THIS WEEK IN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE
by Rep. Mike O'Neal
May 11 - 14, 1998
Oklahoma City - State representatives continued their negotiations with state senators in conference committees last week, working out compromises on bills that passed each legislative body in slightly different forms. With just two weeks left in the 1998 legislative session, we can expect a flurry of activity as bills head from conference committees to the House and Senate floors and then on to the governor.
House and Senate negotiators have had difficulty working out truth in sentencing reform because House members favor tougher prison reform than the Senate's leadership. Governor Frank Keating said if the Senate refuses to pass a tough prison reform measure during this session, he may call a special session of the Legislature this year.
Governor Keating might also call a special session if the legislative leadership fails to offer a permanent fix to the proposed higher state insurance premiums slated for July 1 of this year.
At this time public school teachers and state employees will see some relief, but retirees and county employees are still left hanging as of this date.
Other bills are available that could be used to solve this problem, if leadership would stop trying to make Mike O'Neal and the governor look bad. You will be told by supporters of this failed system that the governor and Mike O'Neal could have fixed this situation by voting for SB 973, but remember SB 973 had no money in it and did nothing to permanently fix your insurance rates.
Also, remember who created this crisis Thursday, May 23, 1996, when 51 majority members voted to steal $31 million from your insurance fund to help fund higher education. I voted no then, and I will continue to vote no on bills that will not fix this situation.
Your Legislature must wrap up its business for the year by 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 29. The next two weeks will be very busy for your legislators, and I will keep you up to date. Call me at 1-800-522-8502 for your comments
God bless - Mike