Senator expects competitive race in defense of seat

Senator expects competitive race
in defense of seat

By John Greiner
Capitol Bureau
Sun May 18, 2008

Republicans haven't designated Tulsa Democrat Sen. Tom Adelson as a target in this year's election, but if they do, he's armed with a lot of money to defend his seat.

Adelson, who will seek re-election to Senate District 33 in Tulsa, leads all state senators in money raised so far. Experience tells him he may need every bit of it.

So far, Republicans have targeted two seats, but party leaders say more are on the way.

The latest information shows that Adelson has $368,988, which includes a $275,000 personal loan he made to his campaign in 2004.

Adelson, former cabinet secretary of health for Gov. Brad Henry, said the district is competitive. Tulsa's Senate District 33 has 18,771 registered Democrats, 16,796 registered Republicans, and 5,312 registered independents.

Adelson said he has 371 individual contributions to his campaign, plus 56 from political action committees.

"I'm prepared for a competitive race,” Adelson said.

GOP focus on 2 seats ... for now
The race was tight in 2004.
That year, the Senate District 33 seat was open because term limits forced out Democrat Penny Williams. Republicans thought they would have a good chance in that race.

Democrats and Republicans held primary elections to pick their candidates.

Adelson's opponent was Dewey Bartlett Jr., the son of the late Gov. Dewey Bartlett. Adelson defeated Bartlett with 51.4 percent of the vote.

Randy Swanson, director of the Oklahoma State Republican Senatorial Committee, said the committee has targeted only two Senate seats so far.

One is Senate District 37, represented by Sen. Nancy Riley, D-Tulsa, who was elected in 2000 as a Republican.

In 2006, following an unsuccessful race for lieutenant governor, Riley switched her registration to Democrat.

Riley's decision had a major effect on the intentions of Senate Republicans who thought they could take over the Senate in 2006.

The result was 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans, forcing a power sharing agreement in the Senate during the past two legislative sessions.

Riley has raised $141,501. No one has officially announced candidacy to challenge Riley.

Swanson said the other targeted seat is Senate District 21, which is held by Democrat Senate leader Mike Morgan, who can't run because of term limits.

Former Oklahoma State University President James E. Halligan has said he intends to run for the seat. Halligan, a Republican, has raised $197,397. No one else has announced plans to seek the seat.

Lawmakers: Odds for bond issue are 50-50

Lawmakers:
Odds for bond issue are 50-50

By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau

OKLAHOMA CITY — By week's end, House and Senate leaders made sure they kept their stories straight regarding the likelihood of a bond issue emerging before the session's expected final gavel Friday.

Both Republican House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate Democratic leader Mike Morgan said the bond issue has a "50-50 chance."

The leaders were planning to regroup Monday to see if a plan can emerge. It would probably have to be shored up by midweek for a vote.

The House has been adamant that any bond issue must include roads and bridges or there would be no deal.

House Republicans could float a bill calling for bonds to fund only transportation needs, but the likelihood of the Senate and governor going along with that idea is slim. A compromise is the most likely solution.

Three other needs in play are bonds:

To fund endowed chairs, so the state would pay the universities money to match gifts from the private sector for special professorships,

To complete a Native American Cultural Center at the crossroad of Interstates 40 and 35 in Oklahoma City, something that the governor wants, and

To provide upstream flood control needs that have become evident in parts of the state after last year's severe flooding.

A bond issue in the range of $500 million to $800 million has been suggested, although agencies have bombarded leaders with requests that would total about $1.7 billion.

If a bond issue were limited to roads, it could be closer to $300 million.

Whether a bond issue emerges appears to be incumbent on how much the top leaders will compromise in drawing up a package. If they are too insistent on what they must have included, a Christmas tree bond issue could topple under its own weight.

This year, there is a four-legged stool of leadership that has to be balanced. There's the House controlled by Republicans, then the Senate evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, and Democratic Gov. Brad Henry.

State Treasurer Scott Meacham has been doing much of the negotiating for the governor.

Sen. Glenn Coffee, head of Senate Republicans, said he thinks there will be an announcement, "hopefully early next week," as to what the leaders decide.

Consideration of a bond issue appears to be the last major item that lawmakers have to decide before adjournment. Due to a standstill budget already approved for state agencies, no more money is on the table to spend.


Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com

Democrats Kill Voter ID Bill in Partisan Vote

Republican state senators expressed their disappointment that Senate Democrats voted along party lines to kill a bill designed to stamp out election fraud by requiring voters to show a form of identification at the polls.

Senate Bill 1150 received 24 votes in favor, and 23 votes opposed, but 25 votes were required to pass the bill and send it to the governor’s desk.

The leader of Democrats in the Oklahoma State Senate – President Pro Tem Mike Morgan of Stillwater – skipped the vote despite being on the floor moments earlier and voting for a procedural motion that brought SB 1150 to a final vote.

By skipping the vote, Morgan prevented a tie that could have required Lt. Gov. Jari Askins to break the tie.

The bill’s author, Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, said, “I am very disappointed that this bill failed, especially that it was defeated by Democrats on a partisan, party-line vote. Oklahoma citizens – both Democrats and Republicans – want to be assured that our elections are fair. SB 1150 helped ensure fairness, and would not have disenfranchised any group or individual. I will keep fighting for voter ID and voter integrity in Oklahoma,” he stated.

“Judging by their blatant display of partisanship today, Senate Democrats seem intent on turning the State Senate back into the Legislature’s graveyard for good legislation. That’s not good for the Senate or for the people of Oklahoma,” said Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

Ford can bring the bill back up for a reconsideration of the vote within three legislative days.

Senate Leaders Name GCCA Members

Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan and Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee announced Wednesday that 46 of the Senate’s 48 members have been assigned to the General Conference Committee on Appropriations.

The joint Senate-House conference committee, which will consider legislation dealing with budgetary matters, will include every senator other than the two Senate leaders.

“Crafting the state budget is the single most important job our members are asked to do each legislative session” said Morgan, D-Stillwater. “Naming GCCA members today is a good indication that budget work is going smoothly and ensures we are poised to complete our work on time.”

“A lot of work remains to be done on budget issues this session, but the naming of GCCA members today shows that the State Senate is on track to bring the 2007 legislative session to an orderly and timely adjournment. We’re headed down the homestretch,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

The Perfect Storm - The DA's: budget and funding issues PART 2

The Oklahoma State Senate passed a resolution today protesting any federal cuts to the budgets of Oklahoma's District Attorneys. The resolution was authored by Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City) and President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan (D-Stillwater). Action on Senate Resolution 57 follows last week's press conference where District Attorneys around Oklahoma joined Senators Coffee and Morgan to raise awareness of proposed federal budget cuts that would have a devastating effect on the operations of district attorney offices throughout Oklahoma and create gaping holes in programs aimed at making Oklahoma one of the safest places to live, work and raise a family.

"Public safety should be the number one priority of government and we are committed to seeing it funded. District attorneys are critical to keeping the public safe from crime," Coffee said. "We have authored this resolution asking Congress to restore the public safety budget cuts. The federal government should not try to balance their budget on the backs of public safety."

Senator Morgan echoed his support to strongly oppose Congress from cutting the budgets of key public safety personnel not only in Oklahoma, but around the country.

"Government's greatest moral obligation is to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens," Morgan said. "In the state senate we have in the past, and will continue to make public safety a top priority when writing the state budget. Even in a tight budget year, we have to keep all options on the table to ensure the public safety needs of this state are adequately met."

Morgan and Coffee pointed to numbers provided by the Oklahoma District Attorney's Council as evidence that federal budget cuts would result in staggering losses for Oklahoma including:

The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program will lose 36 investigators.

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) will lose 6 employees.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods program will be completely eliminated.

The Anti-Gang Initiative will be completely eliminated.

District Attorneys throughout Oklahoma will lose 45 employees.

Business leaders seek to have HB 1804 revisited

Business leaders seek to have
HB 1804 revisited
By JIM MYERS & BARBARA HOBEROCK World Staff Writers
2/17/2008

Kell Kelly, CEO of SpiritBank, called the law Draconian but realizes it will be an uphill battle.

Key business leaders in Oklahoma are preparing efforts, including a possible public information campaign, to revisit what one called the Draconian and insidious aspects of the state's landmark immigration law.

Despite the heavy hitters from the business world and the amount of money that could be involved in the efforts, it appears supporters will not have an easy time persuading leaders at the state Capitol to take a second look at the new law so soon.

The law created by House Bill 1804 makes it a state felony to knowingly transport illegal aliens, creates state barriers to hiring illegal immigrants and requires proof of citizenship to receive certain government benefits. After July 1, it requires state contractors to check the immigration status of workers.

Supporters of the efforts privately concede they face an uphill battle in an election year on such a hot-button issue as immigration.


"In order for this issue to be fully understood, it will require a public information campaign," said Kell Kelly, CEO of SpiritBank, who explained he could not confirm that such an effort already was under way.

"But I can tell you this is not something the business community or any of the major chambers of commerce are going to be able to not engage in."

Kelly laid out two major issues with the new law: "man's inhumanity to man" and the "absolute Draconian effect" it has on the state's economy.

"Without legislative action, there will have to be some sort of public awareness campaign that brings to light the very Draconian and insidious nature of this legislation," he said.

When asked why business leaders did not take more of an active role when H.B. 1804 was working its way through the legislative process, Kelly conceded he did not realize the depth of the ramifications or the punitive nature of the measure.

"It caught me flat-footed," he said.

Oklahoma's immigration law, one of the first passed on the state level and viewed by some as the most stringent, already has been hit by several lawsuits, including a request for a federal injunction filed Feb. 1 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and local chambers in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

They are asking the court to bar the state from implementing provisions on verifying eligibility for workers and authorization status of independent contractors.

Those provisions place an unreasonable and unfair burden on Oklahoma businesses, the lawsuit claims.

While not involved in the lawsuit, supporters of the other efforts are watching it closely as they prepare what one described as "diplomatic efforts" at the state Capitol.

One goal could be to delay the provisions of the law that kick in this summer that deal with requirements at the subcontractor level.

Such a delay could give businesses and the public more time to determine exactly what kind of issues that could arise, a source said.

If that approach fails, the source said, the public awareness campaign could be launched, not to criticize state officials or defend illegal immigration but to make the public aware of what was described as the unintended consequences of the law.

Several state leaders said they had not been approached by business leaders about revisiting the law, but some said they had heard reports of such efforts.

No one gave those efforts much of a chance.

"I think public sentiment is very strong that what we did was appropriate," House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, said. "I would be reluctant to change the bill."

Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, said he has talked to dozens of companies regarding the impact the measure is having, adding he has heard about the possibility of a privately funded campaign to sway public opinion.

He said the law's full impact has yet to be determined, warning it would be dangerous to attempt to fix things before the measure's full impact is known.

Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said he was aware that a number of business leaders have held discussions.

"I don't know the details," he said.

Coffee said he doesn't see significant changes to the measure happening.

A spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry said companies have not approached the governor about the issue.

At the time he signed the bill into law last year, Henry said state leaders should monitor it closely to watch for unintended consequences.

Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, the author of H.B. 1804, also said he has not been approached by companies seeking to alter or repeal the bill.

Terrill said he finds it incredibly troublesome that some big business organizations and their chamber allies in Tulsa and Oklahoma City believe they own the legislative process.

On its way to becoming law, the legislation drew overwhelming support among lawmakers, passing the House by a vote of 84 to 14 and the Senate by 41 to 6.




Jim Myers (202) 484-1424
jim.myers@tulsaworld.com

Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com

Forbes: Oklahoma - Federal tax rebate won't be taxed

Federal tax rebate won't be taxed
AFX News

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State income taxes will not have to be paid on pending federal income tax rebates, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Tax Commission said Monday.

However, Oklahomans who owe back taxes or money to the government for such things as delinquent student loans and child support payments will have their rebate checks wiped out or reduced.

Paula Ross, Tax Commission spokeswoman, said the rebates are not being considered as income at the federal level, so they also will not be taxed at the state level.

'But people who owe the state or federal government may have the rebates snagged' just as regular tax refunds are captured, she said.

The rebates are part of an economic stimulus package scheduled to be signed into law by President Bush on Wednesday.

Most single taxpayers will get $600 rebates and most married taxpayers will get $1,200, plus $300 per child. Officials hope taxpayers will spend most of their money on goods and services to spur the national economy.

Oklahoma legislators had taken steps to ensure state taxpayers would not be penalized on their state income taxes because of the rebates.

Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, R-Stillwater; Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, and House Speaker Chris Benge earlier said they supported legislation to deem the federal rebates as nontaxable on the state level.

Morgan said the idea of the stimulus package is to have taxpayers 'take that money and spend it on main streets across the country, including right here in Oklahoma.

'I am certainly in favor of ensuring Oklahomans do not have to pay state income taxes on those rebate checks. Those rebate checks are intended to pump money into our economy and not back into the state coffers.'

Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, said concern that the tax rebates may be taxed by the state was probably due to a situation that developed when federal taxes had to be paid on state tax rebates a few years ago.

'Generally, federal tax rebates are not taxed at the state level,' Terrill said.

Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, had prepared an amendment to ensure the federal tax money was not taxed, just in case. The amendment was planned for his bill expanding the fall sales tax holiday to include school supplies.

Reaction to Lance Cargill's resignation

State government officials are reacting to the resignation of House Speaker Lance Cargill from that post today.

Cargill, a Republican, had been under fire following reports he was late for six straight years in paying property taxes on his Harrah law office.

The reports came after it was revealed Cargill failed to file state personal income tax returns in 2005 and 2006.

State Senate co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, an Oklahoma City Republican, says that Cargill made a difficult decision and s hould be commended for putting his caucus, the House of Representatives, and the state ahead of himself.

Coffee's Democratic counterpart, Mike Morgan of Stillwater, says that if Cargill believes issues in his personal life are interfering with his ability to serve the people of Oklahoma, that Cargill's decision is the best one he could make.

Democratic Governor Brad Henry says he looks forward to working with the new leadership of the House and that bipartisan cooperation will be critical to a successful legislative session.

3 races might tip balance in Senate

3 races might tip balance in Senate

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
1/22/2008
Last Modified: 1/22/2008

Half of the seats in the now-tied chamber are up for grabs this fall.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Three races could determine which party controls the state Senate in 2009.

Twenty-four of the Senate's 48 seats will be up for election in the fall. The Senate is now tied, with 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans, and operates under a power-sharing agreement. Of the contested seats, 11 are now held by Democrats; 13 are held by Republicans.

"I feel pretty good about it," Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said of his party's prospects in the upcoming elections. "I don't think it is a Hail Mary pass, and I don't think it is a long field goal. I feel we've got the ball in the end zone and have to execute. If we do everything right, I think we will get there."

Ward Curtin, executive director of the Oklahoma State Senate Democrats, said it is too early to talk about targeted races.

"Last cycle, we had to defend nine open seats," he said. "This year, it is two. That is an opportunity for us to go on the offense rather than play defense."

Political experts say that as much as half a million dollars will be spent on key Senate races this year.

Senate Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, is serving his last year in office because of the state's 12-year term limit law for lawmakers.

Former Oklahoma State University President James Halligan is running as a Republican for the seat. A Democratic candidate has not formally announced.

The district -- District 21 -- has 19,512 Democrats, 19,430 Republicans and 5,705 independents registered.

Sen. Nancy Riley of Sand Springs faces re-election in Senate District 37. After a failed run for lieutenant governor, Riley switched parties, from Republican to Democrat, forcing a tie in the upper chamber for the first-time in history.

The race for District 37 has attracted two Republican candidates -- Jan Megee, an administrative aide for the Tulsa City Council, and Dan Newberry, president of Homeland Federal Mortgage.

The district has 16,929 Democrats, 24,380 Republicans and 5,333 independents registered.

"I think there was a lot of disappointment and frustration that one person (Riley) made the decision for all of us," Coffee said.

But Curtin said Riley isn't someone who can be backed into a corner.

"Republicans learned that when they squeezed a moderate voice out," he said.

Riley said she ran for office because she wanted to represent the average person.

"My party switch will make a difference to Glenn Coffee," Riley said. "But I think voters in my district appreciate a person who is an independent thinker and is willing to stand up for why they came to the Capitol."

Finally, Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton, is up for re-election in District 31, which has 22,730 Democrats, 9,475 Republicans and 3,749 independents registered.

Experts on both sides of the political spectrum say presidential elections tend to bring more voters to the polls and result in more votes cast in local elections.

"If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee, I think it will intensify the opposition to go vote against her in Oklahoma," Coffee said. "She won't do well here. That will help our candidates."

Curtin said Democratic Senate candidates will have to make a case locally as to why they are the best for the job.

"The national environment looks great for us," he said. "We are coming off a fantastic year statewide for Democrats. Fundraising is extremely strong."

Gov. Brad Henry, a popular Democrat, also helps Democratic candidates, Curtin said.

Henry has been extremely helpful in fundraising and candidate recruitment, he said.

"Overall," Curtin said, "improving the environment for Democrats in Oklahoma -- he has been extremely influential in doing that."

Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com

John Edwards Names Oklahoma Campaign Advisers

Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards has named state advisers in states that will hold primaries on February 5,

including Oklahoma. Labor Commissioner Lloyd Fields,







State Senate President Pro-Tem Mike Morgan








and House Democratic Leader Danny Morgan will work on Edwards campaign in Oklahoma.

A Look Back for Lawmakers... (Part 2)

Published: December 27, 2007 05:02 pm

Legislators weigh in on 2007
By Jaclyn Houghton
CNHI News Service

OKLAHOMA CITY — What challenges did you face as a freshman legislator this year?

“The biggest challenge for me as a freshman is learning the ropes … the little ways you get stuff done.” --- Rep. John Enns, R-Enid

“For any freshman legislator there’s a pretty steep learning curve in learning how many eyes get to see everything … here you are as a freshman trying to convince 100 minds in the House and 48 minds in the Senate that it’s a good idea.” --- Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan

“The biggest challenge, I would say, is getting a consensus with House members on House Bill 1804 (the immigration bill). What I was disappointed with was the veto of tort reform.” --- Rep. Charlie Joyner, R-Midwest City

“The biggest challenge was knowing what to expect, especially from a time management perspective.” --- Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie

“There’s a huge learning curve. Although I studied political science and went to law school, it’s so much more than drafting a piece of legislation and hoping it gets passed.” --- Rep. Scott Inman, D-Del City

“I think, in particular this year, the biggest challenge is trying to set the groundwork of the next 100 years for our state’s history … sometimes you get caught up in the moment, but really you have to have a long-term view of what you’re doing.” --- Rep. Scott Martin, R-Norman

“My biggest challenge is how much reading is involved. Whenever you have to read 15 to 25 bills a day it becomes a huge challenge to get them read. My other biggest surprise is how many other legislators don’t read them.” --- Rep. Brian Renegar, D-McAlester

“Coming from just a workingman background, just the (understanding the) legalese … they make the very simple complicated as far as legislation.” --- Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee

What challenges do you still face as a senior legislator with one year left to serve?

“(This year) with the tied Senate, I served as (Republican) floor leader. The challenge was trying to build relationships with not only those on our side of the aisle but those on the other side or else legislation wasn’t going to move forward.” --- Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
As a senior legislator with only one year left to serve, what have you noticed over the years?

“As much as things change, a lot stay the same. A lot of those overwriting issues still remain.” --- Sen. Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater


Jaclyn Houghton is CNHI News Service Oklahoma reporter

Opinion: Aiding families, not bureaucrats

Sun December 23, 2007

By State Rep. Randy Terrill


In "‘Bully' pulpit gone wrong” (Opinion, Dec. 16), state Sen. Mike Morgan accused me of "bullying” an unelected, largely unaccountable bureaucracy.

Heaven forbid.

I don't know about Sen. Morgan, but I was elected to represent my constituents, the working families of Oklahoma, not a bureaucracy that sees the state treasury as its own private stash of "mad money.”

I believe it may be time for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, who oversee the state's college system, to undergo an independent performance audit. For some reason, Sen. Morgan finds that extremely upsetting.

My concern is that the regents now have a budget exceeding $1 billion and have also been given a half-billion-dollar bonding authority, yet they continue to request budget increases greater than $100 million every single year while simultaneously subjecting students to massive tuition and fee increases.

Worse yet, the regents have become increasingly belligerent and nonresponsive, frequently thumbing their noses at much-needed reforms.

For example, the regents actually argue that taxpayer-funded scholarships should be diverted from Oklahoma citizens to illegal aliens. Then, apparently to make life tougher for Oklahoma's working families, the regents support diverting the remaining scholarship money for poor students to wealthy families who earn more than $100,000 per year.

They also oppose requiring students to maintain the same grade point average in college — a mere 2.5 — that they must maintain in high school to qualify for the scholarship.

The regents' biggest moral failing is their approval of never-ending tuition and fee increases. Compared with 2003, the year before the regents were given tuition-setting authority, they have increased tuition and fees by more than 50 percent.

That may be one reason why they weren't particularly fond of a new law allowing freshmen to lock in tuition rates for four years.

Those dramatic tuition hikes have come in spite of record state appropriations for our college system.

Thanks to the regents, higher education is becoming increasingly unaffordable to the average Oklahoman — most of whom are not independently wealthy — and it's becoming very difficult, if not impossible, for families to save or invest enough money to cover the cost. Tuition and fees have grown faster than savings can grow even in most official state college savings programs.

As a result of the regents' self-serving policies, Oklahoma students are forced to forgo a college education or assume massive debt to pay for a degree.

Upon graduation, many students are forced to leave the state to obtain jobs that will pay enough to cover their living expenses and debt payments. If the regents want to understand the reason for Oklahoma's "brain drain,” then perhaps they need to look in the mirror.

Sen. Morgan shouldn't confuse demands for accountability and performance with "bullying.” The taxpayers of Oklahoma shouldn't keep writing blank checks to the regents.

An increasing number of legislators feel the tail has been wagging the dog for way too long. The regents need to be held accountable. I believe an independent performance audit just might do the trick.

Terrill, R-Moore, represents District 53 in the Oklahoma House and is chairman of the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee.


http://newsok.com/article/3183806