Open government laws should apply To legislature
Last year, I filed Legislation that would apply Oklahoma’s open meetings and records laws to the Legislature. As you are probably aware, these are the…
State Government
Want to limit lobbyist power? Shrink the size of government!
I really enjoy watching political documentaries. I recently watched, The Best Government Money Can Buy. This documentary does a great job showing the considerable influence…
What is Next?
In my last update I described the conclusion of this year’s interim study process that occurred one week ago on Thursday. I wrote about the…
A rewarding day
I consider last Thursday to have been the most exciting and rewarding days that I have experienced as a legislator.
Study Finds Taxpayers Continue to Save Millions
Oklahoma taxpayers continue to save millions of dollars due to recent purchasing reforms, according to the state’s purchasing director.
Putting An End to Lobbyist Gift-Giving
Twice each year the media publishes a list of personal gifts received by legislators from registered lobbyists. The reason this list is published each six…
186 State laws take effect November 1st
New Oklahoma laws – 186 total – took effect today (November 1, 2011), ranging from sweeping civil lawsuits to restrictions on abortion, reducing the state’s…
City and County realizing savings for taxpayers
If you have read very many of these updates in the past, you are familiar with the savings to taxpayers due to the modernization of…
This year’s modernization interim studies
The Government Modernization Committee will conduct a series of interim studies next month.These studies are designed to bring attention to the implementation of past modernization…
The positive impact of the new legislators
The Legislature has greatly benefited this year from the influx of a large number of freshmen members elected during the 2010 election cycle. Because they…
‘Stuff the Bus’ riding through Guthrie for soldiers
A Oklahoma group is trying to make sure soldiers and their families will have a happy holiday season, despite injuries or being stationed overseas.
More About the 2011 Modernization Reforms
I wanted to write just one more article describing some of the reform in this year’s successful Government Modernization legislation. These reforms put into place…
Consolidating State Agencies
Last week I wrote about the large number of modernization initiatives that were approved this year by members of the Government Modernization Committee, the Legislature…
23 Modernization Initiatives Going Into Law
This year was by far the most successful year for legislative state government modernization reform proposals. In all, 23 significant government modernization initiatives have been…
Too Many Tuition Increases
Later this month, State Representatives Corey Holland, Leslie Osborn and I, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs (OCPA), will conduct a study…
A Really Annoying Excuse – How State Agencies Are Fighting Reform
In recent weeks, I have started to hear some of the most aggravating logic coming from state bureaucracies.
Cutting Logan County Taxes
It is my belief thatLogan County’s high sales tax rate has been a deterrent to retail-based economic growth. In 2005, the county made the unfortunate…
DPS shows decrease in traffic fatalities
Department of Public Safety officials report a decrease in traffic fatalities for the month of July 2011. Fatalities were down by eighteen in July with…
How Many State Employees Are Paid More Than the Governor?
There is no question that when properly used, technology provides the public with insight into government as never before. All too often, people will express…
Murphey Receives a 100% Conservative Rating
State Representative Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) has received a rating of 100% from Oklahoma’s longest running conservative publication for his work during the 2011 legislative session.