Targeting new laws: Oklahoma legislators have more than 70 bills filed on gun rights
BY Staff Reports
Sunday, February 03, 2013
2/04/13 at 10:00 AM
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Original Print Headline: Targeting new laws
Oklahoma’s 54th Legislature convenes Monday. During
the next four months, senators and representatives
from across the state will be making laws — or at least trying to — that affect you. The session must end no later than 5 p.m. May 31. Income tax reform, bond issues, workers compensation ... all are on the agenda.
KEY ISSUES FACING THE LEGISLATURE
More than 70 gun bills have been filed for the next legislative session, including measures to waive the handgun license fee for preschool and elementary school teachers. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World file
Gun control
Proponents say: Just about anybody has the right to carry a gun anywhere, any time, and more than 70 gun bills have been filed to make sure of it. The bills range from waiving the handgun license fee for preschool and elementary school teachers to making it a felony to enforce federal gun laws in Oklahoma. Several bills propose a guns and ammo sales tax holiday similar to (and just after) the one for school supplies. Other bills seek to nullify federal laws dealing with guns near or on school grounds.
Opponents say: Not much, at least openly. Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, has filed a bill allowing law enforcement officers to disarm anyone transported in a police vehicle, and Sen. Randy Bass, D-Lawton, has filed one allowing police to confiscate a handgun found in the possession of someone who cannot produce a proper identification.
Outside the Legislature, a few people have pointed out that states generally do not have the right to override federal laws and questioned the wisdom of encouraging guns at schools and at public meetings, as some of the filed legislation does.
The take: Legislators will probably find a few more ways to loosen the state's gun laws, but we're not going to be locking up G-men. The precedents are pretty clear: State legislatures don't get to decide what's constitutional and what isn't.
- RANDY KREHBIEL, World Staff Writer
Public pension funding
Proponents say: After a good effort two years ago, it is time to make more progress in reducing the $11.5 billion in unfunded obligations in the state's seven public retirement funds.
The unfunded liability puts in doubt the state's ability to fulfill its promises to retired teachers, police officers, state employees, firefighters and others and increases the interest costs the state pays on its bonds. Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Broken Arrow, estimates that if the state demonstrates sufficient progress on the pension gap to earn an improvement in its bond rating, it could save the state $10 million to $20 million a year in interest costs.
Rep. Randy McDaniel, R-Oklahoma City, says he is "open to any great ideas" but will be pushing plans to move some new state employees to a 401(k)-type plan and to limit the ability of other workers to raise their pensions by spiking earnings in their final years of state employment.
Opponents say: Past efforts have emphasized blocking benefit increases to deal with inflation, not adding needed money to retirement systems to close the gap. Moving young employees into a defined-contribution plan will mean increased transitional costs for the state in paying out retirement costs of older workers in the defined-benefit plan.
The take: The size of the unfunded liability seems to make some significant action appear likely.
- WAYNE GREENE, World Senior Writer
Common education likely will get more funds to pay for reforms, but the amount is up in the air. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World file
Education reform funding
Proponents say: Republican lawmakers in the past few years have passed a number of education reforms, which need additional funding. Those reforms include an A-F grading system for schools, requiring students to pass four of seven end-of-instruction exams to graduate and holding back third-graders who can't read at grade level.
Opponents say: There appears to be enough legislative support for giving education additional funding, but the amount is debatable.
The take: Common education likely will get more funds to pay for reforms. Legislative leaders and Gov. Mary Fallin support the notion. However, just how much is up in the air.
- BARBARA HOBEROCK, World Capitol Bureau
Workers compensation reform
Proponents say: Workers compensation costs are too high in Oklahoma, especially compared with surrounding states. Employers generally blame this on litigation and the state's adversarial workers comp system.
In Oklahoma, most workers comp disagreements are settled by a separate court system that allows both sides to present evidence, including medical opinions. Most other states have an administrative system that treats workers compensation claims much like other types of insurance claims.
Employers are asking for two, not necessarily linked, reforms. They want the workers comp court scrapped in favor of an administration system, and they want employers to have the option of setting up their own workers comp plans, independent of the state system and similar to other benefits.
Opponents say: Recent reforms should be given a chance to work. They contend both major proposals will result in less protection for injured workers.
While employers and advocacy groups such as the State Chamber of Commerce can point to lower workers compensation costs in states such as Arkansas and Texas, workers comp lawyers and labor officials similarly say injured workers in those states are more likely to wind up without the medical attention, training and compensation for permanent injuries.
The take: Allowing employers to set up their own workers compensation plans has a better than even chance of passing. Switching to an administrative system seems to generate less energy from employers, and there would be some transitional costs involved, but it could well happen.
- RANDY KREHBIEL, World Staff Writer
State income tax cut
Proponents say: Supporters of a state income tax cut say it is needed to generate additional revenue and give relief to taxpayers. Efforts last session to reduce it fell short. Lawmakers and Gov. Mary Fallin again will push for a reduction.
Opponents say: Oklahoma has too many other needs and can't afford to reduce its revenue. Those needs range from restoring funds to education and paying for education reforms to fixing the crumbling state Capitol and giving state employees a long overdue raise.
The take: Any income tax cut likely will be small. Republicans control the House, Senate and governor's office and don't need Democratic votes to secure passage.
- BARBARA HOBEROCK, World Capitol Bureau
Affordable Care Act
Proponents say: Medicaid expansion under the federal health-care program would provide health-care coverage to some 180,000 poor, uninsured Oklahomans and improve the overall health of the state's workforce.
The federal government would cover all costs of new benefits for three years, and the state's costs would never be above 10 percent.
A state health insurance exchange would give the state the authority to help set its own destiny on an important issue.
Opponents say: Oklahomans have made it clear they don't want to participate in "Obamacare."
The administrative costs and the state's share of future Medicaid benefits are potentially ruinous. The federal government can't afford to pay for the Medicaid expansion and will eventually shift more costs to the state.
A state health insurance exchange would be state-run in name only and would undercut the state's lawsuit against the legality of the federal law's implementation in the state.
The take: Expect a spirited debate, but only an outside chance of either proposal happening.
- WAYNE GREENE, World Senior Writer
Bond issues
Proponents say: The state should issue bonds to pay for repairs to the state Capitol complex, to finish the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City, to build a popular culture museum, called OK POPS, in Tulsa and to build a new facility in Edmond for the Medical Examiner's Office. They say interest rates are low and the needs are immediate.
Opponents say: The state should not assume anymore debt. Various factions support or oppose individual projects, which House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, says have become political. He favors a pay-as-you-go approach.
The take: Proposals to issue bonds will face stiff opposition in the Oklahoma House and likely will not secure approval. It is unlikely lawmakers will approve taking money out of the state's "rainy day" fund to pay for any of the items.
- BARBARA HOBEROCK, World Capitol Bureau
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