BY RICHARD P. RUSH The Oklahoman
Published: February 10, 2010

Partnering with a host of elected officials and civic leaders, The State Chamber of Oklahoma has worked on countless public policy initiatives during the past 84 years aimed at improving Oklahoma’s economic climate to benefit existing businesses and encourage new ones to move to our great state.

We’ve been successful on many fronts and Oklahoma has gained a growing and positive image as a result. One way we have been successful is to know what battles need to be fought and which ones are best left behind.

Business leaders were disappointed recently when they read that Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony was again trying to reopen a 1986 Southwestern Bell regulatory rate case. This is the same case he tried to revisit in 1992, 1997 and 2003.

When a 24-year-old regulatory case is repeatedly questioned and brought back into the limelight for no significant purpose other than to apparently harass one of our state’s best corporate citizens, it only serves as a red flag to other companies to stay away from the Sooner State.

Make no mistake: This manner of regulatory action can hurt our state’s reputation for good business.

At a June 2003 hearing, Anthony agreed on the record to shut down his attempt to reopen this old case. He noted that he "will neither submit nor receive additional information or materials in what we call the Southwestern Bell 260 case or any other matter.”

Pressing Anthony even more, former Oklahoma Corporate Commission Chairman Denise Bode then asked Anthony if he ever intended to pursue the issue any further. "Not on my own … from my standpoint, I’ve concluded my effort,” Anthony said.

But less than two weeks ago Anthony did act on his own, filing a request with the state Supreme Court to vacate an earlier decision on the old rate case. While Anthony may see his actions having a higher purpose, he is potentially endangering the path to prosperity that so many Oklahomans have worked to achieve.

While Oklahoma is doing better than most states, these are tough economic times. This action would be costly and time consuming for taxpayers.

It is our hope that Commissioner Anthony will do what is in the best interest of Oklahoma families and Oklahoma businesses, and fulfill his 2003 promise to focus on the future and not on the past.

Rush is president and CEO of The State Chamber of Oklahoma.