Maybe some 'Print Media' and so call Blogger should understand how things work...

Maybe some 'Print Media' and so call Blogger should understand how things work at the Oklahoma State Capitol. They probability think Conference Committee have real meeting. LOL

When a bill go to a Conference Committee, only the people on the Conference Committee and Staff can add or take out language on that bill.
And it look like Demo Scott Meacham hand pick boy, Rep. Ken Miller (Who want to be our 'Republican' State Treasurer) is out campaigning for GOP votes.Rep. McDaniel, Trust the House Staff?

Most of the Lobbist, Media, and other insider at the Oklahoma State Capitol think that, unlike the State Senate Staff, the House Staff RUN the House and control the flow of information in the House.

Oklahoma State Lawmakers Travel on OUR Dime

California, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, even Cuba and Canada are just some of the places Oklhoma Lawmakers went using our money. Lawmakers spent $1.5 million on travel, more than $155,000 to go out of state.

Senator Brian Bingman (R)

was one of the biggest spenders.

He filed travel claims for $7,661.33 worth of Energy Council conferences. Two of the trips were to Canada.

"It's quite an honor to, you know, represent my state," Bingman said. "We make recommendations, talk about policy that affects our state, other states and we send statements to the federal government, work with them you know, on energy policy."

In 2009, Bingman was the vice chairman of the group of energy producing states and Canadian provinces. He went on two trips while state revenue was down and two trips while state agencies faced a 5 percent cut.

When asked to tell about something he's done specifically after going to these conferences that people could see the benefit of, he said, "Uh, there's probably, I'd have to think about that."

Sen Charles Wyrick (D) traveled to Cuba in December of 2008 with the State Secretary of Agriculture and seven other people. The state paid for three people's trips, including Wyrick's $2,232.92 share.

"If you're trying to be critical of why I went, I think it's obvious why we went," said Senator Charles Wyrick.

Senator Earl Garrison's (D) trip to the National Conference of State Legislators Summit in Philadelphia, last July. The conference suggested 15 hotels but, Garrison chose to stay at the most expensive one, the Ritz Carlton.

VOTER FRAUD PENALITIES MAY INCREASE!

Hat Tip to Steve Fair

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

VOTER FRAUD PENALITIES MAY INCREASE!
by Steve Fair

Mickey Mouse, the Disney creation born in 1928, will not be able to register to vote in Oklahoma if a bill by House Speaker Chris Benge, (R-Tulsa) and Senate Pro Temp Glenn Coffee, (R-OKC) gets through the State House and is signed by the Governor. The bill seeks to deter election and voter registration fraud. Senate Bill #1921 passed the Senate by a vote of 33-10 back on March 9th. Last week, the bill passed out of the House Public Safety Committee by a vote of 6-1 and goes to the full House. It is expected to pass the House by a wide margin. It remains to be seen if the Governor will sign the legislation. He vetoed a Voter ID bill back in April 2009.

SB 1921 would increase the maximum punishment for felony violations of Oklahoma election law from fines of $5,000 to $50,000. It would increase the jail time from two years to five years imprisonment.

"We have seen in recent years groups inflating the voter registration rolls with the likes of Mickey Mouse to the benefit of certain candidates," said Benge, R-Tulsa. "It is our duty to ensure the people of Oklahoma trust our election outcomes."

The measure also adds fraudulent use of an absentee and making a false application to an absentee ballot a felony. It would also make it a felony to knowingly collect or submit voter registration forms that contain false information.

"Clearly the current law was not enough to deter ACORN and groups like it from committing voter fraud. Our hope is that this legislation and stricter penalties will help restore voter confidence in our democratic system," said Rep. Rex Duncan, (R-Sand Spring) who presented the bill in committee. "Free and fair elections are the backbone of our democracy, and it is important that those who would deliberately and purposely sabotage the voting process be prosecuted to the full extent of the law," Duncan concluded.

Oklahoma’s colorful political history is littered with scandals. Most Oklahomans remember the County Commissioner scandal of the 1980s, which had over 200 people indicted/convicted, and the recent McMahan/Stipe/Phipps scandal, but few remember a voter fraud scandal that rocked Oklahoma in the early 80s?

Back in 1983, then Oklahoma State House Speaker Dan Draper and House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon- both Democrats- were convicted of vote fraud. The convictions were later overturned, but it did force Draper to leave office. Draper and Fitzgibbon were accused of mailing illegal absentee ballots in an effort to get Draper’s dad elected to the legislature.

Debates over election fraud are not new. They have been a staple of discussions about elections and democracy in the United States for more than a century. But in recent years, issues of fraud and voting integrity have increasingly come to the forefront of public policy discussions over the health of America’s democracy. With the consistently low voter turnout rates and obstacles to citizen participation motivated various efforts to increase voter registration and turnout—efforts that in turn raised questions about voting integrity. Critics of some reforms—such as Oregon starting mail-in voting, the loosening of guidelines for absentee ballot use, and, most notably, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (also known as NVRA or the “motor voter” law)—have charged that these reforms increase the potential for voter fraud. Other frequently proposed reforms, such as Election Day Registration, continue to be criticized on the same grounds. Implemented with the pretense they will make voter registration more convenient, they also make it easier to commit voter fraud.

Benge and Coffee have the right idea- punish those who cheat in elections by increasing the fines and jail time, but they need to take another run at Voter ID. When he vetoed the ID bill in April, Governor Henry said, “At a time when it is difficult to attract more than half of the registered voters to the polls at any given election, we must make voting easier and more convenient for registered voters, not more difficult and confusing.” How is it confusing for a voter to have to show an ID to vote? It has never been easier to cast your vote. Most elections have early in person absentee balloting which has expanded the hours to vote by twenty hours. Twenty! Mickey Mouse said, “Arithmetic is being able to count up to twenty without taking off your shoes.”

Walt Disney famously said about his creation, “When people laugh at Mickey Mouse, it’s because he’s so human; and that is the secret of his popularity.” But he’s not human and while Mickey may be popular, if Senate bill #1921 gets signed into law, Mr. Mouse won’t be voting in Oklahoma elections because those that got him on the voter rolls will be in jail.

Budget agreement keeps corrections workers on job

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.

After Last Night, Let just hope...

After last night with Scott Brown, U.S. Senate race win in Massachusetts.

Let just hope that the Oklahoma GOP (State & County Party, House Caucus, Senate Caucus) do not drive people away with dumb thing, like not letting the people vote to capping property taxs at 3%.

Let just hope that Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge and the House Republican Caucus, get a CLUE!

Mr. Speaker time to Step Up or Step Down on Property Tax Reform

The state representative who has been most active in pushing for property tax reform today urged House Speaker Chris Benge to “step up on this vital issue or step down and let someone else lead the House” in enacting it.

“I was frankly astonished by the Speaker’s recent statements in opposition to these simple and fair reforms,” said state Rep. David Dank (R-Oklahoma City), who has authored measures that would cap annual property tax increases at 3 percent, and freeze those taxes for seniors over 65.

“Not only are his statements out of touch with the core Republican principle of limited government we were sent here to espouse, they are factually incorrect,” Dank said.

He said his property tax reforms would result in no revenue reductions to schools or counties, and would have no impact on the state budget. Benge was quoted as claiming they would “reduce revenue.”

“How is a 3-percent annual increase a reduction?” Dank said.

“The simple truth is that we have a built-in annual tax increase for literally thousands of Oklahoma homeowners during a severe recession.

At the current 5-percent rate of increase, when you compound it, that amounts to doubling everyone’s property taxes every 13 years. That’s just wrong and I am baffled that a Republican Speaker is opposed to alleviating it.

“Speaker Benge needs to step up on this vital issue by allowing the House to vote on it or step down and let someone else lead the House to make it happen,” Dank said.

“It is especially troubling that he continues to oppose sensible property tax reform when the Senate Republican Caucus has made it a centerpiece of their 2010 legislative agenda.

Honestly, either he just doesn’t get it or he is carrying water for those special interests who think the higher the taxes--the better. I know I am not the only one in the House who is terribly disappointed with Speaker Benge.”

Dank said many of his fellow GOP House members have told him they are eager to support the two property tax reforms. He said several Democrats have also voiced their support.

“I am convinced the votes are there in the House and Senate to send these reforms to a vote of the people,” he said. “Right now, one man is standing in the way.

“When I discussed this initially with Speaker Benge he told me that if we put these two measures on the ballot to let the people decide--they would pass,” Dank said. “I told him that was the whole idea. We’re here to represent the taxpayers—not the special interests.”

Dank’s twin measures “are not tax cuts, but tax restraints,” he said. “All we are asking is that we slow the annual growth in property taxes and freeze these increases for seniors, who are often on fixed incomes. These measures would not reduce ad valorem revenues by one thin dime. They would have zero impact on the state budget. The Speaker is simply wrong on that.”

Dank said he would be happy to work with Benge on repealing a number of questionable tax credits which are costing state coffers millions in annual revenue.

“Unfortunately Speaker Benge was the House author of a bill that authorized some of these costly transferable tax credits that drain millions from the state budget without any transparency, accountability, and without creating a single job,” Dank said.

Dank said if the Legislature fails to act on his twin property tax reforms, a much more drastic limitation similar to California’s Proposition 13 is likely to be introduced by initiative petition.

“People see school districts giving large raises to superintendents and counties trying to raise executive salaries at the same time they are pleading poverty and threatening to lay off front line workers.

Taxpayers have simply had enough,” he said.

“These sensible reforms would allow reasonable revenue growth and curtail those abuses.

I call on Speaker Benge to bring them to the floor early in the 2010 session or return to the ranks and allow us to choose a Speaker more in tune with the people’s will.”

Obituary Lauds Death of Estate Tax

House Speaker Lauds Death of Estate Tax
Obituary Highlights Punitive Nature of Death Tax’s Life



‘Death’ Tax

The estate tax, commonly known
as the ‘death’ tax, died Dec. 31,
2009 in Oklahoma at the age of 74.

It was born in 1935 and has been
one of the most unjust forms of
revenue generation ever concocted
and is a classic form of double
taxation.

The death tax is survived by
countless heirs and business
owners who no longer have to
worry about having to pay an extra
“estate” tax on property upon
death of a loved one, especially
those in rural Oklahoma.

The tax has been gradually
eliminated over the last few years,
with full repeal occurring Jan. 1.

“When people lose a loved one,
they suffer enough without facing
a new tax burden, especially one
that could potentially force the
sale of a family farm or business,”
said House Speaker Chris Benge,
R-Tulsa.

The death tax is a tax on the net
estate of a decedent. “There is no
reason why Oklahomans, who have
paid taxes their whole lives, should
force their loved ones to pay an
extra ‘estate’ tax on their property
upon death,” Benge added.

As recently as 2004, before the
Legislature began the phase-out of
the death tax, Oklahoma families
lost over $111 million to this scheme.

“This change will allow family farms
and businesses to survive as they are
handed down to the next
generation,” said Benge.

Unlike in Washington, where the
death tax has been repealed just
for 2010 and will need
Congressional reauthorization for
the repeal to continue, Oklahoma’s
death tax no longer exists as of
Jan. 1.

“There are plenty of challenges each
day for family farms and small
businesses without having to worry
that the state’s death tax burden
will make it even more difficult,
if not impossible, for the next
generation to continue the family
business,” said Rep. Jeff Hickman,
R-Fairview and chairman of the
House Revenue and Taxation
Committee.

“These type of
operations may have significant
assets but a razor thin cash flow,
making the sale of land that has
been in the family for generations
or the liquidation of a small
business the only way to pay
the estate tax.

“The U.S. Congress should follow
Oklahoma’s lead and permanently
bury this unfair double-taxation
scheme that threatens farmers,
ranchers and small business
owners who are the backbone
of our American economy and
who have paid their taxes once
already on what they own,”
Hickman concluded.

A service of celebration will be held
on each Oklahomans’ tax return next
year who will no longer be forced to
pay this punitive tax.

Legislation Implementing DHS Audit Recommendations Passes House

Legislation aimed at reducing the number of children removed from their home with the help of social workers and in-home services for parents passed the House today.

House Bill 1734 seeks to implement several recommendations of an audit of the Department of Human Services, including a requirement that law enforcement consult with DHS before removing a child; the creation of a passport program to allow information about a child’s physical and behavioral health and educational needs to be available electronically; implementation of a phase-out of public shelters; establishment of a centralized statewide hotline for all reports of abuse and neglect of children; and a reorganization of the department offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties.

“The title is off this bill and we will continue to work with all interested parties to make sure this legislation keeps children in our state safe,” said Rep. Ron Peters, author of the bill and chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services. “We will make it safer for children to stay in their homes with improved risk and safety assessments and increased home services for parents who genuinely want to take care of their children. These changes will allow DHS workers to focus more of their time on the true cases of abuse.”

The audit came after five months of extensive study by the independent auditing firm Hornby Zeller Associates.

House Speaker Chris Benge formed a bipartisan working group last year to study the issue made up of Reps. Peters, Kris Steele and Pam Peterson, Jeannie McDaniel, Wade Rousselot and Richard Morrissette. The group called for the performance audit as a way to determine what changes are needed to the system.

The legislation also calls for improved and expanded training for DHS workers to better assess the risk to and safety of a child. The change, coupled with the recommendation for DHS workers to be directly involved in child removals, would help to prevent children from being removed from the home needlessly, which puts undue burdens on the child and the system itself, said Peters, R-Tulsa.

In Oklahoma, the audit shows that 20 percent of children removed from their home are returned within one week of removal. In the Tulsa area, 40 percent of children removed are returned home in that same timeframe.

“The safety of our children is the utmost goal here, and I am hopeful we will be able to bring real change to the system with this legislation,” said Benge, R-Tulsa.

The legislation passed the House today with a vote of 87-8 and will move to the Senate for consideration.

House Passes Pro-Life Legislation

A mother would not be able to abort her baby based solely on the sex of the child if legislation passed by the House today becomes law.

House Bill 1595 also creates the Statistical Reporting of Abortion Act, which requires physicians who perform abortions to report certain information to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

“As medicine has advanced, it has become easier to genetically ‘design’ babies based on certain desires of the parents, including the sex of the child,” said Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa. “In many countries, aborting babies because of their sex is a common practice, and this legislation will make sure such a barbaric practice will not happen in Oklahoma.”

The Health Department would be required to make state statutes and regulations related to abortion and the reporting forms available on its website if this legislation becomes law. Physicians in the state will also be notified about the requirements to report abortion-related information.

Finally, the measure directs the department to publish certain annual abortion reports on its website and to ensure compliance with the provisions of the act by conducting periodic inspections of places where abortions are performed.

“Oklahomans have a right to know how many abortions are being performed in our state,” said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. “We currently cannot say for certain how prevalent abortions are in Oklahoma. We must protect the lives of the unborn who do not have a chance to speak for themselves.”

The bill passed the House with a vote of 93-4 and will now move to the Senate for consideration.

House Speaker Responds to State Board of Equalization Certification

House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, responds to the final certification for fiscal year 2010:

“It has become increasingly apparent that Oklahoma is feeling the effects of the national recession, as proven with this certification. We will have tough choices to make this year as we craft a state budget, but we also see this financial challenge as an opportunity to make more efficient use of the money we are currently spending. We plan to treat this shortfall just like every other Oklahoma family would in the event of decreased income—by tightening our belt, cutting out frivolous spending and waste and working to ensure the vital functions of government are protected as much as possible.”

Contingency Fee Cap Bill Passes House Committee

Legislation amending the state Constitution to reduce plaintiff attorney contingency fees to a maximum of 33 percent of the amount recovered on behalf of the injured party passed a House committee today.

Currently, contingency fees are capped at 50 percent, in addition to attorney expenses and costs. Because of that, many plaintiffs often receive less than half of the final recovery in a lawsuit.

If House Bill 1602 is approved by the Legislature, the change would go to a vote of the people.

The limit on contingency fees would be set at 33 percent of the first $1 million recovered, and 20 percent on awards above that amount. Attorneys would still be able to collect costs and expenses on top of the contingency fees collected in a case.

“This legislation would ensure injured parties receive more money than their attorneys,” said Rep. Dan Sullivan, House author of the bill. “We have a responsibility as legislators to look at what is a reasonable level for these fees, and this bill lets the people of Oklahoma ultimately decide.

“A vote ‘no’ on this bill is a vote for upholding the interests of attorneys over those who have been injured. It is as simple as that,” said Sullivan, R-Tulsa.

Contingency fees are often used in cases where clients cannot afford to pay for an attorney up front, and instead must commit to giving the attorney a large portion of any award recovered in the case.

House Speaker Chris Benge said this legislation is part of the House Republican agenda to build a pro-growth business climate in Oklahoma.

“We have made no secret that lawsuit reform is one of our top priorities this session,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “Reducing frivolous lawsuits is critical to attracting business to our state and also reducing the cost of health care for working families. We hope this is the year we can get meaningful tort reform into law.”

The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee today and now moves to the full House for a vote.

Coody Appointed to Education Commission of the States

State Rep. Ann Coody has been appointed by House Speaker Chris Benge as the Oklahoma Legislature’s representative on the Education Commission of the States.

“I am honored by the appointment and pleased to be able to be a contributing member to a commission focused on educational policy,” said Coody, R-Lawton. “I hope to bring my perspective to the commission but also learn from others’ perspectives.”

The Education Commission of the States is part of the Compact for Education that meets in Denver, Colo. It provides a forum for all branches of government in the compact states to discuss educational policies.

“The House leadership is committed to providing greater accountability and standards to Oklahoma schools,” Coody said. “As chair of the Oklahoma Common Education Committee, I will already have a role to play in crafting educational policy here. Being on this commission will provide a view of policy in other states.”

Rep. Lamons Responds to ME Investigation

House Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, responds to the request today by House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee for an OSBI investigation into the State Medical Examiner’s Office:
“I fully support and appreciate the House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tem calling for this investigation.

We need a quick response to this situation and I applaud them for taking the lead on this extremely important matter,” said Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa.

PRO TEM, SPEAKER CALL FOR OSBI INVESTIGATION

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and House Speaker Chris Benge called upon the Attorney General to a request an OSBI investigation into the State Medical Examiner’s office today.

The leaders have expressed concerns for over a year regarding the management and operations of the office, but additional allegations of sexual harassment charges inside the office bring new urgency to the matter.

“I have expressed real concern about this office for some time now,” said Coffee. “We have been acutely aware of serious management issues, but the new allegations require immediate action.

“On a legislative level, we will continue looking at the management at this agency,” he continued. “But multiple issues need to be resolved at this vital agency.

“I hoped that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation will look into these allegations immediately, and help us all move this agency toward fulfilling its mission,” Coffee concluded.

House Speaker Chris Benge added, “It is vital that the public has confidence in this office, and given the current allegations, I think it is important that an investigation is initiated immediately so as to not impede ongoing operations.”

House Committee Approves Voter ID Reform

Oklahoma State lawmakers voted today to target voter fraud by requiring that Oklahoma citizens provide proof of identity before voting in an election.

"Any election reform package approved this year must start with voter ID as its foundation," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. "Our top priority is to ensure the integrity of our elections, and to do that we must ensure that only eligible voters cast ballots."

House Bill 1037, by state Rep. Sue Tibbs, would require citizens to provide "proof of identity" before voting. Under the bill, proof of identity could be established by producing a document containing a photograph of the voter that was issued by a state, federal, county, municipal, or tribal government.

"For Oklahomans to have faith in our election process, we cannot tolerate any opportunity for voter fraud," said Tibbs, R-Tulsa. "This legislation provides a simple, cost-effective way to guarantee that no Oklahoman is disenfranchised as the result of illegal votes."

Under the bill, if a voter is unable to produce a photo ID, that person can sign a statement under oath swearing to his or her identity.

Anyone found to have signed the oath falsely would be subject to felony punishment.

In recent election cycles there have been reports of voter fraud in numerous states, prompting lawmakers to enact new reforms.

For example, ACORN, a liberal activist group that has registered millions of voters across the country, has been embroiled in countless fraud allegations and was the subject of an FBI investigation.

Some ACORN employees were accused of submitting false voter registration forms – including some signed `Mickey Mouse' and several in Nevada listing Dallas Cowboys players’ names, though none of the players live in the state. Another Nevada ACORN worker was caught filling out voter registration forms using names and addresses copied out of the telephone book.

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a similar law in Indiana that required voters to show photo identification.

Last week, former Federal Election Commissioner Hans von Spakovsky noted in the Wall Street Journal that Georgia and Indiana saw record numbers of Democrats vote in November, despite having some of the nation’s toughest voter ID laws.

"With every election that has occurred since states have begun to implement voter ID, the evidence is overwhelming that it does not depress the turnout of voters," von Spakovsky said in the Journal. "Indeed, it may actually increase the public’s confidence that their votes will count."

House Bill 1037 passed out of the House Rules Committee today. It will next receive a vote from the entire Oklahoma House of Representatives.

House Leaders Promise Oklahomans Will Get Tax Refunds, Unlike Californians

In light of California officials recently announcing the delay of state tax refunds, House Republican leaders assured Oklahomans today that they will get the money they are due from the state government.

California's latest budget woes stand in stark contrast to Oklahoma's situation and prove the wisdom of the fiscally conservative policies enacted by the Legislature in recent years, House Speaker Chris Benge said.

“Under no circumstance do Oklahomans need to worry about not getting their tax refunds. Even the suggestion of such an idea would be dead on arrival under Republican leadership in the Legislature,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “California's fiscal policies have put it on the brink of financial disaster while Oklahoma's conservative policies have us better prepared to deal with tough economic times.”

According to reports, California's budget deficit will soon total $40 billion – a budget hole more than five times the size of Oklahoma's entire state budget.

Officials have warned that California could run out of cash as early as next week. The state has already imposed a delay on tax refunds, aid to students and the poor could soon cease, and some state offices may reduce hours.

To fill the budget hole, California officials are considering a wide range of tax increases, including a hike in the state sales tax, an increased beverage tax, and new taxes on some services and activities, such as car repairs.

“California has the world's eighth-largest economy, yet they can't even perform basic functions of government – and they plan to charge their citizens more for less,” said state Rep. Jeff Hickman, a Fairview Republican who chairs the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee.

“In comparison, we have enacted policy measures in Oklahoma that promote a favorable business climate, including income tax reductions that put more money into the pockets of working families and stimulate our economy.”

A common-sense approach to financial planning is a major reason Oklahoma is not in the same sad shape as California, said Benge.

“Oklahomans expect government to live within its means, just like working families do,” he said.

Benge said lawmakers will continue to pursue those common-sense strategies as they work on this year's state budget. The Oklahoma Legislature will convene on Monday, Feb. 2.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee aims to clarify line-item veto

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said he and House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, will file the friendly suit within the next two weeks. They're asking for a legal interpretation from the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Coffee said it is his belief that the governor's line-item vetoes last year of budget-limitation bills dealing with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and Ethics Commission were in error.

He said the lawsuit is not an effort to pick a fight with the Governor's Office but to protect the powers and duties of the legislative branch.

The line-item vetoes allowed the agencies to spend money for purposes not prescribed by the Legislature, he said.

Coffee said the line-item veto in the bill dealing with the Ethics Commission had to do with computer software. As a result, the commission used the money instead to raise staff members' pay, he said.

Coffee said he believes that Gov. Brad Henry can use the line-item veto only on appropriations bills and not on budgetary-limitation bills.

Appropriations bills allocate funds; budgetary-limitation bills direct how the money is to be spent.

At the heart of the issue is whether both are appropriations bills.

Coffee said Henry's use of line-item vetoes was an expansion of executive branch power.

Coffee said he is seeking guidance from the Oklahoma Supreme Court on future appropriations processes, adding that he is not seeking retroactive relief.

The governor said he "strenuously" objects to the lawmakers' position.

Henry said he believes that the drafters of the state constitution intended for the governor to have the power to use a line-item veto to address earmarks and pork projects.

He said that if the legislative leaders' position is affirmed, it would take away a powerful tool.

"It would effectively render the line-item veto useless," he said.

Henry said he would be forced to consider vetoing entire agency budgets that contain spending provisions that he thinks are not a good use of public money.

Doing so could shut down an entire agency, something the governor said he would be reluctant to do.

Henry said the issue is legitimate and needs to be resolved.

Legislative leaders had discussed the suit with him, he said.

Gov. Garrett, and after that Gov Edmondson????

State School Superintendent Sandy Garrett will be acting governor of Oklahoma for a short time this week.

Gov. Brad Henry and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins will be out of state to attend tomorrow's BCS National Championship game between the University of Oklahoma and the University of Florida.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and House Speaker Chris Benge will also attend the game and Attorney General Drew Edmondson is out of the country.

That leaves Garrett as the top elected official.

Edmondson is due back in the state tomorrow night and will then become acting governor.

Oklahoma Governor Burrage ? Governor AWOL ?

Although he has never been elected to a statewide office, State Auditor and Inspector Steve Burrage on Monday found himself running the state.

Gov. Brad Henry, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, Senate Pro Tem designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, and House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, were all out of town.

Thus, the duties fell to Burrage, a Democrat. But Burrage doesn't have any big plans in mind.

"I am just going to keep doing what I am supposed to do," Burrage said.

Burrage said he was told he will be in charge until Wednesday.

In July, Henry appointed Burrage to fulfill the remaining term of Democrat Jeff McMahan, who resigned the office after he and his wife Lori were convicted of one count of conspiracy and two counts of bribery. They await sentencing.

Democrats Henry and Askins were in San Diego to attend the Holiday Bowl featuring Oklahoma State University and Oregon. Coffee was also attending.

Burrage plans to attend the Jan. 8 BCS National Championship Game in Miami featuring the University of Oklahoma and Florida.

Speaker Announces House Committee Assignments

Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge today announced committee assignments for the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions.

“This is obviously going to be a challenging session given our economic outlook, but I believe the members of the House are up to the job and look forward to beginning committee work in January,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “We have a very diverse membership with a wide range of experience and insight that will prove invaluable as we develop new policies and the state budget.”

The committee assignments for the
Oklahoma House of Representatives
are as follows:

Appropriations & Budget
Ken Miller, Chair
Scott Martin, Vice-Chair
Jeff Hickman
Lee Denney
Guy Liebmann
Doug Cox
Ron Peters
Dale DeWitt
Randy Terrill
Weldon Watson
Mike Jackson
John Auffet
John Carey
Joe Dorman
Larry Glenn
Chuck Hoskin
Danny Morgan

Human Services
Pam Peterson, Chair
Wade Rousselot, Vice-Chair
Weldon Watson
Fred Jordan
Mike Reynolds
Sally Kern
Mark McCullough
Jason Nelson
Al McAffrey
Mike Shelton
Ben Sherrer

Government Modernization
Jason Murphey, Chair
David Derby, Vice-Chair
George Faught
Scott Martin
T.W. Shannon
Leslie Osborn
Bill Nations
Anastasia Pittman
Seneca Scott

Higher Education & Career Tech
Todd Thomsen, Chair
Bill Nations, Vice-Chair
Lee Denney
Harold Wright
Skye McNiel
Marian Cooksey
David Dank
Sally Kern
Lewis Moore
Mike Brown
Rebecca Hamilton
Anastasia Pittman
Jabar Shumate

General Government
Lisa Billy, Chair
Dennis Johnson, Vice Chair
Scott Martin
Mike Christian
Sue Tibbs
Charlie Joyner
Phil Richardson
Wallace Collins
Larry Glenn
Jeannie McDaniel
Jerry Shoemake

Energy & Utility Regulation
Mike Thompson, Chair
Weldon Watson, Vice-Chair
Shane Jett
Marian Cooksey
Dennis Johnson
John Trebilcock
Ron Peters
John Enns
Steve Martin
Colby Schwartz
Gus Blackwell
Dan Kirby
Mike Sanders
Mike Jackson
Paul Wesselhoft
Neil Brannon
Wes Hilliard
Steve Kouplen
Lucky Lamons
Jerry McPeak
Danny Morgan
Eric Proctor
Wade Rousselot
Ben Sherrer
Purcy Walker

Wildlife
Phil Richardson, Chair
R.C. Pruett, Vice Chair
Mike Sanders
Earl Sears
Dale DeWitt
Jeff Hickman
Skye McNiel
Fred Jordan
Terry Harrison
Brian Renegar
Glen Bud Smithson

Public Health
John Trebilcock, Chair
David Derby, Vice-Chair
Charlie Joyner
Lisa Billy
Colby Schwartz
Ron Peters
Jason Nelson
Pam Peterson
Mike Ritze
Pat Ownbey
Randy Terrill
Corey Holland
Lee Denney
Ed Cannaday
Larry Glenn
Rebecca Hamilton
Terry Harrison
Wes Hilliard
Ryan Kiesel
Jeannie McDaniel
Seneca Scott

Administrative Rules and
Agency Oversight
John Wright, Chair
George Faught, Vice-Chair
Dan Kirby
Mike Reynolds
Earl Sears
Steve Martin
Jason Murphey
John Auffet
Mike Brown
Samson Buck
Joe Dorman

Veterans & Military Affairs
Gary Banz, Chair
John Carey, Vice-Chair
Ann Coody
Paul Wesselhoft
Rex Duncan
Don Armes
Randy McDaniel
Mike Christian
Neil Brannon
Chuck Hoskin
Scott Inman
Paul Roan

Judiciary
Rex Duncan, Chair
Fred Jordan, Vice-Chair
Mark McCullough
Daniel Sullivan
Jason Nelson
Randy Terrill
Marian Cooksey
Scott Inman
Ryan Kiesel
Lucky Lamons
Richard Morrissette

Transportation
T.W. Shannon, Chair
Charlie Joyner, Vice-Chair
John Wright
Mike Christian
Eddie Fields
Gary Banz
Charles Ortega
Ken Luttrell
Al McAffrey
Ryan McMullen
Eric Proctor

Public Safety
Sue Tibbs, Chair
Steve Martin, Vice-Chair
Mark McCullough
Jason Murphey
Randy McDaniel
Leslie Osborn
Todd Thomsen
Mike Ritze
Wallace Collins
Chuck Hoskin
Paul Roan
Glen Bud Smithson

Agriculture & Rural Development
Don Armes, Chair
John Enns, Vice-Chair
Eddie Fields
Dale DeWitt
Leslie Osborn
Charles Ortega
Mike Sanders
Phil Richardson
Harold Wright
Dennis Bailey
Steve Kouplen
Ryan McMullen
R.C. Pruett
Brian Renegar

Common Education
Ann Coody, Chair
Sally Kern, Vice-Chair
David Dank
Tad Jones
Earl Sears
Doug Cox
Daniel Sullivan
Gus Blackwell
Samson Buck
Ed Cannaday
Joe Dorman
Jeannie McDaniel
Jabar Shumate

Rules
Gus Blackwell, Chair
Mike Jackson, Vice-Chair
Tad Jones
John Trebilcock
Mike Thompson
Guy Liebmann
Charles Key
Joe Dorman
Richard Morrissette
Cory Williams
Jerry Shoemake

Business & Economic Development
Daniel Sullivan, Chair
Randy McDaniel, Vice-Chair
George Faught
Pat Ownbey
Lewis Moore
Charles Key
Skye McNiel
Ron Peters
Guy Liebmann
John Auffet
John Carey
Danny Morgan
Mike Shelton
Jabar Shumate

International Relations & Tourism
Shane Jett, Chair
Purcy Walker, Vice-Chair
Jeff Hickman
Doug Cox
Corey Holland
John Wright
Todd Thomsen
Gary Banz
Dennis Bailey
Ken Luttrell
Jerry McPeak
Cory Williams

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Revenue & Taxation
Jeff Hickman, Chair
Neil Brannon, Vice-Chair
Randy McDaniel
Dan Kirby
Tad Jones
John Trebilcock
Pat Ownbey
Weldon Watson
Jerry McPeak
R.C. Pruett
Ben Sherrer

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Education
Lee Denney, Chair
Earl Sears, Vice-Chair
Sally Kern
Todd Thomsen
Ann Coody
Harold Wright
David Derby
Corey Holland
Eddie Fields
Ed Cannaday
Wes Hilliard
Jeannie McDaniel
Bill Nations
Jabar Shumate

Appropriations Subcommittee on
General Government & Transportation
Guy Liebmann, Chair
Colby Schwartz, Vice-Chair
Gary Banz
Mike Thompson
T.W. Shannon
Shane Jett
Mike Jackson
Steve Martin
Mike Reynolds
Mike Brown
Steve Kouplen
Ken Luttrell
Ryan McMullen
Eric Proctor

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Public Health & Social Services
Doug Cox, Chair
Paul Wesselhoft, Vice-Chair
Mike Ritze
Lisa Billy
John Enns
Charlie Joyner
Gus Blackwell
George Faught
Samson Buck
Rebecca Hamilton
Lucky Lamons
Anastasia Pittman
Mike Shelton

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Human Services
Ron Peters, Chair
Marian Cooksey, Vice-Chair
Pam Peterson
David Dank
Dennis Johnson
John Wright
Sue Tibbs
Charles Ortega
Dennis Bailey
Wallace Collins
Al McAffrey
Wade Rousselot
Cory Williams

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Natural Resources &
Regulatory Services
Dale DeWitt, Chair
Skye McNiel, Vice-Chair
Phil Richardson
Jason Murphey
Don Armes
Lewis Moore
Leslie Osborn
Charles Key
Terry Harrison
Brain Renegar
Seneca Scott
Jerry Shoemake
Purcy Walker

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Public Safety & Judiciary
Randy Terrill, Chair
Mark McCullough, Vice-Chair
Mike Christian
Rex Duncan
Mike Sanders
Fred Jordan
Daniel Sullivan
Jason Nelson
Scott Inman
Ryan Kiesel
Richard Morrissette
Paul Roan
Glen Bud Smithson