R.I.P. David "Coach" Myers

Day starting off on a very sad note, getting word that Oklahoma State Senator David "Coach" Myers passed away early this morning.

Senator David F. Myers serves Senate District 20, which comprised of all or portions of Alfalfa, Garfield, Grant, Kay and Noble Counties.



He was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate in November 2002. 

Senator Myers was a retired Chemical Engineer from ConocoPhillips in Ponca City, having worked in the oil refining industry for 33 years. 

He was an independent consultant for the oil industry.

Senator Myers' authored legislation:

• To help keep children safe by keeping sex offenders out of their schools.
• To help keep families safe in their homes in case of a fire.
• To help fund and improve roads and bridges in Oklahoma.
• To improve public safety by introducing juvenile drug courts.

“Today Oklahoma has suffered a significant loss.  Senator David Myers was a pillar not only at the State Capitol but also among the Oklahomans he served diligently in Senate District 20.  A hardworking man full of compassion and conviction, Senator Myers had a powerful impact on the state he loved.  Serving alongside Senator Myers in the State Senate was truly an honor and he will be greatly missed.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sara and family.”    
Lt. Governor Todd Lamb

"The loss of Senator David Myers is one that will be deeply felt by so many at the State Capitol and across Oklahoma. He was the standard by which any public servant should be measured: humble, selfless, and dedicated beyond question. But most important of all, he was a great friend.  David's strength of conviction and uncompromising values will be remembered by all who had the honor of serving alongside him. Simply put, Senator Myers made a difference. The thoughts and prayers of the state Senate are with David's wife, Sara, and his family. He will be greatly missed."
Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman

Smoking ban an economic issue

Smoking ban an economic issue
Published: February 27, 2008

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS (TAHLEQUAH, Okla.)
The data can’t be disputed: Oklahoma has one of the highest smoking rates of any state, and one of the worst health records. And some of the health problems have been caused by smoking.

So when state legislators in 2003 decided to severely limit the number of public places in which smoking would be permitted, even most hard-core smokers bedrudgingly agreed it was a good move. Since non-smokers do outnumber smokers, even in Oklahoma, it’s only right that restaurants and most public places bow to the majority.

But a Senate committee’s decision last week to extend the 2003 ban to bars and the few other places where Okies can still light up might be taking things a bit too far. Especially when it comes to a full-bore, outright ban on smoking in all restaurants.

When the original ban went into effect, restaurants were allowed to serve smoking customers if they built separate facilities to accommodate them. A number of family-owned cafes and truck stops, especially in rural parts of the state, invested thousands of dollars to build these smoking rooms. And now, the owners are being told they have until 2013 to go completely smoke free. The same message is being sent to owners of bars and taverns, who under the old rules could also allow smoking. Though they didn’t necessarily have to do so, many entrepreneurs also dropped thousands of dollars in state-of-the-art ventilation systems.

Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City, who sponsored the legislation, cited the dangers of secondhand smoke to workers and others who enter restaurant smoking rooms and work in bars and taverns. Of course, Myers’ facts are correct, but what he did not mention is that the vast majority of people who patronize or work in such establishments choose to do so – and most of them are smokers.

It’s not quite the same scenario as it was before, when Oklahomans who wanted to dine in nearly any restaurant had to put up with smokers nearby.

Now there are so few restaurants that allow smoking, one has to wonder why a non-smoker would insist upon eating in such a place, rather than choose one of the many presumably healthier joints.

Some folks might also point out the paradox of banning smoking in a bar, where excessive consumption of alcohol is potentially far more hazardous to public health – at least in the short term – than a cloud of cigarette smoke.

Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, also had a good point when he said the measure went too far, since tobacco is a legal substance. Until tobacco use is banned altogether, one might reason, how can it be – well, banned altogether?

The main problem with the more restrictive ban, however, isn’t so much its intrusive nature, but its lack of consideration for business owners who spent so much money trying to get in line with the 2003 law.

Should some consideration be given to them and their customers? Is it fair to ask restaurant owners who have already spent a healthy chunk to essentially throw all that equipment out the window?

Who will really benefit from the smoking ban? According to some lawmakers, it's the Indian casinos, which do not have to adhere to the smoking ban and can thus welcome diners, gamblers and drinkers – cigarettes in tow - with open arms. That’s good news for casinos, but what about other business owners?

Legislators need to take another look at this measure. Health may be an issue, yes, but so is economics. At least the people should be able to vote on it.

Tahlequah (Okla.) Daily Press

Senate Republican Rural Caucus Op-ed

Senate Republican Rural Caucus Op-ed

Rural Oklahoma has roots that extend deep into our state’s history. With a variety of elements, rural Oklahoma is the unrivaled backbone for Oklahoma, and rural Oklahoma’s success and livelihood directly affect our entire state.

As a citizen and senator from rural Oklahoma, it is an honor for me to serve as chairman of the Republican Rural Caucus in the Oklahoma State Senate. As a caucus, we are dedicated to ensuring the voices of rural Oklahoma are heard at the State Legislature.

Last session we accomplished several reforms that benefited rural Oklahoma. The Republican Rural Caucus provided landowners and farmers with protection for their livestock and land, strengthened trespassing laws and modified the permission to hunt and fish on certain land, and authorized the State Board of Agriculture to collect fines from violators of the Boll Weevil Eradication Act.

In addition, we successfully classified animal waste as nonhazardous to protect Oklahoma’s livestock industry from attacks by radical environmentalists, and we increased the funding for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.

The Republican Rural Caucus is dedicated to advancing and protecting the interests of rural Oklahoma. We recently unveiled our agenda for the 2008 Legislative Session, our “Vision for Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Oklahoma.”

At the top of our agenda is the dedication of more existing motor vehicle taxes and fees to the improvement of county roads and bridges. Too often counties are not even able to afford the upfront price tag of road and bridge improvements, so these remain unfixed. These efforts will not take away from the portion of motor vehicle taxes and fees that are already dedicated to education.

Providing quality education in our local schools is a top priority for us as well. Our children are our future and deserve to have great opportunities for learning and growth. The members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus know that local schools are the lifeblood of our rural communities, which is why we have made very clear that we will OPPOSE any legislation that requires the forced consolidation of public schools.

Another priority for the Republican Rural Caucus will be to immediately eliminate Oklahoma’s Death Tax. Many people have worked hard all their lives to build up a farming operation or small business to pass on to their family. Unfortunately, many families are forced to sell these assets to pay the death tax when a loved one dies. The Legislature has voted to phase out the Death Tax in the year 2010, but we will work to immediately abolish it.

The Senate Republican Rural Caucus will continue to work to ensure the protection of personal property rights in dealing with land and water. In addition to the trespassing bill passed last year, we want to protect property rights with respect to water, and to provide for water conservation. When addressing water conservation, we also will work to improve water quality and quantity.

In Oklahoma, it currently takes too long to move an oversized load as a result of the slow, archaic trucking permit system. This means that products and commodities that should be moving are often sitting on the side of a highway while waiting for a permit. The Senate Republican Rural Caucus will work to modernize this system by putting all Oklahoma roads on a computer-based system to keep the state’s valuable resources moving.

The final area we wish to address is healthcare for rural Oklahoma. Excellence in rural healthcare is vital to economic development and job growth. The Senate Republican Rural Caucus is committed to saving rural hospitals, making healthcare more affordable, and improving access to healthcare by attracting and keeping physicians in rural Oklahoma.

Rural Oklahoma can take pride in our people, our resources and our contribution to this great state. Protecting these assets is essential to the survival of the rural way of life.


Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha

Republican Rural Caucus Chair

Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee Co-Chair

Senate Republican Rural Caucus Members Announce Vision for Rural Oklahoma

Senate Republican Rural Caucus Members Announce Vision for Rural Oklahoma

Members of the Oklahoma State Senate’s Republican Rural Caucus released today their policy agenda for the 2008 legislative session, which includes their “Vision for Improving the Quality of Life in Rural Oklahoma.”

The Republican Rural Caucus’ agenda calls for more funding for county roads and bridges, opposing forced school consolidation, attracting and keeping physicians in rural Oklahoma, among others.

“As senators who represent a number of rural communities, we understand the significance tied to rural Oklahoma,” said Senator Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, Republican Rural Caucus Chairman. “The success and livelihood of rural Oklahoma directly affects our entire state. Our vision for the 2008 legislative session echoes this thought and aims to bring support to rural families and businesses.”

“We as rural senators experience first hand the quality of Oklahoma’s resources,” said Senator Owen Laughlin, Republican Floor Leader. “Water is a necessary resource. We must find ways to increase the amount and quality of water.”

The Republican Rural Caucus vision includes:

Dedicating more motor vehicle taxes and fees to the improvement of county roads and bridges.

Opposing any legislation that requires the forced consolidation of public schools.
Immediately eliminating Oklahoma’s Death Tax, instead of its current date of elimination, 2010.

Ensuring the protection of personal property rights in dealing with land and water.
Modernizing the slow, archaic trucking permit system to help keep the state’s valuable resources moving.

Improving access to healthcare by attracting and keeping physicians in rural Oklahoma, and by protecting the financial viability of rural hospitals and ambulance services.

The Republican Rural Caucus is made up of 11 members: Senators Ron Justice of Chickasha, District 23; Patrick Anderson of Enid, District 19; Don Barrington of Lawton, District 31; Harry Coates of Seminole, District 28; John Ford of Bartlesville, District 29; Mike Johnson of Kingfisher, District 22; Todd Lamb of Edmond, District 47; Owen Laughlin of Woodward, District 27; David Myers of Ponca City, District 20; Mike Schulz of Altus, District 38; Anthony Sykes of Newcastle, District 24.

The purpose of the Republican Rural Caucus is to provide a voice for the citizens of rural, small town Oklahoma and promote their issues at the State Capitol.,/b>