Logan County tax reform to go into law

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin has signed the proposal to reform county government election law. House Bill 1400, proposed by State Representative Jason Murphey and State Senator Anthony Sykes, requires county governments to allow voters to cast a distinct and separate vote on county tax questions.

Guthrie city manager accepts job in Texas

Guthrie City Manager Sereniah Breland is leaving after less than three years to take a city manager position near Houston.

Never, ever retaliate

In the middle of April 2014, I finished my work for the day at the House of Representatives and drove to the Cedar Ridge neighborhood at 220th and MacArthur. It was the commencement of campaign season and for the next few months my family and I would make thousands of visits door to door.

Senate Minutes: There’s a lot to consider

When we talk about the issues that come before us at the state Capitol, there’s a lot to consider.  What kind of input have I received from the people I represent?  Is this going to be beneficial to them and the state in the years to come?  What are other states doing, and what does the research tell us about the problem and possible solutions?

The difference between state government debt and your home mortgage

As we near the end of the legislative session, the Legislature will be presented with last minute, late session emergencies in order to compel legislators to issue more taxpayer-funded debt.

My checklist for voting no

I want to refer those in the Edmond and Guthrie areas to an article just released on Monday by Energy Wire reporter Mike Soraghan. Soraghan is the journalist at the forefront of reporting on the induced seismicity issue and his article speaks to the behind-the-scenes response to the Edmond/Guthrie quakes and is the best overview which I have seen to date and is a must read for local residents. I have taken the liberty of posting it on my blog at hd31.org/710.

The tyranny of the acronyms

I still vividly recall very wise advice which I received years ago on a hot afternoon in Mulhall, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma earthquakes are uncovering an academic conflict of interest

Oklahoma policy makers must come to terms with an evolving conflict of interest. This conflict has been exposed by events that just a few years ago simply could not have been imagined in Oklahoma.

Active legislation that will impact Logan and Oklahoma counties

We have almost reached the halfway point of this legislative year. Several important measures are moving through the legislative process and could have an impact on Oklahoma and Logan County residents if they become laws later this year.

Governor Mary Fallin signs bill aimed at reducing prescription drug abuse

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed legislation taking aim at Oklahoma’s prescription drug abuse problem, the first bill to be signed into law in 2015. House Bill 1948 seeks to reduce “doctor shopping,” the practice of going to multiple physicians with requests for prescription narcotics, and to reduce the reliance on and inappropriate use of dangerous narcotics to treat pain.