Terrill Confident Over Grand Jury

Terrill Confident Over Grand Jury

Grand Jury convened today but he's not been subpoenaed.

By Jerry Bohnen
Monday, August 16, 2010

A multi-county grand jury convened Monday in Oklahoma City but State Representative Randy Terrill and other legislators were not called in the Oklahoma County district attorney's probe of their actions to create a state job for one legislator.

Terrill assumed it meant he was no longer a target of David Prater's investigation but also charged Prater would not admit he was wrong in carrying out the probe over the past few months.

"He's so far out on a limb that he's backed himself into a corner," said Terrill in an interview with KTOK News. He sounded confident he and other legislators would not be summoned to testify before a grand jury, noting he had not been subpoenaed and the current grand jury was scheduled to disband in a month.

"I don't know whether he's a target of an investigation or not," explained Terrill's attorney, Stephen Jones. "But there's no basis to indict him or continue the investigation by the grand jury."

Jones contends the Oklahoma constitution is clear that the questions surrounding efforts by Terrill and others in the legislature to create the $80,000 a year job for State Senator Debbe Leftwich 'are the province of the House'.

Does it mean the D-A has dropped his investigation? Scott Rowland, first Assistant District Attorney wouldn't comment when asked about it today.

"He (Terrill) hasn't been subpoenaed for the August grand jury or any grand jury, so any opinion I would have would be speculative," said Jones. "He was subpoenaed for the grand jury in July but it was withdrawn by Prater and no new subpoena has been issued or served, so you can draw your own conclusions from that."

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.

As DHS Cut Senior Nutrition Programs, Top Officials Got Raises

Top administrative staff at the Department of Human Services received almost $200,000 in pay raises in the past year before the agency cut senior nutrition programs, records show.

“These raises were given at a time when the economic situation was bad and getting worse and a budget shortfall was clearly imminent,” said state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore. “In light of the raises, I find it hard to believe DHS could not find any way to save money other than cutting nutritional programs for the elderly.”

Records show 29 of the top 36 administrators at the agency received raises in the past year.

The pay raises ranged between $135 per month to an additional $1,894 per month. The pay raises totaled $16,380 per month and $196,560 per year. Terrill noted the pay raises were not approved by the Legislature and it is not known if those receiving the raises assumed any additional job responsibilities. Terrill likened DHS officials’ actions to AIG executives who received millions in bonuses after obtaining taxpayer-funded bailout money from the federal government.

“DHS has violated the sacred trust with our seniors in the same way many greedy Wall Street robber barons violated the trust of the taxpayers who bailed them out,” Terrill said. He said the case illustrates the need for even greater scrutiny of agency budgets as lawmakers revise appropriations due to the downturn.

“This unconscionable series of events calls into question the judgment of DHS’ senior management,” Terrill said. “With state workers facing furloughs or layoffs, the Legislature should scrub every agency budget to determine whether the DHS abuses are an isolated case or just the tip of the iceberg. Somehow, I suspect the latter.”

Even Demo State Sentor
Debbe Leftwich think this is
WRONG!

Oklahoma State Senate Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-5774

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –


State Sen. Debbe Leftwich said it was unconscionable for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to pass out nearly $200,000 in pay hikes at a time when the agency has cut $7.4 million from senior nutrition programs. Leftwich said while many employees at DHS and other state agencies are underpaid, raising salaries while cutting senior nutrition is the wrong thing to do. She applauded House member Randy Terrill, R-Moore, for bringing attention to the situation on Wednesday.

“This is outrageous, but it proves what I’ve said many times—DHS has deep pockets when it comes to something they want, like these raises. We have seniors who are literally going to suffer because of the cuts to the nutrition program, but the bureaucrats claim they couldn’t make cuts elsewhere,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. “This is indefensible.”

DHS has argued the raises were a necessary market-rate adjustment. Twenty-nine of the top 36 administrators at DHS have been given raises ranging from $135 to $1,894 per month.

“We have agencies that are being forced to leave empty posts unfilled, furlough remaining workers and cut programs, yet DHS proceeded with these raises. It’s just unbelievable,” Leftwich said. “For years I’ve tried to move state services for seniors out of DHS and other agencies to a stand-alone entity that will make taking care our older Oklahomans the priority it should be. As far as I am concerned, this action by DHS just underscores why they should not be entrusted with programs older Oklahomans need to survive.”

Leftwich Wins Senate Approval for “Scum of the Earth Bill”

The state Senate on Thursday voted in favor of strengthening penalties for assaulting pregnant women. House Bill 1897, known as the “Scum of the Earth Bill”, would allow felony charges to be filed against a person who assaults a woman and causes her to miscarry.

Noting that domestic violence is the number one cause of death among pregnant women, Senate author Debbe Leftwich said the state has a moral and legal responsibility to address the problem.

“More than 3,000 pregnant women in Oklahoma are attacked each year, usually by the father of the child,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. “The statistics clearly show that pregnant women are at a greater risk, and it’s our responsibility to put abusers behind bars. This is an especially heinous crime that demands very serious punishment.”

Under HB 1897, a person convicted of beating a woman they knew to be pregnant could be charged with a misdemeanor and face up to a year in jail. If convicted of a second offense, an offender would be guilty of a felony and face up to ten years in jail. If the attack resulted in a miscarriage or injury to the unborn child, it would be a felony with a penalty of at least 20 years in prison.

“We need to enact policies that can help us step in and prevent tragedies from happening,” Leftwich said. “I believe this legislation provides a strong deterrent and provides law enforcement with the tools to prevent abuse. I’m pleased the Senate approved the bill and look forward to its implementation”



The measure now advances to the Governor.

Bipartisan Spirit Benefits "Scum of the Earth" Bill

The bipartisan efforts of several legislators have allowed the "Scum of the Earth" bill to quickly advance through the legislative process this year, state Rep. Rebecca Hamilton said today.

House Bill 1897, by Hamilton and state Sen. Debbe Leftwich (D-Oklahoma City), would allow charges to be pursued against anyone who beats a pregnant woman.

The bill passed unanimously in both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the state Senate today and now goes to Gov. Brad Henry to be signed into law.

"This legislation has been called the 'Scum of the Earth Bill' for obvious reasons," said Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City. "The number one cause of death for pregnant women is murder, usually at the hands of the father of the baby. We've always been able to file murder charges after the woman and her baby are dead. Now, with the passage of HB 1897, law enforcement can intervene in an effective way before it gets that far.

"This bill has been derailed in the past, but this year, thanks to the bipartisan efforts of several of my colleagues it has passed both chambers of the Legislature and is on its way to becoming law."

Hamilton has filed the bill every year for the past four legislative sessions. This is the first year the bill has survived to go to the governor.

This session is different because of the active efforts of several legislators, Hamilton said.

"HB 1897 would never have made it without the support and hard work of Representative Paul Wesselhöft (R-Moore) and the extraordinary dedication and hard work of Senator Debbe Leftwich. Also, Senator James Williamson (R-Tulsa) stepped in at a critical point to save the bill. The House Floor Leader, Greg Piatt (R-Ardmore) went above and beyond in his willingness to get the bill heard in the House."

State Rep. Doug Cox (R-Grove), who is the only doctor serving in the Legislature, has also been an active and vocal proponent of the measure. As an emergency room doctor, Cox has told colleagues of his first-hand view of the terrible consequences of domestic abuse, helping build support for the measure.

Under the bill, anyone convicted of beating a pregnant woman would face a misdemeanor with a minimum sentence of one year in prison. Anyone attacking a pregnant woman in an attempt to cause a miscarriage would face a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and abusers convicted multiple times would face at least 10 years in prison.

According to the calculations of The Journal of American Medical Associations, over 3,000 pregnant women in Oklahoma are physically assaulted each year.

"I want to thank Representatives Wesselhöft, Piatt and Cox, along with Senators Leftwich and Williamson for their efforts to make this bill a law," Hamilton said. "Opposition to domestic abuse should not be determined by party affiliation and, thankfully this year there has been strong bipartisan support for the legislation."

Senate Clears Use of GPS to Protect Victims of Violence

A bill proposing the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) to protect domestic abuse victims passed by a unanimous vote today in the Oklahoma State Senate. Authored by State Senator Debbe Leftwich, D-OKC, Senate Bill 2163 uses available technology to better protect Oklahoma citizens.

Leftwich said using all available resources and cutting-edge technologies to make Oklahoma safer is responsible government.

“I truly believe this law will provide a higher level of defense and protection to victims of domestic abuse and violence,” Leftwich said. “Too many victims continue to be harassed and preyed upon even after successfully obtaining a court-issued restraining order against their abusers.”

Leftwich said the GPS devices, which will be issued by court order to violent offenders who have repeatedly violated protection orders, will automatically notify both the law enforcement officials, employers and the victim should a violent predator breach geographic boundaries set by the court.

“By utilizing this technology, victims of violent assault will have another way to defend themselves and regain control of their life,” Leftwich said. “When victims of domestic assault are chased away from their homes and jobs, they live in a constant state of fear their abuser. The use of GPS will help protect them from further abuse.”

Offenders will also be responsible for the expense of the GPS bracelet, which is estimated to cost $4.50 per person per day.

The Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault reports there are about 25,000 domestic abuse calls every year in Oklahoma and victim service organizations, shelters and crisis centers, saw over 17,000 last year, including victims and children.

Coalition Executive Director Marcia Smith said the bill can help prevent future violence and abuse from happening.

“Perpetrators use technology to stalk victims,” Smith said. “This legislation allows technology to be used as a protection mechanism.”