FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 17, 2011

Republicans: Repeat Offenders

Again, Republicans seem to believe in a one-party rule down at the state Capitol and when they don’t get their way, have no problem bending the rules even when it concerns public safety.

Yesterday during a committee hearing on legislation that would greatly affect the collective bargaining power of law enforcement and firefighters, the rules were bent to guarantee approval of the bill through committee.

On Rep. Scott Martin’s bill doing away with binding arbitration, the committee voted 8-8. This would mean the bill would not pass through committee. Instead, the vote was held open for over 10 minutes so Speaker Steele could come and cast the tie-breaking vote as an ex-oficio member of the committee. This is not the common way matters are dealt with in committees. Some members of both parties were upset at this move and noted this was not the correct process for committee.

Todd Goodman, Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said this is another example of what can be expected this legislative session.

“Obviously this year is going to be one of heavy handed political power,” Goodman said. “The session has just begun and already the number of examples that show Republicans bending the rules to assert total authority and control is astounding. These are activist legislators with a blatant and detrimental political agenda. Unfortunately, I imagine this trend will not stop and hopefully next election voters will see this is not an effective way to run government, and it is not beneficial to the hard working citizens of Oklahoma”

-30-