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Oklahoma
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Oklahoma Speaker Hiett
Vows Fight to the End |
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Oklahoma Speaker of the
House Todd Hiett recently joined the Center for America for an exclusive interview to stress the importance of
lawsuit reform for his state's well being. Speaker Hiett commented
on the priority that civil justice reform has taken in the
legislature, saying "Lawsuit reform is a top agenda item for us in
the House, and its going to be a tough fight that we will fight to
the end."
"It's crucial to get the
message out ... through the years, because of the work of leaders and
legislatures that have been willing to be strong advocates so that
the average working family in our state understands that there is a
tie; that the amount of legal reform we achieve in Oklahoma will
affect their salary next year, will affect the ability that they
have to get a job, the cost of the health insurance for their
family. We have to continue to get that message out there."
View Interview |
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Oklahoma Leadership
Determined to Win Legal Reform |
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 Oklahoma
City,
OK - In 2005,
comprehensive legal reform was defeated by only a few votes in
the Senate after the bill had been passed by the House.
Oklahoma leaders are determined to enact legal reform in 2006
and are organizing now to win.
Oklahoma
Lt. Governor Mary Fallin joins CFA for an exclusive video
interview, and speaks frankly about the importance of reform for
Oklahoma, and the nation as a whole. Lt. Gov. Fallin
shares her view on the importance of legal reform, and the
effect of reform on the state's business community.
Fallin comments,
"Every day that we do not address lawsuit reform in Oklahoma is
a day that we have the potential to lose jobs, to have lesser
wages...its very important that companies and employers and even
employees get involved in talking about how lawsuit reform
affects the bottom line."
View Interview
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Oklahoma Sen. Coffee Calls
on Business to Get Involved |
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In an interview with
CFA, Senate Minority Leader Glenn Coffee (below) says that it is vital for legislators and other
government officials to hear from business people in support of
legal reform measures.
Quicktime Video Windows
Video
Senator Coffee Bio
I n part, this is because legislators who stand up for legal
reform are immediately targeted by the trial bar who then make
very significant contributions to the candidates running in
opposition to the legal reform advocates. In Oklahoma, for
example, where a typical House race costs about $200,000, the
trial bar by itself will contribute as much as $300,000 to the
candidate opposing legal reform.
Therefore, when legislators stand up for legal reform, it is
vital that they know that the business community will stand
behind them in the upcoming election.
A comprehensive legal reform bill was defeated in the Oklahoma
Senate by a vote of 26 to 22 after it was passed by the Oklahoma
House. The bill will be reintroduced in the 2006
legislative session in January. |
Workers’ Compensation Reform
Passes In Oklahoma
June 8, 2005
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 $120 Million Workers’ Compensation Reform Bill Passes Special
Session -
By votes of 39-7 in the Oklahoma State Senate on June 1st and
82-9 in the House of Representatives on June 3rd, the
state legislature passed SB 1X authored by Senate President Pro
Tempore Mike Morgan and Speaker of the House Todd Hiett. On
Monday, June 6th, Governor Brad Henry signed the bill
into law.
“The
bill is expected to save up to $120,000,000 for Oklahoma
employers and make our state more competitive for attracting
jobs,” said Larry Nichols (right), chairman of the board of The
State Chamber. “While it may not be a perfect bill, it is a
major step forward in an arena where we were lagging behind.”
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