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Drill Right Technology – nation’s first drilling Oil and Gas Wells firm to get to “SHARP” Certification

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:46:00 GMT

Drill Right Technology, an Oklahoma City-area drilling equipment and service company, has set the standard for its industry by becoming the first in the nation to receive the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) status from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) category of Drilling Oil and Gas Wells.

The award was presented to Darrell Husted, President and CEO of DrillRight, by Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor Mark Costello at a luncheon event this week.

DrillRight has changed the way the energy industry looks at safety, according to Diana Jones, Director of OSHA’s Oklahoma Consultation Program.

“In the world of safety, people don’t know the difference they are making when taking these preventative measures,” Jones said. “The feat DrillRight obtained through gaining SHARP status will stand as a legacy for years to come. Darrell’s vision of safety will make a huge impact throughout the energy industry. He has proven it is possible for energy companies to be safe.”

Labor Commissioner Mark Costello presented the award to Darrell Husted, President of DrillRight, during a luncheon on January 24 at the DrillRight offices in South Oklahoma City.

“SHARP signifies that a business is a model for safety and health,” Commissioner Costello said. “With the real interest in the health and safety of its employees, DrillRight clearly deserves this award. SHARP is a rigorous program and takes commitment from both the employees and management.”

The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes employers who operate at their work sites exemplary safety and health programs that result in the immediate and long-term prevention of job-related injuries and illnesses.

“Since our beginning in 1998, one of our core priorities has been safety,” Husted said. “We are now able to commend that hard work, as we become SHARP certified. Our employees and contractors have played a large role throughout the certification process. Each day their integrity and responsibility shine throughout the workplace.“

DrillRight Technology began with one employee and two drillers and has grown to become the second largest independent directional drilling company in the nation. The growth is due in large part to the company encouraging its employees and contractors to take pride in the safety of their workplace.

“Throughout the process of becoming SHARP certified, we’ve relied on our employees and contractors to take ownership of their jobs,” Husted said. “I would like to thank them for all of their hard work throughout this process, as they have been a large role in DrillRight achieving SHARP certification.”

Dank, Sears and Steele unveil measures to extend moratorium on some tax credits and put stricter criteria into state constitution

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:07:00 GMT

Rep. David Dank, Rep. Earl Sears and House Speaker Kris Steele on Thursday (January 26) unveiled the proposed package of legislation arising from the lengthy examination of the value of business tax credits.

In a state Capitol press conference, Dank said he will propose four bills that would eliminate automatic renewal of tax credits and business incentive programs, extend for two years moratoriums on existing programs, and establish permanent criteria and controls because “we tend to forget lessons from the past and repeat the same mistakes we’ve made before."

Stricter controls would include greater transparency, mandatory economic impact analysis, and expiration dates that would trigger a re-application process.

Speaker Steele has filed a joint resolution, which, if passed by the people, would write new criteria into the State Constitution.

The trio said the envisioned reform plan exempts the Quality Jobs program, engineering jobs and the oil and gas industry because of the substantive contribution it makes to the economy. The trio of conservative Republicans seem prepared to defend against accusations of energy industry favoritism.

The moratorium will give the Oklahoma Legislature further time to study the worthiness of those tax credits, reporters were told. After the moratorium ends, the affected industries/small businesses/individuals will have to re-apply to qualify.

The task force released in December a final report after the extensive interim hearings Dank chaired, in a process that began last summer. That report’s findings served as the framework for Dank’s proposed legislation.

Oklahoma Education Association income plummets $1 million in past year

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:45:00 GMT

The Oklahoma Education Association reported to members $5 million in dues for the fiscal year just ending. If true, it represents $1 million plunge in its primary income source.

The figures were shared with members via the OEA’s Member Focus, its member newspaper.

It represents a staggering 16.6 percent plunge in what is inarguably its bread-and-butter revenue. OEA receives income assistance from the national parent organization, the National Education Association (NEA), some income from investments, as well as some income from unspecified sources.

Two years ago, the OEA’s dues income fell about $200,000. That year, top executive Lela Odom said the association lost 700 members due to state education budget cuts. Indeed, Oklahoma’s total teacher force fell 2,000 that year, to 48,000.

Education budget cuts continued this year, resulting in combined reductions of about 10 percent in the last two years.

CapitolBeatOK has obtained from a highly-placed source the OEA’s complete tax returns dating back to the tax years from 2005 to 2010.

The returns show income was increasing in 2005 through 2007.

The following is based on the OEA’s Internal Revenue Service tax year filings.

Fiscal year 2005-2006: $5.6 million in member dues income.

Fiscal year 2006-2007: $5.8 million

FY 2007-08: $6.2 million

FY 2008-2009: $6.1 million

FY 2009-2010: $5.9 million

For the year just ended, the organization published a story in its December/January member newspaper indicating income totaled $5 million.

CapitolBeatOK will double-check the data when it becomes available via public records.

CapitolBeatOK sent a request for comment to OEA’s leadership early Tuesday evening (January 24). If comments or an interview materializes, CapitolBeatOK will immediately supplement this story.

National School Choice advocates cheer Oklahoma event

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:34:00 GMT

Teresa Oelke, a national organizer for School Choice Week 2012, said the Oklahoma City area event -- sponsored by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation and Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, among others -- was one of the best for the organization, in a year where she says the cause of parental choice in education is manifesting new strength.

Oelke (prounded “Okie”) is based in Arkansas, where she is the AFP state chairman. In an interview with CapitolBeatOK, she praised Jolly and his AFP activists for organizing the Tuesday evening (January 24) event which drew more than 300 people to the Nigh University Center at Edmond’s University of Central Oklahoma.

Attendees heard from former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts, award-winning commentator John Fund, Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi, Jeff Reed of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice and state Sen. Gary Stanislawski.

Oelke said that a gathering was intended to assure “parents have the freedom to choose the best educational option for their children” which might not seem unusual.

However, this week has brought “almost 500 events going on across the country. From groups on the right of center, from groups in the middle, from groups on the left, demanding that kids should not be condemned by their zip code to failing school.”

She pointed to some of the diverse policy leaders appearing at the events across the nation, detailed in an earlier story from CapitolBeatOK.

In a video interview with CapitolBeatOK, Oelke reflected, “It’s really an exciting coalition when you have Rahm Emanual and Juan Williams on one side, coupled with Dick Morris and John Fund on the other end. It’s a great coalition and it really means the issue is going to win.”

She asserts prospects for school choice are better than ever in 2012: “I’ll tell you what. The difference between 2010 when we set the slate for marquee events across the country, is that then it was hard to come up with venues or states that we felt could benefit from the positive message of reform for National School Choice Week.

“But this year, in 2011, it was difficult to choose the 15 marquee events going on around the country. That means the issue is gaining ground and we’re gaining momentum.”

In a pre-event reception Tuesday, Watts, the former U.S. Representative from Norman, said he considered school choice the most critical issue facing the country in the long run. While health care “could wipe us out in one year” if mishandled, poor educational performance could ruin the country over the course of time.

Organizers touted this week’s event as designed to “restore American exceptionalism.” They pointed to dire performance statistics, with college graduates facing the highest unemployment rates in history. Literature circulated at the event noted American 15-year-olds rank fifteenth out of 57 industrialized countries in math and literacy.

Watts, noting he was a public school product, said he believed the system is much weaker than in the years he attended eastern Oklahoma’s Eufaula public schools, 1965-76.

Fund said the unfolding story of American reform is “formed, established in meetings like this.” He expressed hope because he is confident that “even honest liberals have decided we cannot defend the educational status quo any longer.”

Fund continued that he agreed with the premise of organizers that educational opportunity should not be dependent on a child’s “zip code. If we don’t get this right, China and India are going to eat our lunch – and our breakfast and our dinner.” He expressed hope the momentum school advocates now enjoy will bring improvement to American education because, he reflected, “competition makes things better.”

Superintendent Barresi, also speaking at the pre-event reception, pointed to recent momentum for choice in Oklahoma. She said the way to assure good options for parents in the future is to assure good teachers in every classroom, and strong leaders at every school.

Before and after a panel of the speakers highlighted the event, information on school choice was displayed by a variety of organizations providing choice options both in the public system and in private settings, including Connections Academy, Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy, k12 Online School, and National Coalition for Public School Options (state chapter).

Stuart Jolly, AFP’s Oklahoma director, moderated the evening’s proceedings.

Context for the gathering, and some of the national attention it gained in advance of the event, comes from the Sooner State’s recent history.

Choice legislation was enacted both in 2010 -- when then-Governor Brad Henry (a Democrat) supported and signed a bill benefitting special needs children -- and in 2011, when Governor Mary Fallin (a Republican) supported and signed into law the Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act.

District 4 Board candidate Crystal Hodges touts fiscal accountability, homeschool experiences

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:28:00 GMT

Crystal Hodges, a candidate for the Oklahoma City Public Schools' board of education post in District 4, believes the top three issues facing local education are, in the views of local teachers, “discipline, testing, and funding.”

In written responses to questions, she elaborated her response to CapitolBeatOK, expanding her focus to business interests.

She reflected, “Talking with the business community, the top three are: policies that will grow the city, funding, and teacher accountability (pay-for-performance, NBCT [National Board Certified Teacher] stipends, high-stakes testing).”

Concluding with a taxpayer focus, she observed, “Talking with the tax-payer, the top three are: teacher accountability, curriculum, and discipline/bullying. I believe we need to focus on educating children, starting with reading, writing, and arithmetic.”

Hodges answered partially when asked if she agreed with Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi's request to the federal government for a waiver from the requirements of the No Child Left Behind legislation.

She said, “NCLB had good intentions. We need to focus on what works and adjust what doesn't work. We need to ensure we are not testing to the degree of getting money by using our kids.

Our goal is to produce well-educated citizens, not good test takers – testing to the degree of getting money by using our kids.”

Asked about the lack of easy access to information on legal fees paid by public school districts, Hodges said, “I am not familiar with the reason why it is not public information. However, I am all for transparency.”

As officials complete the final phases of infrastructure improvements financed by the MAPS for Kids, CapitolBeatOK asked Hodges what she believes the next major reform effort should be.

She answered: “First, I think we should evaluate and measure the effectiveness of this reform and make sure our ROI [return on investment] is acceptable.

Have our students shown an increase in reading, writing, and math skills due to this reform? I do not plan on introducing any reform ideas yet, because there are so many new policies being implemented now. I have a wait and see approach now. Let's see what the data shows.”

Asked to give her views on parental or student choice and education, Hodges limited her comments to charters and traditional schools, saying, “Charter schools are meeting a need in our community.

However, by solving one problem, another is popping up. The top performing students across the district are leaving their traditional schools and entering the higher-performing charter schools.

This leaves the traditional schools with the same standard, but fewer top-performing students.”

Proposals have been made to move school board elections from February, when participation is always low, to November in order to allow for broader participation and a more representative outcome.

Asked about this idea, recently advanced by Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb (http://capitolbeatok.com/CustomContentRetrieve.aspx?ID=4138162), Hodges commented, “Anytime, more people can be heard and have a say in the decision, the better.

Moving it to November instead of hiding it in February seems reasonable.”

In campaign literature, Hodges stresses the importance of fiscal accountability in public schools, and her experience in homeschooling her children. Hodges is a U.S. Navy veteran who earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Oklahoma.

The election is Tuesday, February 14, with a runoff on April 10 if no candidate gains a majority in the first round.

Patrick Gaines promotes local control, Barresi's waiver request, technology and charter schools

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:17:00 GMT

Patrick Gaines, one of three candidates seeking the District 4 position for the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education, has been involved in civic and community leadership for many years.

In an interview with CapitolBeatOK, he listed what he considers the top three issues facing local education:

“My top priorities are to find ways to increase parental and community involvement in the schools, bring back more local control to individual schools and expand on the successes we already have in our district.

“Parental and community involvement is a must to move our schools forward in a positive direction. We need to bring back that feeling of ownership we used to have with our local schools.

In some areas this is easier than in others. However it is absolutely essential.

“As part of this ownership interest, communities and local schools must feel that they have the ability to control the agenda and the future of their schools as much as possible.

Where they are succeeding they must be able to feel ownership of that success. Where they fail, they too must be responsible for that failure. Schools that have successful programs must have the latitude to continue those programs.”

He concluded, “In the Oklahoma City school district we have a lot of very successful schools. We need to find ways to simulate those successes and apply them to those schools that are underachieving.”

State Superintendent Janet Barresi has requested from the federal government a waiver for Oklahoma from No Child Left Behind requirements.

Asked if he agreed, disagreed or had mixed views on Barresi's request, Gaines commented, “I agree with the Superintendent’s request.

I am not in favor of mandates on individual schools that do not take into account the needs of the individual school but rather are placed on the schools or the district as a whole without specific interaction with the school administrators.

I am in favor of finding ways to benchmark our success but we need to do it on a more local level since the needs of each school very tremendously.”

Public school districts in Oklahoma pay millions of dollars in legal fees to private attorneys and law firms, but the amount of those fees is not information readily available for public inspection through the Oklahoma Department of Education.

CapitolBeatOK asked Gaines if that is information that should be available for inspection by the general public and news organizations.

He answered, “Absolutely. One of my key issues is more parental and community involvement. To have more involvement and more of a sense of ownership, the actions of the Board of Education must be transparent.

We must break down this perceived and real barrier between the- administration and the local schools and the barriers between the schools and the parents and the community.”

With the historic MAPS for Kids project entering the final year of historic infrastructure improvements for local schools, Gaines was asked to name what he believes the next major reform effort should be.

He answered: “Oklahoma City has done a wonderful job transforming downtown and the surrounding areas through the MAPS programs.

MAPS for Kids is a prime example of the success of this tax program. However, MAPS for Kids concentrated on the external shells of the schools. It is now time to look to the inside of the schools and see what we can do to make Oklahoma City public schools the best in the state.

“One area in particular that we need to focus on is technology. While we made improvements in this area, we need to concentrate on improving the technology side of our schools.

Further advances in technology would not only help our teachers, but it would allow the parents and the community more access to the schools and build on our theme to promote parental and community involvement.”

Gaines told CapitolBeatOK he supports charter schools and expressed sympathy for broader forms of school choice.

He said, “I do support charter schools because I believe that we should never exclude looking at alternative means of delivering education to our children. We should always be investigating educational resources like charter schools and online education.

There are issues that need to be addressed with these ancillary programs but the worst thing we can do for our children is not look at alternative options for education.”

The interview with Gaines occurred in the same week that Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb brought attention to a proposed reform of public school governance, namely moving school board elections from February, when voter participation is extremely low, to a more representative electorate in November.

Gaines commented, “I think that would be a good proposal. From a practical stand point, not only would it increase participation, it would decrease the cost of holding these separate elections.

During the election season of November voters tend to spend more time researching issues. By moving them to November with the rest of the elections, you would increase the chances of having a more informed electorate.”

Gaines is a past president of Bricktown Rotary Club, and has served in leadership positions for the Neighborhood Alliance, United Health Charities and Wilson Arts, Inc., in addition to service as a member of the city Historic Preservation Commission.

Gaines has been an active parent volunteer at Wilson Elementary, where his two children attend. He is the owner of Gaines Government Services, LLC, representing a variety of clients at the state Capitol and in relations with state agencies.

District 4 covers MidTown Oklahoma City and much of the central southside. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14.

If no candidate secures an outright majority of votes cast, a runoff will be held on April 10.

OCPA’s Michael Carnuccio cheers legislative momentum for income tax phase out

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:31:00 GMT

Two dozen Republicans in the Oklahoma House of Representatives are initial co-sponsors of legislation to phase out the state income tax over a 10-year period, by implementing a methodical series of rate reductions, eventually ending the unpopular levy.

The bill, House Bill 3038, is the most aggressive of a variety of income tax reduction proposals that will be considered in the 2012 session.

Michael Carnuccio, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, has pressed for the income tax rate reduction and eventual phase out. He expressed gratitude for the strong stance taken at the Capitol.

In a video interview this week with CapitolBeatOK, Carnuccio said, “We are very excited, not only due to the fact that OCPA’s research has helped in the legislative process, but for the fact that you now have here in Oklahoma lawmakers who promised last session or years before, who had promised to tackle issues of taxes and to spur the economy, … immediately coming right at it, and they’re being bold.”

He said last week’s announcement was encouraging, and added, “This is the type of leadership that the people of Oklahoma have been asking for and this is kind of leadership that puts Oklahoma on the map.”

Carnuccio’s organization is planning to hold an event at the state Capitol in early February to pose the rhetorical question, “What Would Reagan Do?” Certainly, the momentum for a major phased-in reduction in state tax burdens is evocative of the three-year phased-in income tax reductions of the early Reagan era.

Carnuccio commented, “I think the goal overall is ‘how can we spur Oklahoma’s economy? How can we continue to be competitive?’ Recognizing that every other state and global markets are continuing to become more competitive themselves.”

Although a range of possibilities is being discussed at the Capitol right now, what they have in common is the theme of low taxation and more economic growth. He reflected, “we have options on the table. It’s even more encouraging that the bulk of the energy is on completely eliminating the income tax.”

He noted, “When businesses pass by Oklahoma to go to Texas or Florida, they’re not saying, ‘well, if you had a two percent rate, I’d come here.’ They’re saying, ‘There’s no income tax in Texas, so I’m going there.’ So, let’s phase ours out.

“When you’re talking about a 10-year span, it makes more sense to phase it completely out over those years. You have plenty of time to adjust to other government revenues, and make sure that you can fund core government services.”

Laura Massenat, Oklahoma City school board candidate, supports choice, better nutrition and Core Curriculum

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:59:00 GMT

Asked to name the three most important issues now facing the Oklahoma City Public School District, school board candidate Laura Massenat gave a succinct and direct answer: “parental expectations/involvement; teaching to the tests/lowest pass standard; and accountability and transparency.”

Although turnout and voters participation in school board races is notoriously low, the race in District 4 – MidTown and near Southside Oklahoma City – is attracting attention due to views of the three candidates on a wide range of education policy questions.

Recently, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi has requested from the federal government a waiver for Oklahoma from No Child Left Behind requirements. CapitolBeatOK asked Massenat if she agreed, disagreed, or had a mixed response to Barresi's decision.

Massenat, owner of Elementals Coffee in downtown Oklahoma City, responded, “I agree with the requested waiver.

The goal of education in Oklahoma is to prepare each student for college or career. No Child Left Behind set us on a path towards goals that are unattainable.

The new Core Curriculum Standards still require equally rigorous coursework, but will be judged, in part, on students' progress and not entirely on students' scores.

I support the District's move to Core Knowledge in the elementary schools and away from teaching skills in isolation to prepare for testing.”

The amount of legal fees paid by public school districts is not information readily available for public inspection through the Oklahoma Department of Education or at the district level. Asked if that is information voters and citizens should be able to access, Massenat replied, “Absolutely.”

MAPS for Kids, the historic voter-approved infusion of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues to finance infrastructure improvements, is now in its final stages.

Asked to discuss what she believes the next major local reform effort should be, Massenat reflected, “The District has put many programs in place and finalized its Strategic Plan. Just assuring the implementation of the current programs and providing for accountability requires a Herculean effort – which we must absolutely put forth.

“Right now, we need to stop adding to the top-down baggage, and begin dealing with each school individually. Each school can best identify its own needs; each school knows what barriers keep parents from being involved. Each school should become the center of its neighborhood, a true community hub.

“In a nutshell: keep and implement previously selected programs, increase site-based individualization.”

CapitolBeatOK invited Massenat, as was the case with both the other candidates, to give her views on charter schools, and on broader forms of parental or student choice, including the special needs scholarships enacted in 2010.

She explained her perspective this way: “I am a great supporter of charter schools, magnets, enterprise, and specialty -- all schools that are currently operating with success in the District. Each student in the District deserves to be served and I would support scholarships that would provide services that the District cannot provide.

“I would like to see a District-Private charter, similar to the downtown model, be put in place without delay in a school that is failing under its current operation. I will support innovation and new models to be tried in individual schools – I do not believe we should wait for the magic wand that will make all schools in the District rise at the same time.”

Suggestions have been made to move school board elections from February, when participation is always low, to November

in order to allow for broader participation and a more representative outcome. In a recent collection of policy suggestions, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb endorsed the idea.

Invited to give her own response, Massenat said, “A November election would likely lead to broader, but less informed, participation. The turnout in February is small, but those who care enough to vote tend to be well informed.

“I am concerned that adding the elections to the November ballot would make the race more focused on putting money in for name recognition, and the real issues and candidates might be lost in the sea of ballot choices. The resulting outcome may be less representative.”

Massenat became known in local activist circles for her leadership of a drive to improve nutrition and healthiness for school lunch programs. CapitolBeatOK asked her to explain what has happened.

She said, “Since EatWiseOKC began a dialogue with the district to request changes to the nutrition program, many improvements have been made. If you venture into an elementary cafeteria in the Oklahoma City Public Schools, you should find that students are offered fresh fruit at both breakfast and lunch, that cookies and chips are no longer being sold to accompany their free/reduced price meals, that vanilla and strawberry milks have disappeared, and that all students enjoy a fresh fruit or vegetable snack every day. However, the daily offerings are still lacking.

Massenat continued, “At the base of the menu is the belief that children will only eat fast food and each day of the week has its corresponding menu item- pizza, hot dog, hamburger, Mexi-something, and shaped chicken products. Intended or not, children are learning about food in the school cafeteria and they are learning to eat fast food every day with sugary milk.”

Massenat is one of three candidates seeking the job in an election scheduled for Feb. 14. If no one receives a majority, a runoff will be held on April 10.

Editor’s Notebook: tax rate cut surges, Barresi believes, Reynolds responds

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:07:00 GMT

From an editor’s notebook: The proposal to put Oklahoma on a glide-path to eventual elimination of the state income tax took on critical mass in recent days, moving from the realm of theory to the arena of potential policy.

The woman who runs the state Department of Education, known for her development of two of the state’s most acclaimed charter schools, has reiterated her support for broader choice. And, a conservative Republican from south Oklahoma City wants to undo an Ethics Commission rule allowing lobbyists to buy lunch for legislators.

* * *

In the wake of bill filing week, House Bill 3038 seems positioned – at least in the lower chamber -- as a leading vehicle for the conservative Republican push to reduce income tax rates methodically over the coming decade.

In a press release sent to Capitol reporters last week, 23 House Republicans echoed the vision, advanced in the past two months by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), to phaseout the income tax burden.

The object, the House release said, is to trim the income tax rates “in such a way that the state would have the lowest overall tax burden in the continental United States.”

One cheerleader among many was state Rep. Leslie Osborn of Mustang, who said, “Our goal is to transform Oklahoma into the best place to do business, the best place to live, find a quality job, raise a family and retire in all of the United States. Not just better than average, but the very best.”

The 23 House members amount to more than one fifth of the legislative body. Tom Newell of Seminole, a co-author of H.B 3038, said in comments sent to CapitolBeatOK, “The personal income tax is still our biggest dis-incentive in Oklahoma to work and produce at a higher level, to relocate a company to Oklahoma or start up a new one here, to create jobs, to pursue a better job, and to save and invest.”

The House release pressed the point: An average state family of four would save more than $1,300 after phase-out of the income tax. Rep. Charles Ortega of Altus said, “That’s a pretty decent pay raise for most Oklahomans. That extra income will give Oklahomans greater economic freedom, and our improved business climate and improved job market here in Oklahoma will give them a better shot at achieving the American dream.”

Also in the release, state Rep. Jason Murphey of Guthrie echoed points he advanced in last Thursday’s “agenda” press conference with House Speaker Kris Steele of Shawnee and Rep. Randy McDaniel of Oklahoma City. Murphey said, “We shouldn't raise a tax to cut a tax. A rising tide lifts all boats. When the government has the courage to use tax reform to allow its residents to keep their money, that money will be used to provide jobs and economic activity. This expands the tax base and makes even more tax reform possible.”

Advocates are pointing to income tax elimination or reduction efforts elsewhere, including Kansas and Missouri in this region, to bolster their case.

David Derby of Owasso said a measured phase-in allows enough time to fashion a “transformational step toward increased prosperity and greater Opportunity. By making Oklahoma a no-income-tax state, we will have put together a winning recipe for business investment, new job opportunities and economic growth in Oklahoma.”

In addition to Reps. Osborn, Newell, Ortega, Murphey and Derby, primary authors of H.B. 3038 at this point include (alphabetically) Don Armes of Faxon, Gus Blackwell of Goodwell, David Brumbaugh of Broken Arrow, Josh Cockroft of Tecumseh, Marian Cooksey of Edmond, Lee Denney of Cushing, George Faught of Muskogee, Randy Grau of Edmond, Elise Hall of Oklahoma City, Corey Holland of Marlow, Mike Jackson of Enid, Dan Kirby of Tulsa, Randy McDaniel of Oklahoma City, Glen Mulready of Tulsa, Mike Sanders of Kingfisher, Sue Tibbs of Tulsa, Steve Vaughan of Ponca City, and Harold Wright of Weatherford.

* * *

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi will be one of the featured panelists at Tuesday’s Townhall, “Restoring American Exceptionalism,” 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Constitution Hall, in the Nigh University Center off of Second Street in Edmond, north of Oklahoma City.

In a press release sent to CapitolBeatOK, Barresi said, “I am a huge advocate of a parent’s right to choose the education that best suits the needs of their children. In a free country, with so many exceptional school offerings, there is no reason a child’s education should be bound by his parent’s income level or his geographical location.”

Governor Mary Fallin has designated January 23-29 as Oklahoma School Choice Week, coinciding with nationwide advocacy of more options for parents and students. The program in Oklahoma is being promoted as one of the major events nationwide.

Also speaking at the event are state Sen. Gary Stanislawski of Tulsa, former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts of Norman, former Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund, and Jeff Reed of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.

Barresi’s release noted, “Recent studies show Oklahoma’s students are ranked near the bottom when compared to other countries in math and literacy. Allowing more choice will help reverse this trend. It will reward schools that are doing a good job of educating students to state standards and will hold accountable those schools that are not meeting performance goals.”

National analysts designated Oklahoma a prime example of what was dubbed the “Year of Choice” in 2011, highlighting enactment of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship program for special needs children in 2010, and the Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act in 2011.

Choice in education has progressed with bi-partisan support in the Oklahoma Legislature. Superintendent Barresi was a co-founder of Independence Charter Middle School and, later, Harding Charter Preparatory High School.

* *

State Rep. Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City, a Republican, says he will press new legislation to ban the purchase of meals for legislators by lobbyists. The bill is intended to counter a step taken by the Ethics Commission that would loosen strictures on the practice.

“There’s no justifiable reason for a lobbyist to buy our meals,” Reynolds said in a press release sent to CapitolBeatOK.

The rule change passed the commission 3-2. Reynolds will press for a legislative vote to disapprove the commission rule before it takes effect. He said, “When lawmakers receive special perks not available to their constituents it undermines the integrity of the legislative process and creates a perception of corruption. I don’t think a free meal is worth that price.”

House leaders react to resignation of Howard Hendrick as DHS director

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:16:00 GMT

Howard Hendrick, director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) announced he intends to step aside as director at the agency. He disclosed his plans at the meeting of the DHS commissioners held today (Tuesday, January 24)

Peter J. Rudy of Oklahoma Watchdog reported this afternoon, “Choking back tears, Oklahoma Department of Human Services Director Howard Hendrick told the Human Services Commission today (Tuesday) that he will be ending his 13-year career at the helm of the agency next month. Hendrick says with the lawsuit in federal court now about to be settled, he felt this was the perfect time to step down.”

Responding to the announcement was state Rep. Jason Nelson, an Oklahoma City Republican who is leading efforts to reform the agency, which has faced widespread criticism in the wake of the deaths of children within DHS care over recent years.

Nelson was in Canadian County meeting with members of a DHS working group. In a telephone interview with CapitolBeatOK, he said, “I’ve known Howard for years. I think the world of him. I’ve not talked to him about him leaving. I heard about it from people who were at the meeting.

“I assume he recognizes some of the changes required to implement the lawsuit settlement which will require that someone be at the helm of the agency for a good period of time going forward.”

Nelson concluded, “Hendrick has acted in the best interests of the agency, and I wish him well. He has done a lot of good and that will be remembered.”

Also responding to news of Hendrick’s resignation was Speaker of the House Kris Steele, who told a group of Capitol reporters, "Director Hendrick accomplished a great deal for this state and is to be commended for his many years of dedicated service. I wish him the very best. He's a fine man and he did an admirable job. This is a new day at DHS, and Director Hendrick deserves credit for his recent efforts to get the agency on a path to reform."

In brief discussion of the issue during a press conference on another topic, Steele said a national search should be conducted to find a new director for the recently controversial agency. Steele reflected, "DHS is the largest state agency. It serves more people than any other agency. We need to find the right leader to take it forward."

CapitolBeatOK asked Steele if he has a sense of where discussions stood within the House on a possible breakup of the agency. Steele replied, “We will be working with the directors of the various divisions and seeing the best course to go forward. I don’t really have an answer on that right now.”

Pressed on the agency’s governance and organization, Steele said, “The structure of the agency, and everything, is on the table at this time.”

One reporter asked if the Shawnee Republican would be interested in the job if non-appropriated money could be identified to pay a director, Steele replied succinctly, “Not at this time.”

Also responding was the co-chairman of the Nelson panel studying DHS reform, Oklahoma City Democrat Richard Morrissette.

In comments sent to CapitolBeatOK, Morrissette said, “Today marks what I am hoping will be the beginning of a new era at the agency. Mr. Hendrick will be remembered as someone who tried to effect change for those facing life’s greatest challenges.

“I’ve been named as Vice Chair of the Human Services Appropriations and Budget committee and it is an honor and a privilege to play a role in creating a better future for Oklahoma’s children.”

Morrissette has advocated dividing DHS into what he calls “three manageable parts.”

The state’s largest newspaper, The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City, had called on Hendrick to resign in a January 15 editorial.

DHS has offices in al 77 counties, a staff of 7,200 employees, 40 state and federal human services programs, and a $2.2 billion budget.

Importance of local school board races illustrated in Oklahoma City's District 4

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:53:00 GMT

On February 14, voters in District 4 of the Oklahoma City Public Schools will consider three candidates in the school board race. If no candidate receives a majority of votes cast, a runoff election will be held on April 10.

Low voter turnout is likely, although the race is getting some new attention due to the quality of the trio seeking the position, and interest in national and statewide education policy issues that are part of the discussion among them.

Despite customarily low participation in school board races in Oklahoma, local boards of education have considerable powers to set broad policy and influence personnel decisions in schools. Perhaps the most significant board authority is to hire and fire superintendents, and to negotiate their salaries.

The Oklahoma City hopefuls, in reverse alphabetical order, are Laura Massenat, Crystal Hodges and Patrick Gaines. They are seeking to replace Steve Shafer, the incumbent, who did not seek reelection. In District 3, incumbent Phil Horning was unopposed for another term.

CapitolBeat OK has interviewed all three candidates. Stories focused on each individually will be posted over the course of this week.

Massenat and her husband are residents of the Mesta Park historic neighborhood in Oklahoma City. Her oldest son was home-schooled for several years, and is now at Classen School of Advanced Arts. The other children attend Wilson Elementary.

Massenat leads EatWiseOKC, a group of concerned parents advocating for better nutrition in public school lunches.

Massenat is owner of Elementals Coffee Roasters on N. Hudson Avenue in MidTown Oklahoma City.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, from which she was honorably discharged, Crystal Hodges holds a degree in elementary education.

She and her husband live in the Mesta Park neighborhood of Oklahoma City. She is homeschooling her oldest child.

Patrick Gaines and his wife live in the Heritage Hills historic neighborhood in Oklahoma City. Their children attend Wilson Elementary.

Gaines is a past president of Bricktown Rotary Club, and has served in leadership positions for several MidTown and MidCity organizations.

He is also a member of the city Historic Preservation Commission.

Gaines is president of Gaines Government Services, specializing in lobbying and association management.

Taxpayer-funded public schools in the district include these elementary schools: Capitol Hill, Edgemere, Eugene Field, Gatewood, Hawthorne, Sequoyah and Wilson; Classen School of Advanced Studies and Emerson High School; and three charters: ASTEC, DOVE and Independence High.

CapitolBeatOK afforded each of the candidates an opportunity to answer, in writing, the same set of questions; and additionally met with Gaines and Massenat before preparing the forthcoming news stories.

The stories are being printed in the order in which answers were received (Massenat, Gaines, Hodges). A meeting with Hodges is also anticipated.

Questions submitted to each candidate are listed below. For the information of our readers, links to past CapitolBeatOK stories on these topics are provided. The questions:

•Tell my readers what you believe are the top three issues that now face the Oklahoma City Public School District?

•State Superintendent Janet Barresi has requested from the federal government a waiver for Oklahoma from No Child Left Behind requirements. Do you agree, disagree or do you have a mixed response?

•The amount of legal fees paid by public school districts is not information available for public inspection through the Oklahoma Department of Education. Is that information voters and citizens should be able to access?

•MAPS for Kids is in the final stages of infrastructure improvements for Oklahoma City Public Schools. What do you believe the next major reform effort should be?

•Do you support charter schools? What about broader forms of parental or student choice, including the special needs scholarships?

•Proposals have been made to move school board elections from February, when participation is always low, to November in order to allow for broader participation and a more representative outcome. What do you think?

Jason Murphey, Randy McDaniel, Kris Steele unveil intensified agenda for agency consolidation, fiscal stability, pension reform

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:53:00 GMT

In a meeting with members of the Capitol press corps, Speaker of the House Kris Steele yesterday (Thursday, January 19) set the stage for comments from two of his conservative lieutenants, Jason Murphey of Guthrie and Randy McDaniel of Oklahoma City.

The pair provided details on Republican plans to ratchet up state government agency savings through further information technology, agency consolidation and pension reform programs that began last year. Their presentation came on the annual bill filing day, when a flurry of work results in hundreds of new proposals for changes in law or constitutional provisions.

Steele characterized the 2011 session as Oklahoma’s “watershed moment from a fiscal conservative standpoint.” The Shawnee Republican flatly predicted efficiencies will yield eventual gains worth “hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of last year’s reforms, and further steps this year.” Murphey said 2011 was “the year when we cleared the deck. One of our toughest jobs now will be follow up.”

Murphey has worked on government modernization for years, and has led what many analysts consider historic transformations in government use of technology, purchasing power and other reforms. The Guthrie Solon

said he believes those laws already have “laid the basis for large-scale consolidation.” He noted that the Office of State Finance has reported savings are “exceeding the target. We are reducing the state’s footprint.”

Rep. McDaniel said the continued focus for pension reform – in fact, “the bottom line” – is that benefits must be paid for, including cost-of-living-adjustments (COLAs). In past decades, COLAs had come to be considered virtually an entitlement among state employees, yet COLA decisions were made “ad hoc” by individual pension systems or through legislative action.

The impact of the 2011 pension reforms have proven beneficial to the state in bond ratings and assessments of the health for government retirement systems. CapitolBeatOK has listed the package of pension changes as the most significant Oklahoma government story of 2011.

In Thursday's press briefing, McDaniel pointed to firefighter and police advocates attending and said, “I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made. In the next round there will need to be shared sacrifice from everyone involved.” Last year's reform packages touched primarily the retirement plans for judges, teachers and state employees; this year's focus will be on law enforcement and firefighter systems, McDaniel said.

In a compromise that seems to have support as the session nears, in some pensions employees will pay 1 percent more (in paycheck withholding) for benefits. Further, in plans where municipalities contribute, local governments will pay one percent more for employee benefits.

McDaniel said there will also be changes proposed in the Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROP) benefiting some public servants. Continued progress requires “four things that are absolutely critical.” These necessary quartet, in summary form, are:

•Actuarial analysis

•standards for future benefits

•invest wisely and insist on the highest standards of professional plans

•no diversion of assets to other purposes.

McDaniel formally announced he is advancing a proposed state constitutional amendment to assure that pension debt is treated as debt for accounting purposes and budget planning. He explained, “The constitutional amendment contains the fundamental principles of proper pension oversight. We need a higher law that takes into consideration the future generations of Oklahomans.”

According to a House staff summary, the amendment is intended to:

(1) Protect plan assets by prohibiting diversion of pension funds to other uses;

(2) Institute a prudent investor rule to ensure wise investments of pension funds;

(3) Reduce future debts by directing adequate funding to pension systems;

(4) Require funding standards and practices to be established before additional benefits are authorized.

In dialogue with reporters, Murphey said estimated savings from modernization exceed $6 million thus far, and another $100 million has been gained from the IT consolidation. Additional savings will evolve as Speaker-Designate Shannon’s legislation on asset sales is actually implemented.

Murphey explained, “The first mandate is for [the Department of] Central Services to identify the 5 percent of the most underutilized resources. I think some of the assets are under-appraised but will await the information.”

Asked about reports that some state agencies are seeking exemptions from the IT and other new rules, Rep. Murphey was blunt: “My counsel to them would be that the political environment is not favorable to a legislative exemption.”

In response to questions focused on how savings might best be utilized, Murphey said, “I’m a big fan of tax reduction as the proper use of these resources. You could look at 15 to 20 of the smallest tax revenue streams and simply eliminate them entirely and that would be less than the resources we’re freeing up through this effort. On the other hand, it could be best to take the resources and use them to finance a first step in putting the income tax rate reductions into effect.”

He stressed that would be a choice for the entire Legislature to debate.

Responding to a question from CapitolBeatOK, Rep. Murphey commented, “There was absolutely institutional [agency] resistance to the reforms. The best case scenario, however, is the cooperative stance of the Department of Education. In the interim process I pointed to them as an example of an agency that wanted to jump to the head of the line. They believe they will achieve savings of $5 to 6 million. The website there was static and haphazard. Now it is dynamic.”

Encouraged to “name names” in terms of institutional resistance, Murphey said, “Early on it is clear there was resistance at DHS. They are vital to our success. I now believe that has improved significantly.”

In a follow up, Murphey outlined resistance from other parts of state government: “Fifty to 60 of the agencies initially did not want to complete the assessment, did not provide the information needed. Ultimately, however, they all submitted the information needed to start this process.”

Rep. David Derby of Owasso “will carry legislation consolidating the state’s fiber network to include OneNet,” the information system presently exclusive to Higher Education institutions. Rep. David Brumbaugh of Broken Arrow “will carry legislation on purchasing, education spending transparency and fleet reform.”

Rep. Elise Hall of Oklahoma City “will carry legislation improving transparency into the state’s bond indebtedness,” Murphey said. Rep. Josh Cockroft of Tecumseh is sponsor of “legislation creating a one-stop-shop for open records requests through the office of Chief Information Officer Alex Pettit.”

Rep. Aaron Stiles of Norman “will carry legislation building on his business licensing one-stop-shop legislation from last year.” Rep. Lewis Moore of Arcadia will lead an effort “to reform the way the state manages state agency workers’ compensation spending.”

House Speaker-designate T.W. Shannon of Lawton “will carry legislation requiring reforms to the management of state assets.”

Murphey himself plans to sponsor carry legislation focused on purchasing reforms and transparency. In prepared comments, Murphey said, “House Bill 2197 will focus on purchasing reform and will create options for higher education to take advantage of some of the savings we have been able to enact in past purchasing reforms. The intent of House Bill 2196 will be to create online information in a dashboard-type performance matrix to aid the public and press in getting agency data and gauging agency effectiveness.”

(A government agency performance matrix can be found at track.dc.gov.)

Steele plans a follow-up to House Bill 2140, his government agency consolidation measure from 2011. Steele’s H.B. 3053 “would consolidate the Merit Protection Commission and State Bond Advisor into the Office of State Finance and rename OSF the Office of Enterprise and Management Services.” Further, the measure “would also consolidate the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board and Employment Benefits Council Board into the Oklahoma Health and Wellness Board.”

Senator Treat sponsors bill to limit wage garnishment provisions

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:36:00 GMT

State Sen. Greg Treat of Oklahoma City is advancing a proposal to limit the circumstances in which wages can be garnished (withheld from a worker) through court order aimed at employers. (Editor's note: Late yesterday the bill had been filed but CapitolBeatOK did not yet have a number. We will insert the Senate Bill number into this story later.) The bill from the first-term Republican would leave untouched provisions allowing garnishment for child and spousal support. In related news, two Democratic legislators are pushing a bill to give the state new wage garnishment powers.

Treat's bill would amend 12 O.S. 2011, sec. 1171. As introduced yesterday, the bill “relates to the right to garnishment, prohibiting garnishment of certain wages, [and] providing exceptions.”

In an interview with CapitolBeatOK, Treat described his measure as “real straight-forward.” During his years as an aide to U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn of Muskogee, Treat said he learned “there was a simmering complaint among businessmen, especially small businesses, who were having to help pay off debt that had nothing to do with them or their business.”

He related instances of small business people “without staff other than themselves and their workers.” He made a succinct philosophical argument outlining concerns over business diversion from productivity. Growth of payday loan companies has seemed to exacerbate concerns among business people, he said, and shared complaints he has heard from employers receiving “threatening letters from attorneys” about wage garnishment disagreements.

Sen. Treat candidly acknowledged this might be the start of “an uphill battle, perhaps a multi-year discussion.” Still, he told CapitolBeatOK, there is a scattered base of support that could form into a coalition. He believes, however, “a lot of players will come out of the woodwork to oppose this.”

For himself, Treat said he has “no ax to grind. I just am concerned about a burden placed on an employer over a private contract outside of their control.” He noted that Texas already excludes commercial debts from wage garnishment provisions.

The key language change in existing state law proposed in Sen. Treat's bill, would be:

“No wages shall be subject to garnishment, except for the enforcement of court-ordered child support payments or spousal maintenance, state or federal taxes, federal student loans, or any other debt as required by federal law.”

In related news, S.B. 1019, by Sen. Earl Garrison of Muskogee and state Rep. Jeannie McDaniel of Tulsa, both Democrats, would allow public housing authorities to file claims with the Oklahoma Tax Commissions, as a means to deduct from personal income tax refunds debts owed by tenants.

In a release sent to CapitolBeatOK, the pair of advocates pointed to the state's two largest cities to support their arguments for a new law. The Tulsa Housing Authority has accrued more than $5.5 million in unpaid rent and damages in its units over several years; the Oklahoma Housing Authority has $575,000 in uncollected debt from 2010 and 2011.

Lt. Gov. Lamb's report studies: “What impedes our growth as a state?”

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:04:00 GMT

Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb's new “Policy and Issues Report 2012” is a brief, readable and “unwonkish” compilation of proposals covering the gamut of state government concerns.

The report summarizes the functions and duties (some constitutional, some a result of tradition, and some newly chosen by Lamb) of the constitutional office, the state's second highest executive post.

It includes a section labeled “my vision” that details Lamb's “views, ideas and actions that will help move Oklahoma forward.” These include further conservative-oriented policy prescriptions for workers' compensation, income tax rate reduction, education, job creation and economic development, transportation, general government and tourism. The latter policy area is a traditional assigned are of focus for lieutenant governors.

Lamb also provide a compilation of “bullet points” listing the views of “voices from across Oklahoma,” compiled from the thousands of citizens with whom he met in town hall meetings in every county during 2012.

In an interview with CapitolBeatOK, Lamb described his reasons for preparing the report. “As you know I spent six years in the Senate where I talked about many of these same issues. The governor has asked me to be her Cabinet small business advocate, so all these issues are good fit.”

He reflected, “I visited all 77 counties when I was with Frank Keating. I visited all 77 counties when I was a candidate. And then, I visited all 77 counties during my first year as lieutenant governor. It was pretty cool. We had 92 people at a town hall meeting in Hollis. Then, 100 in Nowata, a great turnout in Poteau. We had only 10 in Seiling, but it was still a good meeting.”

Beyond his own policy vision, Lamb reflected it seemed important to him to share “the things I was hearing back from those people, our constituents.”

Prompted by this reporter, Lamb elaborated some on a decision made by Tourism and Recreation director Deby Snodgrass to trim expenses.

He commented, “There was a lot of unknown when Deby went out there and talked about turning seven of those sites over from government to the communities or the private sector. There was a lot of what I call 'preemptive concern' that seemed in some cases designed to prevent rather than advance discussion. There were seven facilities on the list but the idea was always to see if they could be moved into the private sector or local government control.”

Lamb observed that when he walks into some tourism sites, “it’s like you’re walking into 1962. But this is 2012. Our funding is spread too thinly and the only way to do this right is to partner with the private sector. Each of the places everybody talked about so much, all seven of them, can still be visited. They are still open.

“My favorite story on this was/is Beaver Dunes. As fate would have it, and not by design, we had our town hall meeting in Beaver the very same day the keys were handed over to the new operators, the new managers (a private and local public partnership). That was by coincidence, but it was an interesting coincidence.

“You know what? We met with people in both Beaver and Laverne. One meeting was just an hour after the formal transfer. There was no one question, not one, about the change. We talked about many of these other issues that are in my report. So, I didn’t see the complaints that came from some back here in the Capitol.”

Today, according to Tourism, “Beaver Dunes State Park is owned by Pioneer Parks and is now operated jointly by the City of Beaver and Pioneer Parks.”

In his report, Lamb's suggested policy direction for Tourism reflected his belief: “As Oklahoma's third highest grossing industr, it is important there are very strong public and private companies to move our state forward.” He suggested finding ways to consolidate the “branding” of Tourism and other communications efforts from state agencies.

He said, “A greater emphasis on a single brand would result in those outside of our state having a better understanding of who we are and what our great state has to offer, ultimately leading to more tourism and greater economic development opportunities.”

Lamb is Governor Mary Fallin's designated Small Business Advocate. As he noted, many small business owners joined in the meetings he held across the state, and helped him develop the report.

Lamb prepared the document, he said, in an effort to discern, “What impedes our growth as a state?”

Sen. David Holt files bill to bring Legislature under requirements for open meetings, open records

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:48:00 GMT

Senator David Holt, an Oklahoma City Republican, has filed legislation to make the Oklahoma Legislature subject to the Open Meetings and Open Records Acts. Those two statutes have long provided transparency to all levels of government, but not the Legislature, which exempted itself.

“I spent five years serving in the Oklahoma City government, where we were subject to the Open Meetings and Open Records Acts,” Holt said. “It is almost a universally held opinion that the City of Oklahoma City has produced some of the most innovative and effective government in our state the last 20 years, and that was done while subject to these important taxpayer protections. I believe it is time the Legislature embraced these acts.”

To achieve greater transparency in state government, Holt has filed Senate Bill 1243, dealing with open meetings, and Senate Bill 1244, which deals with the open records law.

“The Senate has led the charge in promoting greater access to the legislative process and was honored in 2008 by Freedom of Information Oklahoma, Inc., for promoting openness in government,” Holt said. “My legislation builds on that tradition.”

Holt’s Open Meetings legislation would make the Legislature and its committees subject to the provisions of the act during regular and special sessions. Currently, the Legislature’s only transparency is provided by its internal rules.

Holt’s Open Records legislation makes records pertaining to filed legislation subject to the act beginning with the 2013 session. Names of constituents may be redacted, but not names of public employees and lobbyists. Currently, only financial records are subject to public request.

“I believe these proposals provide thoughtful solutions to concerns that have been raised by legislators through the years,” Holt said. “I am very optimistic that my colleagues will be receptive to this idea.”

Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Lamb advocates moving school board elections to November

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:22:00 GMT

In a multi-issue policy document released today (Wednesday, January 18), Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb endorsed moving local school board elections from late winter and early spring to coincide with the November general election.

In wake of Lamb’s push for the idea, what may seem like a dry issue of school governance takes on broader significance as local school boards oppose implementation of school choice policies and pursue policies that, critics assert, may increase costs to taxpayers.

Lamb advocated the shift in election dates within the education section of his “policy and issues report” that circulated online and at the state Capitol at mid-day. The Republican from Edmond, a former state Senator, said, “For added accountability and involvement, we need to move school board elections to the November general elections. That would facilitate greater voter participation and stress the value of school board participation and service. We must continue to get the general public involved in education.”

Lamb’s advocacy could give fresh impetus to an idea advanced by many education reforms, conservative and otherwise. Perhaps the best known proponent of the idea nationwide is Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, who pressed the idea in a widely-reported speech at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in 2011.

In an interview with CapitolBeatOK, Lamb elaborated his perspective on the issue, “I talked about this idea when I was a legislator, during my 2010 campaign for lieutenant governor, and at town hall meetings in all 77 counties this past year.

“In policy debates we all press forward how important education is, but then our system is structured to ‘hide’ these elections in February or April. Voter turnout is low. So, we’ve not really prioritized the importance of these elections of the people who make local school policy.

“The higher turnout that comes in a November election would truly make wider participation in education decisions a priority in the system.”

The first-term “light guv” concluded, “This issue came up in multiple communities as we traveled the state last year. The cost savings would give meaning to our efforts to be fiscally conservative and not go to the expense of elections that only a few voters actually participate in. Larger voter turnout would assure more representative and broadly supported policies.”

In Oklahoma, many districts (including District 4 in MidTown Oklahoma City) are holding school board elections on February 14; in multi-candidate races where no hopeful receives a majority, an April runoff will decide the victor for the non-partisan races.

Concerning board elections in the Hoosier State, Daniels said in his AEI address, “nobody votes. It’s a lot easier to dominate, for a small or for an interest group to dominate the outcome and elect a friendly school board in the sparsely attended primary elections. And so now they will have more of the public at least eligible or at least on hand to take part in those elections.”

Gov. Daniels,considered by some analysts the most successful American governor during the Great Recession, has decried policies emanating from what he deems unrepresentative local boards in his state, including strictures in negotiated contracts with teachers’ unions.

These have included, he said “things as trivial as what the humidity in the school shall be or what color the teachers’ lounge shall be painted — I am not making this up — to more troublesome things like the principal can only hold staff meetings once a month or can only hold them on Mondays, to still more troublesome things like no teacher will be required to spend more than x hours with students [and] … no teacher can be observed in the classroom by the principal without a pre-conference and two days’, three days’, five days’ notice.”

Lamb’s support, and continued visibility for the issue, seems certain to boost arguments made by, among others, Brandon Dutcher of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA).

Dutcher argued in a recent commentary that unrepresentative board elections inflate education costs at the local level.

He also pointed to decisions by several northeast Oklahoma school boards to defy – and eventually to sue to kill – the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Act. Dutcher decried the use of taxpayer dollars to oppose the program intended to provide better educational opportunities to handicapped children.

Along with many others, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett in 2010 decried defiance of the school choice law by a handful of local school boards. Garrett, a Democrat, said school boards that defied the bipartisan legislation creating the scholarships were “in violation of their oaths of office.”

Political distortions wrought by the unrepresentative nature of many local school boards, Dutcher contends, extend beyond education policy per se, Dutcher argues. In his commentary, he included the example of some boards “board teaming up with other tax consumers in a chamber of commerce to oppose reductions in Oklahoma’s income tax rate.”

Oklahoma City to host Jan. 24 “town hall” during National School Choice Week

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:42:00 GMT

A gathering of school choice advocates is on tap for Tuesday, January 24 at Constitution Hall on the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) campus in Edmond. The event is intended, organizer Stuart Jolly said, “to support the future workforce of America.”

In addition to leading school choice advocates from Oklahoma, presenters at the event will include John Fund of the Wall Street Journal, and former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts, a former member of Congress from Norman.

The event comes just a few months after national news stories pointed to Oklahoma as an apt metaphor for what advocates dubbed “The Year of School Choice.”

Context for the gathering, and some of the national attention it is gaining in advance of the event, comes from the Sooner State’s recent history.

Choice legislation was enacted both in 2010 -- when then-Governor Brad Henry (a Democrat) supported and signed a bill benefitting special needs children – and in 2011, when Governor Mary Fallin (a Republican) supported and signed into law the Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act.

In an interview with CapitolBeatOK, Jolly, Oklahoma state director for Americans for Prosperity (AFP) said, “the core appeal, the central issue, is parental rights to choose. Parents simply have the right to select the school to which they send their kids. I’m looking forward to this conference, as we look back to celebrate and support what has already passed in Oklahoma, and what we have planned for the future.”

Americans for Prosperity is a national activist organization that works for limited government and free markets.

Another sponsor of the school choice event is the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a “think tank” that focuses on economic liberty, tax policy and state governance issues.

Concerning this year’s likely or potential legislation at the state Capitol, Jolly reflected, “I expect to see a virtual school bill, a process to create a clearinghouse at the state Department of Education. I believe Senators John Ford [a Bartlesville Republican] and Gary Stanislawski [a Tulsa Republican] may both be pushing that idea. Another proposal is to relieve individual school districts from the burden of negotiating with virtual education providers.”

Jolly continued, “I also anticipate a charter school reform bill that would allow more groups and individuals to form charter schools, without having to go through the process of finding a local district or other sponsor as required in current law. This causes delays in opening up schools that are or could be effective models.

“You might also see proposals to shore up around the edges for the areas of choice that have already been achieved. We’ll see what actually emerges, but I see some evidence this will be a year to promote maintenance and enhancement of areas of choice that have been carved out in the last few years.”

Filing deadline for bills to be considered during the 2012 session is Thursday (January 19).

Concerning the lineup of speakers in Oklahoma City, Jolly was enthusiastic, saying he believes “each of these speakers brings something special to the table.”

“Oklahoma is very fortunate. We will have John Fund, who has written eloquently about choice for many years. I always feel like he is “the brain in the room” every time I hear him.

“We’re also delighted to welcome back former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts. He’s here to offer both an Oklahoma and a national perspective on school choice, and of course to give insight on issues facing black children and inner city children.

“Superintendent Barresi will talk about implementation of choice programs and education reform. From our own Legislature, I know that Sen. Stanwislawski will give us a look from inside the Legislature on the issues and reforms to expect on the virtual and other school issues.

“Jeff Reed of the Friedman Foundation is a key national player in the push to afford parent and children more and better choices.

Jolly dubbed the Oklahoma City Town Hall and other widely publicized programs as “marquee events,” but stressed the national impact of the program being held in the middle of National School Choice Week.

National School Choice Week is January 22-28. In addition to Oklahoma City, programs gaining national publicity, and their prominent speakers, include those in Los Angeles, California (Jan. 22) with Juan Williams / Hugh Hewitt, Chicago (Jan. 23) with Juan Williams and Michael Medved, Denver, Colorado (Jan. 24) with Dick Morris and Hugh Hewitt, St. Louis, Missouri (Jan. 24) with Dick Morris and Dana Loesch, Charlotte, North Carolina (Jan. 26), where will Morris will again speak, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Jan. 27), with Williams’ reprise and the wrap-up in Hershey, Pennsylvania (Jan. 28), with Dick Morris and Bob Bowden.

Other grass roots programs with the emphasis on “Restoring Educational Freedom” are slated, organizers told CapitolBeatOK, are in Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennesee, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

Besides Jolly’s AFP, the national AFP Foundation is sponsoring the Oklahoma City event, along with the National School Choice Coalition, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, and the Oklahoma School Choice Coalition. The Oklahoma coalition was long chaired by former U.S. Attorney Bill Price, who was the Republican candidate for governor in 1990.

Note: McGuigan is editor, and Martin is a researcher, for CapitolBeatOK, based from the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. CapitolBeatOK is an affiliate of the Franklin Center a leading journalism non-profit organization dedicated to providing investigative reporters and non-profit organizations at the state and local level with training, expertise, and technical support.

House Republicans promise conservative agenda, tax rate action

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:05:00 GMT

Speaker of the House Kris Steele and most committee chairmen, as well as new Majority Floor Leader Dale DeWitt of Braman, met with reporters today (Tuesday, January 17) to outline a conservative agenda for the 2012 legislative session.

DeWitt promised to pursue an “open door policy” with all Republicans and the minority Democrats. “I will be fair, honest, and respectful toward everyone,” DeWitt pledged.

He pointed to his manner during last year’s redistricting process as a roadmap for the approach he will take with broader issues this year. DeWitt is replacing former floor leader Dan Sullivan, who left the Legislature to take charge of the Grand River Dam Authority.

Earl Sears of Bartlesville, chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, said the state economy is going in the right direction and Republicans plan to advance pro-business and other policies to further economic growth. He said the hundreds of millions of dollars in federal stimulus funds are gone, meaning that even with economic growth no one should expect much spending growth, if at all.

While Republicans were a bit reluctant to provide many details in particular areas of the majority’s agenda for the year, Sears made it clear that a hefty bond issue would not be in the cards, with one possible exception. He said there was active consideration of bonds to finance improvements of the state Capitol itself, but that all other proposals would be unlikely to advance.

Concerning stimulus money, Sears reflected, “You can debate that all year. The point is, we had it, we used it, and it’s all gone.” Hence, he said: spending restraint.

Answering several questions about proposals to reduce income tax rates, Steele said, “My expectation is you’ll see policy developed this year to reduce rates, and that steps will indeed be taken in this session.” Steele said multi-year plans to phase in tax reduction remained on the table and under active consideration.

Steele and his colleagues said the broad emphasis of last year on constitutional rights, traditional values, government reform/modernization, economic growth, public safety, health and education would remain the linchpin of the policy agenda this year.

Steele affirmed his party remained skeptical of the controversial federal health care law, tagging it an example of something opposed on constitutional grounds. He said the majority’s deliberations on a health exchange would be reflected in one of the measures forthcoming.

Concerning policy development for the Department of Human Services (DHS), Jason Nelson of Oklahoma City said legislators would be pressing for transparency – “to open up more records, and more often, for public scrutiny” – and for better governance of the agency.

In response to a question from CapitolBeatOK, Rep. Nelson refused comment on a recent editorial from The Oklahoman calling on Howard Hendrick to step down as director of the agency.

In discussion with reporters after the formal press conference, Steele said he had been in regular contact with T.W. Shannon of Lawton, speaker designate who presently serves as Transportation Committee chairman. An out-of-town obligation kept Shannon away from today’s outline of the GOP agenda. Steele said Shannon had encouraged House leaders to unveil the broad legislative objectives despite his absence.

Also missing from the lineup of top chairmen was state Rep. David Dank of Oklahoma City, who guided the interim discussion focused on likely changes in tax credits and business incentive programs. Chairman Sears said he was pleased with the work product of Dank’s task force on the tax credits and incentives. Like Steele, Sears was reluctant to embrace any one plan for tax rate reduction, but emphasized, “I want to see rates go down.” Concerning changes in tax credits, he said, “it has to happen,” but would not lay out details.

Steele and his communications aide, John Estus, told reporters details of some of the top legislative packages would be unveiled on Tuesdays and Thursdays as the 2012 session nears.

First up in that sequence, this Thursday (January 19) will be state Rep. Randy McDaniel of Oklahoma City, focusing on further pension reforms, and state Rep. Jason Murphey of Guthrie, detailing the next round of steps the majority hopes to take to advance government efficiency.

Concerning the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, Steele said details of the reforms he will advance remain to be hammered out. He expressed renewed optimism that the proposal to forge “smart on crime” policies will advance. Concerning the future, after his tenure as speaker ends, he said state Reps. Pat Ownbey of Ardmore and Lisa Billy of Purcell would continue to advocate such.

n response to a question concerning a controversial proposal (a proposed constitutional amendment) to define human person-hood as existing “from the moment of conception,” Steele said he had not studied the proposal from state Rep. Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City.

As for the controversial nature of some proposals expected this year, Steele defended colleagues, noting Republicans now had such a large majority that disagreements among the majority are inevitable. “Democracy is messy, but it’s still the best system,” Steele said.

Martin Luther King Holiday events unfold in Oklahoma City

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:24:00 GMT

Quietly over many years of evolution in the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Oklahoma City has evolved broader and broader participation, and now has one of the best-attended and popular MLK Day parades and celebrations in the southwest United States.

Thousands are gathering to honor the civil rights legend whose work helped to extend the promises of liberty to more citizens. The actual anniversary is today (Sunday, January 15), the date of King's birth in 1929. The federal holiday is observed this year on Monday, January 16.

Kicking off the annual observance today was the 11 a.m. Mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Northeast Oklahoma City, just north of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The Sunday liturgy was celebrated by the Most Reverend Paul Coakley, archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

A multi-cultural tribute was scheduled after Mass, at 12:15 p.m.. That included liturgical dances performed by students from St. Gregory's University in Shawnee, youth from the parish, and a troupe representing immigrants from Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Mount St. Mary's High School students were scheduled to preform the “I Have a Dream” speech Dr. King gave in 1963 at the historic March on Washington.

Becky Van Pool, director of Catholic Charities Parish Outreach, said the Catholic community will “join in solidarity with those who are in need, and working for ways to improve their lives. … We are challenged to pray and work for all those who are poor and marginalized.”

Theme of the annual parade is “Together we rise.” However, the parade is not the only event honoring Dr. King's legacy of non-violence and advocacy of justice. MLK day events in Oklahoma City on Monday, January 16 include:

The Prayer Breakfast: 7 a.m. in the Reed Center, Sheraton Midwest City Hotel, 5800 Will Rogers Road. ($10/person). From I-40, exit Sooner Road, north on Sooner Rd, turn right/east onto Will Rogers Road. Organizers expect 400-500 people for breakfast, speeches and music. Speakers include U.S. Rep. James Lankford, who planned to attend the event before returning to the nation's capitol for the first formal congressional sessions of the New Year.

The Silent March: 9 a.m. From the Clara Luper NAACP Freedom Center, 2609 N. MLK Avenue, marching to the Oklahoma History Center, N.E. 23 Street, east of Lincoln Boulevard.

The Bell Ringing: 11 a.m., national bell ringing at Oklahoma's replica of the Liberty Bell in front of the Oklahoma History Center, north side of N.E. 23 St., just east of Lincoln. Gov. Mary Fallin participated in last year's ceremony, engaging with local children in discussions about Dr. King's legacy as she stood with them in a sea of American flags at the Bell.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Coalition Program: Noon at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, 127 N.W. 7 St. (7th and Robinson). The program will feature a performance of the “Dream” speech, and comments by local opinion leaders.

Parade: Lineup at 1 p.m., with step-off for the parade at 2 p.m. On the streets west of N.W. 7 Street and Robinson Avenue, adjacent to and around St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral. Marchers will move down Broadway to Sheridan, then east through Bricktown to the Coca-Cola Center. Grandstands at N.W. 5 and Broadway.

The King holiday is provoking, as is the case every year, introspection about race relations in America, even as Dr. King's legacy is praised. At the national level, percolating controversy about the design of the new MLK memorial in the nation's capital has simmered. Several of the assassinated leader's most ardent admirers have assailed an inaccurate quotation at the memorial. Officials working for President Barack Obama announced this week changes to the exhibit would be forthcoming.

Here in Oklahoma, some activists, including Nathaniel Batchelder of The Peace House, are joining forces to oppose State Question 759, a ballot proposition slated for November 2012 intended to end race-consciousness in government hiring. Foes say the measure's strictures would harm progress in minority hiring for government agencies.

Coordinators for the city parade are William Jones and Garland Pruitt. Last year saw scores of marching units, including high school bands, dancers, religious and civic groups, and political leaders. Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units, including the Northwest Classen High School JROTC corps stepped lively down Broadway Avenue, to the cheers of thousands.

In an interview as he made final preparations for the parade (customarily the conclusion of the official local observances), organizer Pruitt told CapitolBeatOK parade organizers anticipated more than 114 entries, “and that's moving up.” Nice weather is forecast, with clear skies, and high temperatures around 70. Last year's parade, held in cool but pleasant conditions, attracted thousands more than customary.

Laced throughout the 2012 MLK observances in Oklahoma City are words of fond remembrance for civil rights legend Clara Luper, who died last year. When she passed, among those praising her legacy was Congressman James Lankford, who told reporters Luper had departed for a “home-going” – an Evangelical Christian expression of confidence about the destination of all who live in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Note: Patrick B. McGuigan contributed to this report.

Speaker Steele, Council of State Governments unveil “justice reinvestment” initiative

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:08:00 GMT

Late last week a report was released by the Council of State Governments that addressed the problems with the Oklahoma criminal justice system as it currently operates. The study concluded with recommendations for improvement.

Three goals the study said the state should seek are: means to fight crime and enhance public safety, strengthening supervision,and containment of prison costs. It also laid out recommendations on how those goals could be accomplished.

Leaders from throughout the state provided insights and data for the study. The report detailed that violent crime has risen in most of the state (or declined less than in other states) even as the number of police officers protecting the public has declined.

Services available to the mentally ill have been curtailed and the state’s police have had to deal more with people suffering from mental illness, leaving less time to apprehend violent criminals.

The report concluded the state must fund additional facilities for the treatment of the mentally ill to allow law enforcement the ability to spend more time on criminal investigations. In addition, it urges that the state assist local law enforcement agencies by funding programs that will effectively deter crime and provide more funding for specific programs operated by Oklahoma’s district attorneys.

The report also documented how much crime in the state involves drug offenders and recommended that centers were those addicted to drugs could receive treatment rather than being sent to prison Authors document how those being released from prison are not being adequately supervised after release.

Members of the task force point to budget constraints currently facing the Pardon and Parole Division of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, and other entities involved in post-conviction supervision.

The analysis urges that all released offenders, particularly those who have are likely to violate the law again, receive direct supervision for at least nine months after release, that those who violate terms of supervision receive sanctions for doing so, and that those most at risk of re-offending have access to treatment.

Regarding containment of prison costs, the study made several proposals to further that goal. They include what is described as “graduated approach to sentencing” for people convicted of drug related offenses that would be determined by the individual’s criminal history and risk of re-offending.

People convicted of the most serious crimes, including crimes of violence, should continue to be required to serve 85 per cent of their sentences before being eligible for release, the report recommends. Currently, judges in Oklahoma have a relatively short period of time in which they can modify a sentence imposed that they have previously imposed on a criminal defendant. The report’s authors believe that that period should be lengthened so that a sentence can me modified based on what the defendant has done since the date of his or her initial sentencing .

Investment of $110 million in the state’s criminal justice system over the next two decades is needed, but the report concludes the reforms will save the state $249 million during that time, reduce the number of offenders being sent to prison.

House Speaker Kris Steele, a Shawnee Republican, outlined provisions of the comprehensive analysis of the Oklahoma criminal justice system. With Steele for the presentation was Marshall Clement, project director for the CSG’s Justice Center.

Clement was a lead researcher for the new study. Oklahoma is the latest state to undertake a “justice reinvestment initiative,” seeking ways to make post-conviction processes more effective. Efforts in Texas boosting treatment and supervision have saved money while reducing costs.

The study was requested by Speaker Steele, Governor Mary Fallin and Supreme Court Justice James Edmondson.

Steele, who served on the 20-member that served on the task force, said that some of the proposals may be enacted into law in the next legislative session.

Joining Steele and Coleman for the presentation were two other members of the JRI working group: Don Millican, Co-Chair of the JRI effortmand Chairman of the Oklahoma Christian University Board of Trustees, and Terri White, Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and a working group member.

Costs for the study, which involved more than 300 state and local officials, were paid by CSG and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (U.S. Department of Justice).

The working group included Steele, Millican, Cline, White, state Sen. Patrick Anderson of Enid, Trent Baggett (Oklahoma District Attorneys Council), Currie Ballard (Pardon and Parole Board), state Rep. Lisa Billy of Purcell, Allyson Carson (Victim Services Coordinator, Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office), Rebecca Frazier (Office of the Governor), Director Howard Hendrick (Department of Human Services), state Rep. Scott Inman of Del City, Arlene Johnson (presiding Judge, Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals), Justin Jones (Department of Corrections), Melissa McLawhorn Houston (Attorney General’s Office), Ken McNair (Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association) state Sen. Jonathan Nichols of Norman, Terry Cline (Department of Health), Amy Santee (George Kaiser Family Foundation), and Oklahoma District Attorney David Prater.

Note: William F. O’Brien is a frequent writer for The City Sentinel in Oklahoma City. This is his first story for CapitolBeatOK. Patrick B. McGuigan contributed to this report. Photos accompanying this story were taken by Aran Coleman.

U.S. Rep. James Lankford looks at battles of budget, federal unemployment policy and the Senate stall

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:08:00 GMT

Tuesday, after the annual observance of Martin Luther King Day, Congress will return to work. Many members hope 2012 will be more productive than 2011, including U.S. Rep. James Lankford of Oklahoma City.

The Republican House member, starting his second year of service in Washington, discussed with CapitolBeatOK what he said were likely to be “the first two things out of the box.”

One will be “the budget – concerning the process of preparing the budget for 2013. That will be finalized by the end of March.”

The second matter at the top of the list, but actually “ the first thing a lot of people will see come out, as far as a piece of legislation, will hopefully be dealing with this extension for the rest of the10 months on unemployment – on social security payroll tax piece; and then also what is called the Doc Fix’, which deals with Medicare recipients, and the refunding that goes back to doctors.”

Lankford reflected on a battle that defined much of the latter part of the year, saying, “The Senate sent over the version that was much disputed in December. The House sent over the version that was for a full year. … The Senate sent over the version for just two months.

“Then, there was all that in-fighting in between to figure out how we were going to get this resolved. The Senate wouldn’t budge, so we ended up with a two-month extension. That’s got to fixed, so that we’re not continuing to tax policy 60 days at a time, but instead a year or more at a time. That’s what is to be resolved. We’ll do that quickly, after we get back into session – I hope.”

Lankford is considered a strong conservative, albeit one who has quickly developed a reputation for hard-headed realism. Ask if either, or both, of those might actually happen in the first three months of 2012, he replied that at least in the House, “The budget is going to be passed.”

Lankford serves on the House Budget panel with Chairman Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican. He disclosed, “We’ve already had multiple conversations. We’re going to work the budget through and get that done by the time we get to the end of March. I’ve got very high hopes on that.”

However, he cautioned, “Whether the Senate picks up on that, I have doubts. By the time we get in, with the State of the Union on January 24, the Senate has not done a budget now in a thousand days. That’s when Democrats were leading the House, and when Republicans were leading the House.

“The Senate has failed to do a budget, at all. Not even through committee, much less passed the Senate. So, I’m very pessimistic on them picking up and doing one this year, during a presidential election.

“On the other side of that, the unemployment piece, and the social security/Medicare payroll tax extension, and the ‘Doc fix,’ we have to get those things resolved.”

Lankford contends that among House members, “There is common agreement that we have to get this done for the full year. We do not understand why the Senate would only do it two months at a time. It is much better to do that a full year at a time than it is to do only 60 days at a time.

“Now, the House proposal that we put on the table in December was a reform of the unemployment insurance, to get more flexibility back to the states, to be able to have more ideas of how they’re going to do that.

“Whether they’re going to require that someone is working toward a GED if they don’t have one, or do additional training and other job skills if they’ve not taken that on to be able to sharpen their skills, to give [states] more flexibility to make more decisions as a state, how that is managed.”

As for the unemployment compensation reforms, “That is one of the things the Senate flatly rejected. We think that is a positive idea, and it allows Oklahomans to give good ideas to help people get into employment, rather than just getting unemployment checks."

“We’ll see how that process works. I’m less optimistic about that, but I am optimistic that something is going to be done.”

Dressed up and ready to dance: Both Boeing and Oklahoma were ready to party

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:00:00 GMT

While Oklahoma is still basking in the afterglow of Boeing’s announcement that it will be bringing 800 new jobs to its Oklahoma operation, Kansas is, well, spitting mad at what officials there claim is a betrayal of a commitment to grow its Kansas presence, not eliminate it.

That’s on top of 550 jobs it announced were headed here late last year.

Kansas lawmakers are steaming because Boeing pledged that if they’d help land a multi-billion dollar, Air Force refueling tanker project last February, it would create 1,500-plus new jobs in Wichita.

Instead, the work will go to Boeing's facilities near Seattle, in San Antonio and Oklahoma City. The aerospace giant is shuttering the Wichita facility and the 2,160 jobs there. Kansas says an estimated that $1.5 billion in payroll will vanish in the next 10 years.

Perhaps proving the limits of government-financed business incentives, Kansas had over time handed the aerospace giant more than $4 billion in municipal bonds and tax breaks.

In recent days, cries of betrayal, lies, and corporate greed have dominated Kansas headlines, lawmaker reactions, blogs, editorials and the public response.

“If it is true that Boeing has wanted to leave Wichita for a very long time, that makes its request for Kansas’ help in securing the tanker contract even more duplicitous and despicable than most of us initially believed. Boeing’s decision was not made until Dec. 30? In a pig’s eye,” wrote one author in a Kansas letter to the editor.

A Kansas City Star editorial a week ago went much further.

The editorial said, “Donna Ginther, director of Kansas University’s Center for Economic and Business Analysis, noted that while morally scummy and politically questionable, Boeing’s decision is straightforward business thinking: ‘Boeing answers to its shareholders. Using business and ethics in the same sentence is almost an oxymoron.’ ”

Oklahoma officials have been empathetic and it’s no wonder; it has been left at the altar numerous times in the last 20-plus years. The lessons have been painful, but have effected changes.

“Well, you know, Boeing’s been [in Kansas] a long time and anytime you have a situation like that, emotions run high,” said the Oklahoma Department of Commerce media relations manager Dustin Pyeatt.

Gov. Mary Fallin said, “My heart goes out to those (Kansas Boeing employees). However, as with the recent relocation of Boeing staff from California to the Boeing Oklahoma City facility, our state stands ready to welcome all employees and their families who will now call Oklahoma home. Oklahoma City is a wonderful community and a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. I know Boeing employees will agree.”

But in news reports Boeing has not stressed the concept of relocating Kansans. Rather, it has said it will do all it can to help counsel and transition the 2,160 employees as they head for unemployment and search for work.

Boeing traces its roots in Kansas to the late 1920's. Wichita once billed itself as the aviation capitol of the world largely due to the aerospace giant’s presence.

Oklahoma City officials and its $7.3 billion aviation industry may beg to differ with that, but that’s not really the point.

Boeing’s Wichita operations had grown into a sprawling, 400-acre complex of 97 buildings that had become expensive to maintain.

Boeing’s general logic for the move was contraction in the Pentagon’s budget.

Indeed, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has been quoted saying the nation’s defense budget will shrink by $450 billion in the coming decade.

Defense contracts notwithstanding, the aircraft giant scored some major coups last year in addition to the billions in tanker work:

- Last year in Dubai, it inked an $18 billion deal with Emirates Airline, the largest contract in Boeing history. It includes delivery of 50 extended-range 777-300 jets. Delivery is scheduled in March,

- The company held onto a $3.5 billion contract for the U.S. Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) missile shield. It had to beat back challenges from LMT and Raytheon to secure the award, according to a news report by Susan J. Aluise, executive editor of National News Syndicate, a Washington, D.C.-based news organization focused on global business, national security, information technology, transportation and financial services.

Boeing is obviously bent on looking at long-term economies. Its behavior of late has been clearly about cutting costs, capturing incentives and hot pursuit of deadly serious, pro-business climates.

That means lasting benefits: lower labor costs, cheaper operating expenses, right-to-work protection and generous incentives for new jobs for rank-and-file and high-paying professional jobs.

Oklahoma was dressed up and ready to go to the party.

Sooner economic developers have learned a lot in the past decade and more – some of it quite painfully.

And, if the push to eliminate personal income taxes comes to fruition, that may be an even greater affirmation of the state’s decision to put on that party dress.

Auditor Gary Jones summarizes education department findings

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:47:00 GMT

Oklahoma Auditor & Inspector Gary Jones, in a video interview with CapitolBeatOK, has summarized findings of a special audit investigating questions raised about the travel claims of a former Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The auditor and his staff concluded that there was evidence of possible falsified claims, and other concerns. Other issues were found that have triggered a broader inquiry, Jones said in an interview this week.

Jones explained that the investigation was undertaken at the request of Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi, who now runs the state Department of Education. The special audit covered the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011.

In the interview, he also provided a broad outline of other audits he is pursuing.

Jones said, “We received a request from Superintendent of Public Instruction. There were allegations that an employee was falsifying travel claims. They made the request, we sent our investigative auditors in. They did a very good job of interviewing people and presenting the results to the Department of Education.”

In summary, Jones said, “They discovered there were instances of travel that could not be documented, times where the individual claimed to be attending meetings and there was no evidence of that happening.”

Jones said the audit is a “customary thing that we do.” He reported, “We receive requests from District Attorneys, from boards of county commissioners, from school districts. So, this is one of our divisions. This is a routine thing that we do.”

Jones told CapitolBeatOK his office is pursuing a wide range of investigations: “We have a large number of requests that have been made, whether it’s from school districts and counties. We’re in the process, at different stages in those investigations. We’ll release those reports as they become available.”

Six of the new report’s “objectives” touch upon the work of Misty Kimbrough, a former Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction. The final report from Jones pointed to what appear to be significant areas of concern that could become the basis for further action, including another audit report in 30 to 60 days.

In the succinct executive summary of the special audit report, the first objective “supports the allegation that the former Assistant State Superintendent filed for and was reimbursed for travel claims that included false entries. Further, we concluded that the allegedly falsified travel claims may have been utilized more for the ‘appearance’ of having been ‘on the job’ and/or disguising absences from the job, rather than the often negligible amounts that were obtained with the travel claims.”

As for the second objective, information developed “supports the allegation that there was little or no time accountability system in place for the former Assistant State Superintendent to record and report ‘time worked’ or time ‘on the job.’ As a result of the failure to enforce its own policies and procedures regarding the accountability for time worked, the ‘leave’ records for the former Assistant State Superintendent were also unreliable.”

In one part of the report, Jones points to past agency management as a source of concern.

The report’s executive summary reads as follows: “[W]e report the lack of consistency in enforcing the Department’s own policies and procedures for time reporting was not confined to the single occurrence of the former Assistant State Superintendent, but that the Department had no uniform system for documenting the time claimed by its employees. We report there were other areas and sections of the Department where time records were not necessarily reliable and/or were nonexistent.”

In another area, the report from the auditor’s office detailed “a variety of findings related to job duties, pay and travel expenses concerning a ‘temporary’ employee, but there were no criminal allegations reported for this situation.”

In four other areas, the audit report touched upon “a relatively small ($2.5 million) federal special education grant program for “residential placement,” an alleged inappropriate change to a monitoring report for a specific school district, an alleged possible violation of the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and a possible misappropriation of state resources and employees. We found these four concerns to be largely unsubstantiated.”

Concerning what was characterized as “a nonspecific concern” about “sole source” contracts, the report concludes, “Our test work in this area did not indicate any findings to report.”

Statutory authority for the agency to respond to agency requests for special audits is found in state law at 74 O.S. 2001, § 227.8. Material in the report is available to journalists and subject to public scrutiny due to provisions of the Oklahoma Open Records Act (51 O.S. § 24A.1 et seq.).

Peter J. Rudy of Oklahoma Watchdog last week distilled the findings in the auditor and inspector’s report as follows:

Kimbrough was reimbursed for travel expenses, including a hotel stay, for a meeting she did not attend in White Oak.

Kimbrough was reimbursed for travel expenses, including a hotel stay, for a meeting in Oklahoma City which is considered her “official duty station area” and therefore not eligible for overnight reimbursement.

Kimbrough may have submitted false travel documents not to get the small sum of money but to make it appear she was at work rather than taking leave time for which she was reimbursed upon her termination.

Kimbrough received nearly $12,700 for her unused leave time, but as much as $3,000 may have been for leave that was taken, but not recorded as leave.

The entire report from the auditor’s office is available online here.

Eleven years on, a fight that mattered: Right To Work in Oklahoma

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:04:00 GMT

COMMENTARY

Oklahoma City -- Right to work is in the news again: Under the leadership of Governor Mitch Daniels, Indiana is about to enact the reform through legislative action. Approval could come late this week.

In 2001, after debate that ran for decades, and a final referendum campaign that cost millions (most from labor unions who largely avoided reporting strictures), Oklahomans supported a right-to-work referendum. The popular approval added to state's populist-oriented constitution a protection for personal rights of association, choice and liberty, denying the power of government or any group to compel a worker to join a labor union as a condition of employment.

The roll of honor for Oklahoma right to work is long, but a few names and events stand out. Like Idaho in 1985, right to work came to pass slowly, and in the end through a ballot proposition.

For decades, Oklahoma right-to-work proposals were smothered in legislative committees by powerful chairmen beholden to union leaders with lots of cash, and politicians beholden to the dominant Democratic party. Despite cultural conservatism and long-standing economic poverty (in comparative terms to other states), the status quo prevailed with explicit appeals to the fears of working people and small business owners, contentions that a robust and less-restricted labor market would harm their interests.

In the 1980s, the position of the labor bosses eroded as the Reagan era shifted voter sympathy, especially in statewide contests, toward Republicans. The state carved out a reputation for good workers, low costs and good locations for manufacturing, assembly and transportation.

At The Oklahoman, the state's largest daily newspaper in Oklahoma City, editor and publisher E. L. Gaylord pressed for decades to change state law so that business location consultants would no longer mark out the state in expansion or relocation decisions.

By the 1990s, the tide of history combined with a steady stream of editorials and commentaries were beginning to persuade the fearful to embrace, rather than hide from, the future.

In 1994, Republicans Frank Keating and Brenda Reneau were elected governor and labor commissioner, respectively. In the state Senate, conservative stalwart Senator Mike Fair, who had championed the issue, finally had the political allies needed to press for success.

Keating was a mainstream conservative Republican who had asked again and again in his campaign why Oklahoma, with “the same people, sky and water” as Texas fell so far behind the state of Texas in economic growth and personal income. He made the pragmatic argument for reform in every State of the State address, and in hundreds of speeches.

Reneau was a former Democrat and business association executive who focused primarily on the moral and ethical arguments for right-to-work. As the first Republican to win a labor commissioner's race, she helped steadily erode the mindset that tilted working people toward security and against liberty.

By 2000, Fair had enough raw numbers to win if he could get a legislative vote on a right-to-work referendum – putting the issue before voters for ultimate resolution. But, they did not have the muscle to force a vote in the Senate, where Democrats still had a majority. That's why Republican Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin did something Reneau had long advocated, taking the chairman's post in the Senate to force a vote on the issue.

In a moment of consequential drama, the Democratic Senate President Pro Temp peacefully handed the gavel to Fallin, who recognized the GOP sponsor of the referendum proposal. After debate and a roll call, it failed, by three votes. The margin came from three Democrats whose districts were overwhelmingly sympathetic to right to work. In the following November election, all three men were defeated.

An alliance coalesced around grass roots activists (precursors of the Tea Party) who had worked on the issue for decades. They joined in alliance with the Republicans, the state Chamber of Commerce under Richard Rush, the City Chamber’s Dean Schirff, other business leaders, publisher Gaylord, Gov. Keating, Lt. Gov. Fallin and Commissioner Reneau.

Gaylord's paper wrote and published a new wave of editorials and opinion pieces, the Tulsa World joined in with its own advocacy, smaller newspapers pressed the issue more aggressively, Keating raised the money for what everyone knew would be a titanic battle, and Reneau kept preaching the good word.

The pro-right-to-work coalition hired Marc Nuttle, an Oklahoman with national experience who had frequently battled unions. He negotiated the measure through the Legislature and onto a special election ballot. A sophisticated guy, he cautioned supporters to “keep it simple. This is about freedom, and the right to choose. It's also about economic growth and a better future, but fundamentally this is about freedom.”

He kept it simple, but also financed a saturation television advertising buy, and the largest single newspaper advertising purchase in history for the final two weekends before election day.

As the campaign unfolded, many key Democrats gravitated to support the measure, including former Governors George Nigh and David Boren.

After the most expensive campaign of any kind in state history, Nuttle proved the prophet. Two weeks after the terrorist attacks of September 11, the most powerful theme in Oklahoma remained as Nuttle had anticipated.

Appeals to human liberty overcame attempts to play on the fears of workers and business. On September 25, 2001, the most divisive policy issue in modern state history gained comfortable 54 percent approval from the voters. Litigation resulted, but by 2003, the law was in effect.

Ten years later, the proof is in the pudding. Productivity is up, manufacturing GDP has grown, and “multiplier effects” are cascading.

Scott Moody and Wendy Warcholik report, in an analysis published by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), “Manufacturing output and productivity have outpaced the competition, and people from non-RTW states are voting with their feet by moving to Oklahoma in increasing numbers.” In the last couple of quarters, personal income growth in Oklahoma has been in the top five, nationwide.

In the end, everything unfolded more or less as Gaylord and the analysts at OCPA had said it would. The state has been changed forever, moving from the back of the pack to one of the top five U.S. states for economic growth, rising per capita personal income and one of the nation's lowest unemployment rates. But the fundamental appeal of right to work remains the same: It protects the right to choose.

As was the case in Idaho, so it was in Oklahoma, and will be in Indiana.

Given a choice clearly defined between personal freedom and economic security, Americans still choose freedom. In the end, that choice leaves them free to seek economic security in their own ways, in voluntary affiliation and without the compulsion of state action.

As free men, and women, shall stand: Go Hoosiers.

Note: McGuigan is editor of CapitolBeatOK, a Franklin Center affiliate which in 2011 was named one of Oklahoma’s best news websites in the annual competition of the Society for Professional Journalists. From 1990 to 2002, McGuigan worked with publisher Edward L. Gaylord at The Oklahoman, as editor of the editorial page.

WIR’s story is evidence that “justice reinvestment” can work

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:27:00 GMT

Across America, over the past decade or so, some 18 states have developed data-based public policies aimed explicitly at developing alternatives to incarceration for non-violent and lower-risk offenders in the criminal justice system.

Efforts along the same lines began in Oklahoma during the 2011 legislative session, when a framework was created in House Bill 2131. The measure expanded offender eligibility for community sentencing and established new requirements for Pardon and Parole Board members. A provision modifying the governor’s role in pardons and paroles has been stricken in judicial reform. However, H.B 2131 is a starting point for what is deemed a “smart on crime” approach to criminal justice policy.

Models are being developed in several states, including Ohio and North Carolina. Neighboring Texas is more than five years into a reform push that appears to be bearing fruit with lower costs and reduced rates of crime.

In Oklahoma, however, only a handful of private or public programs are already operational that fit into the “Justice Reinvestment” model that House Speaker Kris Steele, Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments and other officials detailed in their Wednesday (January 10) press conference.

The Oklahoma program that has gained the widest scrutiny – almost entirely positive – is Women in Recovery (WIR), sponsored by Family & Children’s Services in Tulsa. It is deemed an effective private model, operating in cooperation with government officials, that redirects some resources into treatment and related programs as an alternative to incarceration.

Last month, in its third year of existence, WIR held its fifth graduation ceremony. The most recent 15 women to finish the program were the largest graduating group in the WIR’s history. The event was held at the downtown Tulsa Hyatt Regency, a large local employer who has hired several previous graduates of WIR.

The Tulsa program aims to provide effective supervision in non-prison settings and transformational life skills to nonviolent female offenders who have drug and alcohol addictions. Thus far, there are 52 WIR female graduates, women who have a total of 98 children. Presently, the program is serving 74 women, who have 191 children among them.

Erin Haddock, a WIR graduate and current Hyatt employee, said in a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, “The program has taught me to be assertive, set boundaries, let go of an abusive marriage and build healthy relationships. I am so happy and grateful for my new life with my beautiful daughter.”

In the words of program literature, women who qualify for WIR must be at least 18 years old, “involved in the criminal justice system and of imminent risk of incarceration, ineligible for other diversion services or courts and must have a history of substance abuse. Women with children have a high priority for program admission.”

WIR works with a one-year program of intensive treatment and services. The program’s explicit goals include successful family reunification and life in the community.

In comments to CapitolBeatOK, WIR director Mimi Tarrasch said of the women graduates, “With hard work and dedication, they have overcome their addictions, reconnected with their families and become productive members of our community.”

Amy Santee is a senior program officer at the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which sponsors WIR. She told CapitolBeatOK, “We honor these graduates for their commitment to improve their lives and the lives of their children and families. The foundation is dedicated to breaking the cycle of inter-generational incarceration in Oklahoma. This program’s success shows there are alternatives to incarceration that hold offenders accountable, improve public safety and transform the lives of families.”

Attendees at the most recent graduation ceremony included family members, district attorneys, judges, public defenders, business leaders, community partners and program supporters.

Tarrasch, who has detailed the program in past interviews and one commentary for CapitolBeatOK, notes that “To graduate, all participants must be drug/alcohol-free, crime-free, employed, actively participating in community recovery support, engaged in reunification plans with their children and meeting all legal and court requirements. WIR includes an aftercare program and two-year follow up evaluation provided by the University of Tulsa.”

In organizational literature, WIR is described as “an alternative to incarceration for nonviolent female offenders, that combines strict supervision with a comprehensive day treatment program. Services include comprehensive case management, supervised visitation with children, job search assistance, substance abuse treatment, employment and vocational training, housing placement, medical services, counseling and life skills training and community integration.”

Santee, who served on the working group that worked on the report unveiled at the state Capitol today, has worked directly with WIR since its creation.

In comments at the December 14 graduation, she told attendees that “Leaders from around the state recognize that our criminal justice system is in need of repair. They recognize that sending these 15 women away to prison for a collective 75 or more years is not a sound strategy, it is expensive, ineffective and devastating to families.

“I am hopeful that our state leaders will continue to make improvements so that other women and children around the state can have similar opportunities to the women here today. So, … we celebrate our community’s generous support and critical assistance in dealing with this complex problem. And we honor the women graduating today ‐‐ the 15 women who stand before you with the courage to share their stories and to confront their fears. We applaud their commitment and perseverance to break free from their past and to create better futures not only for themselves but also for their children.

Santee observed, “For individuals involved in the criminal justice system, the barriers to success are great. The success of this program and the women graduating today is a result of the overwhelming support of this community. Individuals who have volunteered their time, non‐profit organizations that supplement the core programming, advocacy groups (such as Oklahoma Academy, OICA, Women’s Collation) that raised this issue long before the foundation or Family & Children’s Services became involved, businesses, such as the Hyatt that have offered our women employment opportunities so that they may support their families.”

Speaker Steele has been a leading champion for WIR.

In a video interview with CapitolBeatOK, Steele spoke about accountable alternatives to incarceration in the criminal justice system. (Note: The interview covered several issues. Steele’s comments about WIR begin at about the 6:05 mark of the interview).

The Shawnee Republican observed, “About three years ago, I led an interim study. We were able to identify what we already know, and that is that in Oklahoma we incarcerate women at over twice the national average, per capita. I really had to ask myself why we do that.

“I had to ask what is the answer for our high incarceration rate, particularly as it relates to low-risk, non-violent female offenders. Through the course of that study, I had the opportunity to visit Women in Recovery in Tulsa.

“It literally changed my life. I saw women who would otherwise be incarcerated, in a program giving them the skills that they needed to go on and lead positive and productive lives. In addition, it was saving money. It was at a more affordable rate, producing better results with less money.”

His study of the group, and participation in some events, persuaded him at the time, “this was an answer. We began to really dig deep and understand what it is that is causing Oklahoma’s high incarceration rate. The truth of the matter is that nearly 60 percent of the female offenders who are currently incarcerated are deemed or classified as low risk and non-violent offenders.

“We know that if we have appropriate and effective community-based programs, … that would require intense supervision but would also provide the skills necessary that may be missing from a person’s skill set – skills such as substance abuse treatment, parental skills, financial skills, job training and things of that nature – that we could equip these individuals to literally go on and lead positive and productive lives, and be contributing citizens to the state Oklahoma. That is what most, or nearly all of them, want to be able to do.”

With the new Justice Reinvestment paper, and in legislation he is now drafting, Speaker Steele said, “We are developing policy … that will allow us to achieve that goal. The goals are to increase public safety, to make better use of our state’s public resources and ultimately to produce better outcome in the lives of these individuals.”

Right-to-work bill moves forward in Indiana

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:09:00 GMT

Statehouse News Online

Indianapolis, Indiana — What could have been a showdown over right-to-work legislation at the Indiana Capitol ended up as an all too normal session day.

But make no mistake, the fight over right to work in Indiana is not over. A key committee vote was scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Indiana’s 40 Democratic state representatives answered the roll call at Monday’s House session, allowing the majority Republicans to introduce legislation for the new year, including House Bill 1001, more commonly referred to as the right-to-work proposal.

To protest HB 1001, nearly every House Democrats skipped three session days last week, but instead of face fines of $1,000 per day per person, they came but do not believe their walkout was for naught.

Indiana House Minority Leader Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, said the walkout raised public awareness about what he calls a "radical" proposal. Bauer said a lot more people in Indiana now know about right to work.

"If 50 percent of the people didn't know about it (last week), we've cut that number," Bauer said.

The bill would allow members of private-sector unions to opt out of the union and avoid paying union dues and fees. Currently, Indiana workers can choose not to belong to a union, but if a union represents their workplace, non-union workers must pay union fees and dues if that is negotiated into a contract.

Bauer said he hopes the pending debate will draw more attention to the Indiana statehouse here. “We need another week of hearings,” Bauer said from the House floor Monday.

But time may not be on the Democrats’ side. House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indiana, has scheduled the right-to-work legislation for a Tuesday morning committee vote.

“Under our rules, if the (legislation) is voted out of committee Tuesday, it would be eligible for second reading on Thursday,” Bosma said. “[Right to work] could be eligible for a final passage on Friday. But a lot of things have to happen between now and then.”

Bosma would not specify the number of Republicans, who would vote for the right-to-work bill, but he did say he would not be moving the legislation forward if he did not have the votes.

Bauer said no one should consider right to work a "done deal." He continued, “Nothing is inevitable.”

But the House Democrats do not have the votes to stop the legislation.

Republicans needed 67 state representatives to be present, so they could introduce the right-to-work legislation. The House GOP only needs 51 votes to pass the bill, and there are 60 House Republicans.

Still, Bosma said he's not ready to declare the Democrats irrelevant.

“I wouldn’t say they still can’t do something. They are very creative,” Bosma said.

The Democrats' return ends the running clock for Indiana's anti-bolting law, which was approved last year after House Democrats were absent for five weeks. The law goes into effect after any lawmaker has three consecutive unexcused absences. Because the House Democrats missed three days last week, the anti-bolting law could be used this week.

But Tori Flynn, media manager for Bosma’s office, said if the Democrats go missing again, the speaker could fine lawmakers without having to wait another three days.

Bauer didn't speculate about another walkout or round of absences, but he did say some Democrats might skip Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' State of the State speech.

Daniels is scheduled to speak to the Indiana House and Senate on Tuesday night from the statehouse.

Note: This report first appeared at Statehouse News Online.

Analysis: Indiana Leads the Manufacturing Belt

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:06:00 GMT

Indiana policymakers are poised to pass a right-to-work law, which would make it the first state in the so-called “manufacturing belt” to pass such legislation. While the manufacturing belt isn’t what it used to be, Indiana has the greatest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the country and likely has the most to gain from enacting a right-to-work measure.

A right-to-work law means employees cannot be coerced to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment. This makes unions more accountable since they have to prove to their members that they are worth the cost.

At the same time, right-to-work protections are attractive to employers because they can be more confident that a union actually reflects the interests of the men and women it represents. Most employers can accept tough negotiations with employees; over the long run they benefit from having a workforce that is content with its wages and working conditions.

A union that is unaccountable and free to pursue its own interests is less valuable to workers and can do far more damage to employers. And the numbers show this accountability improves jobs in right-to-work states.

The old manufacturing belt, stretching from New York to Wisconsin, still maintains some states with a large percentage of manufacturing jobs, but others have dropped. Pennsylvania and New York aren't even in the top 10. Michigan’s concentration is down to 6th, falling behind Ohio, Arkansas and Iowa in the past decade. Illinois remains near the middle, at 20th.

While Indiana leads the country in manufacturing job concentration, five of the top 10 manufacturing states have right-to-work laws.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming all provide employees with right-to-work protections.

Manufacturing Jobs as a Percent of Total Jobs

% Percent Rank

Indiana

13.1%

Wisconsin

13.0%

Iowa

10.6%

Arkansas

10.6%

Ohio

10.0%

Michigan

9.9%

Alabama

9.8%

Mississippi

9.4%

Kentucky

9.3%

Kansas

9.2%

Source: Author’s calculations based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Note: James M. Hohman writes for Michigan Capitol Confidential, a news project of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. This story was first posted here.

Justice Reinvestment update scheduled for Wednesday, model Tulsa program advances alternatives to incarceration

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:28:00 GMT

Oklahoma Speaker of the House Kris Steele and the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center Project Director Marshall Clement plan to discuss outcomes from the Oklahoma Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) at the state Capitol tomorrow (Wednesday, January 11).

The session comes as Women in Recovery (WIR), a Tulsa-based program supported by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, continues to advance and “model” an effective alternative to incarceration for non-violent crimes.

Steele and Clement will lead Wednesday’s news conference and briefing in the Governor’s Large Conference room, but the pair will be joined by other members of the state’s JRI working group.

The JRI began in June and will run some 18 months. The program brings to bear “rigorous data analyses” to measure the effectiveness of public safety and corrections policies.

Oklahoma’s focus on efforts to become “smart on crime” coincide with programs led by both CSG and the “Right on Crime” organization working with the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Speaker Steele has characterized the Lone Star State’s efforts as “impressive on several fronts. Over the past five years, Texas has saved $2 billion in incarceration costs and has its lowest violent crime rate in decades. These are both impressive achievements.”

In Steele's view, “perhaps the most important facet of their reforms is the fact that the Texas Legislature and the public took politics and emotions out of their debate and instead focused on the facts. By doing this, they came to the realization that there is a better way to approach criminal justice. Texas has long had a reputation as a tough-on-crime state, and it still has that reputation, but it is now achieving this distinction in a smarter, more effective way than it did in the past.

“Texas realized that some of the most important work in criminal justice occurs in the area of prevention, treatment and supervision of individuals known to be at risk of offending. In addition, they adjusted the state’s resources accordingly to address this issue. As a result, Texas is utilizing their resources effectively and producing better outcomes at the same time.”

The Texas Public Policy Foundation has documented, in several reports, the drive to hold nonviolent offenders accountable, provide effective supervision and still save money for taxpayers. Right on Crime efforts has the support of former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III and other national policy leaders.

In Tulsa last month, CapitolBeatOK joined hundreds of local residents to mark the notable achievements of 15 women who had completed the Women in Recovery (WIR) program. The celebration at the Hyatt Regency downtown underscored the fact that scores of women who have passed through WIR have gone on to successful workforce experiences, moving from being convicted felons to becoming taxpayers, involved parents and adults dedicated to good citizenship.

In addition to the 15 women and their support networks – including family, law enforcement officials, church members and WIR staff – participants at the final celebration included Director of WIR at Family & Children’s Services (F&CS) Mimi Tarrasch, WIR employee Roxanne Thirion, George Kaiser Family Foundation Senior Program Officer Amy Santee and F&CS Executive Director Gail Lapidus.

Amy Santee of the Kaiser Foundation, reflected at the December graduation, “The majority of female offenders suffer from mental illness and addiction and are imprisoned for drug or drug related charges. But it was the devastating impact that female incarceration has on children that aligned so closely with the Foundation’s mission. For it is those children whose lives will be irrevocably changed, the children who will face inherent disadvantages, the children who will be punished due to no fault of their own. For these reasons, the Foundation focused its effort and began to develop strategies to reduce the number of women sent to prison from Tulsa County.

“Women In Recovery is core to this strategy. The alternative to incarceration program demonstrates that there are better ways to hold offenders accountable, protect the public and achieve far better results for families and children than mass incarceration.

“Women In Recovery is grounded in best practices and research around trauma, addiction, mental illness, criminal behavior and family reunification.”

Tarrasch, the WIR director, commented at the graduation event, “No one could accomplish everything that is being asked of our graduates if they had to do it alone. I don’t think it would be possible. It takes many people working together. It took all of us.

“People do recover from alcoholism, and drug addiction, dual diagnosis, co-dependency, and more. People do get better. They just rarely do it alone.”

Tarrasch asserted her pride at being part of “a team who daily go above and beyond the call of duty. They are proactive, unflappable, competent and they beautifully manage orchestrating the logistics to help women mend, recover and change.”

Graduates of the WIR program, she says, entered the pioneering effort with “feelings of being powerless -- they felt trapped, frustrated and unsure of their identity. There was also a great deal of shame and embarrassment and a loss of personal dignity, particularly when they entered the criminal justice system.”

The women who make it through WIR, she said, “are no longer an invisible population. At first, everyone’s story is sad, there’s abuse, trauma, unhealthy relationships, violence and often poverty, but thanks to the support and funding from the foundation, we have been able to integrate treatment for addiction and trauma which co-occur tragically for so many.”

Women facing serious challenges “can overcome what seems at first like insurmountable obstacles.” The program leads women to tackle addition, form connections to a recovery community and develop health connections to others.

Tarrasch praised her program’s graduates because, “they have redefined themselves, they have become better human being, better sisters, spouses, friends; they are competent, self sufficient, they have forged new relationships with their family, they have become employees that businesses want to hire, and parents who’s children can now trust and want to be with, they know how to avoid harmful situations, they have a GED (graduate equivalent degree) or have stepped into a college class, they think differently, hold themselves accountable and they want to do what is right, they have bank accounts and they are proud to be tax paying and contributing members of the Tulsa community.”

Tarrasch has detailed the programs accountability standards in a past commentary for CapitolBeatOK. She says that WIR works because fundamentally, the program helps women emerge with “new morals and integrity.”

General Revenue collections end first half of Fiscal Year 2012 on high note

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:46:00 GMT

General Revenue Fund collections hit a high note to end 2011, recording double-digit growth in December and for the first six months of the current fiscal year, Office of State Finance Director Preston Doerflinger announced Tuesday (January 10).

“We had the best two months of the 2012 fiscal year in November and December, putting an exclamation point on our recovery from the Great Recession,” Doerflinger said as he released the OSF’s monthly General Revenue Fund report.

In December, total collections grew by 19.3 percent over the same month a year ago, while beating the official estimate by 16.6 percent. That came on the heels of November’s report showing growth of 22.6 percent and 18 percent, respectively, for that month over November of the prior year and the estimate.

“As we look toward the second half of the fiscal year, it is unrealistic to expect that such dramatic increases in receipts will continue on a month-to-month basis,” said Doerflinger, secretary of finance in Gov. Mary Fallin’s cabinet. “But all signs point to our economy continuing to outperform other states in our region and the nation as a whole.”

He continued, “A big reason for this has been the mini-boom in the oilfields, which has generated economic activity throughout our economy and contributed to our growing manufacturing base. We’ve had a vigorous recovery so far and collections to the General Revenue Fund have exceeded the estimate for eight months in a row, while topping prior year collections for 20 consecutive months. So, the future looks bright for Oklahoma, but we still have concerns over global economic uncertainty.”

Total collections to the General Revenue Fund through the first half of Fiscal Year 2012 were $2,698.2 million. This amount was $333.4 million and 14.1 percent above the first six months’ collections for FY-2011 and $239.1 million, or 9.7 percent above the total estimate for the same period of FY-2012.

In December, total collections for the General Revenue Fund were $542.4 million, an increase of $87.9 million from a year ago. The amount collected in December was $77.4 million more than projected.

“The news that December 2011 revenue collections beat official estimates is a great way to start the new year,” Gov. Fallin said. “Increased revenues, combined with Oklahoma’s job-growth rate—which ranks third in the nation—show that our pro-growth policies are paying off.

“Despite the good news, though, we are continuing a steady climb out of a national recession that means we can expect a flat budget for the next fiscal year. As we move forward, we should continue to pursue policies that save taxpayer dollars.”

All major categories of revenue collections were up by double digits in Oklahoma in December, except sales taxes, which saw an increase in growth of 5.7 percent over the same month last year, while coming in 0.4 percent below the estimate. The collections covered actual and estimated sales for the last 15 days of November and the first 15 days of December.

“More Oklahomans had jobs this Christmas than in 2010, but the sales tax figures for the first part of the holiday shopping period indicate our citizens were prudent in their spending, just as we need to be in state government as we move to modernize our agencies and systems for delivering services,” Doerflinger said. “We still face a difficult task in building a budget for the upcoming legislative session.”

General Revenue Fund collections for the major tax categories in December were:

Income taxes – The total collected from individual and corporate income taxes in the month of December was $262.5 million for the FY-2012 General Revenue Fund, which was $58.6 million or 28.8 percent more than prior year collections and $53.4 million or 25.5 percent above the estimate.

Individual income tax receipts of $207.8 million were $34.9 million and 20.2 percent above the prior year and $17.4 million or 9.1 percent above the estimate.

Corporate tax collections contributed $54.7 million to the General Revenue Fund for the month, which was $23.7 million or 76.6 percent above December 2010 collections and $36 million or 192.3 percent above the estimate.

The unusually high corporate collections are a result of one-time estimated payments from the oil and gas industry. Without these payments, monthly corporate collections would have been approximately 43.9 percent above the estimate.

Sales tax -- Sales tax collections produced $153.5million for the General Revenue Fund, $8.3 million or 5.7 percent more than the prior year and $564,713 or 0.4 percent below the estimate.

Gross production tax – Total gross production tax collections from natural gas and oil for the month were $54.7 million. This total was $20.2 million and 58.6 percent above collections for December of the prior year and $24.4 million and 80.6 percent above the estimate.

December tax collections from natural gas accounted for $26.2 million in General Revenue Fund receipts, which was $6.8 million or 35 percent above the prior year and $4.1 million or 13.4 percent below the estimate.

Gross production oil tax collections to the General Revenue Fund for December were $28.5 million. This amount is $13.4 million or 88.9 percent above prior year collections for the month. No collections were expected to be deposited into the General Revenue Fund from this source in the current fiscal year until February.

The first $150 million in oil revenue is earmarked--primarily to three education funds. Collections hit that benchmark earlier than expected, allowing gross production oil tax revenue to flow into the General Revenue Fund.

Motor vehicle taxes -- This tax source produced $19.4 million, which was $5.8 million or 42.5 percent above the prior year and $4.5 million or 29.8 percent above the estimate.

Other Revenue -- Other revenue produced $52.3 million in December. This was $5 million or 8.7 percent below the prior year and $4.3 million or 7.6 percent below the estimate.

Romney Slips to 35 Percent in latest Suffolk poll for New Hampshire

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:13:00 GMT

Manchester, New Hampshire – For the fourth day in a row, Mitt Romney has fallen in overnight tracking, while Rick Santorum has dropped into fifth place among likely voters in the Jan. 10 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, according to the latest Suffolk University/7News two-day tracking poll.

Ron Paul is gaining on Romney, while Jon Huntsman has rallied into third place.

Romney dropped 4 percentage points overnight (Saturday) to 35 percent. The former Massachusetts governor still holds a 15 point lead, but his margin has declined by 8 percentage points since last Tuesday, when 43 percent of likely Republican voters backed him.

Romney is followed by Paul (20 percent), Huntsman (11 percent), Newt Gingrich (9 percent) and Santorum, who dropped another point to 8 percent. Rick Perry and Buddy Roemer each had 1 percent, with 15 percent undecided.

“It’s a New Hampshire primary, it’s January, and here we go again,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. “Romney’s strategy of running out the clock is costing him margin, Huntsman is still fighting hard and beginning to rally, and New Hampshire is playing contrarian to Rick Santorum, the Iowa Caucus star of a week ago, who has dropped to fifth place.”

All of the field calls for the tracking on Saturday, Jan. 7 were completed prior to the 9 p.m. EST start time of the first of two debates over the weekend.

Romney showed weakness among younger voters and in the north/west region of the state which includes the counties of Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, and Sullivan. Among younger voters ages 18-34 years, Romney now trails Paul, who leads 39 percent to 25 percent. In the north/west region Paul led Romney 27 percent to 23 percent.

Huntsman improved from 3 percent to 10 percent in Rockingham County, the second largest county in New Hampshire. Huntsman also rallied hard among young Independents ages 18-44 years, where he increased from 10 percent to 18 percent. Among older Independents ages 65+, he is in second place, trailing Romney by 15 points (37 percent to 22 percent).

The Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston is releasing results of two-day tracking polls every day leading up to the New Hampshire presidential primary on Tuesday.

Romney drops two more points in New Hampshire, But likely Won’t Be Caught

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. – For the fifth day in a row, Mitt Romney has fallen in overnight tracking, but lack of movement by second place Ron Paul has insulated a likely Romney victory, according to the latest two-day Suffolk University/7News tracking poll of likely voters in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary.

The former governor of Massachuetts dropped 2 more percentage points overnight but still holds a 13-point lead at 33 percent. The former Massachusetts governor has dropped a full 10 points from five days ago, when he had 43 percent of likely GOP voters.

Romney is followed by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas (20 percent), former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman (13 percent), former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (11 percent) and former U.S. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania (10 percent), while Texas Governor Rick Perry and Buddy Roemer combined for 3 percent with 12 percent undecided.

“Mitt Romney’s biggest asset is the large number of candidates in this group that are dividing up the remainder of the vote,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. “With just a 33 percent stake, he can control his destiny, so long as the others in his group continue to battle each other. So the more people in the group the merrier for Romney.”

Romney showed weakness among younger voters and in the north/west region of the state which includes the counties of Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, and Sullivan. Among younger voters ages 18-34 years, Romney now trails Paul, who leads 36 percent to 22 percent. In the north/west region, Paul led Romney 25 percent to 21 percent.

Currently, the highest undecided category is women ages 18-44 years. There were 19 percent undecided in this category versus just 12 percent overall. (Marginals and cross tabs for the Suffolk poll can be viewed here.

The Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston us releasing results of two-day tracking polls every day leading up to the New Hampshire presidential primary tomorrow.

Franklin Center poll shows Romney leading in New Hampshire, followed by Paul and Huntsman

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:55:00 GMT

Alexandria, Virginia – According to new polls released by Watchdog.org, a project of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a national nonprofit journalism organization, likely GOP voters in New Hampshire are favoring Mitt Romney for the GOP Presidential nomination at 37%, followed by Ron Paul at 19% and Jon Huntsman at 16%. Rick Santorum fell to fourth with 14% and Gingrich is polling at only 9%.

A separate poll of 1,482 statewide voters from every political party found that 70% believe that the country is heading in the wrong direction and 50% of likely voters would choose the Republican candidate over President Obama.

The telephone surveys were conducted on January 4, 2012 of 1,482 likely voters in New Hampshire and 865 likely GOP Primary voters by Pulse Opinion Research.

Pulse Opinion Research, LLC is an independent public opinion research firm using automated polling methodology and procedures licensed from Rasmussen Reports, LLC.

“Watchdog.org and the Franklin Center's network of reporters in more than 40 states will continue to follow the breaking news from the GOP Primaries as well as all of the 2012 election races around the country," said Franklin Center President Jason Stverak.

Watchdog.org is a collection of independent journalists covering state-specific and local government activity. The program began in September 2009, the brainchild of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity.

Founded in January of 2009, the Franklin Center is a nonpartisan organization that networks with news organizations in more than 40 states. The Franklin Center believes that new technology can advance the cause of transparency in government.

The Franklin Center aims to educate, to advise, and to train individuals and organizations from all backgrounds to become thorough, unbiased, and responsible reporters well versed in new media techniques and journalistic integrity.

Note: CapitolBeatOK is affiliated with the Franklin Center.

Santorum battles for third in New Hampshire, Romney lead erodes slightly

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:18:00 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. – After four consecutive days of gains, Rick Santorum has lost some momentum, and is now battling with Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman for third place, according to the latest two-day Suffolk University/7News tracking poll of likely voters in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary.

Mitt Romney still holds a strong lead with 39 percent, though he has dropped slightly for three consecutive days and lost another point in the latest poll. Three days ago Romney stood at 43 percent of likely GOP voters.

Romney is followed by Ron Paul at 17 percent. Newt Gingrich moved up slightly (10 percent), and is followed closely by Santorum and Jon Huntsman, tied at 9 percent. Rick Perry had 1 percent and there are still 15 percent undecided.

“Rick Santorum’s streak of four straight improving poll days has ended,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. “He is still in a close battle for the bronze medal with Gingrich and Huntsman with two debates scheduled in the next 24 hours.”

Santorum came under scrutiny at a campaign stop in Concord, N.H. earlier this week when he compared gay marriage to polygamy and admitted he did not know his medical marijuana laws very well. He was jeered for those answers by a predominately student audience. Overnight, his support dropped from 6 percent to 3 percent among undeclared (Independents) and also dropped from 9 percent to 2 percent among voters ages 18-34 years.

Paul has benefitted from the Santorum comments. Among Independents ages 18-44 years, Paul is now tied with Romney at 29 percent with a whopping 29 percent undecided in that category – nearly double the statewide number of undecided remaining.

Although Santorum is giving up support from young Independents, he is strengthening his support among older voters who are registered Republicans. Santorum now has 12 percent of older women (+ 5 points overnight) and 16 percent of older registered Republicans (+ 3 points overnight).

In DHS lawsuit settlement, “co-neutrals” not subject to open records provisions

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:25:00 GMT

Three “co-neutrals” named as arbiters in the Department of Human Services (DHS) settlement announced this week will not be subject to Oklahoma's open records and government transparency provisions. CapitolBeatOK's review of settlement materials led to this conclusion, which has been confirmed by a DHS official.

All contending parties have approved settlement of the lawsuit, and judicial approval of the accord is anticipated. Implementation of DHS improvements envisioned in the accord could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. However, the settlement does not explicitly mandate increased expenditures by the Legislature.

“Co-Neutrals” named in the settlement are Kathleen Noonan, Kevin Ryan and Eileen Crummy, all non-Oklahomans. Their expenses will be paid by DHS. The agency will submit to the co-neutrals plans which will, in the words of a summary of the settlement provided to CapitolBeatOK, “identify specific structural and/or organizational changes necessary to implement the strategies and the anticipated cost of implementation.”

The agreement provides, “The Co-Neutrals are not a state or local agency or an agent thereof, and accordingly the records maintained by the Co-Neutrals shall not be deemed public records subject to public inspection. Neither the Co-Neutrals nor any person or entity hired or otherwise retained by the Co-Neutrals to assist in furthering any provision of this Agreement shall be liable for any claim, lawsuit, or demand arising out of the Co-Neutrals' good-faith performance pursuant to this Agreement.

“Except as otherwise required by law, any reports, opinions, or documents used or prepared by the Co-Neutrals or their staff shall be used for the purposes of this case only and may not be used for any other purpose, without the prior written consent of Defendant.”

Concerning the language in the accord (quoted above) Sheree Powell, spokesman for DHS, told CapitolBeatOK, “The language of the first sentence of the first paragraph was not requested by the Department of Human Services.

“The final sentence is intended to prevent use of the co-neutral reports, opinions, and documents in unrelated litigation and disruption of the work of the co-neutrals. [DHS] statistical reporting is likely to be available under the Oklahoma Open Records Acts, if the reports do not contain case specific information which is confidential by law.”

Asked directly about review of working materials from the co-neutrals, Powell confirmed “work product” of the trio will not be available for regular review by CapitolBeat and other journalists.

Concerning expenses, Powell said, “No details have been memorialized or negotiated with the co-neutrals. There is presently no agreement about the 'budget and staff' as mentioned. The agreement provides that 'reasonable and customary fees' and 'actual expenses' will be paid. Developing an agreement that addresses these issues will be a priority over the next several weeks.”

DHS staff faces February 12 and March 30 deadlines for submission of a draft plan for improvement.

The trio of co-neutrals were selected jointly by DHS officials and “Children's Rights,” the New York litigating group that brought the lawsuit. Children's Rights could receive substantial legal fees, subject to judicial approval.

An earlier draft of the settlement, agreed to by the contending parties, was revised during executive session at a meeting last week of the Contigency Review Board (CRB), consisting of Governor Mary Fallin, House Speaker Kris Steele and Senate President Pro Temp Brian Bingman. Steele has been a strong critic of the agency's performance. Gov. Mary Fallin named two new members to the Commission last fall, including the new chairman, Brad Yarborough.

The revised settlement document circulated quickly among all parties early this week. The final step came late Wednesday, when the Human Services Commission, which governs DHS, approved the settlement in a 6-3 public vote.

Approval of the settlement is now pending before U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell in Tulsa, where the litigation began.

Settlement agreement in DHS lawsuit lays basis for agency reform, likely spending increases

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:36:00 GMT

The pending settlement in the case of “DG vs. Yarborough” will likely impact virtually every aspect of operations in child protective services at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS), an examination of the document and explanatory material reveals.

The accord – awaiting judicial approval – does not mandate increased taxpayer spending, but such seems a likely result. Although distinguishable from a “normal” class action lawsuit settlement in which a jurist directly orders expenditures, millions of dollars, perhaps hundreds of millions, will need to be reallocated within existing expenditures or financed through new appropriations to implement provisions agreed to by state officials, agency leadership and outside litigants.

DHS staff is charged with developing a plan to submit before a panel of “co-neutrals” (three arbiters who selected by the agency and outside litigants, with agreement of the Contingency Review Board) which is intended to implement improvement strategies and anticipate costs. The work product of the co-neutrals will be subject to government transparency requirements.

“Key performance areas to be addressed” include these:

(1) child abuse and neglect in care,

(2) the number of foster homes available for children in need of therapeutic care,

(3) the number of foster homes available for children not in need of therapeutic care,

(4) visitation of children by case workers,

(5) continuity of visitation by the same case worker,

(6) on an annual basis, the average number of placements experienced by a child two years old or older, excluding the ten percent of children with the least number of changes in placement and the ten percent of children with the highest number of changes in placement,

(7) the actual number of placements for each child two years old or older that is in the ten percent of children two years old or older with the highest number of changes in placements,

(8) on an annual basis, the average number of placements experienced by a child under two years old, excluding the ten percent of children with the least number of placements and the ten percent of children with the highest number of placements,

(9) the actual number of placements for each child under two years old who is in the ten percent of children under two years old with the highest number of placements,

(10) as of March 31 and September 30 of each year, the number of children in shelters delineated by even ages (i.e., younger than 2 years, 2 years old to 4 years old, 4 years old to 6 years old, ... ),

(11) during the same six month time period (April through September and October through March), the average stay in a shelter for each age group identified in subparagraph (10), excluding the ten percent of children with the shortest stay in a shelter and the ten percent of children with the longest stay in a shelter,

(12) the actual length of stay for each child that is in the ten percent of children with the longest stay in a shelter,

(13) permanency (i.e., the child exits the system with a connection to a permanent family),

(14) adoption, including adoption failure rates, and

(15) caseload.

In a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, Howard Hendrick, director of DHS, said, “The terms of this settlement are unique in this kind of litigation. It is the first time a class action civil rights lawsuit involving a state child welfare system has been resolved without a consent decree.”

Compliance will dissolve on Dec. 15, 2016 if the state complies in “good faith” with proposed improvements for the prior two consecutive years. Hendrick described the settlement agreement as “a new approach to resolving class action civil rights claims involving child welfare systems.” He says the “good faith” standard is better for the state than the “substantial compliance” standard characteristic of class action litigation.

Defending a record of improvement he contends dates to 1995, Hendrick reflected, “The strength of our defense and the excellent work our child welfare workers do every day changed the conversation about how these kinds of cases should be resolved.” He believes a better future is “outlined in a framework that both sides hope will satisfy our shared desire to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.” He said if the case had moved to trial national experts were prepared to defend Oklahoma's position. Strong defense allowed the state to resolve the suit without a consent decree, he said.

Hendrick continued, “We will continue to make improvements even after compliance with the future plan has been completed. The strengths and list of child welfare achievements are many, including an adoption rate that is more than twice the national average per capita over the last five years.”

Hendrick said improvements for foster care have been notable, and will continue during and after implementation of any plan flowing from the settlement.

Hendrick supports higher pay for child welfare works, saying, “We know this work is intensive, stressful, and demands people with critical thinking skills. As a state, we should value this work with pay that reflects the level of responsibilities expected of these workers.”

His formal comments concluded, “Some of these improvements, particularly those involving recruitment and retention of child welfare workers and foster parents, will require additional state dollars. We will need the support of the Governor, the legislature, and the judicial system to commit the resources needed to ensure that Oklahoma’s child welfare system can meet these demands.”

Speaker of the House Kris Steele, a member of the CRB who voted to approve the settlement, has been a leading critic of DHS performance, with particular focus on several failures contributing to the deaths of children in state care. In a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, Steele said:

“The Legislature must be involved in this planning process and I'm pleased it will be. DHS belongs to the public and serves the public, so it is critical for the public's representatives to have meaningful input.” He said a special House DHS working group has been “scrutinizing every aspect of DHS and looking for improvements.”

Steele named state Rep. Jason Nelson, an Oklahoma City Republican, to guide reform efforts last summer. Nelson has said improvements might require “spending more money,” and that that reallocation of existing resources would be examined. Co-chairman of the reform effort, with Nelson, is state Rep. Richard Morrissette, an Oklahoma City Democrat.

In New Hampshire, Santorum surges, Romney leads

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:26:00 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Rick Santorum has hit double digits in New Hampshire and is the only candidate in the field to show gains for four consecutive days, according to the latest Suffolk University/7News two-day tracking poll of likely Granite State voters in the Republican presidential primary.

Mitt Romney still holds a strong lead with 40 percent, followed by Ron Paul (17 percent). Santorum, who came within a few votes of winning the Iowa caucus, has jumped from 3 percent just before the Iowa vote to 11 percent in the latest two-day New Hampshire tracking poll.

Romney’s strength has eroded slightly in the past week, from a high-water mark of 43 percent,but still enjoys a commanding lead and an outside chance at an outright majority on Tuesday.

Newt Gingrich (9 percent) is currently in fourth place followed by Jon Huntsman (8 percent) and Rick Perry (1 percent), while 15 percent were undecided.

“Rick Santorum is the only Republican candidate moving up in New Hampshire,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. “He has cleared the Gingrich and Huntsman hurdles for third place and is only 6 points away from second place. Watch out Ron Paul.”

Santorum’s growth has occurred by securing and consolidating factions of the right-leaning electorate. Among such voters, he has now vaulted into second place, passing Paul among registered Republicans, tea party supporters, and self-identified conservatives.

Santorum’s campaign has seen a surge in coverage from national reporters in wake of his strong showing in Iowa. There is new controversy about the final count from Iowa, but news reports indicate that might not be resolved for several more days.

The Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston will release results of two-day tracking polls every day leading up to the New Hampshire presidential primary on Tuesday, Jan. 10. CapitolBeatOK will continue to present summaries of the Suffolk tracking polls through the Granite State’s primary election day.

For details on the sample size and demographics of the latest Sullolk poll, go here. Also accessible are “marginals” and cross-tabulation data.

Miller says 2011 brought economic health, 2012 looks even better

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:39:00 GMT

Oklahoma’s economy quickened the pace of its recovery during 2011, State Treasurer Ken Miller said Wednesday (January 4) as he released the state’s monthly gross receipts report.

“December was 11.1 percent better than the prior year, the fourth quarter was 10.5 percent ahead of the final three months of 2010, and total year collections surpassed the previous year by 9.6 percent,” Miller said. “We saw healthy growth each month ranging from four to 16 percent with an average at the double-digit mark.”

Miller said December was the fifth time in the past eight months that collections rose by more than 10 percent over the prior year and marked the 22nd consecutive month of growth.

“Twelve-month collections now stand more than $1.3 billion higher than in February of 2010. Since we hit the trough almost two years ago, more than 68 percent of the revenue lost from our peak in December 2008 has been recovered,” he said.

Miller said sales tax collections indicate a happy holiday shopping season in Oklahoma. December collections, reflecting sales between mid-November and mid-December, were $20.42 million or 6.3 percent higher than the last Christmas shopping season.

Looking forward

National and state-specific forecasts point toward continued economic improvement.

Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data list Oklahoma with year-over-year employment growth of three percent, surpassing all surrounding states. The closest competitor was Texas with growth of 2.2 percent.

A U.S. Chamber of Commerce report shows Oklahoma with the nation’s fourth lowest unemployment rate, adding jobs 3.5 times faster than the national rate in 2011.

During the past 12 months, figures from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and Bureau of Labor Statistics show the number of jobs grew by almost 16,500, while the labor force grew by just more than 3,000. During that time, the unemployment rate dropped from 6.9 percent to 6.1 percent.

Nationally, The Conference Board reports consumer confidence grew in December from the month before and now stands at levels not seen since April. Closer to home, the Creighton University Economic Forecasting Group anticipates Oklahoma in 2012 will have the second highest growth in gross state product in the nine-state Mid-America region at 4.6 percent. North Dakota is forecast to grow at 6.8 percent.

December collections

The revenue report for December shows gross collections at $960.81 million, up $95.9 million or 11.1 percent from December 2010.

Gross income tax collections, a combination of personal and corporate income taxes, generated $372.73 million, an increase of $82.08 million or 28.2 percent from the previous November.

Personal income tax collections for the month are $279.83 million, up $37.46 million or 15.5 percent from the prior year.

Corporate collections are $92.9 million, an increase of $44.62 million or 92.4 percent. [In response to questions from reporters, Miller said that corporate levy jump came “from just two companies,” both in the energy sector. However, he said he did not have the names of the two companies available, as such information is confidential.]

Sales tax collections, including remittances on behalf of cities and counties, total $344.53 million in December. That is $20.42 million or 6.3 percent above December 2010.

Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas generated $71.41 million in December, a decrease of $5.01 million or 6.6 percent from last December. Compared to November reports, gross production collections are down by $3.87 million or 5.1 percent.

Motor vehicle taxes produced $59.58 million, up by $9.32 million or 18.5 percent from the prior year.

Other collections, consisting of about 60 different sources including taxes on fuel, tobacco, horse race gambling and alcoholic beverages, produced $112.56 million during the month. That is $10.92 million or 8.8 percent less than last December.

Fourth-quarter collections

The fourth quarter of 2011 generated $2.602 billion, an increase of $247.18 million or 10.5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2010.

Gross income tax collections totaled $883.45 million, up $140.83 million or 19 percent from the previous fourth quarter.

Personal income tax collections generated $756.19 million, a $83.66 million or 12.4 percent increase. Corporate collections brought in $127.25 million, an increase of $57.17 million or 81.6 percent.

Sales taxes totaled $990.39 million for the quarter, an increase of $68.21 million or 7.4 percent from the same quarter of 2010.

Gross production taxes generated $215.05 million during the fourth quarter, down $7.31 million or 3.3 percent from fourth quarter of 2010.

Motor vehicle collections are $160.88 million for the quarter, up $20.86 million or 14.9 percent from the October-December period of 2010.

Collections from other sources totaled $352.08 million, up $24.6 million or 7.5 percent from 2010’s fourth quarter.

2011 collections

During 2011, gross revenue totals reached $10.681 billion. That is $938.55 million or 9.6 percent higher than collections in 2010.

Gross income taxes generated $3.709 billion for the year, reflecting an increase of $449.12 million or 13.8 percent from the prior calendar year.

Personal income tax collections total $3.193 billion, up by $280.16 million or 9.6 percent from 2010. Corporate collections are $515.77 million for the period, an increase of $168.95 million or 48.7 percent over the previous year.

Sales taxes for the period generated $3.841 billion, an increase of $262.61 million or 7.3 percent from the prior 12-months.

Oil and gas gross production tax collections brought in $1.037 billion during the 12 months, up by $91.72 million or 9.7 percent from the previous period.

Motor vehicle collections total $663.05 million for the period. This is an increase of $57.26 million or 9.5 percent from the trailing 12 months.

Other sources generated $1.432 billion, up $77.85 million or 5.7 percent from the previous calendar year.

Comings and goings in the News: Boeing, Langston, Laster

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:04:00 GMT

Yesterday (Wednesday, January 4), officials with one of America’s major aerospace companies disclosed plans to shutter the Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) facility in Wichita, Kansas, shifting jobs to Oklahoma City and other sites around the United States. Oklahoma officials said the relocations are ratification of the state’s pro-growth and pro-business policies.

The news from Mark Bass, vice president and general manager for BDS' Maintenance, Modifications & Upgrades division, came in a nationwide press release sent to CapitolBeatOK and other news organizations.

In his statement, Bass said, "In this time of defense budget reductions, as well as shifting customer priorities, Boeing has decided to close its operations in Wichita to reduce costs, increase efficiencies, and drive competitiveness. We will begin program transitions in the coming months, with the complete closure of the site scheduled for the end of 2013. We do not anticipate job reductions as a result of this decision until early in the third quarter of 2012."

The BDS facility in Wichita has more than 2,160 employees; some 800 of those jobs will be transferred to Oklahoma City. San Antonio and Puget Sound (in Washington state) will also gain jobs, but officials said Boeing will retain commercial aircraft operations in Kansas.

Reacting to the news, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin highlighted the transfer of engineering operations to Oklahoma City: “This is a difficult time for Boeing employees who have been impacted by the decision to close the Wichita facility, and my heart goes out to those men and women.

“However, as with the recent relocation of Boeing staff from California to the Boeing Oklahoma City facility, our state stands ready to welcome all employees and their families who will now call Oklahoma home. Oklahoma City is a wonderful community and a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.”

Fallin asserted, “It’s a tribute to Oklahoma’s progress and forward momentum that we have been chosen as a relocation site.”

Speaker of the House Kris Steele, a Shawnee Republican, said the job relocations are “going to give our economy another nice boost.” This and other recent economic news send a national message “that Oklahoma is open for business.”

Senate President Pro Temp Brian Bingman, a Sapulpa Republican, reflected the announcement “confirms what we already knew; our state has become a magnet for high-profile businesses seeking a pro-jobs climate.” He noted the relocation “comes on the heels of Boeing’s earlier decision to bring 550 additional jobs to our state from California.”

Sen. Dan Newberry, a Tulsa Republican serving as chairman of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, said, “Aerospace is a crucial component of Oklahoma’s economy and we’ve worked hard to create an environment to attract even more jobs. … As chairman of the Senate’s Business and Commerce Committee, I believe this is a very positive sign that we are on the right track.”

* * *

At the Thursday, January 12 meeting of the OSU A&M Board of Regents, Four finalists will be interviewed for the vacant president’s position.

Andrew Lester, an Edmond attorney and OSU A&M regent, has served as chairman of the search committee. In a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK Wednesday (January 4), he commented, “A number of impressive candidates from across the country applied for the presidency of Langston University.

“The interest in the position underscores the attractiveness of the opportunity to lead one of the finest, historic black universities in our country. The four finalists are each enthusiastic about the future of Langston University and the potential opportunity to lead it into a new era."

The four finalists are:

- Dr. Phillip D. Birdine, president of Western Oklahoma State College in Altus.

- Dr. Myron L. Pope, vice president of enrollment management at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

- Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr., vice president for student affairs and chief student affairs officer at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

- Dr. Charles Williams, vice president for academic affairs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland.

* * *

State Sen. Charlie Laster, a Shawnee Democrat, said, in a press release sent last month to CapitolBeatOK, he will not seek reelection in 2012. While he could have served one more term if reelected (not facing the state’s 12-year term limit until 2016), Laster said he plans to focus on his legal practice and family.

Laster was Democratic leader in the upper chamber in 2009, when CapitolBeatOK began its operations. Always accessible and unfailingly courteous to journalists, he was helpfully quotable in his reflections.

Laster said his time in public office (which began in 2003) was “exciting and challenging” from the beginning.

Among other jobs, he was the Senate’s lawyer during impeachment of Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher in 2004. He was co-Floor Leader during the unprecedented two year period when Republicans and Democrats each held 24 seats in the upper chamber.

Saying, “you never know,” Laster indicated he might, “at some point down the road,” seek a final four-year term.

Romney wins Iowa caucuses by eight votes

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:17:00 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa — It was an Iowa caucus night that came down to the wire, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum running neck-and-neck for first place in the contest for the Republican presidential nomination.

At 1:36 a.m. Wednesday, the Republican Party of Iowa declared Romney the winner by just eight votes over Santorum, the dark-horse candidate who ran his campaign on a shoestring budget.

With all of the state's 1,774 precincts reporting, Romney received 30,015 votes to Santorum's 30,007. Percentage-wise, the two tied with 25 percent of the vote.

GOP officials said the caucuses do not provide an opportunity for a recount when there's a close vote, because it's an event run by the political party, and not the government.

The virtual tie led both candidates to make their speeches in advance of knowing the final results of the state's first-in-the-nation presidential nominating contest. The photo finish likely will give both Santorum and Romney momentum going into the Jan. 10 New Hampshire primary.

"Game on!" declared Santorum, who was Iowa's most frequent visitor this caucus cycle, spending about 100 days in the state but remaining at the back of the pack until a last-minute surge around Christmas.

"Thank you Iowa for the great send-off you're giving to us and the other winners of this campaign," Romney gushed, as he took the stage at Hotel Fort Des Moines to congratulate his Republican competitors and his own campaign.

Romney vowed to head to battle in New Hampshire, and to defeat President Barack Obama. in November in what he called an "election about the soul of America."

For Santorum, Tuesday's results were a near repeat of what former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee did four years ago: A social conservative candidate coming from behind to win Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses.

The crowd at Santorum's party at the Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston grew larger and more enthusiastic as the night drew on. They chanted, "Go, Rick! Go, Rick!!" and "We pick Rick! We pick Rick!" as they saw results coming in on TV. Showing their evangelical side, they also sang "Amazing Grace" and "God Bless America" as they waited.

Evangelical voters were key behind Santorum's success. Santorum was endorsed Dec. 20 by Iowa social conservative leaders Bob Vander Plaats and Chuck Hurley, after a campaign in which such voters were sharply divided on whether to support Santorum, Texas Gov. Rick Perry or Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.

"I kind of believe in what he says, that we shouldn't settle on a candidate," said Jeremy Masterson, 33, of Prairie City, who attended Santorum's post-caucus party. "I believe in his conservative values. That's something we've kind of gotten away from here recently. Plus, the way he did it, the way he started from the ground up in visiting all 99 counties, it really tells me that he supports the people."

But Steve Scheffler, a Republican National Committee member from West Des Moines who's president of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition, told IowaPolitics.com that he doesn't believe the endorsements were the reason for Santorum's surge.

"Even before endorsements, he was coming up in the pack," Scheffler said. "He laid a groundwork a long time ago. At the end of the day, people have a lot of respect for candidates who actually try to come and win their vote."

For Romney, Tuesday's win secures him as a national front-runner heading into the months-long process to secure the Republican nomination for president.

"We're going to change the White House and get America back on track," he declared.

Kim Schmett of Clive, a former Polk County Republican chairman and congressional candidate who said he went to see most of this year's GOP presidential candidates 10 to 15 times, said it was Romney's experience as a business leader that made him decide to support Romney a week or two ago.

"He has the best chance to win," Schmett said. "There's too much at stake of where our government is headed, to not win this election. His skill set is almost perfectly matched for what our country needs at the moment."

An Iowa win was the outcome that Romney had hoped for in the 2008 campaign, when he spent more than $10 million in Iowa and campaigned in all of the state's 99 counties, only to finish second to Huckabee in the caucuses.

That cycle, Romney fought for the caucuses with 52 full-time staffers, but this time, he had only five, he told the crowd of 200 supporters who were invited to join his victory celebration.

Romney only spent about 20 days in Iowa during the 2012 caucus campaign and much less money, although his spending was boosted by the super PAC, Restore Our Future, which ran TV ads attacking former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia. Combined, Romney and his super PAC spent more than $1.5 million on 2,246 ad spots in the Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Quad-Cities markets, according to an analysis by IowaPolitics.com.

"Many of Romney's critics lambaste him for not paying enough attention to Iowa, not enough days visiting here in the last year," said former Iowa House Speaker Chris Rants, R-Sioux City. "But tonight Romney will see the fruits of the labor he put in four years ago."

Rants, a former senior adviser to Michigan U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter (who last year briefly sought the GOP nomination for president), said Republicans want a candidate they trust. But he said even more so then four years ago, they also want a candidate who can win.

Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who was considered a contender to win, on Tuesday translated his loyal base of supporters and large, enthusiastic crowds into a strong third-place finish with 21 percent of the vote.

"It may make people take him more seriously on a national stage," said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University. "It will give him a boost, keep him in the campaign longer. I don't think he'll end up being the national nominee. He's the ultimate anti-government candidate."

Paul, who had attracted large crowds throughout the campaign, on Tuesday night addressed a crowd of several hundred supporters, many of them young, at the Courtyard Marriott hotel in Ankeny shortly after learning that he came in third in the caucus. The Texas congressman said even though he brought home the bronze medal, his campaign pillar of very limited government won.

"Those are the issues that we have brought front and center," Paul said. "They're out there. They're not going away."

Paul's promise to cut whole federal government departments and end the war in Afghanistan are why Joe Stevens voted for Paul Tuesday.

"He's got a plan to balance the budget, to cut spending," Stevens said. "I think those are key."

Paul promised the roaring crowd that he will keep up his campaign.

"I think there's nothing to be ashamed of, everything to be satisfied (with), and be ready and raring to move on, on to the next stop," he said.

The Texas congressman had long complained that the media wasn't giving him the attention he was due, despite a close second-place finish in the Aug. 13 Ames Straw Poll, steadily growing public support in opinion polls and crowds as large as 1,000 that turned out to see him, especially on college campuses.

Many doubt whether Paul, who previously ran for president as a libertarian in 1988 and as a Republican in 2008, can go on to secure the Republican nomination for president. Fellow Republicans have been critical of his advocacy for ending all wars and bringing U.S. troops home.

Yet political analysts pointed out that while the caucus campaign has featured a "flavor of the month" ranging from Bachmann to Perry, former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain and Gingrich, support for Romney and Paul have remained steady at 20 percent or higher.

Since 1972, no candidate that has finished worse than third in Iowa has gone on to win a major party presidential nomination. The 2000 Iowa winners, Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush, and the 2004 Iowa winners, Democrat John Kerry and incumbent Bush, won their party's nominations.

Other results Tuesday night:

Gingrich finished fourth in the Iowa caucuses with 13 percent of the vote. "There will be a great debate in the Republican Party before we are ready to have a great debate with (President) Barack Obama," Gingrich said, while promising to press onward. He praised and congratulated Santorum for running a "positive" campaign and warned voters not to nominate Paul because of his "dangerous" foreign policy views.

Perry will return home to reassess his campaign after a disappointing fifth-place caucus finish, he announced Tuesday night. "I've decided to return to Texas, assess the results of tonight's caucus and determine whether there is a path forward in this race," Perry told supporters at his campaign's vote night headquarters.

Bachmann conceded a sixth place finish with 5 percent of the vote late Tuesday night, but sounded optimistic about the future of her campaign. She referred to her first-place Ames Straw Poll win in August and thanked the people of Iowa for "launching us on the path to victory." Bachmann suggested there could be "another Michele in the White House" in 2012, referring to current occupant First Lady Michelle Obama.

The 2012 Iowa caucus campaign featured wild fluctuations in front-runners. More than 40 percent of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers were undecided in the past week, saying they could change their minds about whom to support, according to a recent poll.

A few weeks ago, Santorum was at the back of the pack. But five polls released during the past week showed Santorum surging. He first appeared in polls in third place behind Romney and Paul. The latest polls showed him moving ahead of Paul in the final days before the caucuses.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad told IowaPolitics.com that he knew Santorum would do better than expected because he spent more than 100 days campaigning here and visited all 99 of Iowa's counties. Other political insiders and analysts warned in the weeks leading up to Tuesday's caucuses that Santorum could pull off a caucus-night surprise.

Santorum continued campaigning until the last minute. He visited four caucus sites Tuesday night in Johnston, Clive and West Des Moines before heading to his post-caucus party.

See a map of the caucus results:

Note: Editor’s note: Lynn Campbell writes for IowaPolitics.com, part of the Franklin Center statehouse news bureaus and “Watchdog” groups. CapitolBeatOK is also affiliated with the Franklin Center.

Romney dominant in New Hampshire, Suffolk University poll finds

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:48:00 GMT

Manchester, New Hampshire -- Mitt Romney is holding firm with 43 percent of likely voters, easily outdistancing his nearest rivals among likely New Hampshire Republican Primary voters, according to a Suffolk University/7NEWS two-day tracking poll of likely voters in New Hampshire’s GOP presidential primary.

The poll showed Romney maintaining his lead with 43 percent of the vote, followed by Ron Paul (16 percent), Jon Huntsman (10 percent), and Newt Gingrich (9 percent), while Rick Santorum (5 percent) has moved ahead of Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry, who had 2 percent each.

Thirteen percent of voters remain undecided, down from 15 percent yesterday.

The Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston will release results of two-day tracking polls every day leading up to the New Hampshire Presidential Primary on Tuesday, Jan. 10. CapitolBeatOK has regularly carried the university’s updates on the primary polling data.

This is the second consecutive poll release showing Gingrich in fourth place after polling second to Romney in mid-December.

“Newt Gingrich is struggling to revive his campaign in New Hampshire” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “But Rick Santorum now trails Gingrich by only 4 points, and if he surpasses Gingrich and knocks him into fifth place, it would be fatal for Gingrich.”

Romney’s strength was measured by gender and geography: Overall 48 percent of women preferred Romney, and 59 percent of registered Republican women said they’d vote for Romney, as did 62 percent of women ages 65 and over.

“If Romney wins the Granite State in a landslide, he can thank women throughout New Hampshire for making a powerful statement,” said Paleologos.

Regionally, Romney has the support of nearly 50 percent of voters from the state’s two largest counties when combined – Rockingham and Hillsborough counties.

Suffolk University is releasing two-day tracking poll numbers every day through Jan. 10, with the data reflecting the previous two nights’ field.

Romney defeated Santorum by eight votes in yesterday’s Iowa caucus, running about three percent ahead of Paul, and far ahead of the rest of the field.

Romney steady in New Hampshire “tracking poll”, as rivals lose ground

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:42:00 GMT

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire – Likely New Hampshire Republican Primary voters may be reevaluating their support for former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, according to the latest Suffolk University/7News two-day tracking poll of likely voters in New Hampshire’s GOP presidential primary.

The latest tracking poll results were released this morning (Wednesday, January 4); reflecting an increase in the number of undecided voters, and slippage for Romney’s second-tier rivals for the nomination.

Huntsman dropped three points, from 10 percent yesterday to 7 percent today. Paul dropped two points, from 16 percent to 14 percent, despite a third-place finish in Iowa last night.

This newest tracking data showed Romney maintaining his lead with 43 percent of the vote, followed by Paul (14 percent), former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (9 percent), and Huntsman (7 percent).

Meanwhile, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania (6 percent), fresh off an impressive Iowa Caucus second-place showing, managed to climb another point and is now within striking distance of third place.

Huntsman’s three point drop was driven by self-identified moderates, where his support fell from 17 percent to 11 percent, while the undecided among the moderates swelled to 17 percent from 12 percent overnight. Paul’s drop was primarily due to younger voters ages 18-34, where he dropped from 29 percent to 18 percent.

Despite the volatility of Huntsman, Paul, and undecided counts, Mitt Romney’s 43 percent is the same level of support he has shown in the Granite State over the last three consecutive surveys by the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston.

The percentage of voters remaining undecided has increased three points, to 16 percent, suggesting that voters are reevaluating the second tier of contenders.

“The decline of Huntsman and Paul vote counts are primarily responsible for the spike in the undecided count,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “This means that some voters who previously supported Huntsman and Paul are now undecided. While these voters may ultimately return to Huntsman and Paul, they may also be looking to reevaluate the field post-Iowa caucus to determine the maximum impact for their respective votes.”

Methodology: The statewide survey for New Hampshire includes two nights of 250 likely respondents for a two-day tracking total of 500 likely voters in the Republican Presidential Primary. This track was conducted Jan. 2 and Jan. 3 using live telephone interviews with land line and cell phone users. The margin of error is +/-4.4 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence.

Marginals and full cross-tabulation data have now been posted on the Suffolk University Political Research Center Website.

Treasurer Miller reacts cautiously to Mazzei, Dank and OCPA tax proposals, says “major change” should require voter approval

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:36:00 GMT

In his regular discussion of Oklahoma’s monthly gross tax receipts, Treasurer Ken Miller discussed Oklahoma’s framework for tax collections, saying an eventual vote of the people on a new tax structure seems likely, and desirable.

As he has in recent weeks, Miller repeated the Wednesday (January 4, 2012) session his concern that cutting state income tax rates should be approached cautiously.

Elaborating, Miller said that if the state could design a tax structure to encourage entrepreneurship and encourage economic growth, it would not be the system now in place.

Pointing to last week’s report from the state Senate’s Task Force on Comprehensive Tax Reform, Miller said the work of Sen. Mike Mazzei and his colleagues were part of “a good discussion that is beginning.” As for the tax structure, “we have to get it right.” Miller said his concern in the matter is “economics, not politics or ideology.”

Miller said taxes should be “lower, flatter and fairer.” He asserted, “We can do better than the system we have.”

In an interview with CapitolBeatOK after Wednesday’s briefing for reporters, Miller elaborated on his view a comprehensive refashioning of Oklahoma’s tax system is desirable, and that it should be subject to popular ratification.

He said, “If we are going to have a major change in the way that the people are taxed, then I think that needs to be endorsed by the people, or rejected by the people.

“This is their government. This is their tax structure. I think they should have a direct say in how they get taxed.

“We all know that we don’t like taxes. We all know that they are necessary to fund those services on which our people depend, whether it’s education or transportation or public safety.

“But, there is an optimal way to go about bringing those revenues in to support those necessary services. I think that the system that we have right now is not optimal. I think we can devise a better system, but I think the people should endorse it when we do.”

Miller expressed support for the “great discussion” on tax credits and business incentives which state Rep. David Dank guided through the Task Force on State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives, which concluded its work December 21 after approving a report dated Dec. 31. He expressed home that eliminating or limiting some programs will allow some reduction in state income tax rates. Miller supported the final report of the Dank task force, on which he served, while stressing that he wanted further study of some proposals.

Sen. Mazzei, a Tulsa Republican, released last week a report recommending that the top income rate drop from 5.25 to 4.75 percent over a two-year period. The panel also encouraged reductions in corporate income tax rates from 6 to 5 percent.

In a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, Mazzei reflected, “The non-partisan Tax Foundation has rated Oklahoma’s overall tax structure 30th in the nation when rating our job creation environment. We must transform the tax code; it is simply wrong when a special interest group benefits from an obsolete or ineffective tax preference at the expense of hardworking Oklahomans who deserve to keep more of their hard-earned income.”

Sen. Rick Brinkley, an Owasso Republican, commented, “These reforms are aimed at simplifying tax law and reducing rates for individuals and businesses. The overall goal is to grow our economy while continuing to make crucial investments in core government services such as education, transportation and public safety.”

State leaders are actively studying the proposals from both Dank’s and Mazzei’s panels, and a dramatic proposal from the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) to phase out the personal income tax levy over a 10-year period.

While some ideas would not require a popular vote (the income tax rate has been reduced several times without necessitating a referendum), proposals substantially to remake the mix of taxes used to fund state government would, in the views of some, trigger the need for a rewrite of the state’s populist-oriented constitution.

Hundreds pack candidate events on caucus eve; Romney brushes off Occupy protesters

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:26:00 GMT

CLIVE, Iowa — Hundreds of people jam-packed candidate events in hotels, businesses and restaurants for a final glimpse of the 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls in the hours leading up to Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses.

At least 600 people filled Competitive Edge in Clive, an advertising specialty manufacturing company that makes signs, for a late-night, caucus-eve rally with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

South Dakota U.S. Sen. John Thune was there, along with Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn, former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray and several state lawmakers. Media from Korea, Italy and Spain came to see the spectacle, as did a couple from Texas and a class of 46 high school students and 10 teachers from North Bend, Ohio.

"Clive event biggest pre-#iacaucus single candidate ever been to," Iowa Senate Republican spokesman Don McDowell said on Twitter. "Had...dare I say it...a general election feel to it!"

The interest and enthusiasm on caucus eve could bode well for turnout at Tuesday night's 1,774 precinct caucuses. Republicans expect turnout to be higher than in the 2008 Iowa Republican caucuses, which set a record with more than 118,000 participants.

Four polls released in the past week showed that Romney, who has only spent about 16 days in Iowa this caucus cycle, is the front-runner favored to win Iowa and give him momentum going into the primaries for New Hampshire on Jan. 10, South Carolina on Jan. 21 and Florida on Jan. 31.

In the final day before the caucuses, Romney stuck to his playbook of focusing on the economy, saying that he'd get rid of regulations that kill American jobs.

A handful of protesters connected with the Occupy Wall Street movement tried to disrupt the event by shouting "Mic check!" and calling on Romney to stop the war on the poor. But supporters drowned them out by chanting, "Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!"

Romney took the disruption in stride. He thanked his supporters and laughed.

"Isn't it great to live in a country where people can express their views and dissatisfaction?" Romney asked. "Isn't it great country? I love it. Make it loud and clear. And I'll tell you one thing, when President Obama is here, I hope we're in the audience making the same sounds about his policies. Let's make sure we hear our voice loud and clear."

Three people were arrested at Romney's event Monday night. Twelve others were arrested earlier in the day at the Democratic National Committee's "war room," according to David Goodner, one of the Occupy organizers in Iowa. He said there have been 62 arrests in the past seven days as part of the group's efforts to "Occupy Iowa Caucuses." However, the group has said it will not disrupt Tuesday night's precinct caucuses.

Close on Romney's heels to finish in the top three at the Iowa caucuses are Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, whose last-minute surge has propelled him from the back of the pack to an anticipated top-three finish.

At a much smaller venue Monday evening, dozens of people squeezed body-to-body at the Pizza Ranch restaurant in Altoona to see Santorum, Iowa's most frequent visitor who has spent about 100 days campaigning here.

Santorum — who has openly acknowledged that he's run his campaign on a shoestring — argued to Iowans that he's electable. He said he's won elections in the swing state of Pennsylvania and has spent lots of time in New Hampshire and South Carolina, as well as in Iowa.

But Santorum also said the effects of his last-minute surge won't show up in campaign finance reports due later this month, which will cover donations made to his campaign through Dec. 31.

"Money isn't going to win this election. If that was the case, I'd be below every other candidate and I wouldn't even be close," Santorum said. "When we report our financial picture, it's going to be embarrassing except in the last four, five days, we've raised more money than we have in the last three or four months. We've done very, very well and we hope to do a lot better after (Tuesday) night."

Until Sunday, Norman and Janet Gustafson, both 71 of Pleasant Hill, were undecided about whom to support for the Republican nomination for president. They said they were really impressed by former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain before he suspended his campaign. They liked former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and even considered Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

"We've been everywhere," Janet Gustafson said.

But on New Year's Day, the couple decided to vote for Santorum because they said he's both a social and fiscal conservative.

"He's not a man with a lot of money, so he does it kind of the Iowa way," Norman Gustafson said. "We've had enough money influence in Washington, the way that it is. So if he can come up this way and not be owned, that's a positive."

Paul, who is known for his loyal followers and often has generated large crowds among youth at Iowa's college campuses, was scheduled to speak Tuesday morning at Valley High School in West Des Moines for a "Rock the Caucus" assembly.

The Texas congressman's "whistle stop" tour across the state Monday attracted more than 700 people in Des Moines, 350 in Davenport, 300 in both Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls and 200 in Mason City, according to his campaign.

Editor’s note: Lynn Campbell writes for IowaPolitics.com, part of the Franklin Center statehouse news bureaus and “Watchdog” groups. For more complete coverage of the Iowa caucus tonight and into tomorrow, including video reports and photo slide shows, go here. Caucus results will be available here and here. CapitolBeatOK is also affiliated with the Franklin Center.

New Hampshire Republican primary voters opting for Romney, who maintains small lead in Iowa caucus polling

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:02:00 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Mitt Romney has opened up a commanding lead in New Hampshire, while Ron Paul is fending off Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman for second place according to a Suffolk University/7NEWS two-day tracking poll of likely voters in New Hampshire’s GOP presidential primary. In a newspaper poll, Romney had a small lead in Iowa, as that state’s caucus neared.

The Suffolk poll showed the former Massachusetts governor leading with 41 percent of the vote, followed by U.S. Rep. Paul of Texas (15 percent), former U.S. House Speaker Gingrich of Georgia (11 percent) and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman (9 percent), while another 8 percent was split among GOP hopefuls Michele Bachmann (U.S. representative from Minnesota), Rick Santorum (former U.S. senator fro Pennsylvania and Rick Perry (governor of Texas).Sixteen percent remain undecided.

In Iowa, where the presidential caucus takes place Tuesday (January 3), the final Des Moines Register Iowa Poll found Romney narrowly ahead of Paul, 24-22 percent. Santorum has surged into third, with 15 percent, followed by Gingrich with 12 percent, Perry with 11 and Bachmann with seven.

However, pollsters in Iowa said in the final days of the survey, conducted last week, Santorum had surged past Paul into second place.

In the Granite State, Romney’s overall margin (+26) has returned to November levels as Gingrich has fallen out of second place since the last Suffolk University/7NEWS poll in mid-December. Paul has reemerged as the number two choice during the Gingrich decline, while Huntsman has not benefited from a recent Super PAC television ad blitz attacking Romney. In fact, with both Romney and Huntsman sharing similar demographics, the ads appear to be benefiting Romney.

“There is only one candidate who can win both Iowa and New Hampshire,” said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University’s Political Research Center. “That candidate is Mitt Romney.Although the 16 percent undecided is high right now, it is unlikely that Romney will lose New Hampshire, despite what Iowa voters may do.”

Romney’s support is driven by older New Hampshire voters.Among registered Republicans 65 years of age and older, Romney led Gingrich 57 percent to 12 percent, and among women voters 65+, Romney led Paul 62 percent to 9 percent.

“Older voters are taking the reins in New Hampshire and are saying enough is enough with hemming and hawing over this

Republican field,” said Paleologos. “They have lived through good and bad economies and appear to believe that Mitt Romney is the right Republican leader for the times.”

However, among women ages 18-44, Romney led Paul 31 percent to 23 percent, and among women 45-64, Romney led Huntsman 29 percent to 16 percent.

Overall, 50 percent of voters now say they are unlikely to change their minds, and among respondents who chose a candidate, 57 percent said they are unlikely to change their minds. Huntsman continues to have the most loyal following, with 76 percent saying they were unlikely to change their minds, followed by 69 percent of Romney supporters and 41 percent of Paul voters.

Only 29 percent of Gingrich voters said they were unlikely to change their minds, while 67 percent of Gingrich voters said they were somewhat likely or very likely to change their minds.

Fifty-four percent of women ages 65+ said they were unlikely to change their minds, while 66 percent of older men were unlikely to change.

The Tea Party movement is having little impact in New Hampshire. Among voters who say their values are similar to those of the Tea Party, Romney led Paul 39-19 percent; and among those who said their values were not aligned with the Tea Party, Romney led Huntsman 39 percent to17 percent.

Among self-identified conservatives, Romney led Gingrich 43 percent to 13 percent, and among self-identified moderates Romney (44 percent) led both Paul and Huntsman, who were tied at 16 percent.

Suffolk University will be releasing two-day tracking poll numbers every day through Jan. 10, with the data reflecting the previous two nights’ field.

Methodology: The statewide survey includes two nights of 250 likely respondents for a two-day tracking total of 500 likely voters in New Hampshire’s Republican Presidential Primary. This track was conducted Dec. 30-31, 2011, using live telephone interviews with landline and cell phone users. The margin of error is +/-4.4 percent at a 95 percent level of confidence.

Marginals and full cross-tabulation data will be posted today at 11 a.m. (Monday, Jan. 2, 2012), on the Suffulk University Political Research Center website.

Suffolk University ( located in historic downtown Boston, with an international campus in Madrid, is a comprehensive global institution distinguished by the teaching and the intellectual contributions of its faculty. Suffolk University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in more than 90 areas of study.

CapitolBeatOK: Help Us Grow

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:44:00 GMT

Dear Friend of CapitolBeatOK:

Thank you for being a loyal reader of CapitolBeatOK. Our investigative and statehouse news coverage in Oklahoma is breaking the information monopoly so long held by the legacy media. We are shaping a debate based around facts. In the past year, we reported the details of agency turmoil, attempts to avoid state open meeting requirements and outright corruption – and this was in the past year alone!

As we close the year, I proudly ask you to make a special year-end gift. It's an investment in the future of Oklahoma to equip journalists to make a difference. Our work is supported 100% by tax-deductible contributions from generous supporters and subscribers like you – we receive no funding from any government or tax-payer source.

If you would like to start the new year by making a tax-deductible contribution for 2012 that would certainly be appreciated as well. It is never too soon to support the future of Oklahoma.

It is simple to donate. Go here to make an online contribution with a credit card.

Thank you for your continued support. I wish you a safe and happy new year.

Sincerely,

Patrick B. McGuigan, editor

CapitolBeatOK,

Oklahoma City

P.S. It is never too early to make a tax-deductible gift for 2012.

Attacking the Fifth Estate

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:51:00 GMT

Commentary:

Bloggers in Oregon, watch out. That’s because this month an Oregon court ruled that bloggers do not have the same protection as the “media.”

This ruling emerged when Crystal Cox, a blogger, was accused of defaming Obsidian Finance Group and its co-founder Kevin Padrick on her blog. She posted that Padrick acted criminally in a federal bankruptcy case. Padrick sued and the court found that Cox was not protected under the state’s media shield law.

This decision has implications for bloggers around the country.

Since there is no legal definition for “the press,” this court ruling is one of the first to explicitly say that bloggers are not the media. This comes only a few short months after a federal court ruled that anyone, including bloggers, may legally record public officials, including police officers. The ruling said:

[C]hanges in technology and society have made the lines between private citizen and journalist exceedingly difficult to draw. The proliferation of electronic devices with video-recording capability means that many of our images of current events come from bystanders with a ready cell phone or digital camera rather than a traditional film crew, and news stories are now just as likely to be broken by a blogger at his/her computer as a reporter at a major newspaper. Such developments make clear why the news-gathering protections of the First Amendment cannot turn on professional credentials or status. [Page 13 of the Slip Opinion from Glik v. Cuniffe]

While the Glik case was a victory for citizen journalism, the Oregon ruling is a failure to recognize the drastic changes occurring in the journalism world. Current technological advancements have made the line between citizen journalists and mainstream media harder to define. This is beneficial not only to anyone who produces news but also to news consumers as well.

Many forget that when a newspaper goes under, it is not only those reporters who have lost their jobs that are affected. And when a local newspaper is forced to downsize their staff and product, there is a gaping hole in their news coverage that the consumer is losing. Entire communities are left without news coverage and left without access to vital information.

Stepping up to fill the void left when a local newspaper cuts back or closes are citizen journalists. They have proven that it no longer takes press credentials or a New York Times business card to break national news. Citizen journalists have captured government scandals and discovered injustice in their state capitols. They do the same job that the “mainstream reporters” are doing without either a pay check or fancy office.

Citizen journalists are providing a valuable service to their communities. They are relentlessly searching for the truth by preserving liberty and democracy. They are doing all of this without the respect that a protected member of the media has.

Instead of penalizing citizen journalists and failing to recognize their value to the changing media world, the courts should grant them journalistic protections. Those who value news should hope that the Oregon ruling is not followed in other states.

Note: Jason Stverak is the President of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a leading journalism non-profit organization dedicated to providing investigative reporters and non-profit organizations at the state and local level with training, expertise, and technical support. For more information on the Franklin Center please visit www.FranklinCenterHQ.org.

DHS settlement amended by Contingency Review Board, details undisclosed

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:39:00 GMT

At the state Capitol in Oklahoma City, the Contingency Review Board today (Thursday, December 29) amended and then approved an amended settlement agreement in a long-running lawsuit against the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). The board consists of Governor Mary Fallin, President Pro Temp Brian Bingman of Sapulpa and House Speaker Kris Steele of Shawnee.

DHS and other parties to the litigation must accept the amended settlement before it is binding. The draft accord had passed one round of review by several parties, including the “Children’s Rights” group that has led the litigious attack on the troubled agency, in the case DG vs. Yarborough.

The Children’s Rights organization, which is based in New York, has contended DHS inadequately monitors foster children, putting them at risk of harm. The agency has faced a wave of criticism for its handling of child protective services.

The commission that governs the agency faced increasing critical scrutiny earlier this year for inattentiveness to the litigation and for open meetings’ violations.

To gain approval, the amended draft accord, which was revised in an executive session of the CRB, must now be pressed anew through the route that brought the possible settlement to the CRB. The accord is subject to judicial review, as well as agreement of the contending parties.

Further, legitimacy of the CRB’s involvement is being challenged by Oklahoma City attorney Jerry Fent, a perennial and often effective critic of government practices.

Thus the draft agreement is merely the start of another round of scrutiny. If a binding agreement is not reached, the case could still go to trial in February (a preliminary hearing is slated for January 6).

Speaker Steele, who has been a critic of the agency and an advocate of significant changes in the agency’s governance and practices, said, “This is a golden opportunity to improve the agency under Oklahoma’s terms instead of a court’s terms. I’d like to thank Attorney General [Scott] Pruitt and our DHS commissioners for their leadership in steering this process to a path that is truly in the best interest of Oklahoma, its taxpayers and its vulnerable citizens. Make no mistake: This is a good day for Oklahoma.”

President Pro Tem Bingman, in a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, commented, “There is no obligation we ought to take more seriously than the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us - particularly children in heartbreaking situations beyond their control. The most important thing in this settlement agreement is a focus on improving the quality of services provided for the children of Oklahoma.

“Today's vote to approve the settlement agreement is a step in the right direction, and still must be approved by U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell. Like all Oklahomans, I am eager for Department of Human Services officials, state-elected officials, and the legislature to work together for the benefit of Oklahoma's children."

After the executive session, which lasted a bit more than one hour, the board returned to open session. Gov. Fallin pointed out, “no votes were taken in closed session.” After return to open session, Sen. Bingman moved, and Speaker Steele seconded, approval of the settlement, as amended. The motion carried and the panel then adjourned.

In a brief discussion with reporters, Governor Fallin said that while the accord is subject to consent from parties in the litigation, she regards the draft accord as “a positive step.”

She reflected, “All parties have negotiated in good faith.” Concerning the validity of CRB actions, Fallin said state officials “don’t believe [Fent’s] analysis is correct.”

Fallin has been carefully critical of DHS’ performance since assuming office last January. This fall, she named two new members to the commission that governs the agency – former Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane and businessman Brad Yarborough. Soon after his appointment, Yarborough was elected chairman of the DHS commission.

Attorney Fent’s challenges to the CRB’s practices have been successful in at least two cases. Further, state Rep. Mike Reynolds, an Oklahoma City Republican, argues the panel impermissibly mixes executive and legislative powers in a single board.

In a 2007 state Supreme Court case (103714), “Fent vs Contingency Review Board,” a majority of the justices found “The Legislature cannot participate, either directly or through administrative boards having legislators as members, in the administration of funds appropriated by enacted legislation.” The court concluded CRB’s involvement in administration of funds constituted “a legislative usurpation” of executive powers.

In “Fent vs. Fallin” (2011 case 109770), the court struck down the Oklahoma Quick Action Fund due to the involvement of legislative leaders in “approval of an expenditure from the fund.”

Additionally, Reynolds points to a 1982 opinion from Attorney General Jan Eric Cartwright which found that “a committee consisting of Legislators, may not be authorized by legislation to approve or reject grant applications.”

However, defenders of the CRB note the fact situation in the current DHS settlement agreement is different and, in legal parlance, “distinguishable” from other cases.

Discussing the possible settlement with reporters, Sheree Powell, the communications coordinator at DHS, predicted a positive and “very unusual” resolution of the case, although she declined to provide any details. In response to questions from CapitolBeatOK, she said she has not seen the revised draft amendment.

Powell said, “There is no perfect child welfare system.” She echoed frequently reported views of DHS Director Howard Hendrick, that DHS staff needs to be paid more and case workers need smaller case loads, and higher pay for foster parents and therapeutic homes.

In this month’s regular meeting of the commission, Hendrick said the Legislature should approve pay raises for agency workers, and reduce employee contributions to the state retirement system.

Responding to the views of some critics that the agency is top heavy with management, Powell defended DHS performance, saying operations are “very efficient.” She said child protective work is “very stressful.” She said the full DHS commission should be able to consider the amended draft settlement next week.

Director Hendrick told reporters today he estimated the agency has spent $7 million defending its practices in the litigation. Costs have included attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees and other expenses.

Hendrick’s float of the idea to reduce pension system payments to finance pay hikes for DHS employees has attracted criticism from some. Hendrick said he could not address specific aspects of the accord until, and unless, a final agreement is reached. He made it clear the agency was willing to litigate to defend its practices, but that he hoped an agreement could be reached.

In an interview with Oklahoma Watchdog earlier this month, state Rep. Randy McDaniel, an Oklahoma City Republican, said this is not the time to curb pension contributions. While sympathetic to pay hikes for state workers, “we cannot do that on the back of the pension system.”

Linda Terrell of the Oklahoma Institute for Child advocacy said her group was “optimistic” at news of draft settlement, saying “significant reform” and possible privatization of “certain pieces of foster care,” combined with “wise investment of taxpayer dollars,” could improve performance at the agency.

In a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, Terrell also took a shot at proposals to reduce state income tax rates, saying she opposed “cutting taxes for the wealthiest among us” at the expense of “vulnerable children.”

Leading CapitolBeatOK’s top 10 for 2011: pension reform, economic boom, proposed income tax phase-out

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:48:00 GMT

Three stories capture the dynamic issues that defined Oklahoma state government in 2011: pension reform, economic growth, and proposed phase-out of state income taxes. Sketching those three, and stories in fourth and fifth:

CapitolBeatOK’s top news story centers on passage of pension reforms that captured as much as one-third of unfunded liabilities in retirement programs for government employees.

CapitolBeatOK’s second top story underscores Oklahoma as an exception to the national economic rule. America’s lowest unemployment rates. Oklahoma City and Tulsa both in the top five in an economic security rating from the Urban Institute. Such reports make the Sooner State the envy of much of the nation, at least recently.

In third place: Conservatives driving the policy bus want to keep momentum going. The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), a leading advocate of free markets, limited government and economic liberty, is pressing for a decade-long phase-out of the state income tax.

In fourth: A legislative push for reform of tax credits and business incentives seems certain in 2012, with the bulk of the heavy lifting done by a task force that met throughout the latter half of 2011. Rounding out the top five: Janet Barresi as a (sometimes controversial) change agent.

Why pension reform is ranked #1

Many would rank the state’s economic vibrancy the year’s top story. Indeed, it was listed as Oklahoma City’s top story in a focus on local news posted here earlier this week. To be sure, that is the second top story in CapitolBeatOK rankings.

However, good economic news is about here and now, and to some extent, the future. The pension reform story captures past, present and future.

The significance of government pension changes enacted in spring 2011 can scarcely be overstated. Gains to the taxpayers’ “bottom line” were dramatically more significant than those achieved in reform packages that edged forward in other states.

In early May, Governor Mary Fallin signed five pension laws. In an interview earlier in the year with CapitolBeatOK, state Senator Mike Mazzei of Tulsa had memorably described the $16 billion unfunded liabilities as “the one that could implode us.”

When the chief executive signed the law, Mazzei made his point another way, asking rhetorically, “When was the last time you heard state government say that they are saving you billions of dollars?”

State Rep. Randy McDaniel, who shepherded pension reform through the House, said the new laws “might be the signature achievement of this legislative session, taking from 25 to 35 percent of the unfunded liability burden off the table.”

Effect of the new provisions? A ban on cost-of-living-adjustments (COLAs) to government employees, unless they are funded. Teacher retirement ages increase from 62 to 65; retirement ages for justices and judges also increase. Elected officials, who in the past got better pension deals than “regular” state employees, will no longer be eligible for sweetheart deals. Employees convicted of felonies will lose pension benefits.

More remains to be done, however, reforms already achieved might be the closest legislative Republicans and the governor have come to fulfilling campaign promises made to bring fiscal conservatism and spending restraint to government. And, in the end, the reforms were achieved with significant bipartisan support.

Oklahoma is more than OK: More jobs, more growth, more hope

Sometimes conventional wisdom is not merely a collection of untested assumptions. After sharing in some of the misery provoked by the Great Recession, Oklahoma has now enjoyed two years of economic growth. The details of that resurgence constitute the second top news story of the year for Oklahoma government.

Unemployment is more than 2.5 percent lower than the national average . A slight uptick in jobless statistics is actually a counter-intuitive sign of good news: thousands of workers who had left the job market have returned to it because they have hopes of finding employment. Oklahoma City has become not only a state engine of growth, but robust energy investment and other factors are allowing it to assume leadership in the southwest United States.

In third place, an idea whose time has come?

Responding to a dramatic speech by economist Arthur Laffer before civic leaders in Oklahoma City, state Finance Director Preston Doerflinger said enthusiastically, “Let’s get it on.”

He was talking about what CapitolBeatOK lists as the year’s third top story, one which illustrates the power of ideas: Conservative policy advocates contend the slow descent of state income taxes over the past several years and pro-business trends result in the state’s enviable economic good news.

Not content to preserve the status quo, OCPA and its president, Michael Carnuccio, drew nationwide attention for a dramatic proposal to eliminate the state income tax levy – but to do so methodically over a 10-year period. In response, Governor Mary Fallin and legislative leaders are ready to consider at least a phase-down, and they are not taking a phase-out off of the table.

Opponents include credible voices like the Oklahoma Academy, Oklahoma Policy Institute, and some economists. Even in the face of such opposition, nothing has more power than an idea whose time has come. And, it is time that will tell if this year was the beginning of sweeping transformations of tax policy in Oklahoma.

Contenders: Tax credit tightening, Changing times for education

Another “prospective” idea that ranks high among the year’s news stories for state government is state Rep. David Dank’s long (but no longer lonely) crusade for reform in provisions for tax credits and business incentives.

The work of Dank’s Task Force on State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives is the fourth top news story of the year for CapitolBeatOK. The group submitted a final proposal to tighten eligibility for tax credits and business incentives without, however, abolishing them.

Oklahoma’s most powerful Chambers of Commerce opposed the task force’s key proposals, setting the stage for a high stakes, consequential debate that may define the 2012 legislative session.

The fifth top story of the year is the blend of controversy and change at the Oklahoma Department of Education under Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi. The superintendent ultimately got most of the enhanced powers Governor Mary Fallin wanted to give her. Along the way, support for Barresi’s policies eroded, but no one can doubt education policy has changed in Oklahoma.

The end of trial de novo provisions, anticipated abolition of social promotion, the start of a mixed package of new teacher evaluations and other reforms are undeniably significant.

Less certain is the ultimate result of Barresi’s hiring of a high-ranking official of the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) as her chief of staff. Joel Robison advocated, along with others in the state’s largest union, for passage of a state question intended to bring about major increases in taxpayer funding for public schools. The measure secured 19 percent support.

Robison’s hiring as Barresi’s chief of staff drew sharp criticism from past allies of the conservative Republican, but those criticisms may be forgotten if he helps Barresi deliver on commitments to advance pro-child education transformation.

The rest of the top 10; Terrill, DHS, right-sizing, water, Fallin & friends

The sixth top story of the year is the cluster of controversies dogging state Rep. Randy Terrill, an Oklahoma City Republican. He and former State Sen. Debbe Leftwich, a Democrat, face charges of bribery in Oklahoma County. The state House reprimanded Terrill for his words and actions directed at a House staff member and the Speaker, and a bi-partisan House investigation of Terrill decried his activities, but declined to press for further sanctions.

Turmoil at the Department of Human Services, the seventh top state government story, has led to a major legislative push for reform, led by House Speaker Kris Steele. Changes to the governing commission of the troubled agency came after a series of deaths of children under state care or supervision. The commission’s skirting of open meeting provisions brought scrutiny from advocates of transparency. Change is coming to DHS, and time will tell how sweeping those changes will be.

The continuing discussion of “right-sizing” state government, and legislative actions to give meaning to the discussion, is the eighth top story of the year. The reform proposals guided by state Rep. Jason Murphey of Guthrie, in alliance with Fallin, Doerflinger and some agency heads, are saving money through increased efficiencies. Simultaneously, spending patterns in Higher Education and other parts of state government lead many lawmakers to conclude that more reductions in spending or government functions will be required.

The ninth top story of the year centers around litigation by two large tribes aimed at state government and against Oklahoma City’s water rights, assertions of aboriginal rights by the Caddo Nation, and the rising swirl of controversy surrounding the future of Oklahoma water policy. There seems little room to doubt that water will be a major controversy facing Oklahomans for years, perhaps decades, to come – unless all players are somehow drawn together in a broad consensus that now seems elusive.

Our tenth top story of the year? Well... that’s a tale that many would probably rank number one. Mary Fallin made history when she led the sweep of Republican victories in all statewide elections a year ago.

She and her colleagues in statewide office have now been exercising executive powers for nearly a year. (Corporation Commissioners, all Republicans, pre-date the GOP sweep.) Governor Fallin is working closely with members of her party who control both houses of the Legislature.

The Grand Old Party is in charge. Still, the first year of Republican power is merely a first chapter, the equivalent of 1908 for the Democrats. The rest of this history is yet to be written.

Worthy stories not in our top ten include the weather, ObamaCare fights and other significant events. A case can be made for those and other stories in any such listing. The prism in this story is merely one, but it is informed.

Journalism is sometimes described as "the first draft of history." The staff of CapitolBeatOK will continue writing first drafts, as history unfolds.

Economy, weather, anti-discrimination ordinance lead list of 2011's top Oklahoma City stories

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:10:00 GMT

Oklahoma City roared out of the Great Recession in 2011, and that is Oklahoma City's top news story for 2011.

Further down the list is the flipside to economic vibrancy: fits and starts in street repairs and other work, as well as the troubled start to the NBA season for the beloved Thunder.

The list was compiled for The City Sentinel newspaper. (The top state government stories, compiled for CapitolBeatOK, will be posted later this week.)

Other top stories for Oklahoma City were shared with the state as a whole, including weather, election of the first all-Republican slate of statewide officers and the first female chief executive.

Stories about diversity, school infrastructure improvements nearing completion, a leading liberal or “progressive” voice on the city council, the Occupy OKC movement, Oklahoma City University's surge to excellence and litigious clashes over city water use and tribal rights round out the top 10.

Economic vitality the top story in Oklahoma City

The Urban Institute recently pegged Oklahoma City the nation's top city for economic security. The analysis from Margery Austin Turner, appeared in mid-December on the institute’s MetroTrends Blog.

In her analysis, Turner writes that somehow our city “avoided the excesses of the boom years, and its economy has weathered the downturn better than most.

Housing costs are low, and though wages are too, a personal service worker can almost afford the rent for a two-bedroom apartment. And at 5 percent, Oklahoma City’s unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country.”

Economic analysis is nice, but tangible signs are even better: low unemployment, real growth, and the return of discouraged workers to the job market. Buildout of the Chesapeake campus continues. Downtown, another oil giant, Sandridge, is “fixin' to move into a new house.” That's actually the reburbished Kerr-McGee facilities. Then there's Devon Tower, tallest building in the state and the only major “skyscraper” project in the region.

Often remarked in the city's rise is MAPS, the voter-approved government expenditures which have triggered private investments in the city's core and across the metropolitan area.

In a visual age, quality images can surpass quality content. Footwear giant Nike delighted Oklahomans with a campaign featuring places local residents as they are “hanging out,” playing hoops or “just chillin'.”

Thunder star Kevin Durant is portrayed in the ad, wandering the city at night in his SUV, playing pick-up ball atop the parking garage at 22nd and Western, in the nearby lot at First Presbyterian

Church on 25th, at Taft Middle School, in a Love's parking lot, and at a nursing home gym. Then, he cruises through the night with a vehicle full of old folks laughing and high-fiving. The ad ends as the young transplanted Texan drives along Robinson or Exchange, searching the city that never sleeps.

Oklahoma City is a great place to live. Now, everybody else is figuring that out. That is the top local story of 2011.

Will Rogers was right about Oklahoma's weather diversity – and our people

Oklahoma's favorite son, Will Rogers, memorably said, “If you don't like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute.” In the midst of record-breaking heat and drought, there were occasional floods, a flurry of tornadoes and thunder storms, November rains that partially replenished the parched soil – and earthquakes. To be sure, sub-surface tremors are not technically “weather,” but that did not keep locals from putting all of it together to marvel over shocking, even Biblical, extremes.

Weather is the second top local story for 2011.

Number three goes to the city's increasing diversity, highlighted in historic passage of an anti-discrimination ordinance by the City Council. After weeks of discussion, members of the Council were respectful as they debated the measure to add sexual orientation/preference to protected classes in city government employment. Public comments were contentious, and in the aftermath of the debate audiotapes of threats to a conservative preacher gained national attention.

A 7-2 majority approved the prescription posed by Dr. Ed Shadid, who encouraged members of the Council to let the city be a good employer, and let God judge behavior.

Diversity was not manifested only in government action, of course. The scene of two Chabad Jewish rabbinical students cruising city streets in a Hanukkah mobile – memorialized in a page one photo in the local daily – illustrated the point in terms of faith communities. Then came news that nearly half of the City's public school students are Hispanic.

Rounding out this point, diversity is reflected in the evolving tastes and choices of our people. The City has some of the best steakhouses in the country, and good old American food now includes Asian and other fare with roots in every corner of the planet. Whole Foods opened on the west side of the Chesapeake Energy campus, and smaller organic grocers like Forward Foods are bringing back to this agricultural state products of the past – locally originated and “naturally” manufactured.

Were he with us today, the tolerant savant from Oologah, Will Rogers, would no doubt walk the streets of Oklahoma City, smiling at people and products, saying anew he never met a man he didn't like.

Better school buildings, and a new political era

MAPS for Kids projects have reached their final year. By the end of 2012, barring delays, the taxes and tenacity of Oklahoma City's people will have another tangible manifestation. The fourth top story is the flurry of building dedications, groundbreakings, and final planning meetings for school sites in every corner of Oklahoma City.

In November 2001, city voters approved a combination of property taxes and sales taxes totaling $700 million for what is still the largest voter-approved infusion of new revenues for education in state history. Accumulated resources have or soon will finance the massive program to completion – without debt. In the end, every student in the Oklahoma City public school district will be attending school in a new or renovated facility. The next job, of course, is to improve the quality of education in those buildings; perhaps the subject of a future “top 10.”

In fifth place on this annual compilation is Oklahoma's new political era, playing itself out daily in news from this capital city.

The venerable Rogers used to say, “I'm not a member of any organized political party – I'm a Democrat.” Whether it was disorganization, a more appealing alternative political philosophy or simply voter preferences for change, the first full year after the historic Republican surge to power ratified in 2010 is, in this “government town,” among the most consequential news stories of the new Century.

The particulars include Mary Fallin, a veteran politician who got to the top the old-fashioned way, paying dues in the Legislature, as lieutenant government, through a stint in Congress, and with a dominant campaign to win the top job. Her philosophy and the diverse conservatism of her legislative allies are a formula both for change and conflict – and this past year much of the conflict was within Republican ranks.

Broader conditions limited state government spending, and now the Grand Old Party's elected officials wonder if it is time to “right-size” government, returning some functions to the private sector.

The rest: Thunder and street turmoil, Dr. Shadid, Occupy OKC, OCU and prelude to water wars

Sixth top story of the year, at least in this corner, was the flip side of a strong economy. The Thunder came, went, and then returned for a long-delayed National Basketball Association season, with millions of dollars in lost revenue to local businesses and, not coincidentally, tax coffers.

City streets have been torn up since about the third day of creation – or, at least, that's the view of many downtown workers and residents. Project 180 will fall short of objectives, and some observers wonder whether the government can finish MAPS 3 on time and within budget.

The seventh top story of the year is the emergence of Dr. Ed Shadid as a city leader for “progressive” or liberal causes. Shadid's personal wealth and political message carried him to a strong victory in the Ward 2 race.

He has emerged as a critic of some policies, and a defender of others. His work on urban sprawl, spending priorities and other issues has consolidated support. He led the push for one of the most significant changes in local law, passage of anti-discrimination language in the city employment code.

Shadid is now, to be sure, a player.

The Occupy Wall Street movement was a national phenomenon that at times dominated press coverage. Locally, relations between city officials (including police) and the Occupy leadership were sometimes tense, but more respectful and anti-confrontational than almost anywhere else in America. Members of Occupy OKC gained often sympathetic news coverage, and a few critics, making them the eighth top local story.

Despite the death of one “occupier,” Occupy OKC's time in Kerr Park downtown passed without the violence that marked events in Oakland and other cities. Eventually, the adjacent Sandridge construction project moved into final phases, and the city moved to oust the encampment. City officials won in court, and activists left peacefully, with both sides emulating in their own way that often-hailed “Oklahoma standard” of civility. The movement's messages of concern over economics and social conditions left a legacy in coffee conversations, kitchen table debates and workplace dialogue.

In 2010, the selection of then-U.S. Appeals Court Judge Robert Henry as the new president of Oklahoma City University was listed as The City Sentinel's top story. The continued rise to excellence at the Methodist-affiliated private college still resides among the top 10 local news stories.

Henry formally took on the job this year after an inaugural gala that featured nationally-acclaimed speakers, memorable arts performances and explicit appeals for Divine guidance.

At year's end, Steven Agee left chairmanship of the Oklahoma City branch of the federal reserve to take the reins of the Meiders School of Business. Word came that next year, federal Magistrate Judge Valerie Couch will leave the bench to become dean of the OCU law school. The day will come in Oklahoma when lists of “firsts” will be filled, but among the notable things about Couch's switch to OCU is this: she will be the first woman dean of a law school in Oklahoma history.

OCU's nursing program stepped up a notch with new facilities and programs.

The women's wrestling team remained best in America. OCU rocks.

The tenth top story of the year centers on the tension and turmoil building around water policy. While theoretically a battle between the state government and powerful tribal governments, there is more to the tale. The City's rights to water in a southeast Oklahoma basin, and to transport of that water through a pipeline taxpayers financed, was put at risk in a lawsuit filed by the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations.

Rarely mentioned but worthy of note is the assertion of aboriginal rights for the Caddo Nation. In the end, aboriginal could trump treaty rights, even if many want to ignore the issue. The local water trust has sued to assert its prerogatives.

Troubled waters, indeed.

Those are the ten stories of 2011, with explanation of this writer's rationale.

Note: Patrick B. McGuigan, editor of CapitolBeatOK, also writes regularly for The City Sentinel, a weekly newspaper. McGuigan's listing of the top 10 state government stories will appear during the last week of December 2011.

www.City-Sentinel.com

Steele outlines process to allow Oklahoma taxpayers to keep “money that rightfully belongs to them”

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:47:00 GMT

In an interview with CapitolBeatOK, Oklahoma Speaker of the House Kris Steele this week discussed key policy discussions unfolding at the state Capitol during this last week before Christmas.

The interview focused on this cycle’s legislative task forces and interim studies, possible reforms of tax credits and business incentive programs, and alternatives to incarceration, such as Tulsa’s acclaimed Women in Recovery program.

Steele contended the Interim Studies conducted since adjournment in late May have been more substantive than usual. He agrees that momentum for income tax reductions is significant, and expects some further cuts in the next session to continue the state's shift away from the income levy.

Turning to corrections policy, Steele said the Tulsa-based program Women in Recovery is one of the best available models for effective programs that hold offenders accountable and under supervision while reserving prison beds for violent offenders.

This report focuses on the first two-thirds of the conversation with Steele, prior to the discussion of the women in recovery program.

The Shawnee Republican said he was “very pleased with the work that we’ve done in reference to the policy studies and research, over the interim. We’ve taken a very serious look at DHS reform, for instance, corrections reform, pension reform.

“We’ve delved into our state’s tax code. That committee has been very serious and diligent in trying to develop objective criteria by which to measure each and every tax credit is currently on the books in Oklahoma.

“We have a water committee that has been very persistent in their work in trying to lay the foundation, this next legislative session, for a new comprehensive water plan for the state of Oklahoma.

“We continually monitor our budget and other various issues. I’m pleased with the leadership within the body, and the seriousness of our various members in terms of the responsibility they have taken with relation to these and other policy issues.”

Much of the interview focused on budget issues and other fiscal policy decisions coming over the horizon.

Steele discussed at some length tax policy, studies of tax credits and business incentives, and possible reductions in the state income tax.

Speaker Steele made a point of blending discussion of possible tax credit reform with his hopes for a new round of cuts in state personal income tax rates.

Concerning the budget, he took note of the Board of Equalization’s “preliminary indication of what the state certification as far as appropriations will be for this session. … They’ll come back in February to certify the actual amount.”

Steele reflected, “By all indications, Oklahoma’s economy is faring well compared to the rest of the nation.” He expressed hopes state revenues will increase 7-10 percent over last year. The trends amount to what he deemed “a positive sign.”

All that said, “we’ve utilized a lot of one-time monies in the past two years to balance our state budget. There were some federal stimulus dollars that were involved in the appropriations that will not be there anymore, some cash reserves that will not be there this go-round.

“So I think when it’s all said and done, separate from any tax reform -- significant tax reform -- we’re looking at probably a stand-still budget. But, the House of Representatives is fully committed, really committed, to cleaning up the tax code.”

Turning to tax policy, he continued, “What’s happened over the course of time is that Legislature has implemented various tax incentives and tax credits and things of that nature, many of which were set to expire at a date certain.

“I think it was Ronald Reagan who said that the closest thing to eternal life is a government program. I think he was probably onto something there, because none of these tax credits have gone away.

“We suspect many of them have lived their life, expired their usefulness, they’ve served their purpose, or they may even have been misused or abused.

“Chairman [David] Dank and his committee have diligently worked to establish some objective criteria based on our state’s Constitution, that each and every tax credit will have to meet, in order to stay on the books.

“Certainly, we want Oklahoma to be competitive with … other states, but also want to be extremely responsible with the resources, the taxpayers’ money, that we have been entrusted with.

“So, we will take a close look at our state’s tax codes. I suspect we will begin to clean up and probably eliminate some of the tax credits either have lived their life and served their purpose, or which need to expire.”

Steele expressed his belief that further income tax rate reductions are possible. He told CapitolBeatOK, “We are having some very significant discussions on how we can systematically and methodically begin to reduce our personal income tax in the state of Oklahoma.

“We think it’s very important. It’s really the next major policy issue that needs to be addressed to really help Oklahoma reach its potential in the area of creating an environment within our state that is conducive to job growth and job creation and job enhancement.

“I hope that at the end of the day we’ll see some very intelligent policy move forward and be enacted into law.”

Saying he believed new steps to reduce income taxes are possible, Steele noted, “I think that the important thing is that, really the two issues we’re talking about – cleaning up the tax code, and subsequently reducing our state income tax -- go hand in hand.

“I think as we free up some dollars that are tied up in some tax credits or some tax programs that are no longer necessary, that’s going to give us the opportunity to begin that process.”

He cautioned, “I don’t think that you’re going to see in one fell swoop, necessarily, just an automatic drop in our income tax rate. I do think you’re going to see a plan that will be phased in over the course of years, as we phase down, and our economy grows.

“We want to make sure that we are funding core services of government, but more importantly we want to make sure that the people of Oklahoma are able to keep the money that rightfully belongs to them.”

Oklahoma Watchdog’s Peter J. Rudy analyzes surging superintendent salaries

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:38:00 GMT

Utilizing an annual report showing total compensation for superintendents of public school districts across the state of Oklahoma, Peter J. Rudy of Oklahoma Watchdog concludes that more than two-thirds of those school system administrators “are taking home more money this year than last year.”

In a story posted on his website this morning, Rudy notes the increased compensation came despite the fact that appropriations were cut 4 percent (nearly $100 million) at the state Department of Education.

Rudy used official state data, and converted it into a spreadsheet (with linear data now totaling four years).

Key findings include Oklahoma Watchdog’s breakdown of the (mostly) up and (here-and-there) down of the salary data. In a summary, Rudy noted that each of the state’s 522 districts has a superintendent, and that of those:

* 356 got at least a dollar more this year than last year.

* 289 got at least $100 more this year than last year.

* 208 got at least $1,000 more this year than last year.

* 93 got at least $5,000 more this year than last year.

* 49 got at least $10,000 more this year than last year.

* 20 got at least $15,000 more this year than last year.

* 9 got at least $20,000 more this year than last year.

* 26 are making the exact amount they made last year

* 140 got at least $1 less this year than last year.

* 132 got at least $100 less this year than last year.

* 107 got at least $1,000 less this year than last year.

* 70 got at least $5,000 less this year than last year.

* 39 got at least $10,000 less this year than last year.

* 30 got at least $15,000 less this year than last year.

* 21 got at least $20,000 less this year than last year.

Rudy also reports:

“While National Board Certified Teachers did not get their $5,000 stipend this year due to a lack of funds, 93 of the 522 superintendents in the state got compensation increases of at least $5,000.

“The average superintendent compensation is $98,434 and the median is $96,000.

“216 superintendents received at least $100,000 which is up from 207 superintendents last year.

“57 district superintendents make more than State Superintendent Janet Barresi whose salary is set by statute at roughly $124,400. That’s up from 54 last year.

“22 superintendents make more than Governor Fallin’s salary of $147,000 which is set by statute. That’s the same number as last year.

“3 superintendents make more than $200,000 (Jenks, Union, Ponca City) which is one less than last year (Tulsa dropped to $181,000).”