Senate GOP: Trial Lawyers Dump Cash

From Oklahoma Senate Republicans ~ According to Oklahoma Ethics Commission filings, Democrat State Senator Nancy Riley has received 90% of her financial support over the past two months from trial attorneys, trial attorney/workers comp attorney PACs, and out of state unions including the Teamsters.

Keith Erwin of Lawton boasts similar largesse, and Senator Richard Lerblance has tossed a cool $130,000 of his own cash into his race in SE Oklahoma so far, adding $80,000 this past weekend. Candidates Diane Drum and Robert Murphy are also beneficiaries of trial lawyer and union generosity.

"Don't believe it? The numbers and their own campaign finance reports tell the story in black, white and green," said Randy Swanson, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican State Senatorial Committee. "The Democrats are withdrawing money from their special interests like it was an ATM with no limit. The voters of these districts deserve to know to whom their candidates are beholden.

"They won't tell you, so we will," he continued.

The following figures come from candidate filings with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission for the period of August 12 - October 20, 2008, and their 24-hour last minute contribution filings since October 21:

Nancy Riley/$enate District 37: Since August 12, Riley has raised $181,254 from individuals. Of that figure, $158,254 -- 87.3% -- has come from trial attorneys and worker's compensation PACs. In one day, October 23 -- Riley received $37,500 from eight PACs funded by worker's compensation attorneys and their allies.
In addition, Riley has raised $50,800 from liberal union PACs, including $5000 from the Teamsters Union DRIVE PAC, on October 27. The Teamsters also support Nancy Pelosi and the US House Democrats and are working to elect Barack Obama.

Keith Erwin/$enate District 31: Trial attorneys have contributed $147,700 (82.9%) of Erwin's funding since August 12. Overall, this interest group accounts for 60.7% of Erwin's total receipts. He has received $18,400 from labor unions.

Richard Lerblance/$enate District 7: Since August 12, Lerblance has received $98,000 of $139,440 from identified attorneys, or 70.3%. Some known attorneys identified themselves as "Businessman" (Terry West), and "Consultant", (Mike Turpen). In 2008, he has received 65.1% of his funding from attorneys. In addition, Lerblance received $11,250 from labor unions this reporting period. On Friday, October 24, Lerblance infused $80,000 of his own money into his race. His personal contributions for the campaign is now $130,000. Think about that...Democrats are fighting to retain a Senate seat in McALESTER, OKLAHOMA. In the history of this state, Democrats haven't had to get out of bed to win in McAlester.

Diane Drum/$enate District 15: In the first three quarters of 2008, Diane Drum of Norman raised $74,485 from individuals of which $56,115 came from lawyers, most of whom live outside Norman and Cleveland County, accounting for 75.3% of her financial receipts in the first three reporting periods of 2008. In the August - October reporting period and in last-minute contributions, she received $25,500 from worker's compensation PACs, $1,250 from labor unions, and $200 from the Sierra Club.

Robert Murphy/$enate District 21: In his first Ethics filing in July, former judge Robert Murphy of Stillwater reported raising $51,600 from individuals, of which $35,900 – 69.6% -- came from lawyers, most from outside of Stillwater or Payne County. In the latest filing, Murphy reports $20,050 (49.6%) from attorneys. But his most loyal contributor base includes 36 contributions totaling $7,455 from those with the occupation known as INFORMATION REQUESTED.

"The voters of these Senate districts should ask themselves, 'to whom is my Senator beholden?'" Swanson said. "Based on their fundraising figures, the above candidates clearly owe their allegiances to trial attorneys and liberal, often out-of-state labor unions, and will vote accordingly, against the best interests of their districts."

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Senate Republicans Say Henry May Need Tax Hike

Republican leaders in the evenly divided State Senate said Governor Brad Henry may need to increase taxes to pay for the new spending he is promising for the upcoming legislative session.

In December, Henry publicly cautioned state lawmakers about new spending in what could be a tight budget year. But in the past week, he has proposed about half-a-billion dollars in new spending – with even more new spending proposals likely to come in the days before the State of the State address scheduled for February 5th, the GOP members say.

“We’re becoming very concerned about the level of new spending the governor is proposing. He must be planning to use one-time revenues to pay ongoing expenditures or to raise taxes to pay for his program. Either way would be fiscally irresponsible,” stated Senate co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“The governor spent virtually all the money last year and now energy revenues are declining this year. There probably is just not enough money available this year to meet our current obligations and fund all of his new spending proposals. Gov. Henry needs to show some fiscal responsibility,” stated Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, Senate Appropriations co-chair.

“We’re already starting to feel the adverse effects of spending money we didn’t have. Lottery shortfalls are cutting into other funds, and the other obligations from the past have already taken up most of our new funds available this year,” stated Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, co-chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.

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