Page Four

What's Ahead at The Capitol
This Session?

The headlines following the 2004 elections were bold...
    "GOP makes House history."
    "Democrats keep control of Senate."
    "New crop of state House members a rather
    diverse group."
    "House Republicans nominate Hiett Speaker."

The coming 2005 legislative session is going to be interesting, to say the least. As a result of the November 2004 elections, the Oklahoma Legislature acquired 54 new members: 38 of 101 are new House members and 13 of 48 are new Senate members.

State GOP leaders are gearing up to press their own agenda in the House of Representatives during the upcoming session. Republicans now control the House and hold a 57 to 44 majority there. Previously, the Democrats held a 53-48 majority, but thanks to term limits, a new wave of Republican legislators are now in the House. The leadership change is the first in more than 80 years.

However, the story is different in the State Senate. Republicans were denied a total coup in this year's elections as Democrats maintained control of the State Senate. Both Democrat and Republican officials had indicated on election night they believed they would take two seats. After the final results were in, the Republicans' prediction had come true. This leaves the Democrats with a majority control of 26 to 22.

The 39 new legislators in the House of Representatives are an eclectic group that includes a former member of the New Hampshire legislature, a doctor and two veterinarians, an ex-prosecutor, and a couple of ministers, one of whom played on OU's legendary national championship football teams in the Bud Wilkinson era. The group also includes a grocer, a sign maker, a strawberry grower, half a dozen lawyers, four real estate agents, a former undersheriff and 10 educators. The two youngest new House members are in their 20's, seven are in their 30's, at least four are in their 40's, at least eight are in their 50's and at least five are in their 60's. And, that's just the House. The new Senators are just as eclectic and diverse in their make up.

Governor Brad Henry has encouraged members of the House and Senate to "come together" following the contentious elections. "When it comes down to it, we are going to have to work together," Henry said. Henry said there were certainly going to be some challenges, but Republicans and Democrats are all Oklahomans.

At OLTA, we have our work cut out for us in the 2005 legislative session getting to know these new legislators, educating them about what we do, and maintaining the good working relationships we have with those legislators returning for another term.

"I look forward to working with the members of OLTA and representing their needs at the State Capitol," said Clayton Taylor, OLTA legislative liaison. "We have always had great credibility among legislators and I do not expect that to change this session. We just have to work a little harder this year to get to know the new folks, help them know what OLTA is all about and reinforce our relationships with our legislative friends who will be returning." Information source: Legislative Information Network, Decision '04, Vol. 4

2004-2005 OLTA Board of Directors