HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Rep. Richard Morrissette, District 92
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.
State Capitol – Room 543
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4805
Contact: Jacklyn Brink-Rosen
(405) 557-7404

(Oklahoma City,OK) For those long efforting to provide intervention for the State of the State of children’s health in Oklahoma, yesterday’s legislative kick-off by Governor Mary Fallin was a minor victory.

For long time advocates who have struggled against political smears concocted to play upon loss of liberty fears, the Governor’s remarks to address the need for kids to move more and eat less unhealthy food via Joint Use legislation is sugar-free cotton candy to the ears. Over the years, attacks in the press against anyone suggesting the need for children’s health initiatives could only be described as vicious.

“Their actions didn’t affect my health, but they contributed to the loss of children’s lives, the health of the military recruitment pool and our workforce. At the time it felt as though I had to stand by and wait for the inevitable…like, those college pranks where kids load a phone booth or too many clowns piling into a tiny car; an exercise with a predictable end. But, these are our children! Not political cannon fodder!” said state Rep. Richard Morrissette (D-OKC).

On November 19, 2008, the OKLAHOMAN newspaper headline read:

in reference to Morrissette's 2009 HB1699 “RIGHTTRACK-Josie’s Law” to encourage the use of CDC guidelines for child health. In the four years since that particular initiative was lambasted, Morrissette authored HB 2599 to include health assemblies at school, only to have the measure shot down again. And, now, Oklahoma has fallen to 48th place in over all health outcomes and has perhaps the worst child health stats in the country. With 63% of young adults out of shape and struggling with poor nutrition, Oklahoma now spends about $853 million dollars annually treating related disease.

Among his Top 8 submissions for 2012, Rep. Morrissette re-enters the Oklahoma political three ring legislative health circus arena with HB 2733 - Joint Use.With liability protections already on the books, non-profits could form cooperative use agreements with those administering publicly funded facilities for the pursuit of children’s healthy activities.

“I have to be optimistic and I have to keep trying for the sake of our kids and the wallets of taxpayers.” said Morrissette.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy as well as retired Air Force Major General Rita Aragon supports the Joint Use concept.

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