We are starting to see results

  Over the past years I have informed readers of the efforts in state government to use technology to services easily accessible and more convenient. These efforts have been in place for several years and we are now able to measure the impact of the reforms by looking at usage rates.

  A few years ago, as the government modernization effort commenced, we researched the Texas web portal and their online government service. It highlighted the availability of online motor vehicle tag renewal. Of course, I couldn't help but think, "If Texans have the right to renew their car tag online, so should Oklahomans!"

  Soon thereafter, as we advanced a provision to put government services online, we very specifically spelled out the requirement for Oklahoma government to offer this same convenience.

Following the successful passage of the bill, the state's web developers went to work and produced the site cars.ok.gov through which you may renew your vehicle's registration.

How many Oklahomans took advantage of this new feature, you ask?

The upcoming attempts to increase fees and taxes

  I once observed a local fast food restaurant experience a drop-off in the quality of service. Long lines of customers found themselves patiently waiting for a product that took far too long to deliver. Word quickly spread around town about the poor service.

  It didn't take long for the the restaurant to address the issue with a management change in an attempt to restore a higher quality of service.

This is a perfect example of the free market's effectiveness.

  Instead of changing management, what would have happened if the franchise owner had blamed customers for the restaurant's falling standards?

What if they said, "You're not paying enough money," and instead of changing management, they simply raised prices? Like me, you probably suspect that the number of customers would have greatly decreased.  For anyone who participates in the free market, this is just common sense.

I find it fascinating that this definition of common sense is completely reversed within government circles.

Transforming the State Budgeting Process

  Throughout my time in the Legislature I have observed House members struggle with their inability to achieve meaningful oversight over state agencies.

  Here is how the public component of the legislative oversight has mostly been conducted:

At the start of session, Appropriations Subcommittee members spend twenty to thirty minutes on a hearing of each state agency's budget request. Nothing happens for several months while the most powerful legislators conduct closed-door negotiations with agencies, other legislators and the Governor's staff. With just a few days remaining in the session, legislative leaders emerge from behind the scenes and announce a "budget deal" and go to work lining up votes for the budget by telling legislators, "Either vote for the budget or we will be forced to call a special session which will cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars and make the Legislature appear weak in the eyes of the public."

  It is a terrible system because it affords legislators little official standing in the budget process and puts them on the sideline for nearly all of the legislative session.

Opposing the Gas Tax Increase

Opposing the Gas Tax Increase

Over the past few days you may have seen news stories describing the impending introduction of a gas tax increase. Those who suggest Oklahoma should increase the gas tax are using the following reasoning: "Oklahoma has the one of the lowest state-level gas taxes in the country and this justifies an increase."

I don't think this flawed logic will have its desired effect. Several years ago, the proponents of an increase took their tax hike effort to a vote of the people and it was overwhelmingly rejected.

I think this is because Oklahoma voters know the truth. While Oklahoma's gas tax may be less than other states, Oklahoma's citizens are forced to pay for roads and bridges through a punitive and overlapping system of taxes and user fees.

Grassroots-Driven Legislation

Grassroots-Driven Legislation

Last week I wrote about the challenge faced by those legislators who sponsor legislation on behalf of the "grassroots." These are the bills which are based on a legislator's interaction with his constituency. They aren't requested by a lobbyist or a government agency; instead, they are common sense suggestions from those who live and deal with government from the citizen's perspective.

Each year, legislators file hundreds of new bills. As the custodian of your vote in the Legislature, it's my challenge to analyze these bills and judge them through the lens of specific and consistent criteria by which I can explain my vote to you.