So what is a chief information officer anyway?
What a chief information officer would do under the proposed legislation:
A chief information officer would be appointed by the governor. The chief information officer’s salary will be between $130,000 and $160,000. The salary for the governor is $147,000. A chief information officer must be appointed by Jan. 1, 2010.
The chief information officer will oversee the information technology and telecommunications systems of all state agencies. In the first year on the job, the chief information officer must audit the state’s current technology system and make recommendations on how to modernize and streamline it. The plan must be presented to the governor, speaker of the house and president pro tempore of the Senate. The chief information officer must be able to prove technology measures have saved the state money within two years of being appointed.
Applicants for the chief information officer position must hold a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, technology management, business administration, finance or some other related degree. A successful applicant should also have 10 years experience, including seven years of direct management of an information technology operation, according to the bill.
The chief information officer would also have the authority to hire private consultants to assess the state’s technology needs. The chief information officer would the purchasing director for all technology equipment and software for state agencies.
Forty-six other states have a similar position.
— Julie Bisbee, Capitol Bureau
Senate hung up on technology bill
On the last day of session, business in the Senate has stalled after lawmakers are tied at 22. Democrats and one Republican have voted against Senate Bill 980, which creates a chief information officer to oversee technology and computers in state agencies. The vote was taken at 10:40 a.m., Democrats left the Senate at 10:50 a.m. Since then, Republicans have held the vote open.
Below is a release issued by Senate Republicans. In the third hour of the stalled Senate, leading Democrats trickled in and out of the chamber.
WHY DID FLOOR LEADER HOLD CIO VOTE OPEN?
State Stands to Save Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
OKLAHOMA CITY – When the Democrat Senate caucus unexpectedly locked-up against a bill which would have authorized a state Central Information Officer, denying passage of this important and cost-effective reform, Majority Floor Leader Todd Lamb held the vote open in order to give members voting “no” an opportunity to change their votes.
“We have about 2,319,000,000 reasons why we held the vote open,” said Majority Floor Leader Todd Lamb. “You do the math:”
- Since consolidating their IT services six years ago the state of Michigan has saved $100 million. (www.govetech.com/624346)
- Virginia has saved $232 million through consolidating its IT services, averaging $25 million per year in savings. (VA Information Technologies Agency).
- Indiana has saved $50 million since consolidating IT services.
- Pennsylvania projects $257 million in reduced costs over the next seven years.
- California will save $1.5 billion over the next five years. This is one area where this budget-challenged state has made a positive decision. (www.govtech/gt/articles/587864)
- Georgia will save an estimated $180 million over the length of its contract.
- Oregon’s IT consolidation saves 35% per year in power costs.
“And the beat goes on,” Lamb said. “One can only wonder why the Democrats are so committed to spending our money in such a wasteful manner,” Lamb continued.
“How many bridges could we repair with $2.3 billion? How many families could DHS serve with a piece of that pie? How many teachers could we hire with that kind of cost savings?
“One has to wonder if the Democrats protecting their last bastion of patronage through this maneuver?” he added.
“It’s no wonder Oklahoma stays behind the rest of the country in so many categories. I encourage my colleagues to accept the fact that this is a worthy reform, and join 46 other states approving this very worthy and cost-beneficial reform and bring Oklahoma into the 21st Century,” Lamb concluded.
J.C. Watts says he will not run for governor
Democrats to honor journalist, late congressman
Oklahoma Democrats gather tonight to acknowledge contributions made by Frosty Troy and the late Mike Synar.
Troy is the founding editor of the Oklahoma Observer and has been a fixture at the state Capitol covering politics for more than 30 years.
Synar was a Muskogee Democrat who represented the 2nd Congressional District for 16 years. He died in 1996.
Troy and Synar’s family will be given the Carl Albert Award, the state Democratic Party’s most prestigious award for service and leadership. It is named for the late U.S. Rep. Carl Albert of McAlester and former speaker of the House.
About 300 are expected to attend tonight’s dinner at the Centennial Building in State Fair Park, said Ivan Holmes, chairman of the state Democratic Party.
House Democrats planning to attend tonight’s dinner will be nervously watching the clock. Both the House and the Senate are holding a Friday session. Friday sessions are rare, but common in the waning days of a legislative session as lawmakers try to wrap things up.
House Republican leadership said earlier this week they would be meeting late tonight, causing some to fret they would be working into the evening and would miss tonight’s dinner.
House Democratic leader Danny Morgan of Prague said he’s been assured by House floor leader Tad Jones, R-Claremore, plans are conclude today’s proceedings about 5:30 p.m.
To ensure they can get today’s list of bills heard, the House is going in at 8:30 this morning, a half hour earlier than normal.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Democrats to honor journalist, late congressman
Oklahoma Democrats gather tonight to acknowledge contributions made by Frosty Troy and the late Mike Synar.
Troy is the founding editor of the Oklahoma Observer and has been a fixture at the state Capitol covering politics for more than 30 years.
Synar was a Muskogee Democrat who represented the 2nd Congressional District for 16 years. He died in 1996.
Troy and Synar’s family will be given the Carl Albert Award, the state Democratic Party’s most prestigious award for service and leadership. It is named for the late U.S. Rep. Carl Albert of McAlester and former speaker of the House.
About 300 are expected to attend tonight’s dinner at the Centennial Building in State Fair Park, said Ivan Holmes, chairman of the state Democratic Party.
House Democrats planning to attend tonight’s dinner will be nervously watching the clock. Both the House and the Senate are holding a Friday session. Friday sessions are rare, but common in the waning days of a legislative session as lawmakers try to wrap things up.
House Republican leadership said earlier this week they would be meeting late tonight, causing some to fret they would be working into the evening and would miss tonight’s dinner.
House Democratic leader Danny Morgan of Prague said he’s been assured by House floor leader Tad Jones, R-Claremore, plans are conclude today’s proceedings about 5:30 p.m.
To ensure they can get today’s list of bills heard, the House is going in at 8:30 this morning, a half hour earlier than normal.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Lawsuit reform bill on tap
Still no word on the elusive videographer, but perhaps an even more elusive matter will be discussed tomorrow in the House. Civil lawsuit reform.
This mammoth bill has been whittled down to 100-plus page document that includes changes to the way class-action cases are heard in court. The bill also contains language to set up a task force to look at creating a fund, paid for with tax dollars, to offset the cost of damages in medical negligence cases.
This bill is the product of countless hours of discussions and negotiations on the part of Republican leaders, trial attorneys and mineral rights owners. It could have sweeping impact on how lawsuits are treated in court and how people in Oklahoma seek justice.
Republican leaders say the reforms, if passed, will help to lower the cost of medicine and bring more doctors to the state. Gov. Brad Henry, who has vetoed previous tort reform packages, has called this bill, “a strong piece of reform legislation.” If the House approves the measure, it must pass the Senate before heading to the governor’s desk.
House Bill 1603 is on the House agenda for Thursday. They’ll start hearing bills at 9 a.m., although there’s no telling when they might hear this bill. To read the bill go to: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/WebBillStatus/main.html
Put HB 1603 in the prompt for measure number and hit retrieve. Once there look across the top for Conference Committee Report. It’s long. Or you can take a look at the House CCR Summary for the Cliffs Notes version.
To listen to live audio of the debate, go to: http://www.okhouse.gov/OkhouseMedia/AudioOrArchives.aspx
- Julie Bisbee, Capitol Bureau
Update on ‘Partisan Political Hit-man’
Day two in the saga of who was that masked ‘independent videographer’ in the Senate media gallery. It’s starting to sound like a crime drama. Maybe its just a light hearted distraction to the real business that needs to be done in the next two weeks, the budget, and any other pending legislation before lawmakers hope to break on May 22.
Apparently more than one person saw the cameraman who said he was there to video tape Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Glenn Coffee’s desk. It wasn’t a videographer from University of Central Oklahoma. Officials with UCO said they did have a videographer there to tape a ceremony honoring UCO professors and an administrator. But UCO officials say there was a third man too.
Since the last post on media in the Senate gallery, I’ve gotten a few calls. Apparently the Capitol press corp in the past has policed the gallery and even asked legitimate media to leave if they weren’t there to cover a legislative issue but were filming a promo or something unrelated.
On Thursday during his weekly briefing with press, Coffee. R-Oklahoma City, said he wasn’t interested in kicking folks out of the press box, or limiting access. Lawmakers just want to know who is watching.
“Any member can have somebody brought in to video if they want to. We’d just want them to disclose who they are,” Coffee said. “The individual told several people in the Capitol that he was here to film my empty chair. It’s obvious someone hasn’t had a civics lessen and doesn’t realize the negotiations that go on. The Pro Tem’s chair, if it’s not empty, he’s not doing his job. That’s part of what’s always been the case.”
– Julie Bisbee, Capitol Bureau
Key speaks nationally on Oklahoma sovereignty
Rep. Charles Key, R-Bethany is getting some national attention after the House successfully passed a resolution in support of limited federal government.
Key, talks to Montel Williams on “Montel Across America,” this morning. Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, is also expected to speak on the issue in California and has been contacted by the Pennsylvania legislature to talk about state sovereignty.
Listen to the full interview:
Senate Republicans concerned about media gallery use
This release was passed out to members of the Capitol press corps Wednesday afternoon. Video cameras aren’t allowed in the Senate gallery, but there is a media press box equipped for video. Signs on the door of the press box say “Reserved for Members of the Press Only.”
We’re still trying to track down who exactly was in the video press box yesterday afternoon. Normally OETA’s camera crew is the only television crew in the press box unless The Flaming Lips are in the Senate gallery. The release, however, brings up an important question. What defines a journalist? Does an interested citizen tracking their elected officials and documentating that fall into category? – Julie Bisbee, Capitol Bureau
Oklahoma State Senate
Senator Clark Jolley, R-Edmond
May 6, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SENATE LEADER DECRIES MISUSE OF MEDIA GALLERY BY PAID, PARTISAN POLITICAL HIT-MAN
OKLAHOMA CITY –After witnessing an independent videographer in the Senate TV gallery tracking the movements of Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee yesterday, Assistant Senate Majority Floor Leader Clark Jolley expressed disappointment that the character assassination plot against the Pro Tempore apparently isn’t over.
The videographer was staking out the Pro Tem, capturing footage of the Senate Leader’s empty desk as he was working away from the Senate floor on Tuesday.
“Anyone who holds even the most minimal knowledge of the operations of the Legislature understands that the President Pro Tem, the Speaker of the House, and others in key leadership positions have multiple meetings every day, even during session,” Jolley added. “This has been standard practice from Day One, for both Democrat and Republican leaders in both Houses. They simply have too many responsibilities to be tethered to their desk on the floor all day every day.
“The Pro Tem is involved in critical negotiations on major initiatives, as well as meeting with a multitude of people with interest before the state, and that has been the case with every Pro Tem in state history,” he continued.
“I fully expect the shadowy group paying this political hit man is planning on using video of an empty desk in a new round of television commercials, certain to be as dishonest and inflammatory as the first rounds were,” he said.
“They can’t win at the ballot box or in the legislative process, so they’veresorted to an expensive campaign of character assassination and the politics of personal destruction. It’s time for someone to call them into account and put an end to their deception,” Jolley continued.
“If the opposition’s calls for transparency are sincere, they should disclose who is paying this individual to shoot misleading video for their partisan purposes,” Jolley asked. “At least we now know what the next political hit will be against Pro Tem Coffee.
“If these partisan political hacks choose to use this disingenuous video to continue their crusade against Senator Coffee, their tactics will have stooped below the disgusting level they have already achieved,” Jolley concluded.
Coffee responds to letter to full Senate
This statement was issued by Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Glenn Coffee after Laster’s letter to the full Senate calling for Republicans to replace Coffee.
Senator Laster and his colleagues are getting desperate. Today’s latest “demand” is raw, unvarnished partisanship.
Senator Laster knows full well that campaign funds can be appropriately be used for campaign expenses, including travel and lodging. His assertion that I’ve had no opponent since my first campaign is — while technically true — irrelevant. However, I have traveled this state and indeed the nation successfully campaigning for fellow Republican candidates, and he knows this all too well.
Much to the frustration of senators Laster, Corn, Lerblance and their colleagues, I spent the past ten years focused on recruiting candidates and raising money to defeat Democrat candidates and put Republicans in the majority. Such work comes at a great expense. And, as Senator Laster knows, such expenses are allowed by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
Clearly, Democrats in the Senate are frustrated in their minority status, and even more frustrated that their efforts to change the subject are not working. Republicans in the Senate are passing legislation to their benefit of all Oklahomans, and they have proven unable to stop it.
Finally, it was predictable that the trial lawyers in the Democrat caucus would parse worlds of the respected businessman when he issues a statement in my defense. Their pretzel logic has me funneling four years worth of campaign expenses into my personal account in the past six months. This charge is intentional misrepresentation of the facts. My suggestion to Senator Laster and his friends is to quit hiding behind sensational news releases and state concentrating on passing something positive for the citizens of Oklahoma.
