Articles from July 2008
July 31, 2008
Re-educating Oklahoma's lawmakers
Legislative refresher courses needed
There has been a trend in legislative politics requiring orientation for the newbies coming onto the scene. Some call it “Legislative boot camp”, but I prefer the ‘re-education of politicians’. What one would think was a part of mandatory courses in a junior high civics class is being taught (AGAIN!) to the people we have elected to represent our values and rights in government.
While new member orientation is a critical piece of beginners’ training, why are the ‘seasoned’ legislators no longer required to reintroduce themselves with politics and her ever-changing nature?
It seems due to the ineffective, often pious legislation that passes through the Oklahoma Legislature, and bearing witness to what is blocked by party politics, perhaps this orientation should be a mandatory adventure for every legislator before engaging in each session. The partisanship that has cultivated in Oklahoma legislature has acted as a wedge between the aisles, Republicans and Democrats do not mingle amongst themselves due in part to the professionalization of the legislature in the late 1970s. This lack of interaction leads to a decrease in what Dr. Alan Rosenthal (prominent political author) describes as “institutional commitment”.
There can be no “institutional commitment” on the part of the legislators, when they are divided among party lines. Their commitment is not to the issues or to their constituents’ beliefs, but to the party establishment that will decide whether or not to fund campaigns next time around. The commitment to bettering the Congress, as an institution cannot be achieved without cultivating relationships among the legislators themselves.
This is where refresher trainings come in: by forcing each legislator to participate in a course on ethics, civility, and procedural rules of the institution, perhaps can make it a stronger, more effective machine. Because how many of us really believe that Randy Terrill was elected with enough legislative education to only be required to participate in orientation once? He is definitely not the only one, but a great example.
Most view the legislature as a means to an end: the end being policy and the means, the process. However, in that evaluation we lose sight of how important our representatives are to the citizens. In a representative democracy, it is crucial that those elected to serve the people are indeed doing so and are equipped themselves to do so.
Particularly in term-limited states, the need to constantly engage our politicians together and in their field (that again, changes whenever the wind blows) is vast. In order for Oklahoma legislators that will only serve 12 years before they are ousted to create a sense of “institutional commitment” there should be a minimum requirement of 6 hours ‘legislative training’ per year. That amount of time would offer them ample opportunity to hone their personal issues, while building relationships and memories with fellow legislators.
A more personalized legislature would not only engage more politicians in their work, but also their constituents. When citizens see the community of legislators cooperating together regardless of party politics, it encourages the ordinary folk to participate as well.
Primaries Schmaries:
Oklahomans should be appalled by the pathetic 18% voter turnout for the primary elections. Some of the election seasons most controversial contests were decided on Tuesday (like Oklahoma County voters turning away from prejudice and the corporate takedown by Terrill). How can red-blooded Oklahomans allow the fate of their interests to be decided by 18% of the voting population??
The only thing that made up for the complete lack of interest on the part of Oklahoma voters was the ‘dethroning’ of one of the Oklahoma legislature’s frat boys. Rob Johnson, whose ‘Me for Corporation Commissioner’ wagon has been parked outside the Capitol since around April, was just barely defeated by Dana Murphy (to the she-grin of the establishment). The sad part (for Johnson), Ms. Murphy only outspent him on television advertising by a little more than $1200. Poor Rob, maybe you should hit up Worthen for a consulting job.
Finally, I love the conservative media’s obsession with the turnout of the Jim Rogers/ Andrew Rice primary…down to the breakdown of the money spent per voter (Rogers-$0, Rice-$6 bucks and change). If the conservatives think they are going to simply wish Rice away with empty noise, they are wrong. Rice only trailed incumbent Inhofe by a little more than 2500 votes. That’s not too far behind an incumbent candidate who outspent Rice by almost triple in primary advertising alone. The real story is not how many votes Rogers received, but how little the gap is between Inhofe and Rice. The general election is definitely up in the air, regardless of what the conservative media is spouting.
July 21, 2008
Golden Buffet, appointments, miscellaneous
We hear from good sources that the plans to knock out the broadcast media room on the 4th floor of the Capitol – and maybe part or all of Appropriations Chair Ken Miller’s office are underway. Workers have been seen taking measurements and architectural drawings are also being developed.
In case you missed the last installment of “As the Capitol Turns”, you need to know that House leadership has determined that their Appropriations meeting room (432) is far too small for the enormous crowds that come to watch them rearrange the deck chairs on the sinking ship that is the State of Oklahoma post tax cut delirium.
Who was it by the way that passed all those tax cuts? Oh yeah, it was those same guys. Representative Miller, the rookie budget chair was heard to lament late in the session that there was no discretionary spending left – everything had been earmarked or revenues were simply eliminated.
Back to the matter at hand– it is believed by the cognoscenti (that’s me and a couple of my friends in French by the way) that the real reason for the remodel is so that the lobbyist fare supplied to the Republican caucus (which uses the same room) won’t have to be set out in the hall for all to see (or share in).
While the Democratic caucus often feasts on chicken pot pie or sandwiches, the Republican caucus fare has become increasingly upscale and embarrassing to let the public see. Nicely catered Italian meals, first class barbeque, even French cuisine (or is that freedom cuisine) has been brought in by the lobbyists that foot the caucus lunch bill. The new room is supposed to have a built in buffet area to keep the food warm for the learned salons. This will be a “golden buffet” in more ways than one.
I think that maybe both caucuses should have to foot their own lunch bill out of their daily per diem that taxpayers supply and that they shouldn’t have anything fancier than what the average student on a free lunch program gets. Can anyone say P.B. and J and pudding packs?
New Old Kids on the Block
I guess it is true, yet unbelievable, former Keating appointee Jerry Regier has returned home. He has been hired by the newly formed Construction Industries Board. Regier left state service under a cloud of scandal more than ten years ago and then got into even more trouble in the sunshine state for taking improper gifts from vendors doing business with his agency in Florida.
Steve Burrage is the newly appointed Auditor and Inspector. Governor Henry selected Burrage who is a banker and CPA to fulfill the rest of the term vacated when Jeff McMahan was convicted in Federal Court of bribery. Burrage appears to be a good choice with a strong financial background and respect of many in both parties, but his family’s southeastern Oklahoma roots may raise questions. The Tulsa World has already noted that some will be suspicious of Burrage because his brother Michael was the defense attorney to former State Senator Gene Stipe. Stipe has a number of legal issues to deal with including being tied to the recent McMahan indictment through his business partner, Steve Phipps.
Odds and Ends
Governor Henry has some judicial appointments to address and most importantly, filling the post of Director of the Office of State Finance. Henry’s last two appointments have both come from the State Senate Staff. Both appointees left after less than 2 years for more lucrative jobs outside state agency pay bands – one to the private sector and one to higher education. If Henry goes outside the OSF hierarchy, it may be likely he will follow the same strategy– perhaps Fiscal Staff Director Randy Dowell. The problem is there is only a little over 2 years left of the Henry Administration, recruiting a talented person for a short term assignment will not be easy. The position is also complicated by the fact that Treasurer Scott Meacham has generally taken the lead on budget negotiations, thus relegating the position to less influence than in some other administrations.
Representative Rob Johnson made an ass of himself protesting the legitimacy of Republican primary opponent for Corporation Commissioner, Dana Murphy to the State Election Board. Johnson wanted Murphy disqualified over a minor signature technicality. The Board laughed at his protest.
There are a number of interesting races to watch but one that may fly under the radar is incumbent Senator Jim Reynolds versus “David L. Boren”. The Southside challenger has a legitimate famous name and from what we hear is not a bad candidate. Oklahoma has a history of electing famous name candidates. This has been considered a safe seat, but keep an eye on the race.
Also, look for Rep. Randy Terrill to get more than he bargained for protecting what should be a safe seat. Some very powerful interests are more than likely doing some opposition research on him right now.