Ready, Set … Campaign!
Say you’re a harried lawmaker squarely in the middle of session, during the few weeks’ time allowed to consider opposite-house measures in committee in late March-early April. What would just make your...
View Article[lobby blog] The incredible shrinking legislature
State Rep. Gary Banz has an interesting idea: let's shrink the state legislature. Banz believes that as lawmakers seek to downsize state government they should include themselves in the process.
View ArticleBanz seeks reduction in size of Legislature
State Rep. Gary Banz says there are too many of him. Banz, a Republican from Midwest City, believes Oklahoma has too many state legislators and he wants to whittle that number down – by about 10 percent.
View ArticleOkla. House pushes forward with ethics panel
After a tumultuous legislative session last year in which three members were publicly reprimanded, including one facing criminal charges, a newly created House Ethics Committee on Wednesday approved a...
View ArticleHouse hearing for balanced-budget bill canceled
Oklahoma’s newly formed House States Rights Committee has canceled its hearing for a bill that would call for a balanced-budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
View ArticleBalanced budget bill likely dead for session
An Oklahoma bill that would call for a convention to propose a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution is likely dead for this year’s legislative session, the measure’s sponsor said Tuesday...
View ArticleHouse approves more lottery funds for mental health
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed legislation to increase the amount of unclaimed state lottery prize money that’s distributed to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse...
View ArticleFourth Reading: Put constitutional convention question to voters
State Rep. Gary Banz has tried several times, once in 2009 and another in 2011. Despite his best efforts, however, Banz, a Republican from Midwest City, still can’t get legislation concerning one...
View ArticlePanel passes Okla. constitutional convention bill
A panel of the Oklahoma House said it’s time for voters to consider whether the state needs a new constitution: the current version is one of the world’s longest governing documents and includes a...
View ArticleLawmaker has constitutional convention bills
An Oklahoma legislator who has been calling for changes to the 50,000-word state constitution doesn't want to stop there.
View ArticleOkla. House panel passes U.S. balanced budget bill
An Oklahoma House committee narrowly passed legislation Tuesday that petitions Congress to convene a convention to consider a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
View ArticleOkla. House passes constitutional convention bill
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has adopted a resolution that asks voters to decide whether to call a constitutional convention to consider possible changes to the Oklahoma Constitution.
View ArticleOklahoma House panel approves public vote on 3 issues
Oklahoma voters would get to decide if the governor and lieutenant governor should run on a ticket together, whether residents need more gun rights, and if the entire state constitution should be...
View ArticleCoburn talks of U.S. constitutional convention to Oklahoma GOP
Former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn visited Republicans in the Oklahoma Legislature on Monday and urged them to join the list of states calling for a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution.
View ArticleHouse defeats joint gubernatorial ticket amendment
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has narrowly defeated a bill to ask voters to decide whether the governor and lieutenant governor should run jointly.
View ArticleHouse passes joint gubernatorial ticket amendment
A week after defeating it, the Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed legislation asking voters to decide whether the governor and lieutenant governor should run jointly.
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