The rest of the story about the big pay hikes
Oklahomans are shocked and disappointed as press accounts describe massive pay raises being rapidly handed out to state agency executives. In some cases those raises…
Jason Murphey
Where does all of the lottery money go
On multiple occasions, a member of the House District 31 constituency inquires about the impact upon common education of Oklahoma lottery proceeds. Many believed that…
Is anyone listening?
This year I have enjoyed membership in the rotation of presiding officers for the House of Representatives. The presiding officer of the House presides over…
The War on common sense
OSSAA provides case-in-point of legalism trumping common sense – > Consider this observation. An increase in the number of laws, policies, rules and procedures produces…
Government Board Meetings of the Future
I recently received an assistance request from an individual worried about an impending action by a state agency. He was afraid they were about to…
Staring down the federal government; and winning
I have developed a healthy fear of crisis policy making. Crisis policy making occurs when politicians attempt to avert a purported crisis by approving a…
The 5:40 Waterloo Road Flash Mob
Many readers will instantly know the subject matter of this report simply by reading the title. These readers are part of the flash mob which…
Thwarting the laws of the market
It doesn’t take a new business owner long to realize the importance of a general liability insurance policy. The excitement over his first client may…
Another win for Oklahoma entrepreneurs
Readers of these articles are likely familiar with my optimism about Oklahoma’s future. Much of Oklahoma government contains a new wave of policy makers dedicated…
Putting the for sale sign on government land
This year I appreciated the opportunity to work on two significant reforms on behalf of two state government officials for whom I have tremendous respect….
Becoming a national leader in transparency
Several years ago, I was told, the Senate debated making government information accessible on the internet. A very powerful state senator purportedly opposed the proposal…
Local government to benefit from new well sites
I have recently been receiving emails about the increasing number of energy sector production sites. As you can imagine, seismic testing and deployment of heavy…
Poor service should never be rewarded with more money
For several months, one of Guthrie’s foremost fast food restaurants experienced a tremendous drop-off in the quality of service. Long lines of customers found themselves…
Special session and stand your ground
The Oklahoma Legislature will likely convene in the next few weeks for a special session. A recent ruling of the State Supreme Court invalidated the…
Sensing the coming storm
Many Oklahomans have learned over the years to predict stormy spring weather. During the early afternoon hours prior to an evening outbreak, we can sense…
The State did not steal the pot of gold
Last week I wrote about my desire to help local school boards save money for infrastructure needs while avoiding debt and property tax increases. House…
There is no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow
Guthrie and all of Logan County are in the midst of growth from a population and residential building boom. Representative Jason Murphey recently opined an…
A Solution to the Property Tax Increase Problem
A month ago I wrote about this area’s rapid growth and described local tax collections continue to grow as formerly empty fields fill up with…
Safeguarding your data
If you’ve read my previous articles, you probably already know about Oklahoma’s wasteful and segmented system of governance. A 2007 study showed that Oklahoma has…
State employee pay
Near the end of last session I wrote an update in which I opined against the political grandstanding conducted at the end of this year’…