Well, we are officially back in Session as of this Monday, February 1st. Kicking off the new session was Governor Brad Henry’s State of the State address. Nothing new was really reported; just the restating of the fact that times are tough and they may get tougher before they get better.
One thing everyone agrees on is that we need to save part of the Rainy Day Fund for the next fiscal year. If every dime of savings is used now, what in the world would we fill the projected budget hole with next year? The one positive thing to be thankful for is that we still can’t spend more than we take in, thanks to our balanced budget agreement. If only our Federal Government had the same restraint.
So, the belt tightening will continue. In the last month I have talked to several people in the District who work in different areas of state government, who have suggested innovative ideas to save the state money. I have passed every one of the ideas on to the appropriate committee heads for consideration. Superintendent Jim Glaze of Chickasha had several forward-thinking ideas on ways to save the schools money in these dire economic times. The head of the Appropriations Committee for Education is considering several of them.
I have also been approached by people working for the Department of Corrections, as well as several other state agencies. It is encouraging to see people making the extra effort to save their agencies and the state money, when times are tough. Oklahoma is truly a great place to live.
I will wait and report on my bills, as they are brought up in their respective committees. But, we will be hearing a full range of measures, from horse dentistry regulation to the consolidation of state agencies. My pledge to you is to only file bills that are of great importance to the people of Oklahoma, and not to file frivolous bills such as naming state flowers, changing the state flag, or picking our favorite Oklahoma country song. There may be a place for these types of ideas, but I believe we have more important issues to work on at the state Capitol.
There are several bills on this year’s agenda that would make it harder to file for a divorce. While I agree that this is a terrible problem in our country and state, I don’t believe that it is our place to legislate morality. Those morals must be taught at home and in our places of worship. It is never a good idea when the government tries to step in to your personal lives. Anything we write in ink on paper at the Capitol is going to have very little effect on how a family relates to one another.
I look forward to any questions or comments you might have for me during this new session. If you need anything, feel free to contact me or visit my office, room 300.
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Leslie Osborn serves District 47 of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She can be contacted by phone at (405) 557-733 or via e-mail at leslie.osborn@okhouse.gov.
