Leaders fued over committee assignments
It’s going to be an interesting legislative session for a few reasons.
There are the obvious reasons: Republicans lead the Senate for the first time in state history with a 26-22 majority. State leaders will have to come up with a budget with less state revenues available.
But judging by the contention over committee assignments, it could be interesting to watch how Republicans and Democrats work together. In dueling news releases issued Thursday, Minority leader Sen. Charlie Laster, D-Shawnee highlighted the experience of key Democrats and proposed committee spots for them.
Senate Pro Tempore Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, had already named five Democrats to vice chair positions in Senate committees.
Later in the day, Coffee issued a release too, disregarding many of the Laster’s suggestions.
And so it begins?
Laster named Sen. Tom Adelson, D-Tulsa, to the Appropriations Subcommitte on Health and Human Services. Adelson once served as Gov. Brad Henry’s secretary of health and has been credited with helping to get more uninsured children health insurance.
Coffee’s assignment for Adelson: A spot on the Health and Human Resources Committee and a spot on the Business and Labor Committee.
When asked about the value of Adelson’s knowledge and experience on health care funding and issues, Coffee said: “The OSU-Tulsa Medical Center deal has been a mess, because of his leadership, so I disagree with that statement.”
Coffee was referring to the crisis at the Oklahoma State Medical Center in Tulsa. Earlier this month, the hospital was in danger of closing. State leaders put together a plan to work that allows a non-profit hospital to operate the medical center. State funds will be used to update the hospital and offset the cost of caring for people without medical insurance.
Coffee also ignored Laster’s suggestion of Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and the appointment of Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne to the Senate judiciary and energy committees.
Last session, Lerblance was a co-chair of the judiciary committee.
Coffee said Laster’s picks were senators who were more obstructionists than leaders.
The Legislature will meet on Jan. 6 to approve committee assignments and leadership positions.
It’s doubtful that there will be arm wrestling or chest banging. The disagreements will be far more subtle and civilized.
But, don’t look for a quick perfunctory Jan. 6 organizational session, Laster says.
“January 6 could be a real long day,” Laster said. “It just could be a long day.”
Julie Bisbee
Capitol Bureau
Democrats name floor leadership
State House Democrats have filled their floor leadership positions for the upcoming 52nd Oklahoma Legislature.
Democratic Floor Leader Mike Brown of Tahlequah said Tuesday that Rep. Ben Sherrer of Chouteau will be the Democratic whip.
Reps. Wes Hilliard of Sulphur and Jerry McPeak of Warner will be deputy Democratic floor leaders.
Reps. Wallace Collins, Wade Rousselot, Jabar Shumate, Jeannie McDaniel and Larry Glenn were named assistant floor leaders.
Pay raise for higher ed leader criticized
The new chairman of the House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee said today he isn’t happy with the 5 percent pay raise given to the state’s higher education chancellor.
“This type of action in an environment where higher education officials have already requested $80 million in additional funding next year makes me truly question what other unnecessary or wasteful spending is going on within our higher education system,” said Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada.
State Regents for Higher Education on Thursday approved a 5 percent pay increase for Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson. His annual salary will increase from $286,650 to about $301,000.
They also gave him a one-time bonus of $10,000. The item was approved without discussion as part of the regents’ consent docket.
“From a perception standpoint, I don’t think now is the time to be giving higher education’s top official a raise and hefty bonus,” Thomsen said, referring to confirmation this week that the country is in a recession. “Two words come to mind: excessive and unnecessary.”
Johnson said the pay is comparable with others in his position. It is less than the base salaries of the presidents of the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. Johnson was appointed chancellor of the state’s higher education system in December 2006. He previously was president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant. As chancellor, he oversees the state system of 25 colleges and universities, and lobbies for their legislative funding.
What do you think?
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Republican-led Senate committee chairs
Committee chairs might not sound like an important job, but these members are the gatekeepers of the bills that get heard.
State Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, made the committee chair announcements last week.
Under Coffee’s leadership, the number of committees and subcommittees shrunk by two to 20 from 22. The criminal jurisprudence committee will be eliminated and the Health and Social Services and Human Services will be combined into a single appropriations subcommittee on health and human services.
Nineteen Republican senators who served as a committee co-chair the past two years will serve as chairmen in the GOP-controlled Senate. One new senator – former OSU president Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater – will be the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.
“This is one of the most intelligent and talented groups of committee chairs I have seen during my tenure in the Senate. They’ll play a critical role in advancing the Senate Republicans’ agenda of fiscal responsibility, job creation, government reform, and traditional values,” Coffee said.
Republicans have a majority in the Senate for the first time in history. The Senate is made up of 26 Republicans and 22 Democrats.
The State Senate’s committees and committee chairs for the 2009 session are:
Appropriations Committee: Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher
Appropriations Subcommittee on Education: Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater
Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services: Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa.
Appropriations Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Regulatory Services: Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City.
Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation: Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso.
Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary: Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore.
Finance Committee: Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa.
Education Committee: Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville.
Judiciary Committee: Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid.
Agriculture and Rural Development Committee: Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha
Business and Labor Committee: Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole
Energy and Environment Committee: Sen. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa.
General Government Committee: Sen. Cliff Aldridge, R-Choctaw.
Health and Human Resources Committee: Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond.
Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee: Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton
Retirement and Insurance Committee: Sen. Bill Brown, R-Broken Arrow.
Rules Committee: Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman.
Tourism and Wildlife Committee: Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus.
Transportation Committee: Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City.
Veterans and Military Affairs Committee: Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City.
Julie Bisbee
Capitol Bureau
