Rep. Moore: State budget deficit inspires millions in savings proposals

Budget Deficit Inspires Millions in Savings Proposals

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Insurance Committee held a recent interim study to review ways to decrease the cost of health insurance, save money and improve health insurance efficiencies.

Representatives of Strategic Cost Containment Concepts (SCCC), powered by AmWINS, presented RX Interceptor & Pharmacy Rebates, a proprietary program to provide significant savings to the state in prescriptions and medical care.

The RX Inceptor Program claims to help reduce prescription claims spend by 30% to 50%. The group works with pharmaceutical advocates to help eligible individuals qualify for savings on high-cost specialty medications. They say that up to 100% of the drug rebates, built-in stop-loss, and a full annual Pharmacy Performance Audit can account for savings to the state. 

State Reps. Moore, Cleveland Issue Republican Budget Challenge

Moore, Cleveland Issue Republican Budget Challenge

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Reps. Lewis Moore and Bobby Cleveland announced today they are challenging Republican lawmakers to prepare for a line-by-line budget review ahead of a pre-session Republican Caucus meeting in December. Moore and Cleveland hope lawmakers will each find $50 million to $100 million in budget reductions and efficiencies.

 “We have spent too much time and energy lately finding creative ways to increase revenue,” said Moore, R-Arcadia. “This Republican Budget Challenge is a way for us to shift our focus back to conservative principles: eliminating waste, streamlining government and finding efficiencies that benefit Oklahomans. It can and has to be done."

 “We understand going line by line through agency budgets is a tedious task,” Moore said. “But, if we spent even half as much time rooting out waste as we have trying to increase revenue through the legislative process, I bet we could find some real savings. For the past few years, the legislature has allocated money to agencies in block grant form, with agencies determining how they would allocate funds within their agencies.  The legislature, which represents the citizen’s will, to include how much money to raise and spend, should go through each agency budget, line-by-line, prioritizing needs and dictating spending.  I believe each agency and our citizens will be better served with greater scrutiny."

 After the December caucus meeting, Moore and Cleveland hope to release results outlining the top ideas to the public ahead of the 2018 session.

 “We urge all of our members to participate in this challenge,” said Cleveland, R-Slaughterville. “We are hearing from Oklahomans across our state who believe there are inefficiencies in state government. It is our job to ensure a more efficient system, and the Republican Budget Challenge allows us to do just that.

 “We are excited to see the great ideas that this challenge produces. At the end of the day, we cannot expect taxpayers to bear the brunt of higher taxes when we all know there’s plenty of waste to be found in our system. Our citizens deserve better,” Cleveland said.

House Insurance Committee Chair Endorses Glen Mulready

House Insurance Committee Chair Endorses Glen Mulready

TULSA, OK - Chairman of the House Insurance Committee, Rep. Lewis Moore (R-Arcadia), has endorsed Glen Mulready and his bid to be Oklahoma's next Insurance Commissioner.

"Glen Mulready and I have served on the House Insurance Committee together for the last seven years," said Moore. "I worked closely with him when he chaired the committee, and over the last year as I have chaired the committee, to implement numerous legislative reforms aimed at improving our state's business climate while also safeguarding consumers. I cannot think of anyone more knowledgeable when it comes to our state's insurance laws and I am proud to endorse him to be our state's next Insurance Commissioner."

Representative Moore was elected to the Oklahoma legislature in 2008 and represents portions of Oklahoma County, including his hometown of Edmond.

"I am honored to receive Rep. Moore's endorsement," said Mulready. "We have worked closely together in the legislature and his support is humbling. He is an experienced insurance professional and I look forward to continuing to work with him should I be elected to lead the Insurance Department.

Mulready spent 13 years on the executive teams of Oklahoma’s two largest health insurance companies and for the last eight years has been self-employed as an independent broker working with businesses of all sizes. He has worked in the insurance industry for more than 33 years.

Mulready was first elected to represent House District 68 as a Republican in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves as a Majority Floor Leader.

Paul Blair exploring SD41 run, Bridenstine & Russell support

Exploratory Committee Forms to Advise Pastor Paul Blair on 

Potential Run for Oklahoma State Senate, District 41

September 24, 2015, Edmond, OK – A robust group of community leaders with diverse backgrounds have formed a committee to advise Pastor Paul Blair on a potential run in 2016 for the Oklahoma State Senate, District 41, on the Republican ticket.

Marc Nuttle, who serves on the board stated, “Next year is critical for voters to be well- informed in determining the direction of our state and nation. We face unprecedented economic, geopolitical, and policy challenges that must be navigated thoughtfully and wisely. I am pleased to serve with an outstanding committee, and to support Paul Blair in making a decision, that must be made, to continue Oklahoma on a sustainable path of sound fiscal and policy responsibility.”

Members of the Exploratory Committee include:

US Congressman Jim Bridenstine (OK-1)
US Congressman Steve Russell (OK-5)
OK Senator Nathan Dahm
OK Senator Josh Brecheen
OK Senator Joseph Silk
OK Representative Bobby Cleveland
OK Representative Dan Fisher
OK Representative Lewis Moore
Mr. Marc Nuttle
Mr. & Mrs. Jim & Joy Harlan
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Woods and Victoria Chappell-Woods
Mrs. Marianna Verga Lloyd
Pastor Blake Gideon
Pastor Kevin Clarkson
Mr. David Hornbeek
Mr. & Mrs. Ike & Peggy Burris
Mr. Stan Ward
Mr. Tom Hill

The district 41 state senate seat will be open due to term limits, which require the exit of current State Senator Clark Jolley.

Blair stated, “I have reached out to Clark Jolley to thank him for serving District 41 and wish him well on his return to the private sector in 2016. I am grateful to the strong team of advisors who have already stepped forward to surround me with prayer and advice as I consider this important service to the people of our district and state. We will consider this prayerfully and will make a final decision in the near future.”

Blair is a former offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings. He was born and raised in Edmond graduating from Edmond Memorial High School before receiving a football scholarship to attend Oklahoma State University, where he earned distinction as an award-winning offensive tackle.

Blair serves as Senior Pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, and is Director of Reclaiming America for Christ. In 2008, he was named Pastor of the Year for the State of Oklahoma by the Bott Radio Network. In 2011, Blair was named National Pastor of the Year by Vision America at the Westin Galleria in Houston. In 2013, he was given the "James Caldwell" award by the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association. Blair is also a founding partner of a small business headquartered in Edmond for the past 28 years. He and his wife Cindy have two sons, Joshua and Jacob. Both young men currently attend the University of Central Oklahoma

For more information and to receive updates on the exploratory committee’s activities, please visit www.PaulBlairforok.com.

Shelton Make News With Crack Pipes

State Rep. Mike Shelton (D-OKC), who recently was in the news over the portrait flap in the State House, has made the news again - this time for attempting to hand out crack pipes to legislators at the Capitol.

Sources say that Shelton carried a sack of glass crack pipes into the Capitol, and tried to hand them to other legislators, while discussing legislation he is running to 'crack down' on the selling of such drug paraphernalia.

Shelton tried to hand one to State Rep. Rex Duncan (R-Sand Springs) who is running for District Attorney, in the private House lounge, but Duncan refused. Duncan told Shelton that "it's drug paraphernalia," that he would not take one, and that "it's a misdemeanor that carries up to a year in county jail just to have one in your possession." Our sources imply that Duncan felt the meeting had the air of a set-up.

Apparently, Shelton gave, or tried to give, pipes to other legislators, including House Speaker Chris Benge. One wound up on the House Floor, placed on a Republican representative's desk.

Rep. Terry Harrison (D-McAlester) was allegedly present when Shelton tried to give a pipe to Duncan. Harrison, who is also running for DA in his home district, told FOX 25 that "there's a certain amount of shock value with what Rep. Shelton did." Despite the questionable legality of the action, Harrison furthered stated that Shelton should be "commended" for bringing the issue to the attention of the legislature.

Shelton says he bought the pipes at a local convenience store. Possession of drug paraphernalia is a misdemeanor; Shelton said that he was aware of that, but doesn't believe that what he did qualifies as a criminal act.

Capitol security did not catch the crack pipes when Shelton came into the Capitol, but Shelton laughed it off when pressed by a KOKH FOX 25 interviewer. He said that he had to "make it real" for legislators, and would not hesitate to do it again.


Shelton was involved in controversy regarding official portraits on the House floor last week. Rep Lewis Moore (R-Arcadia) switched positions of President Obama's portrait and Governor Henry's portrait on the back wall of the House chamber, to which Shelton responded by taking former Republican House Speaker Lance Cargill's official portrait from the wall and placing it on the floor.

Shelton has made the rounds with the media, decrying Moore's "childish" action. Ironically, focus has been on Obama's portrait, while leaving the rest of the story, namely Cargill's portrait and Shelton's own childish actions, untold.