Oklahoma lawmakers focus on voters’ concerns

BY JULIE BISBEE AND MICHAEL MCNUTT

Published: November 19, 2008

The effects of the slowdown of the national economy on Oklahoma, roads and bridges, health care and immigration are some of the main topics legislators said they heard from constituents as they won election to the state’s 52nd legislative session.

With legislators being sworn in at the Capitol on Tuesday, here’s a look at the issues they will face:

Economy

Sen.-elect James Halligan, R-Stillwater, said: "The economy is the No. 1 concern. We knocked on nearly 8,000 doors, and concerns about the economy and jobs came to the forefront. We need to ensure that our state is competitive and that we’re working to grow our economy. People want their sons and daughters to be able to stay in Oklahoma and work.”

Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee, said: "The main concern people are looking at is the economy. Oklahoma’s in pretty good shape as far as our natural resources, but we have to be pretty wise when you look at the overall situation. As a nation, we have to move very carefully with the funds.”

Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, said: "A lot of people in my district are talking about the economy and how it’s affecting their businesses. They’re already seeing the impact of the tightening of credit.”

Sen.-elect Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, said: "The economy was the main thing that people I talked to were worried about. They were worried about how much it cost to fill up their gas tanks. And they would drive to work and worry about their jobs and whether they were going to be laid off.”

Rep.-elect Cory Williams, D-Stillwater, said: "There’s just a lot of concern with the instability in the economy right now. People are wondering what I can do or what their state representative can do to bring jobs to the area and secure the ones that we already have and help develop new ones — what can we do to keep Oklahoma moving while the rest of the nation kind of struggles?”

Immigration

Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan, said: "That’s about an 80 percent issue in my district, it’s very volatile. They’re wanting to see us continue on that path — House Bill 1804 type of stuff. Making English the official language has been very big.”

Taxes

Sen.-elect Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City, said: "The biggest issue concerning voters are family values and the tax burden on families.

Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, said: "They want us to keep taxes low and do government right.”

Health care

Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah, said: "The most important issue in Oklahoma is going to be health care. The price of gasoline was a big issue a few months ago, but that’s dropped off. I really think it’s the threat of being sick.”

Rep. Chuck Hoskin, D-Vinita, said: "The increased cost is such a burden to the folks that currently work and can afford to carry health care. Obviously, the uninsured folks that we have here in Oklahoma is a big concern to everyone because more and more people are coming to realize that the cost for the uninsured health care is borne by the folks that are fortunate to work and have health care.”

Roads and bridges

Rep. Colby Schwartz, R-Yukon, said: "That’s an issue people are very close to every single day.”

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