A Okie look at all thing Politics, eCampaign, New Media and Warfare - - - I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. - John Adams
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.
Republicans have control of the state House and Senate for the next two years — what is uncertain is whether Democratic Governor Brad Henry will stand up to them, Sen. Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee, said Friday.
Garrison was one of several speakers addressing the Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce’s Paul Revere Committee’s legislative breakfast.
“Republicans have enough votes to pass any workers’ compensation or tort reform you want,” Garrison said. “We have a governor and if he grows a backbone, we will have some vetoes. Miracles happen everyday.
Changes in the legislature for next session can already be seen in the reassignment of staff and office space, Garrison said as he joked about where his new office would be.
The Democrats may be found in the west parking lot, he said, adding that he will be in his red pickup and hopefully will have enough money to pay for the diesel to keep warm.
Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee, first brought up the Republican majority in the legislature as he talked about his hopes for “some very conservative dynamics” in the House during the coming session.
He also brought up that he will have an assistant this session instead of having to share one with another legislator.
The House and Senate vote essentially the same 90 percent of the time, Garrison said.
Workers’ compensation reform, tort reform and health care reform are usually what separates Democrats and Republicans, Garrison said. Democrats are criticized for being against workers’ compensation and tort reform because they receive most of their large campaign contributions from attorneys. Republicans get their biggest campaign contributions from health care special interests, he said.
Both legislators encouraged the chamber and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame to take their case for more funding for the museum to the state capitol this year.
The bulk of funding for such projects go to Tulsa and Oklahoma City, said Sue Harris, Hall of Fame president.
The Music Hall of Fame is not just a Muskogee museum, but one for all of the state and should be funded as such, Harris said.
The chamber is joining with 10 or 12 other cities of similar size to form a lobby group to campaign for more equitable funding to cities of more than 25,000 population but not as large as Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma State Senate approved legislation Wednesday authorizing the Commissioner of Public Safety to house and train canines for drug and bomb units.
House Bill 2695 is authored by State Senator Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee and Rep. Paul Roan, D-Tishomingo. The bill now goes to Gov. Brad Henry for approval.
HB 2695 allows the Department of Public Safety to acquire, house and train canines to assist in explosives detection, seek out and discover controlled dangerous substances, perform article searches, perform drug interdiction, provide officer protection, and engage in tracking of suspected criminals. Each canine would be kenneled with its full-time trainer-handler who serves as the primary caregiver of the canine.
Sen. Garrison said there are 19 handlers who train 26 dogs. He said there will be no cost to the state to build the kennels. He said any costs associated with acquiring, housing and training the canines will be paid for with asset forfeiture funds.
“This measure is about public safety,” Garrison said. “The trainers dedicate a lot of time preparing these dogs to aid in everything from drug searches to bomb detection. It only makes sense to allow them to provide kennel housing on their private property. We must give law enforcement every tool available to help them to keep all Oklahomans safe.”
The Oklahoma State Senate approved a consumer protection measure Wednesday which gives motorists a better picture of what type of fuel they are putting into their gas tanks.
“Consumers have the right to know what they are putting in their gas tanks,” said Sen. Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee, author of Senate Bill 1451. “This legislation requires clearly marked labels to be put on gas pumps which contain a percentage of ethanol or methanol.”
SB 1451 is co-authored by Sen. Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee. The measure now goes to Gov. Brad Henry for his approval. It requires retailers who offer fuel for sale to post labeling on gas pumps that include a mixture of ethanol or methanol fuel.
Ballenger said with skyrocketing oil prices and sticker shock at the gas pump, ethanol can be used to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
“We also need to make sure that oil corporations are being held accountable and are giving full disclosure to what they are putting in their petroleum products,” Ballenger said. “This legislation is a step in the right direction in helping protect Oklahoma families by giving motorists another tool to utilize when purchasing fuel for their motor vehicles.”
Two of the trips were to Canada.
