State Issues

Economic Development/General Business

• Work to pass legislation that allows local towns and cities to reclaim state sales taxes for up to five years to fund approved economic development infrastructure projects.
• Support clean-up legislation for the Quality Jobs for Defense Contractors law passed in 2009 that satisfies the Oklahoma Tax Commission by cleaning up cap language.
• Support legislation that allows for the incremental sales tax generated by "quality events" to be used to attract, retain and promote these events in Oklahoma.
• Support legislation that would require an affirmative vote from both the House and the Senate to approve agency rules.
• Oppose attempts to sunset or eliminate necessary economic development incentives that are designed to create jobs or attract/retain businesses in Oklahoma.
• Work to assure that no changes are made to Oklahoma statutes on eminent domain that would negatively impact economic development.
• Oppose repeal of the Opportunity Fund created in 2006 and re-write legislation implementing the fund to allow it to function as intended.
• Protect the five-year ad valorem exemption for manufacturing and related enterprises and actively pursue solutions to the depletion of the Ad Valorem Reimbursement Fund.
• Amend the Quality Investment Act to provide incentives to assist "at risk" industries to stay in Oklahoma as long as the required investment is made.
• Oppose attempts to make it more difficult to use tax incement financing (TIF) as an economic development tool and encourage transparency in the TIF reporting process.

Education

Common Education

• Support tax credits/deductions that allow for greater flexibility in school choice transferability.
• Encourage the utilization of on-line and distance learning models to enhance student learning.
• Support the creation of charter schools across the state.
• Enhance transparency by requiring the Oklahoma Department of Education to provide online access to end-of-instruction test results, administrative spending and the Academic Performance Index (API) used to measure the performance and growth of common education schools.
• Require the negotiations dealing with government employees and teachers unions to be subject to the Open Meetings Act.
• Support leadership training at all levels of the common education system.
• Support the development of state tests which include open-ended questions and are more in line with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and/or American College Testing (ACT) tests.
• Support the elimination of unnecessary rules and regulations to provide school districts the flexibility to address their individual needs as well as allow students the capability to transfer schools upon certain circumstances.
• Encourage incentives to promote the pursuit of advanced education and training.
• Maintain academic achievement by incorporating higher state education standards more in line with national standards.
• Extend the school year to at least the regional average in uninterrupted instructional days.
• Support legislation that forgives a percentage of student loans for math or science teachers who instruct in Oklahoma for the first five years after earning their teacher's certificate.
• Remove the cap on local school district bonding capacity.
• Promote work ready skills instruction in the common education system.
• Support adequate budget and bonding levels for the Oklahoma School of Science and Math.
• Promote the enhancement of teacher and professional staff salaries, tied to outcomes and standards.
• Support the steamlining of school district administrative functions.

Higher Education

• Oppose efforts to permit the carrying of concealed weapons on college campuses.
• Support OHLAP as a tuition assistance program for students in low and moderate income families who meet existing standards.
• Support full public state matching funds for the current Oklahoma Higher Education Endowed Chairs Program.
• Support continued efforts to enhance the accessibility of more affordable text books in institutions of higher learning.

Career and Technology Education

• Promote the enhancement of high school dropout and credit recovery programs in Oklahoma's technology centers.
• Support appropriate funding necessary for the education, training and research services provided to emerging industries and industry clusters as well as new and expanding businesses.
• Support Career Tech appropriations to assist employers impacted by labor market shortages to expand their access to programs and services for students and employers, thereby contributing to the economic development of the state.

Energy

• Alternative energy sources will not replace oil and gas as the nation's primary energy resources in the forseeable future.  The State Chamber supports the protection of Oklahoma's exploration and production incentives which help create an environment that encourages economic development through investment in Oklahoma's oil and gas industry.
• The State Chamber also believes that the state and the nation must develop alternative energy resources to complement the use of oil and gas and to help lessen our dependence on foreign oil and extend oil and gas reserves.  The State Chamber therefore supports the exploration and development of nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, biofuels and clean coal technologies as well as greater energy efficiency and conservation.
• The State Chamber Opposes:

1. The elimination of any existing long-standing business deductions on oil and natural gas production.
2. Any mandated use of alternative fuels;
3. Any efforts, federal or state, to impose a "windfall profits" tax on the energy sector or any other sector of our economy;
4. Any additional unnecessary regulatory intrusion into energy industry operations.

Environment

• Make certain that state natural resources agencies are treated faily if further cuts in state government are required.
• Water is a resource to be managed and utilized for the benefit of Oklahomans.  The issue is not a lack of water, but a lack of water development.  The following need to be accomplished to allow Oklahomans to benefit from this plentiful resource: (1) determine how much water we have; (2) find out how much we need the next 50 years; (3) determine where and when water is needed; and (4) devise a way to pay for necessary infrastructure to develop and distribute water.
• Support completion of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board's update of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan and oppose any significant changes to Oklahoma water law prior to completion of the update.
• Work to lift the cap on the Natural Resources Gross Production Fund to allow additional monies for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and the Oklahoma Department of Tourism to address natural resource issues faced by landowners, cities and towns, farmers and ranchers through voluntary, locally led cooperative efforts.  This includes additional funding for the OWRB's Financial Assistance Program (FAP) and for water planning activities.
• Oppose the classification of animal manure as a hazardous waste.
• Require that all administrative enforcement actions be exhausted prior to the state's attorney general filing suit against any industry which is accused of environmental infractions and is regulated under Oklahoma law.
• Retain and protect the private property aspects of Oklahoma groundwater law.

Health Care

• Oppose the diversion of funds from the state's InsureOklahoma! premium assistance program.
• Support the identification of a sustainable and permanent funding source for InsureOklahoma!
• Support incentives and appropriate funding of medical school and residency training to enhance the number of primary care physicians and health care providers in rural and underserved populations.
• Support tax incentives and public sector pilot projects for implementing evidence based medicine, pay for performance, electronic medical records, information technology and alignment of interest models that are incorporated into health care delivery systems.
• Continue to support a long-term solution to address full reimbursement funding for Medicaid services provided by hospitals to no less than the cost of providing care and no less than 100% of Medicare rates for physicians.
• Support legislation requiring cost/benefit analysis prior to imposing any new mandates.
• Support legislation to allow for the tax deductibility for all out-of-pocket health care related expenses.
• Oppose 'any willing provider' as well as other anti-managed care legislation.

Labor Law

• Support efforts to ensure that all employees who are exempt under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act are subject to the same payroll cycle requirements imposed by the Oklahoma Protection of Labor Act.
• Support efforts to ensure that Oklahoma Department of Labor rules are congruent with the Oklahoma Protection of Labor Act and Oklahoma case law with regard to the definition of a "bona fide disagreement."
• Support efforts to simplify the test an employer must follow to distinguish between an employee and an indepedent contractor.
• Oppose any efforts (statutory or regulatory) that would allow for different definitions of independent contractor as established in the Internal Revenue Code compared to definitions for workers' compensation purposes, employment compensation purposes, etc.
• Support efforts to remedy the constitutional infirmity contained in the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act that was identified by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in two recent decisions.
• Support efforts to ensure that the federal Daubert expert witness standard - which has been adopted by Oklahoma in all criminal, civil and workers' compensation claim proceedings - is uniformly applied in all federal and state legal and administrative proceedings.
• Because of federal preemption, oppose state laws on immigration.
• Oppose any legislation proposed in Oklahoma that would allow and/or require paid Family Medical Leave, or any proposal to expand the FMLA beyond federal law.
• Support legislation that will limit liability in cases of workplace violence to the individual who performs the violent act.
• Oppose any attempt to erode the "employment at will" doctrine.
• Oppose all statutory mandates, either state or federal, as they relate to employer/employee relationships.
• Oppose any increase in unemployment compensation penalties for employers.
• Support an unemployment compensation trust fund fiscal policy that is continuously sound and avoids cyclical variations.
• Oppose any diversion of unemployment compensation Trust Fund monies.

Lawsuit Reform

• Work to achieve judicial reform so that lawsuit and workers' compensation reforms are upheld in our courts.
• Support a referendum that will prohibit any officer of the court from contributing to a judicial candidate.
• Support legislation to create a fully-functioning Judicial Performance Evaluation system, based on best practices taken from other states where such programs are already established.
• Place a ten-year statute of repose on actions based on fault not arising out of contract.
• Require that the consumer show "injury in fact" to the consumer and a loss of money or property to succeed in a consumer lawsuit.
• Prohibit present fees on future benefits in class action lawsuits.
• Permit the admissibility of evidence of collateral source payments.
• Enact broad-based product liability reform including the FDA defense for pharmaceuticals.

Manufacturing

• Support funding for existing worker training.
• Support allowing tax credits for the difference between manufacturing patters in Oklahoma vs. overseas.
• Support manufacturers taking a double deduction on the costs incurred by them to complete courses of education enhancing their ability to become centers of manufacturing excellence.

Military Affairs

• Identify issues facing Oklahoma communities, installations and contractors and assist in developing legislation at both the state and federal levels that will provide for continued growth of the military presence in the state.
• Assist the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission by acting as its legislative advocate in matters of concern to the state's military installations.

Retail

• Support the expansion of a 'sales tax holiday' that includes school supplies and Energy Star appliances.
• Oppose legislation restricting a retailer's ability to capture license information at the point of sale for consumer credit; loss prevention/return; and I.D. verification procedure.
• Support legislation which absolves businesses from liability when they provide products or services in emergency situations.
• Oppose measures that impose statutory penalties for selling legal over-the-counter products.
• Assure that identity theft legislation allows a company to utilize legitimate third party contractors to legally conduct background checks on potential employees.

Research and Technology

• Support legislation that develops Oklahoma's strengths and resources as a prime location for development, testing and flight of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
• Support an increase in funding over the current funding level for the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and the programs that it supports.
• Fund the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute and the Center for Aerospace Supplier Quality (CASQ).
• Develop legislation to create incentives to attract the emerging video game creation and production industry in Oklahoma.
• Support matching or increasing the current $150 million state investment in funding EDGE (the statewide research and development endowment).

Rural Development

• Support language that would make the bonds authorized in the "Oklahoma Community Economic Development Pooled Finance Act," which was passed in 2009, more marketable.
• Continue to support affordable housing initiatives for rural Oklahoma.

Taxation

• Support legislation that instructs the Oklahoma Tax Commission to include total economic impact data, including cost/benefit analysis and multiplier effects in evaluating the revenue impact of proposed legislation.
• Seek a legislative or constitutional solution, if possible, to the State Supreme Court's ruling that certain intangible property of businesses may be taxed as income.
• Support the passage of legislation that provides for accountability of state government through performance audits of state agencies and internal review of incentives.
• Support legislation to prohibit government entities at any level from hiring private sector businesses to audit or enforce tax laws on a contingency or performance basis.
• Work for repleal of the state's corporate Franchise Tax.
• Oppose any expansion of the sales tax to include services and labor.
• Continue to seek legislation that eliminates or reduces the state's income tax on retirement income and the tax on capital gains.

Transportation Infrastructure

• Oppose State Question 744, the Helping Oklahoma Public Education ballot initiative, which would re-direct funds from essential state functions, including transportation, and erode the legislature's ability to craft a reasonable balanced budget.
• Join efforts to reduce the number of functionally obsolete bridges on county roads that go over or under Oklahoma Turnpike Authority systems.
• Preserve and expand Oklahoma's federal highway funding and prevent a decrease in state transportation funding to avoid federal funding cuts.
• Support the continuance of the $1.00 per day late fee on delinquent vehicle tag renewals and reallocation of a portion of these fees to help fund debt service for local road and bridge projects.
• Make certain that transportation funding is a top priority if the state's Rainy Day Fund is tapped this year.
• Monitor and oppose any attempts to delay or unravel increased funding for the eight-year construction program and bond program passed in 2008.
• Support indexing the cap on the ROADS Fund to the Producer Price Index.
• Suppor the reallocation of the remaining 30-cents of motor vehicle fees (that currently go into the general revenue fund) to transportation needs.
• Support funding to secure and maintain Oklahoma's borders by opening nine ports of entry in strategic locations around the state.  These ports of entry will act as weight stations to handle truck traffic entering Oklahoma.
• Support federal and state legislative and regulatory policies that take advantage of Oklahoma's position as one of only 11 high-speed rail corridors in America. 

Workforce Development

• Support incentives to maintain and train Oklahoma's aging workforce.
• Support incentives for the development of Certified Work Ready Communities which encourage individuals to obtain Career Readiness Certificates (CRC's) allowing for the opportunity to prove their skill level.
• Support the re-alignment of available funds for workforce and economic development programs that are critical to the state's future needs.
• Pursue initiatives (such as Oklahoma's 'Project Boomerang') designed to increase the number of skilled workers and college graduates available for employment in Oklahoma.
• Research industry clusters in order to ascertain the appropriate education and incentive structures necessary to promote the needs of high growth workforce areas.
• Support a time-restricted income tax reduction for college graduates who begin their careers in Oklahoma.

Workers' Compensation

• Restructure Oklahoma workers' compensation system and change it from a court system to an administrative system.
• Decentralize our system so as to allow for hearings to be held across the state.
• Allow Administrative Law Judges to be hired to resolve disputes regarding compensability of a claim.  All medical decisions, other than the selection of a treating physician, including the final rating for a permanent partial disability, shall be the responsibility of a new Workers' Compensation Chief Medical Officer.
• Restructure how attorney fees are to be calculated, encouraging early offers of settlement.
• Tighten up and clairify definitions including what is a "Compensable Injury."
• Mandate use of the American Medical Association's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, excluding pain.
• Streamline claim notice, statutes of limitation, medical treatment periods and re-opening of claim periods, providing for quicker resolution of claims.
• Simplify Oklahoma's laws enabling an employer to seek alternative workers' compensation coverage.
• Establish a new "Medical Impairment Rating Registry Program" designed to eliminate dueling-doctors and streamline the process of determination of permanent disability.
• Require that workers' compensation insurance carriers ensure that a person attending a dispute resolution proceeding have the final authority to settle a claim or authorize a payment.
• Support the adoption of statutorily-mandated treatment guidelines.
• Support the strengthing of drug and/or alcohol testing such that any refusal to take a drug or alcohol test shall be considered a "positive test" for workers' compensation purposes; and, if testing positive for an illegal drug, the benefits shall be automatically reduced by 50 percent.
• Support a restriction of judicial or commission terms to four-years to conform to gubernatorial elections, while still requiring Senate confirmation of any such appointment.
• Ensure workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy for any job-related injury or illness, or any medical service provided as a result of such job-related injury or illness.
• Support a referendum that will require Senate confirmation on any workers' compensation judge appointed or reappointed by the governor.