Legislative Guide 2014
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LEGISLATIVE GUIDE 2014 © Bob Protus Experience You Can Trust. (L to R) Kelly Brander, President & CEO , Brad Krieger, Vice President Regional Manager, Becky Franklin, EVP, Sales Manager, Steve Hull - EVP, Loan Manager, and Don Gable - Stillwater Community President Complete relationship banking from Arvest Bank. Arvest is full-service banking the way it’s meant to be: KNOWLEDGEABLE | APPROACHABLE | RESPONSIVE | RELIABLE See for your self at any of our 28 Oklahoma City locations. Oklahoma City Del City Choctaw Moore Norman Yukon Edmond Midwest City Stillwater CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR ........... 2 BE A BUSINESS ADVOCATE ............. 3 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ..................... 4 PRO-BUSINESS SCORECARD ......... 16 ELECTED OFFICIALS DIRECTORY ... 18 CHAMBER LEADERSHIP .................. 36 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS BENEFACTORS GOVERNMENT RELATIONS SPONSORS Cox Communications OGE Energy Corp. 1 visionary A message from the CHAIRleadership Since 1889, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber has served as the voice of businesses in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As one of the country’s largest chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, the Chamber actively engages in the legislative process to promote pro-business legislation that will foster economic growth and make Oklahoma City an attractive place to do business. The Chamber’s legislative advocacy efforts have a direct impact on the state’s business climate, such as the passage of the landmark 2013 workers’ compensation reform legislation. The Chamber works to pass legislation and protect laws that PETE DELANEY will advance the state’s economy, protecting economic development incentives, supporting transportation funding and promoting an environment that is conducive Chair, Greater Oklahoma to research and development. Our future workforce is vitally important, and issues City Chamber CEO, OGE Energy Corp. such as protecting common core standards, are critical to our future growth. On these and other issues, the Chamber is fully dedicated to making our voice heard on legislation that will impact your company’s bottom line. I am convinced the transformation in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and across the state is, in some part, attributed to the business community’s participation in the political process. To ensure this great momentum continues, the Chamber is actively engaged with political leaders to build on our current successes and to solve the challenges we face. As a Chamber member, you and your business place a key role in the legislative process. I invite you to take a close look at our Chamber’s 2014 legislative priorities and urge you to become involved in issues affecting the business community. By taking the time to contact your elected representative through email, a letter or phone call to let them know where you stand on specific issues, you can have a direct impact on the legislative process and strengthen the influence of the Chamber at the State Capitol. advocating 2 for business BE AN ADVOCATE FOR BUSINESS. Our world is constantly changing. But when it comes Contact the Government to advocating for business at the Capitol, some things Relations Team remain the same – the importance of contacting and Throughout the year, the Chamber’s team works to developing relationships with legislators. ensure that Greater Oklahoma City is moving forward There are multiple ways to stay informed and make sure and growing stronger. From making business issues your voice is heard throughout the year. heard at the capitol to economic development activity, the Chamber is the voice for business in Greater Business Oklahoma City. The Chamber staff is always available to Advocacy assist your business in any way possible. Center Roy H. Williams The Chamber’s Business President & CEO Advocacy Center, 405.297.8939 www.OKCBusinessAdvocate.com, makes having a voice [email protected] at the Capitol simple. With just a few simple clicks, you can identify your elected officials and communicate with them, ensuring that you have an impact in the decisions Mark VanLandingham being made by our state’s leaders. You can also stay up- Vice President, Government Relations to-date during the legislative session by signing up for 405.297.8925 The Business Advocate, the Chamber’s newsletter solely [email protected] focused on what’s happening at the Capitol during the Legislative Session. Together, we can build a stronger business climate for Greater Oklahoma City. Derek Sparks Government Relations Manager Greater Oklahoma City 405.297.8933 Chamber PAC [email protected] To further the goals of the Greater Oklahoma Sarah Dolan City business Government Relations community, The Greater OKC Chamber Political Executive Assistant 405.297.8922 Action CommitteeMEMORANDUM was formed to aggressively pursue the election and re-election of candidates who take a stand [email protected] RE: Greater Oklahoma City Chamber PAC forExecutive Oklahoma Committee City’s key business issues. Brad Krieger, In 2010, the Chamber became more aggressive in electing officials who would support our SinceChairman the PAC waslegislative founded, priorities. By unanimousmore than vote, our $100,000 board established the Greater OklahomaMichael City Carrier Kurt Foreman Chamber Political Action Committee. In voting to create the PAC, all board members hasCarl Edwards, been contributedagreed to contribute to 83 atcandidates. least $500 annually toOf sustain these it. 83 President, Oklahoma City Vice President, Economic Treasurer candidates, 76 wereThe PAC’s elected first year orwas outstanding.re-elected Of the to 22 candidatesoffice. receiving You contributions, Convention 21 were & Visitors Bureau Development Tom McDaniel, elected and now serve our state by supporting issues and legislation that will advance405.297.8963 the 405.297.8945 canSecretary be a part of economicthis effort development - of makethe Greater a Oklahomacontribution City area. to help [email protected] [email protected] usRoy H.ensure Williams, a strongerThe 2011 economic legislative session, climate which just ended by severalhelping weeks ago, elect resulted in the passage of Deputy Treasurer most all of the Chamber’s legislative priorities, including: candidates who take• A atotal stand rewrite of on the state’sissues workers’ such compensation as economic statutes Drew Dugan Cynthia Reid Beverly Binkowski • Enactment of five key pieces of tort reform legislation, including a $350,000 cap on development, workers non-economic compensation damages and the andelimination lawsuit of joint and reform, several liability Vice President, Education and Vice President, Marketing andJ. Larry Nicholstransportation/infrastructure • Prevention of Arizona-style funding. immigration reform in Oklahoma Workforce Development and Communications • Protection of all 16 key economic development incentives identified by the Chamber, Richard Nix including reinstatement of the Aerospace Engineer Tax Credit 405.297.8940 405.297.8942 Visit www.okcchamber.com/chamberpac • Protection of Oklahoma’s thriving biosciences for industry,more including retaining the David Rainbolt EDGE fund and preventing the criminalization of certain types of [email protected] research [email protected] information and a contributor• Enactment of a hospital statement. provider fee to access federal funds, keep doctors from David Thompson leaving the state, and ensure high quality health care is provided to more Oklahomans John Michael Williams • Passage of major educational reform including the end of trial de novo, which will allow underperforming teachers to be replaced at a significantly reduced cost 3 Enclosed you will find a list of candidates the PAC supported last year and a Contributor Statement which must be completed and returned with your 2011 contribution. Under state law, contributions to the PAC cannot be made with corporate funds. However, an LLC 123 Park Ave. which has no corporate members, may contribute to a PAC. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Please consider making your contribution today. 405.297.8925 phone 405.297.8916 fax Sincerely, Carl Edwards Brad Krieger Chairman, Greater OKC Chamber Chairman, Greater OKC Chamber PAC 2014 LEGISLATIVEAGENDA Workers’ Comp Reform - Quality Jobs Act (QJA), 21st Century The Chamber will support additional workers’ QJA, Small Employer QJA and the Prime compensation reform, both legislative and through Contractor QJA; rule-making, to ensure the successful and constitutional - Aerospace Engineer Tax Credits. implementation of SB 1062. • The Chamber supports protecting Oklahoma’s “foundational incentive programs,” which Economic Development are basic incentives offered by virtually every Incentive Programs other state and competing location. Without All economic development incentives should provide the following programs, Oklahoma will not be the state with a benefit that out-weighs the cost to considered a viable location by many companies the state of the incentive. The Chamber therefore looking to locate in Oklahoma: supports increased scrutiny, transparency and openness - Five-year ad valorem tax abatement in evaluating the effectiveness of the state’s business and sales tax exemption on facilities and incentives and the creation of a process to do so. equipment used in manufacturing and The Chamber relies heavily on a number of the state’s warehouse and distributions systems; economic development and incentive programs to - Freeport (Inventory) Exemption; recruit companies to