Legislative Guide 2012
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GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER LEGISLATIVE GUIDE 2012 2012 LEGISLATIVE GUIDE 59 A history of great service. (L to R) Kelly Brander, President and CEO, with Brad Krieger, Chairman, Linda Schulz, SVP-Business Banking Manager, Keith Kersten, Senior VP/Commercial Relationship Manager, and Steve Faler, Senior VP/Commercial Relationship Manager Arvest celebrates 50 years. For the past fi ve decades, Arvest has been committed to making our customers happy. And we’ve done that by giving them what they want. Whether it’s free checking, 8 to 8 hours or convenient locations, we’re always thinking of new ways to serve you better. As we begin our next 50 years, we’ll be thinking of even more ways. Contact us today and let us know what we can do for you. Oklahoma City Del City Choctaw Moore Norman Yukon Edmond Midwest City Stillwater Table of CONTENTS Message from the Chairman .......2 Government Relations Staff ........2 2012 Legislative Agenda .............3 Joint Legislative Agenda ........... 10 Legislative Action Center ..........14 Greater OKC Chamber PAC ....15 RIED Scores ............................ 16 Elected Officials Directory ....... 18 Chamber Leadership ................ 36 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS BENEFACTORS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SPONSORS Cox Communications OGE Energy Corp. 2012 LEGISLATIVE GUIDE 1 A message from the CHAIRMAN As the voice of business in Greater Oklahoma City, I hope you’ll take the Chamber is your advocate on issues affecting the a closer look at business community. Each year, the legislative session each of the ways presents us with the opportunity to strengthen our in which you can region’s business climate. get involved in our legislative We saw significant progress during the 2011 legislative efforts. Through session, but our work is far from over. The priorities a concerted laid out in our 2012 agenda will foster growth, both for grassroots effort, Greater Oklahoma City and the business community. I’m certain we’ll continue to see success at the capitol As our region continues to grow and expand, we must and positively impact the business climate in Greater ensure that the decisions made at the capitol will not Oklahoma City. impede our progress. Sincerely, As we’re presented with another election year, the work of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Political Action Committee (Greater OKC Chamber PAC) is as important as ever. Through the PAC, we are able to support candidates for elected office who share our Carl Edwards vision to create a business-friendly city. I cannot express Chairman, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber how vital it is that the individuals who represent us in Partner, Price Edwards & Company the halls of government share our vision for a greater Oklahoma City. During the last election year, the PAC supported 22 candidates – with 21 of those candidates elected to office. CHAMBER GOVERNMENT RELATIONS STAFF Mark VanLandingham Derek Sparks Sarah Dolan Drew Dugan Vice President Government Relations Government Relations Vice President Government Relations & Policy Manager Executive Assistant Education & Workforce mvanlandingham@ [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] okcchamber.com 2 2012 LEGISLATIVE GUIDE Legislative AGENDA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (QJP), The 21st Century QJP, The Small Employer QJP, The Prime Contractor QJP and Business Incentives The Aerospace Engineer Tax Credit. All business incentives should provide the state with a benefit that outweighs the cost of the incentive. • The Chamber supports protecting Oklahoma’s The Chamber therefore supports increased foundational incentive programs, which are scrutiny, transparency and openness in basic incentives offered by virtually evaluating the effectiveness of the every other state and competing state’s economic development location. Without the following incentives and the creation programs, Oklahoma of a process to do so. In will not be considered addition, we support a viable location by revising the language most companies: five- of any incentive that year ad valorem tax needs to be changed or abatement and sales tax narrowed to accomplish exemption on facilities its intended purpose. and equipment used in manufacturing The Chamber relies heavily and warehouse and on a number of the state’s distributions systems, economic development and the Freeport (Inventory) incentive programs to recruit Exemption and the companies to Greater Oklahoma Investment/New Jobs Tax City and to promote the growth of Credit. our existing companies. We believe it is critical that certain programs be retained by • The Chamber supports the the state. retention of several industry specific incentives that are necessary for the growth and development of Our position on specific economic development industries important to Oklahoma’s economic incentives is: future. Those programs are: the Oklahoma Quality Events Act, Oklahoma Film & Music • The Chamber supports retaining premier office incentives, the Sales Tax Exemption & economic development incentives that are critical Refund for Aircraft Repairs and Modification, in attracting new businesses to the Greater the Sales Tax Exemption & Refund for Aircraft Oklahoma City area and in providing existing Maintenance or Manufacturing Facilities and the businesses an economic incentive to expand. Excise Tax Exemption on Aircraft Sales. These incentive programs are for the most part unique to Oklahoma and separate the state from • The Chamber supports retaining the following what other states and competing locations are Community Development Programs: 1) Tax offering. We will oppose attempts to change, Credit for Qualified Rehabilitation Expenditures sunset or repeal the following premier economic for Historic Buildings; 2) Tax Credit for development incentives: The Quality Jobs Program Electricity Generated by Zero-Emission 2012 LEGISLATIVE GUIDE 3 • adopt the “Transparency in Private Attorney Contracting Act” to establish policies and limits on the use of private contingency fee attorneys on behalf of the state. • ensure the Oklahoma Evidence Code (section 2407) mirrors the Federal Rules of Evidence with regard to products liability and subsequent remedial measures. • require that prior to any action, claim or motion for discovery against an officer, director, shareholder or member of a corporation or LLC, a judgment against the corporation or LLC must be unsatisfied. Facilities; and, 3) Tax Credit for Energy Efficient Workers’ Compensation Reform Residential Construction. These programs have The Chamber believes the impact of the reforms different policy objectives than the economic enacted during the 2011 legislative session should be development incentive programs and should fully evaluated before enacting additional, significant therefore be evaluated under different metrics. reforms. Until then, we support incremental reforms to streamline the process, eliminate waste and delay Research and Development from the system and produce lower premium costs for The Chamber advocates for full funding of programs Oklahoma employers. managed by OCAST, including the Seed Capital Fund and other programs managed by i2E, to support the Business Tax Reform creation and growth of small businesses and jobs in The Chamber supports legislation or a constitutional Oklahoma. amendment to permanently address the 2009 ruling of the Oklahoma Supreme Court which held that ad We advocate for the protection of the Economic valorem tax is owed on a company’s Intangible Personal Development Generating Excellence Fund (“EDGE Property (such as trademarks, patents, computer Fund”) from being repealed or borrowed from and software, contracts, customer lists, goodwill and support identifying a permanent funding source to allow advertising campaigns). the Fund to reach $1 billion. Income Tax Reform Liquor Laws The Chamber supports a reduction in the state income The Chamber will work with industry stakeholders, tax provided the necessity of generating increased revenue legislators and others to update the state’s liquor laws. does not fall disproportionately or unfairly on businesses. We support legislation to address liquor licensing issues in Immigration Reform Bricktown relating to the 300-foot rule, which prevents The Chamber opposes illegal immigration. We support an the ABLE Commission from granting liquor licenses to improved immigration process that promotes the ability of new bars within 300 feet of schools or churches. students and workers to enter the U.S. lawfully and allows employers to accurately verify the status of employees Lawsuit Reform through a federal database. We believe that immigration The Chamber supports legislation that will: policy should be set by the federal government and • significantly reform the state’s class action lawsuit support comprehensive reform at that level. statutes. • permit the admissibility of evidence of collateral Additionally, the Chamber will support immigration source payments. reform on the state level that: 4 2012 LEGISLATIVE GUIDE 1) is consistent with federal law; of Education to create an in-state grant program to 2) does not place unreasonable burdens, costs or encourage innovative programs. penalties on Oklahoma employers; 3) is directed toward law enforcement issues related Charter Schools and School Choice to Oklahoma crimes; The Chamber has been a strong advocate for the creation 4) will not lead to “racial profiling” by law and use of charter schools and creation of more education enforcement officials; and, choices. We support reforms that enable charter