Lawmakers achieve much, governor says

2004-05-29
By John Greiner, Carmel Perez Snyder and Ryan McNeill
Capitol Bureau

Oklahoma legislators -- many facing the end of their legislative careers -- closed down the 2004 session Friday with the usual laughter, joking and some somber moments.

More than 40 lawmakers, including House Speaker Larry Adair, D-Stilwell, cannot run for the Legislature again because of legislative term limits.

Both houses met at 8:30 a.m. to finish their work, passing many bills, including some giving pay raises to judges, starting in 2005, and raises to state agency directors. State employees and highway patrol troopers were granted raises earlier.

The biggest bill of the final day was the tort reform bill, which passed the Senate, went to the governor before noon and was signed later.

Gov. Brad Henry and Democratic leaders termed the session a success for the many important issues that were resolved, including tort reform, teacher pay and health insurance hikes, and proposals on the Nov. 2 election ballot that will provide tax cuts, a tobacco tax increase for health care programs and a gaming proposal to help the horse industry.

"We're very excited about the things that we accomplished this year," Henry said. "We're moving Oklahoma forward in an aggressive manner, making Oklahoma a better state."

Republicans had a different view of the session, saying it accomplished little.

Senate Republican leader James Williamson of Tulsa gave the session a "D" grade. House Republican leader Todd Hiett of Kellyville said the only winners are gambling machine manufacturers and trial lawyers.

"The losers are the hardworking people in Oklahoma that have suffered from a lack of job opportunities, especially over the last two years," Hiett said. "We said at the beginning of the session that this session had to be about job creation and about retaining the jobs we have in the state of Oklahoma. Those items were not accomplished."

Hiett, who called the session a failure, said Democrats didn't address much-needed workers' compensation reform. He also said a lawsuit reform bill passed this week is "window dressing."

Henry said he was proud of the work done to improve the quality of life in Oklahoma this year.

Among the successes of the session, Henry listed:

-- The teacher pay initiative

-- A gaming regulation initiative that also allows horse race tracks to operate casino-type games

-- An economic stimulus package that includes the elimination of capital gains taxes on Oklahoma property, a reduction in income tax rate and a senior tax exemption

-- A health care initiative that includes the increase on tobacco taxes to pay for an enhanced trauma care system, a cancer research center and help for businesses in paying insurance premiums for employees

-- The Tar Creek Superfund site relocation plan.

The governor said, despite criticism, the tort reform bill was the most broad-based, comprehensive lawsuit reform legislation ever passed in the state.

"Some people will be tempted to divert attention from the great accomplishments and achievements of this session by talking about certain things that didn't get done," Henry said. "I can tell you it's probably impossible to address every single major issue in one session. But we came about as close to that as you can possibly come."

Henry also said things happened because of bipartisan support.

Both houses adjourned before the 5 p.m. deadline set by the Oklahoma Constitution.

The Senate adjourned at 2:09 p.m. The House followed at 3:42 p.m.

House members continued yearly traditions of honoring the "Mouth of the House." Reps. Terry Harrison, D- McAlester, and Gus Blackwell, R- Goodwell, were given the award. "We thought about Randall Erwin, but he wanted to know what it had to do with cockfighting,'' said Rep. Ron Kirby, D-Lawton.

Female House members also named Rep. Wayne Pettigrew, R-Edmond, as the honorary member of the women's caucus. He was cited for buying female members chocolate and flowers during the session.

Term-limited Reps. Bill Graves, R- Oklahoma City, and Leonard Sullivan, R-Oklahoma City, were given road maps by female members so they could leave the state.

Adair restored a tradition of allowing the governor to address the House a few minutes before adjournment. Henry used the time to thank House members for their work.

"I wanted to look all of you in the eye on both sides of the political aisle and say, 'Thank you.' Thank you for the hard work you have done this year. We've not always agreed on every issue this year, and frankly, that's the way it's supposed to be. That's what makes this a democratic process." Although the session was Adair's last, he asked Rep. Larry Ferguson, R- Cleveland, to make the motion for final adjournment of the House.

Ferguson will leave because of term limits, too.

At 5 p.m. Friday, Ferguson was alone on the House floor, cleaning out his desk.

Ferguson, who was the House Republican leader for nearly eight years, said getting to adjourn the House was a great way to go out.

He said he's never favored term limits.

"I think if my voters had wanted me not to be here, they would have defeated me," Ferguson said. "Voters need to tell some of us it's time to come home."