-- Diertra Harris (2/6/2015)

Thank you!! ~ Lori Stout (2/8/2015)

Senate Update by Sen. Rick Brinkley

Senate District 34

February 5, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Senator Rick Brinkley

State Capitol: (405) 521-5566

Email: brinkley@oksenate.gov

Senate Update by Sen. Rick Brinkley

The 2015 legislative session is now well underway at the State Capitol. We just completed our first full week, beginning with a joint session in the House Chamber to receive Governor Fallin’s annual State of the State address. During the speech, the governor reflected on the improvements we’ve been able to make in our state during the past four years, as well as outlining her priorities for the 2015 session.

Of course those improvements were the direct result of important reforms and innovations written, debated and fine-tuned by the Legislature. From day one of my first term, my fellow members of the Senate and I were focused on the kinds of public policy changes that would help Oklahoma attract and keep more jobs—something that was desperately needed as we worked to pull ourselves out of the Great Recession. The end results were success stories the entire state can take pride in.

Reforming our outdated and costly workers compensation system is helping Oklahoma better ensure the needs of injured workers are addressed in a more timely fashion, and reducing costs to businesses that can be pumped back into our economy, further fueling the ability to create more jobs.

Despite extremely limited resources, we were able to restore $150 million in education funds, and critical funding to improve the state’s foster care system was dedicated to that effort.

Once one of the worst states in the nation for the number of dangerous bridges, we worked aggressively to provide a revenue stream to finally address the problem. At one point there were more than 1,100 of them. Now there are only 390, and by 2019, it is projected that all of them will have been either repaired or replaced.

The governor’s agenda for this session included focusing on the need to increase the number of Oklahomans who have earned CareerTech certification or a college degree. Every year, the number of jobs requiring additional education is increasing. If we want our citizens and our state to be able to compete for the best paying jobs, we have to make sure we have the well-educated workforce needed to attract and keep those jobs here in Oklahoma.

She also wants to focus more on the use of alternative sentencing for nonviolent offenders as a way of saving taxpayer dollars and reducing recidivism. I think the Senate has already demonstrated its willingness to support such efforts with the passage last year of a pilot program designed specifically for nonviolent female offenders. The program authorizes the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to enter into a Pay-for-Success (PFS) contract with criminal justice programs that have had proven outcomes reducing public sector costs associated with the incarceration of women. Nonprofit organizations would provide upfront funding and the state would only reimburse the cost for those women who successfully complete the program.

Other goals included a careful review of tax credits and incentives to ensure they are providing the economic benefit for the state intended, as well as renewed efforts to improve the health of our state, which often is among the worst in the nation. It’s an effort that would improve the quality of life of people in every community in Oklahoma, while dramatically reducing costs.

We also face the challenge of a significant reduction in dollars available for appropriation this year—another issue that was noted in the State of the State.

During the next few weeks, our attention will be focused on committee work as these and other public policy issues are presented and debated. As in the past, we face many challenges this session in terms of both the budget and in determining which bills will best serve our state in the years to come. I am optimistic in the ability of our citizen legislators to work together to meet those challenges.

Please feel free to contact me at the state Capitol by calling (405) 521-5566 or by emailing brinkley@oksenate.gov.

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Details regarding available HRC and GFWC scholarships were discussed
- interested graduating Seniors are encouraged to check with their counselors.

The date for the Senior Tea will be May 5 -invitations will be delivered after Spring Break.

-- Submitted by Linda Pfeffer (2/6/2015)

We are now meeting at 5 p.m. at the CDI office (1126 W. Main) and will draw the lucky merchant at 5:15. If you are running late, you will find the name of the winning location on our door - so come on down and join us. Please forward this message to any friends who might like to take part. Remember - we meet at CDI, draw the winning merchant and then Mob the streets. We ask that you spend at least $20 at the merchant. It's that easy. The dates are below:

Feb. 12 (Perfect for Valentines shopping)

May 7 (Graduations and Mother's Day Gifts)

Aug. 13 (A back-to-school gift for yourself, perhaps!)

Dec. 10 (Ho, Ho Holidays)

Collinsville Downtown, Inc.

"A Main Street Program"