Op Ed
Published January 29, 2010
Legislative leaders can get a lot accomplished if some members didn't spend time grandstanding. Even before they start the session next month, some lawmakers have been hard at work trying to forestall state employee furloughs.
We appreciate the work of central Oklahoma legislators Sen. Anthony Sykes and Rep. Randy Terrill in helping craft an agreement with the governor on a $7.2 million cash infusion into the Department of Corrections budget.
State Corrections Director Justin Jones had started the process of requiring prison guards to schedule furlough days this spring. That means prisons, already short-staffed with high turnover, will be able to maintain security levels. This is helpful to the guards and the inmates.
The state's public employees association has commended Sen. Sykes and Rep. Terrill as well as House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate Pro Tem Glenn Coffee.
The agreement also is a tribute to state workers who helped demonstrate the need to keep the agencies at full staff. Corrections employees are kind of like the offensive line in football. They don't get noticed until something goes wrong.
We appreciate the work of central Oklahoma legislators Sen. Anthony Sykes and Rep. Randy Terrill in helping craft an agreement with the governor on a $7.2 million cash infusion into the Department of Corrections budget.
State Corrections Director Justin Jones had started the process of requiring prison guards to schedule furlough days this spring. That means prisons, already short-staffed with high turnover, will be able to maintain security levels. This is helpful to the guards and the inmates.
The state's public employees association has commended Sen. Sykes and Rep. Terrill as well as House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate Pro Tem Glenn Coffee.
The agreement also is a tribute to state workers who helped demonstrate the need to keep the agencies at full staff. Corrections employees are kind of like the offensive line in football. They don't get noticed until something goes wrong.
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