Weekly Opinion Editorial

GRASSROOTS LEAVES LASTING CHANGE!

by Steve Fair

A platform is defined as a declaration of the principles upon which a person, a sect, or a party proposes to stand; a declared policy or system. The Republican Party has a platform. It is compiled every four years and voted on at the national convention. The platform is a large document divided into various categories and states the position of the Republican Party on most major issues of the day.

Where does the Republican Party get their platform? It all starts at the precinct level- the grassroots. Resolutions are presented by registered Republicans at their precinct meetings and those resolutions are then voted on at the County, State, and National convention, with discussion and debate along the way. Ultimately those resolutions, if approved, make their way into the Party platform and provide a formal statement of the basic principles, objectives and official positions of Republicans on major issues.

Because the platform resolution process starts at the grassroots level, it can often get contentious. It’s not uncommon to see tempers flare when issues are discussed or debated, but as Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. “ It can be a tenuous process, but in years past, several resolutions first presented in Stephens County, Oklahoma have ultimately made their way into the national GOP platform.

On Saturday March 5th, the Stephens County Republican Party will hold our county convention. It will convene at 10am at the Stephens County Fairgrounds. Registration will begin at 9am. There is a $10 delegate fee. The main order of business will be election of the Stephens County Republican Party officials- County Chairman, Vice Chairman, State Committeeman and Committeewoman and District Committeeman and Committeewoman. The terms for these offices are two years and the only qualification is to be a registered Republican within the county.

The second order of business will be the determination of how the Stephens County GOP will be seated as a delegation at the State GOP convention. The state convention will be held May 7^th in OKC. Stephens County has twenty (20) delegates to the State Convention. If the SCGOP votes to be seated as an “Open” delegation, any registered Republican in Stephens county can be credentialed and vote at the state convention.

The third order of business will be consideration of platform resolutions. Those submitted by precincts will be considered as well as resolutions presented by individuals from the floor. If you are a registered Republican and are passionate about something you want included in the national GOP platform, here is your chance. Put it down on paper, bring it Saturday and present it to the convention.

In recent years, our county convention has been held at night. This year, our local Party voted to revert back to a Saturday morning format. It allows our statewide and federal elected officials more opportunity to participate in the process. Fourth district U.S. Congressman Tom Cole will address the convention immediately after we convene on Saturday morning and Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones will keynote the convention later in the morning. We plan to adjourn by noon.

If you are a registered ‘R’ and have been waiting for an invitation to get involved in your government- here it is: All registered Republicans are encouraged to show up Saturday! You shouldn’t come simply because you like Party politics or because you don’t have something to do, but because the future of our country is at stake and the only way to make a difference is to get involved.

Grassroots politics is the only politics that will leave long term lasting change in government. When common or ordinary people lock arms and unite around a cause, the results are amazing. Start your grassroots participation by attending Saturday. It will be an investment in good government you will not regret.

Weekly Opinion Editorial

THE SCHOOLMARM’S RULER!

by Steve Fair

On Wednesday, the State House Rules Committee will vote on two proposed property tax reforms sponsored by State Representative David Dank, (R-OKC). Dank says his two bills could be the most important of the 2011 legislative session.

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"Oklahoma is out front on a number of vital reforms this year, but if we fail to address the issue of ad valorem tax reform, we will be sending a message that we are just not serious about restraining the growth of government," said state Rep. David Dank (R-Oklahoma City).

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What Dank wants to do is allow the citizens of Oklahoma to vote on a two (2) percent annual cap that would limit future property tax increases and to place a permanent freeze on property tax levels for seniors over 65 for as long as they own their homes.

"If ever there was a bipartisan issue, this is it," Dank said. "Despite what some opponents may claim, this is not a tax cut. It would not reduce revenue for schools or counties by a single penny. It is merely tax restraint."

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Back in 1996, Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly passed SQ 676 which placed a five (5%) limit on property tax increases. Voters were led to believe they were voting for a ‘maximum’ increase of five percent, but an Attorney General’s opinion in 2001 said property tax must increase at five (5) percent until it reached the assessed value of the property. One man, Jack Edens, an OKC newsman, warned of the fishhooks in SQ 676, but his warnings were largely ignored. Now county government throughout the state uses the five (5) percent like a schoolmarm with a ruler, whacking property owners every year with ‘mandatory’ increases.

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"The current 5-percent allowable annual increase in ad valorem taxes is the only automatic tax increase on the books," Dank says. "Imagine the uproar if income or sales taxes went up 5 percent every year."

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According to the Tax Foundation, an organization whose stated goal is to educate taxpayers about sound tax policy and the size of the tax burden at all levels of government, Oklahoma property tax rates are among the fasting growing in the country.

The Tax Foundation also says Oklahoma's taxpayers have gone from the 42nd highest state and local tax burden in 1977 to the 19th highest in 2008. Estimated at 9.8% of income, Oklahoma's current state/local tax burden is just above the national average of 9.7%. Oklahomans pay $3,761 per capita in state and local taxes. For more information go to their web site, http://www.taxfoundation.org/

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"The hardest hit is seniors, who have not seen a cost of living increase in Social Security or most pensions in two years," Dank claims. "That annual extra 5 percent property tax increase, along with increases in expenses like gasoline, utilities, Medicare premium increases, prescription drugs, insurance premiums and groceries are literally driving many of them from their homes into nursing homes, which wind up costing the taxpayers much more."

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Last legislative session, Senator Jim Reynolds, (R-OKC) sponsored SJR5 which capped the annual increase in property taxes at 2.5% or the rate of inflation, whichever was less. The Joint Resolution passed the Senate, but did not get a floor vote in the House because then Speaker of the House Chris Benge, (R-Tulsa) opposed the proposal, calling SJR5 a ‘tax cut.’ “I just don’t think that the timing is good to reduce revenue,” Benge said. Reynolds proposal did not ‘cut’ taxes- it only slowed down the growth of taxes.

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“Not only are his statements out of touch with the core Republican principle of limited government we were sent here to espouse, they are factually incorrect,” Dank said about Benge’s opposition.

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Benge is no longer in the legislature, so it’s a better than odds on chance that Dank will get his proposals voted on in the House. If his bills get through the Senate, Governor Fallin is likely to sign them and so it’s very likely the voters of Oklahoma will be considering Dank’s proposals on the ballot as State Questions in 2012.

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Anytime a revenue stream to government is threatened, bureaucrats fight like crazy. They never want to give up any money that might jeopardize their livelihood. Dank’s proposals make sense and will move Oklahoma forward. The people should be allowed to vote on amending the State Constitution to slow down the growth of property taxes.

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It’s time the voters of Oklahoma took the ruler away from the schoolmarm.

TORT TIED TO HEALTH CARE!

by Steve Fair

Last week, the State Senate Judiciary Committee met and passed five bills that if signed into law would represent real tort reform in Oklahoma. The five bills would eliminate joint and several liability, establish a cap on non-economic damages at $250,000, and allow damages to be paid out in periodic payments and not just in a lump sum. They would also require that juries be informed of the tax implications of any awards an injured party might receive. Tort reform is a key agenda item for the Republican led legislature this session.

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“We have been working on lawsuit reform for years, taking mostly an incremental approach because we did not have the numbers or a Republican governor to support strong reforms,” said Senator Anthony Sykes, (R-Moore), Judiciary Committee Chairman. “These bills protect Oklahomans, our doctors and our businesses from frivolous lawsuits.”

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“Oklahoma is way behind the curve on these reform measures. Just a few short years ago a Democrat President Pro Tem wrote a letter to encourage attorneys in other states to bring their lawsuits to Oklahoma because we had not enacted these reforms that our neighbors had,” said Sykes. “We are sending the opposite message today, Oklahoma will no longer be known as a lawsuit destination state.”

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The lawmaker Sykes is referring to is former State Senator Stratton Taylor (D-Claremore). In 2003, Taylor sent a solicitation letter to national trial attorneys encouraging them to bring their lawsuits to Oklahoma after Texas passed similar lawsuit reform to what Sykes is proposing.

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"With recent events that have occurred in Texas, you may be looking to file cases in Oklahoma," Taylor wrote, adding that "I wanted to take an opportunity to introduce our law firm."

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Taylor’s letter made its way to the Wall Street Journal, the business community’s newspaper. They attacked his brazen abuse of ‘forum’ shopping and in a December 19, 2003 editorial, wrote, “Average Oklahomans are likely to continue to see higher insurance costs, fewer doctors, and all of the other troubles that come with an out-of-control tort system. In short, you're doing fine, Texas. Oklahoma? Not OK.”

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Sykes’ proposals have naturally encountered opposition from trial lawyers- both Democrats and Republicans. In blogs, faxes and emails, the barristers contend Sykes hates the U.S. Constitution and is no conservative. Never mind that Sykes is himself an attorney and has achieved a near perfect conservative rating by the Oklahoma Constitution.

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The medical community has been crying for tort reform for years in the Sooner state. Back in 2006, the Oklahoma Alliance of Physicians for Tort Reform surveyed 775 Oklahoma physicians and found that eighty seven(87) percent practiced ‘defensive medicine.’ That means the docs ordered more testing or conducted more patient visits than they normally would because of the threat of a lawsuit. Twenty five percent said they had either quit practicing medicine or were leaving the state to escape the high malpractice insurance premiums in Oklahoma.

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Sykes said that Oklahomans will not only benefit economically by reducing frivolous lawsuits but the state will also be more attractive to doctors seeking to establish practice.

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In a state with a shortage of physicians, that is a good thing. “Oklahoma is dead last in most rankings of number of practicing physicians per 100,000 people,” says Dr. James Hess, vice president for health care administration for the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. “We’re not producing enough doctors and our physicians are a higher average age than physicians in other states. A perfect storm is coming.” “The situation is very bad. The demand for physicians is already outstripping the supply and bigger shortages are coming,” concurs Dr. Dan Duffy, director of the community medicine track at OU School of Medicine in Tulsa. “We’ve been asleep at the wheel.”

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Lawsuit reform is a necessary step in improving Oklahoma’s long term health care. Sykes has taken a personal career risk by carrying this legislation. The personal injury trial lawyers will not go down without a fight because true tort reform would dramatically impact their livelihood. The ‘ambulance chasers’ are certainly within their rights to protect their turf, but painting themselves as ‘Protectors of the Constitution’ is a stretch.

Weekly Opinion Editorial

LEGISLATURE SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION!
by Steve Fair

The 53rd Oklahoma legislature convenes today. One of the first bills they will consider is SB #718. The bill, if passed and signed into law, would effectively strip the State Board of Education of its authority over the Department of Education.
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The bill has been predicated because of the actions of the board toward newly elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi. The board, composed of all Democrats, blocked three of her five hires in a very contentious, partisan first meeting.
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“As a statewide-elected official chosen by the citizens of Oklahoma, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi must be allowed to hire her own staff and implement promised reform at the Department of Education,” said Speaker of the House Kris Steele, (R-Shawnee). “Senate Bill 718 will give her that authority. It is important to advance this necessary reform so we can truly begin the important work of improving Oklahoma schools to benefit all children of this state.”
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After reading my op/ed in last week’s Duncan Banner, Dennis Howard called me to discuss the State Board of Education/Janet Barresi controversy. Howard, a Waurika native, was the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture under former Governor Keating. Dennis has been involved in Oklahoma politics for decades, starting his political career driving for Henry Bellmon when the former U.S. Senator was campaigning for Governor. Howard is now a professor at Langston University. Dennis has served in several capacities in several past Republican administrations. In the 1980s, he was appointed to the State School Board by Governor Bellmon.
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Howard said there came a time when the conservative Rs appointed by Bellmon became the majority on the board and began to question the actions of then School Superintendent Sandy Garrett. The Democrat controlled legislature passed legislation to effectively render the board irrelevant. The Democrats did exactly what the Republicans plan to do with SB #718.
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I know the temptation to do what the Democrats did years ago to a Republican controlled board seems timely and prudent. After all- turn about is fair play, but Republican lawmakers need to proceed with caution. ‘Neutering’ a board of citizens and a constitutionally established entity because of the actions of some partisan members of a board is not the right course of action.
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One thing the legislature should do is remove the State board’s oversight on personnel. A statewide elected official must be able to hire their own key staff members. All of the people that Barresi wants to hire are qualified. The board’s actions in not giving her the freedom to put together her own team was out of order and clearly partisan.
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The second thing that should happen is any board member who is unwilling to follow the prescribed duties of the position should resign. To remain on the board simply to obstruct Barresi’s agenda is flat out wrong. That clearly appears to be the motives of at least two of the more vocal members of the board, but some of the other members are voting with them and their motives should be questioned as well. They were appointed for oversight, not to engage in political debate.
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I like Janet Barresi. I consider her a friend, but just because she won the November election doesn’t mean she should be immune from a constitutionally established board. After all the hoopla that was generated from the recent board meeting, perhaps the current board members will rethink their stance or resign. One of the most vocal critics of Barresi, Tim Gilpin, will go off the board in April. The situation might very well resolve itself without a legislative fix.
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If lawmakers simply ‘redefine’ the State School board’s responsibilities, they send a message to every citizen who serves on citizen oversight boards that unless you do exactly as we want, we will pass legislation to make you irrelevant. Citizen boards were established because they do not have to face voters. They can make tough decisions and not face re-election. Doing away with oversight is not what Republicans are about. Barresi and the board should be allowed time to work out their differences.
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After listening to a recording of the meeting, it is clear the Democrat board members were not happy Barresi was elected. Their behavior was rude, insolent, disrespectful and unprofessional toward her and her staff. However, everyone makes mistakes and now that they know the public is watching, the next board meeting might be more civil and productive.
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Some have pointed out the only statewide elected official that has a ‘citizen’s oversight board’ is the Superintendent of Public Instruction. They think that’s unfair and perhaps it is, but like it or not, the State Board of Education was constitutionally established forty years ago(1971) and cannot be eliminated without a vote of the people.
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With an annual budget of over three billion dollars and over four hundred direct employees, the State Department of Education is a huge agency. Barresi should be given the freedom to build her team and implement her agenda- with proper oversight as prescribed by the State Constitution.
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Because Republicans now have control of the process means we should proceed with caution and think of the consequences of our actions. SB#718 might seem like a good idea today, but it's unintended consequences might hurt Oklahoma.