Lincoln to Local – 2017 Legislative Preview
Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s John Collison and LeeAnna McNally preview the 2017 Oklahoma legislative session including the state budget deficit, taxes and education in the video below.
TOP HEADLINES
EPW Republicans advance Pruitt nomination to EPA:
Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee suspended committee rules this morning and approved the nomination of Scott Pruitt to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency [Agri-Pulse].
OKFB praises Senate EPW vote in favor of AG Scott Pruitt:
The EPA is in need of an administrator who will protect the environment without inhibiting economic growth. We believe Attorney General Pruitt is the right person for the job, Buchanan said [OKFB].
Gov. Mary Fallin to propose major overhaul of the state’s tax system:
Fallin said she believed it was important to identify revenue streams so the state can invest in things that are important, such as education, public safety, infrastructure and health [Tulsa World].
Lawmakers consider selling parts of GRDA to help fund budget:
The GRDA contributes $1 billion to Oklahoma’s economy. From the dams, power plants, lakes and streams, the GRDA is an independently run state agency in northeastern Oklahoma [News On 6].
Pottawatomie, Seminole County Farm Bureaus to host HD 28 candidate forum:
The Pottawatomie and Seminole County Farm Bureaus will host a public forum with the ten candidates seeking House District 28 Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Seminole County Farm Bureau office [OKFB].
Trump wants speedy overhaul of NAFTA:
President Donald Trump said today he wants to see the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiated quickly, blasting the current trade pact as unfair to U.S. companies and workers [Agri-Pulse].
Republicans outmaneuver Democratic boycott to allow Senate vote on Oklahoma’s Scott Pruitt for EPA boss:
With no Democrats in the room, U.S. Senate Republicans on Thursday voted unanimously to approve the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [StateImpact Oklahoma].
Rolling back excessive regulation:
I hope both the new Administration and Congress will heed the call to roll back unnecessary or overreaching rules. But I also hope they will dig down into the weeds to identify some subtle burdens that can and should also be lightened. That would do us all a great service [Agri-Pulse].
Super Bowl ad targets Humane Society of the US:
The ad, sponsored by a group called Humane Watch, parodies the HSUS ads that feature abused pets. The ad is titled “Lawyers in Cages,” and uses lawyers and lobbyists in place of the usual puppies [Consumer Freedom].
Crews battling two wildfires in southeastern Oklahoma:
Crews are battling two wildfires in rural eastern Oklahoma that have burned more than 10 square miles combined [AP].
Have you signed up for OKAgPolicy legislative alerts yet? The 2017 legislative session starts Monday! Text START to 405-400-0311 or sign up here.
