585 weeks ago, as the 2007 legislative session commenced, I wrote the first in this series of articles. This week, the 2018 legislative session ends. It's my last regular session as your state representative, and this will be the last in this series...
Throughout the past two weeks I have written of my criteria for determining if my elected officials have become co-opted members of the political class.In the previous two articles, I described the politician who attempts to raise taxes and increase...
Time and again I have witnessed the voters elect a new office holder based on the candidate's platform of reform and innovation. The new office holder starts out with the best intentions, excited and ready to implement new ideas, unfortunately only...
In 2002, as a newly elected official I gave a presentation to a local civic group where I spoke with enthusiasm about taking on the status quo and bringing reform on behalf of the taxpayers. I could point to any number of abuses and give the roadmap...
In my column last week I described a "maybe not-so-hypothetical" look at how corruption can occur in Oklahoma county government.I told of the actions of the ensconced county commissioner as he acts on a growing feeling of entitlement. Unfettered by...
I have long articulated the following view: the legal scheme of Oklahoma county-level governance is antiquated and better situated to the 1800s when political bosses directly controlled the reins of government and merged policy and government...
Those who have read these articles during the past year will know that I have regularly opposed the many ongoing tax increase proposals because they will provide cover for the waste and abuse of already-collected billions taxpayer...
On a cold, wintery day in January 2004, my family and I drove to the north side of Marshall, Oklahoma where I solicited the support of my first voter for the office of State Representative. It would be the first of thousands of such visits over the...
It was deja-vous. A few days ago, the State Purchasing Director attempted to walk the Government Modernization Committee through the ins and outs of state government purchasing policy. His unenviable task faced two primary challenges: capturing the...
Voting on legislation is the singular most important part of the state representative's job and in that role, I have endeavored to cast the approximate 1,000 yearly votes according to a set of clear and consistent criteria.Here is my voting strategy:...
Consider the following statement one might hear if they stay around the capitol very long: "If there is one consistent thing about that legislator, it is that he is consistently inconsistent!" This fact has been quite aptly demonstrated by what a...
I have enjoyed the opportunity to observe the leadership of six different Speakers of the House. It's said to be the most powerful position in all of Oklahoma government; stronger in influence than even the Governor. Based on careful observation over...
I have frequently expressed my view of the inappropriate influence of lobbyists over the legislative process. I once wrote about a certain group of government agency lobbyists this way: “They are professional relationship manipulation experts and...
I once watched, "The Best Government Money Can Buy,” a documentary that details the considerable influence of lobbyists over the development and implementation of policy. It also clearly illustrates some of the constitutional and practical barriers...
It is the time of year when legislators file legislation for the next session. Every so often I feel it important to write an article which describes the process by which a bill becomes law.Only a small percentage of introduced bills are successfully...
Here is an antiquated House procedure that should be corrected: members of the House of Representatives vote on key legislation during a limited two-minute time frame. Each year, members of the House cast votes impacting almost every aspect of life:...
Every so often, I field this question from those who are interested in state government: "How can I see state finances?"It's a query I really appreciate. Simply by asking the question, the person sends the message that he does not intend to judge...
Here's some encouraging news: notwithstanding this year's repeated ferocious attack by the Legislature upon the wallet of Oklahoma taxpayers, there is hope for the future.An article was recently written by one of the Legislature’s newest member,...