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.”

Chris Benge is the NEW SPEAKER part 2

Speaker Chris Benge










The election went to a second ballot in which he faced Dale DeWitt with Susan Winchester apparently running third.

The full house will take a vote later Monday.

Benge, 45, has been chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

The GOP Caucus retained Speaker Pro Tem Gus Blackwell in that position even though he withdrew as a candidate for speaker when it was revealed he'd been late in paying property taxes in Texas County.

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 !

Now we have 3 + 1 running for Speaker

In the last 24 hours, it look like both Greg Piatt and Chris Benge are now backing Gus Blackwell for House Speaker.


1) Gus Blackwell (House Dist. 61)













2) Susan Winchester (House Dist. 47)











3) Dale DeWitt (House Dist. 38)













+ one...
John Wright (House Dist. 76)













With less than a week to secure votes, potential candidates were seeking support Tuesday from fellow House members.

Blackwell, R-Goodwell, said the House has made "tremendous strides on several key issues" including tax cuts, education and immigration reform.

Winchester, R-Chickasha, served as speaker pro tem under Hiett, the same position that Blackwell now holds. Winchester said she is seeking fellow Republicans' support "and I would ask the Democratic members as well to expedite the leadership transition so we may begin the session united and ready to do the people's business."

Rep. Danny Morgan, the minority leader of House Democrats, said Winchester is "the only candidate that we are aware of who has extended her hand across the aisle."

Morgan, D-Prague, said, however, that DeWitt is "very respected" among Democrats. DeWitt, R-Braman, represents four rural counties.

"If the right Republican candidate is available for our members to vote for, you might see some Democrats" cross party lines and support a GOP speaker, he said.

Wright, R-Tulsa, noted that he has sought the post before but now may be the time when he can bring the factions together.

"I have a little different philosophy," he said. "I don't see individual members having to to give a stamp of approval of the speaker's policies. A speaker should advance what is the consensus policy of the caucuses."

Wright said, "Somebody has to be the cat herder," and he believes he can fill that role.

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

The 5 that want to be the next Speaker + one

The 5 that want to be the next Oklahoma Speaker of the House:


1) Gus Blackwell (House Dist. 61)












2) Greg Piatt (House Dist. 48)













3) Chris Benge (House Dist. 68)













4) Susan Winchester (House Dist. 47)











5) Dale DeWitt (House Dist. 38)













+ one...
John Wright (House Dist. 76)