House Votes to Strip Disgraced Politicians of Pensions

Oklahoma politicians forced from office due to ethical violations would lose their state pensions under legislation approved today by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

House Bill 2175, by state Rep. Jason Nelson, would force public officials to forgo a state pension if they are convicted of a crime related to abuse of office.

The bill applies to any felony for bribery, corruption, forgery, perjury or any other crime related to the duties of office, or related to campaign contributions or campaign financing.

The bill’s provisions would apply to all state, county and municipal elected officials, appointees, and employees.

“Elected officials should be held to a higher standard and a politician who violates the public trust should face a harsh punishment,” said Nelson, R-Oklahoma City. “My legislation will ensure the taxpayers are not forced to pay the retirement expenses of a crooked politician.”

The legislation is driven in part by the controversy surrounding the outsized pension benefits paid to former state Sen. Gene Stipe, a McAlester Democrat who resigned from office in March 2003.

Shortly after his resignation, Stipe signed a federal plea agreement related to charges that he funneled more than $200,000 in illegal contributions to the unsuccessful 1998 congressional campaign of Walt Roberts.

The state Supreme Court has since ruled that Stipe remains eligible for his state retirement benefits because the plea agreement contained a provision saying Stipe’s conduct did not relate to his duties as a state senator and were therefore not a violation of his oath of office.

Stipe is expected to receive a monthly benefit of $7,042.

“Any public official involved in criminal activity, whether conducted from his Capitol office or not, has proven himself unworthy of state benefits,” Nelson said. “Politicians convicted of wrongdoing should not receive any monetary award from the state, let alone a retirement income that dramatically exceeds the average earnings of most Oklahomans.”

Since Stipe’s resignation, several other elected officials have been involved in controversies that led to their resignation from office, including former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher and former state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan.

Unfortunately, those examples are just the latest in a long line of corrupt Oklahoma politicians.

“Oklahoma has an unfortunate history of political corruption including the Supreme Court scandal of the 1960s and the county commissioner scandal of the 1980s,” Nelson noted. “It’s time for a zero tolerance policy.

Perhaps officials who are tempted to violate the law will think twice if they know they will no longer receive a golden parachute on their way out of office when caught.”

House Bill 2175 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 86-11 vote today. It now proceeds to the state Senate.

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

Oklahoma House GOP to pick leadership team

After helping to increase his party's political control of the state House to the largest margin ever, Republican House Speaker Chris Benge is expected to remain in the post when House Republicans gather at the state Capitol Friday to select a leadership team for the next two years.

Benge, of Tulsa, was chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee when he was elected speaker in January after Rep. Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, resigned from the post following revelations that he submitted late property tax payments and did not file state personal income tax returns. Cargill did not seek re-election.

Since becoming speaker, Benge has won praise from GOP House members for his methodical governing style and assistance during this fall's round of elections in which he helped raise campaign funds and even made phone calls and campaigned house-to-house for GOP candidates.

"Speaker Benge was extremely active in our campaign cycle. I think the results bear that out," said Rep. Ken Miller, R-Edmond, who succeeded Benge as House budget chairman. "Speaker Benge did an excellent job of managing our races and equipping them with the funds necessary to be successful."

In addition to Benge, Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, is seeking the House's top job. Reynolds said that while he has no animosity toward Benge, he believes Benge has been slow to reverse what Reynolds said was a "very dictatorial" leadership style imposed during Cargill's time as speaker.

"While we are selecting new leaders, what we have not discussed is leadership style," Reynolds said. "I think Chris Benge is an honorable guy. But he had a year to change things and he didn't. He has not addressed even now what changes he might implement if he is elected speaker."

Reynolds said he wants House leaders to develop an inclusive approach to governing that encourages all members of both political parties to participate.

"I want everyone at the table, starting from within our caucus," Reynolds said. "I hope he will try to change the direction of our caucus."

Other House Republicans indicated Benge will easily be re-elected speaker.

"I don't anticipate him having any trouble whatsoever. He's got near unanimous support in the caucus," said Jason Nelson of Oklahoma City, a newly elected House member who said Benge helped him in a difficult campaign that he won with less than 51 percent of the vote.

"The speaker was tremendously helpful. Anything I needed him to do he helped with," Nelson said.

Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan, said Benge was very helpful in winning re-election in a district that was among the seats targeted by House Democrats.

"Speaker Benge was kind enough, at my invitation, to come down and knock on doors with me. I appreciated his help," Johnson said. "I highly respect our speaker. He came in at a very difficult time and has had a steady hand."

House Republicans will also decide whether Speaker Pro Tem Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, will remain in his position. Reps. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, and Don Armes, R-Faxon, are also seeking the job.

Reps. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow, and Scott Martin, R-Norman, are seeking the caucus chairman job currently held by Wright.

Friday's caucus vote will be ratified at a Jan. 6 organizational meeting of the full House.