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!

2 Earthquakes Rattle Oklahoma Senate District 43

See:
Earthquake hits Southeast OKC,
SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2009


Is someone trying to tell Oklahoma State Senator Jim Reynolds something ? LOL

Three earthquakes shook the Oklahoma City metro Tuesday afternoon.

The United States Geological Survey reported a 2.4 magnitude earthquake at 3 p.m. south of Norman a couple of hours after two other minor quakes were reported in Oklahoma Senate District 43.

A 2.7 magnitude earthquake occurred at 12:25 p.m. and a 2.5 magnitude quake at 12:41 p.m. near S.E. 15th Street and Bryant Avenue, according to the USGS.

2.7 quake at 12:25 p.m.

2.5 quake at 12:41 p.m.

2.4 quake at 3 p.m.

There were no immediate reports of damage. A 2.5 to 3.0 magnitude quake is normally the smallest felt by humans.

Workers at nearby Tinker Air Force Base reported feeling the quake and noticed desks shaking during the noon quakes.

There have been 13 earthquakes in Oklahoma in the past six months, according to USGS records.

Researchers from Purdue University and Northwestern University say that seismic activity from the the midwestern New Madrid Seismic Zone is shifting to adjacent faults in the nation's midsection, including those in southern Illinois, Arkansas or Oklahoma.

Other scientists called those conclusions premature, in part because the study was based on a relatively narrow time period from the area that remains seismically active.

Earthquake hits Southeast OKC

A minor earthquake was recorded early today in eastern Oklahoma City (Southeast OKC, Moore, Del City). The quake rated 3.4 on the Richter scale at 7:06:39 a.m. (cent) (13:06:39 UTC), the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The epicenter was around I-35 and I-240, and was about 3.5 miles deep.

The funny thing is that the quake was basely in Oklahoma Senate District 43, maybe someone is trying to tell Jim Reynolds something LOL !

Had to run up to my 90 year old aunt house in South OKC to help put some pic back on wall.


Theoretical P-Wave Travel Times

Senate Supports Property Tax Cap Vote

The State Senate has approved a measure to cut the growth of annual property tax increases. Senate Joint Resolution 5, by Sen. Jim Reynolds, was passed on Wednesday. The legislation would let Oklahomans vote to lower the current property tax cap of five percent to three percent.

“Thousands of Oklahoma citizens are begging for relief,” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “This tax is especially difficult for many low-income and elderly people on fixed incomes.”

In 1996, Oklahoma voters approved a five percent cap on property value assessments. While the intention was to keep annual property tax increases under that cap, County Assessors have instead raised property taxes the maximum five percent each year.

“It’s gotten out of control. Since the mid-eighties, the average U.S. inflation rate has been 2.7 percent, but with the current five percent cap, people in many counties have seen their property taxes go up each year at nearly twice the rate of inflation, even when values have remained flat or even dropped,” Reynolds said.

Senate President Pro Tempore praised Reynolds and members of the Senate who supported SJR 5.

“If nothing is done, property taxes will continue to double about every 14 years,” Coffee said. “Sixteen other states have stronger safeguards for homeowners than Oklahoma. We need to act this year to give our citizens some relief.”

Reynolds added SJR 5 would not take away any money from schools or other county services.

“This simply limits the amount County Assessors can increase property taxes,” Reynolds said. “If approved by the people, this will promote and encourage home ownership and increase the quality of life in Oklahoma.”

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives.

SENATOR REYNOLDS OFFERING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF LEGISLATION

Senator Jim Reynolds (R-OKC), will sponsor legislation offering property tax relief to Oklahoma homeowners in the 2009 legislative session. Reynolds’ bill will cap the annual increase in property taxes at 2.5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less, effective January, 2010.

“I’ve talked to too many homeowners in my district and around the state who are feeling pinched every year when they get their property tax assessment,” said Reynolds. “Due to a flaw in current law, County Assessors are raising property taxes the maximum allowable 5% every year, even when real property values may be remaining flat or even dropping.

SJR 5 is similar to a bill Reynolds offered in previous years, cutting the growth of property taxes for all homeowners, including newlyweds, baby boomers and seniors.

Reynolds notes that numerous states across the nation have instituted safeguards against escalating property taxes, while in Oklahoma over the past two decades, property taxes have increased at a rate nearly twice the rate of inflation.

“At this rate, property taxes on young families, retirees, and all homeowners will double every fifteen years,” Reynolds added.

“With housing values flat or declining in many areas, it’s unconscionable that taxes continue to increase,” Reynolds said. “This tax relief will promote and encourage home ownership, bringing more families and retirees into our neighborhoods, and increasing the quality of life in Oklahoma,” he concluded.

If passed by the Senate and House, SJR 5 will go to a vote of the people for ratification.

President Pro-Tem Coffee Names Oklahoma Senate Committee Vice-Chairs

Senate President Pro Tem Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, named the Senate’s new committee Vice-Chairs on Wednesday. Committee chairs were announced last week.

Under the new committee structure, which was reduced last week from 22 full committees and standing subcommittees to 20, fifteen Republican Senators and five Democrats will assume leadership roles in their respective committees in the 2009-10 legislative session.

“I’m very excited by the energy and expertise represented in this bipartisan list of committee and subcommittee vice-chairs,” said Coffee. “Our state will benefit greatly by the very capable leadership these members of both parties will bring to their new roles over the next two years.”

The State Senate’s committees and committee vice-chairs for the 2009-10 session are:

Agriculture Committee:
Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus

Appropriations Committee:
Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City

Business and Labor Committee:
Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa

Education Committee:
Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond

Energy and Environment Committee:
Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso

Finance Committee:
Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa

General Government Committee:
Sen. Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee

Health and Human Resources Committee:
Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore

Judiciary Committee:
Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada

Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee:
Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City

Retirement and Insurance Committee:
Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City

Rules Committee:
Sen. Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee

Tourism and Wildlife Committee:
Sen. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant

Transportation Committee:
Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward

Veterans and Military Affairs Committee:
Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton

Appropriations Subcommittee on Education:
Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville

Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government:
Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa

Appropriations Subcomm. on Health & Human Services:
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid

Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources:
Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha

Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety:
Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City

For the first time in the state’s history, Republicans have the majority in the Oklahoma State Senate.

Senate Republicans picked up two seats on Election Day to win a 26 to 22 majority.

Boren run away, Reynolds win

State Sen. Jim Reynolds will serve another four years in the Legislature.

His Democratic challenger today withdrew his complaint that alleged irregularities occurred in the Nov. 4 Senate District 43 race.

A hearing on the complaint was scheduled for this afternoon in Oklahoma County District Court.

David Boren said he withdrew his challenge because there wasn’t enough time to find the people whom he believed voted irregularly and to get them all to court in time for today’s hearing.

Boren, not related to University of Oklahoma President David Boren, earlier sought a recount of the votes cast in the district that covers parts of Cleveland and Oklahoma counties.

Unofficial results showed Reynolds won by 157 votes.

After a two-day recount last week, Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, picked up two votes.

Boren, of Moore, paid $4,500 for the recount. He claimed in his complaint alleging irregularities that at least 161 votes were from people who lived outside the district, but he conceded today some could have been voters who had moved away but had not changed their voting registration.

Boren dropping his complaint clears the way for Reynolds to be sworn in for his third and final four-year term. Legislators in Oklahoma are prohibited form serving more than 12 years.

Newly elected and re-elected senators will be sworn in at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Reynolds will attend the ceremony, but he won’t be able to take his oath of office until the state Election Board certifies the Senate District 43 election results. The Election Board is scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Reynolds win in Sen 43 re-count, but, its not over

State Senator Jim Reynolds has picked up two additional votes over challenger David Boren following a recount in the close Senate District 43 race.

The recount began Wednesday in Cleveland and Oklahoma counties and concluded today.

Figures provided by Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman indicate that before the recount Reynolds, a Republican, led by 157 votes after all absentee and provisional ballots were counted from the November 4 election. After the recount, Reynolds led by 159 votes.

One person watching the re-count said "Looks like the other side paid $4,500 only to lose by two more votes."

But the recount does not mean the end of the election dispute. A hearing is scheduled at 3pm on Monday at the Oklahoma County Courthouse to hear allegations of voting irregularities made by both candidates.

Boren, a Democrat, is not related to University of Oklahoma President David Boren.

Update on the Senate District 43 re-count

Election workers in two counties sifted through ballots Wednesday to determine the outcome of a contested Senate seat in a district that includes Oklahoma and Cleveland counties.

So far, Jim Reynolds has pick up a vote in Cleveland County and David Boren has pick up 4 votes in Oklahoma County, making a net gain for Boren of 3 votes. But sill very far from the 157 votes He needs.

Workers in Oklahoma County are expected to resume the count today in the race between Democrat David Boren and Republican incumbent Jim Reynolds.

Boren asked for a recount of the Nov. 4 election ballots in Senate District 43. The difference between the two candidates was 157 votes in latest unofficial vote totals, state election officials said.

Election workers in Cleveland County finished their recount just after 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Boren, a nurse who is not related to the University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren, said he wanted to make sure every vote was counted.

The recount began in Cleveland County shortly after a judge made a ruling at a morning hearing. In Oklahoma County, however, things did not go as smoothly.

A hearing on the recount and allegations of voter irregularities was delayed because Boren was not in court in time for the 10 a.m. hearing. Boren, who represented himself in court, said he was delayed because he was in Cleveland County. Boren arrived in the Oklahoma County courtroom about 10:50 a.m.

Both men had alleged voting irregularities occurred, but while waiting for Boren to arrive, Reynolds’ attorney Tom Prince agreed to drop that complaint.

A few minutes after the hearing was set to begin, District Judge Daniel Owens received a fax from the state Supreme Court advising him Boren asked that Owens be removed from the voter irregularity case.

Later in the day, the higher court assigned the voter irregularity case to Judge Bill Hetherington in Cleveland County. Hetherington is expected to hear arguments on the voter irregularities in Oklahoma County at 3 p.m. Monday.

The recount in Oklahoma County began shortly before noon and election workers were about halfway done when they recessed Wednesday evening.

Counting is expected to resume at 9 a.m. today at the Oklahoma County Election Board.

Reynolds, who has served in the Senate eight years, finished first in the election with 50.3 percent of the vote. Boren received 49.7 percent.

Boren seeks recount in Sen 43

A re-count has been ordered in the Oklahoma Senate District 43 race, which incumbent Republican Jim Reynolds won by 159 votes, according to final but unofficial returns.

David Boren, the Democratic candidate, requested the re-count, alleging voting irregularities. Reynolds also alleged irregularities in the race.

Boren is not related to University of Oklahoma President David Boren, a former legislator, governor and U.S. senator.

The District 43 re-count will begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Cleveland County and at 10 a.m. in Oklahoma County on the same day.

More than 27,000 residents of the two counties voted in Tuesday's election, which saw Republicans picked up two seats to grab a majority in the Senate for the first time in state history.

Letting Citizens Decide Whether to Slow Property Tax Hikes

Letting Citizens Decide Whether to Slow Property Tax Hikes

By Sen. Jim Reynolds

In 1996, Oklahomans voters had the opportunity to vote on a state question to limit their annual property tax increases to no more than five percent for residential and business property. For property owners weary of relentless increases, it seemed like a reasonable way to limit those hikes, and they voted overwhelmingly in favor of the cap.

Unfortunately, since that time many Oklahomans have discovered that their counties considered the five percent cap not as the ceiling, but as the standard. There are many who argue this is an insignificant amount, but the reality is hardly insignificant. If left unchecked, the annual five percent increase will result in the doubling of property taxes in just 15 years. They’ll increase an astonishing 400 percent by the time you pay off a new 30 year mortgage.

It is for this reason that I have authored Senate Joint Resolution 59. SJR 59 will cap the annual increase on property taxes for homesteads at the annual rate of inflation or 3 percent, whichever is lower in any given year. This is tax relief for every single Oklahoman that has chosen to establish a homestead in Oklahoma, contributing to their communities and to their state.

Opponents of my measure have made dramatic claims that this would take away money from our schools, county roads and bridges and other vital services. This is not true, and the critics know it. We are not taking a single penny of ad valorem revenues away from our schools or any other entity. They will continue to receive the property taxes they’ve gotten in the past, as well as a substantial cost of living increase, which is more than many families in our state see.

The fact is, during the last 25 years, inflation has increased at a rate of approximately 2.7 percent a year, but property taxes have increased for many at nearly twice that rate. While it is true that Oklahoma has traditionally been a low property tax state, if this legislation does not become law, that will not be the case in the future.

Unbelievably, there are many who think that Oklahoma taxpayers are not qualified to vote on this issue—as much was said by at least one member during Senate debate on SJR 59. I disagree with that view completely and believe my legislation represents a fair and reasonable resolution to let Oklahomans have their say on this issue.

The Senate approved SJR 59 and now it must be considered in the House of Representatives. Oklahomans who want an opportunity to slow the rate of property tax increases should urge their legislators to support this measure. If the House joins the Senate in approving SJR 59, the people will have the final say in November.


Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City

Represents District 43

Coffee Talk

When visiting with other members of the Senate Republican Caucus, it is clear that when it comes to phone calls from our districts, the one issue that we get the most complaints about is property taxes and how they are continually going up.

A few years ago, Oklahomans enacted a cap that would limit yearly increases to no more than five percent. I’m sure many people thought that would mean their property taxes would go up less than that amount, and hopefully, some years stay the same. But instead, the full five percent has been the standard annual increase in many counties.

Senator Jim Reynolds introduced a measure this year that would enable the public to decide whether to lower that cap to three percent. That measure was approved by the full Senate this past week, although the debate was very intense. Opponents argued that this legislation would result in less money for schools and for county governments and the services they provide, including the maintenance of roads and bridges. That simply is not so.

Senate Joint Resolution 59 would not take away funding from the schools or counties. If approved by the voters, those entities would continue to receive exactly what they’ve been collecting, and possibly even more, each and every year. SJR 59 merely slows the rate of the increases, by reducing the five percent cap to three percent. Again, it does not take any money away from schools or from county roads and bridges. Furthermore, SJR 59 only applies to homesteads—it does not apply to commercial property.

I would never support a measure that I believed would hurt our schools. Certainly as a lawmaker, I want Oklahoma children to receive an excellent education. But it is also personal—my children attend public school so I have a vested interest in ensuring we are not taking funding away from those schools.

What we are doing is helping make sure the parents and grandparents of Oklahoma school children and their neighbors can keep more of their hard-earned money each year.

Full Senate Approves Property Tax Cap Vote

The State Senate has approved a measure that could help slow property tax hikes. Senate Joint Resolution 59, by Sen. Jim Reynolds, was passed on Wednesday. If approved by the House, SJR 59 would let Oklahoma voters decide whether to lower the current property tax cap of five percent to three percent.

“This legislation came straight from my constituents who are begging for relief from increases in property taxes,” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “This is an especially burdensome tax for many low-income and older people in my district and throughout Oklahoma.”

Reynolds said the five percent cap on property value assessments was supposed to limit yearly increases, but it has not worked in the way property owners thought it would.

“They certainly weren’t expecting their property taxes to go up the full five percent every year, which is the maximum allowed, but that’s exactly what’s been happening. That wasn’t the intent of that cap, and that’s why we need to give taxpayers an opportunity to adjust it.”

Reynolds said that since the mid-eighties, the average U.S. inflation rate has been 2.7 percent.

“And yet, with the current five percent cap, people in many counties have seen their property taxes go up each year at nearly twice the rate of inflation,” Reynolds said. “This simply gives property owners the opportunity to get these increases under control.”

Bill to Cap Property Tax Passes Appropriations Committee

Bill to Cap Property Tax Passes Appropriations Committee

Bill to Cap Property Tax
Passes Appropriations Committee

State Sen. Jim Reynolds’ bill to slow down property tax increases received the approval of the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday. It next goes to the full Senate.

Senate Joint Resolution 59 would send to a vote of the people Reynolds’ proposal to cap at 3% the amount that property value assessments can grow each year. Reynolds said the current cap of 5% is too high.

“The number one complaint I hear from my constituents is that their property taxes are growing too fast,” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City.

“Unfortunately, in many counties across the state, there seems to be an automatic 5% increase each year, which is almost double the average rate of inflation since the year 2000. My proposal will give the people of Oklahoma the chance to put the breaks on out of control property tax hikes,” he said.

Since 2000, the average U.S. inflation rate is 2.7%.