Senate Approves Measure to Eliminate Grocery Tax

The State Senate has approved a measure to eliminate the 4.5 percent state sales tax on groceries. Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, is the author of Senate Bill 318. Mazzei said the bill would phase out the grocery tax over a five-year period. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 38 to 8.

“We’re only one of about 16 states in the country that charges this tax. This is something we really need to consider for our own citizens,” Mazzei said. “Furthermore, this is money that families and individuals will put right back into our economy in other goods and services.”

Mazzei, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said city and counties would still be able to collect taxes and groceries, protecting resources for the services and programs they provide to citizens.

“This measure would benefit every single person in our state. I believe that as we work to increase efficiency in government and grow our economy, this is a realistic proposal that we need to continue working toward enacting,” Mazzei said.

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for further deliberation.

Senate Approves Measure to Remove Income Tax Reduction Trigger

On a bipartisan vote, the full Senate has approved legislation to remove the statutory trigger required to reduce the state’s income tax from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent, clearing the way for that reduction to take place in tax year 2010. Senator Mike Mazzei is the author of Senate Bill 315 which was approved on Tuesday.

“The tax relief we’ve approved in recent years strengthened our economy. It is one of the reasons we’re in better shape than other states,” said Mazzei, R-Tulsa. “As we move through the legislative session, we must continue to keep all economic development tools on the table.”

SB 315 would remove the existing trigger which requires four percent growth in the General Revenue Fund before the income tax rate can drop from 5.5 to 5.25 percent.

“Economists know that the type of tax relief resulting in the greatest economic stimulation is a reduction in income tax. Even the President’s economic advisors agree,” Mazzei said. “Certainly, as we move through the session, we’ll have to take many economic factors into consideration, but it is always important to let our citizens know we’re looking at options to ensure they can keep more of their hard-earned money.”

SB 315 next moves to the House of Representatives.

President Pro-Tem Coffee Announces Official Senate Committee Assignments

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, announced the composition of the twenty standing committees and Appropriations Subcommittees today.

“The citizens of Oklahoma have sent outstanding leadership to the State Senate,” said Coffee. “I appreciate the input of the Minority Leader on the composition of the committees. Nonetheless, we believe we’ve maximized the talents and experience in our membership with the official composition of our committees.

“Contrary to the assertions of the Minority Leader, the Democrats did not “hand over the reigns” to the Republicans,” Coffee continued. “In fact, the citizens of the state of Oklahoma handed the reigns to Republicans on November 4.

“I’m proud to announce the new composition of our committees, and I’m excited and proud to help move Oklahoma forward in this challenging time with this outstanding group of public servants.”

The State Senate’s committee Chairs,
Vice Chairs and membership for the
2009-10 session are:

Agriculture Committee:
Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, Chairman
Sen. Mike Schulz, R- Altus, Vice Chairman
Sen. Patrick Anderson – R
Sen. Don Barrington - R
Sen. Bryce Marlatt - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes – R
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield – D
Sen. Jerry Ellis – D
Sen. Earl Garrison - D
Sen. Tom Ivester - D
Sen. Charles Wyrick - D

Appropriations Committee:
Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, Chairman
Sen. David Myers, R- Ponca City, Chairman
Sen. Patrick Anderson - R
Sen. Brian Bingman - R
Sen. Randy Brogdon - R
Sen. Brian Crain - R
Sen. John Ford - R
Sen. Jim Halligan - R
Sen. Ron Justice - R
Sen. Mike Mazzei - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds - R
Sen. Gary Stanislawski - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes – R
Sen. Randy Bass - D
Sen. Kenneth Corn – D
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield – D
Sen. Mary Easley – D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm – D
Sen. Charlie Laster – D
Sen. Debbe Leftwich – D
Sen. Richard Lerblance – D
Sen. Susan Paddack - D
Sen. Jim Wilson – D

Business and Labor Committee:
Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, Chairman
Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, VC
Sen. Randy Brogdon - R
Sen. David Myers - R
Sen. Steve Russell – R
Sen. Tom Adelson – D
Sen. Sean Burrage - D
Sen. Debbe Leftwich – D
Sen. Andrew Rice - D

Education Committee:
Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, Chairman
Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, VC
Sen. Cliff Branan - R
Sen. Bill Brown - R
Sen. Jim Halligan - R
Sen. Mike Mazzei - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds - R
Sen. Gary Stanislawski – R
Sen. Kenneth Corn - D
Sen. Mary Easley - D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm – D
Sen. Richard Lerblance - D
Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre – D
Sen. Susan Paddack - D
Sen. John Sparks – D

Energy and Environment Committee:
Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, Chairman
Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, VC
Sen. Cliff Branan - R
Sen. Harry Coates - R
Sen. Mike Johnson - R
Sen. David Myers - R
Sen. Jonathan Nichols - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes - R
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield – D
Sen. Mary Easley – D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm - D
Sen. Tom Ivester – D
Sen. Andrew Rice – D

Finance Committee:
Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, Chairman
Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, VC
Sen. Cliff Aldridge - R
Sen. John Ford - R
Sen. Mike Johnson - R
Sen. Clark Jolley - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds - R
Sen. Jonathan Nichols – R
Sen. Tom Adelson - D
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield - D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm – D
Sen. Tom Ivester – D
Sen. Andrew Rice - D
Sen. John Sparks - D
Sen. Jim Wilson – D

General Government Committee:
Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-MWC, Chairman
Sen. Roger Ballenger, D-Okmulgee, VC
Sen. Brian Bingman - R
Sen. Brian Crain - R
Sen. Mike Johnson - R
Sen. Jonathan Nichols – R
Sen. Randy Bass – D
Sen. Constance Johnson – D
Sen. Joe Sweeden – D
Sen. Jim Wilson - D

Health and Human Resources Comm:
Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, Chairman
Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, VC
Sen. Brian Crain - R
Sen. Jim Halligan - R
Sen. Dan Newberry – R
Sen. Tom Adelson - D
Sen. Constance Johnson - D
Sen. Jim Wilson – D

Judiciary Committee:
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, Chairman
Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, Vice-Chairman
Sen. Brian Crain - R
Sen. Dan Newberry - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes – R
Sen. Kenneth Corn - D
Sen. Charlie Laster – D

Public Safety/
Homeland Security Committee:
Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, Chairman
Sen. Steve Russell, R-OKC, Vice Chairman
Sen. Jim Halligan – R
Sen. Roger Ballenger – D
Sen. Mary Easley – D
Sen. Jerry Ellis - D

Retirement and Insurance Committee:
Sen. Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow, Chairman
Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Midwest City, VC
Sen. Mike Mazzei - R
Sen. Steve Russell - R
Sen. Gary Stanislawski – R
Sen. Roger Ballenger - D
Sen. Randy Bass - D
Sen. Kenneth Corn - D
Sen. Debbe Leftwich - D
Sen. John Sparks – D

Rules Committee:
Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, Chmn
Sen. Earl Garrison, D-Muskogee, VC
Sen. Brian Bingman - R
Sen. Cliff Branan - R
Sen. John Ford- R
Sen. Mike Johnson - R
Sen. Todd Lamb - R
Sen. Mike Mazzei - R
Sen. Clark Jolley - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds - R
Sen. Mike Schulz - R
Sen. Anthony Sykes – R
Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre - D
Sen. John Sparks – D
Sen. Joe Sweeden - D
Sen. Charlie Wyrick – D

Tourism and Wildlife Committee:
Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus, Chairman
Sen. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant, Vice Chairman
Sen. Patrick Anderson - R
Sen. Don Barrington - R
Sen. John Ford - R
Sen. Ron Justice - R
Sen. Bryce Marlatt - R
Sen. Jim Reynolds – R
Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre - D
Sen. Earl Garrison – D
Sen. Susan Paddack - D
Sen. Joe Sweeden – D
Sen. Charlie Wyrick – D

Transportation Committee:
Sen. Cliff Branan, R-OKC, Chairman
Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, VC
Sen. Brian Bingman - R
Sen. Randy Brodgon - R
Sen. Bill Brown - R
Sen. Harry Coates - R
Sen. Ron Justice - R
Sen. David Myers - R
Sen. Mike Schulz – R
Sen. Randy Bass – D
Sen. Sean Burrage – D
Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre - D
Sen. Debbe Leftwich – D
Sen. Earl Garrison – D
Sen. Constance Johnson – D
Sen. Joe Sweeden – D
Sen. Charlie Wyrick - D

Veterans and Military Affairs Committee:
Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-OKC, Chairman
Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, VC
Sen. Cliff Aldridge - R
Sen. Mike Schulz - R
Sen. Steve Russell – R
Sen. Randy Bass - D
Sen. Sean Burrage - D
Sen. Tom Ivester – D
Sen. Constance Johnson – D

Appropriations Subcommittee
on Education:
Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, Chairman
Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, VC
Sen. Cliff Aldridge - R
Sen. Cliff Branan - R
Sen. Clark Jolley - R
Sen. Bill Brown - R
Sen. Harry Coates - R
Sen. Mike Mazzei – R
Sen. Judy Eason-McIntyre – D
Sen. Jerry Ellis - D
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm – D
Sen. Susan Paddack – D

Appropriations Subcommittee
on General Government:
Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, Chairman
Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, VC
Sen. Bryce Marlatt - R
Sen. Dan Newberry - R
Sen. Mike Schulz – R
Sen. Mary Easley – D
Sen. Tom Ivester - D
Sen. Constance Johnson – D
Sen. Joe Sweeden – D

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Health & Human Services:
Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, Chairman
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, VC
Sen. Gary Stanislawski – R
Sen. Sean Burrage – D
Sen. Jim Wilson - D


Appropriations Subcommittee on
Natural Resources and
Regulatory Services:
Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City, Chairman
Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, VC
Sen. Steve Russell – R
Sen. Roger Ballenger - D
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield – D

Appropriations Subcommittee on
Public Safety:
Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, Chairman
Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-OKC, Vice Chairman
Sen. Don Barrington - R
Sen. Jonathan Nichols- R
Sen. Randy Bass – D
Sen. Charlie Laster – D
Sen. Richard Lerblance - D

These appointments will be finalized on January 6, when the Senate is officially organized for the 2009-2010 legislative session.

Coffee Names Committee Chairs, Announces Reduction in Number of Committees

Oklahoma State Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, announced Monday that he is reducing the number of Senate committees and subcommittees by two, from 22 to 20. Coffee also named the Senate's new committee chairs on Monday.

Changes to the Senate's committee structure include:
The elimination of the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

Combining two Appropriations subcommittees - Health and Social Services, and Human Services - into a single Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.

"Streamlining the number of committees will help improve efficiency and make our committees more effective," said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

Nineteen Republican senators who each served as a committee co-chair the past two years will serve as chairmen in the GOP-controlled Senate. One new senator - former OSU president Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater - is being tapped to chair an Appropriations subcommittee.

Coffee plans to announce committee vice-chairs and other committee members within the next two weeks.

"This is one of the most intelligent and talented groups of committee chairs I have seen during my tenure in the Senate. They'll play a critical role in advancing the Senate Republicans' agenda of fiscal responsibility, job creation, government reform, and traditional values," Coffee said.

The State Senate's committees and committee chairs for the 2009 session are:

Appropriations Committee:
Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher

- Appropriations Subcommittee on
Education:
Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater

- Appropriations Subcommittee on
Health and Human Services:
Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa

- Appropriations Subcommittee on
Natural Resources and Regulatory Services:
Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City

- Appropriations Subcommittee on
General Government and Transportation:
Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso

- Appropriations Subcommittee on
Public Safety and Judiciary:
Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore

**************************************

Finance Committee:
Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa

Education Committee:
Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville

Judiciary Committee:
Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid

Agriculture and Rural Development Committee:
Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha

Business and Labor Committee:
Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole

Energy and Environment Committee:
Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa

General Government Committee:
Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Choctaw

Health and Human Resources Committee:
Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond

Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee:
Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton

Retirement and Insurance Committee:
Sen. Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow

Rules Committee:
Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman

Tourism and Wildlife Committee:
Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus

Transportation Committee:
Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City

Veterans and Military Affairs Committee:
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.

Senate Republicans Elect Leadership Team

The new Republican majority in the Oklahoma State Senate elected the remaining members of the Republican Caucus leadership team on Tuesday.

Last week, Senate Republicans elected Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, to serve as the first Republican to serve in the Senate’s top leadership post, President Pro Tempore. Also last week, Coffee named Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, to serve as Majority Floor Leader.

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans elected these members of the leadership team:

Assistant Majority
Floor Leaders:

Sen. Mike Mazzei, Bixby

Sen. Clark Jolley, Edmond

Sen. Brian Bingman, Sapulpa


Majority Whips:

Sen. Cliff Branan, Oklahoma City

Sen. Mike Schulz, Altus

Sen. Anthony Sykes, Moore
http://www.youtube.com/user/Sykes4Senate


Majority Caucus Chairman:

Sen. John Ford, Bartlesville

“Congratulations to the members of the new Majority leadership team. I am excited about working with our leadership team and the entire Republican caucus to advance pro-family and pro-jobs issues in the State Senate,” stated Coffee.

Republicans made history on election night by winning the majority in the State Senate for the first time in Oklahoma history.

Meet-n-Greet reception in support of Dan Newberry

You are cordially invited to a Meet-n-Greet reception in support of
Dan Newberry

with special guest
U.S. Senator
Tom Coburn, M.D.

Also Attending:
Congressman John Sullivan
Senate Co-President
Glenn Coffee
Senator Mike Mazzei
Senator Brian Bingman
Representative Rex Duncan

Thursday, October 23, 2008
5:30 p.m.


Chastain’s Cafe
122 N. Main Street
Sand Springs, OK


Please RSVP to Claudia at (918) 830-7834
or email claudia@dannewberry.com

U.S. Senator Tom Coburn is not soliciting contributions from prohibited federal sources (corporations, labor unions, federal contractors or foreign nationals lacking permanent resident status) or in excess of federal contribution limits of $2,300 per election per individual.

Senate Approves Measure to Close OPERS Loophole

The state Senate on Monday approved legislation to close a loophole in the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) that has enabled a small group of former elected officials to double their pensions if they worked most of their careers as public employees before being elected to office.

Sen. Mike Mazzei, author of Senate Bill 1641, said that with pension systems currently saddled with tremendous unfunded liability, the state cannot afford to pay inflated sums to a select group of politicians.

“These benefits are not afforded to the average Oklahoman, and to expect average Oklahomans to foot the bill for these exorbitant sums is morally wrong,” said Mazzei, R-Tulsa. “If the state is to meet its long-term economic goals, fiscally irresponsible laws such as this demand the legislature’s scrutiny. I’m pleased the Senate voted in favor of closing this loophole.”

Under Senate Bill 1641, new members to OPERS who become elected officials will receive benefits based on existing contribution rates and their highest compensation received as an elected official, and only for their years of service as an elected official.

At the top of the list for inflated pensions, Mazzei said, is former Auditor and Inspector Clifton Scott. Scott’s annual salary as Auditor and Inspector was $83,510, while his retirement pension from the state is $147,000. Mazzei said the loophole was created by legislation passed in 1988.

Sen. Mazzei Wins Senate Approval for Adoption Review Task Force

The full Senate approved a measure to review current adoption law and practices in the state of Oklahoma. House Bill 2749, by Sen. Mike Mazzei and Rep. Susan Winchester was approved unanimously on Monday, bringing it one step closer to consideration by Gov. Brad Henry.

“Oklahoma has not had an in-depth examination of our adoption laws since 1994,” said Mazzei, R-Tulsa. “HB 2749 creates a task force that will examine those laws and ensure we’re doing the best job we can to encourage the adoption of infants and children into loving homes.”

The bill calls for the creation of a 13-member task force with four appointees by the Governor, four by the Speaker of the House and four by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The final member would be the Director of the Department of Human Services or a designee. The members of the task force would include judges and attorneys with adoption law expertise, directors of licensed child-placing agencies, foster care, and social work, as well as a member of an adoption advocacy group.

The task force would have the responsibility of studying and making recommendations on our current state adoption laws and practices, such as allowable expenses paid by adoptive parents for the benefit of the birth parents, documentation showing a detailed accounting and full disclosure of all money expended for adoptions such as birth mother expenses, agency fees, social services fees and attorney fees.

The task force will also examine jurisdictional issues, the use of technology to aid in the facilitation of adoptions, the appointment of an advocate for the birth mother, confidentiality considerations and industry advertising practices.

“As a parent of an adopted child, I believe in helping couples who want to provide a loving home for a child,” Mazzei said. “I am grateful to my fellow members for their strong support of this adoption review task force.”

Review of tax breaks is urged

Review of tax breaks is urged
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

State Sen. Mike Mazzei says the effectiveness of as much as $1.5 billion in state tax exemptions and incentives must be re-evaluated.

Mazzei told the Republican Club of Tulsa on Friday that the assessment is necessary if the state is to reform its tax system.

"We need to go through a review and analysis process just to find out the net benefits versus the net costs," Mazzei said. "If they're doing something, great, let's keep them. But if it's not, if it . . . robs our ability to be a low income-tax state . . . or have more money for schools, let's get those things that are obsolete and ineffective and get rid of them."

As co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Mazzei has spearheaded an attempt to tighten up the tax system.

As others before him have learned, fiddling with tax breaks is something much more easily talked about than accomplished.

"A lot of people are mad at me," Mazzei said. "A hundred fifty thousand farmers have been told Sen. Mazzei is trying to eliminate all the agriculture tax exemptions. That's not the case."

But Mazzei said he would like to see sunset language in tax exemption legislation that requires them to be re-examined on a regular basis.

He decided not to bring his bill formalizing the process out of committee before last week's deadline, but he remains committed to some form of action on the issue.

A moratorium on new tax breaks would be a start, he said.

Most such measures are slipped into appropriations bills late in the legislative session, but Mazzei said he put his foot down on them last year.

"If we had said yes to them, it would have been $420 million over five years," he said.

Like most Republicans, Mazzei bristles at the suggestion that recent tax cuts are re sponsible for the state's tight budget.

"We don't have budget issues because of the cuts," he said. "It's a management problem."

Mazzei said a failure to fund some departments fully, most notably the Corrections Department, has caught up with the state in the form of emergency appropriations that are reliant on future revenue.

"We've done this screwy stuff for years and years," he said. "We are working hard to stop that."

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com

Go Ahead and Jump

Go Ahead and Jump
BY BRIAN ERVIN
FEBRUARY 27, 2008

Leap year looks like another controversial session for the state legislature


"This has been a boondoggle for many, many years," said state Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, about what he described as the "risky business" of "special corporate welfare."

"It is immoral for the state government to use taxpayers' dollars to handpick which businesses are going to prosper," he also said.

Because of his vehement opposition to such "corporate welfare," Brogdon is just about giddy over a bill proposed this session by Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Bixby.

He and some other lawmakers expect that it will be the demise of many of the state "handouts" enjoyed by big businesses in Oklahoma in the form of tax credits. Or, at least, it will eliminate the risk they associate with them.

Senate Bill 2024 would put a sunset and review process in place for the currently uncounted number of tax credits granted by the State of Oklahoma, to see which are helpful and which are harmful, and to winnow them accordingly.

Which, of course, might sound pretty boring to the casual reader, right?

What isn't boring, though, is the enormous chunk of revenue lost to the State of Oklahoma through such incentives.

"It's well over a billion dollars each year," Mazzei told UTW.

If the concept of a billion dollars a year in tax giveaways isn't staggering enough on its own, to put it in it's proper perspective, the entire state budget for last year was about $7 billion.

Mazzei, who works as a certified financial planner when he isn't legislating and co-chairing the Senate Finance Committee, said that billion dollars is comprised of a combination of tax credits for businesses and tax exemptions for individuals, such as seniors, veterans and disabled.

His bill will not address most of the individual exemptions, he said, since the vast majority of those billion dollars is from the tax credits to businesses.

Mazzei told UTW that he hasn't yet counted all the various tax incentives on the books, but the voluminous text of SB 2024 is a pretty good indication of how many there are: it's 233 pages long, the first ten of which are just the title.

The lawmaker declined to comment on what incentive programs might be getting the ax first because, he said, he's only in the "analysis and data-gathering stage," but said the plan is to eventually eliminate any tax incentives that don't have a demonstrable net benefit to the state.

"By placing sunset dates for special tax breaks, it will require the Legislature to conduct regular reviews to ensure these have worked as advertised," said Mazzei.

"Reviewing them will be an ongoing process. If we can find tax breaks that don't benefit the state or that have become out-dated, we can use that money instead to help grow the economy by reducing taxes on income and investments," the financial guru explained.

"There are obviously some incentive programs that work, but there are others that really raise questions," he said.

One program that works, he said, is an incentive for manufacturers: they're exempted from paying sales tax on materials they purchase to manufacture their products.

"All 50 states have this," he said, so if Oklahoma discontinued it, we'd be at a disadvantage to other states, he said.

But, the state's economic climate indicates that many others haven't had their desired effect of creating jobs and raising income in the state during the past few decades since many of them began, he said.

"We went from being 29th in the nation for average income per worker in the 1970s to being 45th in 2005," Mazzei said.

Closing the Loop

Two of the programs in particular that have "raised questions" were the cause of some considerable embarrassment to some lawmakers in recent years.

Investors managed to discover some loopholes in two tax credit programs, enabling them to fleece the state of Oklahoma for as much as $66 million in 2005, according to estimates by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

Gifts to lawmakers exceed $200,000

Gifts to lawmakers exceed $200,000
By Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau

Lobbyists spent more than $200,000, mostly on meals, gifts and tickets for legislators in 2007, a 28 percent increase over the previous year, state Ethics Commission records show.

Most of the money, or about 66 percent, was spent during the first half of last year when legislators were in session and before a new law took effect that limited the amount companies that hire lobbyists can spend.

A big chunk of the money during the last six months of 2007 was spent on season football tickets at the state's two largest universities, commission records also show.

A law that took effect July 1 states lobbyists can spend only $300 a year on an elected state official or legislator from each client they represent and limits companies that hire lobbyists to spending $300 a year on an elected state official or legislator, regardless of the number of lobbyists they have. Ethics concerning lobbying will again be an issue this legislative session, which starts today.

More than half the money spent in 2007 on legislators went to Republicans.

Republicans control the House of Representatives, 54 members to 47 members. More than $92,000 was spent in 2007 on House Republicans compared with more than $38,000 spent on House Democrats, according to lobbyist reports filed with the state Ethics Commission.

Republicans and Democrats are evenly split in the Senate. More than $33,000 in gifts was given by lobbyists to Senate Republicans compared with more than $27,000 given to Senate Democrats, according to lobbyist reports filed with the state Ethics Commission.

New rules proposed

The Ethics Commission has proposed a rule that would drastically cut the maximum amount of money lobbyists could spend on each legislator.
The proposal would reduce from $300 to $100 the amount spent on elected officials during a calendar year by companies or associations that hire lobbyists. Those companies also provide the money to buy meals and other gifts for legislators.

The proposal also would require lobbyists to disclose gifts after spending more than $10 on a state official or aide during each six-month period. Lobbyists now are required to report gifts costing $50 or more.

Both proposals will take effect July 1 if legislators take no action on them by the time the session ends in late May. The House and Senate both have to pass a resolution to kill the proposals; the governor can veto the resolution.

How much was spent?

The money spent by lobbyists on legislators in 2007 is an increase of more than $40,000 over 2006, when lobbyists spent $161,552, records show. Lobbyists gave legislators $175,780 in gifts in 2005 and $125,000 in gifts in 2004, records show.

Rose State College professor John Wood submitted a report to the Ethics Commission that said companies employing lobbyists have an advantage over most Oklahomans, mainly because the average Oklahoman cannot afford to hire a lobbyist.

The typical annual income from lobbying in Oklahoma is $86,525, Wood said. Nearly 40 percent of Oklahoma lobbyists make more than $100,000.

Term limits in the state Legislature have increased lobbyists' relative power to legislators who are overall less experienced and have less institutional memory compared with legislators who have been in office longer, Wood said.

How funds are spent

Most of the money spent on legislators in 2007 was for meals, ranging from $6 breakfasts to $210-a-plate dinners.
Lobbyists also bought gifts and tickets, such as to concerts or to sporting events.

Season tickets to Oklahoma State University and University of Oklahoma football games made up 24 percent of the $207,784 spent on legislators last year.

OU gave 92 legislators season football tickets at a cost of $27,600, records show.

Legislators have the option to receive one OU discounted season football ticket, said Catherine Bishop, vice president of public affairs at the university.

The season ticket costs $379, with OU paying $300 and each legislator paying $79, Bishop said. The most OU or any group that hires lobbyists legally can spend on each legislator each calendar year is $300.

Legislators also have the option of buying up to one additional season football ticket at the public rate, which for 2007 was $370, Bishop said.

"Their visits give us the chance to make them aware of our academic and research programs, which are of great benefit to our state,” OU President David Boren said. "These tickets are paid for through athletic department funds, which come from ticket revenues.

"We do not use appropriated funds or funds designated for academic programs,” Boren said. "We remain one of the very few universities in the nation where the athletic department makes subsidies to academic budgets each year instead of the academic budget subsidizing athletics, which is true for most universities.”

About $1 million comes from the athletic department each year to support OU's library, Boren said.

OSU gave 80 legislators season tickets valued at $288 each for a total of $23,040.

"Football games are a great opportunity to have Oklahoma leaders visit our campus and get an update on what OSU is doing to fulfill its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach,” said Gary Shutt, OSU's director of communications.

Each legislator has the option to receive one season ticket at no cost because it is under the $300 limit and the option to buy as many season tickets as they want, Shutt said.

Next year, however, a season ticket will cost more than $300 because OSU is playing an extra game, he said. Legislators receiving a free season ticket would pay the amount over $300, he said.

The $50,640 in OU and OSU season football tickets to legislators made up about 72 percent of the $70,414 in gifts given to legislators by lobbyists from July 1 through Dec. 31, records show.

Who got the most gifts?

Rep. Dennis Adkins, R-Tulsa, received the most in gifts during the last six months, according to available Ethics Commission reports. He received $1,733.

Five others received more than $1,000 in gifts during that time period: Reps. Mike Thompson, R-Oklahoma City, received $1,175 and Tad Jones, R-Claremore, received $1,070; Sens. Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow, received $1,040, Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, received $1,032 and Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, received $1,028 in the last six months of 2007.

Fourteen of the state's 101 representatives and two of the state's 48 senators received no gifts during the last six months of 2007, reports show.

During the last six months of 2007, Republicans received 61 percent of the money given to House members. House Republicans received $26,761 in gifts from lobbyists while House Democrats received $17,295, reports show.

In the Senate, Republicans received 58 percent of the gifts given, with GOP members getting $15,369 and Democrats receiving $10,991, reports show.

The exact amount given to legislators is unknown. Lobbyists only have to disclose gifts after spending more than $50 on a state official or aide during each six-month period.

Some miss report deadlines

About 100 of the state's 389 registered lobbyists had failed to file spending activity reports by the Jan. 22 deadline, according to the Ethics Commission. Fifty-six had failed to file reports through Jan. 31.
The $207,784 figure was obtained by checking paper spending activity reports filed by lobbyists through Jan. 31 with the Ethics Commission. About a dozen lobbyists filed online, a new option this year.

However, those reports were difficult to track because a new format for the commission's Web site showing lobbyist gifts is still being developed. One option showing lobbyists' expenditures for the year doesn't list specifically how the money was spent and another reporting option does not list the expenditures by lobbyists.

The state's Web site provider is designing the reporting site. Marilyn Hughes, executive director of the Ethics Commission, said she hopes the information can be displayed correctly in the next month or so.

Wood, the Rose State College professor, said Oklahoma compares poorly with other states in terms of lobbyist disclosure.

In 2003, Oklahoma ranked as the 42nd best state and in 2006 lobbyists themselves felt "there are as many shady deals and underhanded tactics in Oklahoma as there ever were,” according to a study, Wood said.

However, the Ethics Commission "has gained great strides” in putting lobbyist expenditures, names and employers online since 2005, he said.

"Interest groups are strong in the state, but face some limitations with the strength of the governor and Legislature,” Wood said. "However the business and oil interest groups in the state are very powerful coupled with a weak two-party system and term limits.”