Business and Politics
Deadline looms to request 2010 bills
Work is continuing on the various interim studies. We have until Friday, December 11 to request what bills we want to file in the upcoming session. So, again, if you have any ideas for legislation, please contact me.
We also had the first of the budget hearings in the Natural Resources and Regulatory Services Appropriations Sub-Committee. We will be continuing these meetings next week. It is important that we continue to work together as we deal with this critical budget situation.
We recently had an opportunity to recognize our veterans who sacrificed so much to protect our freedom. Even though we have a special day “Veteran’s Day” set aside to recognize these great heroes it is important that we show respect to them everyday throughout the year and never forget to show our appreciation.
I was honored to be asked to participate in a Veteran’s Day program at the Watonga Schools honoring Glenn Blood who had received the Silver Star and the Purple Heart after his service during the Vietnam War. He and a number of other veteran’s were recognized at the event, and I was truly amazed and extremely proud of the respect that the students showed these individuals. It was a humbling experience for me to be in the presence of all those great individuals who stood and fought for our country.
In closing, you’ll probably hear a lot about Alzheimer’s this month in the news as it’s National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, so I’d like to share some information with you. This horrible disease has a great impact on our families and society.
In 2006, nearly 73,000 Americans died of Alzheimer's disease and 411,000 citizens were diagnosed with the disease, and that number is expected to skyrocket as Baby Boomers get older.
Based on these statistics, we approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 in March of this year, which urged Congress to increase federal funding for Alzheimer’s disease research.
It’s unfortunate, but our federal government spends much more on HIV/AIDS research than Alzheimer’s research even though there are nearly eight times the number of Alzheimer’s patients in our country than HIV/AIDS victims. In 2006, there were around 56,300 Americans infected with HIV compared to the 411,000 new Alzheimer patients, yet the federal government spends around $2.9 billion a year on HIV/AIDS research and only about $650 million for Alzheimer's research.
The government even spends more each year on West Nile Virus research - about $15,564 per patient compared to $124 per Alzheimer patient.
Experts predict that as the Baby Boom generation ages, the number of Alzheimer cases will increase to half a million by 2010 and almost a million by 2050.
Hopefully researchers can find a cure for this horrible disease. We need to work to ensure that our elderly keep their mental capacity to their final days, and that families no longer have to suffer financially or emotionally watching their loved ones spend their last years lost and confused.
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To contact me at the Capitol, please write to Senator Ron Justice, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 423A, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, or call (405) 521-5537 and speak to my assistant, Yvonne Phelps.
- Business and Politics
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Agriculture, energy sectors drive Oklahoma’s economy
The two driving forces behind Oklahoma’s economy are the agriculture and energy sectors. It is important that we at the legislature ensure that we are business friendly and available to listen and respond, so we maintain these key industries of our state.
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Tourism big business in town
Your Chickasha Chamber of Commerce has a long tradition of recognizing Tourism as a driving “economic engine” for our city.
Tourism brought $6.1 Billion to Oklahoma in 2008, making it the state’s third largest industry. The Chamber supports, both directly and with the Economic Development Council, events that bring excitement, people, and money into our city: money spent at motels, at restaurants, at convenience stores and other retail establishments. -
Thanks for another term
I have to start off this week by thanking the voters of House District 65 for allowing me to serve another two years as your State Representative.
I was re-elected automatically last Wednesday at 5 pm due to no one else filing for the position. -
Spill response flawed from start
Last week marked a sad milestone: 50 days since the explosion on British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon rig triggered the oil spill that is still gushing out of control.
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Session is officially over
These last few weeks were extremely hectic and stressful as we worked to get a budget deal together. At the beginning of last week, we had around 215 bills still working their way through the process.
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Mood tense, but not at risk of progress
We are in the final week of the legislative session for 2010. All my remaining bills have been passed by the House and await a hearing in the Senate or are on the desk of Governor Henry.
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Governor signs 210 bills
Work continues at the Capitol as we race for the finish. We have only three weeks remaining before Sine Die on Friday, May 28. As I mentioned before, these last weeks will consist of work on the budget and in conference committees to find agreeable language on the remaining bills.
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Dorman still waiting on 4 measures
The legislative session is progressing along slowly as we have considered a few bills each day.
We still have around 250 conference committee reports, many of which the leadership has not assigned the committee responsible for review. All four of my bills are still waiting an assignment, even though I have most of the work finished on how I would like to see them pass. -
Tax credits become a focus
Another week down inside the state Capitol. May is well underway and only three weeks remain of the 2010 session.
There are several issues I’d like to update you on, so without further ado, here’s the latest from Oklahoma City. -
Okla. Senate fails to override gun bill veto
The Republican-controlled Senate voted 28-16 on Wednesday with 36 votes needed to override Democratic Gov. Brad Henry's vet.
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Agriculture, energy sectors drive Oklahoma’s economy
