Friday, July 31, 2009

Senator Gumm's "Senate Minute" for July 31-August 6, 2009


DURANT, Okla. – Hello again, everyone! Back-to-school is an exciting time for Oklahoma families.

Children get ready to take another step on the path to becoming adults, either beginning school or entering a new grade with new challenges. Parents work hard to ensure their children are ready for those challenges, buying school supplies and getting new clothes.

For years, we in Oklahoma watched Texans enjoy a “back-to-school” sales tax holiday, a three-day period during which items of clothing and shoes with a purchase price of less than $100 are sales tax-free. Thousands of Oklahomans crossed the border annually to take advantage of this important tax break.

For years, many of us in the Oklahoma Legislature fought to give our families a chance to enjoy that same tax break. For years, big city mayors and the lobby group representing municipal governments killed this important tax cut.

When I became your senator, I promised I would never give up until the back-to-school sales tax holiday became law in Oklahoma. It took hard work, tenacity and bipartisan cooperation, but in 2007, I was proud to help pass Oklahoma’s back-to-school sales tax holiday.

The tax-free holiday begins this year at 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 7. From then until midnightSunday, August 9, there will be no sales tax on items of clothing and footwear with a purchase price of less than $100.

Oklahoma families will get to keep more of their money, spending it on items they need rather than coughing it up in the form of a regressive tax that harms most those who have the least. The sales tax holiday is good policy that makes good sense for families and retail businesses. That’s especially important during difficult economic times like these.

We wrote the Oklahoma law to coincide with the Texas back-to-school sales tax holiday; it was originally planned to be the same weekend and on the same items as Texas. However, two weeks after our law was signed, the Texas Legislature moved their holiday to later in the month, meaning Oklahoma has the first weekend in August all to itself.

Many retailers report Texans cross into Oklahoma to make back-to-school purchases, giving our state an even greater boost. Also, in northern parts of Oklahoma, retailers report many Kansas residents cross the state line to take advantage of our holiday.

The holiday has been a huge success. We keep Oklahomans shopping in our hometowns, attract shoppers from other states, save families millions of dollars, and boost our economy. That’s a “win-win” that continues to be in the best interest of Oklahoma businesses and families.

For a complete list of tax-free items and answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” about the three-day event, check the Oklahoma Tax Commission’s website at:http://www.tax.ok.gov/stholiday.html. I encourage every Oklahoma family to take advantage of this tax cut that makes a real difference you can see at the cash register.

Thanks again for reading the “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Article from the Sunday Oklahoma about the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival - Try to attend on Aug. 8

BY BRYAN PAINTER
Columnist
bpainter@opubco.com
RUSH SPRINGS — Any way you slice it, the Watermelon Festival is a vital part of the Rush Springs identity.
At least 234 fairs and festivals will be held in Oklahoma in 2009, according to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Those are great sources not only of income but community pride — and identity.
Take Rush Springs as an example.
The water tower touts it as the “Watermelon Capital.” The sign on the two-wheel trailer at the intersection of U.S. 81 and State Highway 17 is an over-sized slice of a reminder that the festival is held the second Saturday in August. And the festival sign with an arrow suspended over a four-way stop makes sure visitors find their way to Jeff Davis Park on that second Saturday.
Consider that the 2008 estimated population for the community was 1,344 people, up 66 from 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Consider that in 2006, the annual average daily traffic count for U.S. 81 at Rush Springs was a little more than 6,000 vehicles per day.
Then consider that 30,000 or more people may attend the festival, as has been the case in recent years, said Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs.
“I think that is partly because of the economy,” Dorman said of recent numbers. “People aren’t traveling long distances for week-long vacations. They would rather find some close getaway for a one-day trip or maybe even a two-day trip where they can go enjoy time with the family.
“Festivals, like the watermelon festival, provide that avenue. And it’s the one boom period that helps the community get through the rest of the year.”
But people have attended the watermelon festival in good as well as struggling economic times for decades. The festival began in 1940, took a few years off during World War II, and then returned.
Producer Joe Tumblson, standing inside his roadside stand, said he has about 75 acres of black diamond, royal sweets and other varieties of watermelons this year. They will grow about 30,000 pounds per acre with the majority of the melons ending up in retail stores across the state.
That returns us to the subject of identity.
The festival is Aug. 6-8, with the rodeo on the first two days, the parade on the second day and the majority of activity on the final day.
The watermelon queen, who promotes the festival at other events, will be crowned. The sounds of country and gospel music will fill the air and juicy watermelon will fill many mouths. At noon seeds will fly through the air during the seed-spitting contest and in the evening the Lions Club, which sponsors the festival, will hold the prize melon auction to raise money for charitable programs.
But long after the crowds leave, the identity generated by the festival lingers.
“It has such a huge economic impact on this community,” Tumblson said. “Rush Springs has done a great job of making their name known for raising watermelons.
“It’s a good tool for people to come to Rush Springs and for people to remember Rush Springs.”
Besides selling watermelons for a few dollars, hopefully they will sell people on the community, Dorman added.
They would like visitors to return to do business in Rush Springs throughout the year or perhaps even move to the Grady County community to work there or to commute to nearby cities.
“To many people, the Watermelon Festival is the identity of Rush Springs,” Dorman said. “It’s important to give that image of small town Oklahoma living that so many people desire.”
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The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department searched its database for local fairs and festivals for 2009 and found 234 in Oklahoma. Following are a few examples of the economic impacts of various events:
The Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau reported the April 25 Norman Music Festival brought in more than $2.5 million. During the festival, volunteers collected 345 surveys, 321 of which were filled out correctly and completely, according to Stephen Koranda, executive director of the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau. The survey found that 56 percent of the respondents were from Norman; 33.5 percent were from within 100 miles of Norman and 4.5 percent were from Oklahoma but lived more than 100 miles away. Six percent were from outside Oklahoma, one being from France.
In one weekend, three major events in downtown Oklahoma City — The Drag Boat Nationals on the Oklahoma River, the Charlie Christian International Music Festival and the Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival — had a combined economic impact estimated at $6 million, said the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau.
OK Mozart Festival at Bartlesville last year played host to more than 22,000 visitors from 33 states and several foreign countries, resulting in an annual economic impact of $3 million to $10 million to the region.
Source: Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What: 65th Watermelon Festival
When: Aug. 6-8
Where: Rush Springs
Schedule
Aug. 6
8 p.m.: Rodeo
Aug. 7
All day: Vendors on Blakely Street in Rush Springs
5 p.m.: Parade
8 p.m.: Rodeo
Aug. 8
7:30 a.m.: Watermelon Festival 5k Run
9 a.m.: Opening ceremonies
9:45 a.m.: Tiny tots
Noon: Seed spitting
4 p.m.: Free watermelon slices until gone
5 p.m.: Auction prize watermelons
5:30 p.m.: Coronation ceremony
5:45 p.m.: Rush Springs Band
All day:
Arts and Crafts Fair throughout Jeff Davis Park
Antique Car and Tractor Show
Concessions
Carnival

Open Door Policy - July 28, 2009



It has been a busy week as I have been traveling quite a bit around the district and to the office for meetings. I have also been preparing to host a group of political leaders from El Salvador through the American Council of Young Political Leaders. They will visit Oklahoma August 2 - 6 and I will be their state host and escort. I will be taking them on Tuesday, August 4 to the Chickasha School Foundation lunch fundraiser and then for a tour of the wind farm by Apache and also over to Elgin Public Schools for a discussion on public school funding in Oklahoma. I will also take them for various visits to Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and Stillwater for briefings on education, public safety and fire protection.
I had the pleasure of touring Silver Line Plastics in Lawton. I viewed how they produce much of their irrigation pipe and the amazing amount that is shipped all over the world. I also had the opportunity to visit Built Better Enterprises in Fletcher and see how they are manufacturing HosWel truck beds, a product used by farmers and fire departments to meet their needs. Jerry and Jogay Renshaw of Elgin have been developing this company and have a great future ahead with this new business in our area. I also attended the Sterling Rodeo this past weekend and am looking forward to the Cyril Rodeo this upcoming weekend, as well as the 4-H Centennial Honor Night Assembly in Stillwater.
I had the opportunity to attend the OK Economic Summit on Early Childhood Investment on Monday. I appreciate Jane Mitchell from Success by 6 in Lawton for inviting me to participate. It was a great discussion on the successes and failures we have seen in children's policy and opportunities to build upon the programs which have worked. I expect a great public-private partnership to build from this program and Pat Potts, a community leader in Oklahoma City, had much to do with this effort.
I also visited with DJ Wolfe, the standout OU football player and graduate from Lawton Eisenhower. He is working with a company to install energy efficient equipment in buildings and vehicles. He has been a great assistance to me in understanding a segment of this industry and I will be filing legislation this next session to apply the efficiency credits to home builders that are currently given to home owners. This should increase the amount of efficiency included in new homes and save the purchaser the hassle of additional equipment after the completion. It will also allow them to factor this cost into the paperwork during the purchase and save the homeowner the hassle of applying for the credit.
Finally, I want to extend congratulations to Deacon Vice of Apache for being accepted into the OSU Medical Program and also I want to wish my niece, Samantha Sessums, a happy 23rd birthday. I'm proud of both of you.
It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 and my website is http://www.joedorman.com/ on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Local Road Funding Relief May Be On The Way

Last summer as I went door to door visiting with District 31 constituents, I tried to put a special emphasis on making contact with those who were new to the area. I wanted to be sure to welcome them to the district and give them the opportunity to update their voter registrations to reflect their new residence.

And in the past year, more than 3300 district residents have filed new local voter registrations as the area continues to grow and expand.

In talking to these new residents, one of the issues that becomes very apparent is their desire for quality county roads and their dismay at the fact that even though they are paying so much in property taxes each year, none of that money seems to be used to improve their roads. I have always explained to them that that even though their property taxes continue to grow year after year, this money does not get sent to the roads fund and cannot be used to pave roads. It is clear to me that they feel this is wrong. They believe that at least a portion of the massive new amounts of money that are pouring into the local school and county governments should be used for roads.
Last summer, after yet another round of these discussion with the residents of my district, I communicated these concerns to Logan County Commissioner Mark Sharpton and he launched an effort to put a policy in place that would return half of all new property tax revenues going to county government to the roads fund. Unfortunately, at that time, the County Commission did not support Sharpton's effort and we have had to go another year without property tax monies being used for roads. However, the Commission recently revisited the proposal and it was approved unanimously and now simply awaits confirmation by the County Excise Board at which point in time the policy should go into effect.

Because most property tax revenue is placed in the school system and this new policy will not affect those funds, the initial amount of new growth money gong to roads will not be substantial, however, if this policy is continued over time, the compounded revenues should result in a very significant amount of road funding in just a few years if the county continues to grow. This means that future new residents of Logan County may not notice the drop in road quality when they cross the county line.

This is an important common-sense reform and all three Logan County Commissioners should be acknowledged for their commitment to the concept.

I would certainly hope that the area school systems would also look at this type of a program to avoid future debt efforts. A large amount of new growth money is now flowing into the area school districts whose territory includes this growth. If, instead of spending the new growth money, the school systems would budget a portion of it for capital needs, it may be possible for the districts to meet the infrastructure demands of this growth with reserve funds instead of having to ask for new bond issuances. This form of wise financial management would result in the avoidance of unnecessary banking fees and debt interests and it would keep property taxes lower.

I very much appreciate the feedback and insight of the people in bringing attention to this issue. Please continue to provide me with your ideas for reform.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Open Door Policy - July 20, 2009


I had the opportunity this past weekend to attend the Apache Rattlesnake Association Banquet and learn more about their festival. Even with two days of rain over the four day event, the festival almost equaled their largest return over the years. This adds to the thought that we are seeing more people travel shorter distances this summer for weekend getaways rather than going on longer vacations out of state. If you are looking for something to do in the upcoming weeks for fun, don't forget about the Sterling Rodeo this weekend, the Cyril Rodeo the following weekend and the Rush Springs Rodeo on Aug. 6 and 7. We also have the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival on Aug. 8.

All of these events tie into which are related to agriculture in some way. The efforts to promote Agritourism by our State Department of Agriculture have aided many local communities to promote these festivals and events, along with providing ideas to maximize profits for the businesses associated with the products. Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach has spearheaded much of this in Oklahoma. His staff have done an excellent job in helping Oklahoma communities, along with the efforts of our State Department of Tourism and Director Hardy Watkins to promote the various activities around the state and how great a place it is in which we live. To see some of these great tourist destinations, visit http://www.travelok.com/ and do a search for "Agritourism" on the website.

There are also many other events to attend around the state. The various areas of Oklahoma have been broken into different "countries" for local residents to work together and promote events. Our main area in this region is covered by Great Plains Country and you can see the different events at http://www.greatplainscountry.com/ on the Internet. The northern edge of District 65 lies in Frontier Country and you can view events at http://www.oktourism.com/ on their link. If you want to get away for a fun, affordable weekend, be sure to check out these sites for events throughout the entire year.

It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is http://us.mc837.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 and my website is http://www.joedorman.com/ on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

A Glorious Mission - Senator Gumm's Local "Senate Minute" Column


DURANT, Okla. – Hello again, everyone! One of the values on which I will never waver is my support for public education.

Public schools are charged with giving every child a chance to become everything God intends for them to be. It is as daunting, noble and glorious a mission as any taken on by our nation. Given the importance of this mission, I am amazed at the eagerness some have to abandon public education when we all should be rallying behind it.

Public school teachers face extraordinary challenges every day. Certainly, some children come from traditional two-parent families. They get nutritious breakfasts before leaving for school and complete their homework in stable environments with nurturing parents who have time to help.

Public schools, however, also must educate children who are not so fortunate, those facing challenges many of us can scarcely imagine. Compared to educating every child from every circumstance, a flight to the moon is a walk in the park.

Our nation’s history is replete with successes of those who overcame seemingly impossible odds with the foundation earned in public schools. America’s position as the world’s sole remaining superpower is rooted in the fact that every child has a chance to get a public education. It is the foundation on which the strength of our nation is built.

Rather than working to strengthen public education, some simply suggest we abandon public schools. The most common form of abandonment is schemes whereby taxpayer dollars are stripped from public education and given to private schools.

The myth of these voucher schemes is that private schools would accept the mission of public schools: to educate every child. Even under “universal” voucher schemes, private schools have neither the capacity nor desire to educate every child.

Proponents of vouchers repeat their myth with unabated fervor furthering their goal of weakening people’s confidence in public schools. A recent column in a statewide newspaper is a perfect example of that.

The author cited opinion polls suggesting Oklahomans are losing confidence in public schools. No wonder, given the relentless attacks on public schools repeatedly launched by those who share his view.

I am reminded of the words of President Harry Truman, “Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.” It takes “carpenters” – including parents, teachers and community leaders – to build public schools and truly improve educational opportunity for all. That should be our focus.

Certainly, private schools have an important role in education. Private schools, however, will never accept every child.

That mission must remain with public schools. Anything less would lead to the creation of an academic elite based on the wealth of parents rather than the ability of children. Such an elitist system, at odds with our national value of “all are created equal,” is the dark side of their myth whose shadows would creep into every segment of society.

Thanks again for reading the “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Preparing to Advocate an Aggressive States' Rights Agenda

Last November, I wrote an update entitled, "Preparing for an Expansion of Government." In that update, I referenced how that over time, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, both parties have used the expansion of federal government as a tool to accomplish their various agendas and in doing so violated the important concept of states' rights. I also wrote about the possible upcoming expansion in the size and scope of the federal government due to the recent consolidation of liberal control over both the presidency and Congress.

Since that time, I have been contacted by a number of worried constituents who are desperate to know what can be done. They have contacted their U.S. Senators and Congressman but are terrified because with vote after vote, the U.S. Congress seems to be moving towards implementing a frightening new socialist agenda. They want their Oklahoma lawmakers to do whatever we can to stop this agenda.

I believe these types of calls and e-mails are also being placed and sent to other Oklahoma Representatives and I predict that next year there will be a significant number of 10th amendment/states' rights legislative initiatives filed by Oklahoma legislators.

Several Representatives are considering filing a bill tailored after a measure that was signed into law in Montana earlier this year that seeks to keep the federal government from regulating the production and sale of firearms. Traditionally, the federal government has regulated this industry through the "Interstate Commerce Clause" in the constitution. However, the Montana law seeks to provide a means by which the producers and users of the firearms can clearly document that the product in question was made in Montana and is thus not subject to federal regulation.

This type of creative concept can likely be expanded into other areas of policy ranging from health care to energy. For instance, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming have all considered proposals to take preemptive action against the pending federal mandates tied to the ongoing socialization of health care efforts by Congress. The Arizona Legislature has passed a resolution that will allow the people of Arizona to vote on amending the state constitution to codify that no resident would be required to participate in any public health care option.

As more and more of the important votes are being lost at the federal level, the fight will move to the state level and the question before our legislative leadership and the Governor will be about whether or not they will allow important states' rights legislation to go forward.

It is vital that we move forward quickly with this legislation before the federal judiciary is stocked with liberal appointees who will rule against states' rights and try to strike down these laws.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to advance a strong platform of states' rights legislation in the upcoming session.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

"A Glorious Mission" - An Op-Ed by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm in the July 19 Edition of "The Oklahoman"


The mission of public education is to give every child a chance to become everything God intends for them to be.


It is as daunting, noble and glorious a mission as any taken on by our nation. Given the importance of this mission, I am amazed at the eagerness some have to abandon public education when we all should be rallying behind it.


Public school teachers face extraordinary challenges every day. Certainly, some children come from traditional two-parent families. They get nutritious breakfasts before leaving for school and complete their homework in stable environments with nurturing parents who have time to help.


Public schools, however, also must educate children who are not so fortunate, those facing challenges many of us can scarcely imagine. Compared to educating every child from every circumstance, a flight to the moon – the 40th anniversary of which we celebrate this week – is a walk in the park.


Like that historic effort, our nation’s history is replete with successes of those who overcame seemingly impossible odds with the foundation earned in public schools. America’s position as the world’s sole remaining superpower is rooted in the fact that every child has a chance to get a public education. It is the foundation on which the strength of our nation is built.


Rather than participate in a rational discussion about how to strengthen public education, some simply suggest we abandon public schools. The most common form of abandonment is schemes by which taxpayer dollars are stripped from public education and transferred to private schools.


The myth of these voucher schemes is that somehow private schools would accept the mission of public schools: to educate every child. The truth is that even under “universal” voucher schemes, private schools have neither the capacity nor desire to educate every child.


Proponents of vouchers repeat their myth with unabated fervor. The only legitimate goal of that tactic is to weaken people’s confidence in public schools. Brandon Dutcher’s recent column in The Oklahoman is a perfect example of that.


He cites opinion polls suggesting Oklahomans are losing confidence in public schools. No wonder, given the relentless attacks on public schools repeatedly launched by him and others who share his view.


I am reminded of the words of President Harry Truman, “Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.” It takes “carpenters” – including parents, teachers and community leaders – to build public schools and truly improve educational opportunity for all, which should be our focus.


Certainly, private schools have a role in our nation’s educational efforts. Private schools, however, will never accept every child.


That mission must remain with public schools. Anything less would lead to the creation of an academic elite based on the wealth of parents rather than the talent of children. Such an elitist system, at odds with our national value of “all are created equal,” is the dark side of their myth whose shadows would creep into every segment of society.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Senator Gumm's "Senate Minute" for July 17-23, 2009


DURANT, Okla. – Hello again, everyone! Four decades ago this week, Apollo 11 carried the first men to set foot on the Moon.

On July 20, 1969, after a four-day trip of a quarter-million miles, mission commander Neil Armstrong piloted the lunar module “Eagle” to the Moon’s surface. A few hours later, he became the first man to walk on another celestial body.

The stage for that historic event was set eight years earlier as a new President stood before Congress. “I believe this nation should commit itself, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth,” President John F. Kennedy told sometimes skeptical lawmakers.

It was an unprecedented confluence of events that led to the Apollo moon landings. In the early 1960s, almost every “first” in the space race belonged to the old Soviet Union. Not only was America’s national prestige on the line, our national security was at risk.

Many believed, rightfully so, that any of America’s enemies with rockets powerful enough to put men into space could also launch attacks from space. President Kennedy’s advisors knew that in a sprint, America could not beat the Soviets in space; they were too far ahead.

It would take a larger, more ambitious goal – a marathon race – to give the United States a realistic shot at pulling ahead of the Soviets. The most ambitious goal was to land a man on the moon – and do it in less than nine years.

Our place in the world as a superpower and our security were both on the line. Something just as important but less tangible was driving the race to the moon. President Kennedy eloquently explained it during a speech at Rice Stadium in September 1962:

“But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic?” he said. “We choose to go to the moon.

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills; because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

It is challenge that brings out our best, as individuals, as a state, as a nation. Big goals allow us to see what we can achieve. In today’s world – and the difficult economic times we face – it is easy to get discouraged.

The flight of Apollo 11 reminds us that we can achieve virtually any goal if we work hard enough and dream big enough. As Americans and Oklahomans, that capacity for excellence is our birthright.

Thanks again for reading this week’s “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Open Door Policy - July 13, 2009


This was a busy weekend as we saw the OKC Thunder, our professional basketball team, visit Chickasha and Anadarko on Saturday. It was a pleasure to meet many of the staffers who make the operation work so well and have a chance to visit with them about how much they have enjoyed their time in Oklahoma. Many of them moved here from Seattle and they have been pleasantly surprised with the genuine Oklahoma hospitality they have experienced. I have gotten to know several of the employees and have been happy with the job they do in promoting Oklahoma through the NBA to the rest of the world and have especially enjoyed the community service activities they have generated.

I also had the opportunity to attend a meeting this past week hosted by Oklahomans for Health Care Reform. This group is not to be mistaken as being for or against the national health care proposals, but they have certainly looked into many of the decisions made by politicians at all levels on needed reforms. I, along with five other state legislators, attended this forum and answered concerns about state laws which have been passed and legislation that has yet to be considered. I spoke to the need for increased access to rural ambulance services and health care. I also addressed the need for doctors to police their profession better and remove those physicians who are hurting the rest through harmful acts. These repeat offenders drive up insurance rates for the other doctors due to malpractice suits and end up costing us all more in medical bills.



On Monday, I attended the bill signing for SB 712, the legislation which declares our flags shall be flown at half-staff to remember soldiers who have been killed in the line of duty of service to our country. This legislation is a small token of remembrance for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and has been an unofficial practice until now. My thanks to Senator Gumm and Representative Roan for authoring this bill and for allowing me to help in it's passage.



We lost another good friend in our area as O'Dessa Birdwell passed away last week. O'Dessa graduated from Rush Springs High School, but spent most of her life in Fletcher as a mother and school teacher. I appreciated her friendship, advice and support over the years. She was a true community leader and a will be missed by all who knew her.



It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 and my website is http://www.joedorman.com/ on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Signing Ceremony Celebrates New Law Honoring Soldiers


OKLAHOMA CITY – A ceremony the Blue Room of the State Capitol helped mark the enactment of a new law to honor Oklahoma soldiers who make the supreme sacrifice in the War on Terror.

Senator Jay Paul Gumm was principal author of SB 712, which require the governor to order flags on state property to be flown at half-staff on the day of the memorial service for Oklahomans who are killed in combat. A special guest at the ceremony was the JohnstonCounty soldier who suggested it, Sgt. Todd Anderson.

Anderson was a Senate Page during Gumm’s first year in the Senate. He emailed the senator last fall from Iraq and suggested the legislation. Tishomingo state Rep. Paul Roan was the carried the bill in the House of Representatives and the measure passed the Legislature without a single “no” vote before being signed into law by the governor.

“It was an especially memorable ceremony because Todd was able to join us,” said Gumm, a Democrat whose district includes Johnston County. “This legislation exemplifies the impact one person can have on our government, and honors the courage and commitment of those Oklahomans who have given their lives in the War on Terror.”

The new law became effective on July 1, 2009.

“We’re all extremely proud of Todd, and of the sacrifices and dedication he and countless other Oklahoma soldiers have made in the name of freedom,” said Roan, also a Democrat. “I’ve known this young man pretty much his entire life, and the concern for his fellow soldiers his idea showed is a perfect example of his character.”

Gov. Brad Henry said he was extremely pleased to sign the legislation into law. “The citizens of our state are tremendous patriots and have always supported our troops. This new law is a reflection of those traditional Oklahoma values.”

Joining Sgt. Anderson at the ceremony was his mother, Mary Anderson, and Tom Lokey, a family friend.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Saving Money - Streamlining Government Services

A few days ago, the Speaker of the House announced his approval of a list of interim studies that will be conducted during the next few months. These studies will potentially form the basis for future legislation and give legislators a chance to examine new ideas without being under the constraints of the normal series of legislative deadlines.

One of the studies commissioned during the 2007 interim started the House modernization of government processes effort that evolved into the cost-saving modernization legislation that was approved this past year.

This year, in conjunction with the Vice-Chairman of the Government Modernization Committee, Rep. David Derby from Owasso, we have asked for and received approval for a series of six studies that I hope will result in the next round of modernization legislation.

One of the studies will focus on the possible consideration of consolidating state government human resource functions into one entity, as opposed to being spread out among all of the different state agencies. This particular reform could result in taxpayer savings very similar to the successful consolidation of the state's IT systems that the legislature approved this year.

A second study will consider the possible consolidation of state government licensing and permitting functions into a small number of state government entities, instead of being spread out among a number of individual bureaucracies. This reform would not only result in taxpayer savings, but would potentially create a much more user-friendly experience for those who are currently forced to get professional licenses and permits from a series of separate bureaucracies.

Putting to use new technology to enable better purchasing processes and transparency in government is the subject matter of a study which will allow us to follow up on past purchasing reforms and look at how we can make government spending become completely transparent and accessible to everyone. I believe that every penny of expended taxpayer dollars should be subject to the immediate review of the people.

The subject matter of one of the studies is ensuring the application of technology to provide additional public access to legislative proceedings, which is a very important issue. There has been significant progress along these lines in the past and I hope there will be more in the very near future. It has been my goal to see the day when televised content of legislative proceedings can be provided to everyone.

Another study will explore the potential savings and enhanced interactivity between government and the public through the employment of open source and social media technologies. I believe we can find examples of other government entities that have successfully employed some of these strategies.

If you have a personal story, specific insight or expertise concerning the any of the interim study subject matters, please be sure to contact me. With your help, some of the ideas from these studies will result in a new round of money-saving legislation.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Open Door Policy - July 6, 2009


I hope everyone had a safe Independence Day this past weekend. I had the opportunity to ride in the Marlow parade, then attend the community events in Cyril and Apache (just as the rain hit), and also attended a cookout. I then went to the airport to pick up my nephew, Jaycee Guffey, as he started his two weeks leave from the Army. His twin brother, Justin, will be in on leave also in the next two weeks. It will be nice to have both these guys home for a visit before being shipped to their next assignments.

I had the chance to ride in the Marlow parade with Stacy Funk, the 65th Annual Rush Springs Watermelon Queen. Stacy won this award two weeks ago and will travel around Oklahoma and Texas promoting the Watermelon Festival on August 8th. Chickasha also selected their rodeo queen at their 70th Annual Rodeo. Congratulations are to be extended to Alexa Brook Hoffman for winning and serving as the Rodeo Queen.

I especially want to extend congratulations to Jean Warner, a community activist who received the Embrace Award from the Oklahoma YWCA program. This award recognized her as someone actively working to make Central Oklahoma a better place for women and families and for being a leader on issues affecting women and/or minorities in Oklahoma. Jean is a wonderful woman, a civic leader and well-deserving of this recognition. I am working with leaders at the YWCA to draft a bill next session to allow persons to donate a portion of their tax returns to the YWCA Domestic Abuse and Transitional Housing program for battered victims. If you would like to make a donation or volunteer, contact the YWCA at webmaster@ywcaokc.org or by phone at 405-948-1770.

I am working with leaders from southwest Oklahoma in efforts to tackle various concerns for our area. Last week, various citizens participated in the Southwest Oklahoma Community Partnership Council meeting at Fort Sill, which is assembling citizens from various backgrounds to plan out the future of our region. If you have interest in this effort, please drop me an email and I will forward it on to the chairpersons.

Please keep several families in your prayers as I have had four people pass away in my life. My cousin, Reba Howell of Duncan, passed away after a fight with cancer on Monday. Jim Leon, a friend from high school, died in a car crash this past weekend. Justin Mitchell, a friend of mine from politics, passed away from health complications. HG Dulaney, Director Emeritus of the Sam Rayburn Library and an accomplished author, also passed away on July 4th. Mr. Dulaney visited with me on occasions when I could tour the library to learn more about my political role model.

It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 and my website is http://www.joedorman.com/ on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Senator Gumm's "Senate Minute" for July 10-16, 2009


Hello again, everyone! One of the greatest quotes about the role of government comes from former Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

He said, “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

Few statements have so clearly expressed the moral issues every government faces. The work to write the state’s budget, the most critical job the Legislature has, is in large measure an effort to meet that moral test. More money is spent on children, elderly and the sick than on the rest of state government combined.

That fact speaks well of Oklahoma’s commitment to generations past and those yet unborn. It is generations to come which place before us the greatest challenges. Not only do we hold this state in trust for them, we have to anticipate the challenges they will face, giving them the best chance to meet those challenges.

This week, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) released its report on the 2009 session of the Oklahoma Legislature. OICA said, in general, this session was very good for children, youth and families.

No matter how successful the session was, I strongly believe we must do better as a state by marshalling the resources we have and using them more effectively. To that end, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins asked me to sponsor a bill containing her proposal for a Children’s Cabinet.

The Children’s Cabinet would have been comprised of the directors of every state agency and a number of public interest groups charged with improving the quality of life for our children. The cabinet would have met quarterly to focus on Oklahoma’s children.

It was a simple plan that would have led to better children’s policies at virtually no cost to taxpayers, facts understood by every member of the Oklahoma Senate, Republican and Democrat alike. The Children’s Cabinet proposal passed the Senate unanimously – twice.

As with so many bills that truly would have improved the quality of life for Oklahoma’s children, the House of Representatives leadership refused to even consider the proposal. What was the motive for their unreasonable opposition? There are only two answers.

Either they truly do not believe we should find ways to improve the quality of life for children, or they are more interested in partisan politics, denying a legislative victory to a lieutenant governor from the other party. Neither answer is sufficient; neither reflects the values of Oklahomans.

This battle for Oklahoma’s children is not over. For as long as I serve as your senator, I will continue to do everything possible to improve the quality of life for today’s children and the generations yet unborn.

Thanks again for reading this week’s “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

2009 Town Hall Meetings

I will be hosting a series of Town Hall Meetings across House District 31 this week.

During the last mid-term interim, I conducted a series of these meetings in order to provide updates about both state and local government events and to provide an opportunity for questions and answers so my constituents could be better informed about issues of importance to them.

The meetings were attended by several hundred people and provided another opportunity to see how people felt about the issues at hand. This feedback has allowed me to advocate for issues such as road funding and property tax reform knowing that I was representing the desires of the people. I am also very appreciative to a number of other elected officials who took the time to attend those meetings as guest speakers.

Earlier this year I requested feedback via my legislative survey about where to hold this year's meetings and based on that feedback, there will be four Town Hall Meetings which will all start at 7:00 p.m.

The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 25, in the North Oklahoma/Southwest Logan county area at the Waterloo Road Baptist Church. Speakers at the meeting will be State Senator Clark Jolly, State Senator Randy Brogdon and Logan County Commissioner Mark Sharpton.

I have been privileged to work with both of these State Senators over the past few years and we have co-sponsored several issues together. Senator Jolly represents much of North Oklahoma County and South Logan County and is the expert in the Senate on technology issues. It was Jolly who successfully presented HB 1170 which will mandate the savings of over 30 million dollars to taxpayers each year by eliminating unnecessary technology costs. Jolly also carried the Human Services transparency bill that was requested by a Logan County group.

Senator Brogdon served as the Senate author for the modernization bill I have written about and the pay-as-you-go roads bill that was requested by a member of a Logan County roads district. Brogdon is running for Governor next year and this will be a fantastic chance for you to meet someone that you will be considering on the 2010 Gubernatorial ballot.

Commissioner Sharpton will update local residents about the progress being made on area road projects, including the upcoming paving projects on Pennsylvania Avenue and Broadway Road.

A Guthrie area meeting will be held September 29 at Community Church, 512 E. Seward Rd. The invited guest speaker is new State Senator Jim Halligan. Senator Halligan represents much of eastern Logan County and the east side of Guthrie.

A southeast Logan County meeting will take place October 27 at Woodcrest Fire Station. The invited guest is new County Commissioner Mike Pearson. The forum will give Commissioner Pearson the opportunity to talk about some of the upcoming projects in southeast Logan County, such as the funding secured for Midwest and Luther Roads and the paving project on Pine and Camp Roads.

The north Logan County meeting will be December 1 at the Crescent Community Center, the guest speaker being State Senator Patrick Anderson who represents much of north and west Logan County and County Commissioner Monty Piercy will be present to take any questions deal with local road issues.

Much like last time, we will prepare comprehensive handouts at the meetings which will provide information about everything from the modernization issues to the long-term road paving schedules. If you cannot, attend please be sure to contact me to request a copy of this handout. You may e-mail me at jason.murphey@okhouse.gov or call my office at 557-7350. I look forward to seeing you at one of these meetings.

Open Door Policy - June 30, 2009



I was in Oklahoma City over most of the weekend visiting friends in the hospital. I won't mention their names, but please keep those from our area who are sick or injured in your prayers. It is amazing what the will of people and the spirit can do to heal when there are friends who believe in you. I'm sorry I had to miss a couple of events at home, but I felt that I needed to be at the hospital to be with friends and help those families in need.
Best wishes are to be extended to one of my colleagues who will be leaving the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Ryan McMullen, who shares a portion of Caddo County with me, as well as other parts of the state to the west and north, will be leaving the legislature to take a position in the Presidential administration running the USDA Rural Development Programs. This area is key to providing assistance through grants and loans to rural Oklahoma. Ryan will do an excellent job in this job.
Congratulations are also extended to Keith Parker, a former resident of Elgin, who was selected to be the Vice-President of the Bricktown Rotary Club. This is a great group of people who do quite a bit of civic work. Keith is an outstanding leader and will do a lot of good in this capacity.
Interim studies were approved by the Speaker of the House this past Friday. Three of my ten studies were approved, so I will be busy preparing for those. The studies were:
1) Updates on Tax Increment Financing Districts;
2) Rural Firefighter Training Programs; and
3) Prison Reintegration Programs, which was combined with a study to be held by Rep. Kris Steele.
Of the 167 interim studies, 120 of them were approved. I'm disappointed the Speaker did not see the need to study some of my subjects like school drop-out rates and the need to fully-fund disaster reimbursement, but that will not deter me. I will be holding meetings on each of my seven studies and I will invited the members to attend and learn more about the subjects. I hope I will see legislators and members of the public present to analyze these issues and I will certainly keep you informed through this column.
It is an honor to represent your views at the State Capitol. If you wish to contact me and discuss one of these or another issue, I can be reached at my office in Oklahoma City toll-free at 1-800-522-8502, or directly at 1-405-557-7305. My e-mail address is joedorman@okhouse.gov at work. My mailing address is PO Box 559, Rush Springs, OK 73082 and my website is http://www.joedorman.com/ on the Internet. Thank you for taking time to read this column and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Dorman to Hold Interim Study on Rural Firefighter Training

Oklahoma House of Representatives
Media Division

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Joe Dorman
Capitol: (405) 557-7305
E-mail: joedorman@okhouse.gov

Dorman to Hold Interim Study on Rural Firefighter Training

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 26, 2009) – State Rep. Joe Dorman announced today that he will be conducting an interim study on the efficiency, effectiveness and cost of training rural firefighters. The study was approved this week and assigned to the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Natural Resources.
“There has been a push to increase the amount of training required of volunteer firefighters,” Dorman, D-Rush Springs, said. “I would like to look at these potential requirements officially and get the firefighters’ perspective.”
Pinpointing the amount of training necessary would be the goal of the study, Dorman said.
“If the increased trainings are necessary to do the job or if the trainings need to be altered to benefit the needs of the departments, then the Legislature needs to go in that direction,” Dorman said. “We need to maintain the balance for necessary skills and knowledge, but not demand so much that it will reduce recruitment and endanger the number of volunteer departments in our state.”
Maintaining effective rural fire departments is the key to necessary fire prevention and protection, along with establishing lower insurance rates and preserving property values. Providing adequately trained volunteer firefighters for departments is a necessity for preserving and developing each local volunteer department in Oklahoma .
“It is critical we maintain effective departments and provide every avenue of funding and affordable training for our firefighters,” Dorman said. “I was proud to author House Bill 1520 in 2007 at the request of the various fire protection entities and will fight every effort to water down that language, which provides affordable, accessible training to volunteer firefighters.”
House Speaker Chris Benge announced approval of legislative interim studies, which will be conducted this summer and fall.

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Friday, July 3, 2009

Senator Gumm's "Senate Minute" for July 3-9, 2009


DURANT, Okla. – Hello again, everyone! The summer generally is a very slow time at the State Capitol.

With the legislative session complete, lawmakers return to their districts and their families. The focus of lawmakers’ work becomes constituent service and preparation for the next year’s session of the Legislature.

One of the ways in which we prepare for the next legislative session is through a series of meetings called interim studies. Lawmakers request these studies to get more information on issues; the interim gives us more time for in-depth study.

The president pro tempore of the Senate has the power to authorize or deny study requests by senators. Getting that approval is the first hurdle. The decision about whether a study is conducted – even if authorized by the president pro tempore – rests with the chair of the committee to which the study was assigned.

Sometimes, committee chairs decline to move forward with studies. The reasons can be substantive or political. The decision also can be based on a lack of information from the senator requesting the study.

One of the projects on which I am working is to develop scope of study recommendations to the chairs of committees where the seven studies I requested were assigned. I want to make certain the committee chairs have the information necessary to move forward; I hope to have that information ready for the committee chairs in the next few weeks.

I will propose to the committee chairs ambitious agendas on each of my studies. My studies – all approved by the president pro tempore – will range from health care to protecting children and senior citizens.

While preparing for the next session is critical, constituent service is just as important; there are cases where constituent service is even more important, depending on the severity of the challenge. At one time or another, many Oklahomans need assistance from state government or help contacting the federal government.

My office is staffed throughout the year to help with a variety of challenges facing my constituents, as well as comments, questions and concerns. You can always contact my office by telephone at (405) 521-5586 or (580) 924-2221. My traditional mail address is State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

My newly redesigned website - www.gumm.us - has a form to contact my office, which will send the information directly to me. Along with contact forms, the website provides a way to keep up with news from my office, previous editions of this column, as well as audio and video clips.

When I am asked by school children, “What does a senator do?” my answer is always, “Help people.” Constituent service is, in many ways, the heart of service in the Legislature; it is the most direct way to “help people.” I am, and will forever be, deeply grateful for the continued opportunity to serve.

Thanks again for reading this week’s “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.