tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69401343951838236012024-03-12T22:17:26.207-06:00Oklahoma Legislators' BlogChristopher Arpshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12944599044613861600noreply@blogger.comBlogger488125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-60191919162099532972012-09-24T13:46:00.001-06:002012-09-24T13:47:16.414-06:00Shaking Down LobbyistsBack in February I wrote an article describing the influence of certain lobbyists over the legislative process. I wrote that lobbyists, " . . . are professional relationship manipulation experts and expert strategists, and they know the pressure points to push to get a key lawmaker’s vote. Their attempts to kill a good bill appear to be rather like a game to them. A team of lobbyists can point toAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-53904458209693829672012-09-05T15:00:00.002-06:002012-09-05T15:00:35.940-06:00Disqualifying Candidates Based on OccupationI believe our nation's founding fathers designed Congress to be made up of citizens from varied professions and occupations. This concept was applied to the legislatures of the several states including Oklahoma. Legislators naturally tend to gravitate to the area of policy to which they are familiar and I enjoy watching the contributions made from those with expertise in a given subject matter. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-57314219675335141452012-09-05T14:53:00.001-06:002012-09-05T14:53:49.522-06:00When the Government Refuses to Follow the LawImagine the challenge faced by the citizen who feels the call to become civically involved and hold government accountable only to be denied access to transparency records to which he is legally entitled. Or put yourself in the place of the conscientious journalist who has been trained to do the necessary research to present a story in its full context only to hit a stone wall when asking for Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-11107819752850617232012-09-05T14:07:00.000-06:002012-09-05T14:07:41.397-06:00Taxpayers to Save 40 Million Dollars Each YearOklahoma taxpayers are set to save 40 million dollars during the current state budget year and each year thereafter according to a recent report.
The Information Services Division of the state's Office of Finance released its fiscal year end report detailing the savings from the recently enacted plan to consolidate state government information technology processes. The report shows savings Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-84553401408827169542012-09-05T14:03:00.002-06:002012-09-05T14:03:52.477-06:00It Is Time To End Pork EarmarksThe issue of pork earmarks or legislative pass-throughs has received a bit of public scrutiny within the past few weeks after the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs, an Oklahoma City television station, and one of the state's largest newspapers investigated and criticized the ongoing practice.
The Oklahoma Constitution prevents the Oklahoma Legislature from appropriating money directly to Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-39497870151547066982011-12-05T11:57:00.001-06:002011-12-05T12:03:56.512-06:00Open Government Laws Should Apply To LegislatureLast year, I filed Legislation that would apply Oklahoma’s open meetings and records laws to the Legislature. As you are probably aware, these are the important laws designed to ensure that transparency follows the taxpayer dollar. Whenever the government spends your money, these laws are supposed to provide you with access to the documents and meetings affecting the decision to spend your money.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-80375435686124991092011-10-31T09:33:00.000-06:002011-10-31T09:35:13.873-06:00City and County Realizing Savings for TaxpayersIf you have read very many of these updates in the past, you are familiar with the savings to taxpayers due to the modernization of state government processes. However, it is important to note that the commitment of the Legislature and Governor to make state government processes more efficient does not just result in savings in state government. Because of these reforms, the taxpayers are Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-59190318384947121672011-10-17T10:48:00.000-06:002011-10-17T10:52:35.790-06:00The Positive Impact of the New LegislatorsThe Legislature has greatly benefited this year from the influx of a large number of freshmen members elected during the 2010 election cycle. Because they are a product of this important election cycle, they know firsthand how important it is for Oklahoma’s policy makers to cut government spending. Here is one example:For years, various attempts have been made in the Legislature to bring some Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-83027008181178994742011-10-10T08:38:00.000-06:002011-10-10T08:56:19.747-06:00More About the 2011 Modernization ReformsI wanted to write just one more article describing some of the reform in this year’s successful Government Modernization legislation. These reforms put into place a comprehensive framework to increase the transparency of state government process, lower the cost of government to the taxpayer, and significantly enhance the ability of the citizen to access government documents and records.Reducing Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-76683112726136940942011-10-03T08:58:00.001-06:002011-10-03T09:01:03.456-06:00Consolidating State AgenciesLast week I wrote about the large number of modernization initiatives that were approved this year by members of the Government Modernization Committee, the Legislature and Governor. In that article I described a small sampling of these initiatives. These efforts were designed to result in cost savings and greater transparency. In this week’s update I have described House Bill 2140 and House BillAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-59026434082068419672011-09-26T10:29:00.000-06:002011-09-26T10:40:24.852-06:0023 Modernization Initiatives Going Into LawThis year was by far the most successful year for legislative state government modernization reform proposals. In all, 23 significant government modernization initiatives have been identified. Each of this initiatives was considered by either the House Government Modernization standing or conference committee and all were approved by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. These Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-17118893401617192402011-09-19T08:44:00.000-06:002011-09-19T08:52:19.148-06:00Too Many Tuition IncreasesLater this month, State Representatives Corey Holland, Leslie Osborn and I, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs (OCPA), will conduct a study of the state’s higher education system. During the past few weeks, OCPA (OCPAThink.com), OklahomaWatchdog.com and CapitolBeatOK.com have written a series of articles detailing the spending practices of Oklahoma’s higher education Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-43182200477238282342011-08-29T08:18:00.000-06:002011-08-29T08:27:30.352-06:00How Many State Employees Are Paid More Than the Governor?There is no question that when properly used, technology provides the public with insight into government as never before. All too often, people will express dissatisfaction with the size of government and state their belief that there is too much waste in government, but fail to provide a concrete example of substantive government waste.
Technology changes this. In my view, new technologies Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-43844796271477879162011-08-21T21:43:00.001-06:002011-08-22T08:30:43.463-06:00Staying FocusedEarlier this year, I wrote about my decision to help bring attention to the need for a federal balanced budget amendment. I enjoyed the opportunity to document the significant amount of support in the Oklahoma Legislature for ratifying the amendment if Congress would just give us the opportunity to do so.
I also mentioned my hesitance to take on new tasks. Over the past few years I have become Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-39383495589795432922011-08-08T09:05:00.001-06:002011-08-08T09:15:26.960-06:00Consideration of Bills in CommitteeIn last week’s article, I articulated my support for the proposal to change House rules so that all bills receive a hearing in committee. I strongly believe in the principle that each proposal should receive an on-the-record vote so the constituents of each Representative will know where their legislator stands on each issue.
It has been my challenge to reconcile this belief with the fact that Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-12180097950658503342011-07-18T08:35:00.001-06:002011-07-18T08:37:16.209-06:00State Officials Making a DifferenceDuring the past three weeks I have used this medium to describe the role Oklahoma’s newly elected officials have played in working toward smaller state government.I initially envisioned that I would write about this in just one article. However, I have observed so many different attempts by these officials to eliminate wasteful spending, that one article has grown into four. I enjoyed the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-83584092879611164512011-07-11T10:06:00.000-06:002011-07-11T10:16:10.939-06:00Saving Money and Informing the PublicDuring the recently concluded legislative session, I enjoyed the opportunity to place transparency and openness proposals from newly-elected Oklahoma statewide elected officials into modernization legislation. Under the leadership of Superintendent Janet Barresi the Department of Education requested legislation to bring transparency to the department’s conference and training processes. In the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-11281822922886840572011-07-04T09:03:00.000-06:002011-07-04T09:04:26.167-06:00Modernizing the State Treasurer's OfficeThis year I enjoyed the opportunity to work with several of Oklahoma's new statewide elected officials in their efforts to modernize state government. I served as the House author for modernization legislation on behalf of State Treasurer Ken Miller, State Auditor Gary Jones, Attorney General Scott Pruitt and State Superintendent Janet Barresi. When State Treasurer Ken Miller took office, he Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-85878789602205277492011-06-27T08:05:00.000-06:002011-06-27T08:06:46.118-06:00A Refreshing Change of PaceIn past updates I have described how Governor Mary Fallin has played an important role in calling for and ensuring the passage of innovative proposals to cut the size of state government and make it more open and transparent.In addition to getting the word out about the Governor’s hard work for reform, I feel it is also important to mention the work of other newly elected and appointed statewide Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-23543419524589122352011-06-20T09:05:00.000-06:002011-06-20T09:08:55.569-06:00The Year of the ReprimandThe Oklahoma Constitution contains a clause that says that for any speech or debate in the Legislature, legislators shall not be questioned in any other place. In other words, the speech of Representatives while considering legislation is sacrosanct. The clause mirrors a provision in the US Constitution and places a priority on the ability of legislators without fear of retribution to expose any Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-56990509626025217652011-06-06T09:34:00.000-06:002011-06-06T09:43:48.353-06:00Modernization Efforts ApprovedThree weeks ago I wrote an article in which I described how most our 2011 modernization initiatives were still pending in the legislative process. With only one week left in the session, it was our challenge to win approval for all these initiatives.I am happy to report that during the last week of session, each of these proposals were approved by the Legislature and all the legislation has been Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-32633642522678328682011-05-23T08:02:00.000-06:002011-05-23T08:11:56.434-06:00A Big DifferenceLast week appears to have been the last time during which the Legislature will meet in 2011. While the Legislature could technically still return this week, it is unlikely we will do so. The last few days of this legislative year contrasted heavily from the last days of previous sessions. I think this is probably the first year where I did not feel like I had been run over by a truck during the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-9680587557791738912011-05-16T09:40:00.000-06:002011-05-16T12:32:22.621-06:00One More Week!Legislative leaders negotiated a budget agreement with the Governor last week and came to terms with proposals for redistricting the House and Senate. With these issues addressed, legislators have been encouraged to move their bills through the conference committee process with the expectation that the group could adjourn for the year as soon as this week. The House officially approved the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-41144881573081218572011-04-11T06:51:00.001-06:002011-04-11T07:01:04.300-06:00The State Government Transparency ProposalsIn last week’s update I wrote about a series of what I believe to be innovative transparency and accessibility enhancing reforms which are part of House Bill 1086 that I authored with state Senator Clark Jolley.In addition to the reforms that I wrote about in last week’s update, the bill also proposes to make state governance processes open to the public.For instance, all too often, governments Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6940134395183823601.post-7242504423464479032011-04-03T21:45:00.000-06:002011-04-03T21:47:07.684-06:00HB 1086 - The 2011 Government 2.0 ProposalDuring last year’s legislative session, I served as the House author for Senate Bill 1759 which was sponsored in the Senate by state Senator Anthony Sykes. Our goal was to codify what may be the first in the nation’s Government 2.0 legislation to be approved at the state level. The bill established the data.ok.gov web portal. This site is the framework through which all kinds of government data Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13227973761749117067noreply@blogger.com0