardmore, who received a $5,000 contribution from Bradford Phillips in June, state Ethics Commission records show.

Holland noted that Gene Phillips was linked to an anonymous Web site that showed up during her 2006 election bid. Although it did not name Holland, the Internet campaign ad featured a silhouette of her. "Yes, he (Phillips) was linked to the Web site and he was the gentleman linked to one or more indictments against the former commissioner," Holland said at the time.

Meanwhile, Shannon said Friday that he went to the fundraiser not knowing that questions had been raised about Phillips. "I learned all of this after the fundraiser," he said. "It was just a chance to get to see Mike Huckabee."

Stephen Jones of Enid, who has been Gene Phillips' attorney, was one of the co-sponsors of the event. Regarding the Oklahoma lawmakers' attendance, Jones said: "I saw some of those boys. They were all Huckabee supporters." Jones estimated that 250 to 300 people were at the fundraiser, held at Phillips' pool house. Other reports put attendance at 100 to 150. "Phillips has a beautiful home, and he knows how to entertain," Jones said, noting that many functions are held there, although not usually political ones. "There's nothing wrong with it," he said.

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Mike Jackson Named Co-Majority House Whip

State Rep. Mike Jackson of Enid has been named co-majority whip in the 2008 session of the House by Speaker Lance Cargill.

"With the addition of Representative Jackson, we have a solid team of talented individuals ready to accomplish great things for Oklahoma,"said Cargill, R-Harrah. "Our leadership team is unified and focused on pursuing our conservative reform agenda in 2008."

In his new role, Jackson will work with Majority Whip Rep. Rob Johnson of Kingfisher to assist the Speaker and Floor Leader with duties pertaining to the GOP caucus, including keeping members advised of various floor and committee votes."

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