House Backs Greater Penalties for Home Invasion

Lawmakers voted today to increase the penalties for home invasion.

House Bill 1030, by state Rep. John Wright, makes “home invasion” a specific crime subject to Oklahoma’s “truth in sentencing” law requiring those convicted to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.

Under the bill’s provisions, individuals convicted of home invasion would serve a minimum 10-year prison sentence and as many as 20 years in a correctional facility.

“Few things are more frightening to the average citizen than violent criminals who will brutally attack you in your home,” said Wright, R-Broken Arrow. “This legislation will increase the penalties for home invasion and hopefully deter some criminals while ensuring those who do commit the crime are removed from society for a long time.”

House Bill 1030 defines “home invasion” as a crime involving “two or more” armed persons who enter a dwelling while the owners are present “with intent to commit some crime.”

The bill defines a home invasion as a crime that involves “forcibly bursting or breaking the wall, or an outer door, window, or shutter” at a home.
Last December, Fox 23 in Tulsa reported that 16 home invasion robberies had occurred in Tulsa in that month alone.

“Unfortunately, the Tulsa area has experienced a rash of this type of criminal activity,” Wright said. “It’s a growing problem that needs to be addressed immediately.”

Because home invasion is a more serious crime than simple burglary, Wright said the penalty should be greater than the seven-year maximum handed down to those convicted of burglary.

House Bill 1030 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 79-4 vote today and now proceeds to the state Senate.

“Covenant Marriage” Bill Headed to Senate

Legislation creating a new type of marriage license that has been successful in reducing divorce in other states was approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives today.

House Bill 1026, by state Rep. John Wright, would allow Oklahoma couples to voluntarily choose to enter into a “covenant marriage,” which legally requires a greater level of commitment and preparation than traditional marriage licenses.

“A covenant marriage encourages couples to treat marriage with the deliberate seriousness it deserves,” said Wright, R-Broken Arrow.

“Divorce has significant consequences for both society at large and state government, so anything that would reduce that epidemic is wise public policy.”

Under the bill, couples voluntarily entering into a covenant marriage would be required to receive premarital counseling at least 15 days before applying for a marriage license. The counseling would include a discussion of the seriousness of covenant marriage, communication of the fact that a covenant marriage is a commitment for life, a discussion of the obligation to seek marital counseling in times of marital difficulties, and a discussion of the exclusive grounds for legally terminating a covenant marriage by divorce.

Under the bill, causes for divorce would be limited to adultery, physical abuse, abandonment, fraud in entering the marriage, or if the couple has been separated for 18 months without successful reconciliation.

Other states – including Louisiana, Arkansas and Arizona – have enacted similar “covenant marriage” laws.

In 2004, research conducted by Jill A. Deines, Laura A. Sanchez (both of Bowling Green State University), Steven L. Nock (University of Virginia), and James D. Wright (Central Florida University) found that Louisiana’s covenant marriage law had a positive impact.

The research found the divorce rate among couples with a covenant marriage license was just 40 percent the rate experience by other couples with traditional marriage license.

“The early results in other states have been very encouraging,” Wright said. “By making the marriage process more deliberate, we may be able to help young couples avoid rash decisions that create emotional turmoil down the road.”

He also noted the state could potentially save millions if Oklahoma’s divorce rate were to decline.

In 2008, a report by the Institute for American Values, Georgia Family Council, Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, and Families Northwest found that divorce and births to single parents creates a cost of more than $400 million for Oklahoma taxpayers through increased welfare payments and lost revenue.

House Bill 1026 passed the House on a bipartisan 87-9 vote today. It now proceeds to the state Senate.

Homosexual Pastor Prays for Oklahoma State House

I am VERY SAD that my State Rep, Scott Martin voted to let this happen !

This and other things that Mr. Martin is doing this week at the Oklahoma State Capitol is making think what kind of Republican he is !

Hat Tip to Jamison @ The Musings of a Muskogee Politico

Homosexual Pastor Prays for House Session

Yesterday, State Rep. Al McAffrey (the only openly homosexual member of the legislature) sponsored the 'Pastor of the Day', the Reverend Dr. E. Scott Jones, Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ, Oklahoma City.

Before praying, Dr. Jones made the following comments:

Mr. Speaker and esteemed representatives, I thank you for the opportunity to be present with you today as chaplain for the day. I want to thank my representative and good friend, the Honorable Al McAffrey for the invitation. I would also like to acknowledge guests who are present in the gallery – members of my congregation, the Cathedral of Hope, United Church of Christ. Joining them are dear friends, my wonderful parents, and my loving partner, Michael Cich.

Dr. Jones is openly homosexual. And to my knowledge, he is the first openly homosexual pastor to become Pastor of the Day at the State House.

Later in the session, Rep. McAffrey moved to place Jones' prayer in the House Journal, a common practice, but State Rep. John Wright (R, Broken Arrow) objected. In my observations of the state legislature, I have never seen a legislator object to placing a prayer in the Journal, but then again, I have never heard of a homosexual pastor become Pastor of the Day.

A vote then ensued, and the prayer was placed in the Journal by a vote of 64-20, with 17 excused. The vote was as follows, with Republicans italicized:

* Aye: Armes, Auffet, Bailey, Banz, Billy, Brannon, Brown, Cannaday, Carey, Collins, Cooksey, Cox, Denney, Derby, DeWitt, Dorman, Fields, Glenn, Hamilton, Harrison, Hilliard, Holland, Hoskin, Inman, Jones, Jordan, Joyner, Kiesel, Kirby, Lamons, Luttrell, Martin (Scott), Martin (Steve), McAffrey, McDaniel (Jeannie), McMullen, McNiel, McPeak, Miller, Morgan, Morrissette, Nelson, Peters, Peterson, Pittman, Pruett, Renegar, Richardson, Roan, Rousselot, Schwartz, Scott, Sears, Shannon, Shelton, Sherrer, Shoemake, Shumate, Smithson, Steele, Thompson, Watson, Williams, Mr. Speaker. -- 64

* Nay: Blackwell, Christian, Coody, Duncan, Enns, Faught, Johnson, Kern, Key, Liebmann, Moore, Murphey, Osborn, Ownbey, Reynolds, Ritze, Sanders, Terrill, Thomsen, Wright (John). -- 20

(Okie Campaigns here, Have to ask how many of the "Excused" just ran out of the House Chamber for the Vote ?

We all know that Shane Jett like to do that !

And I think it's very odd that "Pit Bull" Wesselhoft was AWOL from the Vote !)

* Excused: Buck, Dank, Hickman, Jackson, Jett, Kouplen, McCullough, McDaniel (Randy), Nations, Ortega, Proctor, Sullivan, Tibbs, Trebilcock, Walker, Wesselhoft, Wright (Harold). -- 17

Dr. Jones has a blog, and posted about the incidient here, here, and here. The Daily Oklahoman had an article here.
The House Journal is here (the vote occurs at the end).

Home Invasion Bill Would Make Jail Time Mandatory for Home Invaders

A bill by state Rep. John Wright that would create harsher penalties for “home invasion” passed out of the House Judiciary Committee Thursday.

House Bill 1030 makes “home invasion” a specific crime subject to Oklahoma’s “truth in sentencing” law requiring those convicted to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.

Under the bill’s provisions, individuals convicted of home invasion would serve a minimum 10-year prison sentence and as many as 20 years in a correctional facility.

“People have a right to dwell safely and securely in their own home,” said Wright, R-Broken Arrow. “This law would uphold that standard.”

House Bill 1030 defines “home invasion” as a crime involving “two or more” armed persons who enter a dwelling while the owners are present “with intent to commit some crime.”

The bill defines a home invasion as a crime that involves “forcibly bursting or breaking the wall, or an outer door, window, or shutter” at a home.

“Unfortunately, the Tulsa area has experienced a rash of this type of criminal activity where groups of criminals are breaking into homes while the occupants are there,” Wright said.

Because home invasion is a more serious crime than simple burglary, Wright said the penalty should be greater than the seven-year maximum handed down to those convicted of burglary.

“When there’s just one intruder, the homeowner has a chance,” Wright said. “But the odds are definitely against you when an organized group busts into your home.”

House Bill 1030 passed the Oklahoma House Judiciary Committee and is next scheduled for the House floor.

Wright stay as GOP House Caucus Chairman

Rep. John Wright beat Scott Martin for GOP House Caucus Chairman.

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.

OHCA Engages in Medicaid Fraud, Endangers Federal Funding

An unlawfully created welfare program for illegal aliens may require state officials to commit Medicaid fraud, which could endanger millions of dollars in future federal funding for health care programs, state lawmakers warned today.

"The state Medicaid program cannot include pregnant illegal aliens unless the Legislature explicitly approves
that action through law - something that has never
occurred," said state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore. "As
a result, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority may soon
be committing Medicaid fraud by billing the federal
government for services provided to illegal aliens that
the Legislature never authorized."

The fraud could lead federal authorities to penalize
Oklahoma and slash Medicaid funding to the state,
harming Oklahoma's poor citizens.

"If this is the OHCA's idea of an April Fool's prank, the
'joke' is on the taxpayers, because it's entirely at their
expense, " Terrill said.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which
administers Medicaid, is set to launch a program
granting taxpayer-subsidized medical coverage to
pregnant illegal aliens on the theory that the child
of any illegal alien will be an Oklahoma citizen upon birth.

The OHCA program was created through the agency's
internal rule-making process and not as the result of
any legislative mandate approved at the state or federal level.

"As chairman of the House Administrative Rules Committee, my concern is that the OHCA has no proper legal authority to promulgate these rules," said state Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow. "The law gives state boards the power to enact rules that carry out express legislative intent. The OHCA's rules clearly conflict with state law. If rule-making entities are allowed to exceed their authority, where does it stop? Rules have the full force and effect of law and we do not want to cede the power to enact law to unelected bureaucrats."

Terrill and Wright, who personally appeared before the OHCA board last year to voice his concerns, have now filed House Concurrent Resolution 1064 that would overturn the OHCA rules.

Terrill noted the proposed expansion runs counter to
legislative intent as expressed through enactment of
House Bill 1804, The Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen
Protection Act of 2007. That legislation terminated most public benefits for illegal aliens.

"The Oklahoma Health Care Authority - an unelected,
unaccountable and unresponsive bureaucracy - is creating a new, permanent and unconditional welfare entitlement for illegal aliens without any legislative authorization," Terrill said.

The program also creates a dangerous legal precedent, he said, because it blurs the line between the concepts of "personhood" and "citizenship."

"Those are two very different legal concepts," Terrill said. "While I recognize that personhood begins at conception, the 14th Amendment says citizenship only begins at birth. And it is only with citizenship that I believe eligibility for certain public assistance or entitlement benefits should attach."

The OHCA program could open the door to
discrimination lawsuits as well, Terrill noted.

"The OHCA program blatantly discriminates
against non-resident U.S. citizens and violates
their equal protection rights under the U.S.
Constitution," Terrill said. "Oklahoma doesn't
provide free prenatal care to women who live
just across the Kansas or Arkansas border, but
now we will be providing it to unlawfully present
foreign nationals."

Terrill said there is "no hard evidence of any cost
savings" in the handful of other states that have
adopted similar programs, "nor do the OHCA
rules require an affirmative demonstration of
any such cost savings."

Lawmakers could vote on Wright and Terrill's
resolution within the next few weeks.

Headless Oklahoma House to convene

Headless House to convene

By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau
2/3/2008

The former speaker and a member who wanted to replace him both bowed out with tax problems

OKLAHOMA CITY -- In a history-making session, the body of the House of Representatives will convene Monday without a head.

"It's the craziest thing I ever heard in my life," said Larry Ferguson, a former lawmaker who served for 20 legislative sessions, including eight as the leader of Republicans who were in the House minority.

By Monday's end, however, a new speaker will emerge as the fractured House strives to convince the Senate, the governor and the public that it is ready to do business.

After two top leaders bowed out last week because of embarrassing tax problems, the public is watching, said University of Oklahoma political science professor Keith Gaddie. Residents are alarmed that their leaders have not been paying taxes on time, like they have to, he said.

Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, resigned Monday; speaker pro tem Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, exited the race for speaker three days later. Both acknowledged they had been repeatedly late in paying taxes.

Cargill's resignation occurs at a time when the State Ethics Commission apparently is investigating campaign practices among Republicans under Cargill's leadership in the past two election cycles.

"This better be wake-up time" for whoever ends up leading the House, Ferguson said. "The people out there are tired of reading about this kind of stuff and hearing it on TV."

This follows numerous recent stories about Democrats, including former longtime Sen. Gene Stipe and his excessive campaign donation problems.

Now, Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan, a Democrat, has been indicted on multiple counts over campaign irregularities. Former Democratic insurance commissioner Carroll Fisher is in prison after being convicted of embezzling from his campaign funds and of lying on a campaign report.

"Then they hear about the speaker and the wanna-be speaker," Ferguson said.

Four House Republicans have filed to lead the lower chamber for the session. They include Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, who is the old leadership's choice. He is viewed as a more moderate Republican who can work with both the GOP and Democrats, which he has done as head of the powerful House Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Cargill had the unquestioning allegiance of the freshman lawmakers whom he helped get elected, and they are expected to rally behind Benge when the GOP caucus meets in closed session Monday morning. The next speaker will be elected in open session Monday afternoon, following Gov. Brad Henry's State of the State address.

Benge has said he will keep the current GOP committee chairmen in place so the House can quickly get about its business. It has only three months to deal with a dwindling surplus in the state's $7 billion budget.











Another speaker candidate is Rep. Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha, who was denied a leadership role under Cargill but has supporters among some of the more experienced members.







Candidate Rep. Dale DeWitt, R-Braman, leads the rural caucus of Democrats and Republicans who meet during session to discuss mutual interests.







Another candidate, Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow, leads the Republican Caucus. Last fall, he ran unsuccessfully against Cargill for the position of speaker designate.

All four of these candidates have solid records of paying their taxes on time, county records checks by the Tulsa World show.

This controversy over taxes probably would not have occurred 20 years ago, before tax records were computerized, Ferguson said.

"I've never known a person resigning because of tax problems and an interim leader withdrawing because of the same thing," he said. "This has all left the people confused."

The longtime Republican said several GOP seats are being held by freshmen whose constituents are mostly Democratic, so the party needs to recognize that these seats could be vulnerable.

Ferguson does not expect Democrats to take over of the House, but he is afraid Republicans could lose ground in the fall elections.

The House leadership should look to the Senate, where Republicans and Democrats are evenly split, he said. Surprisingly, "the two parties made progress last session in a bipartisan fashion and both sides got things they wanted," he said.

Ferguson said he has been tempted to talk with University of Oklahoma President David Boren and ask him to call together former seasoned state leaders from both parties. Recently, Boren summoned numerous old Senate colleagues from across the country who gathered at OU. They urged the presidential candidates to quit listening to their entrenched bases and strive for common ground, reaching across party lines.

"Both Republicans and Democrats need to come to the Capitol with the idea of working with the people and being good servants instead of worrying about running for some other office and see how much money they can accumulate," Ferguson said.

"It's gotten pretty much out of control."

Benge put Hat in ring for House speaker

Rep. Chris Benge of Tulsa, chairman of the powerful House Budget and Appropriations Committee, confirmed Friday that he will toss his hat in the ring for House speaker before a 5 p.m. deadline Friday.

Lawmakers said that Benge was calling fellow legislators Thursday night telling them that he intends to run.

The speaker's race took an unusual turn Thursday night when Speaker Pro Tem Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, the second-highest elected official in the House, withdrew his name from the speaker's race amid reports that he has been tardy on paying property taxes for 13 years.

Blackwell's decision to quit the race follows an announcement by Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, earlier this week that he was resigning as speaker due to continuing tax problems.

Benge would be viewed by some as a speaker who could work with various factions.

He has headed the budget committee for three years, working under two speakers and also with Democratic budget chairmen in the Senate.

Others who have filed for speaker are Reps. John Wright, R-Tulsa. who is Republican caucus chairman; Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha; and Dale DeWitt, R-Braman.

Blackwell to DROP OUT of SPEAKER RACE !

Gus Blackwell to
DROP OUT of SPEAKER RACE !



Gus Blackwell (House Dist. 61) is dropping out of the race to be the next Speaker of the Oklahoma House Representives !

New charges have bubble up that will keep him from running !








It look like most of Blackwell lock in votes are now going for Chris Benge (House Dist. 68), and it look like Benge, will be the next Speaker of the Oklahoma House Representives !

Panhandle Representative Running for Speaker

Oklahoma House Pro Tempore Gus Blackwell announced today he will seek the position of Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

As Monday kicks off the 2008 legislative session and members take their floor seats, the first measure on their agenda will be to elect a new House Speaker after the resignation of Lance Cargill (R-Harrah).

Blackwell (R-Goodwell), District 61's representative since 2001, has served as Speaker Pro Tempore, the second-highest ranked legislator in the House, for the past year. He was the first Panhandle lawmaker to hold the post since 1955. And Blackwell is also an ex officio voting member on all House committees.

"2007 was a great year to serve as a state representative and the House Speaker Pro Tempore-not only was it a significant year in Oklahoma as we celebrated 100 years of statehood, it was also a year filled with great legislation and initiatives," said Blackwell. "The Legislature was faced with the challenge of turning great ideas into effective policy and we made tremendous strides on several issues that are keys to sustaining economic development and growth ─ specifically in the areas of tax cuts, education, investing in science and technology, immigration reform and health care.

Blackwell holds a bachelor's degree in religion from Oklahoma Baptist University and a bachelor's degree in computer science from Panhandle State University. He also earned a master's degree in business administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a master's degree in divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

He and his wife, Joanna, have been married for 17 years. They have three children: Corissa, 13; Carson, 9; and, Caleb, 4.

Contact: State Rep. Gus Blackwell
Capitol: (405) 557-7384