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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Jacquelyn Walsh
Phone: (405) 557-7306

GOP Committees Hear Lowest Number of Minority Bills in Recent Memory

OKLAHOMA CITY – Republican-controlled committees have once again put party over state by only passing 30 measures authored by House Democrats through the committee process.

At a time when Oklahomans from both sides of the aisle expect their voices to be heard, House Republican leadership has elected not to listen to the people but instead have used committees to retaliate against Democrats who have chosen to listen to their constituents and stand against big business and special interests.

Specifically, the minority caucus was notified that members who voted against the package would need to transfer their bills to other caucus members who were in favor of Step Up. One such measure, House Bill 2615, authored by Rep. Will Fourkiller D-Stilwell, was transferred to another Democrat all due to Rep. Fourkiller’s ‘no’ vote on Step Up – a vote requested by a majority of the constituents that contacted him. The measure simply commemorated soldiers buried at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

“I have spent seven years at the Capitol, representing the people of Norman and I have never before seen this level of partisan denigration, especially based on a measure that was widely rejected by both parties,” said Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman. “Several members of the Democratic caucus filed legislation requested by constituents to help make the government more responsive to their needs or to fix problems with our current laws and none of their bills were heard.”

Of the measures denied a hearing, four measures would have provided teacher pay raises of $5,000 or more and five measures would have restored the gross production tax to a rate more equitable for all of Oklahoma. Overall, 38 of the 140 measures introduced by Democratic members and not granted a hearing would have benefitted public education and helped to dramatically improve the state’s fiscal situation.

“When I filed House Bill 2842 to restore the gross production tax rate and dedicate the revenue to a long-term teacher pay increase, I knew I was facing an uphill battle,” states Rep. Matt Meredith, D-Tahlequah . “But, I also knew that there were several members, both Democrats and Republicans, that supported both of the objectives in this bill.”

Retired educator Rep. Donnie Condit, D-McAlester, filed HB2617, which sought to make a tax credit available for teachers that have paid for classroom supplies like reams of paper and pencils. The bill was assigned to a budgetary subcommittee and not granted a hearing.

Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, filed HB2929 to help place a timeline for dealing with the backlog of nearly 7,000 untested rape kits in the state, which is an essential step in stopping serial rapists.

“The victims of sexual assault and rape continue to be ignored in our state,” Nichols said. “Many law enforcement agencies across the state failed to comply with the Governor’s audit request on untested rape kits and now because of politics we are once again showing them justice doesn’t matter. Untested kits leave us with the threat of rapist walking free. This is an urgent and dangerous problem, it should be bigger than politics but thanks to a few committee chairs, it is not.”

Other measures presented by House Democrats that failed to receive a committee hearing:

HB2531 – Authored by Rep. Collin Walke, D-Oklahoma City, would have restored of the historic gross production tax rate, boosting state revenue by over $300 million.

HB1368 – Authored by Rep. Johnny Tadlock, D-Idabel, approval of dedicated, per-pupil funds for books and supplies.

HB2611 – Authored by Rep. Johnny Tadlock, D-Idabel, created a tiered gross production tax.

HB2741 – Authored by Rep. David Perryman, D-Chickasha, would restore the state standard deduction.

HB2746 – Authored by Rep. David Perryman, D-Chickasha, would increase transparency of the Legislature by subjecting it to the same rules of other public bodies.

HB1876 – Authored by Rep. Eric Proctor, D-Tulsa, would allow a spouse or family member paid leave to care for veterans returning home with disabilities.

“It’s stunning that we have people elected to serve the citizens of Oklahoma that would refuse to hear good legislation from a member based on a previous vote,” said Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City. “That kind of petty behavior from House leadership effectively silenced the voices of the thousands of Oklahomans who put their faith in their legislators.”

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