Rep. Rick West: "Just Say No" (to lobbyist money)

Just Say No

By Rep. Rick West (R-Heavener)

Back in the 1980s, then-First Lady Nancy Reagan popularized the phrase "Just Say No" as part of an anti-drug campaign.

I kind of feel like bringing that back at the Legislature, but in this case pertaining to lobbyists. Never have I been more convinced that my decision to just say no to lobbyists' or political action committee money was the right move. It's one of the best decisions I've made since I've been in politics. It gives me freedom, and freedom is everything.

There is no question that lobbyists run the vast majority of legislation at the Capitol, and they do it through the power of the purse.

I appreciate the folks in my district who understand my decision not to take lobbyists' money. Y'all get it.

Small: The political fringe should not control petition process

The political fringe should not control petition process

By Jonathan Small

Supposed advocates of “good government” often decry low voter turnout, arguing that more citizens need to be involved in our political process.

Yet, for some reason, many of those same advocates hold a very different view when it comes to Oklahoma’s initiative petition process. When efforts are made to put a question before all Oklahoma voters, they are fine with largely excluding the vast majority of the state from the petition process.

Fortunately, state policymakers are not so shortsighted.

OCPA praises approval of initiative-petition reforms

OCPA praises approval of initiative-petition reforms

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 8, 2025)—Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small today praised members of the House Elections and Ethics Committee for advancing common-sense initiative petition reforms.

“Senate Bill 1027 would increase public transparency and also require that proposed ballot measures receive support from Oklahomans across the state before being placed before voters,” Small said. “These are common-sense reforms with broad appeal. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, state Senator David Bullard, and Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, in particular, deserve praise for taking on this important issue. It’s notable that the main opponents of these reforms want Oklahoma to adopt a California-style election system that has often excluded Republicans from statewide elections in that state. Sometimes, you really can judge a man by his enemies.”

Sen. Bullard: Initiative petition reform needed to protect OK from outside influences

Bullard: Initiative petition reform needed to protect Oklahoma from outside influences

(Oklahoma City, April 7th)  Oklahoma’s initiative petition process was designed to empower the people, allowing residents to bypass the Legislature when lawmakers fail to act in the public’s best interest. Unfortunately, what was once a tool for direct democracy by Oklahomans and for Oklahomans has increasingly been manipulated by out-of-state interest groups and wealthy donors to push left-wing policies in a deeply conservative state. We’re now hearing that the groups that poured money and external resources into campaigns to legalize marijuana, expand Medicaid and push soft-on-crime policies are now among those strategizing on how to legalize abortion on demand through the ballot box and force blanket primaries on our parties. 

Small: Initiative petition transparency an important reform

Initiative petition transparency an important reform

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma’s initiative-petition process allows voters to determine major policy issues, but some system flaws have become apparent. That’s why Oklahomans should support bringing greater transparency to the petition process.

Under Senate Bill 1027, the initiative-petition process would have to include clear language, transparent reporting of funders, and buy-in from a wider swath of Oklahoma.

None of these ideas should be controversial.